Authors: Christopher George
We rounded a corner and I saw we were making our way to a locked gate at the side of one of the buildings. The building was surrounded by construction awnings and safety fences that had bill posters pasted onto them.
“Keep an eye out,” Renee hissed at me suddenly as she turned to pay attention to the lock on the gate.
“For what?” I asked stupidly.
Renee didn’t answer and I heard a click as the lock opened in her hands. She stepped inside and gestured for me to follow.
“This is a worksite,” I commented with my usual skill to state the obvious.
“Nothing gets past you,” Renee commented. “Come on.”
Glancing nervously around I followed her into the hollowed-out building.
“This building used to be offices, but it’s been condemned,” Renee announced. “I think they’re going to build apartments.”
I looked around to see that all the internal floors of the building had been ripped out. This left girders and solid concrete posts in a shell of the building. I could see all the way up to the solid roof. It was at least four stories high.
“Okay.” Renee nodded, looking around. “This will do, the surface here looks soft enough.” She smiled, indicating to the solid concrete floor beneath us.
“Yeah, snug,” I grunted, stamping my foot slightly in the cold.
“Do you want to learn this or not?” Renee smiled back.
“Alright, you see that girder up there on the second floor?” Renee gestured upwards into the darkness.
“Barely,” I nodded.
“Reach out if as if you’re going to pull it down, but don’t actually attempt to pull it.”
Flexing my arms I reached out and wrapped a tendril of mana around it. There was a crunch and some grinding and the girder snapped off from the column.
“Ah okay, maybe a little less force.” Renee cringed. “You’re obviously not a soft touch. I’m glad I didn’t let you kiss me,” she smirked.
Irritated, I glanced quickly at her. Jokes were not appreciated.
“Now, try again, Twitch,” she ordered, business-like again. “Maybe that one a little further away, and remember you’re not trying to bring it to you.”
With a loud clang I let the previous girder drop to the ground and tried again. It fell a good ten metres or so. The noise when it landed reverberated throughout the building.
“Quietly!” Renee admonished.
“Sorry,” I replied sheepishly.
It took me several more tries before I was able to latch my mana thread over a girder without pulling it out, but eventually it seemed solid enough.
“Alright, now picture wrapping the tendril of mana round your wrist as if you’re going to swing across a rope,” Renee instructed as she pulled herself in behind me and wrapped an arm around my waist.
A second tendril of mana shot out from Renee onto a girder above me.
It was intoxicating to be so close to her, I could feel her breath on my neck and the tickle of her hair on my cheek. I could smell her scent in the air.
“Relax, Twitch,” she whispered. “Ready?”
I watched her hand as it curled in on itself, her slender fingers forming into a fist. I did the same thing and saw the particles in my hand mirror the same effect.
“Now, imagine pulling on the thread like a rope,” Renee ordered.
There was a loud snap and suddenly the girder was flying at high speed towards us, with a strangled shriek I attempted to regain control over what was essentially a piece of fast moving shrapnel coming right at us, but I was unable to do so. With a laugh Renee threw her weight forward and both of us stumbled out of the way.
The girder imbedded itself a foot deep into the concrete where we had previously been standing. If that had hit us we’d both be dead.
Renee got back to her feet with a small chuckle.
“Did you do that on purpose?” I demanded as I jumped back up.
“No, Twitch, that was all you.” She laughed. “Now try again.”
When I attempted again either nothing happened or I snapped the girder out of the concrete again. It was infuriating.
“I think you need some motivation,” Renee purred after watching me for several minutes. “I tell you what, if you can follow me up – I’ll give you a reward.”
Renee latched a mana thread onto the top floor and with a small leap was gliding up into the darkened building. Seeing the technique in action actually helped quite a bit, but I wasn’t going to criticise her teaching.
In the end the trick turned out to be a lot like roller-blading. A lot of the trick to skating is the ability to move one’s centre of balance from one foot to the other. This was similar except that I was moving my centre of balance from my feet to my arms, almost like doing a handstand.
