Where To Now?

Jason

I felt myself get pulled away as if a hand reached from across the galaxy and grabbed me by the back of the shirt. It’s all so fast that before my mind can process what’s happening I popped up in front of Shawn. His face says it all. He’s a strong muscular man, the kind you would avoid at a bar. His face was always serious and his dark black eyes were always in cased with dark circles from the lack of sleep. His bright blond hair was a mess and I swear there were streaks of red in them today. He was wearing a black skin tight shirt that accentuated his muscles showing most of his colorful tattoo on his arm.

“How’d you get here?” As if answering his own question he immediately asks “Where is Astrid?”

I quickly fill him in on what’s happening and what Astrid told me we needed to do. Shawn nods.

“You’ll find Libby and Whisper around the corner, they should be done getting dressed now.” He tells me. They had just gone for a swim at the beach and I was thankfully catching them after it and not during. “Let them know what’s going on. I think I already found our car.”

I see him eye a large black SUV across the street parked alongside the oceanfront. I head around the corner catching a quick glimpse of him talking to a man who must be the owner. He’s handing over his keys to Shawn as if he was his brother needing a car and he had no problem lending him his. I can never get used to how easy he makes it seem. He told me my telekinetic powers could do the same one day if I ever wanted to learn how he would teach me. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that when he first told me, but it seems it would be something handy to know how to do right now. I looked at him a moment longer thinking back to his age in disbelief. The man looked like he was just a year or two older than me, not 308 years older.

I found Libby and Whisper where Shawn said they would be. Libby had her dark red, almost burgundy, hair in a messy bun on her head. Her emerald eyes looked at me as she spotted me. She was pretty tall for a girl about 5’10 or so. I let Libby know what she needs to do to the car that Shawn just got and she heads down that way.

I grab Whisper by the shoulder to get her attention. Her shoulder length gray hair was very wavy from the salt water. Her light purple eyes were always so warm and friendly. Her face was round and innocent and she always carried a smile. I try my best to use ASL. My sign language is still absolute garbage, so I use my lips to mouth the words as well and between the two she seemed to understand what I was telling her. She signs something back so fast I don’t quite catch it but she’s gone before I can ask what she said.

I head down that way to find Libby almost done with the hijack. It seemed she was able to do just what Astrid asked, re-inflate tires and all. Everyone gets in the car and we start driving as quickly as possible but not so fast to attract attention. We hit the highway speed limit is 85 so we go with the speed of traffic about 90 mph.

“Did Astrid say where we are headed?” Shawn turns from the driver seat to ask me. Before I can answer a loud popping sound comes from my left with a white puff of smoke.

“We head south, toward the airport,” Astrid answers. She is still catching her breath from what must have been a tough battle. She was covered in dirt, her blue eyes looking lighter against the dark dirt. She’s so small, but oh how looks can be deceiving. Between her and Shawn I would rather take on Shawn who could literally order me to kill myself and I would gladly oblige with his mind control.

“Did you get what you needed?” I ask her. She holds up the gold heart shaped locket and smiles. Her teeth are about the only thing that isn’t covered in dirt.

“We need to cross the border but we can’t do that in the car. I am sure they will have border checks by now. Especially after what I just did” She chuckles. “We’ll ditch the car at the airport. We’ll meet the others there.” She continued. “We need to meet with Juan Carlos in Mexico and find out what’s going on and pick up supplies before heading to Europe. What are we feeling? Italy or Spain? Maybe England?”

“Italy!” Libby says with excitement. It’s like they just forgot what’s happening. Like we aren’t being hunted down right now. They are all calm. Even Whisper, who couldn’t hear someone coming up on her if they were covered in bells and alarms, yelling I am coming to get you, seemed so at peace. My heart is racing like it is about to pop out of my chest and grow some arms and legs and run off.

“How about England? I can speak their language.” Shawn chimed.

“Well Whisper says Spain and I am with her. Shawn it’s about time you learn another language anyway” Astrid pats him on the shoulder shaking her head in disappointment at him. “What do you think Jason? You're part of the group too. Your vote counts as well.”

I can’t speak. I am so in shock. Everything happened so fast. I couldn’t even process it until right now. I flash back thinking of Ruby and how I am never going to see her beautiful eyes again or that amazing smile that warms my heart down to the core. The moment I realize I lost her my mind floods with thoughts of all the things I just lost. My home, my friends, my job. My eyes start to burn holding back tears that are starting to build up.

Astrid puts her hand on my shoulder. I know what she’s trying to do but I don’t welcome it this time. I want to feel this loss. I want them to realize that everything isn’t okay. This isn’t okay. I brush her hand off my shoulder and she sighs. Whisper’s purple eyes meet my own and she spills tears for me too. She had changed into her black combat boots and lolita dress after going swimming. Her full cheeks that usually flush pink when she’s happy are now burning red with the emotion she is feeling.

I look over to see Libby’s sharp features locked. Her jaw line is even more protruding. Her face is hard like stone trying not to show any emotion, but I can clearly see her emerald eyes holding back tears. Shawn’s just the same only there are no tears pulling behind his eyes in fact his eyes are red. His eyes are like mood rings, only his pupil changes color. They are burning red with anger almost as if they are on fire reflecting off his black iris’.

“I am sorry” I whisper, realizing what I started. We are all quiet for a while. About an hour later the silence was broken.