Broken Genes

Chapter Fifteen

 I couldn’t believe it. How could I have not known that Mr H. was Margore? It all makes sense when I think about it, the things he said, the constant hints, the fact that a teacher was actually interested in me – I had a feeling that part was a bit too good to be true. We are sitting in my tiny kitchen, with Jase bombarding Margore with questions, but I’m hardly listening. My own mind is too busy whirring with its own questions to pay attention to Jase’s. Eventually Jase falls into a stunned silence and I take my turn at asking the questions. There are so many that I just choose the first one that comes into my mind. I regret not going for a more relevant one, but my previous doubts about why I didn’t identify Margore sooner, alter my choice.

“Why didn’t I recognize you? Or at least your voice? I hadn’t seen you but I had heard you before.” I ask. Margore looks relieved that I had asked this, and this both worried and surprised me.

“That would be the voice modifier I used. I know it seems stupid to you Sebastian, but it was important that you didn’t know my identity. You weren’t ready.” He says, staring at me, begging me to trust him.

“Fine, whatever.” I say. I hadn’t really listened to his answer since my mind was too busy trying to choose my next question. I pause as I find the one I need the answer to most right now.

I take a long, large breath and release it slowly. “What am I?” I ask, “Why can I do these things? Who are the others? What is all…this?” I plead. Margore looks down at the table and sighs.

“I can’t tell you all those things yet, kid. You’re not ready and you saw how close things have been getting. I can’t put you in anymore danger, especially when the others are only just getting started. You have to understand something Sebastian, you are different that the others, and I don’t know why, so you have to let me help you.” He replies. I sigh in defeat and nod my head slowly. Jase pats my back sympathetically.

“Fine. What do we do?” I ask, looking up at Margore. A smile spreads across his face and he abruptly stands.

“We train.” He says and starts walking towards the door. Jase and I exchange glances before rushing to go join him in the back yard.

Once outside, the cold air hits us like a cinder block. The sky is clouded over and there is a drowsy wind coming from the east. I hunch my shoulders and follow Margore to the tree line. He holds out his hand and gestures for me to stop, and I do as he says.

“Jason, go around and pick up as many rocks as you can find.” He says. Jase nods and gets to work. “While he does that,” he continues, “Sebastian I would like you to practice expanding your senses.” I nod and comply. I focus on my surroundings, I feel Jase’s aura along with the bright one of Margore’s. I search the surrounding area but find don’t see any threats. There is a river down the hill which I had never noticed before. Margore makes a sound of approval and asks me to see how far I can push out my senses. I expand my search and as I expand further and further, the feeling of pressure builds up. I stretch further until I can’t go any more. Margore tells me to relax and my senses snap back like a rubber band that had been pulled to tight. I open my eyes to see Margore smiling.

“Good work. You got further than I expected.” He says with a nod of his head. Jase is still scurrying around trying to find rocks. He looks happy to be involved.

“Margore?” I ask and he looks at me in response. I continue, “Why is your aura brighter than other things?”

“The things you call ‘auras’ are actually energies, and mine is bright because I hold more energy than a normal organism. But, I am afraid that’s all I can explain of the topic right now.” He replies. He then moves his head to look at Jase who is holding an armful of stones. He has make a small pile of them and as Margore see this, he tells Jase that it should be enough for now.