《Becoming》


 Introduction

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 Chapter 2

    Uhm...this year is not off to a great start actually. When we step onto the school grounds, we meet up with Nathan (known as Nate) our long-time friend, who introduces us to a friend of his who transferred from a neighboring school. His friend is none other than...EBEN CAROLISSEN! I am so unprepared for the introduction, I don''t have my glitter lipgloss on or my cute earrings because I was looking for my training shorts, its whereabouts still unknown, the whole morning - this is so embarrassing!


    Eben is the son of a very well-known neurosurgeon that my mom has cooked for at numerous events. It was at one of these events that I saw him for the first time. I helped out due to my mom being short-staffed.


    He is the epitome of brains and athletism. It takes me a while to feel my feet touch the ground. "Earth to Coco!" Nate shouts while waving his hand in front of my face. All my friends call me Coco instead of Allyssa-Coco, I can''t remember when or how it started. "Oh...hi, I''m Allyssa-Coco, pleasure meeting you." I eventually reply. Eben smiles. I must just say his teeth are as white as snow and extremely straight like he''s been wearing braces since he was maybe 4,380 days old. The point is: it''s perfect, just perfect.


    "Hi, Allyssa-Coco, Nathan told me so much about you. He actually gave me the 101 on your band, how you all became friends, all the good stuff." I am pleasantly surprised by the effect the sound of his voice has on me, it feels like I am crashing into a gigantic wave.


    Stace bumps me "Dude, you need to stop drooling, don''t embarrass me, ok? Okay." She faces Eben, "Hi, Eben, howzit? So Nate did us proud by only giving you the good stuff...well done, Nate." She pats him on the head and pecks him on his cheek. "Catch you later, Coco and I need to get going, ciao boys!"Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    We rush off to homeroom and our academic year has officially started. Stace and I are getting a good idea as to what being a senior means for us as the students. They keep on saying we need to be more serious about our schoolwork and more accountable. Honestly, the repetition of the words "serious" and "accountable" is highly annoying. Is it the adult mantra of the year or what?


    School is out and I get dressed for our first athletic prac. I am looking forward to it despite the whole cycling shorts dilemma. Mr. Gray, our sports coordinator, is on the field already addressing the group of athletes seated on the grass. "Aaah, Miss Brown, such an inspirational athlete," he announces. Everyone is sure to notice my never-ending thighs right about now. I quickly wave in acknowledgment and get myself a spot at the edge of the group.


    After an hour of focused training, I''m walking off the field, heading to my locker when Eben jogs up to me. He says, "Wow, you are really fast." I awkwardly smile and say, "Thanks, I work very hard." "So how old are you?" he asks. "5,840 days, sorry-" I start. "Only 16 years old with such natural talent," he replies in awe. He converted the days into years in seconds, I am forever a fan. "You not too bad yourself," I quickly recover, purely to divert the focus away from me because frankly, I don''t deal very well with attention, especially from a hazel brown-eyed male who demands attention wherever he goes. "Not half as good as you, Allyssa-Coco," he replies. My name sounds heavenly flowing from his beautiful lips. "Will I see you tomorrow at prac, again?" he asks. I nod in response.

 Chapter 3

    When I get home, my mom''s busy in the kitchen trying out a new Thai dish she''s planning on making for a prima ballerina''s birthday party. My mom''s a renowned chef to the elites across our province. She has even cooked for some of our national celebrities, yes, she''s thatgood. Let''s be very clear onmycooking capability: as long as I can find the bread, peanut butter and jam, I can diminish any hunger pains.


    Right, let me bring your attention to the things I do enjoy. My room is my haven. My treasured bookshelf is filled with books about love, adventure, tragedy, lost kingdoms, and action. I can spend hours being transported to a world that allows my imagination to be enriched and my vocabulary strengthened.


