Mage Academy

You Don't Know Anything

"I'm not evil." I say firmly. A cool breeze tickles the back of my neck, like a hand stroking my skin. My Fire lights up the forest, casting shadows that look like creatures within the trees. I take a deep breath and the Monster, whatever It is, frowns, unhappy with my answer. But whatever hold It had on me is broken; I own my own mind now. "I don't know why I was called to you, but I know I am not going to follow you. Nothing you tell me will ever change that."

I deepen my stance, unsure how the Monster will react. It looks me right in the eyes, and I'm thrown by how intense Its gaze is. The red eyes stab into my soul, but I stand my ground. Eventually it moves to Max, and waits for an answer.

I turn to Max. He looks incredibly tired, his skin paler than ever, his dark eyes looking black and troubled. We all wait for him to speak. It surprises me that he doesn't answer more quickly, but I bet he is just overwhelmed. It would take a psycho not to be overwhelmed by all of this.

After a long moment, he shakes his head slowly. "You're wrong about Fire majors. You are the reason so many people don't trust us. You are creating a bad name for us all."

There is a silence, then the Monster clears It's throat. It isn't angry so much as bored. It expects us to buckle down to Its will, sooner or later. "You will never be welcome in your world. You will always be outsiders, even if you don't know it--"

"They know we aren't evil and if they don't we'll show them! We will never be like you. We aren't murderers." I cry out. The Monster frowns deeply, agitated.

"Murderers. Is that what you think we are? You think we just walk around the place, killing everything that comes our way?"

"The only reason you haven't killed us is because you think we will join you." I reply darkly.

The Monster glares at me, but slowly a blood curdling smile crosses Its face. "Do you think your mother is a murderer?"

My blood turns cold. I feel a wave of dizziness, and fight to keep myself standing. My voice comes out in a meek drizzle. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Or your father? Is your father a murderer, Malory?"

I take several shallow, shaking breaths."You know nothing about my parents."

"Oh I know your parents. I know them well," The Monster grins widely, and I have to battle to keep myself from breaking apart. "Sara and Will Floyd. You never got to know your father, did you? He disappeared when you were three."

"He was killed," I say quietly, tears breaking out of my eyes, pouring down my cheeks. "By you!"

"I didn't kill him Malory. Why would I kill one of my own?"

I shake my head, and collapse to the ground. I have no strength left. I weep painfully, my heart ripping itself apart.

"You are disgusting." Max hisses at the Monster.

"Maybe. But I'm not a liar." The echoing voice booms. Its grin has gone, replaced by a serious, angry expression. "What about your mother, Maxwell? What do you think happened to her?"

"She died when I was eight." Max growls, his voice filled with pure fury, but it breaks on the last word.

The Monster grunts, and when It talks, you can tell it believes every word it is saying. It turns to look at both of us, standing up straight, red eyes narrowing into slits.

"Your parents are ALIVE."

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!" Max screams, blasting Fire at the Monster. The forest turns red, and I cover my damp eyes from the blinding light. The Fire goes on for a long time. When it fades I am sweating from the intense heat. Max takes a deep breath and screams again, his voice laced with emotion.

A deafening silence.

A couple of trees are in flames. Max stands there, his black hair covering his eyes, panting heavily.

I curl up in the dirt, shoulders shaking from my hearty cries.

The Monster has vanished, leaving us in a burning forest, forced to watch our own magic at work.