Alpha (unfinished)

3-Crimson

Adam has sprung up from his seat and is rushing to the door. I snap on my hands and flash them in his direction. But I was too late. He was already out the door.

"Crap! I'll get him." Maxine says as she runs towards the door.

I see my Father enter with groceries, getting bumped by Max as she runs past him. He looks at me, his eyes full of confusion. I run up to him and look down at him and see his dark brown hair speckled with grey and his furrowed brow.

"I'll explain later, right now I have to find Max."

His brown eyes fill with understanding. He moves some bags over to one hand, nods and pats me on the shoulder. He knows Max will get picked up by The City guards if I'm not there.

//_/°\_\\

"Max?" I call into the air."Maxine?"

Signal flare, are the next two words that pop into mind.

But I can't, The Guards are sure to see it.

Who knows what Max has gotten into.

And now I'm arguing with myself.

I've got to try it. If she answers back with a whistle, Then I know she's okay.

I snap on my palms and press them together. Thin bright beams at my fingertips. I imagine a ball of blue light growing against my palms. I pull my palms apart. Bright blue energy sits peacefully in my hands.

Now or never

I aim my hands at the night sky. Closing my eyes, I picture beams of light piercing the clouds. I look up as two thin blue beams erupt from my palms, the energy twists around itself as forces it's way into the sky.

After a few more seconds I turn off my hands. I wait for two minutes until I hear Max's response to my signal flare. A low whistle echoes off the walls of the other houses followed by a high pitched whistle and another low pitched one. That's when my stomach drops. That's Max's "help I'm in serious trouble" whistle. Usually she can hold her own, but even she knows to call for help when she needs it.

Hold on little sister. I'm on my way.

//_/°\_\\

She continues to whistle until I'm able to find her in a back alley between a diner and barber shop. She lies motionless on the ground, Adam stands just a few feet away. His palms glow a furious red.

"What did you do." I say as I enter the alley.

I kneel down next to Max. A wound smoking red has been burned into her abdomen.

"Max?" I ask in a shaky voice

"Hey big brother. What took you so long?"

"That doesn't matter, alright? What matters is that I'm gonna' get you help. Your gonna be okay." I know she doesn't believe me, I can see it in her fading eyes.

"Don't worry about me bro. Just remember. I love, alright?. Take care of Dad, he'll need you." She squeaks.

"Maxine, don't you dare leave me. You hold on, listen to me Max! Please...hang on." Tears fill my eyes. I'm losing my sister and there's no way to help her.

"Joseph, be strong. If not for yourself, then do it for me and do it for Dad." She pulls something from her pocket and places it in my hand." Don't forget about me alright?"

Tears roll down my cheeks and flood my eyes. I shut my eyes and clench my jaw 'til it hurts.

"I'm sorry Max."

With that, she leaves me. Her life fades from her body, a hole has burned itself deep into my heart. My sister is gone.

I turn my head towards Adam. He is visibly nervous. His hands still burn crimson.

"I-I swear didn't mean to-" He stutters

"Shut it." I growl at him "You did this."

"I-"

"Don't care."

I walk towards him, clenching my fists. Light forces itself through my fingers. Energy flows through my veins. I feel it in my chest and in my head. I see it through my eyes. It is me.

"You did this. My little sister's blood is on your hands. It is your fault."

I put my right hand on his chest.

"I want you to do one thing." I whisper

"Huh?"

"Run and know that one day I will find you. I will hunt you down. Until the day I see my sister again. You will be my prey. So run."

I let the light in my palm explode out words. Forcing Adam through the brick wall of the diner.

I walk back to where Maxine's body lays lifeless on the ground. My boundless energy flowing out of my veins. I open my hand to find a small wooden arrow head. The one I made for her two years ago when archery was her favorite thing to do. A single tear surfaces as I remember what will happen again, as I remember the sister I will never walk home from school again. As I face the fact that I will never hear her whistle the tune of her favorite song.

As realize that my little sister is gone.