    My beloved guitar, I baptized as "Black Beauty" is listed next. A glossy, black TAKAMINE EF341SC. It''s made to perform. I received it as a gift from my parents 3 years ago. I am the guitarist in our band called NAS-L (pronounced NASAL). Stace is our lead vocalist. Nate our drummer and Li (our other long time friend) plays the keyboard and sings backup. We have been playing together as a band since the start of my high school career but started experimenting with our instruments and testing our vocal capabilities since Grade 6. We had a total of three gigs over the expanse of our two-year existence. Never underestimate small beginnings. We just need to find that ONE song that will make us the rock stars we know we are.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    I am sure I''ll catch people off guard when we perform on stage (not a reality just yet) due to my very average looking features, like the surprise element of our rock band. I have waist-length, dark brown hair always tied up in a bun or high ponytail. Chocolate brown eyes with a round little nose and plumlike lips.


    Brandon is the name of my adorable little brother, who thinks his sister is the coolest ever until I order him to do his house chores or threaten to tell our parents about his insubordination. Then I become the really annoying big sister who is ruining the life of her genius younger brother. I love being the eldest, it''s so much fun.


    He is in his room for hours on end working on AI tools or learning a new programming language. The times when I''m granted permission to enter his room and dare to look at his computer screens (he has a total of four screens, thanks to my dad who works as an engineer in robotics) my head starts this insistent throbbing that is only relieved when I make my exit.


    Life in the Brown home can make me feel as if I''m the only sane member, this morning''s mini catastrophe was a typical example. But amidst our daily madness, acceptance and unconditional love are attributes that make us thrive.

 Chapter 4

    I feel rejuvenated when Stace comes knocking on our door the next morning.


    "Hey, beautiful," she greets.


    "Morning, gorgeous," I greet back as we air kiss. I eventually found my favorite training shorts after searching through a pile of clean laundry that equated to Mount Kilimanjaro.


    We shriek when we see Li waiting for us at our usual meeting spot. We start running towards her and almost knock her over as we hug. Li returned from her visit to her grandparents in South Korea. She always brings us the trendiest little trinkets after each visit to her birth country.


    "You guys will never believe how much I missed you," she says. We tighten the hug to express that the feeling is mutual.


    "How are your grandparents?" I ask.


    "They''re well, I got the usual boring lecture about planning effectively for my future. And let''s not forget the regular update on how my cousins are making waves in the IT industry and inheriting their father''s empire blah, blah, blah," she rolls her eyes as she explains.


    "You not feeling a teensy-weensy bit jealous or regretful?" Stace enquires.


    "Hell no!" she passionately replies. "My parents married for true love, defying cultural class and standing together in strength,"


    Both Stace and I start clapping as I say, "You should run for student ambassador, Li,"


    "And besides, my life is so much richer because I have friends like you," she adds.


    "Aaawww..." we both respond.


    "Where''s Nate at?" Li asks.


    I shrug and say, "You''ll probably see him in homeroom," Nate and Li are one year ahead of Stace and I. We say our temporary goodbyes and promise to meet during break time.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Later that day, we meet up with Nate, Li and Mr. Delectable- I mean Eben as break time begins. I reapplied my glitter lipgloss just a few seconds ago and dangly from my ears are my cutest pair of earrings, I came prepared today. We chat about this and that when Eben faces me and asks, "Am I seeing you at practice after school?" No words are being formed at the moment so my response is delayed.


    "Coco is fanatical when it comes to athletic practices, she will never, ever miss a practice." Stace answers.


    "I definitely concur," Li adds.


    "True that," Nate confirms.


    I am finally able to string a few words together and say, " I have my own voice, you know, and can speak for myself." I face Eben and politely answer, "Yes, Eben, I will be attending practice after school," He flashes me the most brilliant smile and says "Great" I can feel myself turning a very dark shade of pink.


    "Coco, is that a new shade of blush you using that instantly appears when your heart goes boom boom?" Stace whispers in my ear while Li starts giggling. I suddenly find my chicken wrap extremely interesting and take a bite, hoping my slow chewing will reduce the heat in my cheeks. The boys are oblivious to "Coco''s blushing episode" as Stace and Li continue to giggle in the background.


