Halflight

Past and Future

"Refia?" Tony said, running up to his cousin. "How-how?" he said, his eyes tearing up. "They told me you died..."

"I'm fine, I got out before the break-in and then they brought me here. I've been on a scouting mission the past few months. So you're the new Halflight everyone's talking about? You've come a long way." She said, patting his head lightly. "Come on, now, calm down and focus."

He wiped his face and turned to the King, who began his solemn speech.

"Today, I have selected all the Halflights, along with our most decorated warrior, to complete a special task. I need you to go on a scouting mission- to Rome."

There were several gasps throughout the room.

"Yes, it seems impossible, but it's very necessary. It appears the Romans have developed a new weapon, one that could be extremely destructive. We need you to go on a reconnaissance mission to scout out its location, and its potency. I have chosen the five of you for this."

Tony was the first to speak, freed of his temporary stupor. "When do we leave?"

"Now." said the Queen, raising a hand. The ground fell away underneath them, and they plunged into an abyss.

For the next few minutes, all anyone could hear was bumping and crashing as they all made their way noisily down the chute, followed by pops and uh ohs as they slid in the darkness. Tony noticed a pinprick of light, which grew until it swallowed them.

The teens landed on a boat, flailing around in a tangled mess. Refia was the first one up. "I've been dismissed better ways, but that isn't important now." The rest struggled to stand up, but then she shoved down the gas lever on the small, white speedboat. They were all thrown down except Adrianna.

"This reminds me of when I was a kid, when we would go out on the lake!" she giggled, water splashing onto her face. Tony, finally up, tugged at her hand. He gestured downward, and the pair descended into the boat's insides.

"How do you know her?" asked Tony.

"She's my oldest friend. Oh by the way, you have her old job."

"Oh...so that's where she went." Said Tony, with a faraway look in his eyes.

The Luz household, eight years ago.

"Give it back Holly! It's mine!" screamed little Tony, grappling with his sister for his teddy bear.

"Ummmm.... That sounds like a personal problem to me." said Holly, finally grabbing the bear away from Tony. He fell on his butt on the tiles, sore and sad that she had taken his toy. Immediately, a shadow appeared over her shoulder.

"Give. It. Back." whispered Refia, into Holly's ear. She didn't need another warning, so she apologized, helped up her brother, and dusted off his clothes.

"Reffie!" yelled Tony, running into his older cousin's arms. She was six years older than him, but she was pretty much the nicest person he knew.

"Wanna watch tv?" she asked, pulling his arm. He nodded quickly, and snuggled next to his favorite cousin for what seemed like the millionth time. He yawned once, twice, then drifted off to sleep. He woke up to see his house in darkness, the only light a flickering candle in the corner. One of the windows lay shattered, scattering tiny shards of glass all over the floor.

In the corner was his sister, with her head on the desk, her tears dripping off it onto the ground. Splash. Splash. Splash.

"Holly, where's Reffie?" he asked. His sister looked up at him with a red, puffy face.

"Dead." she replied. His vision blurred, and the floor swayed beneath his feet. The shadows of the room crept from their corners and swallowed him whole. He had passed out for the first time in his life.