Gifted Ones

Chapter 34 Haven

My heart sinks in my chest and I let out a long, slow breath.

"What?" Anne asks spitefully. "What's the answer, then?"

"Tomorrow," Avis explains. "Tomorrow never was, and is always to be. No one ever sees it, nor ever will. And yet Tomorrow is the confidence of all, to live and breath on this terrestrial ball."

I let out a frustrated groan, leaning back against the newly-formed wall behind us and putting my head in my hands. "What now, then?"

Avis draws herself up to her full height, arching her neck and looking down on us. "Three of you are free to go on. You may pass me and continue on your quest to find the Amulet. But you must leave someone behind."

"What will happen to the person we leave behind?" Chase asks.

"The person left behind will go in a different direction than the others. They will attempt to find the rest of the group, but by themselves their chances of survival are greatly diminished."

I let out a sigh of relief. No one will die, not right now.

"You may choose which member of the team to leave behind, but just know, once you choose, I will not permit you to change your minds."

Chase nods at her, turning to the rest of us. "What are we going to do now, then?"

Anne looks at him incredulously. "It's simple; we choose. I'm guessing that the odds of survival alone are greater than the odds of winning against the Sphinx in a fight. Someone must stay behind."

I stare at my feet, unwilling to believe that we have to split up once again. We can't. Not after the group's already been divided.

"There's no other way?" Kara asks, dejected.

Chase sighs, running a hand through his hair. "I don't think so. Avis is still a Mage, despite how she appears. And I'm sure she's a pretty damn powerful one, too, or she wouldn't be guarding the Amulet. We have to choose."

"But who's going to stay behind?" I ask. My question is met with silence. No one wants to be left alone.

Finally Chase sighs. "It should be me, I know." He looks closes his eyes, resigned. "Anne will be needed by you two if there's another trap."

"No!" I shout, horror filling me instantly. Not Chase. Anyone but Chase. Instantly I realize my outburst and backtrack. "I mean, no. We need you. Your casting limit and ability is important. Send me instead. I'm expendable."

"I won't! You. . . You don't have the same abilities, Haven. I'm the best person to go."

"Are you saying that I'm weak? I should have the ability to volunteer if I want to! And you didn't even consider Kara! Why are you so eager to throw your life away?! I don't-"

"Because Kara has a family!" He shouts at me, furious. "Kara has a mother and a father who are waiting for her to come back to them! And your dad is with them as well. I couldn't live with myself if. . . If I had to tell him I let his daughter go off alone and die in my place. I'm the really expendable one here. My family is dead!"

I take a step back, sensing that Chase is near his breaking point. His slipping level of control is alarming.

Instantly, the fight drains out of him and he backs away from me. "I'm sorry, I. . . I'm going, okay? It's my decision."

I collect my thoughts, staring at the boy with desperation and anger. He stares right back at me, unflinching and determined. I can tell that he won't give in; he's resigned to take his chances alone. There's nothing I can do, and I know it.