    I am finishing off my stretching before our prac session when Eben joins me and says, "Hey, Allyssa-Coco, the practice session only starts in ten minutes." Aaah, my full name again.


    "I like getting a head start with warm-ups, it''s kinda my ritual," I laugh.


    "Something new gets discovered every day..." he says in all seriousness. My chocolate brown eyes lock with his for a full ten seconds.


    "By the way, isn''t it an effort saying my full name all the time?" I ask more to try and control my erratic heartbeat.


    "I like your name and the way it sounds when I say it," he smirks. He is definitely flirting with me right now! Allyssa-Coco, pull yourself towards yourself, I repeat a few times using my inner voice.


    I find myself looking into his eyes, his beautiful hazel brown eyes and say, "You are quite the charmer, you say that to all the girls you meet?" I don''t recognize the nervous laugh leaving my mouth.


    "Well, let''s put it this way: you are the only girl I find interesting enough to charm and if it makes you turn that adorable shade of pink, then yes, I will continue charming you," he lazily replies. Jeez, Louise! I am saved from a response when Mr. Gray calls everyone together.


    Needless to say, I am drifting on the whitest and softest of clouds through the expanse of a bright, blue sky.


    Eben Carolissen noticed me.

 Chapter 5

    The first few weeks of school have been a blur of activity. Assignments due, homework overload, athletic training. Complicating my daily life further is the fact that Eben is openly sending me signals but no concrete evidence that he wants us to be a couple. It''s like this gymnastic dance where only he knows where the cartwheels, split leaps and backward flips happen, how more frustrating can it get?


    Inter-schools will be taking place at the end of this week. The level of our training will increase by at least 60% - 70%. We, the athletes, are excused from attending the last class on our timetables for this week as we prepare for the sporting event that gets the whole school excited.


    I close my eyes as we get ready for our first 100 meters race and mentally visualize my leg and arm movements. I brace my feet against the starting blocks and feel calm, silent and luminous energy coursing through me. Okay, that feels rather new.


    As I start my sprint, I suddenly realize that my feet are moving above the track, I''m running on air! This makes me increase my speed even more and I reach the finish line without breaking a sweat. What was THAT?!


    The athletes that saw start running towards me, shocked and questioning me all at once. Mr. Gray rushes up to me and exclaim, "Miss Brown, you completed the race in under five seconds!" I am blinded by the heat flooding my very core and stagger helplessly looking around for an escape.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.Eben comes running from the high jump section and makes his way to me whispering, "Your eyes are the color of sapphires," I am flabbergasted and my body starts shaking, nothing makes sense.


    "Okay people, back up and give her some space. I''m going to help her wind down," he says.


    He pulls me out of the crowd and leads me to an isolated spot on the farthest side of the field.


    "Your eyes are almost back to normal," he says. We sit in silence for what could be a full sixty seconds. "What happened back there on the track?" he asks gently. I cannot stop the tears from flowing.


    "Hey, it''s okay, it''s okay," he comforts, lightly touching my shoulder.


    "I''m sorry, I was overwhelmed by the whole experience and am just grateful that you were with me back there before it got crazy. I was off-kilter and you helped steady me. Thank you, Eben," I softly say, looking down at my hands. He gently lifts my chin and the smile he gives me in response, somehow soothes me.


    "You ready to tell me what you experienced, Allyssa-Coco?" he asks again.


    "I felt this energy, like a consuming fire, it made me feel like I''m running on air. The strangest thing was that I had this sense that it was always there, a part of who I am, just waiting for the right time to surface. I know, it doesn''t make any sense." I say and wait with bated breath for his response.


    "So this is your first experience of your enhanced ability?" he asks.


    "Yes -- wait, back up, enhanced ability? Why don''t you seem freaked out by my explanation or my blue eyes?" I ask, freaking out.


    He takes a deep breath before responding, a response that would change my life forever.

