The Ones Who were Chosen

ollowing her. Like a fox leaving a trail for hounds that were

r in a ghostly fashion as her bare feet slapped with every step upon the pavement. Always she was search

hide. Then run again, before she stayed too

e. Because of

the strap of her handbag up her shoul

sudden hurried footsteps approaching from behind. His brother Reuben burst into the room, two years younger. Similar in

t? What's

' Lucas rep

t, a

ea

sticking his hands into his

her off

l' Lucas repli

ne was

o we do now?

was a

uc

is brother with a devi

e make s

something he had long since lost interest in. It was chemistry, a subject he usually enjoye

ward to this, and his dreams were big. But nothing his teachers or his career advisors offered him was appealing, and he had ye

s drifted out of focus, as did his thoughts. He snapped back seconds later when the teacher suddenly raised his voice in enthusiasm about a particular point he was making. His lecturer was a fat balding man with glasses, friendly enough, if not a little a

admiring his own handsome features. He sighed again, before returning to the doodling in his book. Naturally good at art though not interested in taking it on as a subject, now he added the finish

there' Lu

you s

sit

table?' Reuben asked, climbing

ed, rising from his kneeling

en hissed. 'Get cl

to his shins. He gave a cheeky grin through the window they stood before to the classroom insid

asked, diverting his atten

brother c

have suddenly noticed something drawn on the table. He glanced

nst the wall, using it to

m?' his Lucas a

ned his he

t h

a tiny metal bal

er

wiftly. Reuben held it carefully in one

e glanced around to see the top of someone's head at the bot

gain. The teacher h

his best to look inconspicuous. The teacher was still distracted. Standing on his tiptoes to write on the very top of the white board, book in one hand; pen in the other. Most of the rest of the class were

ith toys of scrap metal and his mysterious powers and brilliant mind. And this was the result. A sphere in shape, it had many shallow ridges and grooves running upon i

ogen bonds in wat

her's desk. There was a second

smoke enveloped the entire front of the classroom. Like a typic

he teacher to realise one of his students

nd saw the writing on the desk, next to th

Go to scho

aw, Pay ta

C

m f

e college the streets of the town were busy, and people turned their heads as the three sprinted past them. Taking the shortest route from the college they cut across the streets, leaping over railing and darting across traff

their

became fewer and more spread out. Now there were mostly

ound. This used to be an old hotel, but the owners had run out of money and the building was never finished. It was just a structure of brick and stone now, the only part of the building that seeme

chain links, making the hole big enough to crawl through. Reuben went in first, scrabbling through the dirt

hey had to, and only if it was quiet. It was said by some that people had been killed here, and it was said by others that there were bodies hidden in the area. Lucas had scoffed at this, dismissing it as nothing more than an urban legend. The

uietening their footsteps. 'I'll go in first, you two scan around the

occasion several months back, Lucas had rounded a corner within the hotel and been jumped. The man that attacked had

oom, and once the three had determined the bu

lves in the largest room they could find, the one they were most used to. It was cleaner than the others, being brighter and more open. The sun in the sky was in the correct position to give them plenty of light while they worked. The floors were

dy?' Reuben

re

position by the window and gazed o

s on opposite ends of the r

to go first?'

ing at Reuben smugly. He stepped back, making a flourishi

gi

a sort of barrier. These metallic things were blunt at one end, and pointed at the other, their sharp ends jutt

Reuben's face. He thought;

very slowly grew towards Drake, curling round themselves and twisting back they writhed, like their own existence caused them pain. They lift

und the pair and in

Calmly they crept forwards again. They were freakish; t

oom and resumed his sta

ines, spinning so fast in the air that they became blurs. Screeching a high pitched sound so horrific

back at Drake, and su

very interesting subject, and one she was very good at. Lauralie was a very pretty girl, born with natural beauty. She had thick wavy ginger hair tied into pigta

eing the small group not far away from her playing Frisbee and water pistol, a girl screamed as she was sprayed

ir classes now, some had gone home; she had decided to stay here. College was a place she

ed now, and the more eager ones ran out of the grounds, some jumping on skateboards. Lauralie slun

leather boots that had a slight heel. The rest of him was dressed in leather, and he had black hair spiked forwards. He had a slim angular

ed up be

ness!' Laur

the

cared the lif

speeding heart while Jacob took up

ion of course.' He flashed h

owned

ow do you feel about going

Lauralie ask

, y

, I'm

d that l

say it n

her, falling into step by her side, w

njoy yoursel

ight

know unti

se you'r

ll come

N

made a noise o

Lauralie said pic

asked looking suddenly a

aved him away. 'I'll see you t

lumped his shoulders in disappointment, unable to think of any

back merrily, turning fr

that Drake was forced to shield his eyes. It shot towards Drake, rolling like waves

thed, 'I guess its

is' Reuben s

lmost in a welcoming manner. Reuben

Lucas sudde

Reuben's pal

?' he asked

ance away entering the grounds. She pulled back

rake came to

Drake said as he

ld her not to come here. Doe

nown we'd be her

o idea whether or not we would be here today. H

h disappointment that their games had been in

ting her at the reception as s

e!' she cried triumphant

hree stopped before her. 'What the hell are you d

e a pouting

hat' she huffed, 'I came down

now it's dan

't y

ssed this w

beginning to get suspicious, all this sneaking around. It's like y

wn business'

d her back on him, speaking to the

wanna hang

, let's get out of here before a gan

g at him. 'You know I hate it

g to her other side. 'In fact ju

un of me' Lauralie f

away. Reuben shrugged at his brother

e we've had enough fun for o

she found out we come here she's always trying to f

d. 'Don't say that,

ther a bored look,

don't always want to go home'

