The Run

She walked into the building the lobby was quiet and empty. The television was playing sports. She walked over to the desk and rang the bell, a slender short man with brown hair walked out from a room in the back. He came closer to the front desk next to the computer.

“What can I do for you?” he said

“I need six rooms” she said

“Alright for how long?” he asked

“I need them each with two beds and for three weeks” she replied “If you have that available”

“Huh, yeah, we do, are you using card?” he said smugly

“Look, Harlan I came here because you know how to use discretion and can be confidential, I will be using cash if that’s okay,” she replied sternly

He raised his eyebrows “Uh huh, it's okay, it will bring you to one hundred eighty-one thousand and one hundred and four dollars.”

She looked at him, as he looked at her eagerly, she walked out of the lobby, four hummers sat in front of the hotel office. She walked to one of the hummers opened the door and reached into the back, she grabbed a duffle bag from the backseat. She shut her door and headed back into the lobby of the hotel. She placed the bag onto the counter, his eyes widened in shock. He took a counterfeit pen and marked some of the bills, she made a stone stern face with her eyebrow raised. “Can’t be too sure” he pulled under the counter a money counting machine, he started placing the bills through the machine.

“If you had one of those why bother with the pen” she asked

He shrugged his shoulders “In my business you would want to check”

“It should be there including extra for your troubles” she said

He started placing the bills in the safe, he got the last stack of money and ran it through the machine.

“Seems you’re all good more than good. Do you need to be on the first floor or second? Back or front?” Harlan asked

“The side of the building to the right if you can; first floor” she said

Harlan started typing into the computer, he pulled a notebook out. “I’m only going to have you written and mark in the system as unavailable. What’s your name?” Harlan asked

“Liora Mbaye” she replied

“Well, Ms. Mbaye here’s your keys” Harlan said

Liora took the keys from him, walked to her car, nodded to the other three cars, she hopped in and pulled out of the driveway to the side of the building with the other two cars followed suit. The cars pulled up in front of the room each person got out of their hummer, they formed a circle in front of the rooms. Liora handed the two of them a key as she kept the other three.

“Get the rooms ready” Liora said “We will leave in one hour”

They dispersed from each other and into the three rooms. Moments later a knock came at Liora's door, a tall broad shoulder mocha man was at the door.

“Gino, what is it?” Liora said

“Sachi and Quinn are cleaning the cars, I checked the other two rooms.” Gino said

“Good, we have twenty minutes left” Liora said

Liora grabbed her room key, placed it in her pocket, and walked out of the room with Gino, they walked over to the cars.

“Sachi, are you able to sense them? Are they still in the same location?” Liora said

Sachi closed her eyes, a wave went to their heads that was an intense pressure outside their heads she opened her eyes “As far as I can tell they are, I can telepathically send you all the location”

Sachi closed her eyes again and a wave went to their heads, she showed them images of their location and how to get there.

“Got it” Quinn said “You ready to go?”

“They nodded and got into the car, they drove out of the hotel parking lot and drove down the street, reaching in their minds following the map in their head. When they made it to the building, it was empty office building made of brick, they entered the building and walked up the stairs to the fourth floor. They walked to the back of the room.

“Hello? It’s okay we’re here to help you” Quinn said

A slender warm beige boy walked from behind a desk “Please don’t hurt us we’re just trying to be free”

A slender warm beige young woman was behind him.

“We’re not here to hurt you, we can help you” Sachi said

“How many of you are there?” Gino asked

“There are nine of us. I’m Kaia this is Madan” she said

Liora got a tingling feeling in the pit of her stomach, she looked behind her and turned back around she felt frantic “We have to go!” she said sternly

“We can’t trust them!” a small teenage girl said

An explosion happened behind Liora. Liora and Sachi fell to the ground. Gino lifted a desk and threw it at the people at the entrance, Quinn ran over to Sachi, she was conscious, she helped her up. Sachi ran next to Gino, Quinn ran to Liora “HEY! WAKE UP! We need you!!” Quinn shook Liora vigorously but got no response. Quinn placed two fingers on Liora’s neck and sent a shock to the side of her body, she slowly lifted up. They got to their feet and ran behind the nine teens, she lifted her hands in the air above her head she pulled her hand down in a vertical motion all the way to her feet, a bright light appeared where her fingers motioned.

“Come on, Let’s go” Liora said they stopped and looked at each other confused “NOW!! If you want to live!”

They scrambled for the rift grabbing their backpacks, they rushed through the portal. Sachi made an invisible shield as Gino and Quinn ran through, Sacho walked backwards while holding up the shield, she walked through. Liora walked through last as she closed the portal.

“Can any of you drive?” Liora asked

“We can” two young women walked up in front

“Why do you need them to drive?” Madan asked

“Some of you were accused of being witches but we wouldn’t ask you to fight, they were uncalculated” Liora said

“But we would ask you to be a getaway driver we need to go” Quinn said

“Alright, you can drive, they won’t be far behind. Quinn, you drive with me. Let’s load up and go” Liora said

Liora got in the car with Quinn, they pulled away from the abandoned building, they sped off into the street. They looked behind them and didn’t see any cars behind Gino’s hummer, three black SUVs pulled out of a side street, they got behind the three cars, a gunshot hit the side one of the cars. One of the SUV’s sped up next to Quinn driving in the front and shot the car, Quinn rammed into the car the car three times forcing it to swerve over and stop. Quinn drove faster.

