by Mandi Oyster
Phlox University is an inferno. Students run from the buildings, screaming, falling to the ground. Several don’t get up.
“Cody!” I run forward. “Samantha!”
Charred bodies litter the ground. Some writhe in agony. Some will never move again.
Fearing the worst, I run on. “Cody. Samantha.” My voice is ragged.
Tears spill from my eyes without bringing any relief to the burning. My vision blurs. I wipe my face with my shirt and run toward the flames. Smoke fills my lungs. I hunch over choking, trying to draw in air. I gasp and open my eyes.
A dream. Thank God.
I stared at the ceiling, refusing to close my eyes. The fear from my nightmare hadn’t released me from its grasp.
Is it possible that there’s more to these nightmares? Could the prophecy be real? I shook my head, unwilling to believe. No. How could demons go unchecked in this day and age?
Chapter 12
Learning Control
Dark bags made my eyes look dull and washed out my skin. I stood, wobbling unsteadily. I threw my arm out, balancing myself with the wall. I need sleep.
I glanced at my make-up bag. It wasn’t part of my daily routine, but I decided I should go through the trouble of covering up my sleepless nights. By the time I finished, I no longer looked like a zombie.
Speech didn’t start until 8:00, but at 7:30 I sat at my desk. I thought I would have a better chance of avoiding Cassandra.
Between solving algebra problems, I kept an eye on the door, not wanting to get blindsided by her. I was figuring for the value of x when cold chills crept over my body like a fever. Cassandra walked in the door and climbed the stairs deliberately, never taking her eyes from mine, until she stood before me, her friends at her back. In one swift movement, she threw my books to the floor.
With her face inches from mine, she said, “You messed with the wrong person.”
“Me?” I pointed at myself. “I messed with the wrong person?” My voice didn’t sound right. It came out high-pitched.
“You heard me.”
“Yeah.” I fought back my anger. “But you’re delusional.”
She slammed her fist on my desk. “Stay away from me.”
I stood and looked down at Cassandra. Her eyes widened a fraction, and she took a step back. Bryce grabbed her arm, but she pulled away from him.
“We’d never see each other if you’d quit seeking me out.” The chairs around me rattled nervously.
Bryce grabbed Cassandra’s arm again, never taking his eyes off me. “I believe you, Cass. Come on before something else happens.”
She let Bryce pull her away, leading her to her seat. I waited until they sat down to pick up my books.
Closing my eyes, I focused on breathing. Once my hands stopped shaking, I pictured myself sitting by the mountain lake. I leaned back and let the calm of nature quiet my anger.
A few weeks after my lessons started, I knocked on Sarah’s door.
“Hello, Dacia.”
“Hey.” I walked over to the couch and sat my backpack on the floor.
Sarah squeezed my shoulder. “You look tired today. Is everything right?”
Nothing’s all right. I’m an eighteen-year-old who has to fight a demon. There’s no way I’ll win. What would be all right? I can’t sleep at night, but who needs sleep? “Yeah.” I stifled a yawn. “I’m just trying to keep up on my studies and lessons with you. The teachers have been handing out a lot more homework lately.”
She nodded. “Well, this is college. Assignments are to be expected.” She sat across from me. “I think there is more to it than homework, though. Are you having more nightmares?”
I leaned back and covered my eyes with my arm. I lifted my other arm in a shrug.
She shook her head but didn’t press me for more. “Are you ready to begin then?”
I nodded.
In a calm, soothing voice, she said, “Okay, Dacia, I want you to relax.”
I let out a deep breath and tried to release my stress.
Even if I never learned how to control my powers, this made my lessons worthwhile. I pictured myself sitting on a rock on the edge of a mountain lake. Nothing could harm me here.
“Let yourself feel free and alive. You should be in the zone, somewhere between sleep and alertness.” Sarah’s voice was somewhere far off in the distance.
I was in a total state of relaxation, staring at the water in front of me. After quite some time, Sarah’s voice blew in on a breeze. “You’re doing well, Dacia. Now I want you to come back here.”
When I opened my eyes, she said, “It seems like this relaxation technique is helping you.”
“Yeah, I use it almost every day.” I looked down at my feet. “Otherwise Cassandra would be in here complaining about me more often.”
“Hmm.” She stood and started pacing. “I guess we need to work on keeping you from getting overly emotional to begin with. We also need to work on focusing your energy.”
“I thought you wanted me to suppress my energy?”
