5 A New World (2/2)

Getting drenched by the rain, Will decided to put his wet weather gear on. He was about to take off his leather jacket when a hint of sentimentality hit him. 'I may as well keep something on to remind me where I came from,' he thought as he reconsidered taking it off. Instead he put the waterproof jacket over his own and zipped it up. 'It'll be a little warm later,' Will thought, 'but right now I'm drenched and I don't have any other way to keep warm.'

Will thought about how warm it had been before he left, the sun high in the sky. He thought of a camp fire, of a sauna, a hot tub, any kind of warming thought he had. He was in desperate need of one of those things. All he could think of was heat. If he could only feel the warmth of a fire around him, maybe he could make it through the night.

He thought so intently on the warmth, he almost felt it. The heat rolling off of his skin, starting from his chest and working it's way around his entire body. It was like a living fire was spreading around his body. Will instantly opened his eyes in surprise. He wasn't almost feeling this warmth, he was! Somehow his intense thoughts towards getting warm had unlocked something within him.

The warmth that had been summoned out of nowhere slowly dried his clothes within minutes. Will was dumbfounded by this strange phenomena as the heat didn't even dissipate, instead it tuned into a dull wave within his body almost like a space heater would do only ten times stronger. Will tested the new sensation by taking off his poncho. Instead of getting drenched, he could see where the rain evaporated just an inch before it touched his skin, his jacket stayed warm and his white t shirt didn't get a drop of rain on it. Will looked down in wonder when he was witnessing something that could only be magic.

'No real time to dwell on what I can't explain,' Will thought and then began to pack up the items in which he summoned. As he put all the items back excluding a canteen he hooked to his belt loop. He didn't need the wet weather gear any longer due to the new heat aura he had somehow unlocked. Will decided to test one more thing, he put his hand back in the bag and summoned a canteen. Noticing the weight of the container, he could tell it was still full of water. Putting it back in a pouch, Will closed the bag and slung it on his back once more.

Not really having to worry about rain getting in his eyes anymore, Will prepared himself once more for the journey. He knew it would take a while to get to the mountains, but just staying in one place wasn't an option. If he didn't move forward, he wouldn't get out of the wasteland. There was no television reporter to tell him when the rain would stop or when it would start up again so he had to guess he only had enough water to last him until he reached the mountain.

With the heat roiling within his jacket, Will put another foot down in the new world and continued to the mountain. This time was a little different as he trekked through the desert. This time he knew he wasn't alone, as his father had thought enough to entrust this bag to him, a bag that indeed did have all the provisions he needed. He had been trained by Jonathan in the way of survival since a very young age.

Will could only cringe when he thought of everything Jonathan put him through. The physical and mental training he had endured for the two years they were alone. He could remember the camping trips in which he would have to fend for himself, the nights with no tent and just a waterproof sleeping bag, or the mountain climbing. He had been put through his own personal boot camp. Will groaned, if anything his father had prepared him for exactly the moment he was party to. It was as if Jonathan knew that one day he would be taking this journey.

If there was one thing the desert was good for, it was allowing Will to reflect on his life as he continued to the mountain. Foot after foot, looking around and seeing nothing but sand aside from his obvious landmark.

Thinking back, Will knew that he had started his training within a week after his mother left. Jonathan had to know at least a little about what he was to go through. He had often thought that maybe it was just a way for his father to cope with Isabelle being gone.

With a look of determination, Will continued on his journey. He had no idea what lay ahead, but to him, it would be better to take it head on rather than to stay and wait. With each step, he became closer to the mountain. Just like in the dream, he had to reach the landmark. Michael wasn't around this time to give him a pep talk or to train him, he had to get through this himself. If he couldn't survive, how could he possibly survive his stay in this new world? Will steeled himself for the future, he had to get past this one obstacle if he wanted to be worthy of his fathers training. If he couldn't get through this, then what exactly had he endured for the past two years?

Walking the path only he could see in front of him, Will continued straight forward towards the mountains. He didn't know what was on the other side, but if he'd have to guess, it would have to be better than the desolate wasteland he had arrived in.