Run To Earth (Power of Four) by S Mazhar

ask. Believe us when we say we know best. I can’t stress the importance of this: you must trust us enough to do as we ask.”
    Aaron nodded.
    Chris clapped a hand on his shoulder, offering a weak smile. “Come,” he said, gesturing to the door. “It’s time you saw Salvador.”
    ***
    The day was bright and warm – strange for the month of November. It was the first thing Aaron noticed when he stepped outside. Last night had been too dark and he had been too exhausted to take in much of the place. In the daylight, though, Aaron could see the City of Salvador and what he saw surprised him.
    As Aaron stepped onto the cobbled path, he glanced at the long line of cottages to his right. They all looked the same: small, red-brick squares with slated roofs and green wooden doors. About ten houses down, though, the doors changed to the colour blue. There were small gardens at the front of each cottage – just a patch of grass and some flowers, nothing too impressive. A peeling white fence ran down the front of the gardens, like a worn-out barrier.
    Aaron passed the gate and stared in amazement at the scrubbed wooden table, right smack in the middle of the road. Accompanying chairs were tucked in along both sides. His judgement last night had been almost accurate. It was long enough to run down the length of the road and could easily seat at least five hundred people.
    On the other side of the table were three buildings – tall sandstone structures with big, thick doors. In the distance was the lake he had glimpsed last night. In the morning light, Aaron could really appreciate the sight. A clear, extraordinarily blue sheet of water, glistening in the sunlight, surrounded by trees.
    “Ah, the Adams rest’d?”
    Aaron turned to see the man from last night, Jason Burns, approaching. Daylight was not kind to him. His skin was wrinkled, hair straggly and dry. Long strands of grey hair hung from his eyebrows, almost down into his eyes. When he held out a hand for Chris to shake, Aaron saw that his nails were blackened with dirt.
    “As much as needed, yes,” Chris replied.
    Jason’s beady-eyed gaze jumped to Aaron and he grinned, revealing his yellow teeth again. “His fi’st time in Salvador?” he asked with a nod.
    “Yes,” Chris replied, and Aaron could sense the tension coming off his dad in waves.
    Jason chuckled, shaking his head. “Bless ma beard! Isn’ this somefin’?” His eyes locked with Chris’s. “All the Adams back in our realm. A sure sign o’ good times to come.”
    “I bet it is,” Chris muttered darkly. He turned and took Aaron’s arm a little too tightly. “Come on, let’s go.”
    They passed the table and headed towards the lake, leaving the creepy-looking Jason Burns staring after them.
    “Dad, what is this place?” Aaron asked.
    “I told you, it’s the City of Salvador – a sanctuary,” Chris replied.
    “It looks more like a village than a city,” Aaron said.
    Chris kept on walking but his grip loosened a little. “It used to be a city. Now this is all that’s left of it.”
    Aaron glanced up at him. “All that’s left?”
    His dad didn’t answer straight away; he looked like he was struggling to find what to say. He took in a deep breath. “There’s a war going on, Aaron. A war in this realm that’s tearing our world apart quite literally.”
    “A war?” Aaron asked. “Why? What’s going on?”
    “I want to tell you, really, I do.” Chris rubbed at his head. “It’s just...everything is kind of messed up right now. I don’t know what’s going to happen, so I don’t know what to tell you. We might not even be allowed to stay in this realm.” He let out a sigh. “Just let me get a few things sorted. Then I promise I’ll sit you down and tell you everything.”
    “You said that before,” Aaron reminded him quietly. “You said once we got here we’d talk.”
    “I know, but...” Chris came to a stop, halting Aaron mid-step. “The future as it stands is very