Chapter 2

I stood there for a moment stunned and basically confused. Jake and Tobias got up both beet red. Jake started to say something but I silenced him.

"I don't think I want to know." I said. I knew how I hated to explain things that were more or less unexplainable so I figured I would give these guys a break.

"We were just..." Tobias tried.

"Fighting the yeerks?" I joked. Jake and Tobias exchanged worried glances.

"Yeerks?" croaked Jake.

Cursing inwardly at what I let slip I tried to continue a forced smile, "Oh, just some thing I made up as a kid, you know? Magic kingdoms and the like. It was an inside joke between my friends back at home." Now I was the one who was red. I'd just given my only and most used excuse and I prayed they would except it. I also noticed a strange look from Tobias when I mentioned the words back home. "Hey, will you guys go upstairs and see if the noise woke Sara up?" I asked desperately trying to change the subject.

Jake and Tobias gave each other another funny look, but finally went upstairs. I thought I heard the word controller whispered between the two. Suddenly, I regarded the two with a surge of fear. I wondered who they really were and I knew they could be anyone.

While they were upstairs I bent down and began sweeping up the shattered glass. There was more blood on the glass than I would expect since I didn't see any cuts on either Jake or Tobias. Then I noticed something strange among the shards.

Hawk feathers. Speckled with blood. I figured they were head feathers from what I knew of birds. I didn't have time to look at them further because the guys had already come back. I shoved a couple feathers in my back pocket as I said,

"You guys better leave, Rachel's parents will be back any minute."

"But the window..." Jake started.

"I know how to fix it." And I did. I could use my power to mend the pieces if only they would leave..."I won't tell anyone if you won't, but I'll have trouble explaining why you guys are here if you don't leave." We all laughed nervously and I let them leave. I did not miss the small cut on Tobias's cheek.