Several days have gone by since my so called Awakening. Joshua, Maya, and I have sought refuge in a cabin in the woods, far from any city. Maya had to ditch the car when we realized it was being tracked.
A fire crackles in the hearth, warming me from head to toe. I sit in the living room on a plush couch, a blanket wrapped around my slender frame. When I got up this morning, the sun still had not risen and now it was a quarter of the way in the sky. I stuck my fork back into the can that I had managed to open and speared another pickled beet. I popped it into my mouth and thought about the day we escaped the school. Maya left everything behind. She could never return to her family because of me. She made the greatest sacrifice of all and she wasn’t even a User.
There was something that was bothering me. Before President Lukus showed up, the soldiers at the office were shouting to contain the Magician. There were only three of us in that hall and only two of us had magic. It obviously wasn’t Joshua they were talking about, otherwise he wouldn’t have been left at the school with so few guards. Am I the Magician that caused this whole scenario?
I speared another beet and shoved it in my mouth as a door down the hallway cracked open slowly.
“Good morning,” greeted a tired Maya. I lift the blanket higher on my shoulders and swallow my food.
“Morning,” I replied, giving a small wave with the hand that holds the fork. Maya smiles sleepily. “Is Joshua awake yet?” Ever since we got to the cabin, Joshua and Maya have been sleeping in the same bed so that Joshua can comfort her when nightmares make her unable or unwilling to fall back asleep.
Maya shook her head. “Not yet.”
“Did you sleep any better last night?” I questioned, putting my fork and can on the table in front of me.
Maya shook her head again. “Every time I close my eyes, I can only see those unfortunate kids that died on Monday. It’s all my fault,” she whimpers, tears welling in her eyes.
“Oh hush,” I say, patting the open spot on my left. “Let me protect you while you sleep.” Without protest, Maya sits on the couch and rests her head on my shoulder. It doesn’t take long for her to drift off. I wrap my arm around her shoulders and rest my head on the top of hers.
Joshua emerges from the bedroom an hour later, startling me from a sleep I don’t remember entering. Maya sits up and rubs her eyes. I yawn and stretch.
“We should try to find some meat today,” he announces. “I’m sure we can find a weapon of some sort in the shed out back. You can blast the lock off right Kendra?” His eyes are on me.
I smile and stand up, shedding the blanket from my shoulders. “Of course. That should be a piece of cake.”
I get up and shrug the blanket off of my shoulders. “Alright, let’s go. Are you coming Maya?” I question, looking to her on the couch. She nods and gets up, following Joshua and me outside.
The shed isn’t far from the back porch and before I know it, I am staring down at the lock. It’s a simple key padlock, gold and silver in color. I point a finger at it and concentrate on it, willing it to blow open. There is a pop and the lock flies off. Maya giggled and Joshua pushes the door open. Sure enough, sitting right on the bench to our left rests a shotgun and ammo.
I scoff. “Okay, I wasn’t actually expecting to find something that we could use.” It had been almost a century since owning a gun was legal. The military are the only ones who have access to the weapons let alone the ammunition.
Joshua laughs and picks up the rifle. “Have more faith in me!”
“Alright big bad hunter man, go catch us some food,” I replied, trying to keep from laughing.
Joshua loads his pockets with shells. “Let’s just hope it works still.”
Maya looked at the gun, her face blank. I couldn’t tell what she was thinking, which was a first.
“Let’s go back in while Joshua finds us food,” I say to the blank Maya. She snaps out of whatever daze she was in and smiles.
“Okay.”
Maya and I head back to the house as Joshua shuts the door to the shed. I return back to the pantry of the cabin, my stomach still not completely full. Whoever owns this place keeps it well stocked with canned foods. I grabbed a can of shredded chicken and pulled the tab up, releasing fragrant fumes into the air.
“There was chicken in there?” ask Maya, coming up behind me.
I smile. “Yeah, want some?” I go back into the pantry and get another can of chicken.
I toss it to Maya, who almost drops is, and laugh. “All yours.”
There is a gunshot from outside and I drop my can of chicken. Maya and I catch eyes contact and bolt for the front door which is closest to the gunshot.
I threw open the cabin door and was instantly greeted by someone that I did not know.
“Who are you?!” I half yell at the green eyed blonde woman staring at me.
Her red lips curl into a smile. “No one you would know but I know all about you Kendra Covel.”
I was instantly on edge. Maya is standing behind me and peaked over my shoulder.
“I know you too, Miss Maya Blanchard.”
I instantly curl my hands into fists. “I’d suggest leaving now. I’ve somewhere to go and I am not in the mood to be held up.”
“Don’t worry. Joshua is fine. He’s actually being talked to by someone as we speak.”
Maya pushed in front of me. “Who the hell do you think you are?”
The woman in front of us only widened her smile. “My name is Marsha. I was sent to find you by Damien Matthews, the leader of the Rebellion.” She held out her hand to me, completely ignoring Maya.
I took a step back. “Why? What do you want with me?” My fingernails were biting into my sweaty palms.
“You have to know by now. Kendra, you’re possibly the strongest Magician that anyone’s ever heard of.”
