Hyacinth - By Abigail Owen Page 0,43

wasn’t enough to do anything with—yet. But it was her only hope.

What the heck! It was almost as if the invisible wall that had been blocking her powers – unseen but definitely felt - had started to crumble under her constant attempt to use her abilities, and she now was starting to break through.

To test her theory, she pushed just a little bit harder at that spark. It widened slightly and then shrank back as she felt the wielder amp up their own pressure on her. But she could still see that miniscule flicker.

Now she had a shred of hope, a possible avenue open to her. Selene increased the strength behind her constant push to use her power. Not much, only enough to add pressure, but not so much that the blocker – because there had to be a blocker - might suspect anything amiss. With a small smile, she settled back into bed, cramped as it was with the two of them sharing it, and went back to sleep.

*****

The lights turning on woke Selene from the first relatively peaceful slumber she’d had in several nights. She stretched and then glanced over at her companion, who had yet to show any signs of life. Selene checked her pulse again, still worried about her. She couldn’t go on like this much longer. Right?

Immediately, Selene knew that her increased efforts to put pressure on the blocker were working. The small light of the blocker was definitely getting larger. She could see a tiny bit more. She frowned.

I’ll need to be careful and time this well.The blocker will know that I’m fighting them. They’ll know I’m making headway here.

Breakfast was delivered not long after the lights turned on as usual.

By dinnertime, Selene could tell that her edge over her opponent was growing stronger. Selene felt like a rock climber reaching for a cliff above her head and just barely touching it with her fingertips. The blocker was just out of her reach, but with a little patience, she’d get a grip on them.

“Sel—ne!”

The sound of Oren’s voice cutting in and out had Selene jumping up off the bed with a gasp and spinning in a circle, expecting to see her old friend standing beside her. But other than her unconscious companion, she was still alone.

“Oren?” she called out tentatively. Maybe I’m finally losing it. Selene moved into a corner so she could see the entire room and waited.

“—lene. Can --u he-- m-?”

The ghostly form of Oren faded in and out before her eyes.

“I’m here,” she called, careful to keep her voice quiet so her captors wouldn’t hear. She reached out to the fading image. “Oren. Oren. I’m here.”

Selene fell silent and waited, but Oren didn’t reappear. “I’m here,” she whispered, desperation clawing at her. Suddenly a thought occurred to her.

That blocker must be holding back Oren, too. I have to be opening up holes in his ability to contain me.

With a deep breath, Selene sat down in the middle of the floor and crossed her legs. She sat motionless with her eyes closed and concentrated on battling for supremacy over the person who had held her captive. They were both clearly exhausted after so many days of deliberate and constant effort to undermine each other.

The lights finally turned off again hours later, but Selene didn’t move. She hadn’t wavered for even a second from the silent battle in which she was engaged. Her hair now looked like it was plastered to her head. She was soaked in sweat with the effort of the struggle.

Suddenly, Selene could just faintly make out a sound…

“Selene!”

Ellie’s voice sounded as though it was coming through on a really old telephone. But it was something.

Selene slowly opened her eyes, careful not to break her concentration. But the lights were still off, and she couldn’t see a thing through the pitch black. She didn’t dare to try to talk back to Ellie for fear she’d lose the ground she’d gained, but she could feel her in her mind, as though she stood on the other side of the wall. Selene gave a last desperate push against her jailor.

“Selene!”

Suddenly, Ellie’s and Charlotte’s voices were right beside her just as Selene was about to collapse from her effort. Their presence gave her the much needed strength to hold on just a little while longer.

“I’m here. Help me,” she pleaded, still frozen in place.

“It’s pitch black in here. Where are you?” Charlotte stage-whispered.

“In the middle of the floor,” Selene replied. “And there’s a