A young girl of fourteen stared off into the forest across the street as the morning breeze blew her hair out of place. Her eyes closed and she took a deep breath in, letting the heavy mist dampen her face and her strawberry blonde hair stick to her cheeks. She looked up and tightened the jacket around her front as she folded her arms. She turned to the large yard behind her and saw the stars dotting the western sky, slowly fading against the eastern sun. Her bare foot slid against the wet grass and as she walked through the yard without making a sound. The morning dew covered the bottom of her feet with a fine coat of water.
She dropped her hands to her side and slowly spun around; knowingly pulling up all the dew and making it spin around her as well. She stopped twirling and let the droplets settle onto the grass once more. The dew soaked her clothes as she sat down and directed the water with her finger so it twisted through the air.
A door slammed behind her and she jumped. The water that had been floating a second before fell to the ground with a splash. She stood up quickly and straightened her clothes.
“Gabby? Gabby, where are you?” Her older brother’s voice traveled through the yard and Gabby ran to meet him at the back door.
“I’m right here, Cory.” She stepped around the corner to see him standing wild-eyed in the door way. He pulled her inside quickly and shut the door behind them. When Cory had made sure the blinds were shut and no one was outside watching, he turned to his sister. Gabby could feel him scrutinizing her damp clothes so early in the morning.
“What were you doing?” He crossed his arms over his chest in a fatherly manner and Gabby rolled her eyes.
“I was just enjoying the sunrise… is that against the rules now too?” She couldn’t help the sarcastic edge that lined each of her words. Overprotective was an understatement when it came to describing her brother. Despite his good intentions, Gabby had come to resent the way he still treated her like she was a little girl.
Cory sighed and his stance relaxed. “Of course not. I just want you to be careful.”
Gabby didn’t respond to his statement and turned away to avoid betraying any emotion on her face. She strolled into the pristine living room and picked up her packed bag. In a single motion, she swung it over her shoulder and smoothed the carpet where her bag had sat with her foot. When she looked back over to Cory, he already had his backpack on as well.
“Let’s do one more sweep of the house, and then we’ll head out. We can make it to the city by tomorrow if we make good time.” Cory said confidently.
“Is this another one of the alleged Galia remnants you’re always chasing after?”
Cory nodded. “I have a good feeling about this one.”
“Just like the last four that turned out to be nothing,” Gabby thought bitterly. She held back another sarcastic remark and walked upstairs.
The small house was like the majority of the places they stayed: unoccupied, fully furnished, and for sale in a quiet countryside or neighborhood. Because of the nature of these locations, they had to leave everything exactly as they found it, and they could never stay for long. Sometimes they would travel for days before finding a temporary home that suited their needs. The constant change had made for an interesting three years, but it was not the life that Gabby desired.
Her thoughts drifted back to their village as she smoothed out a bed cover that she had slept on the night before. A single strand of hair stood out on the white pillow case and she picked it up gingerly. She had gotten her fine, straight hair from her mother, and the reddish tint from her father. Cory had striking red hair and was almost the exact image of their father, which often made it difficult to blend in when slipping through towns. Gabby tucked the strand of hair into her pocket and shook the thoughts of family long gone from her mind.
She made quick work of checking the other rooms before meeting Cory at the back door again. He was examining the lock and wiping down the door knob to erase any finger prints. “Paranoid” was another word that could be used to describe her brother, but also fell short in her own mind. She understood they had to be careful, but she didn’t like being smothered by the dozens of rules and protocols Cory had established. He nodded at his handiwork and adjusted the straps on his backpack.
“Are you ready to go?” He opened the door with a microfiber cloth and swept his arm to the outside.
Gabby rolled her eyes again and walked past him quickly. “As ready as I am any day.”
She heard him shut and lock the door behind them before falling into step beside her. The morning sun was still low in the sky as they approached the country road. The two siblings continued down the pavement toward what Gabby could only hope was more than another empty house.
****
The rest of the day passed quickly as the two siblings continued on their journey. Cory occasionally stopped to ask for directions, but he always made sure Gabby was safely behind him with her eyes downcast. He would avoid making eye contact as well and was annoyingly vague about their destination or purpose for travel. They took the back roads as opposed to the main highways, the freshly plowed fields rather than public parks, and forests with more “No Trespassing” signs than Gabby could count. Another human being was a rare sight, and one that Gabby was beginning to miss.
The two had been by themselves ever since their village was attacked. At first, Cory had insisted they stay hidden for as long as necessary. As time went on and no news of anyone from their village reached them, Cory decided to begin searching for other Galia tribes or remnants. Even if they couldn’t find another Aquatri village, any group from the Mother Tribe would be safer than hiding on their own. Clues had been few and far in-between, but one thing had become clear: the Galia did not want to be found.
Only a handful of the tidbits of information or history they had discovered had any merit to them, but they had all led to dead ends or abandoned towns. Gabby doubted this one would be different. The latest lead Cory had found directed them to a small shop in a nearby city. An antique store had posted an old scroll for sale online that was eerily similar to Galia writing. Cory believed it could hold information about other colonies. Gabby was less optimistic.
The dense woods they had been trekking through for the past hour broke open suddenly. Gabby was brought back to reality from her thoughts when the sounds of suburban life met her ears. Children’s laughter, dogs barking, and screen doors opening and closing filled the small neighborhood and brought a smile to her face. She took a step forward and Cory grabbed her arm lightly.
“Stay close to me, and don’t talk to anyone. The city should be just a few more miles.” Cory let go of her arm once he had moved in front of her and continued between the gated backyards.
Gabby sighed and adjusted her backpack straps. She fell into step behind him and kept her head down as they passed through the streets and cul-de-sacs. It wasn’t long before the comforting sounds of simple life faded into the constant drone of a city that never slept.
The tall skyscrapers filled the horizon and Gabby had to crane her neck back to see the tops of them. Cars honking, people yelling, and sirens going off in the distance overwhelmed Gabby’s senses. The aroma of street-side food vendors tempted her stomach, while the occasional passing diesel engine made her nose crinkle in disgust. She followed behind Cory to avoid stepping in any suspicious looking puddles or waded gum spots, yet her shoes still stuck to the ground when she walked. Suddenly, she didn’t resent the countryside so much.
“How much farther is the shop?” she asked Cory while sidestepping to avoid running into a broad-shouldered business man.
Cory examined the handwritten sheet in his hand. “Just a few more blocks.” He turned his head slightly to smile at her. “This is the one. I can feel it.”
Gabby raised her eyebrows in disbelief. “It better be.” She could tell he was starting to get excited as his pace picked up.
“If we find another Galia tribe, Gabby, there could be other survivors from our village. We could even take the Rite and learn how to Wield. You’ll be old enough in a few years to test your own abilities.” Cory’s voice matched his pace as they turned a corner.
Gabby mentally tuned out as he continued on the ramble that he repeated every time they neared a possible lead. She bit her lip to avoid speaking her mind and cutting him off. Despite spending almost every moment of the past three years together, Gabby kept many secrets from her brother. Cory had never found out Gabby had learned how to Wield, nor would he approve. He had never practiced or tested his own gifts. The traditions of their village ran deep in his heart, and were one of the few things that still connected him to their family. She understood his reasoning, but she did not agree, and she would certainly not be left helpless.
“Come on, we’re almost there!” Cory waved to Gabby to follow him further down the busy street. She forced a tight smile and braced herself for the disappointment that was sure to follow.
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