"Please let me go,
please let me dream
because everything else is a nightmare."
- E. E. B.
EMA's point of view
My alarm woke me up way too early for my likings. Summer break just started and I already got used to constant sleeping in so this was unusual but bearable. Yesterday I have set my favorite song If You're Over Me by Years and Years as my alarm so waking up was much more enjoyable then it is during school year.
I turned off my alarm and rolled off the bed. The room was silent until I heard a loud groan for room next to mine. Looks like Luka just woke up too.
I quickly put on brown t-shirt, black shorts, blue hoodie with *Dream away* written or and my black converse shoes. As I walked out of my room, my brother stepped out still in his pajama. He seems to be more upset with waking up early then I was.
And there was our dad. Coffee in his hand, big smile on his face, like he had been awake for hours. Only morning person in my family was always my dad. Up bright end early. I think that's just one more thing that makes my dad awesome.
I quickly ran to bathroom before Luka could, brushed my teeth and braided my hair so I would look presentable for breakfast. After me, Luka got in, fully dressed in dark blue skinny jeans, dark brown hoodie and dark blue converse shoes. We even dressed alike.
"Children, hurry up! We should head to dining room in five minutes!" dad yelled.
I just went to my room to grab my phone and waited next to door for my brother to finish his morning routine. As soon as he did, we went to dining room Luke and I saw yesterday.
As we stepped into the lobby we were in yesterday, a man in business suit waved at my dad.
"Mio amico! È così bello vederti finalmente!" man said to my dad. He walked over to us and put his hand on dad's shoulder.
"These are your kids, eh? Ema and big Luka?" man said once again while gesturing to me and my brother with his chin.
"Sì, they sure are!" my dad said proudly. I felt bad for a second because he was so prideful over us and yet I feel like I only fail him sometimes.
"Ah, and this must be Francesca, right?" dad said and pointed at the girl standing behind suited man. Some strange feeling went all over me as she lifted her eyes. Out looks locked as we both felt spark-like feeling, but that was probably just me.
I didn't hear anything my dad said to that man or what man said back to my dad. I only saw her. And no, this was not some kind of romantic moment. This was something unknown.
"-ma! Ema!" dad said. "Are you listening to me?" he asked me, perplexed a bit. I didn't feel like I could answer so I just nodded eagerly.
The funny thing was that it wasn't just me confused out of my mind, it was that girl too. As we walked to dining room and to our table, we would glance at each other every few seconds. I don't know what was this. I was just so pulled towards her for no reason. Something in me was being pulled to her, wanted to know her.
We sat and ordered our breakfasts. I took something with egg and way too complicated name for me to pronounce. That girl, Franchesca, sat across me. She had short boyish hair, purple undershirt and an orange jacket. I didn't stare at her legs to tell about what she wore there, it would be creepy. She looked older than me, just as dad said, old as Luka. Nineteen then?
This silence between me and her was killing me. Dad, man in suit and Luka talked freely while Franchesca and I just awkwardly glanced at each other.
"So-" I said all of a sudden, even surprising myself. "-Francesca, right?" I asked, hoping that she understood English.
"You can call me Fran.", she answered and put some pasta in her mouth. Her voice was none other than powerful. It made me shiver since I wasn't used to it.
"Okay then, Fran, how old are you?" I continued. Luka smiled at me, noticing that I finally stopped my awkward silence.
"Nineteen. What about you?"
"Seventeen. I turned so this month."
"Mhm, good, happy birthday then."
"Thank you!"
And then silence again. I was irritated and frustrated since this conversation ended so fast. I decided to focus on my food and not on that tomboyish lady in front of me that had such deep brown eyes. NOPE! FOOD!
Minutes passed, my plate was empty, but conversation between my dad and his friend seemed not even close to ending. My brother got enough of pointless sitting and wanted to head to Gardaland just as I wanted.
"Did you come here for vacation?" Fran asked much to my surprise. Well this is a vacation, right? Or just a small trip?
"Yeah, what about you?" Luka said instead of me. I don't blame him since I took some time thinking what this trip even was. Weekend long happy time?
"I'm here with my football team for competition. We are staying here since my father owns this hotel.", she said.
"You don't live anywhere close?" I asked. Why am I so interested?
