TrailBlazers - Letter of Avani

PROLOGUE

PORTLAND OREGAN, 20th JANUARY

IN THE BEGINNING

The sound of a bell screeched through the air. Books slammed Shut. Chairs ground against tiled floors. Doors banged open. Excited, insistent chatter marked the end of the school day.

“Saved by the Bell,” Tierra thought, slinging her jam-packed rucksack over her shoulder. Hiding her beautiful, flawless porcelain face with her hood of her jacket, she shuffled as quickly as she could through the busy school hallways. School was boring. Her young brain was far too active for a dull, mundane, school life. If she were honest the only reason she kept her sanity was because she was already studying for her first university degree. She felt a little flutter in her stomach, she was nervous about the exams.

She had every intention of passing with distinction, but that wasn’t going to happen if Brianna kept insisting on her earning her keep, by doing part-time jobs for their new neighbour. Mrs Cole was a sweet old lady, but as sweet as she is, Tierra could not quite manage to be drawn into Mrs Cole’s ramblings about her past, about her long lost husband, who one day never came home, and then her beautiful children who had also mysteriously disappeared. Tierra thought Mrs Cole was a little bizarre, but harmless. A woman who had a sad past. There was, however, something about Mrs Cole that Tierra liked, she had tried many a time to put her finger on it, but it still puzzled her.

Tierra sighed heavily, dodging and weaving through the masses of kids, all seemingly going the opposite direction to her. Sighing again, Tierra forced her way past a rather large, loud, gathering of kids, dancing and chanting the school war-cry. What was going on? Oh yes, the semi-finals for the football team were on this afternoon. Not interested. Her intentions – get out of the school as quick as humanly possible, which, in the given circumstances, may not be as easy as planned.

“Hey watch where you are going, you klutz.”Snapped, some person Tierra didn’t know, when she accidentally stepped on his foot.
“Sorry.”Tierra mumbled, forcing her way through more people. 

At fifteen, Tierra was nearly a head taller than everyone else, it made it difficult to manoeuvre around people. She wasn’t wide, just tall and for some reason that meant she had absolutely no co-ordination. She always misjudged her distance to the ground; it was something she found most annoying. Looking down to watch where she was walking again, she bumped a few more kids, who responded by just glaring at her. There was tension in the air, the school game was a big one, and exams were around the corner.

School, Tierra thought, if only she were rid of it for good. She hated it here, especially since she was always picked on. She supposed she was different, which she generally didn’t deal with very well, but a couple of weeks ago everything had changed. The “picking on” had changed to full on bullying in front of everyone in the school. Flicking a glance at her watch, she was not going to make it, her hands felt sweaty and her pulse raised a notch.

“Hey, Tierra. Tierra. Slow down a minute would you.” Huffed, a short, chubby girl, with wire framed glasses. 

“Oh, hey, Becky.” Tierra said, agitated.

“Where’re you going? Aren’t you staying for the game?’Becky asked.

“Oh, um, I had completely forgotten about it.” Tierra lied.

“That’s ok, why don’t you come along anyway? I know your mom wouldn’t mind?”

“Thanks Becky, sounds great, it’s just that, I want to avoid …..” unable to finish the sentence, Tierra was interrupted by the very person, she had wanted to avoid.

“Tierra, why are yous running, honey?” said, a curvaceous girl, in a wicked, sing song voice.

“Uh, uh, uh…..” Stammered Tierra, freezing, her heart pounding, she hated confrontations.

“We just want to talk to yous’.” She said, with a crackle of laughter, which, in some unwritten language, gave her followers permission to chuckle too. 

Tierra kept her head down and said nothing. This had been happening since the day she had broken her leg. She knew Anita had planned it, there had been rumours floating around at the time of her possible strangeness. She ‘accidentally’ tripped and fell on the grandstands, after watching the school football team; win their last game.

