Earthen Series Part One**Follow Aija, Zuri and Ze, as they are plunged into the dark world of aliens who are working to destroy the human race and take over the Earth; as they are faced with difficult decisions regarding love, feelings, abilities, t...
"Is there anything else I could help with?" he asked.
"No, thank you, Ze," said his mother.
He wondered several times what would have happened if the Leadership hadn't allowed him and his mother to live at Innermost with his Aunt Amaya, on such short notice. They'd nearly fled the fields - because of him.
"Nova, do you need help with Science?" he asked his cousin. Nova came to him for help with Science and went to his father for Math.
Nova shook his head from the couch.
"Alright then," announced Ze. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight." said his aunt and mother.
Ze replied to Zuri's message: 'Sure. Thanks. Is Aija fine?'
Zuri and Aija had told him about the guy who had spied on Aija. He was the one who had run that night when they'd been on the rooftop to see the rain. And, that night the old man had gone missing. They were worried he might be targeting Aija. Ze had kept an eye out for him throughout the week, but none of them had seen him.
He closed the door of his room and stood in front of the shelf of books – actual books made of real paper. His uncle's book collection was ancient. They were from the Pre-Wars era when many books were still made of paper. They had been handed down from generation to generation. This book collection was now worth tons of money. Not that his Uncle George would ever contemplate the idea of selling them. He spent a great deal maintaining the books in mint-condition against the forces of nature.
Ze had enough spare time after Volunteering at the school since he hadn't applied to the SWV Program. He, like Aija, didn't know what subjects to major in so he had decided to give himself some more time to decide. He wondered how Zuri managed to study after work. She was one determined girl going after what she wanted with confidence. The thing was, she knew exactly what she wanted to do. Ze was lost since Teaching had never been a part of his plans. Now that he was into it, he had no idea what to do next.
He stood closer to the shelf of books and lifted his hands in front of him. He closed his eyes and concentrated on the books. He could feel them. He could feel everything around him if he concentrated enough. Everything had its own unique energy or reflected other energies. He felt the books; every one of the ninety-eight books and remembered his Uncle George express his wishes to make it a hundred. He felt the books move, and he held them there – in mid-air.
Ze opened his eyes. All ninety-eight of them floated in front of him.
He wanted to practice more; wanted to do more with his 'powers.' He wanted to find out what more he was capable of. Could he protect someone with it? He wanted to know; wanted to try it.
The door to his room opened, and he let go of the books. They tumbled to the floor, each book a loud thud against the quiet of the house.
"Ze?" his mother's voice was accusatory.
"It wasn't anything." Ze declared hurriedly picking up the books.
"How many times have I told you not to do that!" scolded his mother, feeling hurt. "Ze!"
Ze stood and faced her.
"Look at me, Ze Roan."
Ze slowly looked at her.
"What do I need to do to make you stop?"
"It's not going to do anything."
"You will get yourself in trouble," she whispered, closing the door behind her. "We have nowhere else to go, Ze. This is it. We don't another place to run to."
"Do we have to run?"
"I don't want to lose you, son," she said, her voice breaking.
They picked up the books and restacked them in silence.
"Showing off that power is going to get you into trouble," whispered Diya Roan, after all of the ninety-eight books were back on the shelf. "We are much closer to the Leadership here."
Ze sat on his bed, his anger bordering on annoyance now.
"What if I could help people with it, Ma?"
"No. Help me keep you out of trouble. No one has seen such powers before. The Leadership will hunt you down and lock you up. It's quite enough that we've lost Volt."
Ze sighed. "How did I get these... powers?"
"I've told you, boy; I don't know."
"Is that why my father left us?"
"Ze!"
"Tell me! Tell me Ma!" his was voice hurried and abrasive.
"That's enough now, Ze!" said Diya, her hands on her hips. "Worry about things that do matter, not about the past. Worry about securing that job at school."
"You want me to have that job." groaned Ze.
"Yes. I want you here where I can keep my eyes on you. I'll do anything to protect you, son, even if you do not appreciate it. I'm not losing you Ze. Now, get to bed."
Diya walked out of the room. Ze fell backward on his bed infuriated. It bothered him that he had never seen his father. It bothered him that he himself may have been the motivation behind his father's absence. Not being able to use his powers upset him even more. It bothered him that he made his mother worry. He knew she only wanted to protect him, and it upset him for he felt he troubled her.
Slowly, Ze fell asleep with his thoughts haunting him, like they often did.
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