Chapter 9 – Callie’s Ordeal

“I hope Amy doesn’t fall asleep,” Callie said to herself as she was running down the footpath, breathing heavily. She found her rhythm again and kept on running steadily along the pavement. She waved to an elderly couple walking their dog and turned the corner into Stradella Avenue. “Come on Callie, halfway there, let’s see if we can break the record today.”

Callie was becoming very concerned about how it hurt every time she used her power. “Does it mean I’m losing the power?” she asked herself, worriedly. It only started to happen when Cindy came; maybe it has something to do with her. Those were the only two possibilities she could think of. She is the eldest, she has to look after everyone, comfort everyone, how could she do that without her power. For once she wanted to be comforted, to be cared for. She had their respect, but what good is respect when you’re not loved. She frowned.

Callie was wearing her running shoes, jogging shorts and black crop top, and she had her hair tied back in a ponytail. It swished back and forth with every step and a bit of it came loose and fell across her face, she tucked it back behind her ear in frustration. As she wiped some sweat off her forehead, she got a horrible feeling that she was being followed. She turned around but she couldn’t see anyone, or any cars for that matter. “You’re just being silly, Callie, there’s no need to worry.” She reassured herself. She turned around again, no one was there, but she noticed that the street was practically deserted. There were no people out walking, walking their dogs, joggers, or cars driving past. It was totally empty. Now Callie was getting freaked out and started running faster, towards the sanctuary of the house.

The feeling was still there, and now she heard a car engine behind her. She didn’t dare look back, she just kept running. She stepped on a stick and it cracked under her foot, a leaf fell down on her from a tree, a fly buzzed past her shoulder. All these little things making her even more terrified. The wind started whipping against her, as if trying to hold her back, cutting at her arms, legs and face like tiny knives.

She glanced sideways, a grey car had drawn alongside her, the passenger door opened, and an athletic looking man jumped out and started chasing her. Callie panicked and that affected her running. She was slowing down! The man caught up to her and tried to hit her over the head, but she dodged it. She turned around to confront him and noticed that two other men had gotten out of the car, which had stopped, and were also heading her direction. To Callie’s horror, she noticed that they had guns. One of those men was Cindy’s follower.

She tried to catch her breath, but she was exhausted. All she could do was dodge the oncoming attacks, and she didn’t know how long she could do that for. The combination of exhaustion and fear caused her to collapse onto the ground; this was so out of character for her, that she couldn’t believe she was doing it herself. Callie Windsor, giving up, what had become of her?

The man, who had chased her, kicked her in the ribs then bent over and grabbed her by the shoulders. She was a mess, her hair was everywhere, she had tears running down her cheeks, and blood coming out the corner of her mouth. They took her back to the car and carelessly shoved her in the boot.

Callie was still in shock and when the engine started she realised that they had her, and she couldn’t do anything about it.