The World Unknown
Chapter Four
Home Sweet Home

It wasn't too long before the doors of the room burst open, allowing four older looking kids to enter.

Gage greeted them before briefing them on the situation, then turned to face the rest of us, "There's really no point introducing ourselves is there? You lot know us, and you're going to forget," said Gage solemnly. He too sounded to be against the memory wipe if not just a little.

"Always to the point, aren't you?" Said one of the boys. He looked to be a little taller than the average male and had long, curly blonde hair and the most peculiar purple eyes I had ever seen.

He walked over and shook my hand gently, "My name is Hayden Gold, I'm a Protector like Gage, and you are?"

"I'm _______." I replied blankly.

His eyes widened and he stood back, beside a brunette girl a little shorter than he, "Your skills never cease to amaze me, Bliss."

"It was such a strong vision I saw." She replied back. She turned back towards me, her light brown eyes were slightly tinted red, "Call me Bliss. I'm also a Protector, but that's only because I don't have a home to go to during the summer. It's nice to meet you again... this time, in person." She smiled shyly then glanced back at the other two.

The other girl also had long brunette hair, but it was pinned up, unlike the others, she wore a long velvet petticoat the colour green, "Elizabeta!" She gave a nod and shook my hand forcefully before returning to her original post.

Finally, a tall red headed boy walked foreword, "Ugh- Allister Kirkland. Protector. But, let's get to business shall we?"

"Yes, have any of you contacted the headmaster or any professors?" Gage asked with urgency in his voice.

"Not yet, we were on our way here. I needed to check everyone's safety first." Hayden responded.

"I'm assuming you're ready to contact them now, right?" Bliss spoke up as she faced Gage.

"It's like you read my mind."

Bliss laughed lightly, "I can read everyone's mind, except yours it seems." She tilted her head and looked at me for a second before turning back towards Gage, "But yes, go contact them right away, see if anyone can come and help us deal with the threat."

"Alright. Then, after you wipe her memory, have one of them drop her off and come back quickly so that they aren't spotted. I've already deducted ten points from each of their cards for breaking school rules—" he turned and glared at Vlad, "and the actual law."

Vlad's face went red and the others let out their own frustrations as they heard the news.

"Very well. Thank you, Gage, for your help. We'll take it from here." Hayden said, giving a slight nod.

So, Gage walked out and left the rest of us with the four Protectors.

The tense silence was broken by Bliss's higher pitched yet soft voice, "It's getting pretty dark out, I just can't allow one of you to protect Miss ________ all alone in the nongift's world." She had a knowing grin, it was sweet but somewhat unnerving, "Why don't four of you take her home after Hayden's wiped her mind?"

"I'll go!" Vlad exclaimed, not even skipping a beat, "Me too!" Amber cheered.

"Vladimir," Bliss said, sounding concerned, "You don't have a wand though."

Vlad's face went pink as he pressed his lips together, "No, I forgot, I don't." He must've felt bad because he continued, "Well, someone else can go in my place. As long as she gets home safe, it'll all be okay."

This must have tugged at Bliss's heart because she immediately began, "I'll lend you my wand, but it must be returned immediately upon your arrival back, understood?"

Vlad's eyes lit up as a smile spread across his face, "Understood! Thank you, Bliss!"

"Right then, any more volunteers?" She asked, turning her attention towards the others.

Matthew was about to speak up too, but was inturupted by Alfred's louder voice.

"Great, now I just need one more... Lovino? You don't seem to like nongifted people, do you?" She didn't even give him a chance to respond before continuing, "You can go too, maybe you'll get some insight on what their world is like."

I could see Lovino's face turn into an ugly look as he shot a glare in my direction, but my gaze was shifted towards Vlad as I felt him clasp my hand and stare directly into my eyes, "Remember, I eat magenta kelp."

Without another word, he let go of my hands, blinked, and walked over beside Alfred. I didn't understand what he said or what it meant. He looked down at his feet as if he didn't want to see them erase my memories of what had all happened.

I tensed up once more as I saw Hayden walk up to me, "Just close your eyes, when you open them, you'll be right at home."

He had his wand already in hand and he raised it over my head, I don't know what it was that went over me, but I felt the sudden urge to try to run again. However, I couldn't even get off of the desk I was laying on before Elizabeta and Allister had raised their wands in unison and waved it towards me, the two muttered something, but in my panic, I couldn't hear them very well. What I did know, was that it felt as if there were ropes tied all around me that were keeping me paralyzed in place, allowing Hayden to finish his spell.

"Etemreud..." He said in a soft and breathy voice.

Like with Gage, I saw a dark blue light come from his wand and gently wrap itself around me. I braced myself for what I knew what about to happen and closed my eyes as the world around me became fuzzy.

I opened my eyes to find myself asleep on the slide at the playground in the Chamberlay park.