Chapter 26
All week it’s the same thing, I wake to feel overly tired from an awful night’s sleep, followed by a boring day at college, then an awkward dinner with mum – as per usual. Until finally, the week is over and I make it to the night we’ve set to complete the ritual, freeing me of these unwanted powers.
“I can’t see the sun anymore,” Aimee points out, levitating off the wall.
Covered by a dark shade of blue, the sky slowly begins its descent into darkness, eradicating the sun from sight for another day.
“Aimee! Someone might see you!” huffs Miah, grabbing and pulling her leg until she’s back to the ground.
“I’m sorry,” she says sullenly. “But this could be the last time I’ll ever feel the weightlessness of freedom.”
Hit by the sadness in her voice, my stomach launches into my throat and although the others have not been as vocal about it, I know they must all be feeling the same way.
Matthew, who’s been quieter than normal this week, begins to throw balls of light into the air, illuminating the otherwise darkened car park. “There!” he proclaims. “This’ll make this place seem a lot less creepy.”
“Enough!” Miah fumes. “If everyone could stop using their powers, that’ll be just great!”
“Jealous?” Matthew teases.
Rolling her eyes, Miah jumps from the wall and playfully squares up to him. “Oh, I’m sorry, does Mr one-power not like taking orders?”
With a joint gasp, Riley and Aimee watch in awe as Matthew and Miah fire off jokey insults to each other, adding the odd ‘ooh’ and ‘aww’, like they’re at a firework display. And this goes on for the next few minutes as each one debates who has the better power, or powers – as Miah likes to remind him. And as much as I do enjoy watching someone being able to answer Matthew back, I can’t concentrate enough, so jump from the wall and wander across the eerie carpark.
Stars begin to shine brightly in the now darkened sky, each one a hole of light pierced in an otherwise black sheet that covers us from above, almost like Matthew has sent up some more bullets of light. To the distance, I hear footstep sound and for a moment, I convince myself they belong to Callum, who’s readying himself to pounce at me.
“You ok?” Matthew hesitates, taking a seat on the reception steps beside me.
“As much as I can be, considering.” I shrug. “I just can’t help but think this is all my fault.”
He playfully nudges me. “It is.” He says, matter-of-factly.
“Not now, Matthew.” I hiss.
He continues, ignoring my command entirely. “We’re doing all this for you. Our powers, the powers of people we don’t even know… We’re binding them for you.”
Like a dagger to the heart, his words cut at me, causing me a deep unreachable pain. “You’re saying this… tonight, of all nights!” I choke words competing against my pulsating chest.
“Let me finish!” he demands. “Yes, we’re doing this for you and we’ll all lose our powers… But! It’s only the Half-Breeds that’ll lose them. Meaning, every single one of us has lived a life without powers before. Do you know what I trying to get at?”
Having felt like I’ve already taken a few punches from his words alone, I remain silence and stare back at him, trying to decipher his blunt statement.
“I guess what I’m trying to say is, don’t beat yourself up over it so much. The best thing about being human… or half, is we learn to adapt, it’s in our nature. We did it when we gained these powers and we’ll do it again when we lose them.” He then ruffles up my neatly combed hair. “Just like you’re learning to live without those awful hats!”
Jumping to his feet in mere seconds to avoid my striking hand, Matthew chuckles to himself as he casually strolls back to the others while they look on in wonder.
Of all people, could he be right? First and foremost, we are all human or at least half of our heritage is. And only through adapting to our surroundings have we been able to become the dominant species of this world, powers or no powers. It’ll be hard for some, I don’t doubt that, but I cannot be allowed to keep my powers and sadly, that means no one else can either.
“They’re here! They’re here!” Aimee shrieks.
Fighting back my anxieties, I try my normal breathing technique only for it to fail, and by the time I make it half way across the carpark, Talia and her sidekicks have already joined the rest of the group. “We’re sorry we’re late, but we’re here now.” She says, echoing the first thing Matthew ever said to her.
Instantly, my eyes are drawn to Callum, who looks as if he’s about to have a nervous breakdown; trembling and twitching with each move he makes. He’s so awkward to watch, even I begin to feel uneasy. More so than I already am, if that’s possible.
“He ok?” a concerned Miah asks.
“Fine.” Lucas shoots back with a glare.
“Yeah… I’m fine.” Adds Callum in a whimper.
Pushing past with a sigh, Talia signals to follow and leads us to the large metal doors with red hazardous signs on them. “Lucas,” she calmly says, completely unfazed by what’s to come. “If you will.”
Stretching out his body, Lucas begins clicking his joints, including his neck which makes me cringe. Then he leaps into the air, disintegrating into a puff of grey smoke. He’s fast, much quicker than he was before, and as if to be blown by the wind he darts for the ground, squeezing through the small crack at the base of the door. Much like waiting for Darcy to answer her front door, we all stand silently as he fiddles with the lock, until the heavy door judders open in a loud creak with Lucas stood smugly behind it. “That’s how it’s done.” He smirks.
“Gloat later. We’ve work to do.” Talia snaps, barging past him.
