The Anomalies

Chapter 4

The headquarters of the Anomalies, as they were called by the Agency and now by ordinary people, was hidden in the bowels of The Solitary Cliffs, imposing mountains that mostly characterized section three.

Within these mountain ranges snaked an intricate labyrinth of tunnels leading to well-lit corridors and lodgings carved out of stone and rugged terrain by several generations of Witches and Sorcerers in an effort to thwart the Agency's oppressive regime.

The air, despite ingenious methods of aeration, remained weighed down by the smell of the earth and the dampness of the rock.

If before it was only a hidden refuge for those who had the Gift or, as they preferred to call themselves, the Gifted who possessed magical abilities, now, it was also made up of ordinary people, rebels who did not share the tyranny, cruel actions and unjustified condemnations that the Agency had implemented since it had been established.

The Agency had begun to call all those who possessed magical abilities of a certain level, Anomalies, judging them to be dangerous.

The Gifted, because of this, had called themselves so, to distinguish themselves from the real Anomalies and that is, those who lost control of their power.

The latter, in fact, turned out to be a problem for them as well, being fearsome and unpredictable. In addition, by their behavior they had given an additional reason for 'ordinary' people to marginalize and fear all people endowed with magic.

There were two ways to enter the headquarters of the Gifted and both were kept strictly secret.

For people who did not have the ability to use magic, there was an entrance that was reached by following a precise and narrow path along the sides of the reliefs, obscured by dense foliage, jagged rocks, and a spell. The difficulty and danger of reaching it sometimes discouraged the very individuals, part of the rebels, who knew about it.

The second way to access it, the fastest and safest way, was by activating a portal that only the Gifted knew about.

All the members of this organization had the symbol of the Witch's Knot tattooed on the same place on their bodies, on the side of the pelvis, for easy recognition.

Ethan had joined the Hunters in disguise, as a spy in the service of the Gifted. Like him, there were others among the Agency officials; not many in truth. None of them were aware of the identities of the other spies for security reasons, in case anyone was discovered.

For him, the situation was easier as his Detainer, Aife, was also cooperating with the Gifted.

<<Touch her and you are dead>> he said shakily threateningly to one of the guards inside the chamber used as an entrance with the portal.

<<The orders are to check everyone>> he told him unconvinced after seeing a fierce glint in Hunter's eyes.

<<Ethan, stop it. It's not a problem. You know, rules are rules. It's for everyone's safety>> interjected Aife exasperated by her partner's overly protective attitude.

Aife then turned to the guard and looked at him harshly.

<<You keep your hands to yourself if you don't want me to incinerate you on the spot>> she warned him.

This immediately blanched visibly in fear.

<<I do it myself>> she added, and in so saying she lifted a flap of her shirt and slightly lowered the side of her pants to expose the tattoo that identified her as part of the organization.

That symbol was magical and, if by chance someone betrayed or was planning to betray, it would disappear. That was why everyone was always checked indiscriminately.