I began tentatively at first with a small leap and let my arms take my weight. I was relieved that they did. I was now floating several metres above the concrete floor with my feet dangling uselessly below me. I could hear the sound of clapping echoing from the rooftop.
“That’s not helping!” I yelled up at Renee.
“You’re doing very well.” Renee’s mocking voice floated down. “Now you’re stuck in mid-air, try again!”
With a grunt I landed back on my feet and immediately tried again, this time I leapt further now secure in the knowledge that it was possible. It wasn’t that I was no longer feeling gravity, it was simply as if I was security fastened in a harness as I was slowly rising up to the girder. It was a strange sensation.
I held my breath all the way to the top and came to rest on the edge of a girder. With some effort I was able to pull myself onto the first floor of the building. There had to be a more elegant way of doing this.
“That’s one!” Renee called down from the darkness. “There are four more floors.”
I’d had about enough of this game. I latched a mana thread securely onto a beam on the roof of the building and used it to swing across to another part of the same floor, testing myself, and once I was sure that I was secure, I attempted to climb to the next level. I’ve never been scared of heights but this was something I’ve never experienced. Every other time I’ve looked down over a tall building or off a bridge, I’ve always been secure in the knowledge that my feet were firmly placed on solid structure. Looking at the ground several metres below through a gap between your feet is another sensation entirely.
It wasn’t scary but it was definitely sobering. Still, as I found myself hanging in mid-air by a mana thread, I felt completely at ease – I was in control. This must be how birds feel when they take to the air. I didn’t bother with the second, third or even fourth floors. I ascended straight to the roof.
“Clever boy,” Renee complimented sarcastically from the darkness.
She was obviously out of direct line of sight because I couldn’t see her mana signature. A quick awareness spell told me she was on the far side of the level. This particular floor was a maze of girders and beams.
Latching back onto the roof I made my way across the beams. Renee immediately dashed out from behind a column and dived down into the gap. She gracefully twisted mid-flight to level herself out and glide with accustomed ease into the darkness below me. Damn she was graceful, I felt like a bumbling ox by comparison. I shrugged and stepped out into the darkness and felt my body begin its fall as gravity took hold. I smiled as I willed my descent to slow, allowing me to come to a halt on the same level as Renee.
Renee was crouched on the far side of the gap about five metres across from me. She smiled impishly and I could see her readying to take flight once more. I had an idea. It was risky. It would be something Renee wouldn’t expect. I waited until Renee had launched herself and then I reached out with a second thread. I wrapped my power around Renee’s waist and pulled her towards me. She let out a shriek and startled curse as she inevitably began to swing towards me as my body now acted as ballast as I stepped out into the void to meet her. This was the first time I had tried multiple threads. Renee’s grandfather had talked about mages being able to handle dozens of threads at any given time but I found it disconcerting merely to focus on two.
Reaching out as she swung past, I pulled her into an embrace, hanging there mid-air by two particles of mana. She laughed as our bodies entwined and I felt her hands reach around to pull me in tight.
“Well, that wasn’t the way I thought this would go,” she whispered. “But…”
Breaking off mid-sentence she pulled me into a fervent kiss. I instantly went slack as the mana left me and my mind filled with desire. All awareness of where I was and what I was doing was swept away with that one desire to kiss this woman in my arms. I could the feel the mana in our bodies once again react and boil into a frenzy. The mana danced across our bodies like liquid fire drawing me in. It was intoxicating and I wanted more, fortunately for both of us, Renee was not quite so distracted and her mana thread held us in place. We slowly descended to the ground on her mana thread alone. Mine had long since dissipated.
The air bristled through my hair as the road stretched out before me. My skates clacked against the road as I accelerated to match the speed of the car in front of me. The ability to pull myself into the air with a gesture had a very dramatic and obvious effect on my skating skills. No longer was I concerned about controlling my speed, sudden stops or even passing cars. It brought about a sense of invulnerability that would have bordered on suicidal insanity had I not had my powers.
