THE GIFTED

CHAPTER 10

THE CAVERN

Andrew

If I could I would try to erase everything that happened fifteen minutes back. Watching Alexis in a near-death situation is bad enough, and then having to run away from a creature which looks kinda cool, to be honest, is even worse. I don't know anything about this one, unlike the Nuski.

I stand by my sister. She shows no signs of backing down, although I'm fairly sure that she is shaking to the core on the inside. Then the fighting begins. At first, I question if what I am seeing is an elaborate dance or a fighting sequence. Alexis moves with astonishing speed and agility. I guess she isn't freezing to death anymore. Zalen joins her, grabbing a pocket knife from his belt. I don't know what to think of him. He definitely has earned my respect and gratitude. He manages to remain levelheaded even in terrifying situations. As the creature remains focused on Alexis, Zalen tries to get an open shot at its sides with the knife.

But the knife's too small. We are forced to run. Zalen manages to slash a wound on one of its legs. That provides a distraction. The three of us sprint, not looking back once. At the speed at which we were running we could have run a hundred-meter race in ten seconds flat.

We come to a clearing, a part of the forest which is just an empty patch. No plants, no animals, no liquids except for a dribble of water pooling onto the forest floor from a pile of rocks on the ground. All around us, there are trees, but we can't run anywhere. Where were we to go now?

The creature is close. Sounds of its low growls echo through the forest, amplified as the sound bounces off the tree barks. Alexis is slightly trembling. She is scared. Zalen is clutching his forehead, he seems distant. He moves to sit on the rock. He closes his eyes while massaging his scalp. In my chest apprehension, worry and anxiousness flare up. I am not a fighter. The two people who can actually fight aren't in the best shape.

What am I to do?

I think about my family. I think about Mia. My sweet, caring, kind sister. What if I never see my mom, dad and sister, ever again. I make a quick prayer. Let Alexis survive. Let someone survive who can take care of our family. It should be Alexis because I'm nothing but a coward. When she needed me the most, I wasn't there. A guy who she met twelve hours back saved her. That's what hurts the most.

That is when a migraine catches me unawares. My head throbs, like a steady pulse. Then the realization hits me. Something I read in the Guide two days back comes to me, just a flash from a page in the book.

'In rare cases when a pair of Syndeontai are together and, at the same time, near the Cavern it is normal to experience severe headaches and nausea. This is a sign of the activation of the said Syndeontai's powers. The part of the brain that controls these extraordinary abilities will be activated. The signs last a few minutes and will recede after a while. After the headache and nausea recede the pair will be capable of exploring the full potential of their powers.' 

Me and Zalen. We both are Syndeontai. We both are Linked. We both are going to get our powers any second now. I shove Zalen over and join him on the rocks. Alexis looks over.

I can tell from her expression that she wants to pick me up, slap me on the face and tell me to get my sorry butt into the action. Or whatever will be left of the action.

Zalen looks at me. His eyes squinted in pain. A quick realization passes between us.

"Zalen" I call to him

"Yup"

"We are going to get our powers soon"

"What?!" He winces slightly, as the throbbing continues.