She stopped and looked down at me. “I want you to control your energy.” Her hands were in constant motion while she talked. “When you intend to use your powers, though, you need to be able to. You need to know what will happen and when it will.”
“Yeah,” I nodded, “it’d be nice to be in control.”
Sarah sat down. “I want you to imagine yourself sitting in Professor Granite’s class. He’s in the middle of his lecture, and you accidentally drop your pen to the floor. When you go to reach for it, Cassandra kicks it over to Alvin. She turns to you and snickers. Her eyes are fixed on you, just daring you to interrupt Granite’s speech. Then she mouths the word ‘FREAK’.”
I can almost imagine their surprise when they found out you were a freak. The books on the shelves tremble.
“Alvin holds the pen out to you, but when you reach for it, Cassandra snatches it.”
I fought to control my temper, and the books quieted down. So far so good.
Sarah tilted her head to the side and tapped her finger on her chin. “When class ends, you grab your stuff and hurry to leave. Halfway down the stairs, your books are knocked out of your hands. Cassandra points at you and laughs as she steps on your notebook. Pivoting her foot, several pages are ripped out.”
The trembling of the books turned into more of a rumble. I opened my eyes just in time to see one flying toward Sarah. She dodged, narrowly escaping being hit by it, but another whacked her in the back of the head before falling to the ground with a thud.
“Oh, Sarah, I’m so sorry.” The words gushed from my mouth. “Are you all right?”
She glanced around the room before answering me. “I’m fine.” She rubbed her head. “I would suggest taking our lessons outside, but I’m afraid an uprooted tree might fly out of nowhere at me.”
I knew she was saying it to lighten the mood, but it didn’t hit me that way. Without meaning to, I glared at her.
“I’m sorry, Dacia. I shouldn’t say stuff like that. I know it has to be hard for you to be different from everyone else. I imagine the kids in school haven’t always been as nice to you as they could’ve been.” Her eyes softened, and she sighed.
“No. They still aren’t. Cody’s the only person who accepted me. He stuck up for me so many times I lost count years ago.” Lack of sleep wasn’t a good partner for this conversation. My emotions were getting the best of me. I fought to hold back tears. “When I came here, I was so lucky to be given Samantha as a roommate. She’s been great.” I pulled my hand through my hair. “Thank God I didn’t get stuck with Cassandra.”
Merely the mention of her name made books start rumbling again. Before they had a chance to fly off the shelves, I took a couple deep breaths an
d tried to place myself on the edge of my mountain lake. When I heard Sarah breathe a sigh of relief, I realized it must have worked.
“I think you need a break. Why don’t we pick up here next time?” Standing at the door, she said, “Try to get some rest.”
I walked looking down, kicking at leaves on the sidewalk. If I can’t control myself when Sarah’s describing situations to me, how am I going to do it in the real world? Why would the fates choose me to save the world?
“You can’t seriously believe in this,” I whispered to myself. Did I believe, or was I just sleep-deprived and frustrated?
“Oh, look. The freak even talks to herself.” Cassandra’s voice sent chills up my spine. She stood, glaring at me with her hands on her hips. “In trouble again? Who’d you torment this time?”
Just keep walking. I didn’t; I whipped around to find Cassandra with Vanessa, Alvin, and Bryce.
“Isn’t it about time for her to expel you and get it over with?” Cassandra asked.
Breathe. “My business with Dean Aspen is none of yours.”
“Evil triumphs when good people do nothing.” Vanessa’s voice was soft and sweet, unlike her words.
Evil. They think I’m evil? I took a step back like she had slapped my face. My control waned. I tried to picture the beautiful mountain scene, but I couldn’t focus. Then I noticed something Cassandra and her friends hadn’t, and some of my tension melted away.
Cassandra took a step toward me. “You hide behind your powers.” Another step closer. “If I had your abilities, everyone would know it. I wouldn’t cower back in the corner like a lost puppy-dog. I would command fear and respect.” She took another step toward me and said, “I wouldn’t use them to wreak havoc.” She poked me in the arm. “I wouldn’t be like you.”
“You’re so pathetic,” Alvin said. “Power like yours should belong to someone worthy.”
How does this make any sense to them? They think I’m evil, but they would use the powers for control? “What exactly do you think I’m doing with my powers?”
Cassandra stood with her nose inches from mine. Her eyes blazed. Any fear she had after having her hands frozen to the faucet was gone now. “We both know what you plan to do, and I won’t let you hurt my friends.”