"No. I umm... live with my mother in Bari. Far away from here."
I gave her a sad look. It must be hard for her. One parent on one side of the country, other on another. They both exist to her but there is a wall between them. It hurts her because she loves them. Weirdly I know that she is feeling so helpless between them.
I guess I can somehow relate since my mother passed away, but I don't have any way of seeing my mum and she does. Honestly, I don't know what is worse. Having both parents but being unable of being with both of them and constantly being stretched between them or not even having one parent. She must be hurt so much... she is. I know she is. Fran loves both of her parents equally.
"Okay, let's get stuff we need for Gardaland and head there!" dad said eagerly, bouncing on his spot. Luka and I left the table in speed of light and raced to our room. He, with his long legs, came much faster than small me. We grabbed out money, phones and bag with some spare clothed and water bottles. Dad was waiting for us in the lobby with car keys ready.
We got into our car and started very short ride to Gardaland. We went to parking spot that my dad just paid for and got out of the car. I felt like balloon filled with excitement, read to burst any moment. Luka was no better than I was. He was hurrying our dad any chance he had.
We bought tickets and entered that huge park. First thing I saw was something called "Peppa Pig land" and it made me smile just to see how many small children were playing out there, climbing big tree in the middle of it, eating candy.
"What do you want to do first?" Luka asked me and gave me a map we got at the entrance.
"Blue Tornado looks fun! Is that some kind of adrenaline ride?" I asked Luka since he previously checked all rides on internet.
"Yeah, something like that. I bet you will like it. But there is a huge waiting line.", he said.
Dad seemed to be completely taken over whole scenario as we walked towards that Blue Tornado thing. There were so many games to play, rides to take and just places to see.
Luka said that he and dad won't be joining me since both of them have really bad stomach and they are afraid they are going to puke all over people. I said to him that he won't have time to puke how fast that thing will go.
Brother was right, waiting line was huge, but I was willing to wait after I saw that ride. It was so scary, I loved it. Now, can I give myself that experience with my powers? I could try, yes, but real thing is always the best. My hallucination would be much slower since I can't create something that fast, but I can try.
Luka and dad left to see some other rides, saying that I will have to wait for this one for at least an hour. Then it happened again.
That unfamiliar pull at my chest.
Same thing that I felt this morning.
I lifted my eyes to see two people, both boys, talking to each other. One was huge ball of pure muscle that could probably kill and the second one was boy a bit smaller than him with brown hair to his shoulders and all black clothing.
What is that? Why am I feeling this? What the hell is happening?
I completely forgot to get into the line as I stared at two boys. Then smaller one turned his head to me.
I felt like all air was punched out of me as his nature green eyes met mine.
Then I noticed something. Some man, not that muscular guy, but someone else reached for wallet of smaller boy. It came over me out of nowhere. Man who took his wallet started to run and I went after him. The boy and his friend were too confused to run after him too.
Oh lord, I'm so dumb! Why am I running when I could create an hallucination to him?
I stopped and just thought of a wall. Same wall I created many times so I could joke with my brother and set him in front of that man. Nobody else saw it except that man and me. Or so I thought. He quickly stopped and tried to go another way, but boy with green eyes and his friend were already there.
How did they get here so fast?
Muscular guy took a walled from that man and handed it to smaller boy. Security came and took bad man away. Everything happened too fast for me.
Two boys walked over to me. Smaller one walked behind muscular one, but as soon as they came closer, smaller one stepped in front.
"Thank you.", he said and turned away. His voice... oh lord his voice was just...
Wow.
Then the feeling of being pulled towards them came back and I'm sure they noticed it since both of them turned around. Even so, there were no questions asked. All three of us felt this and to make things even more complicated, there were people looking at us strangely just staring at each other.
Honestly, I didn't believe this day could get any more awkward until a girl, very short girl with long white hair walked up to us with a coke in her hand.
"I am not even surprised.", she said, glancing back and forward between me and boys. She stood two foot away from me in pastel pink shirt, white jacket and white yoga pants. She even had pastel pink backpack.
"What do you mean?" I asked. Two boys stood quiet, probably feeling just as I was.
"Well it was meant for us to meet sometimes soon.", she said. "Zack – number two, Connor – number five and Ema – number six."
What did she say just now? How does this girl even know my name?