At first it had been pure, white, agony, but whilst frantically trying to avoid attracting attention to herself, she had felt the warm stinging sensation, creep up her leg. She knew this sensation; it was her body’s natural response to pain. She had watched, along with the alarmed Anita, as her deformed leg, miraculously straighten it-self out, completely back to normal; all within a matter of minutes. Anita had been horrified and petrified, had waited just long enough to call her a freak, before high-tailing it out of there.  Amazingly enough, Anita had not told anyone about it.

“Aww, Tierra, are yous scared of me?”Anita taunted, practically spitting the words out, distracting Tierra from her thoughts.

“You. Leave. Her. Alone.” Shouted, Becky defiantly, pushing her way in between Tierra and Anita.

“Wha’cha, gona do about it fatty cakes?”Anita drawled, as she turned on Becky. With a curt nod, Anita’s sidekicks, Kristina and Donna, forcefully took hold of Becky’s arms, pinning her to the disgusting greasy wall.

“Enough.”Whispered Tierra, “what do you want Anita?”

“I broke my finger nail and I was wondering if you could fix it?”Anita whined.

“You know I can’t, why don’t you just leave me alone?” Tierra said, sounding a little braver than she felt.

“What. Leave you alone. You freak. Someone has to keep an eye on you, no telling wha’cha gona do next.” She shrieked.

Pulling the hood of Tierras jacket off her head, Anita cirled, watching, waiting, glaring with her beady black eyes, as if waiting for Tierra to make the slightest move, the move that would give her the sign it was time to pounce. Tierra kept her gaze down, Anita was double her width, not tall, but what she lacked in height, she mad up for in width and attitude. 

“Wha’cha hiding, Tierra?” She taunted.

“Yous’, with your white hair. Are yous’ a witch? Anys’other hidden talents?”

Flicking glances to the now converging crowd, she refused to answer. Her incredible high level of intelligence screamed, at not being allowed to completely belittle Anita in-front of everyone. Oh yes, she could do a lot more than fix herself, but there was absolutely no way she was going to tell them. Any of them.

“Ahh, so yous’ can do other stuff.” Anita said triumphantly, narrowing her steely black eyes on Tierra’s big brown ones. “Come on’s, don’t be shy. Yous have the stage. I am sure everyone would like a demons`tration.”
Without waiting for a response, Anita pretended to use a microphone, and bellowed “Roll up; Roll up, come and see the mysterious and white haired Freak. Her Freakish abilities will not only ‘wow’ you, they will also send you running, screaming, like a baby. Come see the white, witch, freak show, it is a once in a life time offer!”

Quietly seething, Tierra refused to take the bait. She mustn’t, she had nowhere else to go and she needed to finish this year of school to be able to claim her degrees. That had been the rules. She was too close, only five months to go now.

There was a big hush amoungst the crowd in the school hall, noone dared to speak.

“rights, give it over thens.”Anita said with her hand out at Tierra.

Confused Tierra, just stared at her.

“Yours Backpack, gives it overs! Now!”

Realising Tierra, wasn’t going to do as instructed, Anita wrestled the rucksack off Tierra’s shoulder and threw it to her mates. Shoving Becky aside, they focused on emptying the contents of bag for everyone to see.

Tierra realized she had infuriated Anita, she knew the consequences were not going to be good, but she mustn’t fight back. Urging her heart to slow down, and to try and think clearly, she could feel her emotions starting to get involved. Never good when being bullied.

As if sensing Tierra`s inward battle, Anita grabbed Tierra by the shoulder, kicked the back of her knees, which caused Tierra’s legs to buckle, and in turn causing Tierra to end up face first on the disgusting school hallway floor. Anita was seeing red, as she bent over Tierra’s long frame sprawled on the ground.

Grabbing Tierra’s silky white hair, Anita pulled Tierra’s face up to meet hers, ever so carefully, so to ensure she was spitting every  word in Tierra`s face, she whispered “You are Pathetic. You are weak. Leave. Leave now, before I really tell everyone exactly who and what yous are. I am not scared of yous. Run.” Anita whispered in Tierra’s ear. Closing her eyes so Anita wouldn’t see the tears there, Tierra just nodded her head. 

