December 20th 2022 12:30 P.M.

I was fourteen years old and a freshman in high school.  I couldn’t believe that I was in high school.  I had left the middle school behind but not quite, for it was connected to the high school by a long hallway.  The school was rather large and held a little under 1,400 people in it all of them preparing for finals. The usually crowded, rowdy hallways were empty and silent as the stress of finals weighs on the shoulders of all the students.

We were halfway through our first year whenever disaster struck.  People lost their minds, their lives, and their sanity and still finals neared.  What a world.  Oh, what a world.  People couldn’t find their way out of the crowded halls and therefore suffocated.  People couldn’t find their friends and died from heart attacks.  Still others fell from huge heights from the upstairs classrooms and died as the school collapsed on top of their already broken bodies.

At the time I was with my friend Marcia and we were taking our exam together.  It was a partner exam in which we decided to work together, for it was as if we had a string pulling us together.  It was as if the fates put us together because we both could, and still can, do Magyk.

Marcia and I are both masters of OrderMagyk.  We work to keep the Earth from the corruption of humanity.  We can both make plants grow, make oceans rise, create islands, stop chaos, and even bring life to the Earth.  We made flowers bloom, gardens grow, and the sky fill with rain.  We have helped humanity and this is how they repay us; with death, destruction, and decay.

War has been messing up our city for days now; we have been through so much in so little time.  I couldn’t believe the horrible acts of inhumanity upon my city for we have lived there forever.  We have always been the supplier of many goods for other cities, states, countries, and even continents across the entire globe.  It is the most peaceful city in the entire world, the only Magyk city, and that is why we are the ones who are under attack.  It is because we have tried to help the world and in return we get the death, destruction, and decay that humanity is bringing down upon us.

All I remember of that day was us in a tight embrace as the school fell on top of us.  They were bombing us again.  Would they never stop?  I couldn’t believe the pain that one country could bring another so quickly.  

I hit my head and blacked out.

December 20th 2022 12:45 P.M.

I woke up to see Marcia standing over me making sure I was okay.  Her look of concern would forever stay etched in my mind.  I would never have thought she would be able to look at me like that and yet there we were, with her looking at me like that.

“How long was I out for?” I asked, barely moving my mouth.  I had slammed my face into the ground whenever I fell.  “This hurts way too much Marcia.  I think I must have broken something.”

“Only a few seconds kiddo.” she said.  Marcia was only five minutes older than me but she still acted as if she was so much older. “Your sisters, Tasha, Maya, and Victoria are all dead.  The school killed them.  They were all found in Mr. Edwards' classroom.” she whispered. “My friends are all dead.  Every single one of them, Tarik.  All of your sisters are dead.  I’m so very sorry Tarik.   Maybe we should go to Jenna, she can heal you and we can talk to her.  It would be a win for all of us.”

She held me to her as I started to cry.  My family was dead.  What would my parents say?  It could be nothing good because all three of my younger sisters are dead.  I have watched out for them forever and yet they die because the school falls on them.  How could this happen to me?  I have only ever helped people and what I get in return is an attack on my city that kills all of my younger sisters.  I have only ever been a peacekeeper and in return my beautiful city gets attacked by an unknown enemy.

The only reason I was able to hold on was because of my sisters.  My sisters kept me from doing things I would regret because I watched out for them.  Now they are all dead and I couldn’t handle the pain.  “Not them.  No.  Please, not them.” I couldn’t even manage to breathe.  I just wanted to give up on life.  It was all just too much to handle.  I couldn’t believe it.  I was mentally dying.  

I felt like something was weighing me down, “If only I had been by them I could have gotten them out.  I could have stopped it and then they would still be alive today.  I might have died instead but if it kept them alive I would have done it in a heartbeat.”

“There was nothing you could have done.  Nothing at all.  You would have just gotten yourself killed along with them, Tarik.  I think you already know this but I can’t live without you in my life.” Marcia said quietly.

“If I had been near them I could have stopped this.” I kept repeating.  “I could have stopped all of this.”

“Tarik, you could not have stopped it.  These Non-Magykal people aren’t going to stop.” My other best friend Joan came up to us.  She knelt next to us and said, “We still have each other.  That is never going to go away.  We'll always have each other.”

I continued crying as Marcia hugged me.  We stayed there for a long time.  I struggled to breathe and was only able to gasp loudly.  I couldn’t even understand what had happened.  A bomb, death, school explodes, sisters are dead, and Marcia is hugging me.  I could still hardly believe it, my sisters were dead and never coming back.  I would never forgive myself for their deaths.  I should have been there.  I should have somehow stopped this attack.  I should have helped other people from dying.  I should have done more.

