I had been running through the forest for about an hour now and I had started to notice that the forest was different to most of the forests I had been in. The trees looked like they never ended and the bushes looked like they had been burned to crisps so if I needed to hide I would have no luck. To my surprise, I had not seen one bird the entire time. I was so busy thinking about what was going to happen next that I didn't even see the young boy running towards me until he tackled me to the ground. He had brown hair and cuts all over him and as I continued to examine him my eyes met his forest green ones, They looked wild as if he was only half-human. I was thinking of screaming but I knew it would do nothing even if he did not work D.E.M he still could be a threat.
"Cleo? We all thought you were dead- I thought you were dead" I take a closer look at the boy and a small smile dances on my lips, my brother! He was alive and that could only mean one thing, so is everyone else.
"It takes a lot more than an explosion and being chased by shadows to kill me but why did you tackle me?"
"I thought you were Mallory. She ran off after the explosion and I knew you would be strong enough to look after yourself but Mallory it was obvious she could not. When we couldn't find either of you we assumed the worst. I haven't stopped looking for either of you since."
I rack my brain trying to remember the young girl. Mallory was the girl you wished to be; she had gorgeous blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. Her smile lit up a room and her laugh made the darkest times joyful. Despite her name's meaning, she was the happiest girl with the luck of an angel and I couldn't bring myself to think of what would happen if I lost her. As John helps me up I finally get a proper look at him. My brother, the one person I was meant to protect now stood in front of me blood falling from his forehead, his eyes bloodshot and once smooth cheeks all scratched up, I had failed him and now we both had to pay the price.
"If you escaped does that mean-"
"That everyone else is alive too, Yes. It is far to hide in this forest so we live in the trees but what I want to know is, how are you still alive? And where have you been?"
He looks over at me and I would have felt like I was safe but the glare he was giving me, crazy right? Being scared of your younger brother, what type of weirdo does that? Well here is a good reason, John and I were separated at birth meaning we didn't know each other and when we first met at the D.E.M all those years ago we hated each other and got into millions of fights which always ended up with at least one fire set somewhere and both of us trying to hurt each other. Don't get me wrong, It's not like I didn't win, it's just sometimes we would go too far. It was only when we burnt half the department down and woke up in the medical beds with scratches too deep to heal did they tell us we were related and after that, we got along quite well but every now and then I start to wonder what would have happened if we never found out we were related. What would have happened if our fight wasn't split up? I could have died. He could have died and that is when we found out that the Department isn't trying to save us but are the ones trying to kill us.
"Earth to Cleo."
"Right sorry I got lost in thought. After the explosion The Department of Erratic Magic found me. I was too scratched up to move so they threw me into the trunk of their car and drove to their place. When they pulled me out they put these cuffs on me, they got rid of my powers and then they dragged me into a room with targets and chains. I wasn't sure what they wanted me to do until they locked the door, I was trapped there. I met this guy named doctor Murphy. He said he was going to help me but in the end, he made it hurt more. They tortured me both mentally and physically but all I could do was sit there knowing that no amount of crying or begging would change their cruel intentions. I was stuck there for a month thinking all of you were dead and I had so many different scenarios playing in my head but I never imagined that I would ever see you again."
John pulls me in for a hug as a tear goes down my cheek I knew he would understand. but all I could think of was a certain black-haired boy, Nico.
"You always were the stronger sibling. We will get you all cleaned up at camp"
"Thanks, Johnny"
"Always"