The Aegis of Noah Hart

9-My Aegis

"OK, I'm coming!"

What do you mean, oh Kay? Did you forget my name already?

Noah frowns. He did in fact forget her name. The girl groans as she corrects him.

I told you. It's Kalista!

Noah smirks feeling a but embarrassed but excited at the prospect fo talking exclusively to the pretty girl with his mind.

Sorry, I won't forget this time. OK, let's-

Why do you keep saying that...oh Kay?

Noah blinks.

I mean it's "OK" he signals with a thumbs up.

She stares blankly at him. Noah shakes his head then explains further.

"OK" means all is correct or safe or good. It means I understand you.

She raises a thumb to the boy who promptly retunes the gesture with a smile.

Oh, I see. Sometimes my friends would call me Kay for short. I thought you were-I was mistaken.

It's...that's all right, Kay if I can call you that.

Kalista nods eagerly and looks away. Her eyes beaming. 

Never let a boy call me Kay before...

As Noah watches the princess, a memory suddenly comes to his mind, one that isn't his yet feels familiar.

Noah watches a much younger Kay and two of her friends runs around a tree. They all laugh as each girl tries to tag the other with blue-dyed sand tucked in their hands. He doesn't know these girls, but the princess does. He watches as a blonde girl named Hilly lunges forward to tag Kay only for her to dodge allowing for a redhead named Baila to tag her back. Hilly squeals in protest as the other girls point and laugh at her and Kay yells out to her, "jokes on you Hilly."

Noah smiles to himself.

"Jokes on you, Hilly? Seems like you have cool friends!"

Noah laughs as he says the phrase to himself. But happy as the memory makes him feel, the Seen freezes in place. Her expression full of anguish.

What's the matter?

The girl shoots him a glare and turns to run.

Come on, if you're coming!

Uh oh! Did I make her mad? She's mad I can see her memories?

Yes-no. Stop talking!

I'm not talking. I'm just-

Stop thinking!

Noah groans and does his best to focus his attention on his feet as he runs along the curb after the girl. The Hart boy quickly recognizes the poor planning of his outing as his bare feet connect with damp grass and the occasional piece of gravel. Noah winces as his legs begin to burn but knows he can't allow himself to think too much about the girl in front of him even though his plan is to help her.

What irony? I can't think about her or I get her thoughts. I can't look at her because she's beautiful and she'll know I'm looking at her-

Suddenly the princess makes a sharp turn to the right and vanishes before his eyes. Noah stops hard on his heels and pivots his around in every direction. The interstate a glow to his left. Rows of trees and a concrete fence to his right. No sign of the girl.

"KALISTA!" he yells aloud. "HEY! WHERE'D YOU GO? I'M SORRY! COME BACK!"

"NOAH! Keep up!"

The redhead hears the girl's voice coming up ahead though he sees nothing. On a hunch he steps a few paces forward then stops. Again he sees nothing to the left but miles of asphalt but this time when he looks to the right, he finds a door frame like structure inside of which his eyes see the girl standing in a forest under sunlight.