“So what do we have here?” Paylon’s eyes scan Alexander and me before glancing up and seeing Zavy in the tree above us. “An escaped citizen, a prisoner, and an un-loyal officer,” Paylon says, leading his horse just inches closer to us. I step forward, ready to use my gift, when he starts laughing at my stupidity, and then my eyes land on the glowing green rocks around all three of their necks. “Don’t tell me you haven’t already figured out that I’m immune to your gift.”
“Paylon what are you talking about? Adaline doesn’t have the gift,” Alexander says, stepping forward with me.
“Of course she does, Alexander. Let me tell you a little secret. Statistics show that almost every child with green eyes has the gift.” My heartbeat quickens and I feel ashamed to not have said something to him earlier. Tears brim my eyes and I can barely make out the hurt expression on his face.
“I know how you must feel Alexander,” Paylon says, “Betrayed, unwanted, not trusted. Go ahead Adaline, tell him what gift you have. Let’s just start getting the truth out.” Paylon’s immaturity of only being 18 shows in the tone of his remarks.
I’m silent for a moment longer as I take in a deep breath, “Force Lifter,” I mumble.
“What was that Adaline? I couldn’t quite hear you.” Paylon smirks, bleeding with arrogance.
I lift my head and stare at him. My eyes are red from the tears, and immense amounts of anger are starting to build inside of me. I respond one last time as I shout, “Force Lifter. I am a Force Lifter.” As I scream the words the ground beneath my feet shakes with the powers in my body coursing through my veins.
With that out, I’m ready to battle. I raise my hand and snap thousands of branches off the trees, and launch them straight at Paylon and the search group. I’m taken aback by how seamlessly my gift worked. I don’t even remember processing the thought it just happened. Even at the intense speed I throw the branches they are deflected by the armor, but I do happen to hit their horses. I watch as the horses stand on their hind legs, flipping Paylon, Codian, and Chadian off their backs and fleeing into the woods.
“Get them!” I hear Paylon shout, aggravated that I have outsmarted him. The horses have run into the woods taking Paylon and his partners’ swords with them. Defenseless I watch Paylon, Codian, and Chadian sink back into the woods for cover.
I whip around just in time to see an army of about 20 soldiers coming toward us, all with the green glowing rocks around their necks that Alexander had described last night. I know my gift can’t affect them directly, but I can still control the objects around us.
With my gift, I take hot stones from the fire and launch them at the soldiers. I break down tree branches smashing groups of soldiers, stopping everyone in my path. Most of the trees I break down aren’t on purpose, I still can’t control this gift, but the mayhem and destruction are working.
On the other hand, Zavy and Alexander aren’t doing so well. Alexander is good with his sword and many men have fallen injured from him. I watch him fight and he is focused too much on where his sword hits so he just injures and not kills these soldiers. There are too many men though and his careful tactic is his weakness. Just as he’s freed himself from a group of guards another has pulled Zavy from the tree.
The lid to the bunker flies open and I hear Toby scream and run out of the shelter, prepared to save his sister. We should have covered the lid so he couldn’t run out.
Zavy rolls on her back and fires her bow and the three guards who had pulled her from the tree. As Toby runs to his sister another guard catches him and throws him over his shoulder.
“Toby!” Zavy screams and she tries to fire at the guard who begins to run off with her brother. Paylon joins him and they begin running away with Codian and Chadian following close behind. An idea comes to mind too late to save Toby, but just in time to save us.
I start to picture all of the guards’ swords being moved to their hearts. I might not be able to control the soldiers’ movement, but I can control their weapons. All of the swords start shaking in the air, and the guards scream and retreat into the woods. Alexander and Zavy fall to the ground breathing heavily, showing how exhausted they are, and for a second I hesitate killing the guards. For a second I let my heart into battle, but I know deep down that if I don’t kill them they will just be back to kill me.
So, I focus on the swords. One deep breath in. Hold it. My mind flashes back to the gold coin and the guard in the castle. Focus. I stare into the array of swords and they become still in the air. I stare so hard into them their surroundings become blurry and I can feel my eyes pulsing in my head. As I let out my breath I push the swords through the guards’ bodies and watch as they all fall to the ground
