The Wastelands

Lilia's and Stella's Dorm Room.

When Lilia finally found her room, all she wanted to do was to flump down on her bed and not get up. She would have stayed in bed for days but were subjected to routine inspections during school hours.

'Damn inspections. It makes it hard to get a decent sleep.' Granted, Lilia's version of decent was sleeping through the day and missing school…missing everything, but still.

And then, right before she felt that sweet bliss… "Lilia! Stop!" Lilia stopped and turned to see her tormenter in front of her, her own sister, who happened to be her roommate.

"At least change your clothes and get washed up. I just cleaned in here," Stella scolded. Lilia's eyes focused on the room. On Stella's side, everything was neat and tidy, with computer parts neatly categorized on the nearby table. On Lilia's, it was less messy than usual. Oh, she could see her bed…impressed.

Lilia consented, and grudging began to get ready to go take a shower in the next room.

"Did you meet up with Rachel?" Lilia asked, a little curious.

"Yes, she's great." Stella was beaming. "I'm, you know… glad that she's still alive."

"Yeah," Lilia said absentmindedly.

"You know, it's not going to kill you to be glad to see her." Stella sat back down on her bed. "I know you miss her just as much as I do…maybe even more so."

"You know I got a new mimic today." Lilia piped up, trying to change the subject.

Stella stared at her for a long time, but sighed, allowing it. "Really? Anything useful?"

"Could be, could be," Lilia said, "It's a nondescript male guard, with training, he could be a good fit." Without her abilities in her mimic form, training up her mimics was a necessity.

"Another male?" Stella asked. "The other male mimic you have you a hard time adjusting."

"If you say so," Then a glint sparked in her eyes." Can I watch and make measurements?" Stella wanted data on the capacities of her new mimic, so it wasn't really a surprise that Stella wanted to watch.

"Yes, that's fine," Lilia confirmed, before she stepped into the bathroom, but before she closed the door. "Oh, by the way, I got in trouble with the Headmistress, so we will probably get punished soon." Lilia closed the door as quickly as possible. Soon after, she heard something hitting the door.

She quickly opened the door and poked her head out. "Oh, by the way, I broke my headphones, can you fix them for me?" Lilia closing the door again as her sister threw something bigger, screaming.

***

Lilia sat, dangling her feet over the edge of the roof, and looked out at the night sky. She couldn't help but sigh. Lilia was so tired, but something in her just couldn't get to sleep. A lot of things happen, and she couldn't process. Rachel was on the compound too. Never thought Lilia would see her again.

"She changed so much," Lilia whispered. There was a hard edge that wasn't there before, but she couldn't expect that everything will stay the same after she and Stella left. Lilia certainly wasn't.

Then her mediums were nearby. She could feel just on the edge of the Wastelands. Lilia wanted to talk to them. *Can you hear me?* Lilia kept calling out to them, but all she got was snickering.

*Okay, fine, don't answer.* Lilia pouted, giving up.

"Are you going to jump?" A voice came out of nowhere. Startling her.

Laughter filled the air. "Oh, did I startle you how refreshing."

"Druid, what are you doing here?"

Druid sat down beside her. Moving Lilia's flute bag to make room. "Are you going to play anytime soon? It would be nice to hear you at least ones."

"Druid." Lilia pressed with a sigh.

"Okay, Okay." Druid held up her hands in surrender. "I came to apologize for what Bryson did earlier."

Lilia leaned back a little. "You know it doesn't matter unless he's the one who apologizes."

"True, but I feel somewhat responsible."

"You shouldn't, Bryson would make any excuse to tear me down."

There was a long silence then Druid suddenly bumped Lilia's shoulder. "You know, watching you and Bryson is like watching two wolves fighting for dominance."

"You like to hide it, but yes, you are." Druid gave her a 'you are you fooling' look. "As soon as you both figure out that you are better leaders, if you work together, the better the rest of us.will be"

Lilia almost broke out in laughter of the ridiculousness that she could become any kind of leader. "Even if that was true, I'm not the one you need to tell this too."

"Believe me, I have. Bryson gave me the same look you're giving me right now."

Nodding absently, looking down at the ground. "You know, about Rachel."

"I wouldn't have saved her if it wasn't in my vision," Druid stated.

"I know, just wanted to say thanks." Lilia looked up into Druid's eyes. "No matter what you're reasons are." In her weakened state, Lilia wasn't in a position to save anyone. If she had tried, they both would have been dead.

"When I was a child. I was an existence without hope. Every day was a struggle for survival. When my farsight kicked in. At first, I thought they were just odd dreams. Then things began to come true." Druid's expression became sad. "Little things at first. Then I had a big one. A scene that should have been terrifying. Instead, I relished it, hoping that it would come true." She paused.

"So, what changed."

