Searching for the Key

Chapter 14

By the time the four of them reached the shore, it was early morning. The sky was beginning to turn a light blue color and the sun was peaking out above the hills. The stretched their stiff legs and Katia let out a huge yawn. She stumbled when her feet touched the floor and Nathan steadied her.

"Whoa, are you okay?" Nathan asked her in concern.

Katia nodded, but she was exhausted from pushing the boat all that way. "Yeah I just need to rest," she assured him.

She had been awake for more than twenty for hours and continuously using her powers had drained her. Everyone else was tired too and could barely keep their eyes open.

Nathan and Damien slowly dragged the boat back to the shop, and they were happy to see that it was already opened.

"There you guys are!" The old man said as soon as they entered. "I was beginning to worry that you guys sunk in the middle of the lake."

He laughed at his own joke and didn't seem to take note of their ragged appearances.

"Don't worry we're good swimmers, especially this one," Nathan said, pointing to Katia.

"We're so sorry we're returning the boat late. We just found a great spot and decided to go camping," Katia apologized, not totally lying.

"Oh don't worry about it," the man said with a wave of his hand. "I remember all of the adventures I had when I was younger."

He started to reminisce again about his times with his friends in a lively manner as he led them out back. The four of them would just nod and say a couple of words every once in a while. Even Celia didn't have enough energy to tell him they heard all of these stories the day before.

Finally Nathan and Damien returned the small boat to the back of the shop. Then they went back into the city and stopped in a park across the street. It was mostly empty given the early hour. There were only a couple of joggers and a teenager who looked like he was ditching school.

"I'm exhausted!" Katia said rubbing her eyes. She collapsed on to the grass underneath a tree and lay down.

"How about we take a quick nap first then we'll figure out a plan?" Damien suggested. "None of us got any sleep."

The rest of them were too tired to protest, and they laid down next to Katia. The boys dutifully let the girls sleep first while they stayed guard. She was asleep within seconds and it only took a few more for her to enter a nightmare.

Katia saw the man from her previous nightmare where she died, and this time she knew it was Akur. Everything happened just as before, but this time she could just make out dead bodies lying in the same cavern she was in. When the flickering light fell on their faces, Katia noted with devastation that she knew every one. Jason was there, along with Nathan and every friend she had made in Aevria.

Those images scared Katia more than the prospect of her dying and she was relieved when Nathan finally shook her awake saying it was her turn to stay guard.

"You okay?" He asked, noticing her slightly terrified expression.

"Yeah, you just startled me," Katia lied.

Nathan looked at Katia carefully and she was sure he could see right through her. He opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted by Celia.

"Touch me one more time and I will tear your arm off," she threatened Damien.

He stepped back with his arms up in surrender. "Fine, but it's your turn to stay guard so get up."

Without waiting to see if Celia listened, Damien lay down a little ways away and fell asleep. Nathan yawned and Katia shoved him lightly.