I am Number Twelve

Part Two

13

I chuck on the navy converse low tops I was wearing this afternoon, but I leave on my baggy t-shirt and sweat pants. I shrink and pack quickly in my bag, my chest, some food, some already shrunken weapons, clothes, water bottles, blankets, and the all important, money, a credit card of Lola's. I pack away my laptop, and I dig out my purple Aquillian pendant and put it on. I don't tuck it in. 

With my rucksack packed, I pull on a jersey, and leave the house through my front door. I walk up the drive way, silently thanking Ptolemy that Lola isn't home. I walk up to Jake's front door and knock. 

A few seconds pass before he comes to the door, then I hear the door being unlatched. 

He opens the door and his face is displayed with a look of surprise.

'Hi Ze-' I cut him off. 'Cut the crap, Eleven.' I say.

'What? Eleven? Cool necklace by the way.' He replies. I have it wrong. Shit. I'm shocked, and I must look horrible because Jake bursts out laughing.

'Don't worry Twelve, I'm kidding.' he smirks at me. And for the first time, I'm really angry at him. I punch his face as hard as I can. I feel a wave of power radiate from my hand. I break his nose, a few teeth, and possibly his jaw.

'Shit Twelve. Come inside.' I know what he means, but it comes out 'Sit Telve. Om iside' He looks pained, but also relived. That I'm Aquilian, I guess. 

He takes my hand and leads me down the hall. His house is very much like mine, just flipped around. He brings me into what I assume is his bedroom. Its painted blue, and there are a few pictures on a pin board above his bed. He closes the door, and looks at me. His face is normal.

'How... How did you do that?' I ask, my voice quivering.

'Self healing Leagacy. It comes in handy sometimes.' He sits on his bed.

'So, that tattoo? It's not really a tattoo, is it?' I say.

'Nuh uh. My uncle did do it, and I was only one, but he has a what they call 'useless Legacy'. He can- could, scar people, physically, or mentally. The day we left Aquillia, he burnt the symbol for number ten on me. We got it filed in by a tattoo artist because people asked too many questions. I have the same thing on my ankle, but that one was done by the charm.' He takes off his shoe, converse high tops, and pulls down his sock, revealing a much neater scar, unfilled with black ink. The one made by the charm.

'Speaking of the charm. Did you know Charlie was number Ten? I only found out this morning but is the Charm broken?' I ask.

'Yeah, I did know. He has the ability to manipulate time, so he can put off the charm breaking. It hasn't broken yet. But the thing is-'

'With him gone, we won't know when it will.' I finish his sentence grimly. 'Exactly.' He replies.

'How did you figure it out?' Clearly dumbfounded.

'I just read a letter I found ages ago. It was from Jack, my dead Cepan.'

'I think I remember that day, actually. That Susan left to help him.'

'That's Cath, right?'

'Yep.' He says. I'm jealous. He still has his Cepan.

'Well I just wanted to say, hello, again. It's nice meeting the real you.' I say, standing, forgetting all about leaving Lola.

That is, until that very moment. A massive bang erupts from the kitchen, making the whole house shake.

I quickly grab a mini dagger out of my bag, and enlarge it with my black cube, ready to fight. I take the whole bag and shrink it down small enough to fit in my pocket. I whip off my jersey, and throw it on the ground. I do this all in a matter of short seconds.