Previously on Destined:
“I keep thinking of them Lisa. They gave me up and I want to know why. You raised me since I was 6 weeks old and I love you for that but I need to know them. I know where they live, who they are and everything but I just can’t go to Sacramento as say “Hey Jeff and Karina Daniels”.”
“That was your father, your biological father. He’s coming from Sacramento to see you on your birthday.”
“You have to protect the power from the others, and protect mankind from them. Destiny, only some things you wish will come to be. Use you mind, use your heart.”
Emma heard the door around the corner slam.
“I thought I locked that.” she mumbled, slightly edgy. If she had, then what was that noise? She stood up, and began to look around but she was grabbed from the behind by to men, only they weren’t men. They had irises colored so black it was impossible to tell were the pupil began. Emma tried to scream but they gagged her and wrapped her in ropes. The tallest man, with jet-black her and a sly grin looked at Emma struggling on the floor, tears starting to drip down her face. He was enjoying this way too much for comfort. “Hello little Wisher bait.” he laughed, with an obviously sadistic manner.
Teaser:
Emma lay unconscious, with her eyes closed, on the ground; her mouth was gagged, and her limbs were bound with rope. Close by, two men watched closely, their eyes were nothing more than beads of black and white, with no colour in-between. They watched her hypnotically; her every breath made them stand just a little bit closer; watch just a little bit more carefully. But in an instant, there focus snapped to something else.
The pair wondered the cave they were in, deep in conversation…no more like an argument.
“We sit and wait now, once the wisher learns of her friend’s disappearance. She will know where to come. It was written in the scrolls; she will come and await her fate. That is what I read, and that is what shall be.” The tallest insisted, with complete certainty.
“But she has power beyond us...beyond our understanding.” protested the other; a look of worry and concern crossed his face, as if doubting the very nature of their actions. “How do we defeat her?” His eyes lit up, as he remembered an event not to long ago. A fact that was sure to win his case. “And the other one, the one that bends reality, what will become of her, rumour has it they share a life. That will come into affect now that the wisher has her power.”
The tallest looked upon him and gave a twisted smile, like he too was remembering a painful event but trying to claw through. “Lori will have her turn.” He said, simply. “The rumours are true for once, Varrock. If we kill the wisher, Lori will fall.” He glanced at his companion, who was seconds away from speaking. As if reading his mind, the man continued.
“As for the boy she is always with, he will have no use when they are both gone. The wisher will not expect us, not know us, we have the advantage here. We are better to strike when the lion is a cub.” he insisted, bitterness dripping from his voice.
The mention of Lori had set him in a mood; they had a rather short, yet negative history together. She had recently tired to kill him, and he wanted nothing more but to return the favour.
Lori was warmed to her own power, since she had it since she was born. He did not want to meet Lori and Destiny together, under the guidance of the half-immortal…they’d be an incredible force; almost impossible to kill. Almost.
So there Emma lay, in her deep peaceful sleep…or so it seemed. But something was terribly wrong about the picture. Where she had been thrust to the ground, her silky black hair was drenched in blood.
Roll Opening Credits
ACT ONE
Destiny drove Cheyenne’s car down the highway as fast as the speed limit would allow, and her heart was racing at ten times that pace. She kept her eyes set firmly ahead, so much so it seemed as if she could not move. The silence was eerie for that time of day; Destiny hardly saw a car about. She checked her mirrors again, and then something caught her eye. On the right hand side of the road, a big welcome to Sacramento sign grabbed her attention. She knew the route like the back of her hand, and she had no doubt to where she was going.
Since she was twelve she had traced her finger over the map that lead to her family’s home. The streets weren’t bustling, so she drove on. The house she was looking for was in a tidy street just outside the city. As she pulled up to it, her heart was beating so hard it seemed it would break her chest. She ran her fingers through her curls; she didn’t know what to do.
She sat there for a moment, knowing if she turned back now she might never know her family. However, she also knew that entering that house would open up doors that she never knew existed…ones that she might never want open.
Destiny raised herself from the car seat and walked up to the door, in almost slow motion she rung the doorbell. She waited for an answer, the thudding of her heart was becoming harder and faster until the door opened. Destiny waited for her life to come rushing back.
ACT TWO
She had once thought her own hair was like her father’s, but she now realized that it simply wasn’t so. It was like her Mom’s.
“Hello, can I help you?” her biological mother asked, not knowing who the girl before her was.
“Yes. Mrs. Daniels?” Destiny answered. Her words came out slowly; it was like she was speaking another language instead of one known to her all her life. “Can I come in?”
