Chapter 3
"Okay guys. Here are the Ten Rules For the Adventure:
One - You are only allowed one bag.
Two - Bring something for the ride: we're taking mom's car, so make a communal car bag. Bring something like a book or your Gameboy's, and your iPod's. I don't want to hear anything about being bored.
Three - Bring one stuffed animal.
Four - Bring one blanket and one pillow.
Five - Bring your laptops and chargers.
Six - Cell phones are a must.
Seven - If you have any cash, bring it. I'm grabbing mom's emergency credit card.
Eight - The older kids need to help the younger kids. I'll take care of Hazel. Heath and Basil, help Tala and Callia. Griffan, Kaie and Aithne, you guys help each other. I'm always here if you need me.
Nine - If you need to bring an instrument and/or something for your sport or sports do so.
Ten - No arguing. We know how to get along better than that, okay?
Alright. We meet back here in 15 minutes. We're going out my window."
Tristan tiptoed to Hazel's nursery and quickly packed her bag full of spare clothes, diapers, wipes, her bottle and other things to keep her occupied. He grabbed a blanket, her favorite stuffed animal, a couple toys for her to play with in the car and stuffed these into a second bag. He glanced at his watch and had just over five minutes left.
"Shit," he softly swore to himself. He ran back to his room, careful to make as little noise as possible. He laid Hazel down on his bed, placed her bags next to her, and grabbed a duffel bag from his closet. He quickly stuffed in shirts, shorts, boxers, socks and an extra pair of shoes.
Running to the bathroom he grabbed everyone's toothbrushes and some toothpaste. He stuck these in a smaller bag along with everyone's shower stuff. He stuck this second bag in his original duffle bag and added his favorite blanket and pillow.
"Tristan?"
"What's up sweetheart?" he asked Cali.
"Can you pretend that this is your stuffed animal?"
"Of course sweetie."
"Thanks"
Just as Callia's head disappeared, Tala stuck her head in his other door, asking the same question.
"Sure thing sweetie. Give him to me. I'll put him in my bag. How's that sound?"
He stuck the two stuffed animals in his duffel bag, thought for a minute, and grabbed his old teddy bear off the shelf and added it to his bag. Something told him he might need it.
Reaching in his closet he grabbed another bag and added his laptop, iPod and two of his favorite books. He debated over whether or not to add his game system, realized they wouldn't have a TV and grabbed his old Gameboy instead. The rest of his siblings started to trickle in.
He directed them to place their electronics and such in his second duffle bag. The money went into Aithne's oversized purse, and with one more look at his room, Tristan headed to the window.
"Okay, here's what's going to happen: Basil, Heath and me are going to move all our bags to the tree-house, and then we're going to come back for you guys ok? Hold on, Kaie, do you still have that sling thing from your Health class? Can I have it? I need something to put Hazel in."
With that settled the older boys quickly climbed out the window onto the roof, grabbed the bags and ran over the roof.
The tree-house was on a branch that just happened to brush the side of the house. The boys quickly climbed the branch and deposited the bags inside. They managed to ferry all the bags to the house in just two runs. Looking back, they saw the remaining children and ran back one more time.
Tristan crawled back inside and pick up Hazel and placed her in the sling. "Okay guys, crawl out. You know the rules. Let's go."
With that all nine of the Medows children crossed the roof to the tree-house. Once inside Tristan climbed down the ladder and had Basil and Heath drop the bags to him. He then motioned his siblings to crawl down the ladder and help him ferry the bags to his Mom's car. He quietly opened the door, placed the key in the ignition, and placed the car in neutral.
Slowly he backed the car into the street where his siblings loaded the trunk with their bags. The electronics bag was placed in the center of the car and the kids climbed in. Hazel was placed in her carseat and her bags were placed at the foot of the seat. All the kids except for Heath were in the car, seated and buckled.
Tristan gave him the signal and he slammed the trunk shut while Tristan started the car. Heath ran to the side, climbed in and shut the door. Tristan put the car in drive and sped off, but not before he noticed Mrs. Dreshmel run to the yard and stare after them.
He didn't know how much time he had before their powers would start to manifest themselves, or if they even would. However, he knew that they didn't have long before Mrs. Dreshmel caught up to them.
With this in mind, Tristan got on the highway and started driving.
Chapter 4
Basil suddenly popped his head into the front. "Hey dude, don't you think you're going a little fast?"
Tristan looked down and realized he was doing close to 90 mph. "Shit, thanks man. I really don't want to get pulled over."
Just as he was about to slow down he looked into the mirror and saw a cop car slowly gaining on them. He knew without doubt who was driving that car. "Hey guys, I don't want to alarm you or anything, but we have company." And motioned to his mirror.
At that exact moment, Aithne let out a shriek.
"Aithne! What's wrong! Sweetheart, tell me what's going on!"
Nothing Tristan said made a difference, until suddenly Aithne stopped screaming. "Tristan, I think Mrs. Dreshmel was right about us having powers."
"Aithne what are you talking about?"
"I think I just got mine."
"Really," Tristan said, a bit sarcastically. "What is yours?"
"I don't think you really want to know. Seriously."
"Come on Aithne, try me."
"I can move things. With my mind."
"Aithne... I'm not in the mood for games sweetie. We're being chased by a crazying nanny and she keeps gaining on us."
