Earth's End

The Wrong Move

"Okay, since you've confirmed what we thought had happened, we need to go back and correct it," Kelly was saying walking back and forth across the living room. I had been 'checked out' of the 'Hospital' and given a pair of Elena's clothes. Elena even did my makeup, which I didn't usually didn't wear because it was such a hassle. And her shoes were killing my feet, even though I wasn't even standing up which distracted me slightly from what Kelly was saying. But I guess that was an upside considering just about everything that came out of his mouth was illogical nonsense. I mean, go back to correct something? Are these people maniacs that don't understand the laws of physics?

"We already know how to get there and to be careful of what we do because it might have a butterfly effect. But what we don't know is how we are going to stop the void from closing," Alex continued, he had sprawled himself out on the couch even I had to admit, he looked comfy. That was until Raven had walked in and collapsed next to him and cuddled into his open arms. I think she was jealous too.

"Alex this is no place for Raven to be. She's too young," Allison scolded and sent him a glare. She was sitting at the edge of her seat, hanging off of every word that Kelly and Alex were saying, probably making sure she knew what was going to happen and make sure she does everything right because that's the way she is. Which wouldn't be a bad thing if she wasn't Allison.

"She's fine," Alex said. His arms had moved around her protectively and Kelly even had to tell her off for being so uptight.

Over the next three hours, we sat there talking about a plan. Jacob, Zachary, and Bianca had also joined the conversation, respectively. The nonsense was all around and I felt a bit dizzy so I had to step away a few times and they filled me in when I got back which seemed even worse than when I was in the room.

When they had finally finished talking, I stepped out of the room and grabbed a glass of water. That was the longest I've ever gone without correcting anyone's absurd ideas. I felt someone come up behind me, it was Zack. And he looked almost sympathetic, "Don't mind them. I've always considered them crazy and I've been them with them longer than you have."

"You are so unlike your brother," I muttered in appreciation. He gave me a questioning look and explained, "He would never say anything like that, ever. He's too energetic and would practically believe anything. I mean he actually believes that his sister killed 12 people by creating a storm? I mean I believe that there was a storm that killed those people, what I don't believe is that she created it."

"Actually that's one of the only things that I do believe because I was actually in her room when it happened," he said, beginning to do the dishes.

"You were?" I questioned. I grabbed a towel and began drying them and following Zack's finger for where they go.

"Yeah, she was really mad. I could practically see her getting angrier by the minute and she burst. Her head fell back and her arms spread out and this light came out of her and went straight up, through the ceiling and into the sky. The next thing I know, rain is coming down sideways and the window broke from so much pressure that it made me fly backward into the wall behind me."

I looked at him skeptically and grabbed the last pan that he just put down. I dried it and he took it from me and put it away. I still didn't believe that she created that storm. That would be completely illogical.

Just then, Kelly entered the room, "Izzy, because we are short on rooms you are going to have to share a room with Elena. Is that all right?" He waited for me to nod before continuing, "Good, she insisted on it. Don't ask why I have no idea." And he left, just like that. But I had noticed that he didn't look me in the eye when he said that last part, which means he was lying, he does know why but he doesn't want to say. I didn't care that he didn't tell me, I'm too tired to care.

"I guess that means I have to tell you where her room is," Zachary said, dropping his head as if to say he hated explaining things, "Up the stairs, down the hall to your right. Her door is the one on the end."

I nodded and followed his instructions and entered Elena's room. She was already there, looking at the stack of books on her nightstand looking frustrated. "What's wrong," I asked, and she jumped like I scared the crap out of her.

"Oh, it's just you. Bianca told me that she was going to let me borrow all the books she really likes, but see the thing is, they are all nonfiction. She also left a note saying she read them all last night." She waved the note in front of my face. "Anyways, do you like my room? I cleaned it, specially, considering it's always a mess."

I looked around. I have to admit, it did look pretty cool but she did seem a little obsessed with pink. But then again, I'm probably one of the only girls who aren't, "I really like it," I replied, serenely.

She smiled really big, "Thanks!"

"There's just one problem," Her face fell and I continued, "The word smile on your poster needs to be changed to hugs." She ran up to me and gave me the biggest hug I've ever gotten from her. I hugged her back and when she pulled away, I asked the question, "So, where's your sister?" Wrong move.

She collapsed into a ball of tears. "Oh my god. Are you okay?" she began screaming and I began to feel horrible. I sat down next to her and let her head rest on my shoulder, "I'm sorry," I said, even though I still had no idea why she was crying.

I heard the pounding of footsteps on the stairs and doors opening in a hurry. The footsteps were getting closer and closer until...

BANG!!! The door opened faster than you could have said 'Help', "What the hell is going on?" It was Amirah. I could tell by her eyes, the way they look at you with such seriousness, but her personality was much more complex than that. That much I remember. Madison appeared behind her, looking like she was about to burst into tears as well. But that was normal for her, she always looked that way.

"Well?" Amirah asked, "Are you gonna tell us or are we gonna die of old age?" See, she was being dead serious but with a sense of humor.

"To be honest," I began slowly, "I have absolutely no idea."

Amirah gave me a look that said 'I don't believe you', but she doesn't say that. Instead, she says, "Did you say something about a certain person?'' She gave me a hinting look in her eyes and I realized she knows exactly why Elena was crying.

But how did she know? Unless... Elena always acts this way when someone talks about her sister, "Umm... Yes? Is that bad?" Elena let out another bawl and I realized that it was.

"Maybe we should talk, without Elena around, so she doesn't get upset, " she suggested and Madison nodded, "Alex!"

"There's no need to shout, I'm already here," Alex replied, pushing past the two before relieving me of Elena.

I got up, following Amirah and Madison out the door. Then, I stopped and turned back to look at Elena, still crumpled in a ball on Alex's lap, bawling. I gave her a sympathetic look mixed with an 'I'm sorry' and followed the two girls into another bedroom, a few doors down. Madison closed the door behind us and we took seats on the floor.

Amirah was the first to speak, "There are other safe places, not unlike this one, for those who are like us, all over the world. It is for the safety of our race and to maintain our population. But someone, a human, found out about one of them. He got scared of us, and what we could do and turn violent."

"Wait, did he find out about this one?" I interrupted and they both nodded.

"She was the only one awake, at the time, and grabbed a weapon to arm herself," Madison continued in her gentle voice, "Unfortunately, the man used the weapon against her. She," her voice caught, "was stabbed in one of the ribs. She screamed for help and the only one who heard her was Allison. She killed the man, from behind, making a perfect blow to the heart," Madison shook her head as if to say she couldn't go on so Amirah took over.

"Hailey soon died from drowning in her own blood."

I gapped. Hailey died from someone trying to attack her? Somehow, she seemed too strong and independent to have died in that way. And Allison? Allison was the only one to have heard her cry if help? Maybe that's why she's such a jerk to people. They don't understand what she went through. But that doesn't excuse the fact that she judges everyone by their cover.

"Allison, was the only one to hear her?" I gapped. No wonder why Elena was in such distress. She probably thought that it was her fault, not being able to help save her own sister. The other two were nodding slowly, "Is that why she's rude to everyone and is so stuck up? She hasn't gotten over the image of death?" Amirah and Madison continued nodding.

"She wasn't like that before. But then again, death always changes people. This time, however, it was a change for worse, rather than better," Amirah explained, and I looked off into the distance, not really knowing what I was staring at and it felt as if no time was passing at all.

//The picture is of Madison