"Man, what do you think that was? Do you think it's an earthquake? It's got to be an earthquake, right?" Mark said, looking between Ty and Tara.
"I don't know if it was, Mark, but that scared me. It shook my whole body— even my tea was shaking." Tara answered, her voice shaking slightly.
Ty instinctively put his arm around her shoulder. Mark's eyes widened as Tara blushed, then she leaned slightly into Ty's side.
"It's all right, Tara. I'm sure they're going to figure out whatever it is and everyone will be safe. That's why they have us going to the shelters— so they can focus on what caused this and not worry about any of us."
Tara had slightly closed her eyes and only half listened to what Ty said. She was far more focused on the warmth of his body and their sudden closeness.
"Oh, I think Tara is going to be just fine now," Mark said with an exasperated look as he rolled his eyes.
As the trio walked along the edge of the street, following the throng of people heading toward the nearest shelter, Ty took in the street's atmosphere. Periodically, the street lamps hung government-ordained signs. Some represented the government's commitment to safety. Those signs read, underneath an image of smiling citizens with purposefully featureless faces: "Your safety is in our hands."
Another sign said, "Remember to always report suspicious activity. The enemy is everywhere." A generic image of a man in a trench coat and two others staring at him was depicted on that sign.
"Guys, I think we're finally here," Ty said as they rounded the corner in the procession of citizens heading toward what appeared to be an arched entranceway leading to stairs going underground.
After settling in the cramped shelter— which was more or less a box-shaped concrete room with a sealed metal door— they found a corner in the back of the room to sit together.
"Are we really… safe here? I don't mean physically safe— I'm sure the bunker is fine. I mean, is the government really keeping us safe?" Ty said in a hushed tone.
Mark looked around hurriedly and then lowered his voice to a whisper. "Are you insane? You know better than to question the government… you know what they do to people that do that?"
"Ty, I'm sure it's just got you all flustered. Of course they're going to keep us safe," Tara added, trying to reassure him.
Ty gave a measured look, then said, "No, guys, come on— think about it. They tell us day in and day out, that they're training us at this military school to combat the enemy. When's the last time you've seen this enemy? Have you talked to anybody that's fought these enemies? I'm just saying— we take a lot of what they say on the merit that it has to be true."
Tara gave Ty a nervous smile. "You know what, I think Mark was right. We better keep this conversation really quiet," she said with a hefty note of anxiety.
Some of the other people around them were beginning to give them stares. A man in a business suit quickly looked away when Ty made eye contact with him. A mother holding her child's hand near them suddenly pulled the child closer and turned him away. Ty recognized the negative attention they were getting and tentatively lowered his voice.
"Look, they're always teaching us in military school that the enemies are all around, but this is the first time I've heard anything that sounded like it could have been an attack. I'm not saying that's what it was, but I am saying it's something we need to figure out for ourselves. I guess I'm asking— are you guys with me?"
**
Cyrus opened his eyes in the back of the APC. He could hear the chaos all around him— some people moaning in pain, others trying to figure out who was actually in charge. The officer was counted among the wounded. Cy's head was killing him; it was like a raging inferno.
"Look who finally decided to wake up?"
"Yeah, they're going to have a lot of questions for you, man. Just what the hell was that?"
Cyrus gave them both a look of bewilderment.
"I see— playing all innocent, pretending you don't know what happened. It's probably for the best."
The first man was an African boy who had been wearing the African mask during the battle. The second man was the medic, trying to treat all the different injured soldiers. The third was a Japanese man who happened to be the one wearing the Oni mask, still clutched in his hands.
"Hey, it was you that pulled me down," Cyrus said while wincing and holding the side of his head. "Thanks, man. I won't forget that."
Cyrus went over the events in his mind again. So I was the only one that could see the Ifrit. But after the Ifrit did whatever he did with those misty things… he actually gave me powers that everyone else could see. I'm pretty sure I wasn't really in full control of what I was doing, but I could feel all the energy— and that unbearable heat so close to my hand.
The others had resumed their conversation, and it now drifted back into the back of his mind.
"Did you see what was left of that tree line after we went up there, man?"
"Yeah, I've seen blast marks before in training, but that… I'm not even sure if anything will ever grow there again."
"Yeah, it looked like a fire had another fire on top of it. The lava stuff just hardened on everything after that explosion. The enemy there didn't stand a chance."
Wait, Cyrus thought to himself. Did I hear them right? They actually saw some of the enemy dead there— from me?
Cyrus started to drift off into unconsciousness as the drone of the road filled his mind. He had one remaining thought. I wonder what command's going to do with me after this or maybe the Ministry will come and take me.
**
After the all-clear was given, Mark, Ty, and Tara were parting ways.
"Look, we'll talk more about this stuff tomorrow in class, but I think I'm onto something— and I can tell from both your expressions that you think there's more to this." Ty looked back and forth between them with intensity.
"Yeah, I'll see you guys tomorrow," Mark uttered quickly as he turned and walked away.
Tara stared at Ty for a long moment. As if having made a decision, she leaned forward and hurriedly pecked him on the cheek. As she withdrew, cheeks dashed with crimson, she muttered, "See you tomorrow, Ty," then hurried off.
Ty was left dumbfounded, jaw hanging open, thinking, Did she just kiss me?