Her greens eyes filled with overwhelming guilt. "It came true, and then I lost something precious. Something I didn't t know I had until I lost it."

Psychic abilities had the tendency to manifest much earlier than the rest of their abilities. Like a warning sign for more to come. At least that was true for Lilia, and it looked like Druid as well. It brought back memories when her psychic abilities first manifested.

***

Six Years Ago.

Lilia's head hurt; in fact, her whole body ached, but the pain in her head that she couldn't escape, especially with all the annoying a.d.u.l.ts swarming around her like fireflies to light. Lilia didn't know exactly what fireflies were, but she had remembered seeing them in a book her mom had read to her years ago.

'Mom.' Lilia wanted her mom. She knew she had to be patient. The babysitter had still hadn't arrived, and her mom could not leave Stella home alone with an ear infection.

'Please come quickly,' she begged. She rubbed the calluses on her fingertips, trying desperately to concentrate on that instead of the headache. Lilia wanted to go on stage. She'd worked so hard for it. But she wished that her mom was here instead of these hovering a.d.u.l.ts. Especially that man. Her manager.

The agency had assigned him to her but, Lilia didn't like him, and neither did her mom. She wanted someone else, but no one was available at that time.

Mom said that he was too charming to be trusted. Lilia really didn't know what that meant. All she knew was that he had that same empty smile every time she saw him. It was creepy.

Now, as he was right in front of her, she wouldn't dare look at him. He seemed harmless and caring, but, there was something else…. If she focused on him, something came back at her… thoughts, only it wasn't hers.

'No! Lilia turned away, pulling away from the mean man. He wanted to hurt Mom! No, that couldn't be real. Not real! Not real!'

Lilia wanted her flute; she needed her flute. Mom had told her to leave it at home because it was too valuable to risk losing, but she needed it. Lilia clutched its case tightly to her c.h.e.s.t… it was all she had.

She was relieved when they called her on stage. Anything to get away.

She smoothed out her dress. Chin up. Walk with graceful confidence. Just like the agency taught her. Lilia's only focus was on the piano. Stand beside it and curtsy to the audience before sitting down. She'd practiced for hours doing just that, but she still felt nervous. Playing the piano was one thing, but the presentation was another and far more important. At least that was what the agency had told her.

But even before Lilia could sit down, she felt a wall slam into her face. Voices, so many voices. Screaming, crying, yelling. Crowding in her head. There was no stopping them.

"Stop!" Lilia screamed out. "Please stop! Make it stop!"

Everything came to a standstill.

Lilia opened her eyes and clenched her fist.

The audience, the people backstage, and her manager were all staring, sightlessly straight ahead, not moving, just staring. They didn't look human.

'No. No. No! This isn't possible. Make it go away. Mom, please make it go away.'

She shut her eyes tightly, not opening them again until she felt familiar arms surround her. She buried herself deeper.

'Mom.'

"I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry," Lilia repeated in a voice strained with tears.

She heard her mom's voice say, "It's okay, everything is going to be okay." She sounded so far away.

She rocked Lilia back and forth, back and forth

***

Present.

Druid's faces lightened up with a smiled. "After that, I decided to trust my farsight no matter where they take me. To protect the people care about, and the place I finally found a home."

'How admirable.' Instead of running away as Lilia had. Druid decided to face it head-on. Lilia wished that she was that brave.

Druid got up and stretched.

"Go so soon. If you stay any longer, we could see the sunrise together." Waving toward the horizon.

"No offence, but I rather watch the sunrise with my boyfriend. Though you are my second choice." Druid winked at Lilia.

"Nice to know that I am still on the list." Lilia teased back.

"Always, sweety. Aways." Waving goodbye as Druid moved toward the exit, but stopped and turning around taping her cheek thoughtfully. "Oh, forgot about something."

"Is this about Bryson again?"

"Ha, Ha, no. This is about Shadow."

"What about Shadow?" Lilia asked cautiously.

"Have you notice that we paired up. Me with Bryson and Terran with Heather."

"Are you saying that I have to date Shadow. You know I am not attracted to guys, right?" Lilia was a little confused about where Druid was going.

Druid laughed. "No, No. Everyone knows that." Lilia nodded her head in confirmation, she already kept her species a secret. So keeping her s.e.x.u.a.lity a secret seemed really redundant in comparison. "Plus, Heather and Terran are twins, so that is kind of ich." Druid shuddered a little at the thought. "I meant that you need to find a balance with your opposite element like the rest of us have."

"I really don't know how." Lilia sighed. What Druid said made sense, but still…

Druid gave her a hard look. "Well, you better figure it out. Shadow's struggling as it is, and you're not doing so hot yourself." Walking towards the exit once again. "Just a fair warning Lilia. Have a good night." Druid blew her an air kiss before leaving

Which left Lilia alone with the raising humming of the Wastelands.