Magixx

CHAPTER 5

The cemetery was silent, except for the rustling wind that danced around the tombstones. I stood alone before my father's grave,my breath visible in the cold air, though it was a warm afternoon. I didn't notice the thin layer of frost forming beneath my boots. I clenched my fist.

"whoever killed you... I will find them".

As I turned to leave,I noticed Lola and Annie waiting by the gate. Lola always the fierce one,wore a determined look. Annie more reserved,had worry in her eyes.

"you ok?" Lola asked as I approached

"no" I replied honestly.

"but I'll be".

we walked in silence for a while, until Annie spoke.

"we've been doing some research... on people with abilities. There's a rumour about a man, people say he can vanish like smoke.

no name,no identity

My chest tightened.

"yes that's him, I've heard of that name before,the detective did mention of him"

Lola nodded. "and if he's like us,if he has powers, your not safe,Susie none of us are".

At night,I stood in front of my mirror, watching frost spiral across it's surface from my fingertips.

what else can I do? I wondered.

suddenly,my phone buzzed. A message from an unknown number

"your getting stronger. I'm watching you".

I dropped the phone.

*****************************

The message on my phone replayed in my mind over and over

"your getting stronger,I'm watching".I had barely slept. When I did,my dreams were haunted by shadows and pair of cold,empty eyes. At school the next day,I tried to act normal,but Lola and Annie could tell something was off.

"you look like you've seen a ghost", Lola whispered as we sat down in class.

"Worse", I muttered, pulling out my phone and showing them the message. Annie frowned.

"This...this means he knows who you are".

I nodded."and that I'm not just chasing him he's watching me too".

We didn't speak for a moment. Then Lola leaned in

"then we need to hit back first. We find him. We trap him".

"But how"? I asked. "We don't even know where to look".

Annie tapped her chin.

"There's someone I've been chatting with online. Calls herself Raven. She runs an underground forum for people with abilities. She might know something".

I hesitated,then modded

"Let's meet her"

That evening,the three of us followed Raven's direction to an old, graffitied warehouse on the edge of town. Inside,blue lights glowed faintly,and tech lined the walls. A girl with silver braids and piercing eyes stepped forward. "You're the ice girl", she said calmly. "I've been expecting you"

I tensed. "You know who I am"?

Raven smirked. "I know who's haunting you too. And I know where he'll strike next".

Raven tapped a screen,and a blurring image came up,a tall figure man in a long coat,face hidden by a black mask, walking through a crowded plaza.

"That's the shade",she said.

"He doesn't leave traces. No fingerprints,no DNA. But he has a pattern. Every target had connections to a secret research project from fifteen years ago... including your father".

My heart dropped. "My dad wasn't a scientist. He worked in shipping". Raven shook her head. "He transported classified equipments,magical artifacts,experimental tech. Dangerous things".

"And now he's dead", I said bitterly.

"Because of something he tried to keep safe"

Annie leaned over the screen

"So what now?"

Raven pointed at a map.

"The shade's next target is a man named Dr kore, living just outside town.

Ex-military. Retired. If we get to him first, we might find out why he's on the list,and why your father was"

I nodded

"Then we go tonight"

But as we left the warehouse Raven grabbed my arm.

"One more thing". She whispered.

"You're not just a girl with powers.

You're part of something much bigger.

And you're not the only one he's haunting"

I froze.