TBD

Introduction

As I return from my trip in the middle of literally nowhere, I imagine how great mother's homemade food is going to be. It's been days since I've been home. I know it doesn't seem like a very long time, but when you are like us, it can get pretty lonely. I've been raised by my parents since I was born, not being allowed to attend school with normal kids because I'm different. I used to think it was unfair, but now I've accepted the fact that I am not like other kids. I have these abilities, and that scares those that don't.

When I was seven I wandered into the woods that surrounded my house. I was chasing a bunny; they were fun to play tag with. As I was chasing the bunny, there was a crackling sound in the distance. I had stopped in surprise as to what the sound had come from. A few seconds later, a big oak tree appeared descending onto me. I had closed my eyes in fear and I remember feeling like I was going to die, but that wasn't the case. I opened my eyes and there the tree was broken in two. There was some type of weird protective bubble around me. I had looked around to see if maybe one of my parents had cast it, but they were nowhere in sight. The bubble had come from me. From that day on, I understood that I was gifted.

I've heard in the past that non magical people tell their children bedtime stories with magic in them. They include fairies and witches and others of the sort. My parents told me that young children might like the idea of magic and think it's cool, but children aren't really taken seriously when they talk about magic. Adult non magical people however, will find magic people dangerous. Maybe it is because we can do something they can't and that makes them scared, but it's not like we want to hurt anyone. We have abilities and we need to learn to control them when we're young. Once the abilities are controlled, if we want to we can be just like the non magical people, at least blend in with them. My family knows about the non magics being skittish around magic so they stay away from most civilizations. They are completely content with living in the woods. I think it'd be nice to meet a non magic one day.

I was sent to the middle of nowhere these last few days to train with my abilities. I've been getting stronger you see and it is best to practice big spells when there are no people for megameters.

I notice the trees in the distance start to part. Home is close. As I get closer to the clearing, I notice that the birds are not chirping or singing their lovely songs. I smell the air and don't smell the usual crisp clean oxygen. Instead, there is a hint of smoke, and not the usual kind from cooking either. It was thick. I quicken my pace. Something isn't right. At the clearing I see something nerve racking. Our house, parts of it were ripped apart and there are patches of burned out fires around our yard. It looked like the house was attacked. I run up to the house. Please no. Mom, dad, be safe. I open the cracked door and I am horrified. I fall back and hit the ground from my body buckling. I turn and puke from the awful smell and sight. Tears fill my eyes as I look back inside. There inside lied my mom and dad covered in blood. I pull my shirt up to cover my nose and get closer. "Mom? Dad?" I choke as I try to wake them. I am aware of all the blood, but I desperately want them to be alive. As I shake them, their bodies are lifeless. Reality starts to sink in. "Mom! Dad!" I scream in despair and hug onto them as I bawl. Why? How? How did this happen? Why did it happen? What do I do now? This can't be real. This has to be a nightmare. It has to be!

After composing myself some, I walk outside to get a bit of fresh air and gather my thoughts. I am going to give my parents a respectful burial. Mom and dad enjoyed being near the river. I figure it would be best to bury them near it, somewhere they can remain undisturbed. I walk back into the house and carefully pick up my mother. I have one arm under her knees and my other supporting her head as to not to hurt her neck. I started to walk her to her grave site and tears start to trail my face again. No, I have to do this. I have to give them a decent burial. It hurts, but I can't let them remain in the house alone and on display for anyone that comes by later. Once we arrive at the site, I gently lower mother on the ground. I create her grave with care, making sure her and father will both fit comfortably. I pick her up again and lower her into the grave. "Be safe mom." I plead as I part her to get my father.

I carry father the same as I did mother. I am not certain why, but I look at my father's face as I walk. It pains me to see his face lifeless and beat up. How could someone kill my parents? They're nice people. They wouldn't hurt anyone. I can feel anger starting to build in me as I think of the cruelty my parents were put through. I don't know everything that was done to my parents, but the way their bodies are lead me to believe that they were not killed mercifully. I try to swallow the anger as I walk. I know my parents wouldn't want me to feel hatred. I look away from father's face and finish my trail to the grave.

When I arrive at the grave I can't help but to fall to my knees. Carrying my parents is physically exhausting and emotionally draining. I lay my father down in front of me and my vision starts to blur. My nose starts to congest and my breaths become sharp. I wipe my face to keep it from becoming soaked again and bury my sorrow. I have to continue. I lower my father's body next to my mother's and lay his hand on hers. I sit there in front of their grave for awhile remembering memories and trying to come to terms with their deaths.

The sky is starting to deepen as the day is coming to an end. I manage to shovel the last of the dirt onto the grave. I plant two baby trees at the head of the grave for their markers, making two small carved hearts onto the trunks so I can find them later. I start my way back to the house. I am not looking forward to entering the blood stained walls. I don't know what I am going to do. Maybe I will sleep outside tonight and find another spot in the woods tomorrow to live. I can't bear seeing the horror again. Once I make it to my home, I sit in my yard under a tree. I'm exhausted; today is the worst day of my life. I'm not sure how long it took, but I managed to enter into a slumber.

Not much later, I wake from pain. I look around frantically fearing I might be under attack. I can hear yelling coming from a distance and notice that there are red beams of light coming in my direction. What's going on? I stand and feel intense pain in my side. I move my hand to my side where the pain was coming from and a warm liquid starts to trail down my arm. I look down and see I've been shot, not with a bullet, but with an arrow. I see the lights coming closer in the darkness and I turn to escape. I don't have time to worry about the arrow in my side at the moment, I need to get out of here. I run deeper into the forest while trying to keep pressure around the arrow. As I run, I hear whooshing of arrows pass me. My heart is racing. I'm going to die. I try running faster and the pain starts to become almost unbearable. I wanted to try outrunning them, but I don't think it is possible with this injury. I cough a bit and feel my body becoming feverish. The only way I can get away is to use my abilities. I focus my energy inside me and start to teleport deeper into the woods. I can cover more ground this way, but it'll only save me so much time. After what seemed like hours, I stop to catch my breath. I don't sense anyone's presence, not even in the distance. How long had I been running? I can't seem to catch my breath. The pain, I can no longer feel the pain. My body just feels numb. I sit down and lean against a tree. My breath starts to calm, but inside I am still terrified. Even though my mind is racing, my body becomes heavy and my vision starts to tunnel. No, I can't. Not yet. Please. My world fades to darkness.  

© Desi Heikkinen 2017

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Author's Note: Please feel free to give me constructive criticism and feedback. This is my first story attempt and I would be happy to hear any suggestions as to how I can improve as a writer. I am aware my punctuation and grammar may be off. Please feel free to help me correct any mistakes in my writing. It'll help me to improve my overall writing skills.