Valeria - A Short Story Collection

Chapter 3, Part 2

I hugged Aidan tightly and fortified the shield around us. The fall made it feel like we were weightless for a moment, before the van hit the water surface with a loud bang. The men fell to the floor and a loud squeaking sound was heard from the metal as it twisted under the pressure and freezing cold water started flowing in. Darkness engulfed us as the van rapidly sank to the bottom of the river.

Aidan whimpered in fear as our feet and legs started to get wet. I looked over at the driver’s seat and saw that the driver had passed out. Blood coated his forehead and it looked like he had hit his head on the steering wheel when we fell into the water.

“Just hold onto me.” I whispered as I got up and started climbing into the passenger seat, pulling Aidan with me and ignoring the cold water. “We’re gonna be okay.”

“It’s so dark.” He cried. “I’m scared.”

The water was rising fast, reaching my waist already. I tapped into my powers again, making my eyes and hair glow a white light. The glow lit up the dark van and Aidan gasped.

“What is that?” He asked.

“I’ll explain everything later.” I replied while I started feeling around for any weaker spots in the window. “I just need you to hold on to me tightly, okay?”

Aidan nodded and wrapped his arms around my neck and his legs around my waist, clinging to me for dear life.

“I have to break the glass.” I said. “Just hold your breath and hum. Can you do that?”

Aidan nodded again as the water reached our shoulders.

“Ready?” I asked. “Hold your breath and get down underneath the surface so you don’t get splashed in the face so hard.

Aidan nodded, inhaled sharply and puffed out his small cheeks. I took a deep breath too and pulled us down underneath the surface.

Holding onto the door with one hand, I used my powers to crack the window, water rushed into the van and I forced myself to hum and focus on my hand holding onto the door so that I knew where the exit was while the water tried to pull us further into the van. I heard Aidan humming as I pulled us both out through the window and hummed as we rose to the surface. We broke through the surface and I struggled to tread water with Aidan still hugging me. Aidan coughed and sputtered while trying to wipe the water out of his eyes.

I pulled us to the edge and pushed Aidan up before climbing up myself. I was completely exhausted and my ears were still hurting from the intense water pressure.

“Valeria, who are they?” Aidan asked.

I looked up and realized that our troubles were far from over.

Three vans similar to the one that was lying at the bottom of the river pulled up in front of us. People around us started backing away and running when they saw six soldiers armed with assault rifles come out of each of the three vans.

I quickly studied the soldiers and realized that they were all missing the tags on their chests, identifying them as British police or military. When I was in training, Master Rastin had made us study soldiers and operatives, figuring out their strengths and weaknesses, so I knew enough about these guys to know that whoever they were, they were trouble.

“On the ground, Twelve.” One of them shouted as they stalked closer to us. .

Definitely trouble.

I ignored the armed men and turned to Aidan who was staring at the soldiers in pure horror.

“Aidan, listen to me.” I said and cupped his cheeks, making him look at me. “Stay down, okay? It’s going to be alright.”

Aidan nodded and for a moment determination flashed in his eyes, silently telling me to kick their asses.

And I happily obliged.

Pulling Aidan behind me, I looked up to see four of them getting within a few feet from us.

“Amateurs.” I muttered and rolled my eyes.

Before any of them could reply, I created a pull on their rifles, sending them into the water behind me. While they stared at me in shock, I ran up to the two first and jumped up, kicking them both in the face. I twisted mid air and punched a third one in the face as hard as I could. I landed on my feet while they fell to the ground unconscious.

I added more force to my fists, making my punches ten times more powerful and lunged at the next group of soldiers coming at me. I noticed that they all had rifles, but no one tried to fire at me.

They didn’t want to risk killing me, and that made them fight with one hand tied behind their backs. Even though there were eighteen of them, I had the upper hand.

Knowing this, I punched and kicked my way through the next five without a single shot being fired, but I froze when a bullet zoomed past my ear.

“You i***t!” I heard someone shout. “We need her alive.”

I smirked at them.

“Your mistake.” I replied and aimed a small forcefield at them, making them fall to the ground.

There were only seven people standing after that, and I could see the fear in their eyes. When I grabbed hold of the rifle of the one closest to me, a hail of bullets spat out of the barrel as he tried to get me off. But I pointed the rifle at the soldiers standing next to him and they were all hit before they could even react.

I looked up in the eyes of the man in front of me, who let go of the rifle and backed away.

“You are a monster.” He yelled. “You should have stayed locked up.”

I created a telekinetic grip around his throat and his eyes were bulging out as he struggled for breath. He fell to the ground and I took a step back, taking in the pile of unconscious bodies on the ground. A soft whimper was heard behind me and I turned around to see Aidan pressing his back against a pole, the only thing stopping him from falling back into the water.

