Manufactured Magic

III.

SNAP! I stepped on another twig.

"Cam, you lied to me!" I said. "You told me you weren't going to bring me to woods and murder me!"

She laughed, "Exactly, I said I wasn't bringing you to the woods and murdering you. I'm just taking you

somewhere."

I rolled my eyes, she still found time to be sarcastic even when she was freaking me out, "Well, Miss Tourguide, when will we get to this 'somewhere'?"

She was quiet for a few minutes while we continued walking. I noticed that she was still holding on to my hand, tightly I might add, and I started to blush; it wasn't just because her hand fit perfectly into mine.

Cameryn came to stop in front of a tall, wide, oak tree, "We're here!"

Even as we came to a stop she didn't let go of my hand, which I was grateful for. It was nice knowing someone I trusted was near.

"We're at a tree Cam," I said. "How can we be 'here'?"

Cam was about to respond when she was cut off by some guy who came from behind the tree, he was medium height, buff, and blond, "Woah ho-ho." the blond dude said, putting an arm over Cam's shoulders. "What do we have here Ms. Walters?"

I don't know why, but I immediately got angry at what the guy was doing.

"This," Cam said, removing the guys arm from her shoulders and walking over to me, placing her hand on my arm. "is Alex Jackson."

The guy's face paled as soon as the words left her mouth, "Oh uh, my bad." He stuck a wobbly hand out to shake mine, "I'm Ryan."

"Nice to meet you." I said, shaking his hand. "But, why are you in the woods?"

"I could ask you the same question." Ryan said.

Cam swatted his arm, "You know exactly why he's here Ryan."

"And yet I don't!" I reminded her.

"Oh, yeah." She said looking at her toes, sheepishly.

"Cam," I asked. "Why are we at this tree?"

"This tree, Alex," Cameryn replied, "is the resistance."

"The resistance?" I asked, "The resistance for what? Paper companies?"

Behind Cam, Ryan scoffed. Cam quickly turned to him and gave him a look, as if to say 'cut it out'.

"Okay, this is going to sound really weird, but I need you to try and believe me," Cam said desperately.

"Shoot, anything to help me understand what's going on," I responded.

She took in a deep breath before saying, "So you know how my parents and your dad were working on that cure 12 years ago when he died?" I nodded. "Well, when the protester bombed the place, the chemicals from the cure were released into the air. And for some of those who breathed it in; including the bomber, it changed our DNA. Giving us manufactured magic."

"Woah, woah, woah," I said, trying to understand, "So your saying, when my dad died he created this super awesome chemical giving people magic, including the guy who killed him? Who is somehow still alive?"

"Yes, and he's trying to kill you." she said.

"That's just great." I sighed, "So, by us do you mean you and me?"

She nodded, "Along with everyone through that door and Ryan."

He waved from behind her, "You wanna check it out?"

"Sure, why not." I agreed.

"Ms. Walters," Cam glared at Ryan. "do the honors."

Walking back over to the tree,Cam pressed her hand against the trunk, and the three of us entered a dark, but white, hallway.