They Called Me FIVE

LANCE

One week. One week has passed and everything was quiet. I wasn't able to return to school again. Say goodbye to Moon rose – or wherever she was. I just need to believe she was somehow in the new area with me.

Everytime I think of her I'm reminded of Magnus. Where he is, is he okay? Did that wave of black ring destroyed him, did he managed to survive…

My gut told me he did. I'm hundred percent sure he's stronger than he let on. There's something in his black veins that made me wary of him. He has that distinct part the Auf has.

And I can't even begin to describe what it is..

I dare not show my face the next morning after our house got destroyed. Dad took some gas he stashed in his storage house at the back and splash it in what's left of our house. I lighted the match. I don't know how will the people deduce what happens to this burnt house in the crack of dawn – or to the two father and son who lives in here....

Dad and I can only hope they forget about us. That maybe no one will remember a single detail about me, about us as time pass by. Maybe tomorrow teachers and some of my bully classmates will wonder where I go.

Where did the transferee stink who made a nice embarrassing show of himself by taking a dump trash bath in the yard go? The cornfield bastard who brought another self praising idiot on school grounds?

I doubt they will know. That it was me who killed the cornfields. Who killed the poor old man in his flimsy wooden house far back the school grounds. Unlike the other places Dad and I lived, this one has so many first time strange encounters they evoke alienated feeling of guilt for leaving.

At least, if we'll leave here for good, let me see her face. Just once. Maybe we'll meet someday. And I want to recognize her first. That time when Moon rose actually appeared to me, I'm too nauseous for my own good I never get a good look at her face.

The second time is too brief. Our encounters are too short others might pass her as ghost if she appears in front of them.

But not me.

If only Magnus didn't evaporate I could have another chance seeing her. Too bad I blow it up. Now we'll remain strangers.

It was seven in the morning when we left the small town Opra for good. Partly because we're looking for a truck to steal. Half a mile from our house, is the pizza store with the pizza truck parked in the driveway.

We couldn't get any more lucky when the driver – the pizza delivery guy lay wasted on the driver seat. Dad and I exchanged glances and nod. He gently drags the two hundred pounds guy off the seat and stole the keys from his pocket.

My job is to check the inside of the truck to empty the contents. That was the gist of it. But I became greedy. If we're leaving and Dad is planning to have approximately twelve hours drive, then snacks and more pizza are needed. Lots of pizza. Lots of gas. Lots of drinks, and pizza. Some clothes and pizza. Some basic amenities and pizza. Tools and other stuff to salvage which we might need for emergencies and pizza.

Dad was reluctant by the rows of cans and pizza boxes I stash inside the truck. Saying it's useless because pizza is not microwaved. What he didn't know, and what I notice from the owner of this pizza store is, they don't actually microwave their products.

They baked it, and store it in glass stained shelves warmer. Basic? Yep. And the heat won't reduce in delivery either. So the crisp and smoky crates of the crust were dainty in the tongue. Warm in the stomach and definitely delectable.

It took almost thirty minutes to steal almost half of the tools inside the store. Dad is a kind hearted forebearing citizen. Stealing from others leaves a bad taste in his mouth. So he emptied his wallet and put the money on the counter.

When the pizza delivery guy began to stir in his sleep at the back sofa, Dad and I hop inside the truck and drove. I watch the red and white store with its blinking store sign grow smaller as the truck gets farther away.

With a pizza box in hand, I offered one to Dad. He took a bite without taking his eyes off the road.

"So what happens now?" I asked. He drummed his fingers on the wheel.

"You need training." That doesn't surprise me.

"Okay." I placed two sodas on the dashboard, with some chips I managed to tow from the shelves. He glanced at the snacks.

"You think $50,000 dollars is enough to compensate this truck, the food and other stuff we stole?"

I shrugged. "Maybe. That amount should last a common household for six months. But where are we going?"

Dad stepped on the accelerator when we passed the 'Thank you and come again' sign. Indicating we have left the town and is trekking the highway. But the roads are practically empty except the occasional abandoned barn houses, expansive fields and rocky mountain edges kissing the sky at the peakiest point.

"Lance, son…" Dad started after a few minutes of munching chips silence. "The Seeker err Magnus…do you think he died back there?"

I shake my head. I stared at my hands and clench my palm. "I don't know Dad. I just feel he's still out there, somewhere. That wave won't kill him. Not that easily. I mean, did you notice his muscles? Those are genuine ripped flesh borne from extensive fights and training. That moment when he pushed me aside, he didn't put much force on it but I'm still thrown, toppling towards the kitchen counter. Believe me that felt like tapping someone for him."

"Hmm, Rankers won't be Rankers if they're not tough." He said. I turned to look at him.

"What exactly is Rankers Dad? Magnus said they act as knights in your kingdom."

He chuckled. "Believe me, they are more than that. You see that Mark on your forearm?"

I glanced at the black circle tattoo with five. "Yeah?"

"Anyone who bears that Mark is immortal in our realm."