"And me, Malia, number four. Power of mind.", she finished.
I can't say her words didn't make any sense. It was easy to connect the dots, now that she said she has a power. That might be just the thing pulling us all together. I don't understand that part about the numbers.
"What are you talking about?" smaller boy asked, he looked terrified. I wonder why was he so afraid of.
"I will explain everything once we are all together. Astra should be here soon anyway."
Who is Astra?
"What do you know about Astra?" muscular guy asked. This was the first time he even spoke. Wait, am I the most confused person here because I have no idea who the hell Astra was now?
"I know a lot. I know that you, Zack- ", she said gesturing at muscular guy. "- have power of earth. Connor- ", she continued looking at smaller boy now. "- you have power of shadow. And last but not least Ema, you have power of hallucination."
I was stunned. So were Zack and Connor. This was too much for me in one day. I had to leave, I really had to leave.
As I turned around and started to walk, I bumped into a person. A guy with long blonde hair that suited him well. I quickly apologized and continued to walk away. This was too much.
How does she know about us? Does it have something to do with her power of mind? Who the hell is Astra and why does everyone except me know who he is? Is he with that girl? What did she mean by "it was meant for us to meet sometime soon"? What about this pulling thing that I felt with them and Fran? Does that mean Fran has some kind of power too?
I walked faster and faster, getting more and more upset. Can't I have just a normal day at Gardaland? I don't have any time to get into Blue Tornado anyway now. And where the hell are dad and Luka?
As I walked, I forgot where was I heading. Well I didn't have a goal anyway. I just waked and walked until I got lost.
Great, just great!
Now I don't even have any idea where was I. Luka took the map we got. Concentrate Ema. I am near some huge boat. Can I get inside and get better view? Blue Tornado is huge so I should be able to see it from inside.
I'm sure dad and Luka are already trying to find me.
"Ema, wait!" I heard familiar, most beautiful voice say. Connor, right? He stood right behind me. How did he know where was or how did he even get here? Did he follow me?
I stopped my attempt to find entrance of big boat and turned to see him. Hair was falling on his left side of the face.
"I know you are confused, I am too, but you need to hear what that girl Malia has to say.", Connor said. I believe all of this was hard on him too and it was selfish from me to just walk away.
"I... I don't know how to get back.", I said and blushed a bit. Great job Ema, make fool of yourself some more.
"It's okay. I'll take you back. We just need to find some place a bit more private. Come with me.", he said and offered me his hand. I took it. For no real reason. I just felt like it.
We walked a bit until we got into bathroom section. Male and female bathrooms were separated but much to my surprise, he didn't walk into any of them. We just waited for some guy to enter male bathroom so we were left alone. Then he walked into a shadow from bushes that were next to us and pulled me with him.
"Hold onto me.", he said and put his arms around me. He basically hugged me. I did as he asked and in matter of seconds we were gone. I shut my eyes in fear.
When he let go of me, we were behind Blue Tornado, in one small corner. He walked out of it, still holding my hand. Close to us, there were muscular guy Zack, guy I bumped in when I walked away and Malia talking. Is that guy with long blonde hair Astra?
"Ah, you are back!" blondie said cheerfully. Why was he so happy?
"Hey, I'm Astra, nice to meet you! Ema, right?" he asked. Damn, he talked fast.
"Yeah. It's nice to meet you too.", I said. Astra walked back to muscular guy and took his hand, giggling happily. Muscular guy looked at him and gave him a soft smile. Honestly, they looked adorable.
"Great, now that we are all here, let's talk!" Mali said, clapping to get our attention.
"No wait!" I said and she looked at me. "There is one more person, Francesca, who I felt pulling with!"
Malia laughed for a second. "Actually, there are two more people who are missing. Number three and number seven.", Malia answered. That means there are seven of us in total. "But they are not in the park at the moment and I believe you don't want to wait until we meet them. I'll just explain everything to them again, okay?"
"Yeah."
"So then, let's introduce ourselves again! My name is Malia Quosen. I am born in France and my power is mind. That means I can read minds, make mind bonds or just know more about people."
"Umm... my name is Astra Reci, from England. My power is water and from here, I know Zack and Connor. Zack since kindergarten and Connor since highschool."