‘Don’t fight back, don’t fight back’ she repeated like a mantra in her head. She was hurting, both physically and emotionally, but she couldn’t afford to try fight back, she couldn’t get expelled. Her logical brain was questioning why “run”.

Spotting, what looked like a diary, Anita hastily released her grip on Tierra and pounced on it. Recognising the navy blue binding, her heart dropped with a sickening sensation. She thought she had left it at home. Struggling to sit up, Anita looked at her with a mixture contempt and absolute delight.

“What ‘ave we heres’, ladies and gentlemen? The Diary of Tierra Bingolf, perhaps” she said, addressing the still gathered crowd.

“Give it back, Anita,” Tierra said, in a shaky voice.

“Oh. Hell. No.”

“Please, come on. Please give it back.” Tierra pleaded.

Anita smiled slowly, one of pure evil. “Oh yous’ will get it back, just not alls’ in one piece.”

Staring at her, Tierra was paralysed with fear. ‘No, no, no, they couldn’t find out, they couldn’t, oh god, she was going to be sick.’ She wasn’t strong enough for this, she panicked. Forcing painful breaths past her throat, trying not to hyperventilate; she desperately searched her brain for a way to get her diary back.

“Before I leave to do some interesting reading, I will leave everyone with this one point. Tierra here, as admitted she has a major crush on…….. Kyle.” Anita announced, smiling vindictively, as she searched the gathered crowd for Kyle. 

Kyle a year older than Tierra was good looking with blond hair, green eyes and he was extremely fit. Most of the girls in her year were crushing on him, so it wasn’t any surprise.

“Buggar off, Anita. No one likes you, or cares what you think. Besides, I don’t like bullies.” Kyle said, stepping forward out of the hushed crowd.

Shocked and speechless, Anita turned to where Kyle was.

“Please give it back, please.” Tierra cried, no louder than a whisper.

“Anita.” Kyle quietly threatened, holding his hand out to take the book from her.

Tierra glanced at Kyle and was struck by the energy that radiated off him, it was dark and menacing. An energy, that didn’t do well with disobedience. Shaking her head, this wasn’t happening. She didn’t see that. She was just stressed out, her overactive imagination getting the better of her. As much as she did her best to ignore what she had seen, she knew she wouldn’t forget that energy quickly.

Anita stood shocked, as if sensing the same energy. Eventually with delayed reaction, Anita sneered at Tierra, as she threw the diary on the floor, at Kyle’s feet.  Then, as if without a care in the world, she turned and sauntered off laughing, followed closely by a giggling Kristina and Donna. 

Tierra scrabbled to grab her diary at Kyle’s feet, her stuff was everywhere. Even her university text books and been thrown so carelessly aside. There was one other book, her Tome, Tierra searched on her hands and knees. The Binding was so old, she was sure it dated back about 200years, if not more. It was the only memoire she had of her life five years ago.

As the crowd slowly dispersed, there were whispers of shock, sympathy, empathy and disgust. Tierra did her best to not to cry while she packed everything back into her bag. Her beautiful old Tome was damaged, part of the binding had been ripped off, and she knew Anita had seen some of her writings in the diary. She didn’t want Kyle to see her cry. She hated being helpless, she was never helpless, but she had been warned by the school principle to not attract any attention. So she figured not fighting worked better, than actual fighting. She was upset and frustrated and the tears that had threatened whilst she had been lying on the floor, now threatened again.

“Uh, uh, thank you.” She said quietly, to Kyle who was helping her collect her things.

“Don’t, worry about it. I really don’t like bullies. But, Tierra, I also don’t like people who have no confidence in themselves to fight back.” He said, staring into Tierra’s eyes.

Blushing furiously, Tierra stammered “oh, oh, uh, uh, right. Well thanks anyway.”

Nodding his head, he turned and walked away.

“Why do you let her bully you?”Becky said in an undertone.

“I can’t afford to be kicked out Becky. Besides I am no match for her, she would enjoy it way too much.” Tierra answered quietly, swallowing to ease her lump in her throat. 