I managed to calm down over time. It might have taken me a few minutes but I had finally managed to calm myself down. “Thank you, Marcia.”

“You’re welcome.  You know, you can just come to my house later.  We have a spare bedroom.  I’m sure it would do you some good to get this out of your head.” She looked over at Joan, “You can come if you want as well.  I would love to have you both come over.”

I looked at her, “Thank you.  You have no idea just how much this means to me.” I whispered as Joan said, “Thank you, Marcia.  I really appreciate you.”

“We are friends you know.” she said.  She tried and failed to stand up.  I did the same.  We were both stuck again.  More of the school fell around us as we tried to get out.  I just lay there, wondering if we would ever get out and be able to see our families and friends again.  Or rather, what was left of them.

I sink back down as I ask her, “Marcia, why my sisters?  Why them?  Why did my precious, perfect, little sisters have to be the ones to die?”

She replied, “Life is not fair, kind, or even peaceful.  Life has challenges that will strengthen you as you grow up.  I remember when my brother died in the car crash whenever he was eighteen.  I was so devastated that  I had no idea how I was going to live. I mean, my brother was my everything.  If I am completely honest, you are like a brother to me now.  In my life, you are the only person  I care about.  My parents are fighting again and I just really need some light in my life.  I had you and your sisters as my only friends.  Still do.  I have three things that I love most in my life.  You, my brother, and your sisters.  Now, they are all dead and..I just can’t….I’m sorry.  I just really miss all of them so much.” she started to cry but then realized that believe it or not that doesn’t help you.  She then tried to breathe normally but was gasping instead.  She was failing to breathe normally but she was still breathing which was a good sign at this point.

“You know we are both here for you, Marcia.  If you ever need anything just let me know.” Joan said.

“I never realized that.  I’m so sorry.  You know that you can tell me anything right, Marcia?” I asked.

“I appreciate that guys.” Marcia sounded different as she asked me, “Tarik…I don’t understand what you are asking me.  It’s as if you think I am not telling you something.  Let me ask you, why do you think that?  I have never done anything to not have been trusted by you guys and I don’t know why you think that would change right here, right now, during a disaster that caused some of our families and friends to die.”

I said nothing.  I knew that Marcia wasn’t telling me much of anything.  The way she was erratically looking around like someone was creeping up on us gave me the chills and she just had that look.  The look that says ‘I know something that you don’t’.  It hurt me that she didn’t trust me with whatever she was going through but I was not about to argue with her over it.  I looked up because I heard something.  I looked through the darkness but couldn’t see anything.  I blinked and then saw a man coming towards us.  It was Mr. Edwards, the Chemistry teacher.  Marcia’s arms started to shake as he came nearer to us until she was shaking so bad that she just could not stop.  He knelt down and asked us if we were okay.  Marcia quickly nodded her head and whispered yes.  Joan did the same.  I looked up at him and replied,

“We are alive sir.  And well.  We found my sisters.  They were crushed by the school.  They were all found in your classroom.” I said.  “I don’t know what to do now but we are going to go to Jenna to get some help from her.”

Mr. Edwards' face fell as he said, “I’m sorry Tarik.  I should probably go see if there are any other survivors.  That’s a good idea.  If you guys ever need help, you can always come to me.  If I can’t help you then Mrs. Hunt can as well.  Now, go see Jenna.  I am going to go look for other survivors.  Good luck and stay safe, children.” he said as he glanced at Marcia before looking back at me.  Marcia was shaking even more now but I held her hands to still them.

Mr. Edwards got up, glanced at us once more, and left to look for more survivors.  Marcia was gasping and shaking and she struggled to speak.

“Now I know you aren’t telling me everything Marcia.  Who is he to you?” I asked. “What is wrong?”

“He is..my chem……teacher, Tarik, I..can’t breathe.” Marcia said. “I..need….some air.”

“Don’t make me lose you too, Marcia.  I command you not to die.” I said.

“I’m not dying man” she managed a laugh. “I’m just not having the best day.”

“I see.” I said.  I didn’t believe that she was telling the full truth right now but I would wait to hear more.  She tightened her grip on my hands as she watched the teacher walk away.

“Marcia, be honest with me now please.” Joan said, “What happened just then?  I was really nervous.  You were just shaking uncontrollably and I had no idea whatsoever as to what I could do to help you.  Please, what is wrong?”

“I am alright now, Joan.  I appreciate your concern.” Marcia said, “Wait.  How did the stone move?  We are free.” Marcia said as she stood up.

“Guys.  Please help me.” I said. “I can’t get up.  I think my leg must be broken.”

