The Disappearances (Part 1)

Part 6

Callista turned to see who was calling her, but she couldn't see anything with fire. As she continued to search for the person, she heard someone shout but couldn't understand what they were saying. When she rolled to miss Argyll's attack, she saw Lucais throwing something at her. She caught it and found it was a sword. Just before Argyll could hit her, she dodged it and started fighting back. She quickly remembered what Venita had taught her.

As they fought, Callista saw water hovering over the fire, then the water fell, snuffing the fire surrounding them. Without the fire, Callista moved more swiftly knowing she won't burn if she moved the wrong way. In an instant, Argyll dropped his sword and ran toward the cliff and said, "You really have the potential of becoming someone that's if you follow the right people, Callista." Then, he jumped off the cliff plummeting to his demise.

Callista ran up to the cliff to see his body at the bottom, then it disappeared. Lucais came behind her and moved her away from the cliff.

"Why would he choose death over losing? What happened to his body?"

"He has always been like that. He would rather face anything instead of fail. I have no idea where he went," Lucais said, walking back. "Look at the bright side, we won."

"We did. Also, thanks for the water."

"What do you mean?"

Callista stopped in front of him, "The water that floated and fell on the fire surrounding him

and me."

"I didn't do that. Someone that can manipulate water can do that," he replied. "Maybe it was

you," he added.

Callista thought about it and said, "No, it wasn't. Before he dropped his sword, I saw

something that showed me him running to the cliff and jumping. I thought I was losing my mind, but I wasn't so I think I can perceive the future. So, I can't manipulate water."

Lucais shrugged. "Maybe you have two abilities."

They continued to talk while walking back to where everybody was. When they arrived, Venita ran up to Callista and hugged her. "Where were you?"

Callista explained everything that happened between Argyll and her. She also told Venita about the water and her vision.

"That explains all the blood, bruises, and cuts on you," Venita said, laughing. "I guess you are more special than everyone here because of your two abilities, leaving me in the dust."

"How many died?" Callista asked when her laughter went away. "60 people died," Venita said. "What's the next step?"

Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned to face Callista: waiting. Callista looked around at everyone that survived. She was reminded of the day she arrived. Everyone in that town had nothing to live up to. They had no hope. As she looked around, everyone changed. They were no longer fear in their eyes. They were hopeful and they trusted her to lead them. Even Lucais believed in her.

"We make our way to Nebeus," Callista said.

Everyone headed back to the town to rest. The wounded were being treated. After a few days, they all started to pack their belongings and they made their way to Nebeus.

The journey was longer than they anticipated but no one complained. They spent the nights setting up tents and slept until the sun was over the horizon. On the third day, they reached Nebeus but the city wasn't the same.

Smoke filled the night sky, and the screams of citizens echoed throughout the city to the hill they were positioned at. Not only was the center of the city on fire, but the outside of the city was on fire. Everyone in the city would perish, promising no survivors. The fire glowed brightly, almost blinding them as it grew.

Callista couldn't do anything but watch. Watch her loved ones die. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't look away. Callista felt like she was at fault; she was the reason everyone down there is dying. Inside her, she knows she isn't to blame, but she can't get rid of the growing guilt.

The fire stopped just before dawn. The city was nothing but ash and rumble. They made their way down to see if there were any survivors. They searched for hours and found none.

When Callista went to bed that night, she dreamt of a guy wearing a mask. The guy started the fire. He stole kids as Argyll did, but he was more ruthless than Argyll. He was once a citizen of Nebeus before he left. Before leaving, he left a message: Darkness will once rise again.

Callista abruptly woke up. She told herself it was just a dream. Nothing is going to happen. She tried to fall back to sleep but couldn't, so she got up and walked outside for some air. She walked out of the tent, but she didn't make it far. There in the middle of the rubble was a message: Darkness will once rise again.