Unexpected Journey

The shadow thing

Marla finally fully came to and stood up. “Genna, I am so sorry, I blacked out”

Genna stared at Marla with angry eyes, “Why?”

“I don't know I just did.”

“Well, I think you got me just a little.” Genna uncovered her face so she could see. “Is it bad?” she asked with concern, lifting her hand for them to see.

A big scar mark had been left under Genna’s hand. They all gasped and jumped in surprise. Autumn, who had recovered however, walked up to her and took her hand. It almost seemed like she knew exactly what she was doing and what she needed to do. Genna trustingly walked into the natural light of the sun. No one knew what would happen, because Autumn didn't explain her motives at all, but simply just did what she knew.

Once they were fully in the light, Autumn hugged Genna. Genna felt awkward about it, but didn’t really know what to do next so she just went with it. Without warning Autumn’s symbol started to glow and a beam of green light manifested and came straight towards Genna cheek. With a small light she was miraculously healed.

Everyone's jaws dropped. Marla stood up, “How, just how...?” Everyone looked at her strangely. She threw her arms into the air “Magic!” she scowled. “I give up.” Marla stomped off with the little scientific faith she had left.

“So, how did you do that?”, Isaiah asked.

Hannah chuckled, “We know how…”

“Magic!” Genna said, taunting Marla by repeating her arm movements before.

Isaiah simply rolled his eyes, “Yeah, what I meant was how did you know  you could do that?”

“Well, I was at home when my dad came in with an aching back…” Autumn started to explain how she came across this new power.

Meanwhile Marla decided to wander deeper into the forest. She was still distraught after the whole scene that kept playing in her mind. She looked down at her hand and used her powers it summon her claws. Marla looked down at them for a few seconds while in pure, silent thought; then she heard rustling in the trees. Her head twitched toward the noise so fast that her claw tore her pants. Then she heard laughter; deep, mysterious, evil laughter. Marla took a step back and looked around to see what it was. She didn’t see anything nor did she hear anymore rustling. So, she sighed and turned around, only to be scared out of her wits by a shadow figure in her face. She jumped back and slashed it. That was all it took for it to disappear.

But then the voice spoke once again. “Well, well, well. Trying to take me out as you tried to do with your friends, eh?”

“What!? No, that was not me I…,” Marla cut herself off, thinking about what he had just said. “Wait... you were there?”

“What do you think, little animal girl?” The voice rudely called out. “ Hope you are not as stupid as you make yourself out to be, or else this might just turn out to be a waste of my time.”

“I am not stupid!” Marla grunted. “Don’t mistake me for yourself.”

“What did you say?!” the voice yelped, “Do you think that I’m something in your head?”

“If the shoe fits; a lot of things happened today, but I am sure you already know that.”

“Tell me little animal girl, can a thought do this?”

Suddenly, Marla felt a hand grab her shirt and pull her down. Before she could even react, she was on the ground looking up at the shadow she had saw once before. Marla took this opportunity and slashed at its leg, but her hand went right through. The thing just laughed at her attempt to hurt him and started to walk around her like some kind of super villain in a movie. Marla was so scared that she could barely move, but she managed to sit up so she could get a better look at it.