Guardians: The Orb Of Life

Chapter 8: Bombs, Coverups, and Back To Regina The Korrigan

THE SIGHT OF seeing your greatest work go up in flames was a truly heart crushing experience. One that could cause you to collapse to your knees and let your mind wander to those moments of pride that you felt from finally completing the last obstacle.

Yeah, well I wouldn't know what that felt like, but witnessing Aspen's horrified face didn't make me feel any better about myself.

Ms. Fai was the first to bolt to the building, screaming something to Mr. Wilkins and heaving the giant bluish wall apart. Mr. Gnome wasn't that far behind, slamming his hands against the magic wall, even though it did nothing to make the process go faster.

Once the wall was in sparkling pieces, Aspen rushed ahead of all the others and jumped right into the flaming building. The fire enlarged amongst the top of the roof, pieces of charred substances dropped to the floor of the first level. The hole in the building grew wider as more and more chunks of the structure fell.

Aspen moved her arms in a motion that resembled the waves of the ocean. The flames danced along with her movement, listening to the beat of the song she motioned with her hands. Slowly, the fire twirled and swirled in a lazy wave to Aspen's arms. The first flame rushing along her forearm like a river, and everything about her flowy gestures screamed 'hydrokinetic'.

She spun, her body facing the sky, and motioned her arms toward the open blue. The embers shot from her around her arms like a rocket, sparking out into the air like a dragon's breath. Aspen lowered her arms, then ran further into the building until I couldn't see her anymore. Now, the fire was entirely out.

More high school students flooded out of the second part of the academy, confusion and worry written on their faces while the teachers tried to console them. Most of the students rushed in the other side of the large building, helping the younger students get outside before anything else happened.

I sprinted forward to follow behind a group of teens. The damage of the building was massive, the roof split open about halfway, blackened remains of the restaurant bar littering the floor, marble chunks creating holes through the ground, and first level doors blocked by planks of damaged wood.

Jason stepped down the stairs of the second level, helping Kathy by tossing her arm over his shoulder. Once they reached the last step, I ran over to them and took Kathy's other arm.

"What happened to her?" I asked worriedly.

Jason shook his head, wincing in pain. "Nobody expected it. The bomb shook the whole building, Kathy managed to fall during the rush and sprain her ankle."

My gaze flickered to Kathy. "Well, at least somebody didn't smash my head into a desk," Kathy retorted.

I turned my attention back on Jason. "Wait, what?" I said.

"It's nothing much," Jason assured. "I just have a slight headache."

A large tremor caused us to fall, plaster raining down from the roof. The sound was deafening, like a click of a gun, then the shot bursting in our eardrums. It was like a clap of thunder before the lightning.

"Another bomb went off!" someone shouted. "High school needs to be evacuated!"

"We need to get out," I urged, helping Kathy up while Jason rubbed his head. He looked tired, exhausted even, with his blond hair ruffled resembling a bad bedhead and his eyes unfocused.

We hobbled out of the building awkwardly, I mostly supporting the weight now that Jason was completely out of it. Kathy was taken away by a high schooler, and Jason stayed by my side despite his head injury.