HYBRID (Now a draft)

Five

 Thunder boomed that night. Rain pattered . It poured. It was the biggest storm Max had ever seen. He was reading in the library when someone knocked at the door. No one ever visited them as far as he's concerned. He discontinued his reading and opened the door a little, a tiny gap, to look.Aunt Pearl had stopped reading her newspaper. Her hand reached to the tiny vial strung to her necklace as if to reassure herself. She walked to the door.

Aunt Pearl opened the front door to reveal a tall, bulky man. A hood cast a shadow over his features making it indistinguishable.  His heavy trench coat was soaked to the brim. Water dripped from the tips. Heavy boots thumped inside. An air of calmness emanated from him. Like the calm before a storm.His gaze raked across the dining table and settled on Aunt Pearl.

"May I help you?" Said Aunt Pearl. Her body was rigid. Her face a mask of stone.

The man laughed. It was deep and cold. "You know what I'm here for." Aunt Pearl stayed silent. The man took a half-step forward." I am impressed of your persistence. Your whole life now dedicated to hiding her son."" Your constant alternation of residencies. Thirteen years is certainly impressive.But you actually think this will suffice?" He moved a step closer to Aunt Pearl.

Max could hear his heart beating in his chest. The beating a steady rhythm. What was going on?

Aunt Pearl tilted her eyes upward.Her expression unchanging. Silent but defiant. " How did you locate us?"

"Ah. How did I? Why don't you ask the boy? I  sensed a burst of energy. I simply traced it down to here. How unfortunate." "Now just hand him over. I will leave this place unscathed. A peaceful departure. You know what will happen if you don't."He smiled a nasty smile.

Max sucked in his breath. He glanced briefly at his bandaged left palm. This man was here for him.

Aunt Pearl shuddered. A sole tear ran down her right cheek.

"Well?" The man's voice was a taunting threat. 

Aunt Pearl's eyes briefly met Max's for a mere second. Fear and determination surged through him in that one look.

"Find peace."She said quietly. 

Then she ripped the vial off her necklace and smashed it on the ground. 

The glass shattered against the floor and erupted in a huge cloud of billowing white smoke. 

The man bellowed angrily as the smoke quickly engulfed his vision and filled up the entire room. It stretched and curled and twisted around Max . He couldn't see anything. He couldn't feel anything. It was stark glittering white. Full of strong energy. He could feel the smoke expanding, swelling up, crushing his breath. Giving him the sense he was going to be smushed.

And then the smoke parted. Leaving him tingling in a long, grand hallway with numerous doors that stretched to infinity on both his sides.