The Phases: After Dark

Devic wasn't happy either. Being summoned to the Elder's Office only meant one thing: trouble. Big time. Probably for him. Had Deada been right? Had he finally gone too far? Devic dragged his feet along the corridor, prolonging the moment for as long as possible, but finally he reached the door to the Elder's Office. Here goes nothing. He thought, before he opened the door and stepped across the threshold. It was twice as bad as he'd imagined. The other Elders looked at him in extreme disappointment. One of the gifts of Elders is to make sone one else feel like they want them to feel, and this happened to be ashamed. He didn't like it at all. Especialy because as there were 5 Elders doing it to him he couldn't feel anything else. He went into a sort of numb trance while they talked to him, and stopped really hearing what they were saying, until one sentence reached his ears: "I am afraid that as you have shown such childish behavior, you will have to go where the children are. You are being sent back to the training stage."
"You're joking!!" Devic felt a hot wave of anger, and saw some of the Elders wince and their shameful vibes broke. "The training stage is just for kids! I am NOT going back down there!"
"Due to your behavioral we believe it is the best thing for you."

Devic groaned. Welcome to Hell...

Welcome to Hell. Deada thought back to the time she'd visited the front, where the tunnels were guarded. One of the first things she'd noticed was that some one had spray painted those words over the walls. Hell was definitely the word to use. I was dim, dirty, and either boring out of your mind or in such a state of panic you wouldn't really mind if you died in the battle. And that's where I should be heading. All the made Phases went there, or somewhere equally worse. They were just a cheap source of labor. Expendable. What she and Emarai were. Deada walked into her aunt and uncle's rooms. She took a pen and paper from her pocket, and wrote: 'I know that I am not a true Phase now. I am leaving to look for Emarai.' Deada paused, thinking of what to write next. 'How could you lie to me?' With that she walked away.

Tom was running. He had been running for a few days now. He was headed towards the marshes, for that was where Maria had said she was heading. No, Emarai. He reminded himself. It was dark, and he stopped in an ally to catch his breath. Then he heard it. The slow steps of some one who didn't want to be seen or heard. Of course! Tom cursed himself for being such an idiot. There are still kidnappers on the streets! I'm being stalked! Tom whirled around. He could just see the faint outline of someone crouched against a wall. He gathered himself up to fight. But instead the figure suddenly flashed a light at him, and he staggered back, rubbing his eyes. He expected to feel hands on him at any moment, but instead he heard a voice. "Tom? Tom! Stop thrashing around and look at me!" Tom stopped. How did this woman know his name? He blinked and the woman came into focus. He looked at her eyes. Eagle's eyes. She was one of them! Maybe she could help him. "Maria. Where is she?" He asked desperately. "I don't know!" She answered hysterically. "She was meant to be back 4 days ago!"
"WHAT?!" Tom thought back. 4 days ago... That was when he'd had his dream! "She said she was going to the marshes."
"Yes, but... how did you know that?" The woman's voice sounded suddenly suspicious.
"She visited me."
"Did she tell you what she was?"
"Wait, what--?
"Dis she tell you what she was?!"
"I-I guessed. You're shape shifters." The woman gave a great sigh of relief. "You're almost there, but you're wrong enough."
"What do you mean?" Tom was intrigued. "I mean if you knew, it would be my duty to kill you." The woman smiled evilly. Tom decided he didn't want to know any more. "Well, if we're ever going to go, now would be a good time." With that the woman strode past him, leaving Tom to stumble after her. "It's not fair! You have eagle eyes!" Tom started to run, then tripped over his own feet. Warm hands caught and steadied him. He looked up to see a pair of golden-brown eyes looking down at him. "Thanks."
"No problem." Tom and the woman started with more success towards the marshes. We'll find you, Emarai. We will.
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There! And you'd better like it, or you will be put in my sock drawer. I might do a one off story over Christmas but I'll need some ideas. Please comment!