“Can you do anything?” a young man said frantically in the back seat

They looked at each other “Can you?” Quinn whispered to her

“I don’t know, what could I do” Liora asked

“Didn’t you have a revelation with some caves” Quinn said

“Not what happened, I don’t know, we’ll see. Open the sun roof” Liora said

“WHAT?! WHY?!” Quinn exclaimed

“Just do it!” Liora said sternly

The sun roof slid open, Liora unbuckled her seat belt and lifted up through the sun roof.

“Hopefully I did learn something. Oh, universe please help us” Liora whispered to herself

She stood on top of the car, as a person in the black SUV shot at her, the bullets passed her thanks to Gino. Liora closed her eyes, she took a breath and cleared her mind. Liora felt heat in her hands flowing from her hands to her body. She levitated above the car, she moved as the car was moving. Liora moved her hands in a counter clockwise motion a portal opened in the distance; all four cars sped up to go through the portal. Liora closed the portal after their last car. Quinn stopped in the road, the rest of the cars stopped behind her, the three of them got out of the car and watched Liora lower herself to the ground.

“Since when could you do that?” Gino questioned

“I’ve only known you to only be able to move people, Does Gowri know?” Sachi asked curiously

“Clearly not and that was the first time. I’m just as surprised” Liora said

“You guys are witches too?” Kaia said while getting out of the car

“No, Gino and Sachi are witches. Quinn and I are guardians we can’t spell cast or anything else. Quinn can shatter things, Sachi is a telepath, Gino has abnormal strength and is telekinetic. I open portals” Liora said

“You just levitated! Maybe the witch hunters are after you! Not us!” one of the young men said

“They have been following you for weeks, they have witches on their side, they sensed you, they would have found you either way” Sachi said

“Come on, we have to go, Can you two change the car?” Liora said

Gino and Sachi nodded, they clasped their hands as they changed the color of the car and the license plate. They got back in the car, Liora opened another portal and they drove through. They made it back to the hotel, hours later. They divided them into rooms, Liora and Quinn shared a room, as Sachi and Gino shared a room.

“There is food in the rooms and drinks, if you need anything come to us we’re in rooms 314 and 312” Quinn said

They dispersed into rooms; Quinn walked behind Liora and shut their room door.

“Are we going to talk about you levitating?” Quinn asked “What happened at I’itoi Village?”

“No, we are not, and I can’t explain what happened. I don’t really know” Liora said

They went to sleep, a weeks later, they gathered the teens to include them on the extraction plan. They muttered amongst themselves, while they were cramped inside of one hotel room.

“Alright everyone settle down, there’s a haven for witches and the accused. It’s somewhere safe for you all to be” Liora said

“Can we go home?” Madan asked eagerly

“Like ever?” Kaia chimed in

“Probably not, right now the future is not certain, but once they label you a witch there is no going back” Quinn said

“Are you okay?” Liora asked

“I sense something” Sachi said

Gino ran into the room frantically “Witch hunters are here I seen them at the office on my way to get ice”

They heard car tires scratching against the pavement, the car doors slammed, they heard guns cocking outside.

“WE KNOW YOU ARE IN THERE!” a man shouted

“It’s Zach, he has Gaura and Quint with him” Sachi said peering down the side of the curtains

“Are you okay?” Gino asked

“Yes I’m fine” Quinn said

“Who are they? How are we getting out of her?” Kaia concernedly asked

“Don’t panic, Zach is the head witch hunter. Quint and Gaura are witches that help him track you” Gino said

Liora went inside of the bathroom and started “Alright, Let’s go, go through the portal we will be right behind you.”

The teens got up and walked through the portal. Gino and Quinn went through the portal, Sachi stood by the window looking at them with their guns held high. Gaura and Quint forming light orbs between their hands.

“What if we can’t stop this?” Sachi asked

“Then we need to make sure that we can sabe as many people as we can” Liora said “Come on we have to go”

“What about the cars? All of our stuff and theirs? The money? Are all in the car?” Sachi said

Liora motioned for her to come on, Sachi slowly walked over to Liora and walked through the portal. Liora looked back as she heard the witch hunters shouting, she walked through and closed the portal. They landed in the middle of beautiful pine green field.

“Why do we seem..... far?” Gino asked puzzled

“Because we are” Liora said

“You are advancing?” Sachi questioned

“I need you to combine your powers with mine” Liora said

“What?!” Sachi exclaimed

“You can sense things but not that far of a distance, we’re not even in the same country. My portals are supposed to work with time and space ripping fabrics of reality. Combine with my powers. See if they are near the cars” Liora said

Sachi looked at Liora with hesitancy, she grabbed her shoulders, she heard a sharp ringing noise in her eyes. Images of the hotel parking lot emerged in her head. “They are walking around searching the rooms”

“Good” Liora said “Clear out, move back” They each moved back from Liora, she stood in the middle of the field. She cleared her mind, she lifted her fingers and pulled them through the grass. A portal opened beneath her finger tips, the cars came through the portal, Gino moved the cars past the portal. Liora rushed and closed the portal, she seen the faces of the witch hunters as she finished closing the portal. They looked amazed at Liora.

“WHOA!! That was amazing!! How in the world?!” Quinn said

“In the cave I was shown a lot of things, Things will be different I can get a better grip at this.” Liora calmly as she looked to the sky

“Well what next?” Gino asked happily

“We get them to the safe haven and keep trying to help others” Liora said

They got into the cars and drove out of the field.