It hurts.This constant gnawing sensation inside of my stomach aches. I’ve not eaten in days, not even a sip of water. My healing ability has all but vanished. I can’t even heal a small cut. I’ve become so used to having my injuries healed within minutes, depending on how bad they are, that the lack of healing makes me feel weaker and more vulnerable. My fingers are all bloody from digging into the cave walls.It’s hard to walk; I feel so weak.Staring at the fire in front of me, which is roaring, I feel like I’ve been stripped of everything. The stronger it rages, the more I crumble. But I can’t leave.Jesse needs me. My friends went through hell just to have my back. They paid a painful price for their loyalty. But I couldn’t protect them.I need to be strong. I need to be able to protect the people in my life. I failed to protect my father, my sister.It’s that determination that has me getting back up each time to fill the bowl, ignoring my battered fingers, the des

“So, we’re decided then?” Quill says sharply as we walk. “Stick to the plan. Let’s minimize the violence and the confrontation. We wait until their guard is down. Taylor, you’re certain that he was unattended?”“I saw Jesse,” I insist. “He was alone. They were ignoring him. This is a solid plan. And even if we have to fight, I can handle it.”Quill shoots me a wary look. “I have to agree with Isabel from before, Taylor. You don’t know these powers yet. This could backfire.”I look down at my hands. I can’t explain it to them. I can feel this energy moving within me, all this power at my disposal. My energy is at an all-time high. I can do this!Beth voices her agreement, “Using your powers should be a last-ditch effort. Just in case anything goes wrong, and we need help.”“Wait,” I turn to look at my friends, suddenly taken aback, “are you saying I’m not taking part in this rescue mission?”Quill and Beth exchange a look, and it’s Beth who steps forward. “That’s not it. Look, Tay

“What is this?” My fingers touch the edge of my eyes as fear begins to finally seep in. As my emotions get the better of me, I feel the coldness inside of me begin to recede. I turn around, looking at the carnage before me. Aside from a few of Rachel’s people, everyone is dead. I killed them.But instead of guilt, I feel nothing. They had it coming. There’s a small part of me that whispers that I should be more concerned that I took so many lives. But I don’t feel remorse. Instead, when I turn to my friends, I feel satisfied. I approach Beth, and when she flinches, I take a step back. “I’m not going to hurt you.”She must have heard the hurt in my voice because she hesitates. “I didn’t say that.”I look around at the rest. Everyone is in pretty bad shape. I doubt they can even move or be moved at this point. Jesse is in the worst condition, so I step towards him. When he tries to move away, I grit my jaw, holding back the pain of his open rejection, and lean down and break his

The journey back is harder.Jesse has clearly communicated my intentions of leaving to the group, and both Beth and Quill keep looking my way. Kathleen isn’t happy with my decision. Isabel and Anderson don’t care, and I don’t expect them to.Each time we stop, I make my campsite away from theirs. By now, it is a personal preference. Beth did try to stop me.“You don’t have to do this, Taylor,” she says to me as I pick up my bag. I ignore her, walking past her like she doesn’t exist. I won’t make the same mistake twice. I hear her crying later as I try to sleep. I harden my heart even when a part of me wants to go to her. It’s the same part of me that screwed me over the first time.It’s a couple of hours until dawn when I wake up with a jerk.Someone is here!I jump to my feet, ready to fight, when I hear a rough voice speak up, “It’s me.”Quill steps out of the shadows with a bunch of sticks in his hand. “It’s a cold night. Thought your fire might go out.”I don’t say an