The Adapted World

Overwhelmed

When we left the hotel, he led me into the woods. Strange, I thought we were meeting up with his teacher. After walking for awhile, I saw a small light opening, shining through the trees. When we reached it, it just turned out to be a large empty piece of land with nothing on it. Just grass. The land was shaped as a perfect circle closed in by tall, thick trees. There's also a clean small pond slapped right in the dead center of this useless piece of land. The water looked surprising clean and light blue.

"What does he expect me to do? Swim in that water?" I snickered.

"You can if you want to."

I turned to Alex to respond but he just nodded his head and pointed past my head. I turned back around and saw a man staring into the pool. It was his teacher.

"You never told me your name." I accused.

"Joel," he smiled, "but some call me Joe."

"Or teacher." I rolled my eyes.

He laughed, "Yeah, you can call me what you want for now."

"For now?" I raised an eyebrow. If he thinks he's gonna be my teacher, he needs to think again.

"Moving on, I wanted to teach you magic."

"Who said I wanted to learn magic?" I crossed my arms.

"I did. So, I heard you liked water."

"Alex told you about peeping at me while I was bathing? Yeah, he's a pervert." Joel laughed while Alex blushed and glared at me warningly. "Yeah, I like water." I said uninterested.

"Then is just the place for you to begin." I nodded at the pool.

"Wow, how many more perverts do I have to meet."

"Don't flatter yourself. I'm only asking you to put your feet in it." He replied, with a  hoarse voice. Offended, I went to the pond and dangled my feet in after I took my shoes off. I looked back, and saw the boys talking about 10 yards away.

"Ugh, what was the point if you're just gonna talk to each other." I said to myself. I stared into the water and zoned out.

I thought over the dream I had last night. About how much I missed my mother. The anger that I felt towards her. When Alex stayed with me until the sun and we gave up, and suddenly we heard a big scary noise, followed by eerie silence. I remember it like it was yesterday. We rushed to the end of the isle and looked out. We looked around and saw cars smashed into one another in a long line. Kids roaming the streets. Some cried and some looked utterly lost and bewildered. Papers, coffee, groceries, boxes, and purses were scattered on the sidewalks and in the parking lots. We went into every building we could find and couldn't find any adults. Why did they disappear? Why that day? No kid ever deserves to lose their parents.

"You have a lot of magic within you." I jumped. Joel was standing on the other side of the pond next to Alex. "You have the amount that takes years for an average person to gain. Alex was right."

What is he talking about? And why is there steam in my face? I looked down. The water was boiling and steaming. Was that me? Why am I not burning? The color was also different. It was like the color of a bubble. It had light rainbow colors in it and it mixed so beautifully.

"Why is it boiling?" I asked, alarmed.

"It's your magic."

"But I don't know how to use magic."

"Magic is the strongest when you tune into your strongest emotions.

"Oh..." I stared into the water, captivated.

"And also, when you meditate, you gain more from nature." I thought over all the times I meditated when I was on my own. It always gives me a peace of mind.

"I knew it." Alexander looked smug and prideful.

"Whatever. All I did was boil water. Some kids can spit fire." I replied nonchalantly.

"You did that unconsciously without breaking a sweat." He pointed out.

"Actually I did."

"Only from the steam you made."

"I don't care. I'm not interested in doing magic." I got up and left with my shoes in my hands. It's no coincidence. It's the reason my mom is gone. Why all the adults are gone. What else can explain why it happened at the same time kids discovered magic. When I made it to the hotel, I went in their small public bathroom and locked the door. I looked in the mirror. I never looked in one of these things, there was no point. I have long, wavy brunette hair, small nose and lips. Blue eyes, and very faint freckles just above my cheekbones and across the bridge of my nose. It doesn't blend well with my pale skin. I don't know what got into me earlier. It's like I'm getting more emotional. Maybe it's because I haven't had a chance to gather my thoughts alone for awhile. Someone knocked on the door.

"Ava?" Alex. Of course. "You okay?"

"Yeah." My voice shook involuntarily. "Why wouldn't I be?"

There was a long pause.

"If you need me, I'll be right here." He said quietly. Another long pause.

I opened the door and hugged him. He didn't move for a minute, but then hugged back.

"Thank you." I whispered. He understood.

"I'm just keeping my promise." He said, in a serious tone.

"But I'm such a jerk."

"I won't forget you said that." I pushed him away as he laughed. Then he smiled, "That's what makes it fun."