Last year I would have never attempted the route before me. It would have been my death. The road was a sharp decent onto a major four-lane highway. There was no room to manoeuvre and even less to safely slow your speed. Get it wrong, and you’re roadkill.
There is a certain amount of grim joy to be gained from a close encounter with death. The feel of adrenaline flowing through your veins as your brain shuts down and your knees go weak. It makes you feel alive. I reflected on this sombrely as I sat down on the edge of the road at the base of the descent, my skates still slightly spinning as I gently lowered myself on to the sidewalk. I missed that feeling. There was no rush. There was no thrill. There was no fear. The mana had ruined all that, the rush was gone, the excitement vanished. At the mere extension of my hand I could now slow myself down or and even pull myself air borne if required. It happened so instinctively that I almost had no control over it at all.
Bugger.
Skating just didn’t seem to have the same buzz. There was no thrill, because the moment I became concerned or even had the slightest inclination that I was likely to fall, my mind would instinctively take over and slow myself down. With this sad fact in mind, I rose to my feet and began the trip home. There didn’t seem to be much point continuing skating if it was going to be like this. Up until now I hadn’t previously considered that there might be a down-side to my new powers. It takes a certain kind of pessimistic mind to turn a simple fact – “The mana won’t let me maim myself into roadkill” and turn it into “The mana is a buzz-killer”.
It takes a special kind of stupid to create that kind of logic.
There were of course compensations, in that I could gain more speed and more control over my movements. I could change my direction and speed at the merest flick of the wrist. Last year I would have begged for a taste of those skills.
My school life also suffered. Nothing mattered, nothing counted. No-one could teach me anything that compared to the mana. It was mysterious and intoxicating. I found myself using it when I didn't need to – to do small things, petty things. When no-one was looking, I would move a pencil or snatch a paper from a book. Last week, these things would have taken intense concentration. Now it was almost effortless.
I had to be careful not to be observed. There was some danger involved in this as I had to direct the power with a hand motion. Most times, it didn’t matter as no-one would notice the slight twitch of a hand or wave. I didn’t seem to have the urge to target anyone in particular, which I suppose, speaks highly of me as I could have used my powers to make someone’s life miserable.
Renee’s grandfather’s work had insisted that the hand motion wasn’t necessary but I couldn’t seem to summon the power without some form of gesture. It didn’t seem to matter how pronounced the movement. The slightest twitch of a finger would be sufficient but I couldn’t summon the power by thought alone.
I suppose in the end that’s what I really wanted though. It wouldn’t have been anywhere near as much fun without the risk, however slight.
* * * *
Tina grinned nervously as she looped her arms through mine at the cafeteria table. I had totally forgotten about her – I had been so wrapped up in thoughts of Renee all weekend. Tony smiled wolfishly at me and Sarah just nodded approvingly in a slightly condescending way. Tina noticeably relaxed as I looped my arm back and leaned against her. I hadn’t realised how tense she’d been.
This was the first time we’d seen each other since Friday night when she’d dropped me at the station. I had been nervous about seeing her after our kiss.
“Hey you,” she whispered in my ear.
“Well, this is new.” Sarah smiled back from across the table.
“About time,” Tony grunted approvingly placing his feet on the table. The cynic in me noted that he took the time to scan the room for teachers before doing so.
“How did it happen?” Sarah asked, skilfully ignoring Tony’s boorish behaviour yet at the same time managing to knock his feet with her elbows from the table. Sarah also appeared to be blissfully unaware of what she’d just done.
“Umm... I’m not sure,” I mumbled back. “We… ah kinda… kissed when she dropped me at the station.”
Sarah nodded expectantly, her face screwing up with disappointment when neither Tina nor I appeared forthcoming with any further information. Obviously she had already learned that.
“Details Man! I want details!” She playfully banged her fist on the table.
I coughed nervously and looked at Tina in a panic. Girl talk was not my strong suit and there could be no mana-assisted wizardry to get me out of this one. I’d seen that look in Sarah’s eyes previously when she found something she really wanted.
