Opposites: The Staff of Light [Book One]

28. Into the Woods

Alex

My forearm began to spark—which, of course, signaled a [sarcastically] good sign that I was getting worried over by the minute. Where was my sister? I didn't know what I was going to do. She practically made/built/constructed a wall in my life and she played a pretty big part to shape me into the guy I was. Now she went missing—a reason I, as a brother, don't even know.

I sat at the edge of my bed, my elbows against my lap near my knees, my head placed on my laced fingers. Then the sparks flew. "Hey, Pikachu," Raven called out. I turned to face her. That day, she was wearing a white shirt and jeans, topped off with her black jacket—her only and favorite. I stared into her intimidating dark blue eyes—something so gentle, yet so dangerous, so mysterious, yet so seemingly vulnerable inside. Her pixie cut bangs grew a purple streak right across the middle, which kind of matched her. The left side of her hair rolled over her shoulder. In my opinion, she seems dead attractive.

Then again, she called me Pikachu. Honestly, the entire cabin (except for my sisters) wouldn't even call me that if it weren't for this bloody girl.

"I'd pack up some supplies I'd need if I were you," said Raven, flipping her hair back—not in the sexy way of doing things. But if she thought it was sexy... "The woods is a dangerous place. There are certain things you need to bring. You don't have to bring a lot."

"What do you mean?" I asked. "We're going after Annabeth? How are you even so sure she's inside the woods?"

"Well, that's why we listen to meetings with agenda like this. Seriously, Pikachu, cope up." She smirked. "Alice had said a while ago about her dream."

"A vision," I corrected, crossing my arms and grinned at her. "Hey, Raven, cope up, will 'ya?"

Our conversation had been cut off when Mitch began bugging me into packing up. I only had enough time to wad some supplies (from what I heard that the others were putting into their bags): flashlight (preferably battery-powered but I stuck to a rechargeable one), medicine, extra clothes, a few food, water, and some money. It felt weird having these objects in my bag. I never experienced camping before, but I bet it felt awesome having a tent around, then you all gather around the fire while singing songs, roasting marshmallows, cooking beans, and telling stories. At home, I felt... isolated. Alice was upbeat, Annabeth was an introvert, and I seemed to be half. No one really went out much, knowing that other people can take us as freaks once they learn about our powers. It was better when we hid them.

"Don't we need a sleeping bag of some sort?" I asked Colton. As time flew past, the guy still was approachable and it felt great having to tease him around against his rights. "You know, since we are just rushing into the woods with no plan in particular..."

"Nope," he answered, his fingers shivering as he crossed his arms so I wouldn't notice. "With us being elemental, we could all easily build our own shelters."

* * *

"Are you sure this is the right place?" Alice asked Colton, who couldn't at all focus at one object. She collapsed into Tyler's arms, clutching her waist. "Curse that water girl..." she groaned, followed by breaths to calm her mind to ease. Tyler's eyes were filled with concern. In the first place, he never wanted Alice to come along the mission. He preferred if she only stayed back at the cabin. But Alice, as stubborn as she was, hesitated.

"I-I think so..." Colton's voice faltered as he looked to the east, then to the north. "Annabeth always looked beyond this direction."

I looked down at the snow-covered ground. Leaves decorated it like sprinkles. Icicles hung firmly from tree branches. I was never so sure about Annabeth running towards there. Then again, she must have worn her protective gear to avoid leaving a path for us to follow. Gee, I thought, now would be the right time for a path, Annabeth. We need you. I need you. I miss you. Are you still coming back? I was never so sure about Annabeth. She always was the different one, whenever we went.

At home, there was five of us—Mom, Dad, Alice, me, and Annabeth. Among us, I've been a favorite, but between Alice and Annabeth, Alice had always seemed to be normal, resulting to our parents love obviously more than they'd given Annabeth. She'd tell me that over and over before when we were in her room. She felt like the isolated one, the weirdo... even though she was the smartest and had the most love for books, she always felt out-of-place, as if our parents had seen her as a monster, not as a child.

"You know, Alex, it almost feels like Mom and Dad have only two children," she once spoke, locking eyes with me. She was 9 by the time, I was 6, and we spent our time on her bed. The fires of her room died down as our conversation rolled on. Mom's laughter echoed from outside. She, Dad, and Alice were playing a board game. "And when I mean two children..." Her lip shivered. "...I mean you and Alice. No one ever made me feel I belonged in the tree anyways." She looked away, as if looking for answers through a stare at her bookshelf.

I felt bad for her. "Don't feel it?" I asked. She turned. "I've been living trying to make you feel a part of the house. This family won't be the same without you. I know it."

"Oh, yeah?" a smile began pulling at her lips. "Who told you so, wise guy?"

"I did. I always believe." Annabeth wrapped an arm around my shoulder. "You're not a bad guy, Annabeth. You're the good guy."

"You're the good guy..." I whispered, clenching my fists. Annabeth, why'd you have to go? The pulses in my ears echoed. Sparks flew from me. I guess my friends noticed since I began to take in some replies due to that electrical short circuiting. But that didn't matter at the time. All I wanted was my sister. I felt a longing for her presence. I loved her ever so dearly. She was one of the most valuable people in my life. I needed her. She understood me best among everyone I tried to open up with—my mom, my dad, Alice... She was one person who'd never teased me if my heart beated for a girl my age. She was one person who'd never get mad at me if I wanted to die. She was one person who accepted me as who I was, as her only real family.

So much pain did she endure through her life, and we shared those moments. We shared memories, happiness, sadness, depression, agony... the works.

I heard the sound of flapping wings, like of a descending bird. I looked up at one of the pine trees' branches, only to lock eyes with an owl of fire. Literally, it radiated heat. Its wings were tongues of flames instead of feathers. The rims of its eyes were like the hula hoops lions in the circus jump through for tricks. It hooted, as if trying to give a message. It widened its eyes at me and hooted once more.

"HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!" the owl tooted. It flew off. It took me a few seconds to realize what the owl wanted. It was still in sight but still flying at a fast yet steady pace.

"That was awkward," Mitch spoke. "Some owl lost its mind—"

I ran after the bird. "It wants us to follow it! Come on!" And so there I let the owl lead our way through the woods. The ways were so sophisticated. I couldn't seem that we could formulate a way back. Yet, there we were, running after the fire owl like maniacs.

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