For once, I welcome her usual rudeness, as it’s finally directed at someone deserving, wiping that smug look from his face.
Years of contained stagnant water hits us all in a wave as we hesitantly follow Talia inside. It must have flooded at some point during the winter, which would explain the smell and mouldy wooden crates that have been left in storage under the winding stairs.
Walking carefully to the centre, as the floor is covered with slimy green algae, I look up and stumble backwards into Riley. “It’s a long way up.” I gulp.
“More like a long way down.” He worries.
Keeping in a single file, we each steadily make our way up the stairs, tightly holding onto the damp railing. Having already walked for many minutes, I hear Aimee laugh as Riley curses the step he just slipped on, then foolishly look over the side and realise how high we’ve really come. Frozen to the spot, I feel the nudge of Miah behind me. “Hun?” she questions.
Heart pounding, I take three quick breaths. “I’m ok,” I confirm, taking a frigid step higher.
Finally, we reach a ladder that leads to a wooden trap door above. It’s not high, having maybe about six or seven runs to it. Already to the top, Talia pushes with all her might but the trap door doesn’t budge. “It’s stuck.” She fumes, as she tries a second time.
“Can’t smokey do his awesome thing again?” asks Aimee.
Lucas rolls his eyes. “It stuck, not locked.” He sighs.
“Maybe I can help?” Mathew hesitates. “I’ve gotten pretty good at this light thing.”
Instantly, I’m filled with worry, having seen how powerful he can be, but Matthew assures me he’ll be fine and that he’s practised many times, before ushering us all away. “Make sure you stand back,” he adds.
Positioning himself beneath the trapdoor, Matthew raises his hands above his head and points his palms out. Next, he pushes his heels into the ground as if he’s about to be rugby tackled and within seconds a beam of light fires through his hands into the trapdoor. With a loud crash, splintered wood comes crash down and Matthew is thrown to the floor.
“Matthew!” I cry, running to him.
Dazed, he struggles to focus on my face. “Whoa,” he murmurs. “That’s how it’s done.”
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Talia climbs the ladder first, followed by her goons and then me. Each one of us taking it in turns, leaving Aimee until last, who uses the opportunity to use her power and levitate into the room with a wide grin. “That’s it,” she sighs. “The last time I’ll ever have that feeling.”
Once again her words hit me like a lorry, of which I am trapped in the head lights with no escape. It saddens me, knowing this is all my fault, but I have to look to the future, of which there won’t be one if I’m allowed to keep my powers.
Inside the clock face is much darker than I thought it would be, considering the four walls are frosted glass with black metal bars and cogs fixed to them. It’s like a deserted construction site, cluttered with old tools that lay scattered across the floor, and above, there are industrial lights hanging from beams. “Let’s hope these still work,” says Riley, as he flips the switch on a generator.
For a moment, nothing happens, leaving us in the dark. And as much as I want this over and done with, it becomes apparent that we’ll find it near impossible to do anything here tonight. But just as we’re about to give up, the motor starts, much like an old car engine, and the lights above begin to flicker before illuminating the room completely.
“Homely, isn’t it?” jokes Matthew, as he searches through a stack of old dusty boxes. “Where’s this Nexus-Point, then?”
As if to feel the air, Talia navigates herself through the room, gliding as she does, like dancing. “Only I’ll be able to find it.” She confirms.
“Of course, she’d be the only one.” Miah scoffs.
Suddenly, Talia lets out a cry. “Here!” She bellows as she begins to shake.
On her within seconds, Lucas props her up as the rest of us crowd around. Brushing her thick hair from her face, Talia composes herself and takes a deep drawn out breath. “I’ve never felt power like it. It’s like it’s a part of me, and I, a part of it. Connected.”
“Well, you do share the same name.” Riley smirks.
“You wouldn’t understand.” She shoots back. “It feels like… I’m home.”
Her words send a shiver down my spine as I realise how little we truly know about Nexus-Points. What’s to stop anyone of us being sucked into one? Would it take us to Mundarium? Would we even be welcomed? It’s thoughts like these I battle to ignore, especially now, moments before being part of a ritual to seal them and change the world.
Looking to me, Talia asks. “This is it. Are you ready to go back to a normal life?”
I simply nod, unable to find words.
Offering me her hand and the other to Matthew, we stand in the centre, right where she fell, creating a half circle. “The rest of you stand back.” She warns.
Suddenly, I begin to feel a tingling sensation run through my arm. “Is this normal?” I worry.
“Yes. We’re connected.” She confirms. “But I must warn you,” – now she must warn me? – “Do not activate your power while I absorb it, otherwise, it will backfire.”
Why!? Why would she tell me not to do something? Immediately after being told not to do something, my body wants to do it. And already I can feel the burning sensation begin to rise from within. I try to stop it, clench all my muscles and squirm on the spot under the pressure.
Wide-eyed, Talia looks to me worryingly. “Mitchell?” she questions.
But it’s too late, a surge of energy flows down my arm and through my hand, igniting the second it touches her skin.