Sure enough, she invited her in. While walking through the house, her eyes noticed a burn in the wood in front of her, which her mother quickly hid with a nearby plant when she saw Destiny take notice of it.
“So what do you want?” she asked in her thick Brazilian accent. She signalled for Destiny to sit on the sofa, and Destiny was quick to sit down. She watched her eyes; they were the exact same colour as hers. Yet more proof of her identity.
“Your husband was in an accident and he’s in hospital.” She said, trying to sound as if she just heard and was delivering a message.
“Attacked? Where?” she asked in a panic, before she realised her mistake. It was simply a habit born from knowing the nature of his life, their life.
Destiny raised an eyebrow at her mother. “I said he was in an accident, not that he was attacked. It was in Lowton.” She countered, as calmly as she could.
“Oh.” She replied. Then suddenly something clicked in here mind. Something that explained the vague familiarity she felt from this girl. “Lowton? Why was he there?”
At that question, Destiny took in a deep breath. It was time.
“He was there…” she paused, as if doubting her decision to reveal her identity. This was the last chance she had. She could walk away now and pretend that she knew nothing of this life. Living life in a deceiving ignorant bliss, or, she could say who she is now. Reveal her true identity, the true reason she was here, and accept her destiny once and for all. “He was there finding me.” She continued, willing herself to continue.
Her mother looked at her, squinting as if trying to see into her very being. “Hi Mom.” Destiny added.
“Destiny? Is it really you?” She said shocked.
“Yeah, I’m sorry I couldn’t be smarter, or prettier; something, anything, better.” She said with disappointment. But her mother just flung her arms around her.
“I’ve waited so long, so long for you to come home.” She practically sobbed. Destiny just smiled. At first she though her mom had reacted with disappointment but it was shock more than anything. Her mom was smiling too.
“He will be okay, though?” Her mom asked. Somehow there was an air in her voice that conveyed that she wanted him to be okay more than anything. The thought of it not being so, disturbed her so much, that she just couldn’t talk to her long lost daughter at the moment. However, Destiny pushed on.
“I accidentally sent him through a wall but I left him with a friend, he’ll be fine.” She said reassuringly. Strangely her mom jumped from her seat and called out as she ran up the stairs. “I’ll be right back!”
Destiny began to wonder about the room, for she detected various burns and furniture that didn’t match with the décor of the room. What was with this house? What happened that was so important that her mother tried to hide it?
She started to look at the pictures on the mantelpiece, and noticed a picture of a baby, but it wasn’t her. The boy in the picture must have been about a year old, but that was his only picture. She looked at her parents when they were younger. Her mom was very much like her, and her father was always holding her, like he was proclaiming ‘She’s mine’. She heard footsteps coming closer and closer, and stopped looking at the photos when she heard her mom enter the room, holding a large padded book with bits of paper hanging out here or there. The first thing that drew her attention, was the name sewn on the front of it: ‘Destiny’. The next was the strange assortment of patterns on the front, consisting of mainly butterflies and fires. There it was again; fire. She knew there was something of significance in that book, and wanted nothing more than to snatch it from her mother’s hands and start rummaging through it. No, she couldn’t do that. She’d be patient and wait, knowing that it would all be explained soon…hopefully.
One pattern in particular looked odd, though; like it had been placed after the others. It was of a butterfly in the flame.
Her mother placed the heavy book on her lap. “You’ll be needing this.” She uttered simply, before continuing. “We began making it after you were born. We always knew we had to give you up, but we thought you might want to know why…that you might wonder about us, and so this book was made.” She explained.
Destiny’s fingers wondered onto the stray butterfly in the flame. “That ones different to the others” she noted, trying to gather the story behind it.
“You must have been about six months when that was sewn on.” Karina mused. “We found out that your Kaliman, your guide, was still alive. We saw this as a sign that we would have more children, and you went given up in vain.” A small sigh escaped Destiny’s mother. “So I added that pattern…just to show we’d lost something so dear for a good reason.” She smiled. None of them expected this. No one expected a girl, no one expected what was happening…yet it had come to be.
“Can I see?” Destiny requested, signalling for her mother to open the book. Karina moved and gave her fullest, yet most weary, smile.
“I’ll leave you alone with that.” She said and left the room. Destiny flicked open the first page and began to read.
Dear Destiny,
I hope now you are older and reading this book, you may gain some insight to why you were our most darling thing; why we wanted to keep you with all our heart, but we needed to protect you. You were given that name because of what it means, you are linked to a great power and one day you will realise just how special you are; what great destiny awaits you.
