Page 81 of Gifted

“Hide what?” I cry, near panic. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. Whatever it was, just tell me so we can discuss it. I love you. You know that!”

“Right,” he scoffs. “Well, I don’t need your love. I’ve got others for that, and they’re much more experienced than you.”

I reel from the blow. “What happened to you? What did they tell you?”

He’s gone before I can ask again.

Chapter 14: Patient

I bear my schedule over the next few days with a numbness that doesn’t go unnoticed. Sara, Connor, and Matthew try to cheer me up, but I’m a lost cause with Daniel’s strange tirade still haunting me. My mother’s secret was powerful enough to sever my relationship with him, and I still don’t know what it is. How can he doubt my feelings for him? That’s the only thing I’ve been sure of since the beginning.

Instructions for something or other echo around me for the group activity when Clausen stalks toward me with disturbing urgency.

“I’m sorry to interrupt, but you’re needed immediately,” he says, taking my arm.

“What’s wrong?” I feel the gym’s collective eye as Clausen leads me away at a brisk pace.

“We don’t have time to mince words. Despite your latest conflict with Daniel, we need you to be the bigger person right now.”

Ice spreads through me, slivers of panic. “What’s going on?”

“Hurry! He’s in trouble.”

I jog to keep up down the main hall, past the dining room, past the library. I haven’t been to this remote part of the building, not since my initial tour because—my blood goes cold. I’ve never been sick.

“No,” I whisper.

The infirmary. No! Not now. Not after everything we’ve been through.

Daniel’s odd behavior yesterday spirals into sharp focus, and I shift into a run when the medical wing comes into view.Bursting through the double doors, I begin frantically searching the bays and beds. “Daniel! Where is he? Daniel!”

Clausen catches up to me and grabs my arms. “You need to calm down first. We need you calm.”

I blink back my terror and force a nod. Do I look calm? I feel like a walking cyclone when he leads me to an isolated suite at the end of the wing. Already shaking, I stumble against the door when I see him.

Daniel is motionless on the bed, his skin the color of death. A few staff members hover around his body, staring numbly.

“You need to fix this,” Clausen says, and I turn on him.

“What are you talking about? What could I possibly do?”

I rush to the bed and take his limp hand. Nothing. A black empty void that nearly kills me.

“Why aren’t you doing anything? Why are you all just standing there?” I sob. I can’t breathe, can’t think, as the terrifying answer assaults my brain. They aren’t doing anything because there’s nothing to do.

We’re too late.

Tears burn down my cheeks as I collapse beside him. I want to scream, plead, punch him all at once, but nothing can release the storm battering my insides. The longer we’re suspended in silence, the more I become aware of their perplexing expectations.

“What is it?” I bark through my tears. They stare, and I straighten. “I can only see the past and future. Believe me, I’d give my life to save him right now, but what good would my abilities do? I can’t even see anything when someone is unconscious—let alone, dead.”

“He’s not dead. Yet.” Clausen takes my arms and forces me to face him. “There’s something you need to know. We haven’t told you, because you weren’t ready. Unfortunately, we don’t have a choice anymore. Daniel made sure of that.”

“What are you talking about?” My voice is barely audible.

Clausen softens, hesitating before he continues with a reverent tone. “You don’t see the future, Rebecca. You create it.”

Air drains from my lungs as I stagger backwards. “No.” I shake my head. Just, no.

---