Mike

I told them I had a place they could hide out, so I had to stay true to my word even though I thought it was a terrible place to hide. We drove for what seemed like an hour before we reached the outskirts of town. I parked in an empty lot of an abandoned warehouse.

"This is it. Home sweet home." I joked, but they weren't amused. "Come on, I've got a key to the building. "

We walked stealthily up to the boarded up doors. "Uh, I don't think a key is going to work." Rain was skeptical.

"This is not a normal key." I pulled out my necklace that had been tucked in my shirt. There was a strange shaped piece of wood hanging on it. I shoved the piece of wood into an inconspicuous hole in the door and twisted it to the left. "There is only one of these in existence and it would be nearly impossible to copy, unless of course you could make a tree root."

"Where did it come from?" Jared asked.

"Glad you asked that." I said as I pushed the door open. "It's an old family heirloom. It's been passed down from generation to generation." The kids were surprised to see that it was not a warehouse inside. "The ware house is just a cover. It used to be in use, it probably wouldn't surprise you to know that the door we just opened actually opened into another dimension. If someone were to bust the door all they would find is an empty warehouse. "

"What did they use the warehouse for?"

"Ironically, it was a factor for magic toys: wands, hats, you name it." as we made our way through the tunnels of the warehouse's other dimension I gave the kids a brief history lesson. "Hundreds of years ago there were thousands of magic people, but very few people knew about them. You've heard of the Salem Witch Trials? Well, they were actually magic. Most of the time they spent their time underground, but occasionally one would wander out and try to make a real life for their self. This sanctuary was created thousands of years ago by the magic pioneers if you will. They created it in the hopes that their posterity would never have to use it and their enemies would never find it (being that they were on another continent oblivious that this one existed). Unfortunately, when they did need it they realized there was a major flaw in their design. Only one person could open the door. He had the ability to manipulate trees and all kinds of wood. To this day, no other such person has been recorded. Out of desperation, he asked the magic people to chop off one of his hands so that they could use the sanctuary after he had died. You see, he was very old by that time and didn't have much time to live. And since there was only one key, everyone decided they should remain underground or they would surely perish. And many did, mostly out of ignorance. That's why they were so easy to catch."

"But how did you get the key?"

"It has been kept in a chest in my attic all these years until the day we needed it. My ancestors were magic people, but we no one in my family inherited the gene. We're thinking that it may have been a curse of some kind, but who knows?"

"Wouldn't the wood have rotted away by now?"

"You'd think so, but I guess as long as magic still exists it will continue to live."

"Couldn't you just make a plaster mold of it?"

"We (the government) tried that, but it doesn't work. It has to be wood. And it has to be exact."

Johnson

My life was just getting crummier by the minute. First my best friend was expelled, then my dad goes crazy, my friend goes missing, and finally my dad steals my power and runs off somewhere. Yeah, what a great life. So, logically, I decided to run away from home.

I didn't know where I was going, but I had to get out of this crummy place. I had been walking all night, and was finally on the outskirts of town. The place was a wreck, but at least I'd likely not see anyone I knew. I decided to find a place to sleep and make my new home.

I jumped down into a drainage ditch. There were a few puddles left from the light rain we had that night. One of the bars on the opening of the sewage tunnel was knocked out of place so I decided to go inside. The smell was unbearable at first, but I got used to it after a few minutes.

It was amazing, all these tunnels under the city. It was like an entirely different city. It was cold, dark and damp, so I'd have to get some matches and firewood to keep me warm at night. I was glad they had stopped making battery operated flashlights that die just when you need them most, now they were all the kind you shake and they stay lit forever (it seems).

I climbed out of the tunnel, the daylight was blinding. Then I made my way to the nearest gas station for supplies. I was glad I had decided to take my back pack and some money from my dad's wallet. Yes, this was the perfect start to my new life. A life without people, without drama, without care, without love and especially without magic!

Ivar

It was nice to have friends with this same, desire, I guess would be the right word, to exercise their strength and speed to the limit. I, with permission, modified the training circuit for myself and Kimberly and we were currently running our version of an obstacle course. No norm would have been able to do it, not even the body builders you see on TV that are extremely huge, partly because it requires speed as well as strength.