Love Always, Mom and Dad
A single tear ran down here face as she read, staining the old page. Destiny tuned it over and looked at the photos of her mother while she was pregnant, and of Destiny after she was born. Then, scrawled right underneath it, was a solitary phrase announcing ‘My girls’ written by her father. She turned each page. There were little notes and more pictures of Destiny with people who she assumed must have been friends of the family. There was a family tree. And then, finally, the thing she was looking for: the explanation of why they had gave her way.
Destiny,
As we write this, you’re on your way to a lady’s were you will stay, and by the time you read this, you will call it home. You were so young. Just six weeks, but we know what we did was the right option. We will have more children, and one of them will gain the power of the wisher. The others will come and, if you’re in our home now, you will see that they are always attacking. It wasn’t safe for a baby who doesn’t have the protection that someone has when they are a Wisher, but haven’t gained their powers. Protection we couldn’t give you. There hasn’t been a girl in the direct family line since the power was formed. In fact, no one had more than one child. The others will not chase you now; you’ll be safe if you are far from Sacramento. There are many entrances to the Nenhum amor, but we hope, where you are you needn’t ever worry about anything. Our love will follow you were ever you go. I hope one day you will understand that.
From mom and Dad
Destiny cried for while. Her mother stood outside, wondering whether to come in, but her maternal instinct kicked in, and she hurried to comfort her daughter in pain.
“There was another thing you might want to know. We found out that we couldn’t have any more kids and assumed the line was over. So we adopted Liam. I saw you looking at his picture before. He was with us for nine weeks…just nine weeks before he died in another attack. We knew did the right thing, then.” She looked at his picture, and then into her daughter’s eyes. “Do you have any brothers are sisters?” Karina asked. She hoped to soften Destiny. She wanted to know the woman her baby girl had become.
“I have an adopted sister, Hope. She’s you stereotypical high school senior queen but you get used to her. She has a heart of gold really. My friend Emma is always…” she began but the ring of her cell phone cut her off.
“Destiny?” Called out Cheyenne’s voice.
“Oh hey Chey. What’s up?”
“You need to get back here now, I’ve phoned the police and her mom is going crazy looking for her, but there was a struggle and then she was gone!” Cheyenne rambled
“Chey, slow down, what’s going on?” Destiny asked, her heart began to race…she knew something was drastically wrong.
“It’s Emma, she went missing from her art room. Two guys knocked out her mom, ripped the door off its hinges and as far as they can tell, she was kidnapped.” There was a pause, as she heard some murmuring in the background. “Huh, oh wait there...your dad wants to speak to you. I’m just going to go and talk to the police.” She heard Cheyenne pass the phone and then her heels banging on the floor as she walked away. The next voice she heard was her father’s.
“ Destiny, I’ve had a visit, your friend going missing isn’t a coincidence. Her mother said the men have black irises. These aren’t men; they’re beings that exist without souls. The others we call them.” So these were the same men who her mother was so worried about; the ones that killed the adopted brother she never knew. “They crave power, and death, and destruction. You, in their minds, are like some kind of lottery win. They want to lure you in. Your friend is in grave danger. If you don’t go, they said they’d kill her.” Destiny didn’t wait for anything else. She snapped the phone shut and hugged her mother tight.
“I’ll be seeing you.” Was the only thing that came out of Destiny’s mouth, before she called out.
“I wish to be at my father’s side.” And she appeared there.
ACT THREE
Her Father jumped in surprise, as Destiny appear next to him. He was still in a gown in a hospital bed, but he tried to sound stern.
“Destiny-” he began but she cut him off.
“Get me a clue and get me one fast.” She ordered. He looked tired and weary, but he mumbled what sounded like a few words in a foreign language. Then, he muttered something in English at the end of it that Destiny couldn’t quite hear before she noticed that the guy from the Library the day before was standing next to her.
“Lori and I are all over it. She’s getting on with the chant, as well as trying to pin point the girl’s location.” He spoke rather fast to Jeff, without acknowledging Destiny’s presence in the least.
“How fun; my very own, personal stalker!” She said sarcastically, rolling her eyes as she emphasized the point.
“I’m sorry, but-” Seth started to reply but Destiny, once again today, cut him off.
“I don’t know who you are, and I don’t really care right now. My friend is hurt, she’s in pain for Christ’s sake and all you can do is say that you’re trying!” she shouted.
“Well I am!” He yelled back.
“Try harder.” She said plainly.
“Destiny calm down and I’d like to introduce you to Seth Abrahams, your Kaliman.” he said in a calm tone, trying to justify Seth’s rather unorthodox presence.
Destiny looked Seth up and down, as if considering the possibility and Seth did the same.
“I have to put up with that?” the pair asked at the same time, tone emanating with disbelief. They both give each other dagger looks while Jeff tried to diffuse them.