“She’s never going to leave you alone, if you don’t.” Becky said, angry. “What is up with you? You have changed in the last couple of weeks. You won’t talk to me anymore, we don’t go out anymore, you are always “too” busy for me. I thought I knew you, but I really don’t… do I? Why do you have to be so damn mysterious? It is getting tiring.”

“I know Becky, I am sorry, but, thanks for trying to stand up for me, are you ok?” Tierra said desperately trying to get control of her emotions.

“No, of course I am not ok. My best friend is ignoring me, won’t study with me, won’t see me. She won’t even stand up for me. Some best friend.” Becky yelled, still angry. Staring coldly at Tierra, she slowly turned her back and walked away.

Leaving her tears running down her cheeks, untouched, Tierra left the school. She was weak; she lost her only friend and lost any chance of Kyle looking at her again. How could her life get any worse?

Crying, Tierra decided to run home, she never ran, but today seemed as good as day as any to start.
Keeping her head down so noone would see her tears, Tierra ran straight into a stranger. “Oompff” she muttered, as she literally bounced off the man onto her derriere. Starring up at him, he smiled at her with a slightly far away look. 

“Are you alright Love?” he asked bending over, kindness in his brown eyes.

“Ah, ah yes, I am not hurt or anything. You?”

“Nah, I am as fit as a fiddle,” he said, absently looking around, rubbing his unshaven face.

Tierra ran a quick glance over him, he was fairly tall, completely unruly, shoulder length brown hair, he was slightly slim, but she could see he was solid, even through his big brown overcoat. She would put his age at about thirty five.

Leaving her to assess him, he watched her, she looked familiar. He couldn’t place her, or actually anything around here.

“Are you intending to sit there all day?” He asked, offering her a hand up.

Ignoring the hand and she scrabbled to get up, muttering under her breath at how silly she was. “Are you looking for somewhere? I know this area pretty well, maybe I can help?”

Tierra quickly regretted her offer, she didn’t know this man and he was new in the area, she would have recognised him before. He could be anyone, a murdered, a rapist, a thief or even someone from a notorious gang. Sucking in a sigh, she calmed herself, her day had been terrible so far, could it really get any worse?

“I don’t know, I can’t remember what I was looking for, or for whom actually.” He answered slowly, staring at the ground. “This happens you see, when I travel I just seem to forget why I am in a place. It sometimes takes a little while for my memory to return.”

Tierra stood there in silence not sure what to make of the strange comments, he seemed nice, friendly but there was something strange about him.

Laughing at the frown on her face, he said “don’t worry love, this is normal for me. Thank you for the offer, but I think I am just going to go and find a nice park bench to sit on for a while.”

Unwillingly to let this intriguing man walk away from her just yet, she quickly answered “Sir, let me walk with you. I know a park that is close by.”

“Love, please don’t Sir me, you make me feel older than I am. My name is Damenco.”

Slightly confused at his propriety, he sounded in his sixties, but only looked thirty five, she nodded and held out her hand, “Nice to meet you Damenco, my name is Tierra.”

Damenco gamely took her hand. The energy exchange was instant, immediately reminding him of his time and place and why exactly he had come here. He had found her. One of the five. 


NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND

CHAPTER ONE - APRIL 26th

LETTER DESTRUCTION

“It will never work.” she said frustrated, dropping her slightly large derriere on the edge of the upturned couch,

“It has to. I can’t live like this anymore. This bloody letter has destroyed my life and yours.” Ground out Spencer, his grey eyes wild with hysteria and excitement.

Gabbi just looked at him, he was still holding the letter high in his right hand, but in his left hand was an intricately carved hunting knife with a fake ivory handle.
 
“Spencer, you know what will happen if you try to destroy that letter, the whole house is going to burn down. It nearly did the last time you tried to do this.” moaned Gabbi

“Ah ha” Spencer said on the verge of hysteria “but the last time I was not as prepared as I am now, I now have that advice from the pastor, at that church we found on Sunday. You heard him yourself; this is how we do it.” 

Ignoring anything further that Gabbi had to say, Spencer started to pace and chant around the blazing fire, in the middle of the living room.

