“Winning doesn't mean a victory. All of your wins can become the victory we all need."
A stranger to Georgia
Sophia tried to get comfortable in bed but she couldn't settle. She tossed and turned for what seemed like forever though had she checked the clock it was only twenty minutes when slumber took her.
"Nice of you to join us." Graham stared at her. "What took you so long?"
When she looked around she'd joined them huddled as strange looking purple coloured birds with sharp orange and red curved beaks flew at them trying to peck at them all. She exhaled long and slow. "I wished I'd stayed awake."
"So do I." Graham tried to swat away at the bird as it managed to draw blood from his arm. In anger he actually punched the creature, it screeched as it flew towards the ground landing lifeless. A strange light seemed to glow around his fingers which caused Sophia to forget all about their winged attackers, she was trying to understand. No one was really helping them and yet they were it was a strange thing to her.
Georgia had her pen in her shaking hands but it didn't turn into a sword, well a lot of good that was. She was looking for a weapon for something because her tiny hands wouldn't be much use at punching like Graham's. I can do this, she thought as she bent down and picked up a handful of rocks. Another screech as Aiden had punched one of the creatures and it fell away from its rabid attack.
After a moment of gauging the weight of the first rock she threw it hard at the body attached to the claws and beak that were heading for her face. There had to be some benefit from the sports she had played all through school and with a silent prayer it made contact.
She was concentrating on taking out as many of the murderous flock that she could and hadn't noticed what her friends were doing. It was like she had entered her own bubble when a female voice entered her brain. A strange unfamiliar voice that seemed both ethereal and completely maniacal at the same damn time.
"Imagine this." The voice in her mind said imagine the last rock in your hand is yours to control. It's that simple it truthfully is. You can harness your mind and cast spells. I will show you, teach you and be your guide."
Okay she was going completely crazy perhaps the birds were indeed rabid and the scratch she'd received had let the madness in. She threw the last rock, this one was a little larger and heavier. "Trust me." The voice said softly as her hand rose not at her command but at the command of the voice in her head. "Close your eyes." She noticed that she was in control of her actions as she started to imagine pushing the flying rock into the birds hard, and one by one they would fall. The screeches barely audible to her as the voice talked to her.
Then with no warning the birds all started to sing like the cacophony was their communication and they left.
"What the eff." Aiden asked Sophia.
She didn't hear him as the voice was still in her mind talking to her and she wanted to listen. "You have magic in you Sophia but how we help you learn and work with your skill I do not know. I believe in you."
"Sophia?" He shouted this time, right in her ear.
"Whatchadothafor?" She said in shock as if she had just been woken from a great dream and slept. The words slurring together into one phrase.
"Dude, you just did a woowoo thing with your hands and then a rock was all shiny and flying. What was that? I'm all for getting rid of the crazy claws and beaks but that was weird crap." Aiden said.
"Honestly I don't know. I haven't a clue I heard a voice and the voice did it all." Sophia said.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
"The voice didn't do it all dear Sophia." A stranger walked into the clearing where they stood. She hadn't noticed how it looked similar to the one they liked near school when she was being half killed by the crazy birds. "For it to work you must have had some magical talent."
"Now I know you're talking some absolute bullsh." Aiden said being cut off by the stranger.
"There is no need to use that language, it is forbidden at your school and it shows you have a lazy mind." The stranger's voice went deeper.
"Chill mate." Aiden said, holding his hand up in a conciliatory way.
"I am also not your mate. Guide may be a good term. Trainer where I can be. I can promise I will do what I can for as long as I can. Yes I know I'm speaking in riddles but some things cannot be rushed even if we have little time. If you were told and shown everything without thought you would shatter into molecular pieces for while you are not without gifts you are definitely not epic beings."
Sophia shook her head, anger brewing inside of her. "If we are not epic enough for you, go and find someone more worthy."
He laughed at her, he actually laughed as he flicked his hand and she fell onto her backside. "We were indecisive, slow and you were chosen, at random maybe but the rules do say there must be a fair fight and perhaps the random choice gave us something amazing. A group of gifted teenagers who are crossing into adulthood with just the skills we need." He offered her his hand to pull her to her feet and she seemed to float back to a standing position. "Not one of you is asking the questions you need to ask yet, I'm sure you will as you see more."
The stranger moved away from her to speak with Graham and Georgia.
"Don't think I want to ask the right questions, this is all just some drug enhanced fever dream I'm sure and we'll come out of it soon." Aiden whispered to her.
She smiled at him as he tried to lighten the mood but her brain couldn't move on.
"We need to get some actual sleep sleep, we have classes and to deal with Georgia wanting that school council place. We've only got a few months left, and if we believe what we keep seeing all this is enough to deal with on top of real life."
The stranger glanced up from his conversation and winked at her. "This is real too," he said, waving his hands around. "So very real it is a fight for everything, school councils, exams none of it matters if you all don't win."
She scrunched her eyes and shook her head.
"Not what you wanted to hear huh?" Aiden asked softly.
"Not at all, but I do need some rest." It was as if her brain listened and she wasn't with her friends anymore and she drifted into a dreamless sleep.
She woke before her alarm and she felt rested. She hadn't felt so content in months, maybe years even though she knew full well she shouldn't be. Yet she felt ready for her day and ready to battle what was needed.
She'd headed to the dining room for breakfast after consuming the pop and chocolate because she was so hungry. It seemed living two lives made for a hungry girl and when she saw all her friends there already eating they obviously thought the same as her. She had every intention to grab a tray of food and join them when Penelope and her entourage surrounded her.
"Do you think you're better than us all, Irish?" The blond with perfect everything sneered at her.
"I'm not looking to bother Penelope, I just want my breakfast and to get on with my day." Sophia made her accent even more Irish than normal if that was possible just because she could.
"Yet you all haven't been down for any meal over the weekend. Special treatment much." She wanted to wipe that sneer off the girl's face.
"No, we were busy and Mrs Hodge looked after us." She was trying to keep her tone even but she could feel the blood starting to rush in her ears.
"Indeed I did." She hadn't noticed Mrs Hodge move behind her and the group around her. "I bet you're looking forward to your breakfast?" That she was, as the group dispersed. "She really is a spoiled brat." Mrs Hodge whispered in her ear.
As she heaved in a long breath into her lungs she headed and grabbed a tray of cereal, fruit and her favourite a sausage and egg sandwich. When she sat next to Aiden. He looked up at her from his tray that still had more uneaten food than she had on her tray even though he'd eaten at least half of what was there.
"Alright?" He asked.
"You know I might just be." She answered as she started to eat and enjoy the peace for however long she had it.