Gifted

Part 26: Mackenzie

"Implosion!" Mackenzie cried as the demon we had identified as an Aitu exploded from within her field of power. The smoke cleared and Jordan, Alice and I could see Mackenzie once again. We were at the park. It looked so different at night. The swings and the slides all looked so empty and dark, when during the day, kids and sunlight covered them constantly. "That was close." Mackenzie said.

"That was awesome!" I said.

"Mackenzie, you're so cool!" exclaimed Jordan.

"I'm glad that you both are impressed but I also want you to remember that this is not a game. This is dangerous business." she said sternly.

"Of course. We get that." said Jordan.

"The Aitu is a demon that cooks people, so I was surprised to find it in a park. Well, I guess it hasn't found its own kitchen yet." I was glad that we didn't have to go in anyone's house.

"This particular Aitu was young and it probably hadn't developed its own instincts yet. Young demons attack randomly, but when they mature, they show different properties depending on their species." Alice said. "If we came across an adult Aitu, then it would surely try to cook us."

"So Mackenzie just killed a baby demon?" Jordan asked.

"Babies grow up, you know." Mackenzie said.

We walked along the sidewalk towards where are cars were parked.

"So, do you guys think you're going to make contracts after all?" Mackenzie asked Jordan and me as we walked.

"I haven't decided yet." Jordan admitted.

"I don't know yet either, sorry." I said. The park was silent. We were the only people around. "I was wondering, Mackenzie, when and why did you end up making a contract with Alice? I mean you've never mentioned it as long as we were friends, and I've known you since the sixth grade!" I said.

"Well I..." she began.

"You don't have to tell us if you don't want to." I added quickly.

"No, it's fine." Mackenzie said. "It actually happened in spring of our freshmen year." she said. "My family and I had a lake house in Minnesota so we used to go there every summer. That year, my family decided to go during spring break instead. One time, during our vacation there, I decided to go swimming in the lake. It was there that I saw it, my first demon. It was called an Afanc, but I didn't know it at the time. It looked like a crocodile and a beaver combined. Apparently, this Afanc had claimed the lake as its own and preyed on anyone who was stupid enough to swim in its territory. The demon didn't waste any time. It attacked me. My parents saw and tried to use their powers against it to save me, but the demon was too fast. My father dived in after me, but the demon got him. I swam to shore and into my mother's arms, but the Afanc chased us, even out of the water. My mother got a chainsaw from our shed that my father had used to cut fire wood. She told me to hide behind the tractor in the shed while my mother fought the Afanc with the saw. The chainsaw didn't do much damage on the Afanc, it just made it furious. The demon crushed my mother and I was forced to watch. I was sure this was the end, but suddenly, the demon disappeared. I stepped out from behind the tractor to see Alice for the first time. It was there that she promised to make me powerful, so that no one else would have to experience what I experienced that day. I made a contract with her, so I could fight the demons. I didn't hesitate. That year, when I got back to school, I told everyone that it was a car crash that killed my family, and I told the school that I would be living with relatives instead, but that was a lie. I'm sorry for not telling you guys the truth. It's just, at the time I felt so guilty. I mean, I was the one that swam in the lake in the first place." she finished.

Jordan and I were silent. We remembered freshmen year after spring break. Mackenzie seemed like a completely different person then we had remembered from middle school, but we assumed it was because of the car crash she told us about. We never knew it had anything to do with demons. She got her own apartment and lied to the school that she was now being supported by a relative, but in truth, she had no family left and lived alone. She used the money that her parents had been saving for her to eventually pay for college in order to pay for the rent. She got a part time job as a dishwasher at a fast food joint close by. At her job, though she was only fifteen at the time, nobody asked her questions. She also began to work as a dog walker on the weekends for extra cash. Luckily there were plenty of dog owners in the city.

"That is why, you guys should really think about making a contract. I never had a choice. I want to avenge my family someday. But you two still have your families. You don't have to fight. Even you, Nora. Is gaining a power and fitting in really worth it?" she asked.

"Mackenzie," Jordan said sadly. "We had no idea that that happened to you."

"Huh? It's fine. I never told you guys." Mackenzie said.

"No, it's not fine. We're your friends. Nora has been your friend since the sixth grade and I've been your friend since the eighth. So, you should feel comfortable telling us anything, even about something as crazy as demons. I'm so sorry if I ever made you feel like you had to hide something from us." Jordan said.

"And not just us. Ken, Elizabeth, and even Casper! We're all here for you!" I said.

"Yeah, but even I haven't told Ken about any of this yet." Jordan admitted.

"You guys should be careful. People handle situations in different ways. There's a reason why I chose you guys. Don't go around announcing the existence of demons to just anyone." Alice said.

"She's right. I really appreciate it, but I think I'm just glad I can tell you guys about stuff now." Mackenzie said. "Jordan, if you were to make a contract, then what would you actually be fighting for? Do you want enhanced powers, or to fight demons, or do you only want to be seen as a hero so that people will look up to you?" Mackenzie asked.

"Hey that's..." Jordan began to interject but Mackenzie cut her off.

"It's fine, whatever the reason may be, and you don't need to tell anyone else. Everyone's contract is a private thing, but at least be honest with yourself. A contract is irreversible. So, be clear on what exactly you want to get out of it, or else, you'll be stuck in a permanent situation where there is no getting out of." Mackenzie explained.

"I guess you're right." Jordan said.

"Mackenzie..." I said sadly.

"I'm sorry for the harsh speech." Mackenzie said. "I just don't want you guys to have any regrets."

"Yeah." Jordan said. "I understand. We will definitely put a lot of thought into this." Mackenzie and I smiled.

"Find out what you want, put careful thought into it, and go for it!" Mackenzie said.

"And be quick about it!" Alice said.

"Alice! What did Mackenzie just say?" Jordan scolded.

"I was joking!" Alice said.