within me. My skin felt like it was moving against my body, fluctuating rapidly between hot and cold. I wiped my sweaty palms against my pant legs and took silent, deep breaths, watching as the invisible pulsing from my body started to affect the objects around me.
My head quickly snapped up as I heard Jenni's laughter. She was practically sitting in the guy’s lap now, garnering the attention of everyone within the vicinity.
“Sounds like someone’s jealous.” Rose pointed out snidely.
I answered her without moving my eyes. “No, I'm not.”
“Then why are you so worried about it?”
“Because it’s wrong!” I locked my gaze onto Rose, my jaw tightening, trying to reign in my words.
“Look, it’s just the way it is. It may suck, but there's nothing we can do about it.”
I rolled my eyes and slumped into my seat. “Whatever.” I picked up my fork and started pushing the mystery meat around my tray.
“Anyways, you're coming to the Halloween dance with us. End of discussion.”
“Why are you so determined that I go? I don't want to go!”
She smirked and leaned across the table. “You're going. I don't care if I have to make you. You need to do something normal for once.”
“What the hell’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means you haven't been yourself lately, and we miss you.” Brandon cut in before Rose could open her mouth.
I shook my head and looked at them in exasperation. Why didn't they understand? “I don't think this is a good idea.”
“Too bad, you've been putting us through a ton of shit these past couple of weeks. So just think of this as friendly pay back. Besides, I can make you go.” My darkness rose to that obvious challenge.
The momentary calm I felt fled as my eyesight narrowed until all my anger and vision was focused like a laser beam on Rose. “Yeah, we have enough proof of that from your daddy.”
Rose stared at me, pale faced and slack jawed.
“That's harsh Star, even for you.” Came Brandon’s soft reprimand.
I tried to shake my vision, but couldn't.
“Dude, what's wrong with your eyes?” Whatever Rose saw made her face pale until I thought she was going to be sick. “Shit,” she whispered.
Chapter Twenty
My gaze and focus snapped and locked onto Jenni as I heard a ruckus from the courtyard. I felt the darkness within me start to strain against my skin, reaching forward, looking for any weakness. Jenni was thrown over the same guys shoulder. Her face lit up with delight as the fountain sprinkled merrily in the background, seeming to provide the perfect accompaniment for their antics.
“She doesn't deserve him. She should drown in the pain she knowingly and unknowingly causes others.” I whispered, feeling the energy pulsing around me.
The damn within me broke, sending a shuddering release throughout my. I could almost see the tendrils of the dark energy moving through the crowded cafeteria. Seeking its target. The world seemed to pause as I felt myself completely empty, creating a shell of what I once was. I felt like the last good part of me was hidden deep inside, pushing against the barrier the darkness had created.
The fountains spray started to slow down to a steady stream, until finally, it stopped. The people in the courtyard froze with the oncoming silence. They looked curiously at the fountain, then moved closer, peering into the once filled pool only to see small puddles of the water that was left. A buzzing noise could be heard throughout the cafeteria as everyone stopped to stare. The fountain shuddered, causing the people surrounding it to jump back, startled. Straining, the fountain started to jerk. Everyone retreated from it slowly, not knowing what was going on but heeding their bodies warning system to danger.
Jenni was making her way slowly to the cafeteria doors when the first bolt fired off, causing a pressurized spray of water to shoot out. The bolt whistled through the air, making a loud thud against the brick wall of the courtyard. The crowd started to move faster then, as if the noise was enough to kick them into action.
I watched as groups of people fought over the doors, trying to make their escape. The sound of more bolts breaking under the pressure caused a frenzied reaction to the group outside, and a reaction to those in the cafeteria. I rose slowly as I watched a group of males go to the cafeteria doors leading to the courtyard, pulling, pushing, hitting against the glass to no avail. It wouldn't open. None of the doors would open.
Jenni stood frozen, watching in horror as the continuing spray from the water seemed to merge together and started moving toward her. She backed away faster and reached behind her, trying to open the door. The high powered spray finally found its mark. It picked Jenni up off the ground and threw her with a dull thud against the cafeteria doors, keeping her pinned in place.
I watched in slow motion as the crowd became more frantic, trying to save Jenni, their leader. The other people in the courtyard huddled together in groups, sobbing, screaming, and trying to open the immovable doors. They faded from my vision as I focused solely on Jenni. On the hell that I had unknowingly released. I pushed myself forward, fighting through the crowds, trying to reach her.
A hurricane of thoughts ran through my mind. I had to help. I had to stop this. I couldn't let her get hurt like Becca. Hurt... Becca... Hurt... Becca. I hurt Becca. I suddenly froze, feeling the truth ram into me like a thousand fists. I couldn't breathe as an insurmountable fear filled me. I was terrified. Afraid of what I was. What I could do. I felt helpless and I hated it. The feeling felt wrong, my soul screamed at me in denial. I wasn't helpless, I couldn't be. If I could release the darkness, even on accident, then I should be able to call it back to me. It was a dangerous thought, an insane idea, but I had to try.
I closed my eyes and reached out with my senses, trying to find the darkness and energy that I had become accustomed to. I found it scattered throughout the surrounding area. I started mentally calling it to me, into me, and embracing it for once instead of fearing it. My eyes snapped open as I felt it fill me. Felt it return home. With determined strides, I shoved my way through the crowd with one thought in mind, I must save Jenni.
A group of males barred my path ten feet away from the door. I tried to shove my way through, but they kept shoving me back, pushing me away from my goal. Frantic, I called upon the darkness within me, fearing I'd be too late to save her.
“Enough!” I yelled into the masses, not allowing myself time to process the fact that everyone froze, forced to obey. I stepped forward and looked at the group in front of me. “Move.” At my command, they moved in sync, forming two perfect lines that framed the door. I'd freak out about that later.
I moved quickly, trying to call off the energy that kept the water going, kept it attacking Jenni. The closer I got, the less violent the water became. I reached forward and wrenched the door open at the same time that the water left, leaving Jenni to fall seemingly lifeless into my arms.
I knelt on the tiled floor and looked down into Jenni's pale, haunted face. Panic and fear raced through me, causing my hands to shake and silent tears to fall down my face.
I shook her shoulders gently. Her heavy, limp body moved like a rag doll. Lifeless. “C'mon, wake up—” my horror rose with each passing second. Jenni remained still in my arms. Water dripped steadily from her cold body onto me, causing a bitter cold to seep into my skin, into my soul.
I leaned forward and jerked my hair away from Jenni, trying to get close enough to listen for an indrawn breath, any sign of life. I heard nothing but the erratic beating of my own heart pounding in my ears. I placed my hands on the side of Jenni's face, calling the darkness to the front once again.
“Breath—” I sobbed, pushing the energy into Jenni. I prayed with everything I had that it would work, that I wasn't crazy, and that I could control it. Even if it was only to save my enemy.
Gasping, Jenni lurched her head to the side, coughing up the water that was impeding her lungs. Once it was all expelled, she fell still again, unconscious. I let out a sigh of relief at the sight of Jenni's chest rising and falling steadily with her breathing. I looked up into the crowd, finally realizing that it was quiet. Too quiet.