Gabbi remembered how they had driven past the church, it wasn’t their normal church, but it looked like service had just ended. Spencer had insisted they stop and see if the pastor would see them. They had been in luck, Spencer had managed to explain the basics of the letter saga, and the Pastor had been very generous about possible ways to get rid of it. He had even offered to perform the ceremony himself, but because Spencer and Gabbi knew the explosiveness of the situation, they politely declined.
   
There was something desperate about this letter, she did not understand what, but she knew it had captured Spencer. Not in a pleasant way either, it was more like it held him, as a hostage.

Spencer used to be a loud, robust man. Loved his job, loved his life, he was happy. Even at eight years her senior, his gift of being able to enjoy life made the age difference totally insignificant. However, over the last two years, that they had been together, the thick black hair had started to grey around the edges, and the frown lines had deepened. Those weren’t the only changes Gabbi had witnessed, he had lost an immense amount of weight, and it seemed like all the joy in his life had been lost with the weight. It was very rare nowadays for her to see him smile, or even hear him laugh. 

Gabbi let her turquoise gaze drift from Spencer to the dancing flames to her non-descript house. They had moved slightly out of town, because they had attracted a little too much unwanted attention. The house was plain, free standing. It bore simple white walls in every-one of the four rooms and was sparsely furnished. A far cry from what they had before. Thirty two years old, that `s all she was, just thirty two; it felt though, like she had aged a life time since meeting Spencer and being involved in this whole letter saga.

Sighing again dramatically, she shook her head, causing her short bob to swish on her neck. She knew they had to try at least one last time to destroy it, this kind of magic or voodoo scared her. It left too many questions that she didn’t have answers for, and that wouldn’t do. She had heard of magic before only in fairy tales and fantasy books, but she had never come across something like this.

Spencer continued to pace, sing and chant around the fire, hoping above all else this method would work, when so many others hadn’t. Closing his fist on the letter, he wondered, when had it become his entire life? When, had this small wretched, piece of paper taken over?

He had a good life as a lawyer, he liked to think himself fair, he never over charged, always helped where he could, even did a good few charity cases.

There will always be that one case he will never forget though, it haunted him all the time, pushing him continuously into this downward spiral of utter madness.  He had never even met the client! How does that work he thought, you don’t meet the client but you still represent them?

Burrowing his fingers in his thick hair, he suddenly remembered he had a knife in his hand, but he couldn’t help it, he had formed this habit close to five years ago now. Long before his beautiful, voluptuous, red headed, Gabbi had even come into the picture. This habit had become worse over the last couple of months. He always felt like the letter was trying to communicate with him. Maybe it was, but he sure as hell had no bloody idea how to listen to it, never mind answer it back. 

Slipping back in time to when he had found the letter in his bag, it had originally arrived in another envelope that bore no writing , only sealed by an olden day wax stamp revealing some type of squashed emblem. Opening it had shown a second envelope addressed to a:

Miss Tierra Sarah Bingolf.

It all looked perfectly harmless, just a pale white envelope, with slightly old paper inside. The saying once bitten twice shy, had never occurred to him. He had continuously tried to open this letter, with pretty painful consequences. Due to the number of times he tried to open it, it seemed to have weakened, and a smudge had formed on both the envelope and the letter, well the corner of the letter he managed to see before all hell broke loose. He had no idea of how a smudge could be relevant, but seemingly it was. It could not be cleaned and became darker at every attempt to destroy the letter. 

“Harmless, yeah right” thought Spencer sarcastically. Spencer shuddered with the memory of how he would be able to open the back, pull the letter almost half way out, just long enough to see ‘the smudge’ that was followed through onto the paper, before boom, the whole bloody thing would explode. The smell of his burnt flesh would forever be embedded in his nostrils. 

Shuddering, breathing quickly, feeling his heart skipping a couple of beats as he bravely delved a little deeper into his memories. Deeper to the ever present fear that had gripped him on those first nights, after the first explosion, when he could have sworn he could almost hear the letter calling to him. The desperation to ignore the letter never won out, he would always end up having to stagger out of bed or drop what he was doing to find the blasted thing. It had to be close, always.

