Michael thrusts the diary into my hand. Michael, I remember his name now! He is my friend and we are the same age, nine or ten. He shoves me into our secret hiding spot – an old dumb waiter. The shaft underneath is filled in, but the old door still allows us access to the crawlspace. I crouch in there now, utterly terrified.
‘They are coming for me, Andy. Give that diary to your parents, they will know what to do.’
I nod, unable to act as Michael goes to hide. But his hiding spot is not as good as mine, it never could be. Two masked men enter the room and spot him almost immediately. They are both large, though one is exceptionally so. I stop breathing, clutch my legs and watch as they drag my kicking, screaming friend out from behind the couch. With brutal efficiency they snap his leg, causing a loud wail.
‘Where is your glove, boy? Your parents are dead, but they did not have it.’
‘I don’t know,’ Michael screams through his tears. I look down – the glove is wrapped around my hand. We had been playing. Michael had given it to me to try on, and was so excited when I shared the power to wear it. That was moments before we heard the screams of Michael’s parents.
The men draw knives and I see blood fly, and hear another gargling scream from Michael and some unintelligible shouting from the two men and then the knife plunges down again. . .
I start awake, sit bolt upright in bed and take several heaving breaths. Beside me Hayden withdraws his hand – that hand having saved me from seeing my friend murdered again.
‘Are you okay?’
I blink furiously but every time I close my eyes I see the knife coming down. Instead, I try shaking my head to clear the vision. Then, eyes very firmly open, I stick my head between my knees and focus on my breathing. I want to hurl.
‘Andy? Did you remember something?’
It takes me a full minute to reply. My hands are shaking so badly that I force them under my butt, swallowing the bile that has risen into my mouth. I cannot shake the cruel glint of the bloody knife from my mind.
‘Where is Mac?’
‘He’s getting some things sorted. You’re going to be released from the hospital shortly. We need to know what you are going to do next. Spark and Flame are going to be put in a local safe house, with myself and June as protection.’
‘I saw my friend getting murdered. I remember watching it happen.’
‘Murdered. . . What was his name?’
‘Michael. Michael . . . Colter! That was it!’ My relief in knowing his name is palpable and helps calm me somewhat.
‘Do you know where?’
‘No. I mean, in his house. But I don’t know where I’m from.’
‘Did you see the assailants?’
‘They were dressed all in black, head to toe, and they were big, but everyone is big to a kid.’ I look up, finally, and see Mac leaning on the door frame, watching me silently. He is looking at me with an expression I haven’t seen before and don’t quite understand. Surprisingly, talking to Hayden has calmed me somewhat.
‘I will look into this for you, Andy, and see if I can find who you are. But it will take some time with so little information.’
‘What are we going to do in the mean time?’ Mac asks, his voice gruff. The question seems to be directed at me, but Hayden answers in part.
‘Well, it would certainly be easier to contact you if you weren’t at sea. Would it be possible for you to take some shore leave?’
‘Yes. Though we have nowhere to stay. The yacht was badly damaged.’
‘I’m sure Spark would welcome the company – the verbal company – at the safe house, if you would like. It would be easier if you were all in one place.’
‘That would be inviting danger. Those two are what attracted it to us in the first place.’
‘No, Mac, I think that this was always meant to find me. I’d like to stay there tonight, at least, and see what more I can find out. If these dreams, these memories, continue, they will haunt me until I know the truth.’ I must still be terribly pale because Mac does not argue. Instead, he enters the room and hands me my clothes and licence, which he has collected.
‘We will stay at the safe house tonight, pending review tomorrow.’
I nod.
‘I shall make arrangements and get Spark ready. She is still very weak,’ Hayden says and leaves the room.
When we walk outside, Mac and me, we can hear Hayden and June going at it in the car park. Spark and Flame are nowhere in sight – perhaps they are already in the vehicle. The two policemen don’t notice our approach, and we slow so we can hear what they are saying.
‘This is insane, Drew, taking these kids into a safe house! It is obvious that they are either insane or playing one big ass prank on you!’
‘I may be a little more open minded than you, June, but the fact remains that the bearded man has attacked her – and us – twice.’
‘So? Normally we would throw these kids into a cell somewhere, or the nuthouse, not a safe house under police protection!’
‘Whatever you think of them, June, the glove is the main point of interest to both them and the attacker. We can’t take it from her, and you know it.’
‘It’s evidence.’
