CHAPTER 3: MOTHER & SON

CHAPTER 3: MOTHER & SON

MARKO squinted his eyes open to be welcomed by the glass lamp above his head swinging left and right on its cable. His head rested on the soft pillow, he could tell he was on a bed.

WAS ALL OF THAT A DREAM? He asked himself as he made an attempt to push himself up only to be greeted by the deep pangs of pain ringing in his head causing his body to collapse back on the bed.

[YOU HAVE RECIEVED BACKLASH OF YOUR ACTIONS]

[SEVERAL OF YOUR MUSCLES HAVE BEEN DAMAGED]

[REPAIRS HAVE BEGUN]

[SYSTEM HAS BEEN RENDERED INACTIVE]

[PLEASE RECHARGE YOUR BODY TO REACTIVATE THE SYSTEM]

Marko groaned in pain.

"So it was real then?"

"But what does recharge mean?"

Not long later his thoughts were interrupted.

There was a creaking sound as the village physician walked into the room and over to him. He was Tennet. A man in his late fifties and a widower. According to the stories his family was killed by Terrors before he decided to leave the confines of the big city.

"Nasty thing, eh?" Tennet said as he checked Marko's pulse. "I have heard of some pretty insane first hunts but yours must be the most insane of all. Also not many youngins get to survive an encounter with a terror, you must be proud of yourself."

Marko was deeply relieved to be back in a warm comfortable bed safe and sound. "How's Shayla?"

Tennet's brown eyes locked with Marko's as he delayed a bit before saying.

"The girl, she's fine. She came back exhausted with you on her back. Claims you found a terror and beat it, something about you being a gifted!"

"The boys did not believe her though, but they did find the ashes of a Terror but not that they believe you did it."

Marko felt his lips running a little dry.

"What do you think?" He could not help but ask.

Tennet croaked a laugh and checked his temperature. "What does it matter what I think? I'm a foolish old man. Besides your mom and Shayla are out there. I know I may not be as competent as the city physicians but I think you are good to go after you have a good meal though."

Tennet left and a while later his mother and Shayla came bustling into the room with a tray of food so delicious it made Marko's tummy dance for joy.

"Marko?" His mother Teresa had the most beautiful smile ever and the sweetest face. She had long silk hair and red ruby lips. Her eyes glowed with fear and uncertainty.

"Are you hurt?" Teresa cried. "My boy, I told you not to go on that dumb hunting trial!"

Shayla dropped the food tray by the table and gave him another one of her proud snorts. "That is exactly what I told him but noooo, he wanted to prove himself or something. Boy is as stubborn as a brick."

Marko glared at her. "Would you shut up!? Bricks aren't stubborn in any way, they are thick!"

Shayla snorted again. "That's what I meant, you are thickheaded dumbass!"

Teresa sat him up straight and offered him a bowl of pudding. "Here eat up!"

Marko could not throw away such an good offer and immediately devoured the food in large bites.

[ENERGY IS BEING REPLENISHED]

Marko stuffed his mouth full with pudding.

IS THIS WHAT THE SYSTEM MEANT BY RECHARGING?…

In a short amount of time Marko completely emptied the plate, luckily they had brought an extra for him.

Teresa waited for him to settle down before bringing the load off her chest. "Marko? Did you really awaken?" She had to know if he really was gifted.

Marko dropped the spoon back into the bowl and faced his mother with a calm face. "I'm not really sure! But I have changed someway."

Teresa pursed her lips together and said nothing.

Shayla could sense a string of tension between mother and son.

"What is there to being a gifted that's bad? I think it's kind of cool!" She hinted.

Teresa shook her head and said. "My husband, Marko's father died at the hands of a gifted before we moved to the village. He was a wanted criminal."

Shayla dropped her head in silence.

After they had moved there Marko had always tried to do his best for his mother and his little siblings. Because he did not have a father the other kids his age sort of distanced themselves from him. That was why he wanted to do the hunting trail and proved himself as part of their community.

"Mom?" Marko said in a hushed tone.

Teresa wrapped her arms around her son and pulled him closer. "Being a gifted is all about the person. Now you have a power."

"A power for what mom?" Marko asked.

Teresa smiled. "For starters you can do whatever you think is right. And protect what matters most to you. It's not like you're any different."

Shayla turned to leave the two to themselves when the earth suddenly shook violently. "What was that?" She ran to the window and peered out the physician's house to see a swirling mass of black smoke heading for the village, her heart sank at realization of what it was.

"It can't believe it!"

Marko sensed her startled tone and faced her direction.

"It's a terror isn't it?" He asked.

Shayla turned sharply to him, her face white with shock. "H- how did you know?"

Teresa was also stunned by her son's behavior.

Marko stated at the ash box before him as his eyes started to turn like gears.

[A LEVEL 4 TERROR HAS BEEN DETECTED]

[THREAT LEVEL: HIGH]

Marko said, "Let's say I had a heads up!"

He could tell why they were shocked. A gifted would only awaken with one power but he had just showed another, but only he knew it was still the same power.

"Why is a terror heading to the village!? It's not uncommon but not in this parts!" Shayla stared at the sight before her in awe. "Unless…"

She gulped down at the thought in her mind.

"It's after me isn't it?" Marko said her thoughts out loud. "It's no coincidence it's here just after I awakened!"

As the swirling mass of black smoke closed in on the village a widespread panick broke out, Marko gripped the blanket tighter and stared out the window with only one thought in mind.

"I have to save everyone!"