 Chapter 6

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    I am subdued on our way to Stace''s home. Stace, Li and I are hooked in, arm in arm, as usual. The boys are trailing behind us.


    While holding an imaginary microphone, Li asks, "Miss Brown, are you ready for the inter-schools this week?"


    "Yeah, I am," I say.


    "And Mr. Carolissen, are you prepared? I believe you are quite the jumper according to my sources," she continues.


    "How reliable are your sources?" he questions.


    "They have been keeping me up to date with newsworthy material for the past few weeks already, so I''d say very reliable. Which brings me back to you, Miss Brown," she says, turning to face me.


    "You caused quite a stir at prac today with your insane speed, how come you didn''t mention any of that, Coco?" she enquires.


    "It''s no big deal, I was just faster than usual," I reply.


    "Not according to my sources, they say you moved like --" Eben cuts in and asks, "How about we take a detour? I''ll treat you all to burgers at MacDonald''s,"


    I mouth "Thank you," He winks in return.

 Chapter 7

    The cross-questioning is forgotten and I can enjoy my burger in peace. We happily munching on our burgers when Nate jumps up and says, "Everyone, I would like permission for Eben to sit in on our band practices,"


    Stace, Li and I immediately stop eating. ''No outsiders allowed''was our first rule.


    He continues, "Come on, I get lonely being the only male and too much estrogen in one space is not good for my wellbeing," We continue staring at him.


    He turns to Eben exasperated, "See what I mean? They totally ignoring me and they call themselves friends,"


    Eben smiles and replies, "I can respect the level of solidarity, it''s very admirable,"


    We huddle together, our backs facing the boys. I mentally block out everyone and zoom in on the task at hand.


    I start the discussion and ask, "What do you think? It''s quite a serious request from Nate,"


    "Eben gives off a good vibe. I like him," Stace responds.


    "I know sometimes Nate can be bit cuckoo, I mean we experienced his dodgy mental behavior before," she laughs. "Having said that, I doubt that''s the case here, he is legit just craving male company," Li adds.


    We nod in agreement. I ask, "So I have a suggestion, let''s run it for a month, like a trial period and then make our final decision?"If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    They both nod in agreement.


    We turn back to the boys and Eben gives me a puzzled look. Am I supposed to know what that means? Hey, I''m not the mind reader here. We allow our spokesperson, Stace, to deliver the verdict.


    She begins, "After careful consideration, we have come --"


    Nate interrupts and impatiently says, "Stace, get to the point, you --"


    "Quiet!" she slams her hand on the table, causing a vibrating effect and stares him down, "I DO NOT appreciate the condescending tone you are using right now," Li and I exchange a knowing look. We can always rely on Stace to deliver a sterling theatrical performance. Right now, she''s playing the role of crazy Judge Stace, entertaining indeed.


    Nate stops himself from saying something he''ll regret later. The look on his face is priceless. We cover our mouths to stop the laughter from escaping.


    "I apologize for the abrupt pause in delivering the verdict... " she gives him another fierce glare, "We analyzed the scenario from all angles and reached an agreement. We allowing Eben to attend our practices on the following conditions; he will not comment on any song structure, selection or music compositions. However, we permit endless compliments," she smiles. "Do you agree to these conditions?" she asks.


    "I agree, Judge Stacy," he replies in all seriousness.


    "We, the goddesses of NAS-L, grant you access to our sacred practices. After a month has passed, we will reach our final decision, courtroom adjourned!" she exclaims, raising her fist in the air.


    Eben lets out the breath he was holding and says, "That was quite intense,"


    Nate asks, "Seriously Stace, why must you always be soextra?"


    Stace bats her lashes and sweetly replies, "Aaaw Nate, you acting like an ungrateful little boy. We can easily revoke our decision," she shrugs.


    "I''m very happy with your decision. Thank you, Judge Stace," he quickly recovers.


    "That''s more like it," she replies, patting the top of his head.


    We laugh as we exit MacDonald''s.

