The Other Life (new WKW)

Chapter [Yon]

aLakota-

"This is the arena," he introduced.

I hung by the entrance and watched all the kids in there train with various weapons and objects. One kid with hollow black eyes was seemingly practicing levitation on a huge boulder. Another held her hands out to her sides in a stiff manner, palms and fingertips facing forwards. Her fingers moved quickly and dexterously and her gaze was trained on what seemed like a puppet which danced not five feet away from her. The closest person to me bounced a flame from fingertip to fingertip before firing up his whole hand and then his entire arm, then both, his torso and head too, before his full body was a fiery entity.

I thought I saw someone beside me, but when I looked, there was no one there. Then I saw it again: a flash of white in the shape of a humanoid body, but when I looked again, the same empty space greeted me. At first I thought I was being stupid, but then I remembered where I was. It could be someone with the ability of being invisible appearing and disappearing to screw with me. Or someone with illusion talents or teleportation powers. So when it happened for the third time I was ready to find out. The second I saw the white, I whipped around, fist outstretched. I didn't hit anyone, so my first theory was bust. I didn't exactly know how to test my second or third, so I just kept my gaze focused on the same spot, in wait for them. At that point, I could have sworn I heard someone laugh, but I wasn't entirely sure. A few seconds later, I saw them - him, rather. From the few seconds he appeared before me, I couldn't really see his body clearly, only that he wore white clothes. Nor could I pick up on his hair color - I guessed black or brown - or age - he could have been anywhere between 15 and 25, though definitely not close to my age. What I could see, however, were a pair of soul-piercing bright green eyes - that winked at me.

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-Jacob-

As I ran back across the arena I chuckled to myself. I had too much fun messing with people using my speed. Though, the look on this girl's face when she saw me wasn't one of surprise, fear or confusion as so many faces were. This one wore a triumphant look on her face. How curious.

As I ran back towards her side of the arena, I saw a slightly indignant look cross her delicate features as she rolled her eyes and strutted away. How very curious indeed.

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-Lakota-

"That was Jacob, by the way," my tour guide informed me as I walked out of the corridor which bridged the arena and the rest of the floor together. "His talent is speed. He's the fastest we've got here. Well, on land anyway. Oh, and don't worry about the wink. He's a bit of a ladies man - he's British, you see." The way he said 'British' made it seem like Jacob wasn't.

I wasn't worried.

"Are you sure? You seemed pretty pissed."

I'm eleven. I don't care about that stuff yet.

"Eleven? That's why you're so small! You're pretty mature for an eleven-year-old."

I shrugged, even though he couldn't see me. I haven't got much to be immature about. I stopped walking and thought for a second. Hey, I just realized - you never told me your name.

"Haven't I? Well, the name's Léon and my pal over here with the super good hearing is Jamie." A pause. "He says hi."

I smiled. Hi back.

"Ah, and here we have arrived at--"

"Lakota."

I turned. Léon was silent.