She finished the course and came over, "What'd I get?"

"Twenty minutes twenty seconds," I frowned. "I have to go again."

"Oh come on," She was panting extremely hard and looked like she was going to hurl. "We tied, you don't have to one up me."

"You should take a breather," I told her. "Go on and sit down over there." Jared had talked to me and told me what to do when this happened. I found the syringe in my things and let her see it, "I'm going to take some blood for Jared. He wanted a sample while you had been straining yourself, just to make sure."

"Make sure what?" She asked.

"He didn't say," I took the sample and went outside the room. "Gotta run this through the machine for him too. I'll be back, don't run it again until I do."

I got back later and we continued our workout until a total of one hour had passed for each of us.

Jared

Ugh, getting herself into trouble she isn't quite ready to bail out of. Well I guess that's where I come into play. I stepped out from behind the bushes and walked closer.

"She isn't running with the bad guys if that's what you're thinking," I answered, not quite sure how to word it. "But we do have enemies and not just norms, others like us trying to enforce their will upon us and you."

His eye dropped to my hip, where Rain had missed but he had not missed, the gun I had modified and kept.

"Why do you have a gun if you have magic?" He asked.

"It's not a normal gun mister?" I paused, waiting for him to give his name.

"Just call me Mike," He said wearily. He waited intent on his answer.

I sighed, "I modified it to use my energy to create an electric blast that will temporarily paralyze the target. It won't work for anyone but myself, not even other magic users, as a safety feature."

He raised an eyebrow but seemed satisfied with my answer, "I might know a place but it's across town. Your dad wanted to build the initial facility there because of the labyrinth of underground tunnels."

"Can you take us there?" I pressed.

(Feel free to do traveling there and searching if you wish, could be there or somewhere else they just have to search and see. :D )

Rain

"I don't have a good feeling about this." I told Jared as we were climbing into his makeshift car.

"Don't worry, it's safe."

"I don't mean the car."

He just grinned, I guess he was trying to keep things light. I kept getting more tense by the minute, and when we arrived at my house the feeling was weighing heavily on my mind. We decided not to park in front of the house in case someone was watching it.

We hid behind one of our overgrown hedges when we heard a man banging on the front door. It was Mike. "Come on!" He pounded on the door some more. "Why would you leave me an urgent message telling me to meet you here, and then not be home?! What's more, not answering your phone!" He flipped his phone shut and angrily shoved it in his pocket.

"They're not home!" I nearly whisper-shouted to Jared, "both cars are here. Something is wrong." I started out from behind the bush, I had to talk to Mike. But Jared put his arm in front of me. "He's safe. Don't you think we need an adult? Besides, he's not magic." Jared still protested, but I pushed him out of the way, "I won't tell him you're here."

I walked up to Mike and tapped him on the shoulder. When he turned around he rolled his eyes and turned back. "Stop! What do you know about my parents?"

He stopped, I could almost see the compassion overcoming him. He turned towards me once again, "Look, kid, I don't know where your parents are. All I know is that a couple of days ago. . .wait, aren't you supposed to be missing? Anyway, then today he calls me and tells me he needs my help for something. Doesn't tell me what, but that it's urgent. So of course, I drop everything I am doing to rush over here. And for what, an empty house and some punk kid? To think, I gave up an afternoon of War craft for this."

"Mike, please, is there anything else you can tell me?"

"No, I'm sorry. That's all I know. Oh, but if you see your dad before I do, tell him his job's hanging by a thread. He hasn't been to work in a few days. We all figured he went looking for you."

"Oh no. I think his life may be in danger!"

"Why would you say that? Your dad wouldn't hurt a fly."

"I know, but. . ."

"You running with a rough crowd, kid?"

"No, not exactly."

Where in the world is?

Everyone, I'll list who I know is currently where and what they are currently planning on doing or are currently doing.

