The Wards

Chapter Seven

~Back to Jet~

As soon as we were situated, Jaya spoke her mind.

"Well? What are you going to tell us? It better be good, because I'm still mad at you for skipping the meeting."

It was good. It was better than good. What I accomplished was basically a mental map of everything in thirteenth Ward, and a possible hint towards our trials.

~flash back to the morning~

I woke up almost as comfortably as I would back in the seventh Ward. The only difference was that the thirteenth Ward just didn't have the same sense of freedom.

I got out of "my" bed, stretched, found free clothes (score), and got dressed. I really don't think I need to go to this meeting, I thought. Both Jaya and Aeryn are going, and there is a whole new Ward to explore. I'll just leave them both a note, I convinced myself. After slipping a note under Aer's door, I headed toward the exit. The lady that gave all of us our own room stood at the front desk, staring at everything and nothing. I think it'd be fun to try to sneak past her, I mentally decided. Half way to the door, she hadn't noticed me creeping, but when I was three steps away I thought I was caught. She looked straight at me. I opened my mouth to explain that I was just messing around, but then she turned her head towards a girl, asking about the pool.

That's weird, I thought, it's like she didn't even see me. I shook off my confusion and headed out the door, and into the thirteenth Ward.

The thirteenth Ward was beautiful. The streets were brick, houses were Victorian, and buildings were older styles. I walked along the
Streets, acting like I belonged, and tried to memorize the streets and the oddities. After a good while, I came across some buildings that had weird circles on the side of them with number "13"s in them. I looked around a bit more, and noticed they weren't just on buildings. I turned, looking for someone to ask about it. I noticed a man, not to far from me, and walked up to him. "Excuse me? Sir?"

The man jumped, startled, and exclaimed, "Oh my! Where'd you come from? I didn't see you approach!" He laughed as if it was funny.

How'd he not see me? I came from in front of him? I shook off my confusion (for what felt like the millionth time) and started taking. "I'm sorry for scaring you, but I was just wondering.." I stopped talking. It may've been rude, but just as I was about to question the man, I looked at his neck. Around it, there was a medallion with a "13" in it. This can't be a happening, I thought, I have to ask Jay and Aer what they think these mean. It's all to suspicious to be coincidental.

~back to the meeting room~

"And right after that realization, I hurried over here," I finished, leaving Jaya and Aeryn confused.

"So," Aeryn started, "around the town, there are circles that are similar to some of our medallions with 13s in them, and some people are wearing them?" I nodded, happy I didn't confuse her.

"And you think these have to do with the trials?" Jaya questioned, receiving yet another nod.

"How, though?" I asked, as soon as there was silence.

"Well," Aer started, "I may have an idea. The places may, maybe, be where the trials are, and the people may be who run them?"

"That makes sense, or as much sense as it can," Jaya joked.

"But why didn't people see you, Jet?" Aeryn asked.

"I dunno," I answered, "I've always been sneaky, so maybe today I was just lucky."

"Maybe..." Aer drew out.

"WAIT!" Jaya yelled, but then wispered, "it could have to do with your 'powers'!"

I nodded. I still didn't believe the fact that we had 'powers', but I was too tired to disagree. Today has left me with a huge headache. I looked down the table, and near Aer, but out of her reach, there was a water bottle. I suddenly was thirsty.

"Hey Aer," I croaked, "could you hand me that water bottle?"

She stuck her hand out, but had no luck. She couldn't reach it. "Jet," she mini-whined,"why can't you get it?"

I, unlike her, full whined, "cuz I'm tireddd."

Aeryn, going for the dramatic affect, closed her eyes and fake used the force. What wasn't expected, however, was the water bottle actually going into her hands.

"No way," I said, eyes wide.

"Whaa?" Aeryn whispered.

"Well," Jaya clapped her hands, "Aeryn has the force."

"No," Aer shook her head, "it was just the wind."

"I hate to burst your bubble, but you just used telekinesis. I also believe that we..."

BANG

The meeting room door was slammed open to reveal Leif, the man Aeryn talked to, and the guy Jaya was with when I arrived. "Oh yeah!" I exclaimed, but quieted down to where only the girls could hear me, "we still need to talk about them."

"Crap," Jay whispered,"I was hoping you forgot about Nikolas."

My answer was interrupted by the so called "Nikolas" saying, "it's time for the medallion meeting!"

My face must've shown my confusion because Leif elaborated.

"It's time for all thirty of us to find the people with matching medallion."