PoV: Cub

'I don't believe in magic.' I repeat for the 5th time, walking down the corridor of what's usually the science facility. Not the magic facility, as the scientist next to me seemingly believes it is.

'When you see the person we brought in... I believe you will change your mind.'

'Cosmetics. Tricks. Illusions. There's a million reasons why it's not magic.' We reach the door, unlocking and opening it. A click.

'See if you can get any more out of him than we did. Name, powers, age... Anything would be helpful. He's very stubborn. But if anyone can get information out of him it's you, Dr Cub.'

'I'll try my best.' I promise, closing the door behind me. 

'Cub. Nice name.'

I turn. The 'magic' person is sitting, rather comfortably, behind the defensive blue holo-wall despite being tied up and badly injured. Half his face is red, one black eye. Torn clothes, scars... Even before he was viciously caught he was in a bad state. I grab a chair and sit.

'Thank you. What's yours?'

'I'm not telling you my name.'

'Thought you wouldn't.'

'Then why ask?'

'Simple manners. Is there anything you wish to share about yourself.'

'Your people are too violent.'

'I know. Not the best first impression. Which is why I wish to make amends and offer a gift.'

The prisoner shuffles, sitting up properly even before I fully take the cake from my bag.

'Cake?'

'If you behave. And give me answers.'

'How much?'

'Does a slice every 5 honest answers work for you?'

'How big a slice?'

I cut a generous slice of cake, fighting the urge to eat it myself. There'll be plenty later. I show the slice to the prisoner.

'This much.'

'Deal.' They don't even hesitate to answer.

'Question 1, what is your name?'

A pause.

'Scar. Scar GoodTimes. Proud local landscape gardener and cat-owner.'

'What's the cat's name?'

'Jellie. She has magic like me.'

It's my turn to pause.

'What? Don't believe in magic?' Scar laughs.

'I work in science and fact. Not magic.'

'How much cake will you give me if I manage to change your mind?' He shuffles closer to the wall.

'Careful.' I warn. 'That's electrified. To stop anyone escaping.'

'Anyone?'

'Anyone. Unless you can faze out somehow. Which, convenient, is physically impossible.'

'Done.'

Scar holds up the chain previously around his wrists. I hide my surprise. But Scar sees. There's no way he doesn't.

'Magic.' A bigger smile. 'Welcome to the wonderful world of magic and discovery.' 

'How. How did you- that's not possible.'

'Oh, Cub. Everything is possible if you try hard enough,'

I back away, not even hesitating before pressing the security alert on my wristwatch. Sirens blare.

'I haven't even done anything yet!' Protests the somehow-magical-and-very-dangerous Scar. His eyes are glowing blue. Bright blue. Why? How? How is this possible? I need to get away. I need to get away I need to get-

Scar easily fazes through the glass that, if science had any play in this room anymore, would stop him. There's nowhere further for me to back up to. I'm trapped with a magical madman. I stare at Scar unable to hide my terror as he raises his hands, summoning an army of small flying blue creatures. A murmur in a language I don't know and they attack.

'Please! I offered you cake! I'm not against you I'm-' I insist, batting them unsuccessfully away. Scar just watches, stealing my cake and happily eating. A sudden sting. I look down to see a brutal bitemark on my arm just as my vision blurs and I collapse.

'Good morning!'

All I see as I open my eyes is blue. I'm on my back, lying on the grass. My wrists hurt... As I sit slowly up, I realised they're trapped tightly together with some blue crystal.

'What- why am I...' Scar's there, cross-legged on the other side of a forest clearing, eating cake.

'One slice for every 5 questions you answer?' He mimics my method by offering. I try to fight free.

'Where are we? What happened?'

'Believe me, I would've left you behind if not for... Unseen choices from The Vex.'

'Vex?'

Another one of the little blue creatures appears next to Scar.

'Vex. Apparently you were worthy to become one too. Like me.'

I don't reply, staring at the ground, my trapped hands. This isn't fair. This can't be happening. I have to go back. I need to go back.

'Take me back.' I can't start crying. I can't cry in front of the scientific impossibility who took me from my home and... and... 'Scar, take me back.'

'If you go back, they will kill you.'

'Which is your fault. And weren't you going to kill me anyway?'

'A Vex can't hurt another Vex. I'm going back to where I came from, and you're coming with me.'

'No.' I stand, shaky, barely able to stay up. 'I'm going back.'

'Which way?'

'What?' I turn. Scar still hasn't moved, finishing his cake.

'Which way is back?'

'I don't know. But I'll find it. Better than spending another minute with an untrustworthy, murderous, somehow magical...'

'And even if you do find your way which, on its own, is highly disrespectful after I spend ages carrying you here and saving your life, firstly most of the other scientists are dead - sorry - and the ones that aren't want you dead. So... staying with me is your best option. And your hands are tied up with powerful magic only I can remove.'

I ignore, heading off, out of the clearing. I try to keep to a slow, casual pace. But the moment I'm out of Scar's sight I break into a run and-

I hit the ground. Footsteps behind betray Scar's approach. 

'Go away, Scar.' I snap. 'I'm doing this. And you're not going to- ow- stop me.' 

'You're going the wrong way.' He replies, smug. I continue struggling to stand, ignoring the tears in my eyes. 

'I don't care.' Ok, standing's too hard apparently. Instead, I shift around until I'm sat up instead. Scar sits in front of me. I don't look at him.

'Go away.' I try to blink away the tears but it just makes more, breaking from my eyes and down my cheeks. 'Just go away.' I fight a sob. Scar doesn't move. 'I said go AWAY!'

Magic. 

Blue fire shoots from my hands towards Scar. He tries to block, failing, hit square in the face. 

I just did magic.

I'm a scientific anomaly too. 

Scar was right. 

Scar was... 

Exhaustion floods me, like I've run a marathon. I try to keep my eyes open.

'Don't worry, it's normal to be tired after using magic for the first time. And I'm perfectly fine too, vex fire doesn't work on other vexes.'

'Shut up.' I mumble, barely awake. 'Just...' 

I don't finish before I hit the ground, unconscious.