‘I didn’t say that we shouldn’t take it, I said we can’t. We can’t touch it. It burns. How do you explain that?’
‘The other boy touched it. Perhaps we should ask him to bag it for us.’
‘Sorry to butt in, but if you’re taking them to the nuthouse can we have a ride back to our ship?’ I say, tiring of eavesdropping.
‘You can’t leave, boy, you are a witness.’ June whirls on me, but Hayden is speaking before she finishes her sentence.
‘No one is going to the nuthouse. And he doesn’t have to stay, as you well know, June. The safe house is easier for all of us. Let’s go.’
Hayden drops himself into the front seat of an unmarked car, and I catch a glimpse of Spark and Flame in the rear.
‘You will be riding with me,’ June says, managing to glare at us while sighing. She points to a squad car and Mac and I both climb into the back – despite the offer for Mac to sit in the front.
Although it is early afternoon when we arrive at the safe house I am weary again. Our accommodation is an old, musty, two-storey apartment. Spark retires back to bed as Mac and Hayden go together to get some food, leaving us with June supervising. Flame is lousy conversation and I have no interest in talking to June so I follow Spark’s lead and find my own bed to lie down on. The nightmare memories have left me drained and as I check the clock on the bedside table, I have to do a double-take. I check the date and time again – I’m right, it has only been sixteen hours since the attack. I’m shocked and amazed that we’d all been turfed from the hospital so quickly and say so out loud without thinking.
‘You were in no immediate danger and neither was the girl. Your presence was a risk to the staff.’
‘Oh.’ I’m surprised June bothered to answer me. After an hour of watching the ceiling fan turn I hear Mac and Hayden return. I don’t move, just continue to lie there, and they both poke their heads in a short time later.
‘Can’t sleep?’ Mac asks.
‘Nope.’
‘We brought food and filled a prescription for a sedative. You’re still tired, as is your body, and the doctor recommended you rest until tomorrow. Spark is under the same orders, so there won’t be anything for any of you kids to do until tomorrow,’ Hayden says and offers the food – pizza, awesome – and pills to me.
‘That’s a long sleep. It’s only 3pm.’
‘You nearly drowned. Your body – and shoulder – will appreciate the rest. Besides, Spark is the one you want to talk to, right?’ Mac says.
‘It’ll be easier for us, Andy. Myself and June will have time to gather information, secure in the knowledge that you will be safe and still,’ Hayden says.
Mac watches me for a long moment, making sure I get the point. He knows me, and he knows that I would be unlikely to sit still if I were awake.
‘Fine. Okay.’
Even after gorging myself on the delicious pizza it is another two hours and another two of the tablets before I overcome my trepidation and fall asleep. I sleep well – while completely under the sedatives control. As soon as they begin to wane, I am back in my past.
I am running now, moving through Michael’s house after emerging from my hiding place. The whole house is slick with blood. I hop two fences and run towards my back door. Bursting through it, I notice two things simultaneously. My dog dead at my feet, blood everywhere, and my parents kneeling in the lounge room. Mum sees me and goes to shout, but it is too late. The masked men have spotted me. In a moment of pure terror I forget all about my parents, all about the glove, all about my friend and the secret he died to protect. In all my ten year old glory, I scream, hug the diary to my chest and run. The glove slips from my hand, but still I run. And I never stop.
I must have screamed aloud because June and Mac are by my side as I wake. June looks at me with an expression bordering on maternal, the frown finally gone.
‘Okay?’ Mac asks simply. I shake my head, surge to my feet and rush to the toilet, retching violently and unable to stop for several minutes. The adults leave me be and as soon as I can control my gut I dive into a cold shower, trying to rid myself of the sticky sweat covering my body. I don’t care that I’m in my boxers, I don’t care about my sling and I don’t care about a towel. I just want to forget that I ever saw the look on my parents’ face, the pure, undulated fear. I am disgusted with myself, even though I know I could have done nothing, because I ran. I didn’t help, I just ran.
The shower is finally too cold for me and I turn the heat on. It feels good, so good. The door, which someone must have closed when I dived into the shower, opens a crack and Mac tosses a towel and fresh pants into the room.
‘You ok? Andy?’
‘Yeah.’
The door closes again and I spend another few minutes savouring the shower before getting out, drying off and putting the jeans on with difficulty. When I emerge back into the room I note the dawn light outside. June, Hayden and Mac are all waiting for me.
‘Did you remember something different? Something more?’ Hayden asks. I nod, taking a deep breath before speaking.
