Page 81 of In Between Darkness
“Calm down, Alex, you don’t want to do something you might regret.” I try to reason with him. My light worker Gifts are no match for his. His orbs are twice the size of mine, and I know he can hold them for longer than I can.
“I won’t calm down until you get what’s coming to you.”
He smiles a menacing smile and throws his orb in my direction. It launches towards me like a bullet and knocks me off balance. It singes a few strands of my hair and crashes into the brick wall beside me.
“I want a rematch. No cheating with the sand this time and no teachers to break up the party.” His voice rumbles with anger as I pull myself up and wipe the dust off my clothes.
“I’m not going to fight you, Alex.” I avoid eye contact with him and begin walking towards the door. I do not have time for this.
“Not so fast.”
Alex moves quickly and reaches the door before me. He spins around, and I hear the lock click. He’s got me trapped. His cold hands push at my chest with force, and I tumble back down to the floor again. My blood begins to boil; my eyes harden as I look up at his smug face. I hate him. I hate him so fucking much. My skin feels hot, like it is going to sizzle and peel off, and I fight the urge to erupt. I have to stifle my anger. I can already feel the pot bubbling over, and I know my portal is trying to manifest. I swallow the feeling down and try to take the moral high road.
“Let me go, Alex,” I groan as I push myself off the cold ground and take to my feet again. I refuse to fight him right now. I can’t risk letting him see my Star Gifts.
“Fight me, and I’ll let you go.”
He pushes me again, and my arms confront him. I’ve had enough of this.
“You really want me to fight you? Were two visits to the healing quarters not enough?” I torment through gritted teeth.
He growls and salivates like a rabid dog torpedoeing another ball of fire towards me. I duck out the way, dodging it only by an inch. I hear it crash and burn a hole into the bookcase behind me. I chuckle at his poor aim, knowing I am getting under his skin.
“You think this is funny?” He laughs loudly. “You won’t be laughing when I’m done with you.”
Another orb launches my way, and I struggle to move out of the way in time. I wince in pain as it singes my forearm. The skin sizzles and blisters. I console my arm and create more space between us. Now I’m really angry. I channel my hate for him into an orb of my own, and I scream as I propel the rage-filled ball of fire his way, and I swear I see him smile. His hand reaches up and cradles my orb in his palm like it is nothing. I look down, embarrassed at my feeble attempt to burn him. He has had his Gifts for longer than me, and it shows.
“You’re weak, Asha.”
He cradles my orb in his hand, and it dances for him. I fire another at him, but he catches it again. Now, both of my orbs float iridescently in his palms athiscommand. He chuckles menacingly as they increase in size. I look around frantically, trying to plan my next move.
“Any last words?”
My eyes meet with the burgundy sofa he flipped earlier; it may just be strong enough to shelter me from the strike. I make a run for it, but his eyes trace mine and map out my exact moves. My ribs cry out as I crash behind the shelter of the sofa with a thump, and a searing pain pierces my thigh. I look down and examine the burnt hole in my grey tracksuit bottoms, revealing my pink and blistered skin underneath. The orbs made contact. Residual flames dance around the perimeter of the hole in the fabric, and I have to use my hand to hastily pat the fire out. I can’t help but wince every time I make contact with my wound.My body stings, and the pain eats away at me. It hurts so bad I could scream, but I stop myself by placing my hand over my mouth. I don’t want to give him the satisfaction.
“Give up yet?” he taunts.
I have to come up with a reason to stop him from using his Gifts; otherwise, I don’t stand a chance.
“My Gifts are weaker than yours. Big deal. You’ve had them longer. I could still beat you with my bare hands.” I throw out some bait and wait patiently for him to hook.
“Wanna test that theory?” he bites.
“I thought you would never ask.”
I grit my teeth as I rise to my feet and stifle the pain, stumbling a little because of the damage to my leg. This shouldn’t be too hard; I beat him before. I position myself and wait for his predictable charge, but he doesn’t move; he just smiles.
“Don’t be shy. Come closer.” He beckons me with his finger, and I get nervous. I step around the sofa leg and give in to his taunts. If he wants a fight, I will give him one.
“Don’t you have better things to do, Alex?” I say as I approach him in a fight stance. My ribs are tender, and I really hope he doesn’t land a punch there.
“What? Better than this? I don’t think so.”
With force, he swings for me, and I duck, avoiding the hit before landing one on his rib cage and backing off. He doubles over briefly and then straightens his posture, returning to a fighter stance.
“That was just a lucky hit.”
I give him a wink, which infuriates him.
