Fire in the Roots

Chapter VI: Journey Preparations

The blue sky faded in, and the sun rised from the ground. The brightness woke Elliot and she felt pain on her face. She stood up slowly, but a hand grabbed her. Lucas pulled her to him and he covered face with his blanket. She blushed.

Cindy slept in Elliot's bed. She didn't want to though. When they let her sleep over, she wanted to just sleep in the woods, like usual. But, they didn't allow that. When they got to her, she decided to sleep on the couch. But, Elliot gave her bed. She slept with Lucas with nothing awkward coming through it.

When Cindy woke up, she changed and left the house. She didn't want this.

As Cindy was walking down the sidewalk, someone called out to her. "Cindy, where are you going?" Emily was calling out from her porch.

Cindy turned her back to Emily, trying not to cry. "I-I will just... I might be too much."

"What do you mean?" Emily asked.

"I might... I-I might be extra. Y-you having to babysit me might... I..." She began crying.

Emily approached her and grabbed her hand. Cindy looked at her. "Come inside. You have nowhere to go." Cindy wiped her tears and dragged back inside. She didn't like being in a house. It repeated her life before. But, she thought it should be forgotten.

When she came inside, she sat on the couch, with still risen tears. Elliot and Lucas came down for their breakfast and sat beside Cindy, comforting her.

"Cindy. Why were you in the woods?" Lucas asked suddenly.

She was silent. She didn't want to.

"You need to tell us. Why? Why were you in the woods?" Lucas asked again. "I'm not trying to intimidate you. I think we should know though."

"I was kicked out. That's it." Cindy said quickly.

Lucas was shocked. "Why?"

"They didn't want me because of not being there. Because, I was on that incredible journey to defeat a demon with you guys. If you didn't know, they treat me like I take care of them. I do everything for them. Otherwise, they won't care for themselves."

"That's messed up. You can't force your own child to serve you, for no other reason."

"I know. It was like I was their Cinderella... But that's not it. They mostly got rid of me, due to Elliot." Elliot's red eyes widened. "Oh! I'm not mad! Please don't think I am. They got rid of me because they thought I was friends with a killer. I don't see it that way. I feel like my sister started it. I see Elliot as a sweet soul."

This made Elliot happy. She's never been called anything positive since after she had friends and a home... and love. But... "Why would they kick you out for being friends with a killer?" Elliot asked.

"They thought I would be a killer... l-like you... And I am. I am now one. I killed them..." Cindy hugged Elliot and cried quietly.

"Cindy... You no you're not the only one. I had the power as well. For some reason?" Lucas said calmly.

"AND ARE YOU SCARED!? ARE YOU SCARED FOR KILLING SOMEONE!? A SIBLING!?" Cindy asked, balling her eyes out.

"I am scared. But, I really just want answers. How do we have the power just like you Elliot?"

"I don't know. It's not like I did anything to... I guess, gift them to you. I had my power the whole time. But, now it's gone." Elliot said sadly.

"I know." The three turned to Emily.

"What? How would you know?" Lucas asked.

"Because I have your answers. I know the island inside out. I have power that is similar to yours."

"What? What are you talking about?" Cindy asked.

"That island is a place for the apprentices of magic to train and protect their homeland: Hoskar. Those born with the Eye's Tattoo travel there to become strong and survive."

"What do you mean survive? And what's this "Eye's Tattoo"? It makes me feel like I should be warned of something." Lucas asked.

Emily rolled up her sleeve and on her arm was a tattoo with the shape of an eye. "This is an Eye's Tattoo. It shows you the proof that you have the power of an apprentice." The eye blinked.

"Woah. But, isn't an apprentice someone good in a skill? We aren't apprentices." Lucas pointed.

"Elliot learned quick. You can too." Those words made Lucas and Cindy role up their sleeves. They saw it. There was an eye. This gave a gasp to them both.

"Have I had this my whole life?" Lucas asked.

"Yep! :)"

"Oh my god... I'm being watched."

KillerShadow1126: What even...?

"I-I, uh..." Emily decided to not respond. Which was a completely good choice.

The three were silent. The room never made a sound. Until the stupid door was knocked...

KillerShadow1126: Thank god they have no dogs._.

Lucas opened the door and saw a bearded man in a beautiful suit. "Hello. Are you Morrowind? Lucas Archer Morrowind?"

Lucas didn't speak. "Yeah?"

"Can I speak with you? Oh, and Miss Elsweyr and Marsh?"

"Yeah. Come in, I guess."

"Thank you." The man came inside and was greeted to sit in the living room. The three sat across from him. "Thank you. I am the president of Hoskar. I came here to tell you some fragile news. I really loved how you three kids saved an entire island from a demon lurking on it. It makes an incredible story to savor. We were grateful."

"What do you mean, were grateful?" Lucas asked.

"I'm guessing you were trying to save the High School Graduation Ceremony. When you failed, people started to look down on you. They now see you as a failure. I didn't though. But, people also thought that the failure you did was beyond failure. They called it Death. So they all had a vote to... release you from the island perimeters. You will have to leave..."

Their hearts sank. Is this over?