They reached down and grabbed my hands to pull me up.  They pulled me up and we were all able to stand and walk.

“AHHH!” I yelled in pain as my leg was flopping around like a dying fish.

“Joan, can you hold his leg up please?”  Marcia asked.

“Of course.  Tarik, is this okay?” Joan asked me.

“Yes, thank you for helping me guys.  I really appreciate you all.” I said.

Marcia then asked if we could go by her house and I of course said yes.  So we walked away from the rubble that was once our school and walked towards her house but first we had to go past mine.

“I don’t want to go by my parents house.  I can’t deal with them asking me questions.” I said. “Do we have to go that way?”

“Unfortunately, yes.” Marcia responded, “We have to get to my mother as soon as we can because we all need medical attention.”

I ducked my head in defeat as I smiled sadly and said, “Of course, we must hurry there at once.”

As we walked I felt a sinking feeling in my chest.   My parents' house was very close and if they saw us they would surely ask where my sisters were.  As we neared my house the feeling got even worse.  We passed the house and neared the corner where Marcia's house was located.  As we got toward the front door my parents came out and looked the other way.  We got inside without them even knowing that we were even there.

As soon as we got inside we went up to Marcia’s room and closed the door, we didn’t want anyone to hear our conversation.  We sat there for a few minutes, just thinking about what happened before I spoke up.

“Is your mother home?” I asked.

“Yes.  Do you wish to see her?” Marcia asked.

“Yes.” I said.  “That is what we agreed on was to get here as fast as possible to get medical attention from her.”

Marcia started to call for her mother but Joan stopped her, “You can’t call for her yet Marcia, remember?”

“Forgive me.  I lost my head for a minute there.” Marcia responded.

“We mustn't forget that I need your mother.” I said, “And I need her now!” I finished rather loudly.

“Patience, Master Edwards.” A new voice said whenever Marcia called for her mother again but we soon figured out that she had been right outside of the door the entire time.  Whenever her mother came in she gasped in shock at our dreadful appearance.  We looked like we had been through a hurricane, thrown in a pile of rocks, and dumped out into a pile of leaves.  She asked us what had happened and I was too emotionally dead so I left all the talking to Marcia.

She said, “Mother, the school is gone.  Mr. Edwards came to see if we were okay.” at that she cringed but carried on, “and Tasha, Maya, and Victoria are all dead.  They are all gone, mother, all gone.  They all died in the school.  The school crushed them and others as well.  I have no idea who else survived, if anyone.”

“Tarik?” Her mother asked.

“Yes, mom?” I asked.

She smiled grimly.  She loved it whenever I called her mom because she was more my mom than my real mom was.  She has been there for me forever and she still is.  She is the best mother I could ever have hoped for and I knew that she could help. “Come here.”

I walked over and stood right in front of her.  “I’m here, Jenna.”

She leaned forward and whispered in my ear, “Follow me.”

I looked back at Marcia and Joan and they both nodded at me to follow Jenna.  She was telling me to go with her.  So I did.  Marcia’s mom took me out of the room and led me up the stairs to her room which once we were both in it she closed and locked the door.  She directed me towards her bed and we sat next to each other at the end of it.  She looked at me as she asked, “Would you like to see your sisters again, Tarik?  Would you like to be able to change the course of the past day?  Would you like to find all of your friends safe and well?  Would you like your family and friend groups and friends to be whole again?”

“Of course, but it is not possible because as Marcia already told you, they are all dead.” I said.  “They cannot ever come back.  They were crushed by the school you know.  Even your remarkable remedies couldn’t do anything to help them.”

“Anything and everything is possible.  If you can think of it, it can happen.” She explained.  “Just watch and learn.” She raised her hands and a little Breeze blew through the room.  Out of the blue my sisters appeared at my feet.  Their dead bodies were right in front of me.  I looked down at them too shocked to speak.  I put my head in my hands and tried to get that image out of my head.  I started to shake and that forced Jenna to speak up.

I heard Jenna say, “Tarik, look at me.  I need you to stay strong, okay?  Please stay strong for us all.”

I looked up and something in my expression hurt her.  I may have been too harsh with my expression but she had teleported my sister's dead bodies right in front of me.

“Why?  Jenna, what?  What did you do?” I asked. “Did you just summon their bodies?  Like a necromancer but you didn’t bring them back to life?” I questioned.

“We are going to go into the past.” she said as she raised her arms and a nice gentle Breeze blew through the room.  As a Portal finished forming, Marcia and Joan stepped through the door, saw the Portal, ran towards us, and knocked all four of us through the Portal.