The Book Of Ebios

2. A Hundred Pound

I woke up to the sound of a large door slowly opening. I wanted to see where the sound was coming from. Maybe it had all been a dream. I tried to sit up, my head pounding.

"Wait, don't get up. We are here to help you," a manly voice called out to me.

I laid back down thinking it was a paramedic or a concerned citizen. I wanted to see the face of the one who was saving me, but my vision was still blurry. I wanted to sat thank you, but the words just wouldn't come out. I only thought about seeing my parents after the adventure I had. A woman's voice called out to people I couldn't hear or see. I felt myself slowly lifting off the cold, stone cave floor. My head was being lifted by small hands, the rest of my body was in the arms of the man I had heard. I opened my eyes slightly, only being able to see a blurry version of the man's face.

I felt myself fall onto a cold, metal table. It hurt to open my eyes, but I felt I needed to. I had no idea where I was, who I was with, or if I could be in any sort of danger. My eyes lifted slowly to the man standing above me.

"Hey, look who is finally with us. Welcome back to the land of the living," the man said.

My vision cleared and I looked around. Five people, four men and one woman stood around me. I bolted up, terrified and confused.

"Hey, hey, hey. Calm down, you're safe," the woman said as everyone tied to hold me down, but I threw them off and ran towards the nearest door I saw.

"There is no reason to be afraid. You're with us now, the G.M,." one of the men said.

"The what?" I asked, my heart pounding against my rib cage. I felt around the door for the handle, but when I looked down at my hand, the doorknob rested in my palm.

"My name is Ryne. I am the leader and the first member of The Guardians of the Miraculous, or the G.M.," the same man said. "Now why don't you come sit down so we can explain what you saw." He pointed to the handle in my hand, "and why you pulled the doorknob off like it was nothing."

I took a deep breath and walked toward the group. I fixed my jacket and took a seat on the table. Looking around at the group, I noticed they were all older than me, at least by ten years.

"As I said, I am Ryne. I have telekinesis." He lifted his hand slowly in the air. Across the room, a first aid kit lifted gradually into the air and floated towards us. The lid popped open and bandages continued to levitate towards me. I watched the bandages open and wrap themselves around my head, covering the small bump that laid on the back of my head. The first aid kit reversed to its original position on the opposite side of the room. I smiled in amazement.

"I am Dallas. I joined second and I am the second in charge. I have precognition which means I can see a few minutes into the future," She smiled warmly at me.

"Did you see me come?" I asked.

"I did," she giggled. Her laugh filled my heart with warmth and security.

"The name's Javier. I joined the G.M. third and I have teleportation." He blinked over to a small fridge then to me, handing me a bottle of water and smiled joyfully.

"Hey, my name is Rio. I joined forth, and I can turn into any and all animals. I would show you, but it can be a bit... disturbing for a first timer, so I won't do right now." He put his hands into his pockets and rocked back and forth on his heels.

"H-hi, I am Axel." I am number five and I have force field generation. I don't think I need to show or explain it." Axel put his hands into his pockets and put his head down.

I looked around at the five members around me. I was no longer scared, only confused. Why were these people here? Why do they call themselves The Guardians of the Miraculous? How did they get such power? They took me to a large living area with a fireplace and modern furniture. The walls were painted a maroon red with white designed tree branches, the carpets a steel-colored gray. White couches, with no stain in sight, lay on top of the soft gray carpet. They pointed out a room with large dark-wood doors they called Mission Control. A kitchen and dining room were just off the living area, adding to the modern look. A set of stairs went down to the floor below where they took me next. The stairs led to a long hall with eight bedrooms and surprisingly only one bathroom. They asked me to pick a room out of the ones with a dark, wooden door open. I picked a small, cozy room. It was large enough for a walk-in closet, but too small to hold more than a bed and a desk that sat opposite the queen-sized bed. Walls painted a light mint green gave off a feeling of welcome. I still wasn't sure why I had to pick a room. I wasn't planning on staying. The members of the G.M. still hadn't explained much of anything. Why are they keeping themselves hidden in this underground base? Why do they have a room called Mission Control. After I announced I had picked my room, they led me back upstairs to the living room. Javier, Rio, and Axel parted from the group as Dallas and Ryne took me farther down the hallway, starting the tour.

"This is the medical center. This is where you started this morning," Ryne pointed out to me.

We continued down the hall a bit further before stopping once again. Dallas showed me the vast garden filled with all sorts of green and vibrant colors. The garden was the size of a school gym, the height split into twos to create two floors of the garden. UV lights hung above the trees and flowers along with water sprinklers. A large tree sat in the middle of the garden. Green, thin rectangles hung from the branches like flowers.

