Mana Pool Snippets - Keystone

Part 2

“Welcome back,” Katie said smiling.

Suddenly Andrea wrapped her arms around Katie and cried on her shoulder, catching Katie off guard and causing her to start crying.

In between sobs, Andrea said, “Thank you, thank you” over and over.

It went on for minutes until Andrea calmed down. The couch and couple looked like they survived a dust storm, but they were used to working in dirt.

Andrea drank the two glasses, plus three more and two pieces of fruit to sooth her unnourished body.

“Feeling better?” Katie asked sitting beside Andrea.

“Yes, very much,” Andrea said. “I used to hate bananas.”

“That caught my attention. You are a picky eater.” Katie pushed back dirt-coated strands of hair from Andrea’s face. “You got to tell us what happened, sweetie.”

Andrea covered her face. “It’s horrible, Katie. My life has been bad since last week.”

“Last week?” Scott exclaimed. “Hang on. I may be wrong but you’ve been out there for a whole week?”

“I try to count the days,” Andrea answered, “but… I just hate it. I hate it! I want to go home!”

Katie shuttered from the outburst. The first time Andrea ever screamed.

“Andrea, just take deep breaths,” Katie instructed her, and Andrea followed. Even Keeji and Arana pitched in to make her smile, but it was no use. “Now, I need you to think, but don’t scream anymore. Promise?”

Andrea sniffed and agreed.

“Tell us what happened.”

It did help when Andrea leaned on Katie. “I-I just turned thirteen last week.”

“That explains it,” Arana said. “Human children transform on their thirteenth birthday.” This was a confirmation early in the Wave that thirteen year olds were transforming. Although, when Scott and Katie transformed it was a violent experience. Andrea described it that she was “in peace,” that her whole body did not convulse normally, but floated as the transformation commenced. But all and all, it was terrifying to Andrea, especially the magic.

“I have a totem now,” Andrea said. “But she’s not ready to meet you guys. She’s afraid.”

“We can understand,” Scott said. “Keeji is sometimes a scardy cat and never leaves me for days. But anyway, what about your parents? I tried calling them but I could not get a hold of them.”

Andrea nodded. “Since the crystals fell, they treat everything like hell. They called my terran friends and their terran friends demons, including me. I even heard them call your parents traitors.”

Katie is no stranger to the rash comments. She was called a demon, but not in her face by her late girl friend. She died helping the couple.

“What!? Your parents, Beth and Morgan, said that?” Katie said in shock.

Andrea nodded with a quivering mouth. “Then…” she started, sobbing. “Then they kicked me out.” The crying started again due to the harsh memories. “I came… here because… I know that, your family accepts… you two,” she gasped.

“Hey, hey, don’t cry now. You’re with us now,” Katie said, trying not to cry too. “We too had our share of problems. Listen. How about you come upstairs and get cleaned up. How does that sound?”

Andrea did several more sobs until she nodded and said, “I want that.” Both girls went up stairs. Arana stayed behind and turned to Scott after watching them.