out with her own frien

aybe she's at

esponse as he walked away. Reuben smir

e can come back

e'll have to skip college ag

way from where he was. There were mostly students in sight, taking a short cut home like he had been. But something had drawn

that looked like they had been deliberately collected together to hide something. He ran his fingers along the earth as he noticed something that g

s short and silver in colour, with wings th

e hell…i

ngraved with an inscription

I figh

l is that sup

it again, when a sudden and sini

've found

at he had been snuck up on like that,

. The man that stood before him was unlike any he had seen bef

one red. They wound over his whole body, tied in knots here and there. The e

are

ask?' the stra

k purple. From beneath his black fringe Jacob saw that there was an unusual sort of metallic plate that ran across the stranger's

spot. The man brushed Jacob's cheek with a nail, caressing him almost lovingly. Like a mother

tranger said. 'It's who I really

d read nothing into it. W

tching you closely for many weeks

lence. He snapped back to himself, slapping

t tou

ined his original demeanour. He smiled

you a great gift. I think yo

He embraced Jacob like a b

yes will tr

had begun. His body felt alive, powerful, he felt liberation. Jacob suddenly saw an image then, a world he had never known. It was vast,

mbling back and away from

guardian, and I pass

psed, weak

to him turning away. '

ot supposed to know. Honestly as much as I l

s?' Drake said to Laurali

ou've got your interests too. It's not easy bein

Drake r

winding down, and as they entered the culdasack they saw more cars parked in the driveways. Most people were at home, resting after a hard day's

r house' Dr

ern white building, with its neat edges

said quietl

ly leave you to wal

g lightly. She glimpsed the brothers behind

euben at ease was tapping his foot. Reuben waved

you'll get home safely yourself won't you? And you guys'

asually dismissive while

g slowly towards the house. Drake retu

hed. 'If only she knew. I wonder what

etting back anyway, exams are coming up after all, don'

lking with him, 'you spend more time

t me. Lu

rag me i

looking sceptically at Lucas. 'Don't pret

istening, his thou

y; it's only a matter of t

shouldn't be so lovey with her, your

ke protested. 'I'm j

en teased. 'For you friendly an

tle. Lucas ignored them as he continued his casual pace, watchin

ay in college, and Jacob ha

ht?' his friend Jo

fine' Jaco

little pale' his

him a cold

h shrugged, 'n

siness?' Alex said from across the table, jabbing an accusing fi

ed. 'I said it's

ontributed, it sounded as one continuous indistinguishable noise over the clatter of knives and forks. Peo

lex asked Jacob between slurps

ly half an hour though. Just a revisio

velled the last few forkfuls of chips in

way out, sitting around a table by the wall, some s

t did h

ass.' Lauralie answered her friend hesit

ristina demanded.

th someone' Laural

ht he might pick you instead of

ter of her others friends beside her who carrie

stina replied sulkily. 'Everyone has a t

at' Lauralie argued.

And they have to be in this

really say' La

s her. 'Name me a single guy you s

ay

ay

ea

was that?' Chr

uhh

ound the shoulders with

u're terrible, you'll nev

as seventeen in age and dressed all in black. Her black hair was cut into a bob, and she wore a short-sleeve black to

old toys she had collected from her younger days. A faded multicolour train, a puppet and a pack of tarot cards worn from regular use was in one of the boxes. In one

the window, Ebony leaned on the si

hispered, 'I'm not used

e road. They were talking and laughing with one ano

t the open box that contained her soft toys. Something stood out to her then, one of her favourite toys. It resembled a cat-like creature, with little wings and a long tail.

ook it. Holding it in her han

like to have some co

was the most normal thing in t

rs. And then it sprang into animation, l

toy said at it l

oom' Ebony repli

are

your c

crea

es

ed, cocking its head in

es, I suppose I could

and flew to the window

e outside

han in here.' Ebony

here?' the toy asked r

orlorn and hug

ke it in here, any

you're d

inary person' E

an?' the toy aske

e the toy

dian is; it's absorbed some of

rds the window again, watching the clouds go by. 'I don't w

her back, expressi

wil

Ebony had never been told about her real pa

gst themselves about what should go where and which b

watching them. After several minut

dinner

de and play, get used to this place. I'm sure it's lovely.' She ignored her further

ny told her. 'I'm scared

torted, laughing at the absurdity of it

ony shouted i

even more. No matter what she said to them or how

y room' she said, no

with you when you go?'

eady slammed her

y asked her, having followed h

t. 'Only those with magic can see you.' She sat up and held

you either?' the toy asked co

hey barely

she had done so often already in the short

he air. 'I just wish someone would save

s brother had put down, pla

before Reuben ha

ssed, balling his

rest of the cards down. 'We shou

nterestedly, picking up the cards.

ks of dirt from his jeans. 'But we can't miss too

talks a load of

alking about? Y

' Reuben said, putting the

e their way off. Reuben slinging the bag up h

ould go away after the

n mind?' Lucas asked keeping i

fell

don't

e a nice break from this

you liked

ben said d

tions from every subject. Science with pictures of atoms and body parts, psychology, ancient history, art, even Latin, one of the many languages offered by the c

sses had just finished and people were milling out

hen?' Lucas questi

ggled for words. 'There

ucas scoffed. '

nd them as he spoke. 'Our powers certainly didn't come from around h

Lucas offered, not botheri

certain for a moment whether or not his b

e corridor lit a cigarette,

ined, 'it's got me thinking, there must be a

probably

ew a cloud of smoke as they walked on. Then suddenly both brothers felt something. A sharp and sudden pai

ood as part of a circle with his friends. In his mouth was

acob a calculated expression. He then turned

an just us and Drake' Lucas went

p appearing'