her time with her new boyfriend and has forgotten all about you. You aren’t important to her anymore.”
The wind starts to pick up. I concentrate harder on the rock and lightning. I push the clouds away. I don’t want to bring a storm.
“Adam harassed you in the park last year, but you got away, so he accused you of coming onto him. He and his girlfriend tormented you your whole senior year. They made fun of your name, called you a freak, told many rumors about you.” I can feel the power building up inside, pushing to the surface. It’s still sunny around, but the wind is intensifying even more. I concentrate more on the rock. I can’t see anything else around me.
Only the rock.
“Now, Adam is working for Dravin. Dravin kidnapped you and tortured you for information. Adam is his new recruit and will do anything to finish what he started last time. You were weak and weren’t able to escape on your own. You have to rely on everyone around you to keep you safe. You don’t have any family left. You’re all alone.”
I am literally vibrating with the power that is surging to the surface. It’s too much magic. I double over and scream. Everything inside me is released and shoots towards the rock. A lightning bolt manifests out of the clear sky and hits the ground in front of me. When the energy hits the rock, it shatters. Fragments catapults in every direction and all the energy I had just pushed out ricochets back. Energy and rock pieces hit Liam and me, sending us flying backwards.
I freefall through the air momentarily before landing on the hard ground. “Ugh……that went well.”
Groaning, I try to sit up. My bones and muscles protest with the movement, before a set of hands pull me into a standing position. I can hear Colton talking to me, but there is a slight ringing in my ears. Swaying, I lean back against his chest, waiting for the haze to pass.
“Did I do that?” The grass around the area where the rock was previously is now brown and dead. Smoke tendrils are rising out of the ground and coalescing with the air. Rock pieces are scattered haphazardly all across the yard.
“Yeah, you did.” Colton replies. He brushes his thumb across my forehead, “You’re bleeding.”
“I’m fine. Where’s Liam?” I turn around and find him on my own, standing with David and Emma. “Oh my gosh, Liam, I’m so sorry. Are you okay? You’re not hurt are you?”
“I’m fine, Ryanne. I said too much. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to lay all that out like that. Are you okay?” He pauses and his eyes linger on my forehead, “You’re bleeding.”
“You didn’t say anything that I haven’t thought about. This exercise allowed me to release some pent-up issues I’ve had. It was a good thing. Very cathartic...I just wish I could have controlled that a little better.”
Claire and Tom finally make their way over to us, “Ryanne, that was excellent. You did it.” She beams, but when she fully looks at me, her smile falls. “You’re bleeding.”
I feel something wet start to drip down my face. Reaching up, I put a hand to my forehead. When I bring it down, I find that it’s covered in blood.
“Oh.” Suddenly, I feel woozy. If I wasn’t still leaning against Colton, I probably would have fallen down again. I was never able to stand the sight of blood.
“I got it,” says Logan. He cups my face in his hands and inhales, concentrating on the spot. A couple of seconds later, he opens his eyes and smiles down at me. “All better.”
“Thank you.”
David bumps me with his shoulder. “Remind me never to make you angry.” I playfully shove at him.
“Claire, I’m so sorry about your yard. I’ll clean it up!”
“Goodness, girl, you apologize a lot. Come on, I made dinner.” She starts walking back towards the house.
I arch my head up and ask Colton, “Does she want me to clean the yard up?” Shaking his head and chuckling, he grabs my wrist and drags me inside. “Well, does she?”
Dinner was excellent—vegetarian lasagna with a side salad and fruit. It was full of immature banter, laughter, and an attempted food fight between David and Logan. Claire wouldn’t allow that and sent everyone upstairs, while she cleaned. I attempted to help, but she shooed me away.
Sitting in the entertainment room, we just relax and enjoy each other’s company. No movies are playing. We