Mason Paul - The Awakening

For Mia and Miles

Zaf stood at the edge of the deep split in the ground and stared in shock at the meter in his hands. The needle was jammed in the red zone. Jammed in the part of the dial that said Danger in big, red writing.

He tapped the glass a couple of times to make sure it wasnt stuck. The needle didnt budge. This was strange, really strange, and Mr Arturi was still back at the van. Maybe they shouldnt have gone on ahead without him.

Zaf called to the others further down the track. Guys, youd better come take a look at this. He pointed to the crack in the ground.

Whats up? Tara was the first over. April and Ian werent far behind.

This reading Im getting. Were nowhere near the hot spot and the machines going crazy. It must be broken, right?

Thats odd. Tara looked at Zafs meter. She pulled her backpack off her shoulder and fished out her own meter. April and Ian did the same.

The readers crackled into life. One by one the needles hit the top of the dial. The red zone.

I dont think your machines broken, Tara said slowly.

Now there was a rumbling from deep inside the ground.

Aprils eyes widened. Guys, I think we should

RUN! shouted Ian. He pulled at Tara and Zaf, dragging the team away from the hole.

Too little, too late.

BLAM! An explosion blasted out of the ground like a bomb going off. Dirt and rocks burst high into the air. Water erupted from the hole.

The four were blown off their feet, picked up and thrown to the ground like toys. Dirt and hot water rained down on them, a fountain of sludge.

As suddenly as it had started, it stopped.

Now a cloud of thick, yellow gas began to spill out of the hole. A blanket of smoke slowly wrapped itself around the helpless shapes lying on the ground. The four friends gasped for breath, choking, as the fog started to seep into their lungs.

***

Ian was the first to come around.

Everything was a blur. There was a mask strapped to his face, and his throat burned. His hands were wrapped in white bandages. He ached all over.

He tried to sit up, but quickly gave up and sank back onto the bed. This must be hospital, he thought. Great. Just great. Some science trip that turned out to be.

The monitor he was hooked up to started to beep.

Ians eyes cleared a little and he was able to prop himself up on his elbows. The others were in the room, all asleep, or unconscious. Like him, they had bandages. And probably felt like theyd just gone twelve rounds.

The door to the room swung open and a doctor rushed over to Ians bed, followed by Mr Arturi. He looked sick with worry.

The doctor took Ians mask off and started looking into his eyes with one of those little pen lights. How do you feel? she asked.

Silly question, thought Ian but he just said OK, I guess.

The others began to stir now and open their eyes. The doctor quickly checked each of them in turn. Mr Arturi let out a big sigh, as if he had been holding his breath this whole time. Thank goodness, thank goodness, was all he could say, over and over.

Youre certainly lucky, the doctor added.

What happened? groaned Tara. I remember a blast, and then nothing.

It was a hydro-thermal eruption. A big one. Knocked all of you right out. Mr Arturi shook his head. I should never have gone back to the van for more equipment. I should have been there.

A thermo-hydro what? mumbled Ian.

Hydro-thermal, whispered Zaf, propping himself up slowly. A combination of heat and water. From deep below the earths crust.

Mr Arturi nodded. It must have been building up. He shook his head. I had no idea this would happen, there were no warnings. Im so sorry.

Hey, Mr Arturi. April smiled weakly. It wasnt your fault.

Mr Arturi took her hand. Am I glad to see that smile of yours, April. He turned to the others. Ive called all your parents, theyre driving up. Theyll be here soon.

Just one question, said Ian with a grin. Does this mean we get to miss school?

Back at school, word quickly got round about the explosion, and how Mr Arturi had carried the four friends to the van to rescue them. The rest of the class stared at the bandages the four were still wearing, the burn marks on their arms. Everyone wanted to know the story.

Why dont you take a photograph, itll last longer, Ian told a boy sitting at their table in the dining hall.

Just ignore him, April sighed, rolling her eyes. Ians had a blow to the head, poor child.

Ian laughed. Im only kidding.

Tara picked up her tray. Dont forget, you two, weve got to meet Mr Arturi after school to go over the readings from the site Zaf says the data from the meters is off the chart.

Ill be there, said April.

No can do, said Ian. Track practice. Its only a week before the big meet and I need to get in shape. Sorry, Miss, he teased.

***

Ian was pounding the track on his own, getting in a few extra laps. He neednt have worried that the explosion had taken it out of him. He was doing well. In fact he was doing better than well: he was cruising. This feels good, he said to himself, checking his watch as he crossed the lap marker.

Ian pushed himself even harder. His legs and arms were pumping, his feet flying down the track. He became just a blur. But he still felt like he had more to give. He picked up the pace. There was an energy flowing round his body. Something new. The soles of his feet felt like they were burning up the track. It was getting hot. Really hot.

Ian glanced down at his legs. Fire!

With a scream of terror he fell over and started slapping at his feet. They were on fire! Fire! Orange flames were all over his skin. Ian rolled around, trying to put the fire out.

Then all of a sudden, the flames were gone. Just like that.

Panting, Ian ripped off his smoking shoes and socks and threw them away. The skin underneath was untouched. Not even reddened. Ian rubbed his head in amazement.

Mr Arturi has just got to see this, he said out loud.

While things were heating up on the track, April had decided to cool off at the beach. The meeting with Mr Arturi had been really long, and all those numbers had given her a serious headache.

She dumped her stuff in her room, quickly slipped into her costume, and grabbed a towel. She ran through the kitchen, waving at Mum. Ill be back for dinner! she yelled.

The beach was pretty much empty when April got down there. Just a few families packing up further down the bay. It was still hot even though the sun was going down, and April gasped as she stepped into the cool water. She let the water reach just above her knees, then she dived in. The sea sent a ripple over her skin and she burst to the surface with a smile on her face.

April swum further out to sea, away from the beach. Soon she couldnt touch the sand. She dropped down beneath the surface and somersaulted lazily in the water. She twisted and turned like a fish. April loved being in the ocean. It felt like home.

It was then she noticed the fin.

At first she thought it was a wave. But it turned round, and headed straight for her. Cutting through the water like a razor. A cold, grey razor.