"This is a magical garden," Dallas began. "We grow all sorts of plants here, a slice of the outside world. We also have a money tree that seems to only grow one and five dollar bills." Dallas pointed to the large tree in the center of the room.

Dallas and Ryne led me farther down the red and white hall. Another pair of large doors stood beside us. Ryne opened the door for us to go in. A large gym with all sorts of training equipment stood before us. A boxing ring stood in the center of the room surrounded by treadmills, weight-lifting machines, bikes, and so much more. A side room with a large, glass window stood on one side of the gym. I assumed that was where they practiced their abilities. After a small tour of the gym, we entered another room that was across from the gym. The library. It was the largest library I had ever seen! Rows and rows of bookshelves reached the ceiling. A ladder on wheels rested against one of the shelves. Just like the gym and garden, the library was the size of a school gymnasium. I don't think a single person would be able to read off of these books in their entire life. I could feel my eyes sparkle as I ran up and down the aisles, looking at the books that lay so neatly on the shelves. I didn't want to leave, but Ryne and Dallas had one last room to show me. I left the library of my dreams and followed them to the end of the very long hallway. Another pair of double doors led to an entrainment room. The room had to be half the size of the other three. It kept the these of white and red painted walls with gray carpets. A large television set sat at the far end of the wall with two couches in front of it. A pool and air hockey table sat in the center of the room. A few arcade gaming machines were lined up along the left wall. A small dance floor with a with a radio was in a separate room off the main entertainment room.

"I am quite astonished at how so much can fit into an underground base," I said as I twirled around the entertainment room.

"The book isn't the only magical thing around here," Ryne began in a loving and fatherly tone. "The base is too. Not only is it quite large, but it also has its own security system. Any and all radio signals that leave this place can not be traced.

"Except for in the cave and where the book is," Dallas added.

They led me out into the main living area. Rio and Javier brought out snacks followed by Axel with beverages. I sat down and snacked while they all took turns briefly telling their story of how they got here.

"The book picks anyone, no matter how young or old you may be," Ryne explained. "I was drafted into the group at ten."

I stared at him confused. "Why so young though?" I asked.

"Book picks you based on how much it trusts you, whether or not you have a good heart, if you're responsible, and if you're loyal," Dallas explained.

"But how does it know these things? Its just a book."

"A magical book. It can read the ins and outs of any person who touches it, and the book certainly liked you," Javier explained as he grabbed a chip from the chip bowl.

"How does the book like me? It threw me across the room!"

"You gave it a strong sense of safety and it got happy, to keep it simple," Rio said as he took a sip of water and made himself comfortable on the couch.

I gave a puzzled look. I still had no idea why I was here. Yes, they helped me and gave me a grand tour, but I had no reason to stay. Even if I wanted to leave, I couldn't. There was not a door in sight that led back into the cave. I had to stay and listen to their stories, whether they were true or not. I so badly want to go home, but there was no escape.

"Let me give a more detailed explanation," Ryne said. "Each of us is given an ability, a superpower if you will, in order to protect the book. No one really knows why we need to protect the book other than we will lose our abilities, may go to a lab, and the book will be taken off the pedestal to a lab somewhere most likely. As for why it needs protection, we have our guesses. The book holds secrets that could harm others. If the book leaves its pedestal, it will start to die and we start to loose out abilities."

Dallas stood and walked over to me. She sat down beside me on the long couch and grabbed my hands. She looked me in the eyes and I looked back into hers. A sparkle of sorrow and worry shined in her eyes.

"I am sorry to say, but the book has chosen you to be its sole protector," Dallas said as she lowered her eyes to my hands. The mood of the room changed drastically, and not into anything good.

"W-what does that mean?" I stuttered.

"It means that if the book dies, you die. If the book feels pain, you feel pain. And vice versa. You are connected to the book in a way none of us are. It's a task we hoped would never be assigned," Ryne explained, a tear dropped from Dallas's eyes.

I don't want to die. I am only eighteen. I am supposed to go to college, fall in love, spend time with family and friends, and build a life for myself. Not die. I'm not sure if I should believe them or not, it may be a trick to get me to do something shady or be a victim of it. Their reactions made it all the more real, their abilities couldn't be part of a show. Everything seemed too real.

"I-I need to go," I stood up frantically and searched for a way out. I needed to be with my family, or if this was a dream, I needed to wake up. I felt my heart start to race a hundred miles a minute.

"Wait, you can't go," Ryne said as everyone rushed to sit me back down. "You need to stay here, you need to fall off the face of the earth to never be heard from again. I know it sounds harsh, but your life depends on it."