 Chapter 8

    We eventually reach Stace''s place early evening, chilling in their entertainment area. "I have some new material we can discuss at our next band practice," Li says. She is an extremely talented songwriter. Her music and lyrical style is a blend of K-Pop and alternative rock. We are definitely in for an explosion of creativity. Eben gets my attention and points to the door. "I''m going to give my mom a call," I say and move towards the door.


    "I just need some fresh air," Eben says and follows me. The rest of the crew don''t even notice us leaving. They having a heated debate on the lyrical talent between SuperM and BTS.


    "What''s up?" I ask as soon as we outside.


    "Why couldn''t I read your mind?" he asks, completely baffled.


    "When exactly?" I ask.


    "Earlier, when you were deciding my fate," he explains.


    "Oh, so that explains the odd look you gave me," I laugh. "I mentally blocked out everyone when we entered our very confidential discussion," I smirk.


    "This has never happened before. No human was able to build a temporary wall around their mind," he replies in disbelief.


    "Until now..." I smile, winking at him. His cheeks have a faint red tinge to it. That''s quite interesting.


    "Also, I was meaning to ask you...uhm...for your number?" he asks nervously.


    "What for?" I ask. I can see the look of surprise flash in his eyes.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    "I just thought it would be good to stay connected..er...for missions..." he gingerly replies. He runs his hands through his black, curly hair, waiting for me to answer.


    "010-596-2330, got it?" I say. I am rewarded with one of his million-watt smiles. I am basking in its brightness as we head back inside.


    When I get home, the intensity of my new reality hits me really hard. And it feels like I''m falling into an endless pit. I run to my room and reach for Black Beauty. I strum a few strings to match my mood. The music starts swirling around me, surrounding me with its healing energy, safely in its cocoon I find myself indulging in its richness. My eyes are still closed long after I stopped playing.


    My phone beeps. There are two messages from an unknown number.


    Hey, Allyssa-Coco, I just got home, Eben.


    Me again, please message me, so that I know you gave me your real number, Eben.


    I burst out laughing because this doesn''t sound like the confident Eben I know.


    Hi, mind-reader, yes, this my real number, Allyssa-Coco.


    Eben''s message comes through seconds later,


    Would it be okay if I give you a call..now?


    I giggle like the teenage girl I am.


    Sure.


    My phone rings. "Hello," I answer.


    "Hi, Fast one," he replies. "Do you want to see how high I can jump?" he asks. Okay, I did not expect that question but, hey, let''s roll with it.


    "Sure, should be interesting," I answer.


    "Great!" he exclaims. "Can I come over?" he asks.


    "You want to come over now?!" I nearly shout.


    "Yes," he confirms.


    "Eben, I don''t think that''s such a good idea. It''s late and my parents will probably, no definitely, not allow you into our home," I explain.


    "Come on, blue eyes, I really want to show you," he begs.


    "I don''t --" I start.


    "Blue, please..." he says.


    I can''t take the begging and agree.


    "Cool, I''ll see you in a bit," he says and ends the call. I start pacing up and down, devising a Plan B when my phone rings again. "I''m outside," he says.


    "How?" I ask while walking to my window.


    I see him standing under our tree, waving at me. Unbelievable! He grins from ear to ear. I am feeling giddy with excitement. I open the window and he runs towards me.


    "Are you afraid of heights?" he asks.


    "No," I reply.


    "Good," he responds and smiles.

 Chapter 9

    We suddenly gliding in the air. Well, it''s jumping for really long distances, actually. I''m the sidekick out and about with the jumper. What a liberating experience! We softly descend on a hill that overlooks a river, situated on the outskirts of our town. My face is glowing and my ponytail askew from the thrilling trip. Euphoria is the best description of my emotions at this moment. "Eben, that was AMAZING!" I exclaim. He stares at me.