“Spencer?” Gabbi asked quietly, showing compassion for the distraught features on his face as he re-lived his life with the letter.

“Five years ago, five years ago, almost to the day this letter made its way into my briefcase. I didn’t ask for it, I spoke to a couple of people on the train, just friendly chatter. That was all. How was I chosen out of everyone on the train that day. Why me? Why did I get this bloody piece of shit letter?” Spence asked Gabbi, frustrated but not expecting an answer.

“Even you were there that day, but I didn’t pay attention to you, the young boy sitting next to me was fun to chat to. He was exploring the world he said. Loved new beginnings, new journeys. I agreed. Maybe that was my mistake. Whoever heard me must have decided I would be an easy target. That man, the one with the funny hat and accent. That bloody man was determined to speak to me, kept rudely interrupting my conversation. Saying arbitrary things. Weirdo. Maybe it was him? Or maybe it was that youngster. I don’t know, I just don’t know anymore.” Spencer continued, he was getting angry again, he seemed to only go between frustration, anger and depression these days.

When he had first told her about it, she was intrigued, yet sceptical. Thinking, however, he looked genuinely stressed about the whole ordeal, she had decided to try and help. She was a private investigator after all; she found missing people and information for a living.

Gabbi had searched now for two years. This girl did not exist. How on earth were they going to find her, if she was even still alive?

“Spencer, I really don’t think you should do this, there is obviously something a whole lot bigger going on here! I mean we have tried this so many times, we even burnt the last house to the ground.” she said now facing him, “You have been burnt every time you bring fire to that thing.” 

The dishevelled Spencer swung around to look at her, his eyes wild “This is going to work, we cannot find this person and I am not going without sleep any longer. I can’t. This letter is all I am dreaming about, it is all I can see! I can’t even bloody work anymore. Don’t you understand I have to get rid of it….?”

“I know, I know, I understand, I have lived this for the last two years too, but I just don’t know…..” Gabbi said, her heart pounding in anticipation.

Deciding it was time, Spencer shoved Gabbi towards the couch she had left earlier. It was part of a castle of desks, and a bookshelf, which was balanced precariously on top. There was a bucket of water on either side of the castle, as well as a small pile of blankets, just in case, there was time to grab them before the house went up in a fire ball. 

Lifting the knife and in swift, almost practised movements he sliced the letter into pieces, ensuring they all fell directly into the flames. Once done, he paused just long enough, to make sure none of the pieces had missed the barrel before launching himself behind the castle, dragging an irritable Gabbi with him.

They waited, fearing the worst was about to happen. Silence…….nothing. Looking at each other they slowly peeked over the top of the bookshelf to try and see what was happening. Nothing, the fire, crackled and hissed comfortably, but there was no reaction to indicate any kind of panic. Yet.

“It’s worked. It is gone.” Spencer said excitedly.

Jumping over the barrier before Gabbi could respond, Spencer took a few steps towards the fire to see for himself. He was impatient; he needed to confirm that it was really gone.

Spencer watched the dance of the gentle flames, exalted, he nodded to Gabbi. It was over. Done.

Suddenly a giggle erupted from Gabbi, confused Spencer looked over to her, what was she laughing at?
It was them, she was laughing at them. They were alive, the house was still standing and they were not on fire! He started chuckling; anyone watching them would be completely baffled by now. The tears were starting to run down Spencers` cheeks, he was laughing so hard, a relieved laugh, it was one of sheer ecstasy.
It was over.
Finally.

Dropping down to the floor in front of the carefully balanced castle, Spencer and Gabbi let the giggles slowly die down. Still amazed they had succeeded.

Suddenly serious, Spencer grabbed Gabbi’s hand, “Will you marry me?”

“Wh,what?” Gabbi stammered, the laughter dying immediately.

“I‘ve been thinking, I didn’t want you to marry me with all this going on, but I love you, and want you as my wife.” he said, suddenly hoarse with emotion.

Pulling her hand out of his, she cradled his face and very quietly said “Yes Spencer, I will marry you.”

