Can You Hear Me?

Willow listened to Indie explain some repair instructions about their newly acquired junk they were currently attempting to fix. "Hey, pass me my torque wrench, sis." Indie said, hauling rusty parts that were beyond repair. They had found a motorbike by a cluster of ruined tribal huts in the wasteland that had once been the sss rainforest. They had snuck out in the middle of the night to scavenge an area in the North closest to the wasteland without venturing too deep. The real problem was getting the hunk of metal through the Fort’s well-guarded wall. They had to pay for a scrap metal truck to hide the bike among the other metals in the back. They had also stashed their packs secretly there to prevent theft or suspicion. Now that the scene was replayed in Willow’s mind, she remembered one thing that stood out that night. “Hey, Indie.” Willow called, “Did you notice something strange last night coming home?” “Hmm, not really. Did you?” Indie rips off the torn leather seat and a swarm of bugs explodes. “Good grief. Spray!" Willow tossed her the can and covered her face while Indie dealt with it. “As I was saying, I saw a strange man looking at us a little too closely at the gate.” “A lot of people look at us there, Willow.” Indie said dismissively. “No, it was different. He was specifically looking at us, not the man being dragged away right next to us. No. He was looking at us only. Isn’t that suspicious?” Willow insisted. Indie looked up from her work to Willow. Willow could see the wheels turning in her head. “You think it's someone who knows about us?” She asked with her hazel eyes wide with fear. “Yes.” “sh*t. We might have to lay off the junk for the next week or so. We can’t risk it.” “What?! We can’t. You can’t let this ruin your business.” Willow argued, her mind running through all the terrible things that could happen. “There is no business if we’re caught and executed.” “That's it then.” Willow stated with finality. “What did you do?” Indie asked in alarm. Willow knew she would like it but it had to be done. They can't keep living like this. “What we should have done last year.” “What?! Are you crazy? Tell me you did not sign up for the trials.” she said angrily. “Indie, I can do this. This is what I'm good at.” Willow had tried to tell her last week but there never seemed to be the right time. “The scavenger trials are different from our regular midnight scavenging. There are other people competing with you. They kill, trick and sabotage each other without a second thought.” Indie stressed. “It's okay sis, I've been practicing. I can do this.” Willow said with conviction. It was her turn to work hard for this little family. “Thats a foolish endeavour. It's too dangerous.” she said with tears in her eyes. “Trust me. I have this.” Willow said, holding Indie’s hands in hers. With a sigh, she pulled Willow into a hug. “When did you sign up?” “Last week.” she whispered. “Double Sh*t. Okay, okay, if anyone can do this, it's you. You're a damn great scavenger. Do me a service and don't die… or come back broken.” she whispered the last words. They continued to hug each other. “Do you still need that wrench?” Willow whispered after a while. “Forget that damn wrench. The bike can wait.” Indie said, releasing her. “Hey, what's that sound?” Indie asked, c*****g her head on one side. “What sound?” Willow asked, unable to hear the noise coming from across the room. “It's… It's coming from your jacket.” Indie pointed to the jacket hung on the only office-looking chair in their bunker. Willow realised what she was talking about and rushed to her jacket. No matter what, she can’t tell her what she snuck in. She threw the jacket over her arm, trying to hide the creature she had hidden in her pocket. “What are you hiding?” Indie asked, her voice filled with suspicion. “Oh nothing…” She said, hustling down their cramped corridor to their cluttered bedroom. She didn’t bother with the lights. She was familiar with everything around her without having to light the way. “Hey! It's definitely something! I know you can't hear it but I can!” Indie howled at her from down the corridor, “Come on Willow, give it up. We literally live in the same bunker. There isn’t enough space to hide anything.” She said, rolling her eyes. While Willow was busy looking for somewhere to hide the creature, Indie had made her way to their bedroom. She froze when she saw the look on her face. She really wouldn’t be able to hide it. “ It's just… a … cat.” she stammered out. She held the “cat” to her chest, feeling