Good Guys
At Jared's hideout(getting ready to leave)
Jared
Rain

At Jared's hideout(staying)
Ivar
Kimberly
Rachel
Raymond
Allison
Marty
Daila
William

Elsewhere
Sunshine(Alex's hideout captured)
MB(Alex's hideout captured)
(fill in any holes)

Neutrals
Victor(unknown, probably hunting)
Marco(unknown, probably goofing off)
Jessica(white house, captured?)
Johnson(unknown, probably school)
(fill in any holes)

Villains
Alex (white house? pretending to be captured? for what purpose)
Mathis (at Alex's hideout)
Brindee (with Mathis)
Edmund (white house, pretending to be MB)
Jeff (recruiting new members)
(fill in any holes)

just feel free to edit this post just make sure to comment and mention what you changed

Jared

A woke and walked out into the empty halls, everyone would be waking up in a few minutes, I didn't have much time. I walked to the computer and began typing. I finished and began to print the pages. Rain appeared in the doorway behind me.

"Let's go save my parents and stop Alex," She practically demanded.

I raised an eyebrow, "All things in time, I said we'd do it today and we will. I need to finish this and get it spread around first." I handed her the first copy.

"What is this?" She asked quizzically.

"That's the contract you all have to sign and agree to if you wish to remain here." I said frankly. "I'll go over it later if you want to warm up while the rest wake up." She looked concerned still. I stopped what I was doing and walked over and placed a hand on her shoulder, "Your parents will be fine. Alex may be evil but he is unfortunately far from stupid, he won't kill your parents as long as they are useful and they remain useful because of your feelings toward them."

Her eyes were still full of tears. I scratched the top of my head. Man, I'm really not good at this. I could tell she didn't want to be alone right now.

"Do you want to help me get everyone together?" I asked, changing the subject. "I was about to go wake everyone up and call for a meeting to explain this."

She nodded and in a few minutes we'd gathered all the groggy eyed people together in one of the larger rooms, the same room they were in last night. Rachel and Allison seemed surprised by my recovery. I looked better than before, but that's because I realize no matter how much I want to I cannot remain a neutral party in this world. The world will force me to choose either way and while I'll never be the perfect good guy, I'm not even remotely close to evil.

"Thank you all for coming," I began. "I'm not referring to this little meeting. I meant coming to join with me."

I nodded to Rain and she began to hand out the contract. Some of them looked over it not understanding and some saw it for what it was.

"What you hold before you is a contract," I answered the puzzled looks. "You must each sign it to be allowed to remain here. I know you are probably concerned but I changed the penalty for breaking it to simply you agreeing first, not to return here and second, to not willingly give the location or method of getting to our base. The method may change eventually but I won't explain my plans yet. If you break either of those stipulations you will lose your powers, unless you make penance equivalent to whatever rule you broke. Well actually, the not letting anyone know how or where this is is an overarching theme, not allowed whatsoever."

No one had any questions and I hoped they wouldn't throughout, I tried to make this as straightforward as possible.

I cleared my throat, "Let's get down to the nitty gritty then. The first rule as it states here is common sense, don't intentionally cause harm to anyone who doesn't pose a threat to you or someone else who cannot defend themselves. Example, if you through a car at let's say Alex and it hits an innocent bystander, that's not ideal but it was not your intention to hit them. You should, however, try not to hurt the innocent if you can."

I let them think about that for a minute. The example wasn't in the contract but that was why I was explaining it. I continued, "Second, this is more of a guideline and it's written into the contract that way. You will attempt not break the laws of the land, except where someone's well being or life is in immediate jeopardy. This person can include yourself. This rule is subject to more exceptions than this, killing for example, while we should endeavor not to do this, it may happen. Stealing, since we can't exactly get jobs and make money and growing plants is more difficult than we can afford right right, is okayish. That means if it's for food or clothing than fine, but if you go steal a big screen TV and surround sound system I'd make you take it back." A hand went up and I held up one finger and finished, "Some of the things I've gathered may seem like extras but I assure you they are all necessary for our continued existence."

"So the rule is if it is something that we truly need to break, we can?" Ivar shot up.

I nodded, "Yes that is the basic rule." There were no more questions, "Alright that's all for now I may occasionally update this but I will make sure you all know ahead of time. Last thing is I'm going to institute a statute for the foundations of our group. It will cover how we elect a leader and whatnot."

"That's it for now," I was surprised that no one left and I had a bunch of signed documents sitting on my table after everyone left. I turned to Rain, "Let's go find your parents then."