Gifted Ones

Chapter 15 Haven

I am surrounded by a thick mist, as white as snow and as dense as a wool blanket. Far away, in all directions, are the shadowy outlines of humanoid shapes, resembling statues in their quietude and immovability. I look down at myself to see that I am wearing a formal floor length dress the same pale shade as the fog. But despite the fine quality of the gown, my feet are bare and I wear no jewelry. The only irregularly is a black ink-like stain a few inches below the neckline that seems to reach out towards the surrounding fabric, like fingers reaching for a precious item. It reminds me of something rotting.

Suddenly one of the figures in the distance steps foreword, slowly coming towards me. As it gets closer its features become clearer and clearing, becoming more defined until I recognize him.

"Dad?" I ask. "Where are we?"

He smiles at me sadly. "We're dead, Haven. Everyone died back in the first trial. It was over before it could begin. The room was filled with poisonous gas and the making of the veil people was too much for the Mages. They didn't have the strength to protect all of us. Joshua overcasted and Jonathan was overcome by the gas. Only Chase had the presence of mind to put all his strength into protecting you. He died in the process, but not before setting up a shield around you. You made it through, unconscious, but still alive."

I shake my head, taking a step back. "No," I breath.

"The rest of us didn't make it. So when you wake up, you're on your own. The gas has nearly cleared, Haven. And when it does, you are our last hope."

I blink hard, once. This has to be a dream. I've only known about the Gifted for a few days and now I have to save the human race from them? No, I can't do this. And Chase is. . . Dead? He can't be! I still needed to get to know him, his likes, his dislikes, his personality, his freaking last name for Heaven's sake!

"Only you can save them, Haven. Without you, millions of people will die, innocent people. This is all resting on your shoulders, now. It's your responsibility."

"No! No no no, I can't! I can't do this all on my own! I'm only seventeen, Dad!"

"You have to, honey, or the human race will be doomed." His face is full of urgency and pleading, but I can't say yes.

"Dad, I can't!" Tears stream down my face, dripping from the tip of my chin as they fall. Each one lands on the neckline of my dress, and the black stain grows bigger and bigger. "I-I-I can't! I'm not even Gifted! I can't turn into an animal, or fly, or move objects with my mind! I'm useless! Don't you see that! I should have been the one to die damn it!"

"You have a choice. Either you can roll over, surrender, and let the human race take care of their own problems, or you can risk your life to fight Gabriel. Just know that we can't help you at all. We have moved on, Haven. Will you?"

I look down at my feet, the stain growing.

"Havennnnnnnn," a velvety voice whispers in my ear. "There's an easier way out of thissssss."

I look up, but there's no one there, not my father, nor any of the shadowy figures. I'm all alone, more alone than I've ever been in my life. "Who's there?" I ask, letting out another sob.

"Havennnnnnn," the voice calls once more. "You can do it, you know. End it all. Right here. Never look back."

Suddenly I feel the presence of something in my hand, something cold and metal. I lift my arm to look. It's a knife, the length of my forearm, the width of a sliver of paper, and as sharp and as a razor. Something clicks in my mind, and I know what the voice means about ending it all, about never looking back.