The Night Runners (PREVIEW)

Chapter Two: What's the Magic Word?

February 9th

Abandoned School, Okija

6:16 PM

Wake up.

Ivie frowned, tried to open her eyes, then quickly shut them when the light stung her.

Wake up, said the voice in her head. You will soon be needed. Wake up!

Ivie groaned and opened her eyes to find the worried and tired faces of her friends hovering above her. She was irritated, a reaction she always got whenever her familiar contacted her like that. An odd tingling at her throat alerted her to the iron chain around it, and she reached for and failed to find her magic.

"Power Dampeners," Tobenna explained, plucking at his own chain. "Powerful ones at that. S.E.D.N.A can't hack them and they're keeping all of our powers suppressed."

A muffled groan made her look to the right. Tayo was leaning over a boy. He was around their age, with skin as dark as charcoal. Though he was sitting down, he was more than half of Tayo's height and in place of a Power Dampener was a thick gag on his mouth. His hands and legs had also been bound. Tayo tugged at the gag with all of his strength, but it stayed put and he let go, shaking his head.

"Who's that?" Ivie asked, staring at the bound teenager curiously.

"I don't know," Tobenna replied. He was running a hand along the walls of the cell, searching for a weak spot. "But we need to get out of here."

"How? We can't even use our powers."

"Perhaps our friend here can be of assistance." Tayo turned towards the boy. "Do you know where we are?"

The boy considered the Babalawo for a moment, then nodded.

"These chains, can you get them off?"

The nod this time was quicker and he bobbed his head around, trying to say something. Tobenna watched him for a few beats.

"Your mouth? That's what's keeping you bound."

The boy nodded vigorously.

"Well we can't get the gag off," Ivie said. "Whoever put it on him must not have wanted it removed."

"Do you know how to remove it?" asked the Babalawo intently. The boy's shoulders slumped and he shook his head.

"Worth a shot." Tobenna's forehead creased. "Ivie can you ask your familiar for help?"

The Witch stared at him. "You know about him?"

"I know of him. We studied Witches and I know you guys have familiars, spirits that you can call on to aid and advise you."

"My familiar is more of a pain than a help," Ivie said darkly, but closed her eyes anyway.

Sunlight? Any suggestions?

The Witch sighed and gave up after a few minutes of absolute silence. "Nothing. He probably thinks we need to figure it out ourselves. He's evil that way."

Tobenna turned towards their silent friend. "Tayo?"

The Babalawo shook his head. "I've been trying to contact the Orishas with no luck. Whatever this is, it's completely cut off my connection to both the gods and the House of Peace. I cannot even send out a psychic SOS."

"Well," the Mmanwu began. "I think it's safe to say that we're officially screwed."

"What do you think they going to do with us?" Ivie asked, eyes darting about.