Powers of the Red Moon

Chapter 6

When he saw who it was Max jumped towards me and hugged me so tight that I found it hard to breathe. “Can’t breathe.....Let..go.” I said gasping for breath. “Oh, sorry.” Max said. “I’m just so excited to see you. You know the last time we met was the night our parents died which was exactly 12 years ago. They died today, 12 years ago.”

“Good to see you too, Max. The first thing you say to me after 12 years is our parents are dead. I don’t need a reminder.”I said. Karen laughed. “2 minutes and you kids are already fighting. Oh, I’m sorry. I’m Karen, your aunt” “Hello.” I said. That was all I could manage as Max pulled me into another hug. “It’s good to see you Alexis.” I chuckled and said “It’s good to see you too, Max.”

Karen ushered us in the house and my acrophobia returned with full force. The house had French windows out of which you could see the whole of New York. The table was beside the window and when I went near the table I squeaked with fear and ran all the way to the back off the house.

Max watched with surprise as I hid under the bed. “What in the world are you doing Alexis? Have you lost it.?” “Now now, Max you were afraid of heights as well when you came here.” Karen said. “Oh, you’re afraid of heights? Why didn’t you say so? That can be easily remedied.”

He fell silent and suddenly I felt him in my brain, searching for something. Then heard a voice in my head ‘you need not be afraid of heights. There’s nothing in it. It’s just your mind playing tricks on you. Come on out Alexis and I’ll show you there’s nothing to be afraid of.’ The voice was so persuasive I could have resisted but I didn’t want to. I realized Max was doing this so I didn’t resist. He was helping me.

I came out from under the bed and Max took my hand and guided me to the window. My hand trembled and but I didn’t withdraw my hand. When we reached the window I saw something my acrophobia had never allowed me to see. The beauty of a whole city lying before me. I saw the Empire State Building and the Chrysler building. I saw the whole expanse of Central park and people playing baseball in the baseball diamond of central park.

I heard Max’s voice in my head “See, there’s nothing in it. It’s so beautiful. You would have missed all of this had you acted like a scaredy cat and hidden under the bed.” Max let go off my hand and walked a short distance away, leaving me on my own. I took a deep breath and looked at the scene and realized that there really wasn’t anything to be afraid of.

I don’t know how much time I stood there admiring the beauty of New York. After some time I felt a warm hand on my shoulder. I turned around to see Max standing there with a smile on his face. “Told you there was nothing in it.” He said. I smiled back and replied “Thanks Max.”

Coming out from a room Karen walked towards me and said “Okay Alexis, if you want you can turn in early. Jetlag’s evil, frankly. But if you want you and Max can stay up and catch up. You guys haven’t seen each other in what, 10 years?” “Thanks, Aunt Karen but I would rather stay up. I’m not at all sleepy.” I replied. She smiled and said “Fine and call me Karen.” She said and walked out of the living room.

“Max, do you want to sleep?” I asked him. “I’m way to excited to even think about sleeping. Come on we’ll sit in your room.” he said. I looked at him, with a distressed look on my face. Max said “Oh. Right. You don’t know where your room is.” He took my hand and pulled me towards the passageway. There were 4 rooms in the house. He pointed to the last room and said “That’s Julian and Karen’s room. The room beside that I won't tell you about right now but you'll find out soon enough.The one beside that is mine and.....” He led me to the first room. “This is your room. Take a look and thank me because I decorated it.” He said proudly. Fighting an urge to laugh I looked at my room and I’m pretty sure a surprised look came onto my face.

My room was exactly like I would have decorated it. It had a sky blue ceiling decorated with the Glow-in-the-dark stars. They were stuck in such a way the stars said my name. The walls were a lime green colour. There was a black wardrobe in the corner and there was a desk beside my bed. On the desk was a picture of 2 kids sitting on the floor and playing with their toys. My bed was covered with a blue duvet with the constellation Orion on it.

I looked at my brother and asked him “How did you know I love stars and that blue is my favourite colour?” “When you were a baby you had a strange obsession with stars and everything you owned was blue, except your clothes maybe and we still have a connection even if you can’t feel it.. Do you like it?” he asked with a hint of apprehension. I smiled at his discomfort and throwing my arms around him said “I love it. Thanks.”.

He smiled and said “let’s sit on the bed. I’m tired.” We walked to my bed sat down. He leaned over my bed and flicked a switch and the AC came on “What can you do?” I asked. “How do you mean?” he asked, obviously puzzled. “What are your powers?” I said. He said, “I can read minds, control them, become invisible and I can modulate my voice so I can get people to listen to me without actually controlling their minds and I can control inanimate objects to just blow up off their own accord. So can you. You just have to concentrate on it. What about you?”

I said “I can read minds, control them and see into the future.” “Wow. That’s cool. You can see into the future. That sounds exciting.” I laughed and said “I wish it were that easy.” Then I told him everything about the voices in my head to the blackouts. When I finished I looked up to see Max looking at me with clear sadness and could it be........jealousy. I tried to break into his mind but I couldn’t. It was not exactly a resistance but I couldn’t break into his mind. “Are you okay?” I asked him a bit concerned. He suddenly was back to his usual self with a smile on his face.

“Yeah. Where were you all this time?” he said quickly trying to change the subject. I was still a little uncertain but I decided to drop it. “I was in an orphanage in London. It was really good and I made a really great friend. Her name was Allison. She was my first and last friend. I told her everything. She was like a sister to me. What about you?” “I was here with Karen and Julian. They took care of me. I grew up here. They raised me as their own. I owe them.”

I said “You are lucky you were with our relatives here. Anyway do you know why we were separated after mom and dad died?” “Well I think it was so that we wouldn’t, you know, find out about our powers before we could control them because apparently we’re stronger when we’re together and so that we wouldn’t aggravate our power’s before we could control them and not have stuff blowing up around us.”

“Who’s older among us?” I asked. “I am. Kidding. You’re older by around 4 minutes.” He said. I smiled, satisfied. I could boss him around now on the pretext of being older than him. “What’s your favourite band?” I asked him. “The Backstreet boys.” He screamed. “Dude, they rock. They are so awesome. That’s in guys. I think Taylor Swift’s pretty cool. Yours?” “Oh man, I love 1Direction. They are the best. All of them are so damn cute.”

“Dude, those guys are bad. How can you like them? All of them are so girly. Seriously.” He said, scrunching up his forehead but with a teasing glint in his eyes. I whacked him on his head. “You do not insult 1Direction in front of a directioner, you idiot. Anyway, who are your favourite actor and actress? Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson are mine.” “Hey, I like Emma Watson too. No actor.” He said.

“Well I think you should really go to sleep. You’ve had a long day today. Plus you are getting a guided tour of NY tomorrow, so go to sleep. I hope you are used to getting up in the morning because Karen will wake you up at around 8 tomorrow. Good night.” He said. “Fine. Guided by whom?” I said. “Me, of course.” Max said feigning hurt. I laughed and said “Good night Max.” He huffed and muttered “No respect.” But the effect was ruined when he smiled. “Good night.”

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Author's note: So, what do you think of Max? And alexis being a directioner?Dont worry...its not going to boring or girly or whatever just because she likes 1D.

Also,what do you think of Karen??

So...till next time!!!

have a great day :)

-Anushka