"I'm not kidding Tristan. Look."
That's when Tristan became a believer. Aithne somehow managed to move the guard rail from the side of the road, over the car, and into the middle of the road.
"Aithne, I believe you, Griffan, you guys are twins. Do you have the same power?"
"Nah, I haven't gotten mine yet. But don't worry. Mine's going to kick ass as much as A's," Griffan said.
"Well, when you do get them, do you think you could not yell as loud as Aithne?"
"I was yelling?"
"Yes Aithne, you nearly broke my eardrum stupid," accused Tala
"Children, you know what I said about arguing. I don't want to hear it."
That's when Tala and Callia started screaming. "Why must you guys get these powers while I'm driving!"
Lightning flashed outside and thunder crashed as Kaie joined Tala and Cali by screaming. "I feel like I'm going to crash if you guys all start screaming at the same time!" Tristan said angrily.
"It's not like they know that they're screaming," Aithne offered. "I didn't know I was screaming."
As abruptly as they started they stopped. The silence of the car was broken by the rolling thunder.
"Okay, what do you guys get to do?" Tristan asked his younger siblings.
Tala and Cali looked at each other, then back at Tristan.
"We get to play with fire and ice," they said in unison.
"What?"
Tala held up her palm and dancing in the middle of it was a flame. Next to her Callia held up her hand and it was crusted with ice. "I won't lie, that's really weird."
"Basil, you stink!"
"Tala, please don't call Basil names. Basil, remember she's your younger sister. Besides you haven't gotten your powers yet, so be nice. "
"Kaie, what did you find while you were breaking our eardrums?"
"I think I can control the weather."
"Kaie, I don't want to sound like I don't believe you, but I really don't believe you."
"It's okay. Watch"
In the space of 10 seconds the black clouds cleared up and the sun began shining again.
"And look," Kaie commanded.
She held up her palm upside-down and dancing on and around her fingertips were mini bolts of lightning.
"I'm speechless," Tristan managed to admit.
"Yeah, it's pretty cool," said Heath.
"Thanks guys... Tristan!"
"Kaie what is it?"
"Hazel is floating."
"What do you mean - Hazel, stop floating this instant. Sit in your seat!"
"Tristan she's only a baby."
"I know Griffan, but what am I supposed to say to her? Good job on floating? Someone catch Hazel please!"
"I didn't hear her scream. I wonder why?"
Griffan and Aithne immediately started discussing why Hazel didn't make a noise when she got her powers. Tristan risked a glance up at the rearview mirror again and gasped.
"Can you guys do something about nanny? She seems to be gaining on us."
"I'll send a bolt of lightning towards the car if you want?"
"I can catch it on fire!"
"How about I just move the car to a different road a couple miles away?"
"Those are all great suggestions, but let's go with Aithne's for now.
Whenever you're ready girl."
Three seconds later the car was gone and Aithne passed out on her twin's lap.
"Is she okay?"
"Yeah, she's fine. She'll wake up in a few," answered Griffan.
He then proceeded to shake uncontrollably. When he finished shaking he was sweating and panting like he had just run a marathon.
"Dude, are you okay?" Tristan asked his brother.
"Yeah man, I'm fine. And before you ask, I can read minds."
Tristan and the rest of the family just stared at him.
"That makes sense, maybe. Your twin moves objects, and you can read minds. Sure. I'll accept that."
"Tristan you sound upset."
"No, I'm not upset, I just don't know what's going on, and if I don't know what's going on, how can I protect you guys? I'm going to pull off into this reststop. I need a break from driving."
He pulled the car into the reststop, got out, and walked over to a picnic table. Slowly, the rest of the family followed him. Tristan was shaking his head slowly. When he heard his family he looked up.
"Mom and Dad are gone and now it's up to me to protect you guys, but I can't do that if I have no idea what's going on. I just, I can't..." He trailed off aimlessly.
Wordlessly, Tala and Cali gave him a hug. He smiled down at them. "No catching me on fire now," he managed to sound stern.
Tristan looked up as his family laughed around him. Suddenly he couldn't see Basil or Heath. He scanned the family again and they were there. And then they weren't. He wanted to put it down to an overload on his functioning capabilities, but knew it was more than that. "Basil, Heath, you're flickering in and out. What's going on? Are you guys okay?"
"Yeah - "
"We're fine - "
"We just - "
"Figured out - "
"Our powers," they finished in unison, as they became visible once more.
"Care to enlighten the rest of us?" Kaie asked.
"Basil can go invisible on command," said Heath.
"And Heath here has really high pain tolerances," finished Basil.
"High pain tolerances?" asked Tala.
"Well, put it this way, I don't think I'll be dying anytime soon," laughed Heath.
Tristan looked at his family and smiled, lost in his own thoughts. If they really were this special, as they obviously were. What did that mean about their parents? How were they going to find them?
With that thought in his mind he was suddenly transported to a different time in a different place. He looked around but he didn't see his family anywhere. Walking forward he looked to the left and stopped. His parents were there. Sitting in a tent at a table. The words drifted to him on the breeze.
When will the children get here?
Do you think they'll be here in time for them to watch us kill their parents?
Shh, I think one of them is already here. Quick. Go look.
Tristan opened his eyes and found his family staring at him. "Guys, I think I can predict the future."
He then promptly passed out.