‘Yes. My folks got killed too, that day, I think. I didn’t see them dead, but the masked men were there too. We were neighbours with my friend.’
‘I think I know that case,’ June says. She and Hayden exchange glances, then he nods.
‘So we should have an answer for you later today, Andy. In the meantime, Spark would like to speak with you. Mac is going to be on guard duty while I get some rest. June will look up your case, since she has an idea. Fair enough?’
‘Sure.’
‘You ready for breakfast?’ Mac asks.
‘I’d prefer a toothbrush.’ I can taste regurgitated pizza on my teeth and it is more than a little disturbing. Fortunately, the memories are fading from my mind faster this time.
Mac laughs at my request and tosses me a still packaged toothbrush and a partially used tube of toothpaste. ‘Remove your wet sling. They gave us a spare.’
Mac leans over me and helps me remove the sling, put on a t-shirt and replace the binding for my arm. The violent movement of my sleep has settled a dull ache into the joint.
‘See us when you’re done with your teeth. After you eat you can talk to Spark.’
I do manage breakfast but it settles strangely in my stomach, like it doesn’t belong there. I wait sometime before emerging from my room, eating slowly and collecting myself. When I do emerge, the bags under my eyes are mirrored by Spark’s, despite the massive amount of rest we’ve both had in the last twenty four hours. She doesn’t even let me sit down before she speaks.
‘I need you to do me a favour.’
‘Seems I’ve already done you – both of you – plenty of favours.’ Most of this remark is pointed towards Flame, who is seated beside Spark.
‘We recognise that. I’m sorry I can’t give you much more info though – I don’t know who you are or why you are capable of wearing my glove. I’m not sure there has ever been anyone like you, but I won’t know until we can view the other diaries. If tradition is correct, even the Guardian has one. And we need Stone’s to read more about your past. So the favour does benefit you as well.’
‘How so?’
‘I would like you to go and meet Breeze, the Air controller. I can’t and Flame can’t speak.’
‘Ok, so who is Breeze and how will I know her?’
‘That easy?’
‘I’ve got a lot I want to know. If this is going to help, then of course I’ll do it. Does Breeze have a glove?’
‘No, she doesn’t. The Guardian wiped out her older sibling and parents to gain the glove. Since it was in the family, however, she does have some knowledge of what she’s getting herself into.’
‘How will I tell her apart?’
‘She’s only twelve, light skin and hair. Her foster carer is a wiry little black man, I’m informed. You won’t miss her.’
‘Ok. Where?’
‘A park not too far from here. The cops won’t let us give out an address, so it’s the best we can do.’
‘Ok. Have you got anything else for me?’
‘No, not really. I am sorry.’ Flame nods, obviously agreeing. After a prolonged silence, where I am standing still, thinking, Spark adds something else.
‘I am especially sorry that you are remembering who you are.’
Those terrified faces are in the back of my consciousness and I fear they always will be. ‘At least I won’t die wondering.’ I say, though in reality, I am swallowing my breakfast for the third time. I head upstairs to gather what I need for my brief trip outside. Mac intercepts me before I make it near the door.
‘What’s the go?’
‘Spark asked me to meet another of them for her.’
‘And you’re going. Just like that. Alone. After running into the bearded guy at every turn.’
‘Uh, I don’t think he knows where we are, or that this kid is out there.’
‘He’s found them all pretty well so far. I can’t let you go alone – and you may lead him back to us.’
I hadn’t thought of that. ‘What do you propose? Hayden is sleeping for the first time in I-don’t-know-how-long, and June isn’t here, and you are supposed to be watching the other two.’
‘Take Flame, at least.’
‘He’s not much use – I don’t mean any offence by that,’ I add, just in case Flame is eavesdropping. But the kid is scrawny, mute, and doesn’t seem like a fighter at all.
‘He can watch your back and report back if anything should go wrong. I just don’t want you out there alone.’
‘Fine. He can come.’
Mac looks relieved. ‘If you have time, we could call for a couple of patrol cops to watch the place and I could come with you.’
‘No, there isn’t much time, or Spark wouldn’t have asked me.’
‘He’s right,’ Spark says, limping into the room. ‘I can’t guarantee Breeze will be there beyond this morning. We didn’t agree on an exact time, just early morning, so we could suss out the area.’
‘Alright. Flame! Get your gear!’ Mac calls. Flame enters the room, already prepared.
‘Be careful, please, Andy, and come back soon,’ Mac says, his eyes serious.
