Heather's Adventures: The Search for Maxamus

Chapter 74. Heather

"So this is just how it is now, I'm really on the run...alone." I told myself aloud just so I could hear my voice. I had recovered from checking myself over and calming myself down. I had made certain that I was alright and the man's powers didn't wound me any more than I could handle.

The strange thing was that the man didn't do too much external damage. Besides my chest feeling like a freight train rammed straight into it, everything else seemed fine. It wasn't until I tried to lightly use my powers to test them out that I understood what his powers did to me.

They drained most of my powers. Or attempted to.

He tried to weaken me so I couldn't counteract him. Only it wasn't as effective as he wanted it to be. My flames were very powerful to counteract it. Instead of making me the most useless person ever, some of my powers were drained. That man didn't know I had such a large power capacity and didn't use an incantation or a seal...or really anything to defeat me besides his raw powers.

I was weak, but that actually did work to my advantage. It hid my powers better. I was slightly more undetectable so now I could move through the forest to get out of this place and find somewhere to hide.

So there was no better time to run for my life.

I jumped down from the tree and took off running as fast as I could as far as I could in the direction away from the place I had escaped. I had to find civilization somewhere...although they probably wouldn't accept me back there. I was wearing a hospital gown and was barefoot. I probably looked like a mental institution escapee or something.

But even that didn't stop me. I had to keep going. My breaths were short and I was shaking my head frantically, holding back tears. What was my plan? What was I supposed to do? Usually I don't need a plan, I can wing it. That's my specialty. But right now I really was on my own.

"Calm down, think. Remember training. Think of this as training...no this isn't training this is the real deal come on Heath, you can do this I believe in you. No, no Max called me Heath...Max isn't here. Heath don't think like that. Think of your opportunities. Small tree branches can be used as swords. A large one could be a big sword. Small but thick could be a torch. Torch! That's it!" I created a ball of fire in my hand, turned around, and chucked it behind me as far I could. I saw smoke begin to rise. It was a distraction and a signal for help. That would keep them off my trail for a while.

I continued to run for miles before I finally tripped on the roots of a tree and fell, scraping my left knee. "Oww..." I moaned to myself as I limped on, covered in dirt and mud. I had found a small clearing to sit in and clean out my wounds with my fire before using the bottom of the sleeveless gown to create bandages. The gown was now singed at the bottom where I had torn it. I then had continued to limp on for perhaps another hour. It was now evening and I had finally found a cabin somewhere in these dense woods.

I was quick to limp to the door and knock, for I had seen lights on from the inside. "Please don't be the enemy please don't be the enemy." I had told myself, preparing for running away as fast as I could if necessary.

However, much to my surprise, a kid probably not much older than five or six was opened the door. She eyeballed me and screamed before running away, leaving the door wide open. I didn't even get to say a word.

The child's mother quickly ran to the door to see me. I was smart this time and before she could run away screaming I shouted as quickly as I could, "please help me they're out to get me!"

"Get in here quick! Halle close all the blinds and shut the windows. Child come on in, hurry up." The mother grabbed my by my wrist and yanked me in the door, slamming it behind me. "Who are you? What's your name and how did you find this place?"