“Well... are you boyfriend and girlfriend?” Sarah pressed firmly in a no-nonsense kind of way.
They say in some moments of danger that time slows down allowing you to see the danger with stark clarity. Right up to the point that the aforementioned danger clouts you cleanly between the eyes. This was one of those moments.
I gulped and was very aware of the fact that Tina was sitting right next to me and was yet to say a word. I was also aware that my answer now would be very important. My response would be taken and dissected for further analysis by both Tina and Sarah. I had no idea how to get out of this one. Tina was nice – but she wasn’t Renee.
I’d have given anything to possess Renee’s invisibility right now. It would have been so nice to be able to just fade into the background of the chair and escape this. But there was no help for it. I was trapped – caught in my own indecision. I nodded very carefully.
Tina breathed out. I hadn’t even been aware she’d been holding her breath. Sarah smiled and nodded slightly as if she was silently approving, like she was rewarding a correct decision. I shot her a quizzical look and turned to Tina.
Tina was beaming at me, her arm pulling me in a little tighter. Great, I now had a girlfriend. Brilliant. The only problem was that she wasn’t the girlfriend that I wanted. The girlfriend I actually wanted though didn’t want me back. She had told me so, and then she had kissed me. Talk about sending mixed messages.
So I wasn’t cheating on Renee but it sure did feel like it. I still barely knew Tina and our conversation now felt stilted. Fortunately Tony and Sarah were there to cover up the awkwardness. They were discussing some band that they wanted to go see in the city next weekend. But apparently Tina’s parents were strict and wouldn’t allow her to go. Roller-skating at night at a nearby rink was one thing but there was no way in a million years they would let their daughter go into the city on a Saturday night.
“Devon? Are you going to come with us? You’re not busy this weekend are you?” Tony drawled.
“Uhh,” I replied, then noticed the strange look on Tina’s face. “Better not,” I said, noticing Tina’s expression relax again.
“That’s right!” Sarah finished for me. “He’s going to spend some time with Tina.”
Well, it was decided. I would spend some time with Tina this weekend. Sarah could be quite pushy when she wanted to. Before Sarah could decide any more of my plans we were distracted by an apple in a crowded cafeteria and a student who thought he was funny.
“Hey, John!” a voice yelled out across the hall. “Catch!”
An apple was thrown at high speed with poor aim. It happened so fast. I reacted without thinking.
With a casual flick of my hand I reached up and sent a mana thread at the apple. With no conscious thought I wrapped the thread around it and brought it soaring back into my outstretched hand.
A stunned silence descended over the cafeteria.
Everyone looked slack jawed at me. I shrugged slightly and forced a cheesy smile to my face.
“You’re an awful shot, Rob,” I began lamely.
The silence was broken by smatterings of halting laughter. Rob was standing there with a stupid expression on his face and a wary look in eyes. He hadn’t meant to throw the apple at me. In actual fact he hadn’t thrown it anywhere near me and he knew it.
“That’s quite a curve ball you’ve got there,” Tony called out again, causing the people in the hall to break into laughter. I breathed out a sigh of relief. I could always count on Tony to lighten the mood.
I sat back down and casually tossed the apple over to John, who promptly dropped it.
“Nice catch, Dev.” Tony grinned as I resumed my seat, a raised eyebrow prominent on his face.
Tony had seen exactly what I’d seen. The apple had changed direction after I had reached out. There was an expectant look on Tony’s face as he resumed his seat next to me.
“Just lucky I guess.” I smiled at him.
“Yeah… lucky,” Tony finished. He wasn’t convinced. He was still staring at me expectantly.
It’s amazing how people so easily accept what they can’t explain. What they had just witnessed was solid proof of the unknown. Witchcraft, sorcery or whatever you wanted to label it had been performed in their presence. Yet within moments everyone in the room had somehow managed to discount the idea or rationalise it in their minds.