Leaning in with her eyes half closed she kissed him, her heart, that was still racing from the whole drama surrounding the letter,  now tripled in speed, she could taste the salty tears that fallen from both of them.

Closing his eyes, Spencer returned Gabbi’s kiss with enthusiasm and love, tongues danced, duelled and tangled, as if hearing a private tune. Gabbi and Spencer clung to each other, afraid, if they let go, none of this would be real. Feeling like he was drowning in pure ecstasy, Spencer vaguely registered the need to breath. Ending the kiss slowly and with care, he rested his forehead against hers and took in deep ragged breaths.

Gabbi, smiled, she tingled all the way down to her toes from Spencer’s kiss. She had almost, forgotten everything that happened.

“So now what?” asked Gabbi, still a little breathless, glancing at the barrel.

“I honestly don’t know. I never thought I would get this far?”

Spencer stood up, offering a hand to Gabbi. They walked over to the now still barrel. The fire was completely out, no smoke, no embers and by touch, cold.

Looking inside the barrel they could see a corner of an envelope sticking out of the ash. The corner, with ‘The Smudge’, Gabbi felt her heart drop, she looked over to Spencer whose expression had hardened. He could see the corner as well.

Slowly shifting ash around, with the slightest hope that it was just the remnants of the burned envelope, Spencer felt the letter. Dusting off the ash, there it was: MISS TIERRA SARAH BINGOLF, the name that haunted his waking nightmares. Something was different though, this time there was not only the “smudge “on the top left corner but now it had a burn mark on the bottom right corner .

The burn gave him slight desperate hope that, if they tried once more they might just manage to burn the whole thing. As quickly as the thought occurred, he dismissed it; it would take many, many, more times to completely burn the letter. Maybe Gabbi was right, maybe there was more to this. Defeated he looked over to Gabbi and watched her put her hand in the barrel.

A flash of white had caught her eye. Glancing over at Spencer, she decided she would brave the ash for this one. Carefully shifting the ash around, she felt a solid envelope. Pausing a moment to control her fear, she pulled out a second letter, with the same “smudge” on the top left corner.

“Uh Spencer, this one has your name on it……” Gabbi said hesitantly.

Spencer slowly moved towards where Gabbi was standing holding out the letter addressed to him. Now he was officially freaked out. Feeling like he was there in mind but not body, he numbly took the letter from her. After a brief hesitation he opened the envelope, reaching for the paper inside, he cringed slightly in anticipation of some magic disaster. Silence. No wind blasting, and thankfully no spontaneous explosion.

Closing his eyes for composure and much needed courage, Spencer took a soothing breath. He read the letter, quickly the first time, then a little slower the second time. As the last words started to sink in, he could feel the blood rushing to his head and hear his heart pounding; to say he was shocked would be an understatement. He was completely in awe of what he had just read. Looking up to Gabbi, who was watching him in fascination and fear, he offered her the paper. Hesitantly taking it from him she read:

*The energy that allows this letter to live is weakening. Your attempts of destruction have carelessly reduced your time. 
North America, is the place, and the deadline date, is 27th July, before her 16th birthday.
Use the ‘letter’ as your guidance, it cannot rest or be destroyed until she is found.*

“Oh my god. Spencer what is this?” Gabbi groaned

“I honestly don’t know anymore… I feel like this is some really bad joke gone wrong. I just want my life back. I don’t want to find this person, this, this, GIRL.” as he walked over to the window in defeat.

Pulling herself together Gabbi said quietly, “I have a feeling if we don’t, we will never get our lives back. Not to mention having a future.”

“How Gabbi…... How?” said Spencer staring at her.

“I don’t know, but we have to try….. Oh wait, one of my college buddies is based in Chicago, let me see if I can find a way to get hold of him” Gabbi said rather excited at finally having some form of direction, as she walked out the room to fetch her dairy.

Still in shock, Spencer watched Gabbi leave the room, feeling slightly in awe that she could recover so quickly from everything that had just happened, and that after everything they had been through she was still here, still willing to help, perhaps they could find an end to this situation.


