Chapter 40: The New Generation

The morning came, and his golden rays fell upon Eldridge Falls, a little town that barely managed to survive the night. Standing by the window of her small house, Emma watched how life was slowly awakening in the street below. It was an end to the fight, yet the scars it left would remain. The ancient evil was gone, yet there was this awkward tension in the air, as though something invisible was hiding behind every nook and corner. Off to her side sat Nathaniel, silent and still, eyes fixed on a letter held in his hands. An eyebrow furrowed in concern. "What's it say?" Emma asked him, looking over. Nathaniel blew heavily, folding the letter and laying it on the table. "It's from that benefactor again. They put even more into rebuilding the town. No name, no signature. Same message: '*For the future of Eldridge Falls.*'" She bit her lip as the cold shiver ran down her spine. The benefactor in question was the one that had been sustaining the town since the defeat of the ancient evil: pouring in resources, and money. The only problem was nobody knew who they were, or what their investment in Eldridge Falls was. "Do you think we can trust them?" Emma asked in a small voice. Nathaniel shook his head. "I don't know. But for right now, we have little choice. The town needs the help available." Emma nodded but a sense of disquiet fell over her. Something about the benefactor didn't feel quite right. They had been too silent, too hidden, yet always there in the background. And now, with this new generation of children in town, things seemed uncertain. On cue, as it were, the noisome crash of something hitting the street outside broke the morning stillness. Emma sprang to the door, Nathaniel hot on her heels. Stepping out into the morning air, they came upon the gathering of children down toward the town square, pale- and wide-eyed. The centre of all this was two boys, each staring at the other, fisted. "Back!" one of the boys - a boy named Daniel - shouted, his hand raised, the air shimmering around him, an aura of faint light, a force field of sorts. "You're just a freak!" the other boy - Jake - snarled. "I don't care what you can do." Emma's heart was racing. The children… They were developing signs. Powers, like Lily had. Crazy things they could do, unexplainable. And now it was tearing them apart. "Enough!" Emma yelled, launching herself into the middle of it. She squeezed between the two boys, her voice tight but low. "Back off, both of you." Daniel's hand fell, the glitter disappearing, but his eyes did not release Jake's; beneath his skin, his anger hummed. "H-he started it," Daniel stuttered, an unmistakable shake to his voice. Jake stared at them incredulously. "You think you're so special, just because you can do that. Sighing, Emma dropped down to her knees to their level. "This fighting is not going to solve anything. Whatever's happening with you, we need to understand it-not turn against each other." Daniel's eyes softened; he looked down at the ground, kicking at it. "I didn't mean to hurt anyone. It just… happens sometimes." Jake crossed his arms over his chest, his frown not budging. "Well, I don't trust it. Or him." The first second Emma could get a word in edgewise, Nathaniel piped up, his voice low, but authoritative. "Everybody, go home. We'll figure this out together. For the moment, though, it's best if you all give each other a little space." They held a moment longer and then broke apart, clearing the square so that Emma and Nathaniel were once again standing in the middle, the tension of unspoken words hanging heavily in the air between them. "This is getting worse," Nathaniel muttered. "Kids don't understand what's happening with them, and it's making them afraid. And fear. Well, we know where that takes people. Emma nodded, still not getting her head around it. This was a different generation altogether, since the battle with the ancient evil; the children of Eldridge Falls gradually began to develop these strange powers until they mirrored the supernatural forces they struggled against. Some could play with light, like Daniel. Others had visions, premonitions of sorts, of things that hadn't yet come to pass. The more these abilities grew, the more divided the town became. As Emma walked back in the direction of their house, a feeling just would not let go that somehow benefactor interest in the town had something to do with the children. Why send help at all? Why now, when the town was filled with kids showing supernatural powers? Later that evening, at sunset, Emma and Nathaniel sat in their small kitchen weighing the strange happenings over tea. "You don't think that is the same benefactor who knows about children?" Emma asked softly. Nathaniel leaned back into his chair and his eyes dropped into his cup. "It's possible. Or perhaps they just have waited this long." Emma felt a shiver at the thought of it. It sent a shiver down her spine, someone silently observing them, just waiting for the opportune time to strike. Just then, a knock on the door sent them leaping. Nathaniel struggled to his feet; his hand went instinctively to his side for the sword that wasn't there. He opened the door with caution: a stranger stood there, a tall, spindly man with a face like a shut knife, and an aura of secrets. "Evening," he said, voice melodious, like honey. "I suspect we have not met. I am Mr. Wren, and I represent the benefactor. Emma's heart suddenly went cold. At long last, the benefactor had finally sent someone. Nathaniel took a step closer, his already narrow eyes narrowing further. "What do you want?" Mr. Wren smiled, though there was scant depth to his eyes. "I'm here to discuss the future of Eldridge Falls. Of its children." Emma's breath caught in her throat. "What do you mean?" Mr. Wren stepped inside. His eyes roved over their house as though he was placing a value on it. "The benefactor has kept quite a close eye on your town. And we feel the children are… special. Unique, even. We'd like to offer our services in helping them realize their potential." Nathaniel's hand had clenched into a fist. "And what do you get out of it?" Mr. Wren's smile had broadened. "No more than the satisfaction of seeing these talented young ones reach their full potential. Of course, for every benefit, there is a price to be paid." Emma's heart was skittering around in her chest. She didn't take much stock in this man, and even less so in said benefactor, but before further questions could be asked, Mr. Wren was already turning to leave. "I will be in touch," he said smoothly. "The benefactor always keeps promises made." The door shut behind him, and with it, the cold of the room's silence started to seep in. Emma turned to Nathaniel, the both of them racing with thoughts a mile a second. "What now?" she asked, barely above a whisper. Nathaniel shrugged down, and his head hung low. "I don't know, but something inside just tells me this is far from over." At that moment, the wind outside whined under strain against the windows. Emma peered through the glass and saw afar the mere flicker of light from Daniel's power but increased. Much heavier. The kids were restive. And what was coming after wasn't going to be easy.