The Final Hunt

Chapter Three - Kyle

He'd been thinking of nothing but her growing powers since the night they'd got back from Greece. Over the last three weeks he'd done research, gone to libraries, sought out any evidence he could find of Seer's in the area but had no luck so far, all of the one's he'd managed to identify were killed by Ashton.

The damned prick; even now he couldn't get to Maggie he was hurting her.

He waited until she was in the shower to phone Paul, his best friend; he needed help, and a lot of it, quick.

He and Maggie had talked about telling Paul but it had never come about; now he needed him and he wouldn't ask her first, she'd only tell him to hold off, but he couldn't wait.

"Paul?" He'd answered on the third ring.

"Hey Johnson how are you? How's Maggie? I've barely heard from you since you got back man, can I come over tonight or are you two 'busy'?" He laughed out.

"Actually Paul, can I come get you and we'll go for a drive? I need to talk to you about something." He knew it sounded ominous but he had to make sure Paul knew it was sensitive.

"Getting a bit worried now man, is Maggie OK?" His voice laced with concern.

"Yeah she's fine. Pick you up in half an hour?" Paul agreed, uncertainty in his agreement, and Kyle ended the call.

He knocked on the bathroom door and she sang back a hello.

"I'm just nipping out for a while with Paul, I won't be too long. I love you." He didn't wait to hear her response and left the house hurriedly, heading for the Bug that sat proudly in the garage. It was their car now, she'd insisted; just as she'd insisted it was their house and everything inside of it was theirs. Kyle hated feeling as though he'd taken something that wasn't his; he couldn't see it as his yet, but he hoped he would as time went on.

He drove out of the garage and then out of the gravelled drive; focused on the road ahead, he drove the familiar route to Paul's place.

Whilst he drove in silence, he couldn't help but think of how Paul may now perceive him and Maggie; Kyle's sight was only for Maggie, he couldn't hear the thoughts of anyone else when he touched them but he had become very attuned to their auras. Mainly those closest to him, but he could feel their emotions as though they were tangible in the surrounding air; it was confusing and scary at first, but he'd started to get used to it a bit now. How would Paul respond to that?

He shook the thought off and tried to think of Maggie at home; alone, probably confused and a little hurt that he hadn't waited to explain or say goodbye properly.

He felt like a prick.

When he pulled up outside Paul's, he beeped the horn twice then whipped out his phone to shoot off a quick message to Maggie: 'Hi baby, sorry I had to run. I'll be back soon, relax and have a pamper. I can't wait to be back and love you xox'. He didn't wait for a reply, only because he knew she'd probably look at it, smile, shake her head and send back a heart.

As Paul clambered into the car his phone buzzed, informing him of Maggie's reply. He gave Paul a quick nod and as soon as his belt was buckled, he started to drive, nervous for how the conversation would play out and be received.

"So Johnson, why all the cloak and dagger?" He laughed to Kyle, "You were starting to worry me a bit I won't lie." He said, more serious.

"I've just got some stuff I need to tell you, I don't know how you're going to take it so I had to do it away from Maggie." He laughed a humourless laugh and shrugged his shoulders.

"What is it?" All trace of humour gone from Paul's voice.

"I'm going to drive to the woods and we can go to the clearing and have a good talk. That way if you wanna scream or yell, or I want to scream and yell, no-one will hear us. That sound OK?" He shot a quick look over and Paul nodded his head.

His phone buzzed again.

"Do you want me to...?" Paul asked and Kyle shook his head.

"No no, I'm sure it's just Maggie, I text her before you got in to let her know we wouldn't be too long." He added a mental 'I hope' and they finished the drive in an awkward silence.

***

He stared at Paul, shock plainly plastered across his face, willing him to speak.

"Paul?" He reached tentatively for his shoulder and Paul didn't move away from him; that had to be good right?

"I just can't believe it. I thought Seer's weren't around anymore? How do you just happen to stumble across one and fall for her?" He couldn't get his words out without sounding sceptical.

"Hell I didn't plan this Paul, we were supposed to meet. We were supposed to go through all that together; her parents and Ashton, all so we could be together and happy." He looked at his friend, who was still in shock, "Paul, this doesn't change anything. She's still Maggie; she's still the beautiful, shy and amazing girl who you've come to know.“ Kyle could see the cogs turning in his brain and Paul slowly came around to the idea and nodded.

"Of course, it doesn't make anything different. She's Maggie, just our shy and vulnerable little Maggie who happens to be a Seer." Paul laughed a chuckle out and clapped Kyle on the shoulder, releasing the pent up tension in his shoulders and he blew out a sigh.

"I tell you man it's so good to have you know. Now I need you to take a little time to get used to the idea, but I will need your help." Paul eyed him suspiciously. "Maggie is strong, Paul, she's got powers that not all, or any, Seer's have and we need to get it figured out before she gets hurt or hurts someone else." Kyle hung his head and shoulders in defeat.

“What do you mean, ‘powers’? Doesn’t she already have ‘powers’?” Paul used air quotes and spoke sarcastically to Kyle as if this was all getting a bit too much. Kyle blew out a breath and shook his head, pacing back and forth in front of his friend whilst trying to explain.

“She can do things, like urgh, it’s hard to explain.” He was completely exasperated. How could he explain it? “She can like bend the wind and some other stuff; it’s actually amazing to see, but also can be a little scary, I won’t lie to you. She gets angry and can literally control the air around her, taking your breath away. Literally.” He emphasised the last word and instinctively reached for his throat remembering their argument.

Paul’s face was worried but Kyle quickly brushed him off with a wave of the hand; “I’m fine man, she can’t control any of it and that’s why I need your help. She wants to see the world, travel and ‘be’, whatever that means,” he laughed at the end part, remembering how beautifully excited she’d become when they’d spoken; “but I cannot let her go without knowing more about it, she could get hurt.” Kyle slumped down into a fallen tree and put his head in his hands, elbows propped up on his thighs.

"We'll get it sorted Kyle, don't we always?" Paul tried; Kyle could hear the strain in his voice and recognised it as something but couldn't quite place it. He brushed it off and stood himself up, shaking himself off and they sauntered back to the car together, bumping shoulders and laughing about football like the old days.

"Shall we go for a drink tonight?" Paul asked, nonchalant.

"Ah man I would, but I need to get back to Maggie. Come over?" He tried, Paul shook his head and waved Kyle off and declined.

"Nah not tonight, maybe in a couple days?" They both agreed and reached the car, driving Paul home in silence.

Kyle knew he wasn't OK with it all, it was probably just a shock to him still but hoped that he'd take a couple of days and come around to it all.

"So I'll see you in a couple days?" Kyle asked as Paul got out.

"Yeah of course, I just need time to process" he laughed a deep laugh and Kyle knew they'd be OK; "I'll give you a call and come over in a couple days. Chill out man, it's going to be alright." Kyle nodded and waved Paul off, driving away and heading towards home.