Destiny Gift (The Everlast Trilogy) - By Juliana Haygert Page 0,37

those lines.”

“And I want a cotton candy first,” I said as my stomach growled.

The girls and I parted ways to get what we wanted, and agreed to meet again near the kissing booth. Raisa wanted to see who were the girls giving kisses out and the guys who would pay for them.

I nibbled my cotton candy, ambling to the meeting point, my mind distracted by the real world and mundane things, when I saw Victor. I froze. He arrived and headed toward the booth he had helped set up. I couldn’t pretend he didn’t look handsome in dark jeans and a long-sleeved white shirt.

But beside his looks and sexy do-not-get-close stance, I was disappointed in him. I was starting to think he knew I would never say no to healing him, but that didn’t mean I enjoyed being used.

Adding to my frustration was the reality that my visions scared me. They made no sense, and they weren’t about Victor anymore. In the back of my mind I could see the answer: It was time to seek professional help. But what if I was hospitalized or interned in a clinic? I’d risk not graduating. If I didn’t graduate and get a good job, there wouldn’t be anyone else to help my family, to provide a better future for them. Could I do that to them? I would rather call Cheryl, ask for her help, see if there was a way to cure me of this insanity without being locked away in an asylum, but I couldn’t find her.

“Nice view,” Olivia said from behind me, rescuing me from my thoughts. “He’s really cute.”

“Yes, he is.” Trying to forget about him, I turned to her and saw she was frowning while munching her pizza. “What is it?”

“I have a terrible headache.” She rubbed her temple with her free hand. “Even ibuprofen and paracetamol aren’t working anymore.”

An idea popped into my head. “Let me try something.” I offered her my hand and, frowning even more, she put hers over mine.

Nothing happened. At least, I didn’t feel any shock or jolt or warmth or cold. I tried thinking about healing her, taking away her pain, but I didn’t feel my energy being passed into her. And, when I saw her suspicious gaze examining me as if I were crazy, I pulled my hand from hers.

“What were you trying to do?” she asked. I shrugged and she laughed. “You’ve been watching too much TV. The spiritual healers in TV series aren’t your style.”

I forced a smile. “They aren’t, right?”

But my mind was elsewhere. I was starting to believe I couldn’t distinguish reality from visions anymore. How could I heal Victor and Micah and not heal Olivia?

A guy sauntered past us with a sweatshirt from NYU’s football team. The number displayed on his sweatshirt was eighty-six. And sure enough, the eight glowed like a beacon.

My pulse rose. Oh God, please, I didn’t want to be crazy.

I turned around and started walking away. Connecting with Victor didn’t matter anymore. Not if I was losing my mind. Even if there was a special connection between real Victor and me, the way there was in my visions, if I was mentally ill, I shouldn’t be trying to connect with anyone. Besides, all that happened when we talked was about my touch. That wasn’t something to build a relationship on—me crazy and him using me. I’’d had enough.

“Hey, Nad, where you going?” Raisa asked when I darted past her.

I stopped just long enough to answer. “Home. I’m not feeling well.” I resumed my walk before she could say anything that would or could change my mind.

Then a loud caw came from above. My palms dampened. I looked up and saw the raven flying against the dark sky. The scar confirmed it was the same one. Oh no. Not the damn black bird too.

I pressed forward, hoping to leave the crowd before frantic tears spilled out of my eyes.

Every few steps, I glanced up to keep tabs on the bird’s location, wishing it would stay around the carnival to prove it wasn’t following me.

I was almost out of the crowd when Victor appeared by my side. “You don’t seem well.”

“And what do you care?” I snapped before resuming my frantic stride.

He caught up with me. “What’s the matter?”

I halted again, and my breath caught when I looked deeply into his wonderful sea-green eyes. They weren’t as hostile as before. For a second, I could pretend he was my Victor, the one I