"Zack Jonas, earth.", muscular guy said. That was very short, but it suits his look. Cold, distant and simple.
"I am Connor King. My power is shadow. That means I can move through it. As Astra said, I already know him and Zack."
Then was my turn.
"My name is Ema Bluem. I come from Croatia, country next to Italy. My power is hallucination and only person I briefly know is Francesca, but she is not here right now."
"Excellent!" Malia said. "Now do you have any questions?" she asked while making eye contact with every single one of use, one by one.
"I do!" Astra said. "What's up with the numbers?"
Malia took a second and said: "Every single one of us has number given to us when we received the power. Astra as for you, you are number one, your boyfriend is number 2, I am number 4, Connor is 5, Ema is 6 and two are missing. I still don't know the purpose of them, but I think we can find out together one day."
Where are our powers from?
"Where are- "
"Ema! Oh my GOD Ema, we were looking for you everywhere!" Luka ran to my side. "Are you okay? Did you get lost?"
Dad walked behind Luka, worried also but much less then my brother. Dad has much more trust in me then this fool I call brother.
"Don't worry, I'm ok.", I said to him. He looked not convinced. I don't blame him.
"Anyway, how was the ride. Did you buy any photos?" Luka asked. Should I tell him?
"It was awesome!" Astra said instead of me. "We went so high then it just dropped us. You should have heard how she screamed when we were spinning!"
Did he just lie for me?
"And who are you?" Luka said angrily. He hates when there are boys around me. Should I tell him Astra has a boyfriend?
"Calm down, big boy, or my boyfriend will get mad. He doesn't like people who look at me badly.", Astra said. Well that was one hell of a way to say you are gay and taken.
"Sorry.", Luka whispered.
"Nah, it's okay. I just waited in line with Ema so we became friends.
"And who are... the rest of you?" Luka said gesturing to people around me.
"Friends too!" Astra said. He seemed happy. I guess he is one of those super bubbly people who love and care for everyone. Still, I wonder how did Zack and Astra end up together. Zack barely says a word when Astra talks so much, so fast. And they are physically so different. Astra is a bit smaller than Zack and a bit taller than Connor. He was so slender and relaxed while Zack had that solider like posture.
"Ema do you want to check out any water rides with us? Dad and I just saw one I'm sure you'll like."
I thought about it for a second, not so sure should I leave people I have just met. Then Malia came to me. "Go with them. I already made a bond between you and me so whenever we need you, we will know where you are."
I nodded and headed where my dad was standing. Now, all worry he had just washed out of his face. I was glad.
For many, many hours Luka, dad and I visited all kind of adventure and adrenaline rides. We saw so much and ate good food. Especially sweet stuff.
Day was coming to an end and I was looking forward tomorrow and coming here once again. There are plenty rides I have yet to be at.
As I arrived at hotel, I spotted Fran talking with some girls in the lobby. They all wore t-shirts and shorts with same words in Italian. Luke paid no mind to her, but my dad waved at her. She returned the gesture and looked at me.
Should I tell her now?
"Hey Ema!" I heard Astra call my name. He was running to me from boy's bathroom while Malia came out of girl's bathroom. Astra was soon followed by Zack and Connor. Did Connor transform them there?
Astra ran to me and gave me a quick hug. "You are so small!" he said.
My eyes met Fran and she looked at us. Girls around her paid no attention to her staring at us and continued to talk something between them.
"We should talk to her somewhere more private.", Malia whispered so only Astra and I could hear. She was right.
I walked to Fran and she just waited for me to reach her. Luka looked at me like I was crazy.
"Luka I need to talk to Fran about something. You don't need to wait for me.", I told him and he walked to out room.
As I reached Fran, she was completely confused.
"Do you know any private place we can talk with you?" I asked you. Since her dad owns this place, I figured she may know.
"Garden.", she said and pointed to door that led outside.
We walked to garden next to me. Malia was walking next to Astra and talked to him about something while Zack and Connor walked behind us all. We didn't walk for long as we reached beautiful garden. Every single flower was blooming. That was a bit strange for me since some of them don't bloom in this time of year but again, who am I to judge Italian ways.
Then I felt pulling again.
There was a boy softly caressing a flower that was blooming in his hand.
Seriously, could this day get and weirder?