Tale Through Time

II

Don't forget...

Do you remember when we were ten and my mark was first revealed. Everyone was outside during recess and our classmates squeals of joy were quickly transformed into silence. "Demon spawn" they called me, but what I was also had another name given by the ancients, "Gifted". Sure, I was gifted, but what gift was that? The gift of having the same girls who used to play with my hair spit in my face. The gift of having that guy that I used to like look at me with hateful eyes, gleaming with malice.

The only gift I gained was you. You stood up from the crowd of children with evil in their eyes. I was terrified wondering what you'd do to me, but you did the one thing I would have never expected. You held out your hand. I looked up at you trying to figure out what you were trying to do. Fight me? Kill me? But something was different about you and it wasn't your wild freckles, that bandage across your nose, or that toothy grin. No, what separated you from everyone else was your kindness. You did not want me dead.

-Hey, look at me. Don't listen to them.

You said and I placed my trembling hand in yours. You squeezed my hand and I felt like I was safe and I had someone to trust...you.

***

Do you remember when we were twelve and I was pushed against the faded brick wall, it was rugged and as my head smacked against it. I could feel the hot blood as it flowed down my scalp and into my neck. I pushed myself up with my left hand; I flinched and cringed multiple times as I slowly advanced upward. My eyes had grown brighter and my hair had started to turn a forest green starting at the roots, my mark still as bright and fresh as it had been the day I really met you.

I stared the boy straight in the eyes and he flinched, his brown eyes growing wide in fear as if he was the one who was getting beat up, that is what my eyes did to them. I managed to smile even as I felt my knees buckling down and my hands shaking from shook.

-Do you know why we are called wizards?

I asked my hands now on the wall struggling to keep me balanced, I was stronger now, but I still hated the idea of scaring kids with my powers. Today however it was a matter of survival for I knew of the punishment of being caught. First, they used the weapon then, they "purified" us.

-Do you want to see what I can do?

I say as my strength slowly comes back to me, at first I feel a tingling all over my body then, my pupils become completely green, then there's the first burning sensation and I know that the green aura has completely surrounded me. The boy screams and I hate it that I feel accomplished causing pain. I pause and cock my head to the right knowing that I look like death, weak and pale, but the boy is shivering.

I know the pain I've caused will scar and traumatize this boy for life but, as he runs away as fast as he can and trips falling on his scarred palms all I can think about is 'safe for another day'.

Do you remember when I was 14 and you were 16 and you called me a monster as you wiped the blood from your mouth. You had grown strong but your freckles were as bright and numerous as ever. You still kept those glowing emerald eyes and flaming ginger hair, but now I felt a change in your ideals.

I'd saved your life but in the worst way possible, you were never going to forgive me. Your fists were clenched and you had taken a step back another obstacle between us, the magical trees decorating another layer between us in there vibrant colors and flying petals. The grass was blood stained with mine, yours and...his. He wasn't dead, I made sure of that but I had caused him enough pain for 100 lifetimes. I would have loved to say that it had been an accident but then that would be lying, I knew exactly what happened.

He was on his back motionless his gelled glossy black hair fell over his face trying to cover his bleeding scars. His animal like features weren't noticeable though, his golden cat eyes or black print covering his forehead and eyes and two curving lines like tear drops falling from his eyes. The memory is still fresh in my mind. They ambushed us from the forest and each time I managed to get one away from me three more came in its, no his or her, place.

They were like me, Gifted, they were rogues with animal like reflexes, survival skills and physical appearance. But they were stronger, they had spent their whole life fighting just to live another day. I concentrated too much energy and in desperate attempt to bring it out I blasted it at the nearest one to me, the youngest one who was no older than me.

The pain, it was unimaginably powerful. His screams only lasted a few seconds before he was too weak to whimper. I tried to stop the magic flow but I panicked, sending another tsunami of pain at him and he fell to the ground shaking and then in less than 5 seconds he stopped moving altogether.

Then, the pride left him alone, they disappeared, gone, leaving the boy to suffer his pain alone. He must have been a new member to this group, or was this the way the rogues treated their pride?

As I walked up to heal him you walked away leaving me to fend for myself and this rogue on our own, but I don't blame you. In a way I was just like the rogues. At least I was alone with someone like me... a killer.