Crystal Powers

~30~

It was dark.

They had to go to someone's house and soon, or else they might see the cops chase after them. They were walking in the dark streets, hoping that Dawn knew her way from Camden's neighborhood to hers. As they tried to hide in the shadows, they saw a light in a house turn on.

A figure peered through the window looking at the seemingly troublesome kids. The figure sighed as he went to grab his phone.

"Shoot shoot shoot shoot shoot, I think they caught us," Sapphire mumbled, running slightly faster. The other children just sped up as they ran down the sidewalk. Shortly after, the faint sound of sirens went off.

"Run," Dawn grumbled, somehow out speeding them all.

They were trying their hardest to breathe as they appeared in front of Dawn's house. It was a small white house that had a vase of roses in the window. There was one tiny light on near the living room. The kids knocked many times on the door.

After a few minutes, an older-looking man opened the door. His hair was a mess and his eyes were half-open.

"Now...wait, Dawn?" the man said, his eyes opening a bit wider.

"Hey, Dad...can we come inside?" Dawn asked, the sirens getting louder. The man ushered them all inside.

"You got explaining to do, missy."

The team sat down as the man rubbed his eyes.

"Now, why in the world are you and your friends out this late? The police were even after you!" the man whispered fiercely, making them feel nervous.

"Dad, you gotta listen to us. So-" Dawn started, but was cut off by another voice,

"You're kidding me? Who is up at this time of night?" a woman's voice mumbled.

She looked like she had just woken up, with her hair all messy, and her eyes droopy.

"Your daughter decided that it would just be splendid to return after such a long time in the middle of the night." her dad scowled.

"Well, at least she is back!" her mother whispered, engulfing her in a bear hug.

Dawn lightly returned the hug, and the rest of the kids stood awkwardly a few feet away.

"Oh, so these must be your other friends!" her mother said, giving them bear hugs also.

"Let's go sit down, your father is probably going to bed since you woke him and he has never been a night owl." her mother explained.

The children all sat in the kitchen, as her mother handed out some water for them all.

"So why are you up this late?" Camden asked.

Dawn's mother looked at the boy and put down her glass, "I work late hours." she simply replied.

"Well, that was a good thing since we would've been in handcuffs by now." Sapphire pointed out.

The rest of the kids agreed while Dawn's mother just smiled.

"Well, I'll let you stay the night, but you all got school to go to, so you should leave after breakfast," she explained.

They nodded, as they all scattered around, hoping to get a few hours of sleep.

~~

The following morning, everyone woke up to someone in the kitchen. When they went to investigate, they saw Dawn's father making them a little buffet of breakfast, with pancakes, sausage, eggs, and he even left various boxes of cereal out on the counter.

"Well good morning." the man said, as he flipped the last pancake.

They all mumbled a greeting as they sat down at the table. Sooner or later, everyone was eating breakfast.

When everyone was nearly finished, Dawn's mother came down the stairs, looking as if she had woken up a minute ago.

She came and sat down with the rest, giving them a sleepy smile.

"Alright, children, after breakfast, I think it would be wise for you all to head out to the rest of your families. School is important, but please keep in touch with your families. They all love you very much."

The children gave mumbled replies and in a few minutes, there were out for the last house.

~~

Sapphire took a deep breath before knocking on the door.

Her eyes widened when she saw her mother standing there.

She looked all proper, probably going to go to work.

The woman's expression changed from a normal, calm look to a shocked look in a matter of seconds.

"What are you doing here?!" she screeched, a faint sound of footsteps in the back.

Sapphire jumped a little from her mother's harsh tone.

She probably was mad, considering her kid just left without her knowing.

Suddenly, her father appeared.

He looked worn out, with dark circles under his eyes, his face pale and drained of its glow, and he looked considerably skinnier.

He came with a worried expression, but that changed once he saw his daughter's face.

"Honey, I'll bring you some tea, just stay in the living room and relax," he said, leading his wife to the living room, as he turned and gave Sapphire an apologetic look.

Once her mother was calmed down, and her friends felt more awkward, Sapphire's father let them inside.

They were lead outside to their deck as they just talked, the others introduced themselves.

"Well, although I know nothing of this magical world, have you guys been alright? You are sleeping correctly and eating plenty?" he asked.

The children nodded, surprised that this man barely knew them, but yet cared so much.

"Although I may never see you again, I hope that you are well and that you guys be careful and always have something to live for." Sapphire's dad said.

At this point, Sapphire couldn't take it anymore.

She felt the tears fall down and she shoved her face in her father's shoulder. He patted her back and let her cry. He saw the expressions of her friends -surprised, sad, and overall confused. After a few minutes, Sapphire collected herself and looked at her adoptive father.

"I love you."