“Ladies…” he said stressing that Seth was the guide and that he should behave like it. He knew that Seth would resent being referred in such a way. “Lives are at stake here. You two need to stop arguing, and someone needs to step up to the plate and do something about it.”
Seth followed Destiny’s eyes, they were the perfect color of green and they were almost tearful. He watched them fall to the floor and rise again, fixed upon his own face.
Seth’s phone rung; instantly breaking the uneasy tension. He mumbled and noted something on a piece of paper before ending his phone conversation and again, staring into her eyes.
“We’ve got her.” His voice was shaky and he hesistated to continue. It was obviously a lure. They wouldn’t just give this information away without a plan. “She’s in the rock caves just outside town. They’re too close to the Nenhum Amor for it to be anything but a trap.”
“What’s the Nenhum Amor?” Destiny questioned. Whatever it was, it didn’t sound good.
“Portuguese for the last place on earth you want to be going near.” Her father said sternly, he tried to eye Seth, but Seth didn’t see him and continued the conversation.
“Well, it means ‘No Love’ really. It’s a kind of hole in reality…literally. It’s accessible from all over the world; it’s where they come from.” Seth said, the anxiousness oozing from his voice.
Destiny let the thoughts of her mind run wild for a moment. What had happened to her life? One minute she was an ordinary girl, with journalism major, great friends, great family and a completely normal life. In one day, she was told that she was a super being, threw her father through a wall, met her mom who, so reassuringly, told her that this life was a death sentence and there was no escape. And now her friend, cold and alone, was dying somewhere.
All because of her.
“This isn’t happening to me.” She whispered. Seth heard her and pulled her from the cubical, and out of her father hearing range. His whole posture glowed with anger and intolerance.
“Destiny, this is going to be hard, there is no doubt about it. You don’t realise what this is. You’re just a girl with a power. This is goanna change you…and it’s most probably going to kill you. But that’s life Destiny, your life. Deal with it. Now I’m going to go and get your friend, and the ones that took her can pay later.”
Destiny looked at him with a look of pure fury. “So that’s it, I have no choice so I’ve got to give my life to the cause? I’m coming. And they are going to pay, then it’s over. I’m not having this…this life.”
She ended her speech on a sad tone. She didn’t want this; she wanted her life, her freedom. But Seth just didn’t see it that way.
“You don’t have a choice. You can come, you can see, nothing else.” She said in a short, and rather perplexed tone. He wondered why she didn’t accept that she wasn’t normal. She was herself. He managed to heave his heavy heart to this car. Destiny followed silently. A plan formed in her head. This was the end, and the things that had brought her life to a standstill were going to pay.
ACT FOUR:
Destiny stared at Seth as his eyes were on the road. She wondered who he was for the first time. He had started showing up since she had her power, so he was her Kaliman. Her guide. She was determined to make this day end, and with it this life that had been thrust upon her. She wondered what would happen to him.
“Gave it all up you know.” Seth said, breaking the silence as he noticed Destiny wondering gaze. Destiny looked up. A voice in her head was telling her to back away from any conversation with him, but her curiosity got the better of her.
“Gave up what?” She said, she tried to make it sound like she did care, but it came out flat more than anything else.
“My life. I had no choice, but I was taken from my parents when I was a baby and told I had a life to lead that wasn’t normal…wasn’t all together real but it was going to happen. I didn’t run I just accepted it. You should do the same.” Seth told her.
Her guilt was weighing her down. She wondered again about what would happen to him but he stopped the car abruptly. They were looking out onto a rock formation in the dust before the desert. She could see someone, but it was faded, like they weren’t there. Seth exited the car and walked straight up to the glimmer.
“What’s that?” Destiny inquired.
“Lori sent a guide, like an image of herself to guide the way into the right cave. Pretty smart piece of magicks that she’s done really.” He explained as Destiny followed him. She anticipated what was going to happen next. She and Seth followed the glimmer to a cave entrance.
“Let me guess, I have to stay here?” She asked sarcastically. Without giving any recognition to her even being there, he began to slowly enter the cave. Destiny let out a silent sigh and followed in ignorance. A light began to light the cave, before she saw two men standing with Emma at their feet. Destiny let out a small gasp. Seth hushed her before he slid along a wall. He proceeded to attempt hiding behind a bolder but his shadow was shown from the glaring fire.
“Someone is in here. A man.” Varrock said in a whisper. Destiny stood, watching from around a corner. Then she heard Seth’s voice in her head.
“Destiny, you need to wish for telekinesis, and then knock the two others off there feet while I grab your friend.” ordered the voice in her head. She wished for Telekinesis, doubting her then she envisioned one of the other flying, and I took her a moment for her to realise they actually had.