CHAPTER TWO

1 JULY

THE LONG SEARCH

Gabbi had reached the end of her tether. She was tired, miserable and grumpy. They had been at it the whole day again. Standing to stretch her aching lower back, she caught sight of the letter. They didn’t understand, all, of the message left on Spencers letter, it was confusing, never mind how it had freaked them both out. They had quickly agreed it didn’t make sense and had put it in the draw, to think on the “so called advice.” In all honesty they were scared, which was confounded by pulling the letter out again a couple of a days later and it was blank, no inscriptions, no wax seals, nothing.

Again Gabbi looked at the letter to Tierra, maybe she should have a look at it? What harm could it do? Slowly and quietly she opened the draw, almost so not to disturb the letter. Carefully she had pulled it out the drawer, shocked at the unnatural weight of it. This wasn’t paper, this was metal, what kind she didn’t know yet, but she would look it up. Gabbi began to feel the letter start to burn in her hands, she stared at it, holding onto to it as long as she dared. Then she saw it – the letters changed from Miss Tierra Sarah Bingolf, to ORPHAN PORT. 

Excited and just a little scared, Gabbi had woken Spencer, who was sleeping with his head on his desk.
“We have got something. Spence, we have found something to work with.” Gabbi uttered in an excited hushed tone, as if petrified someone else was going to find out.

They had managed to find the direction they so badly needed to narrow down the search. Gabbi and Spencer had spent the next several weeks, collaborating with anyone who would help, to try and find this girl – Tierra Sarah Bingolf. Gabbi and Spencer knew the more people who helped the better, especially ones with the right connections, like Adam Piquinn. They were becoming short on money and now time was also decreasing at a rapid rate.   

It was frustrating, Gabbi looked again at the two simple words in front of her, she, had written them everywhere. They had tried everywhere, looked up every possible orphanage or hospital or children’s home, with a Port in the name. Eventually they had given up on the ‘Port’ side and had focused on only orphanages. There were thousands of them and it was taking too long. Gabbi could feel Spencer getting weaker, as if he was in-sync with the letter that was also loosing its pull. It certainly felt like time was running out. Again they were missing something. Probably something obvious. 

“Ummmm, Gabbi, what if Port, is not a name of just an orphanage? What if it is a town or, or, a city?”

“Ok, but I thought we were forgetting about ‘Port’ for now?”         

“I know, I know, but it has been bugging me, actually driving me bloody crazy.”Sighing as he shook his head, “anyway, I was looking at the map I have of The United States, and well what about the city of Portland in Oregon?”

Letting this information slowly seep into her senses, Spencer watched Gabbi comprehend what he had just told her.                                                       

“Spencer, you could be totally right. Oh my goodness, we are complete idiots. Why didn’t we think of this before? It would have completely narrowed down our search and, and …Oohhhh, let me email Adam. He must know something or someone there.”

Once the email to Adam had been sent, they went about searching and emailing all the orphanages in Portland Oregon.

“Hey, Spencer, I think I have got something.” Gabbi said, slightly hesitant, whilst she read. “Adam, just emailed me back, he said that they have a found an orphanage in Portland, that may have that name registered. It seems the orphanage was closed down about four years ago. So it may take a few days to get any decent information.”

“Ok, so, what do we do now? Is he going to tell us once he has confirmed? Is he going to confirm? How many days; is a few days?” Spencer asked quickly, desperately hoping that perhaps, luck was on their side and this was the break through they needed.

“Well, he said, he will try and trace the last owner, but he really needs to find the matron, which is where the problem comes in. She has disappeared. He reckons he can definitely get us some information though.”

Still hesitant, but starting to feel the excitement build, Gabbi, began to smile, it was the first genuine smile in the three or so months, that they had been searching.

Spencer although sceptical, could not resist Gabbi’s smile. She was truly excited about this. After weeks of searching, it looked like they might just have a break through. Spencer smiled back. There was relief in his smile; he was honestly hoping that it would be over. Soon.

“We’re nearly there Spencer, we’re nearly there.”Gabbi said sighing, realizing that if they weren’t it would crush him; they were so close, but not quite close enough, yet.