    "It seems your eyes turn sapphire blue when you extremely excited," he smiles. Looking into his eyes, I see the bluest pair of eyes, pulsing steadily. I am fixated by the color of my eyes, reflecting in his eyes. My heart is beating wildly against the walls of my chest as I continue staring at this phenomenon.


    Eben steps closer saying, "Allyssa-Coco --" He reaches for my hand. As we touch, we instantly feel a surge of power flowing through us. A display of fireworks illuminates the night sky, we abandon ourselves in its glorious delight. The next moment, we flying over an expanse of forests, rivers, oceans, valleys, and mountains. The view is breathtaking. And for several moments, time stood still. As we slowly drift back to reality, gazing at the bright stars above, the gentle beating of our hearts reminds us that everything that just happened was true.


    My training sessions leave me exhausted as I focus on controlling my enhanced ability, making it seem natural to the human eye. Every afternoon when I get home, a meal infused with the best ingredients is waiting for me. My mom knows how crazy this time of the year gets for me, so she spends extra time preparing healthy meals.


    My dad, on the other hand, acts as my therapist. We have these weekly catch up sessions, it becomes more frequent during my training period. He sits on the edge of my bed and asks, "Sweetheart, on a scale of one to ten, how are you feeling right now?"


    Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.Last year, my responses were always one of the following, "Exhausted, okay, fine, not too bad, average," And he just ends up silently sitting with me or placing an occasional ice pack on my aching muscles.


    This year, however, I feel overcome by unfamiliar emotions, so my answers come from that deep-rooted place previously untouched because it''s just so raw. This afternoon my response to his question is a sudden flood of tears. I''m caught up in a swirling vortex of emotions. He immediately comes closer and gives me a hug. He holds me for a full sixty-five seconds before looking at me. He asks, "Would you like us to dialogue about this?" I shake my head. My dad continues to hug me. Before leaving my room, he says, "A quote by Paulo Coelho, "You drown not by falling into a river, but by staying submerged in it."" I blink away the tears and smile at him. My dad is a treasure chest filled with precious gems.


    "Thank you, Dad," I whisper as the door softly closes.


    The sporting event of the year finally arrives. I cannot contain my excitement. The cheers from our school are deafening as I get ready for my first sprint. I can hear Nate and Li passionately playing their instruments as the cheerleading band spur the crowd on.


    I''m moving like the wind, enjoying the freedom. I win my first race and continue winning every race.


    The scoreboard indicates that we trailing by ten points, we are currently in second place, so very close. Evergreen High School won the trophy for many years, according to Mr. Gray. Bethany High School, that''s our school, always held a steady second place. The time for the winner to be announced has come. The silence that fills the stadium is unnerving. Announcer, "The winner of this year''s inter-schools is...Bethany High School!" We scream until our vocal cords feel like it''s about to erupt. Needless to say, we made history!

 Chapter 10

    I start my weekend later than usual, waking up at noon. I walk around the house aimlessly, my movements delayed as if I''m an alien visiting a new planet. I see Brandon waving at me excitedly. I can see his mouth moving but no words and no sound are leaving his lips. It''s just a blur of emptiness. How does he expect me to engage in a meaningful dialogue when he gives me...nothing? Sorry brother bear, not happening today. I step back into my room ignoring him.


    I sleep another three hours before dragging myself out of bed and taking a much-needed shower. I am reading a book by one of my favorite authors, C.S Lewis when my phone rings.


    "Hey, sleepyhead," Stace greets.


    "Hello, gorgeous," I reply.


    "Do you want to hang out?" she asks.


    "Where?" I ask.


    "Why are you answering a question with another question, Coco?" she agitatedly asks. I am rolling my eyes. "And don''t you dare roll your eyes at me, missy, just come around to my place in an hour, ok? Okay," she says and cuts the call.


    I have no choice, clearly, at least she gave me fifty-five minutes reprieve, that counts for something.


    My phone rings again a few seconds later.


    "Hi, blue eyes, did you get enough rest?" he asks.


    Aaah, the sound of his voice makes my heart go boom boom.