I stepped closer to him, and he looked away from the soldiers and stared at me.

“I’m sorry.” I whispered, tears welling up in my eyes. “Please don’t be afraid of me.”

Aidan got up from the ground and walked up to me. I was surprised when he suddenly hugged my waist.

“You saved us.” Aidan cried and looked up at me with a sweet smile on his face. “How could I be afraid of you? You’re like a superhero.”

My heart felt a thousand pounds lighter when I hugged him back.

“Come on.” I said. “Let’s get out of here.”

I took his hand and we started jogging out of there. I looked around, trying to make sure that we weren’t followed, but it took several blocks before I started to relax slightly.

We were a long way from Surrey, so I took a map from a tourist stand and tried to find our way back. After figuring out how to get back to Surrey, I started counting the money I had in my pockets and realized that I had far from enough. My backpack was still at the bottom of the river, along with my phone, so I had to figure out some other way.

Aidan and I managed to get on a train, getting us out of the thickest parts of London. We got a lot of weird looks since our school uniforms were still damp, but I ignored them and kept my eyes peeled for any more soldiers like the ones we just escaped. When we got off the train, I looked up and saw that it was starting to get dark outside with thick clouds and an idea popped into my head.

“Do you want to try something?” I asked.

“Mhm.” Aidan replied and nodded.

“We don’t have enough money for tickets all the way home.” I said. “So we have to do things a little differently.

Aidan frowned.

“Why can’t we just go to the police?” He asked.

I swallowed.

“The people that kidnapped us looked a lot like police to me.” I said. “It’s hard to tell the difference. Until we can, I’m not risking it.”

Aidan nodded.

“So what are we doing?” He asked.

I pulled Aidan out of the train station and into an empty alley.

“Get on my back.” I said and tied my damp hair into a bun.

Aidan climbed on my back.

“We have to fly back home, alright?” I said. “Are you ready?”

“Yes.” Aidan replied and gripped me tighter.

I looked around and slowly took off from the ground. When we reached the rooftops, I stopped and looked around to make sure that no one was watching.

“Let’s go.” I said, held onto Aidan’s legs and took off into the clouds.

*

Eric Sampson POV

Annie was beside herself. She had been crying uncontrollably since Valeria called. I had immediately called in anyone I could and all my operatives in London were out looking for the van matching Valeria’s description. Sam offered to take command so that I could go check in with Annie and Lucas. They were both hysterical when I got there and I had tried to calm them down for hours. Lucas kept pacing back and forth in the sitting room and a pale looking Annie was staring blankly ahead of her, tissue papers crinkled up in her balled fists and her leg going a hundred miles an hour.

All of us jumped when my phone rang and I immediately answered. Annie and Lucas immediately came closer to listen in on the call.

“There’s been an incident by Southwark Bridge.” Sam said through the speaker on my phone. “Witnesses said a black van fell off the bridge and landed in the water. But it doesn't make sense. There are no damages on the bridge and according to witnesses, the van basically flew off the bridge.”

Annie let out a whimper and covered her mouth with her hands.

“Valeria.” I muttered. “That must have been the van she was talking about.”

“It seems like that.” Sam replied. “But the most interesting thing was an altercation between what was described as the British military trying to arrest a teenage girl and a young boy just next to the bridge. But I talked to anyone that I could find, and there aren’t any sanctioned operations in the area that fits.”

“So it wasn’t military.” I concluded.

“No.” Sam confirmed. “It was someone else. We don’t know who yet."

“Where are Valeria and Aidan now?” Annie sobbed. “Are they okay?”

“I’m sorry, I don’t know where they are.” Sam replied. “People tried to get away from the scene after shots were fired, but no one actually saw them taking Valeria and Aidan. Instead Valeria seems to have knocked them all unconscious and escaped with Aidan.”

“So they are okay?” Lucas asked.

Sam was quiet for a moment.

“I have no idea.” She whispered.

I thanked Sam, ended the phone call and put my hand on Annie’s shoulder to comfort her.

“Aidan is with Valeria.” I said. “She knocked a bunch of armed soldiers on their asses, she can protect him.”

“I know.” Annie said with a small voice. “But I’m worried about Valeria too. I know she can take care of herself, but what’s the price she has to pay for protecting Aidan?”

I sighed.

“I don’t know.”

We all looked up when the front door opened and Aidan rushed in.

“Mom, dad!” He called out.

Annie burst into tears again and both she and Lucas hugged Aidan as soon as he came into the sitting room.

Valeria lingered in the doorway, her face pale and tears in her eyes. I walked up to her and she flinched when I touched her arm.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

Annie pulled away from the hug and reached out a hand to Valeria, but she took a step back and shook her head.

“I’m sorry.” She whispered. “This was my fault. I can’t…”

A sob escaped her and she turned and sprinted out the front door.