A Glimpse of Things to Come

 
As she pulled the book out from under her bed, she remembered back to English class that day. After a good grilling, her English teacher was convinced that she had read the book. Thank goodness that's over, she thought, and opened the book to Chapter Three.

 
First Steps: Chapter Three: Getting into Motion
 
In the last chapter, you focussed your mana on this book, and this book used that energy to move. Now, with some help, you will provide the energy /and/ the will to make this book move. By the end of the chapter, you will be able to move objects around with your mind, without the need for this book's power.

 
A now familiar tingle ran down Fiona's spine.

 
Clear a space around the book so it is free to move. When you turn the page, focus your mana on this book as you did in the last chapter. As you concentrate on focusing your mana, also feel the tranferrence of the energy. Only by observing this feeling closely will you be able to move this book by yourself.

 
She turned the page. Nothing happened. She focussed her mana on the book, and it started to glow a soft blue and move to the right. She could feel the mana being transferred into movement. It felt like the book was a part of her body and she could feel its movement to the right with her sixth sense.

 
Now, remembering the feeling you just experienced, focus your mana on the book, and cause that feeling to occur. This time, you do not need to turn the page, since the book will not be using its power.

 
She focussed her mana on the book, and started to remember the feeling of movement she had from the book. She imagined that the book was just an extension of her body, and she wanted to move it to the left. At first nothing happened. She redoubled her efforts, focussing more of her mana on the book, and trying to move the book more. The book slid very slightly. She focussed even harder, and forced the book to the left. It slid right off her desk, taking the rest of the papers with it. She was too stunned to move. She looked over at the book with a weird mix of delight and fear. She stared at it, wild thoughts running through her head. Suddenly, she heard a key opening the front door. She quickly grabbed the papers and started to put them back on her desk, leaving the book on the floor for the time being.

“Hi, honey.”

“Hi, mom.”

“What're you up to?”

“Oh, just organising some papers on my desk.”

“Wow, first you do your homework before supper, now you're cleaning your desk. I'm impressed. You haven't even gone out with your friends in the past few days, so you could finish your homework. I don't know what's gotten into you, but I must say I like it.”

She needed to switch the topic of the conversation, fast.

“What's for supper?”

“Chicken helper, the roasted garlic one.”

“Great, I can't wait!”

She thought she heard her mother say, ”That makes two of us.” With her mom busy in the kitchen, she picked up the book to put it where no one would trip over it, but stopped. She opened the book to the next page, and read:

 
You have completed Chapter Three. A member of The Protectorate will come to see you when it is convenient with you to discuss the rights, responsibilities and privileges of membership.

If you choose to become a member, you will immediately be granted the rank of Initiate, and you may continue reading the book at your leisure. You will be free to leave The Protectorate at any time.

If you choose not to become a member, you will not be allowed to continue to read the book. It will be reclaimed.

 

All the other pages were still blank, which was nearly all of the book. By the number of pages that were left, there could be fifteen or more chapters, similar in length to the previous three. What was that about ”convenient with me”? How will they know what's convenient with me until they talk with me?

***

Brenda turned over in bed to talk to her husband. “Tom?”

“Yes, hon?”

“Do you think she's asleep?”

“I think so.”

“Have you noticed how Fiona seems to be, well, different lately?”

“She seems to be a bit more interested in her school work.”

“There's that, but I get the feeling she doesn't want to talk anymore.”

“When did you notice it?”

“In the past day or so.”

“How can you tell in just a day?”

“Call it...women's intuiton.”

“OK, so what do you think is happening?”

“Irritability, not going out with her friends, tiredness, those are all signs of depression.”

“What do you think we should do?”

“I'll try to watch for anything else, and I'll try and talk to her.”

“I think you worry too much. Promise me you'll leave it be for a few more days at least.”

“Alright.”

“Speaking of being tired, we should get some sleep too.”