Orange Shadow Magic: Awaken. Book 1

Chapter 15: Something Has Just Awoken

Avery watched Mattzew as they both flew through the bright tunnel which was made up of light, and had to listen to Mattzew's very cowardly and annoying comments.

"I CAN FLY, AVERY!" Mattzew called excitedly and his excited smile turned into a frown as Avery turned around and faced the glowing wall.

Avery pushed her sharp fingernails down her shimmering silver hair, and felt tears begin to fall down her face. "You know that's really offensive, right?" She asked, and turned her face at an angle where Mattzew couldn't see her, but she could see him.

"So? You can do it too, what are you so upset about?" Mattzew asked with total seriousness. "Are you jealous?" He asked, and watched as Avery spun around, fists raised, and ready to knock a blow at him.

"Please, just shut up," Avery said while giving Mattzew a harsh glare, knowing her evil side was getting the best of her. It was just that talking about once being free, but knowing you couldn't again was just a really hard feeling for her to cope with.

"Please, just shut up!" Mattzew repeated in a high pitched voice, making Avery's eyes bulge. It didn't even sound like her voice!

"Do you seriously want to do this right now, right here? Stop it or else..." Avery warned, her fists shaking as she used her strength to hold herself back.

"Stop it, Mattzew! Stop!" Mattzew mimicked while shaking his fists in the air.

"I'm warning you, Mattzew. Right now is not the time for playing games. We have to stick together and be a team, or the both of us won't survive out here," Avery said, ignoring the pain of not being able to fly again after this, and focusing upon their survival. She needed to stay focused, not for her, but for Mattzew. He wouldn't be able to do this on his own, but then again he probably couldn't open a jar of spaghetti sauce without her help either. Helpless Mattzew. There was no way Avery was going to tell him about her powers, she wasn't going to risk Mattzew thinking any less of her. Mattzew was scared and intimidated by Avery and that was just the way she liked it. Somehow, despite how mean he sometimes was, or how annoying he could be, Avery still liked a part of him. But she didn't know what part it was. Part of her wanted to leave him to die, but she knew she couldn't do that. She knew that if she helped him, somehow she would be helping herself as well, even if it meant exposing her secret. However much Avery wanted to leave him in the woods all alone, she had to bring him with her, because Avery could never admit this to Mattzew, but she loved him. They had kissed once, and she couldn't leave that same boy here to die. Abruptly, Avery saw leafy green branches hanging before them and before she could say, "DUCK, Mattzew," the light that had surrounded them subsided, and they were surrounded by a forest. But it wasn't just any forest, and Avery knew that. It was Ghosthaven, the darkened forest filled with ghosts. The trees weren't normal here. They could talk to each other and predict human movements. That wouldn't be a problem for Avery, but Mattzew was a human, and soon, this place would become a danger to him. She had to lead both of them out before the shadow spirits caught the smell of him. Shadowspirits were very fond of humans. The leaves of the forest were dark green, and barely any rays of light shone through the thick and bulky branches of the trees. You could hear scamperings, but couldn't see anything. Just the endless sandy path that had been formed centuries ago, and you could hardly see it, except when a few infrequent lamps dotted the pathway. Mattzew shrieked at the sight of what he thought was a ghost, but it turned out to be a branch that was covered in grey leaves.

"Oh Mattzew, we're done for now," Avery shook her head. That kid had no sense. Shadowlades and shadow spirits would be upon them in hours, if not minutes. They only had seconds to spare before the trees spread the word of their arrival. They had to run. Every second would count in the race against time, and in this land, they only had limited time before something very bad would happen. And worst of all, Mattzew wasn't used to that. She would only be slowed down or possibly killed because of his laziness. However, Avery couldn't leave him behind now. He was part of her, and her father could only say the same. If she left him, she would regret the decision for the rest of her life. But if she shapeshifted again, in front of him, she wasn't sure how he'd react.