Hasty footsteps echoing down the tree tunnel, I heaved a breath of relief. I didn't even care that we'd be in trouble. They could scream all they wanted once the metal was extracted from my skin. Eyes darting to meet my hero, instead an elderly woman burst through the entrance. She was not what I envisioned as the ideal savior. She was old, very old; bones protruding and skin sagging so much with age that she looked as though she ought to have been 6 six feet under many years ago. Gaze fierce, black eyes holding an unnatural darkness, she shouted something in Indonesian. She was very short, probably just barely reached my shoulders, and her body was so frail that one would fear she might blow away in the wind. But despite her petite features, she was intimidating looking, even more so than my mother. I shuddered under her intense gaze, almost forgetting about the choking metal.

      Metal letting go as soon as she spoke, it returned to its original shaped crystal ball. It had listened to her... It let go when a certain word was spoken? As if it had a conscience, and knew when it was being spoken to? Yep. I wanted out of here. I was cultured out.

      Hands coming to my throat in relief, I scrambled to my feet. More purple cloaked people came in running, dropping to their knees the moment they laid eyes on me. Along with the first woman, a young girl and three men were by her side. All, but the young girl, bowed as they had when I accidently rang the bells. They could not be bowing for me. They couldn't be that senseless. Right? The old woman's black eyes shone with surprise and delight, but the teenager next to her didn't share the sentiment. She appeared enraged. The angry looking brunette looked at the older woman in disbelief.

      "You can't actually think it's her," she criticized in a slight accent.

       The woman seemed quite convinced that I was in-fact the she they were speaking of.

        "You really think the Terpilih is the moron who set off the bells? Eudora wouldn't choose her; I am much more worthy," the girl argued.

       "I'm standing right here," I complained, momentarily ignoring whatever Terpilih meant.

       I may as well not have spoken, the girl completely ignored me. Her grandma, though, didn't and I really wish she would have.

      "We wait a long time for you," she announced, in an accent much more noticeable than her granddaughter's. Slowly she approached me, and I backed away, not wanting to be any closer that I needed to be.

     "She's not Indonesian. She's not even Asian," the granddaughter contended.

      "Actually, my grandmother was born in Cambodia...Not that I see why that would be relevant," I spoke for a reason that I knew not of.

      I had no point to prove. Surely, Mr. Barton would hear about the chaos, and come rushing to punish me, saving me from this mess.

       The girl laughed wryly. She was clearly not impressed by my remark. She turned towards her grandmother; cheeks tinted red in anger. I just barely spotted the contrast in color against her dark skin. "This is a joke. I am a full blood Asian woman, and your most valuable warrior. I can take on Eudora's power."

      Andrews and I shared a look of bewilderment, silently trying to formulate an escape plan. I took a few subtle steps his way. Maybe the two would start arguing, and we could flee. The old woman had finally taken her eyes off me, busy scolding her granddaughter.

      "You can't take her power, you'll die. She on the other hand most likely will not."

      I still had no clue what they were talking about, but I certainly didn't like the sounds of it. Most likely won't die as in there was a chance I would die? Forget that. I was going home. No dying for me today.

       "I'll make things easy for you... I'm not interested. She can take Dora's power; I sure don't want it. I'm too busy for whatever you're offering, so she can be the Terpi," I told the woman.

      "Terpilih," the girl corrected, not relieved by my words, for the stubborn woman didn't change her mind.

      No matter their intentions, I was saved by the entrance of my favourite annoying man... Mr. Barton had arrived. Never would I have thought I'd see the day that I was thankful for his appearance. Cue the punishment, send me home.

      "What have you done now, Ms. Molino?" He scowled.

      Of course, he would assume this was my fault. I mean it was my doing, but he didn't know that. His utter lack of faith in me was offensive.

      "It's no big deal, but I do believe we should get going." I ushered him out of the door, Andrews following closely behind. I wasted no time in making our exit.

      "What's the rush? We still have two hours."

     "I mean I totally don't want to leave, but I heard there's a big storm coming," I lied.

      Great lie Clara. A storm? In October? At least I hadn't said snowstorm.

      Barton frowned.

      "Haven't you checked the weather? If we get in an accident, our deaths are going to be in your hands. And if that happens you can be sure that my mother won't let your soul rest in peace," I spoke quickly, leaving him no time for thought.

     Most teachers were afraid of my mother, I figured it was the perfect threat.

     "Of course, I checked," he answered quickly. "I was just about to tell the others we were leaving. You two come with me, we don't any more trouble." He marched away, expecting us to follow.

     For once I was happy to do as he said, I wanted nothing more than to get away from these people. My relief was short lasted. I dropped my phone. Sneaking a glance into the room, I saw it placed neatly next to the old woman's foot. It was clear that she was aware that it was there, and by the look on her face I had a gut feeling that I hadn't dropped it.

     "Wait!" I called after him. "I forgot my phone".

     "Very well, go get it. We'll meet you at the entrance." Barton kept walking.

     Andrews hesitated, having the decency to stay with me. He didn't seem too keen on going back inside either.

     "Mr. Andrews, I believe I told you to follow me," Bart called.

     "But—" Andrews tried.

     "No buts."

      Andrews shot me an apologetic look before being dragged out of sight. Lucky bastard. How mad would mom be if I returned home without my phone? We struggled to pay our electricity bill on time. Buying a new phone would be out of the question. And I didn't have time for a job, with schoolwork and babysitting my siblings.

     I was alone, standing outside in a cave full of questionably sane people. I could either stay here, and miss the flight back home, or go in, grab the phone, and run for dear life. At least everyone else had left, only the old woman remained. If it came to it, I could probably take her. I was tall, and sturdy enough on my feet. Though those elbows looked pretty sharp.

      Phone positioned next to her foot, she watched me approach. She didn't grab the phone for me, nor moved to give me space. She just stood there with a creepy look on her face.

      "Um... I'm just going to grab this," I hesitated, reaching for the cell whilst remaining as far from her as physically possible.

     The moment my hand seized the phone, I tried to run away. She took hold of my wrist before I could get far.

     "Great power is coming your way, Clara," she began, voice inexplicably monotone. How did she know my name? Panic rising in my chest, my shoulders tensed. "You will fight, or you will die. Whether you like it or not, the fate of the world rests in your hands, and your hands alone."

     She spoke as if she was reciting something that she had learnt many years ago, accent mysteriously absent.

     "I'm sorry, but I have no clue what you're speaking about." I backed away again.

     With every backwards step I took, she took one forward.

     "Do you accept to take on Eudora's power?" she asked.

     She couldn't possibly think she was making any sense. She had to be an actor. This was all fake, and I was on a television prank show. It was the only reasonable explanation. Despite that being the only reasonable explanation, no laughing cameramen came to my rescue.

     "Huh?" I asked unintelligibly. What is Eudora power? "Never mind... No. I do not want whatever it is you're offering. Goodbye."

     Determined to actually leave this time, she didn't get to stop me.

     "You make things hard for me, but no matter, you cannot escape your destiny. The Sphere will find you; the power will find you... You will be a hero, Clara Molino."

     I just had time to hear her last words before I ran to meet the others. I didn't look back. That was the last I ever intended of seeing the woman.