The Gift
By Kristjan Brezovnik

Then.

Callisto walked across the battlefield. No matter how many centuries passed, the people were still as savage as in the time when she was born. Only this time, their weapons were more sophisticated and much more deadlier.

When a couple of soldiers had opened fire at her, she just stared at them for a few moments, considering what to do, and then she fried them. Then she moved on, taking in the carnage. Centuries ago, she would have enjoyed it, but not anymore, she just found it pathetic.

When she reached the edge of the battlefield, she turned around and took in the whole scene. She stared at it for a while and then turned her head, hearing that someone had approached her. It was a girl with a bunch of flowers. Callisto stared at her, surprised that a child so young would be so close to a battlefield, and the girl stared back, curious. Callisto stared into the girl's big green eyes, remembering another woman with green eyes.

The girl suddenly extended her hand in which she held the flowers and smiled. Callisto stared at her, surprised and confused.

"For me?" she finally asked.

The girl nodded. Callisto stared at her for a few more moments and then took the flowers. She took in their scent and then looked back at the girl.

"Why?" she asked.

"Because you're so sad," the girl explained.

Callisto stared into her eyes for a few moments and she could see nothing but sincerity. She was moved. She kneeled and took the girl's hand.

"Thank you," she said and briefly smiled. "That was the nicest thing anyone has done for me in a long time."

Calls interrupted them and the girl turned.

"That's my father," she said and looked back at Callisto.

Callisto stared at her for a few moments.

"Marina," she then said and caressed her, "if you're ever in trouble, just think of me. My name is Callisto."

She smiled and Marina smiled back.

"Now go, your father is worried."

Marina nodded and ran away. Callisto stared after her for a while and then looked at the flowers. She smelled them and then disappeared in a flash of fire.

Now.

As so many times before, Marina's last thought, before the roof had collapsed, was dedicated to Callisto. She didn't know why, but every time she was in danger, she thought of her and it seemed to help. Her body took over when her leg broke and the pain caused her to concentrate on other things.

Suddenly the slab under which she was caught flew away and there she was, the woman whom she had long thought was just a figment of her imagination. Callisto smiled and removed the debris around her. Then she picked her up and they disappeared.

They reappeared outside the ruins and Callisto put Marina down. Then she touched her and concentrated. Fire engulfed Marina for a moment and when it disappeared, she was as good as new. Marina looked at herself, confused, and then back at Callisto.

"Marina!" a man called and Marina turned.

"Vaios!"

She ran to her husband and they hugged.

"Where is Thalia?" she asked, concerned, when they stopped hugging and she noticed that her daughter was not with him.

"I don't know."

Marina ran to the ruins and started to remove the debris.

"Thalia!" she called. "Sweetie, can you hear me?!"

Callisto stared at her for a few moments and then went to her. She put her hand on Marina's shoulder and Marina looked at her.

"Let me," Callisto said.

Marina hesitated for a moment and then backed off.

Callisto concentrated, her arms raised. A whirlpool of fire slowly appeared in front of her and then suddenly shot out toward the ruins. The ruins burned for a moment and then only dust remained. A tornado appeared and started to suck the dust upwards. When all the dust was compacted into a giant ball, the ball suddenly ignited and disappeared and only the people and their things remained.

Marina immediately spotted her daughter and ran to her. She picked her up and hugged her, crying. Her husband was right behind her and he hugged them both. Callisto gave them a few moments and the slowly approached them. They heard her footsteps and they turned. Callisto looked at the girl, she looked just like her mother did, and she noticed she was badly injured. She put her hand on her chest and after a fiery bath, the girl was as good as new. Callisto then looked at Vaios and did the same. Then she looked at Marina and smiled. She wanted to caress her, but she changed her mind and instead turned and started to walk away.

"Wait!" Marina called.

Callisto stopped and turned around. Marina slowly approached her.

"You're real," she said after taking a good look at her.

"Yes," Callisto said.

Marina thought.

"Did you save me all those times?" she then asked.

"Yes," Callisto admitted.

"Why?" Marina asked, not understanding.

Callisto smiled.

"Because of the gift you gave me."

Marina thought, confused.

"The flowers?" she then asked, uncertain.

"Yes."

That didn't help Marina much.

"But they were nothing special," she said.

"No," Callisto agreed, "but you are."

"What do you mean?" Marina asked, still as confused as before.

Callisto smiled.

"In the middle of a carnage, you came to me. You saw I was sad and you wanted to make me happy. That meant a lot to me."

"Oh." She thought. "So, that's why you have been protecting me?"

"Yes."

"Thank you."

Callisto smiled again.

"You're welcome."

She turned to walk away, but Marina stopped her again.

"Wait," she said and Callisto turned. "Well, now that I know you're not just a figment of my imagination, why don't you come around, so we can talk? That is later, when we have a place to live. I mean, I remember now, your eyes, they're still so sad. You're alone, aren't you?"

Callisto stared at her for a few moments and then smiled.

"You remind me of someone I knew a long time ago," she said thoughtfully.

"Who?" Marina asked.

"I'll tell you when I visit you," Callisto said and Marina smiled.

"Okay."

"Thank you," Callisto said.

She turned around and started to walk away and then suddenly disappeared in a flash of fire. Marina, her family and other survivors of the quake stared at the empty spot. Other survivors then looked at Marina and started to talk among themselves, confused by what they had seen.

"Who is she?" Vaios finally asked.

Marina looked at him and shrugged.

"My guardian angel."

The End