The tallest one saw his friend fly across the cave, a slight horror running through his veins, before he did so himself. Seth and Destiny came out of hiding, not that the first had succeeded in the first place. The tall one was quick to react and reached for a knife but Destiny used her mind to pull it over to herself. Seth removed with the ropes around Emma and dragged her behind a bolder. The Other named Varrock began to shoot sparks from his hands, forcing Destiny to retreat to the corner.
“Destiny?” shouted a voice. It was Emma but no sooner did she let the words slip from her mouth, did she sink back into Seth’s arm, unconscious once more.
“Destiny lets get out of her. Shield us!” Seth cried out in panic.
A range of rocks was now being pelted at The Others from where Destiny was standing, using her mind. The sparks continued while they fought. Destiny bent down and reached out for the Knife she’s taken from the other, as she felt it on the floor, a spark reached her hand and she had to grab it quickly.
She waited for a moment. Seth’s cries pounded in her head for her to stop and just leave. But Destiny couldn’t, she telekinetically threw the knife. It pierced the Other, who fell to the floor. Sparks emitted from this chest before turned to ashes. Varrock was left standing; he managed to liquefy himself and disappeared through the cracks of the cave walls.
Seth lifted Emma and carried her towards Destiny. Seth supported her head, it was bloody but she floated in and out of consciousness; fighting the eternal darkness that awaited her. Destiny looked and tried to tell herself that she was okay, but she wasn’t. Her insides were in turmoil.
“She’ll be okay…right?” Destiny asked softly as they left the cave worried about Emma and her sanity. How would she explain this to her?
Seth laid her across the back seat. “I know this type of injury. She’ll be fine. She most probably won’t remember what happened.”
Destiny gave a forced smile, that didn’t really look like a smile at all. She was weary, yet happy her friend wouldn’t be brought into this crazy mess more than she already had. “Good.” But in the back of her mind, she knew that wasn’t really true. As long as she continued on this path, then she would always be putting her friends in danger…no not just her friends. Anyone she knew, anyone she came in contact with, could be these people’s next potential victim.
Destiny listened to the engine roar. Her eyes stayed fixed on Emma all the way to the hospital. Seth was right. She was okay, but it didn’t make her feel any better. Emma was groggy so Destiny left her. She was staying in for overnight observation because of her loss of memory of the last few hours. She also found her dad had gone back to Sacramento. Destiny glanced at her watch. She couldn’t believe that finally this day was coming to a close. It seemed so long ago she woke up. She’d even forgotten that it was her birthday.
She looked up the hospital corridor to see Seth, his image was blurred, and then he faded out of sight. She shook her head with a mixture of emotions. Somehow Destiny just couldn’t figure that guy out. Earlier she hoped she wouldn’t have to.
She walked outside to Cheyenne’s car, she should really return it, but she thought a well deserved cup of coffee was in order. She drove to Joey’s and as she walked in a rush of people headed for the door. Then she realised that they were heading for her. A face immerged from the crowd, and she soon realized that it was Karta at the head.
“Happy Birthday, how’s Emma?” She asked without a breath in between.
“Fine. They’re keeping her in as a precaution.” She replied. She saw that the crowd of ten people around her were her friends and people from College.
An hour later, Destiny was downing cups of coffee by the minute. Present wrappings were lying across the table. The crowd has thinned because people had gone to see Emma. In fact, only two remained: Cheyenne and another girl, Amy, who she vaguely knew as the girl who has untactful enough to ask her the question about her parents the day before.
“So...” Cheyenne began “Am I ever getting my car back?” she asked playfully.
“Don’t worry its outside.” Destiny laughed. She noticed Cheyenne’s face go into a look of shock.
“What? So shocked that I didn’t crash it?” Destiny said.
“No, it’s just your dad asked me to give you this after he was discharged.” Cheyenne remembered, handing Destiny a small box. She opened it slowly. It was a silver chain with a small locket; a butterfly was etched into the locket’s face. She opened it, and it had two pictures, one she guessed was herself as a baby with her parents, and another of her parents alone. She smiled and put it around her neck.
“Cheyenne, would you give me a ride home?” Destiny asked, grateful for her friend’s forgiving and understanding nature.
“Sure thing.” She grabbed her bag and waved goodbye to Amy. She drove in an average conversation with Destiny back to her home. As Destiny got out she reached for something thick and square wrapped up in a cloth under the seat. She said her goodbyes and headed back for her homes’ door. But just as she was about to enter, she uncovered the bundle. It was the book from her mom’s house. She smiled to herself, in a private resolution, and opened the door.