I sat back down, out of breath and frightened, "What do you mean?!" I can't just leave everyone and everything I know and love. I need to live my life, go to college and be with my family!" Axel and Rio had their hands on my shoulders, attempting to keep me seated.

"I know it may be hard, but please, just stay here with us," Dallas pleaded.

"Can I at least go home and write a note goodbye?" I asked as I felt tears form. I knew the answer, I don't even know why I asked.

Dallas shook her head no and mouthed the words "I'm sorry" as if she couldn't bring herself to say it for real. I sat back on the couch, Rio and Axel's hands lifted off my shoulders. I knew I had to believe them. The book, the base, their abilities, my ability, my role. It was all too much. I just stared ahead at the wall, my mouth gaped open as a single tear fell down my cheek. Everyone left the room, saying that they will give me some privacy. I could hear them talking in the kitchen.

"I feel terrible, no kid should have to go through what she has to. It was hard on us, but she knows that her life is at stake at every moment from here on out," I heard someone attempt to whisper.

I stood up, went into the kitchen, and announced that I would be in my room if anyone needed me. And there I stayed for the remainder of the day.

...

I didn't get much sleep last night, I was up contemplating my new life. And crying. My eyes were red and raw when I looked at my reflection in the sparkling, clean mirror. I washed my faced brushed my hair. Was I really going to stay here? Yes, I had no choice. I knew my parents were having so many mixed emotions about my disappearance. Devastated, worried, irritated. I know that if I went back home, they would lose me again anyway. At least now they would know there is possibility I may be alive, they can hope for my safety and safe return. I left a note, and in a way, I said my final goodbyes. I don't want to leave them, but it is safer if I do. With my new strength, I could hurt them, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally too. I know I am hurting them now, but at least we have memorable memories together. Whatever secrets that hidden within that book are most likely dangerous. If I can help keep people safe, is that worth leaving them behind?

I walked out of the bathroom, went upstairs, and into the sweet smell of french toast and bacon. Everyone was getting ready to sit and eat in the dining room, which was located right beside the kitchen. Dallas smiled, welcoming me to make a plate of food and join them. I sat quietly and ate the delicious and savory meal Dallas had cooked up as everyone talked about their plans for the day. I wasn't very hungry, I mostly poked and prodded at the food, putting pieces in my mouth now and then. I still had questions, many of them. I needed to ask, but I felt that interrupting what seemed to be a daily routine was rude. Once I had enough of pretending to eat, I sat back in my chair for a moment before asking where I could throw out my trash. I announced I was going to go take a shower and afterward I would be in my room until I was called. Dallas supplied me with whatever outfits she could until she was able to get more on what she called "outing day". I didn't really understand what she had meant, but I just thanked her and went off on my own.

A couple of hours later, Ryne knocked on my door, asking to come in.

"Hey, how are you holding up?" Ryne asked as he opened the door wide enough to enter with ease.

"I am doing alright. Just doing some reading," I said as I held up the book I had taken from the library in the middle of the night. "This is the final book in the series I started reading a few months ago," I added.

"Well I am glad you're settling in alright, but I am afraid I have to pull you away from your book for a moment," Ryne said. "I want to take you to the gym and test that newfound strength. Believe it or not, according to the records, you are the first person to be given super strength.

I nodded as he left me to get changed into more gym-suited clothing. Once I was ready, I followed him to the gym. Once we got there, he asked me how much I could lift before. I answered that I couldn't lift much, no more than thirty pounds at most. He nodded, whipping his dark brown brown bangs out of his face as he pointed to the nearest weight-lifting machine. He started me at a hundred pounds, it felt like I was lifting a pencil. Ryne put another hundred on, then another, and another until the machine couldn't handle anymore.

"That wasn't very hard," I said as I stood up. I had to look almost straight up just to look him in the eyes. I knew I was short, but he made me feel like an ant.

"Why don't you try picking me up while I am holding as many weights as I can," Ryne said as he uncrossed his arms from a thinking position.

I said okay, lifting him and the weights. Altogether, I must have lifted at least five hundred pounds... with one hand. As Ryne was thinking of other ideas, I picked up a hundred-pound or so medicine ball and tossed it in the air as if I were a small child playing with a bouncy ball.

"What a showoff," someone said, followed by a familiar chuckle. Javier walked around the corner.

"I guess I am kinda being a showoff," I grinned.

Javier joined in on the experiments for a bit. Rio soon joined in after his daily workout. We all stopped once we heard Dallas call us for lunch from the doorway. We all sat and ate our protein-filled lunch. I had actually joined in on their conversations. I now knew that November 3rd, 2033 was the last day that would be known as my last day on earth.