    "Hello, mind reader, let''s just say I feel more human," I say.


    "Nathan invited me to Stacy''s house later. I was wondering if you''ll be there?" he asks.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    "Yes, Stace called me earlier. I had no choice in the matter," I answer.


    "That''s great! Now I don''t need to formulate a reason not to go," he replies. We both are silent, a calming interlude of sorts. "In all honesty, I would rather be spending time with you...alone," he shyly says.


    "Me too," I softly say. The next move is yours.


    "I''ll see you later then?" he asks.


    Well, that was quite an anti-climax. "Hmm," I answer and end the call.


    I feel a bit reckless today, so I choose not to tie my hair back in a ponytail. I look at my reflection in the mirror and forget how great I look with my hair loose. My thick chestnut hair all tousled and wild gives off a warm glow in the late-afternoon sun. My slim and firm body enhances my overall physical appearance. I step closer to apply my glitter lipgloss and notice my eyes flickering a very light shade of blue, barely visible. I have no clue why that is happening, most things happening in my life right now are unexplainable, so let''s just park it somewhere among the chaos.


    When I get to Stace''s home, everyone is already seated in the entertainment area. Li bows and says, "Athlete, we thank you for your contribution in making Bethany High School number one," I bow, slightly lower, in acknowledgment.


    Nate asks surprisingly, "What''s up with you?" He''s obviously referring to my hair. I shrug as if it''s a non-event when it''s the first time they see my hair hanging all the way down to my waist.


    Stace says, "You look stunning, Coco, just ignore Nate," She pulls me aside and whispers, "I''m loving the Eben effect. I never knew my bestie had an untamed side," I giggle in response.


    I turn around and Eben''s penetrating stare pulls me towards him like a magnetic force.


    "Hi again," I say, smiling brightly at him.


    "You remind me of a fierce warrior, fearless, courageous, gaining victory in every battle," he says. My cheeks are heating up. He continues, "Your hair glows like dark honey, so beautiful. You keep on surprising me, blue eyes," He brushes a few strands of hair out of my face, his touch as light as a feather. Whoaa...this right here, is the real McCoy.


    In the middle of our discussion about music trends around the world, I suddenly see a gateway, situated on the same isolated spot where Eben and I sat on the day my enhanced ability surfaced.


    And a voice like thunder saying, "It. Is. Time,"


    I look at Eben across the room and know that he saw and heard the same thing.

 Chapter 11

    We reach our school field in record time, I''m doing the Flash superhero speed and Eben doing his insane high jumping thing.


    We see the gateway at the edge of the field. As we walk through the blue oval-shaped tunnel, the detail of the mission gets stored in our internal memory. We at the end of the tunnel and find ourselves in a valley covered with ever-green grass. The lush vegetation, a result of rain that falls in season. All the colors are vivid, it''s like a picture out of a fairytale. We see the daystar making its descend as we step into a world parallel to ours but different in every way. The sky is brilliantly red, unpolluted. The soil of the earth worked by tribes with gentleness, rewarding the humans with crops to trade and food for their loved ones. I can see fireflies ready to welcome the night, creating an enchanting atmosphere. I giggle when I see a rabbit hop across the pathway, probably making a dash for his hole in the ground.


    We can make out two silhouettes facing the mountains. They turn around simultaneously upon our approach.


    Leather boots are on our feet, and we are dressed in clothing customized for fighting, which allows for extreme body movement. My weapon is a hanger sword, hanging from my belt in its gilded scabbard. Eben''s longsword is an exquisite piece of steel, a feast for the eyes. The tall female carries a bow and arrow. The shorter female has a thick rope tied to her left and a dagger hanging from her right. The tall one with the frizzy, shoulder-length ginger hair extends her hand to greet. "I am Avery," she says. That greeting leaves my hand throbbing as I wince in pain. "Sorry, I need to work on softening my greetings," she says apologetically. She has sea-green eyes and freckles scattered across her nose and cheeks, making her look like a mystical princess.


