Mira literally sprang out of the window as soon as the teacher left after the period.
She sprinted straight to the office and surely in front of it stood Braze, Kian and Xen laughing and whispering.
She breathed hard trying to restrain herself, hoping not to set the entire building ablaze.
" What do you think you guys are doing? There's a Watcher inside the school. Perhaps more than one. "
" Mira, relax. Meet my new cousin. " Braze pointed at Xen as he bowed.
" Mira, we found everything out. He doesn't recall anything." Kian tried to explain.
" How can you guys be so casual? Can this not be a trap? Men are so simple headed. "
The three of them looked at her as if she had just stabbed their hearts with a dagger.
Mira walked away after shoving her way from the middle of them.
" Don't you think she is overreacting? '' Xen asked.
" Something is bothering her. " Kian put in.
" There's no way she is going to tell me. " Braze smiled. A sad smile, full of pain.
Kian gave his shoulders a strong shake.
" I would have never been able to do what you did Braze... It was cruel but it was a brave decision. "
Mira went straight towards the practice hall.
It was usually deserted unless a class or house booked it first.
It was huge.
The door was open when Mira charged in. She went straight to the basketball court and started dribbling the ball which was lying there , with much ferocity, trying to cool her anger down.
She drove forward and dunked with ease and then hopped all the way back to the court.
There was frustration building inside her. She was homeless and lost.
She couldn't tell the boys but she had nowhere to go after the week was over.
Her anger was not towards them or the Watchers, it was towards her mother. She missed her too much.
And she also craved answers.
She could feel the sweat soaking her shirt. Feeling excessive heat was something very new to her and was a constant ever since her awakening.
Suddenly the hair at the back of her neck stood up.
She could detect a familiar presence.
It was right behind her but as soon as she tried to turn, she remembered what it was.
It was the same creature or creatures that she had seen back in their bus before the Watchers came into the equation.
Mira froze in her tracks as the ball dribbled ahead by itself.
"Drak'thul na khar!...(Summon the shadows!)
Draek'vorn !...(Darkness shall reign!)
Gor'thul shafranek...(Power of the abyss.)
Mal'zarnok ...(Blood of the fallen.)
Nythorak krysth'gar!...(Unleash the torment!) "
The creatures whispered in either of her ears.
Guttural and eerie voices with hissing sounds, low growls, and whispers. It was not a language meant for casual conversation.It was something Mira was hearing for the first time but she had no problem in understanding it at all.
" Mira... can we talk? "
Kian's voice pierced through that chill as Mira turned back at the door, startled.
" Mira.... " Kian had something in his hand but he dropped it as soon as he saw Mira's colorless face.
He cupped her bewildered face between his hands and asked, " Mira, what happened? It seems like you saw a ghost. "
Mira looked around.
Those creatures were gone.
" They were here... " Mira pointed at the spot where they were standing. " Those creatures that the Watchers were after. Kian, we need to get out of here before any Watcher comes checking... Just in case. "
She didn't wait for Kian to reply. She pulled him out tugging at his arm.
Then suddenly she stopped at the gate.
" Hi, we meet again. " It was George.
Mira gulped as Kian emerged from behind her.
" Sorry, did I disturb your date? I was simply looking for the practice room. I am here on a sports scholarship. Can't let my trade down. " He winked.
" Go ahead... it's all yours. Come on Mira. Let's go. "
Kian seemed to react normally as he pulled Mira along this time.
She kept stealing a glance at George and he kept staring back at her before smiling and waving her goodbye.
Mira seemed too stunned to react.
Kian finally pulled her behind a wall , pinned her against it and asked.
" Mira. Leave those creatures and Watchers and everything else supernatural behind. Forget what we heard and saw back at the mountain. Be the girl who came under my wheels on that rainy day. Now tell me, as that girl... What's bothering you? I can clearly see you distressed. "
Mira's eyes flickered as his words spilled out of his lips one by one.
And then she burst into tears over his shoulder.
The sky thundered aloud along with her silent whimpers as she dug her face into his clothes, while he hugged her tight.
The daylight disappeared behind gray clouds that covered the entire area, out of nowhere and it began to rain as if it was the start of an apocalypse.
Big, rounded, full sized raindrops exactly matching Mira's teardrops.
" My mother... It's my mother.... She is gone... "
Mira whimpered as Kian struggled to pull themselves under a shade.
They were already soaking wet, so he finally gave up and tried focusing on what she was saying.
" Your mother? What happened to her? Didn't you talk to her after that incident? " He asked.
" No.... She left a note before disappearing. She asked me to never go back to our house. She said something like 'they were back' .... She is gone Kian... I don't know if I will ever be able to see her again.... When I needed her the most.... When I needed answers... When I needed guidance... She abandoned me.... She left me for myself.... I'm lost.... ..... whatever am I supposed to do...... "
She was lashing out with the same intensity as the wind along with the heavy downpour.
" .... Mira.... don't cry... You have me.... you have us.... we will find our own way through this.... you are not alone.... calm down Mira.... let it go.... "
He whispered as he patted her gently and rocked her to and fro.