Dear Diary

Chapter 6: stranger or allies

As the family continued their journey, Gabby kept her eyes constantly scanning the roads, her mind racing with every passing car. They were never safe for long. The tension only deepened with each new encounter. At a gas station stop, a man in a black leather jacket approached Gabby, his eyes darting nervously, as if aware of the family's uncertainty. "You're not alone," he whispered urgently. "David's men are everywhere. I can help you, but you have to trust me."

Gabby looked him up and down, her hand instinctively going to the gun tucked into her waistband. But something in his voice told her he wasn't one of David's people. "How do you know who we are?" she asked, her tone skeptical but not dismissive. The man hesitated before speaking again. "I know your husband was a part of something bigger than you realize. I can help you with your powers," he said, his voice low and steady. "David's after you because you're the key to everything."

The kids exchanged wary looks, but Jaz's curiosity got the best of him. "What do you mean, the key?" he asked. The man glanced nervously over his shoulder before continuing. "You and your siblings, you have abilities that others would kill for. Your father protected you for years, but now that he's gone, there's nothing standing between you and David's ambition. Your powers could save the world... or destroy it."

Gabby remained silent, the weight of his words sinking in. "Where do we go from here?" she asked, not knowing whether to believe him. The man's eyes softened with sympathy. "You'll need to head west. I have a safe house there where you can regroup. But you have to move quickly. David won't stop until he has you."

The wrecked SUV had been the final push they needed to get away, but it wasn't over yet. As they fled the scene, Jaz's mind was swirling. He had done something—something powerful—but it had taken everything out of him. His hand shook as he wiped sweat from his brow. "What did I just do?" he muttered.

"You saved us," Ky'lani said quietly, her eyes wide with a mix of awe and fear. Gabby didn't say anything right away but kept her eyes on the road, driving as fast as she could. There was a new urgency in her movements. The chase was far from over, and now they had revealed something dangerous about themselves. Could they really keep running forever?

Gabby turned onto another winding road, heading for the mountains. "We'll keep going until we're safe," she said, her voice steady, but the fear in her eyes betrayed her. "But we need answers, and we need them now." Jaz's head ached, the weight of his power still pressing down on him. He had no idea what was happening to him, but one thing was clear: David wasn't the only one after them.