Do I look like a warrior?
“I’m not the one that can help end this war going on. I’m a vegetarian. I can’t even eat meat without feeling bad for the animals and you’re telling me that I’m supposed to fight in a war and harm people? I can’t do that. I don’t have any friends and blush every time I talk to a cute guy. I’d rather sit in the back of a room, unnoticed, because I hate attention. That kind of sounds like a lot of attention and responsibility. There’s nothing special about me, Claire. I’m not that girl. I can’t be that girl.”
Chapter Seven
Claire, David, and Colton all just stare at me. I understand that I just went on a rant, but what did they expect? Did they think that I would just accept everything they say and take it like a champ? Psh, no. I freak out. I don’t like change. Everything they just told me would result in a giant lifestyle change. They think that I’m this awesome girl that is supposed to bring an end to this freakishly long war? Well, they’ve got another thing coming. I’m not that person. I don’t want to be responsible for their debacle.
“Ryanne,” Colton says, “fate rarely calls upon us at a moment of our choosing.”
“That’s from Transformers, Colton. I’ve seen the movie.”
Shrugging, “It still fits.” I probably would have laughed at the movie reference had the voices not started up again. It’s strange to know that these are actually someone’s thoughts. She’s taking this better than I thought she would. I wonder if there is any food in the refrigerator. I haven’t eaten in a while. She just needs some time. It’s a lot to take on.
“Oh no. Not again.” I close my eyes and concentrate on pushing the thoughts back. Following Colton’s instructions, I’m able to get a handle on them. When I feel them lock in place, I open my eyes back up. Everyone is still staring at me. I wish they would stop doing that. It is too much attention.
I stifle a yawn, realizing for the first time how tired I actually am. Exhaustion is finally setting in. My eyelids feel like they weigh a ton and my body is starting to feel very sluggish.
Claire speaks to everyone in the room, “That’s enough for today. Why don’t we all get ready for bed? Ryanne, you should probably stay here for the night. Tomorrow, we can work on getting your gift under more control. Do you need to contact anyone?”
“No, Jane is away for the week. I would have been home alone anyways.”
“I’ll find some clothes for you to wear for the night.” Turning towards Colton she says, “Can you show her to the guest bedroom?”
“Yeah, follow me.”
I get up slowly, hoping that the dizziness won’t make another appearance. “So, I probably should have asked this earlier, but where exactly am I?”
“In our house. Well, Aunt Claire’s house.”
“No, I know that, but where in town is this exactly?”
“Oh, you know the large patch of woods a little ways behind the bookstore?” He asks, still walking.
“Yeah.”
“We’re in there.”
I give him a sideways glance, wondering if he is being serious. When he doesn’t say anything, I reply, “So, we are in the woods, behind the bookstore?” He nods in confirmation. “Far enough in, so that if you guys tried to kill me in my sleep, no one would hear me scream?”
He smirks, “Yep.”
“May I ask why?”
“So no one will hear you when you scream,” he nonchalantly states. I stop walking. I know that my mouth drops. Shaking his head, he laughs, “It’s because sometimes our magic gets out of hand and we don’t want everyone to find out about us. It could cause a lot of problems, so we live in isolation.”
“I love the woods. I go and sit in the woods behind Jane’s house all the time, just to think or draw. It’s relaxing.”
He looks at me strangely; his expression unreadable. He stops walking and opens a door to the right, “This is the guest bedroom.”
When the door swings open and I see the expansive room, I immediately back away from the door. “I can’t stay here. It’s too much. I can just sleep on the couch. I don’t mind.”
Colton reaches out, grabs my arm, and drags me into the room, barely putting any effort in though I am trying really hard to remain outside. “You’re going to sleep here tonight. Claire wouldn’t let you sleep on