its deep purr. “ Cat?” Indie said, frowning at the black kitten's head, peeking through the worn heavy jacket. She took it out and examined its features. Big yellow eyes stared up at Indie. Its paws rested on her chest as if begging her to look at its adorable self. “Meow…?” “Ugh, it almost feels like when I first saw you. Big eyes and adorable face. I can’t believe this.” “So, we can keep it?” Willow said, looking at the cat and Indie. Please. “Ugh! Fine. For the record, this is not a cat.” She placed the cat on the floor and folded her arms, deep in thought. Not a cat? Then what was it? Willow also looked at the creature on their floor. Its paws were big like a tiger and its tail as well, but that's where the difference ended. Its fur was completely pitch black with a blue sheen to it and its ears had a weird little antenna on the tip. It glowed blue as well. When she had rescued it from the pipe it was stuck in, she hadn’t seen anything off about it. It looked like a normal cat. Now it glowed like it had magic. Now that the thought had crossed her mind, her magic also glowed like that. That should have terrified her, but she felt the urge to hold the cat to her chest. Her hands trembled as she reined it in. Focus. Clearing her throat, Indie gestures to the creature attempting to climb onto the bedsheet. “Well, you better take care of it and make sure it does not chew a hole in the walls. We have a trial to prepare for. What are you gonna name it?” “I don’t know? I’ll have to think about it.” “And don’t even for a second think you can name it that.” Indie called behind "I'm going to take a nap.” Willow looked up sharply from her study of the cat. How did she know what I was thinking? I guess Blue is not a suitable name. Too plain. She sat down on the bed and picked up the cat. It yawned before settling its paw on her shoulders. She could barely hear it meow at her. Without her hearing gadget, she couldn’t hear low sounds around her. You would have thought she would be dead by now, but no. She wasn’t going to let a little disability hinder her will to live. Tomorrow she would prepare her gadgets and run through their plans one more time before she leaves for The Great Twin Tower of Akaal, where she would receive her instructions and she would get to see the other scavengers. She was not looking forward to that latter. She hugged the cat closer to her chest, trying not to let the stress get to her. Scavenging was her speciality. There was nothing to worry about. “I wonder what I should call you?” She held the cat to face her. I wouldn’t mind the name Velkyn. That's my mom’s name. “Wait… did you just speak to me?” Willow was shocked to hear the female voice in her mind. It sounded like a toddler but with more intelligence and sass. Of course, I can. I'm not stupid. I have standards to live up to. Velkyn sat down on Willow's lap licking one of her paws. “Oh. I'm speechless.” Of course, you are. I'm a much more superior being than you humans. “I have to tell Indie about this.” Willow said excitedly. She set Velkyn down. No! You can’t! If anyone finds out, they might kill you and me, even your sister. People hate us. They say we weaken them even though we were once viewed as familiars. “It's okay, you can trust her. She is the one who has kept me safe all these years.” she said, confident in her sister’s trustworthiness. She showed Velkyn her magic. She pushed a little bit of magic to the tips of her fingers. The tips shifted from white to blue and back again as it disappeared. You have raw magic? My mom told me about those like you. “Then you must know how dangerous it is to possess it. I'm not interested in becoming dead..." Willow could still remember those days. She used to constantly lose control and she was forced to hide underground in the tunnels. Sometimes she would spend weeks down there. Even she knew that the magic that her body was absorbing was not normal. Things would bend and crumble when they came into contact. She still has small episodes when her emotions are high or when she’s sick. She has more control over it now though. “Look, you're safe here. We will protect you. Promise.” I trust you. Don't rip me off. “Ha! Never! Now tell me more about yourself?” she asked Velkyn. ha! It's a long story, but for short, I'm a nocturnal demon that feeds on magic. Willow gasped at the news. “Are you saying you were feeding on my magic this whole time?” she said worriedly. Yes. It was very delicious. “Is that some kind of violation or was that a compliment?” A compliment, of course.