‘Yes sir.’ I say this with a slight smile, but my stomach is still doing flips.
*
The park is a relatively large one, but my standards are probably a little low. I can kind of see the exit on both ends, and most of the space is open grass. There are trees flanking all the edges. Although today is cool and blustery, there are many people around, most with dogs. Flame is hidden behind the tree line as I approach a park bench that is attracting attention – a bench with a small, pasty girl and a wiry black man. Everyone seems to be deciding if Breeze is being threatened by the black man and the way the child is sitting – tense and on the edge of the bench with eyes darting around – is not helping the cause. But it is obvious that the man is comforting her so everyone keeps on walking, albeit warily.
I walk straight up to them.
‘Hi, I’m Andy,’ I say, holding out my hand to Breeze to shake. After leaving me hanging long enough for it to become awkward, she takes the proffered hand. The man is staring at my sling, trying to assess me. Gently holding the girl’s hand, I roll it over slightly to look at the back of it. Both Flame and Spark have elemental marks on their glove hands. I look down and this girl doesn’t have one. The disappointment on my face must have shown, because she laughs.
‘I’m left handed.’ She holds up her left, marked hand. I break into a relieved grin. ‘Are you?’ She asks, looking at my sling.
‘No.’
‘So you aren’t one of us.’
‘Not exactly. Spark is a little incapacitated right now, and asked me to come instead.’ Breeze looks to ask why, and her foster carer’s eyes have widened at the comment, but I look up and see the Guardian walking towards us all, a glove on both hands. My face must drain of colour immediately, for the adult asks,
‘What is it?’
‘Run. Run!’ I say, and pull Breeze to her feet with our still-held handshake. She is frozen, looking at the Guardian in shock.
‘Where?’ She finally stutters out.
‘Into the trees. Flame is in there. Go!’ I give her a shove towards where I know Flame to be, and step towards the Guardian. I have to distract him, even for just a moment. Despite my arm, neither Flame nor Breeze stand a chance. I can’t let a young girl get hurt, not like Spark was. Not like my sister was.
I don’t even have time to process that abstract thought before I am grabbed – not by the Guardian, but by Breeze’s adult.
‘You cannot fight here, boy! You are injured!’
‘Someone has to.’
Breeze has started running and the Guardian is upon us.
‘Do not run,’ he calls beyond us to Breeze, raising his right hand. On it is a brown coloured glove – Earth, evidently, as the ground below Breeze drops away, trapping her right ankle and twisting it. She sprawls to the ground, barely managing to contain a scream. Her adult dives forward at the Guardian, displaying incredible speed, but is just swatted away like he is nothing. As he falls the big man kicks him, ensuring he stays down.
I lunge forward as Flame rushes towards Breeze, wanting to get her up and moving before it is too late. The Guardian gives me a tap on my damaged shoulder that sends me to my knees in pain. Ignoring this, I go for the closest weak spot – a closed-fist uppercut straight to the nuts. He roars – I’ve only managed to annoy him and I’m starting to wonder, due to the throbbing in my hand, if the man has iron balls. I go to have another crack but am lifted into the air half by the collar, a little by the sling and a lot by my sore shoulder.
I grit my teeth and slit my eyes. Don’t pass out. Don’t pass out.
‘No you don’t!’ the Guardian shouts and raises his other hand, pointing it at Flame, who is pulling Breeze away.
Flame drops to his knees, both his hands around his throat, choking. Breeze turns around and looks to us, clearly terrified – but also recognising her power. The glove is stripping the air from Flame’s lungs.
‘You again, boy. What is it with you?’ the Guardian says to me. Flame is going blue. I have to do something. With my good, free arm I grab onto the Guardian’s outstretched arm.
‘I won’t let you hurt him!’ I shout. Suddenly Flame is breathing freely again, and Breeze’s carer has taken another swipe at the Guardian – this time a firm kick to the soft part of the giant’s knee. Growling, he uses me as a weapon, swinging me hard into the smaller man without releasing me. The pain nearly causes me to black out, and Breeze’s carer is knocked out by my flying knees.
‘I’ve had enough of this. I was just going to take the air-wielder, but now I think I shall take you too.’
‘Why? Why do you want her? You have her glove!’
‘So you know the gloves, eh? I missed her the first time, and she smells like bait. That is the reason.’
A flick of his wrist sends Flame barrelling away from Breeze. The last thing I see is a meaty fist heading for my face.