It was impossible that I caused the apple to change direction mid-flight. No-one can do that. So therefore logically I didn’t. Rob must have thrown the apple with a strange spin or a gust of wind had caught it. There were any number of other facts which might explain it away rationally. The fact that the apple ended up in my hand could easily be explained through either luck or good sportsmanship on my part.
Tony scowled when I didn’t appear to have anything more to say and shoved his chair back and threw his feet on the table. Sarah in her usual fashion casually leaned forward and knocked his feet back onto the floor.
Conversation soon returned to normal in the cafeteria. I thought everything had returned to normal except for Tony. Tina and Sarah obviously hadn’t noticed as they were deep in a whispered conversation.
“What do you want to do this weekend?” Tina nudged me.
I’d drifted off into my own worried little world and hadn’t noticed that everyone was now looking at me.
“No idea,” I stammered. “Anything you like I guess, I’m pretty easy.”
“Yeah... I’ve heard that about you,” Sarah snickered.
“You could go pick apples,” Tony suggested darkly, his eyes narrowing as he leaned forward.
I remained silent for the moment, studying his face. Signs of confusion, hurt and betrayal clearly lined in his features. I’d have to do something about this. I was not prepared to alienate my best friend.
“How about a movie?” Tina interjected.
Much to my relief, the suggestion lowered the tension level around the table. I wasn’t sure if Tina was aware of the tension or was merely saying something in an attempt to change the subject. The end result was the same. It gave me the out I wanted.
“That sounds great.” I smiled and stood, looping one arm around Tina and pulling her up with me.
“Well, catch you later guys,” I called back as I led Tina away. Tony’s eyes glittered as he watched me leave. Something was definitely wrong there.
“How did you catch that apple anyway?” Tina asked as we walked down the corridor to class.
“Luck,” I replied dryly, not really expecting her to believe it.
“Well, it was very impressive.”
I’m an idiot sometimes, I really am.
* * * *
I couldn’t concentrate on my classes for the rest of the day. My mind kept fixating on that damn apple from the cafeteria at lunch. It should have exploded! There was no way that I had the control necessary to exert that kind of control at that speed without crushing the apple into pieces. Only three days ago I was accidently tearing down metal girders. How does one get to a new level of control without even trying? I hadn’t even had a chance to practice that much. I hadn’t even really used the mana in any noticeable way in days.
My powers were growing and what was even more disconcerting was that I wasn’t aware that they were growing. The thrill that I was getting more powerful was finally tempered by the feeling of dread in my stomach.
“That’s a neat trick.” A curious voice cut into my reverie. It was Josie Macintosh from the seat next to me in History.
Oh no. That’s when I realised what I was doing. I was spinning a small coin on the tip of my finger, using the mana to hold it in place and gently rotate it. I guess I must have liked the way the light glanced off it or something because I certainly wasn’t focused on it. Josie was staring at my face and her features twisted into one of concern, a slight twinge of fear.
“What’s wrong with your eyes?” she gasped, trying to back further into her chair.
“What?” I stammered, caught off guard. I immediately pulled the coin into my hand and stopped the mana thread. I knew once I stopped using the mana that my eyes would return to normal.
“Nothing, why do you ask?” I replied, trying desperately to keep my voice calm.
“Oh... I must have imagined it,” she continued, unsure of herself now and looking behind her to see if there was anything that might have caused a strange reflection on my face.
“You’re weird.” I smiled back, attempting to throw the conversation back onto her.
“It’s still a neat trick though. Where’d you learn it? That coin was spinning for ages. It was like you weren’t even trying!”
“My uncle,” I lied quickly, trailing off. “He taught me…”
“Oh, well. It’s cool,” Josie said hurriedly.
I was getting sloppy. It was unacceptable. I couldn’t afford to slip up like that again. The most disconcerting thing about this encounter was that unlike the apple, which I could easily discount as instinct taking over, this was something I genuinely hadn’t been aware that I was doing. I wondered darkly how far this could go. Could I be sitting in English class tomorrow thinking about the weekend whilst unconsciously levitating every chair in the room? The thought terrified me. What was the use of having this power if I couldn’t control it properly?