    The shorter one with her blue-black hair, styled in a short bob reaches for my hand and says, "My name is Trinity" The throbbing in my hand disappears. "I finally get to meet you," she says in awe. With eyes the color of emeralds and a beautiful sharp nose, she looks like an enchanted being.


    "I am Allyssa-Coco," I say.


    "And I am Eben," he says. They smile in response. I take a deep breath before I start.


    "We already know that the city of ruins is situated between those two mountains. We are also aware that we need to kill the three Nephilim ruling the city for the native king and his people to take over. First, we need to get to the gate closest to their living quarters. Then we need to know the number of guards we up against. Eben, you are the most skilled in getting us into the city because you will have an aerial view," I say.


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon."Sure thing," he says.


    "Avery, you can give us the number of guards we will need to fight before getting to the Nephilim," I continue.


    "Affirmative," she says.


    Trinity adds, "We will only enter the city at midnight so that no innocent people are roaming the streets," I nod in agreement.


    "Remember, we only need to kill the Nephilim for the king to enter and take over the city. The king and his army will be waiting in a ravine just outside the city. The messenger is already in the city." I say, ending the plan of action overview.


    As we start making our way to the city, I am overwhelmed by the weight of it all. Eben gets me in a side hug and says, "Anything you visualize will become a reality,"


    "Thanks," I reply.


    "The ones from the North think you very capable," At this, I give him a huge smile because I really needed to hear that. "I know, blue eyes, I know," he winks.


    We cover about forty kilometers in less than three seconds, that''s unreal, right?! Our temporary camp, at the foot of the mountain, consists of a few flat rocks to sit on and a fire to keep the evening chill away. Eben confirmed that the east gate would be the ideal entry point. There are approximately fifteen to twenty guards, according to Avery.


    The city is asleep as we make our way to the east gate. Our movements are quick and silent. Eben says, "The head of the guards will approach this gate in exactly ten seconds, he will be checking in with the watchman just above us. The watchmen at the west and main gate are unaware of their midnight guests," he says. Avery moves like a panther with its eyes on its prey. Her agile movements are incredible, I am entranced by the way she moves, Allyssa-Coco, focus! She is on the wall, which could probably be four meters in height, and takes her stance. Grip. Places two arrows on the bow. Draws. Aims. Release. The two arrows hit the watchman and the head of the guards in their hearts. Their deadly descend to the ground is soundless as Eben catches both bodies in mid-air and lays them softly on the ground. He then opens the gate for Trinity and I to enter. We move like ninjas across the quiet courtyard.

 Chapter 12

    The only way we can distinguish between the three is by the projection of their most disgusting trait. Greed. Psychotic. Egocentric.


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    The stillness in the atmosphere speaks of a promise about to be fulfilled.


    Eben, alive and healthy, starts making his way towards us. In a narrow pathway, we see a boy approaching. He turns his crystal-like eyes to Eben. Eben interprets, "The native king will rule with justice and peace for centuries to come. Your courage today will be a part of this kingdom''s history forever. Thank you," We salute as a sign of respect and the boy turns to leave.


    We return to the east gate, exhausted and ready to head back to our world. I find myself limping when we reach the valley. There is a big gash on my knee that I didn''t notice before. Trinity makes me sit. I feel energy penetrating from her hand to my knee. In seconds the pain and scar disappear.


    "Victory!" I shout with both my hands in the air.


    "Victory!" they echo.


    "Let the fire that is within us continue to illuminate the lives around us, propel us to fight for the innocent, destitute, and the vulnerable. For the good of mankind, bringing hope into an evil world. Unashamed to be who we were born to be," I declare.


    Eben reaches for my hand, tenderly interlacing his slender fingers with mine. He whispers, "I love you too, Allyssa-Coco," I gently squeeze his hand, an intimate moment shared.


    As dawn breaks, symbolizing a new day, we lift our heads to the mountains. We, the trailblazers of our time, boldly face the rising sun with clarity that greater things are yet to come.


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