Hurt her friends? What in the world?
“What’s wrong, Dacia? Can’t defend yourself in the open?” Her minty breath blew across my face.
A sly smile played on my lips. “Hi, Sa … Dean Aspen. How’re you?”
“Nice try.” Bryce snorted.
“I’m doing splendidly, Dacia.” Sarah’s voice was uncharacteristically stern. “These four aren’t bothering you, are they?”
Cassandra pivoted to my side. Her expression became a mask of innocence.
“Not now,” I said.
“Good. I wanted to talk to you more about that project. Why don’t you keep me company for a bit?” Sarah put her hand on my shoulder and led me back toward the dorms.
I breathed a sigh of relief and glanced over my shoulder. The look on Cassandra’s face was one of pure hatred. Before I turned back around, she mouthed, “I’ll get you for this.”
Sarah looked off into the distance and sighed. “Maybe Cody should meet you in my office after your lessons are finished.”
I groaned.
“Not for your protection,” Sarah explained. “But to keep you from hurting somebody … at least until you learn control.”
I pulled my hand through my hair. “I’m sure Cody will do it.”
The hesitation in my voice must have been obvious because Sarah said, “But?”
“But …” I rolled my neck from side to side. “I don’t want him to be in danger because of me.”
“I think if the two of you are together, they’ll steer clear of you.”
Kicking at the ground, I asked, “But what about when he’s alone?”
“Their problem isn’t with him.” She shot me one of her sympathetic smiles. “After you kept those books from flying off the shelves, I’m surprised you had the energy to control your emotions.”
I lowered my eyes. “I wouldn’t have if I hadn’t seen you come out of your office. Anger was building in me, and I knew it was only a matter of time. I tried to picture myself on the shore of my lake—” I looked up at her, hoping she’d understand “—but I couldn’t do it.”
“It doesn’t matter how you controlled your anger.” The look of pride on her face helped me feel better about myself. “It matters that you controlled it.”
We walked along in silence. Sarah seemed lost in concentration. Wrinkles creased her forehead.
With this scenery, why can’t I relax? What is it about Cassandra and her friends that makes my anger spike? I shook my head to clear it and looked around. The trees were sparse through here, leaving a clear view of the mountains. A rabbit hopped around a cedar tree. A gust of wind had me wrapping myself in my arms for warmth.
“I think you need to move on in your lessons,” Sarah said. “We need to see what else you are capable of.”
I stopped and turned to face her. “What makes you think I can do more?”
“While fire, ice, and telekinesis are good techniques to use against Cassandra and myself—” she rubbed her head to drive home her point “—I don’t know how well they’ll work against Nefarious.”
The sound of his name made me cringe. “When do you think I’ll have to face him?” My voice was quiet and unsteady.
“I don’t know an exact date. My grandfather never told me how much time I would have to train you or when the prophecy would be fulfilled. I only know it will be sometime in the next year, but I don’t know if it will be days, weeks, or months.” Her voice was full of apprehension. “Who knows, maybe you’re right and the prophecy is a bunch of malarkey.” She laughed nervously.
“Well, uh—” I cleared my throat “—I, uh, I think I’m starting to believe in it.”
Sarah simply looked at me.
I didn’t intend to tell her everything, but it all came pouring out. “I’ve been having horrible dreams lately. I’m beginning to wonder if they are nightmares or if they are premonitions. All I know is it is nearly impossible for me to sleep at night. I haven’t slept for more than an hour or two in a row in weeks. The only relaxation I get is when you help me picture myself somewhere peaceful in my lessons.”
Sarah folded her arms across her chest, and her eyebrows furrowed. “Why did you lie?” I could tell by her voice she was wounded. “I thought you trusted me.”
I felt a dull ache in my chest. “I do trust you.” I shoved my hands in my pockets. “But my nightmares are so real. Every time I think about them, I relive them.” I shuddered. “Anxiety builds up in my stomach, a knot forms in my throat, and I feel like I’m going to pass out. The air gets heavier. I can hardly breathe, and I relive the dream.” I paused to catch my breath. “I don’t like feeling that way.” Tears stung my eyes. “I’m scared.”
Her eyes softened, and she relaxed her stance. “Well, I can understand why you don’t like feeling like that, but it always helps to have somebody to confide in. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“Sometimes.” I looked down at the ground and kicked a couple of rocks around. “Samantha has been putting up with my screams in the middle of the night for quite a while now, and I haven’t even told her what my nightmares are about.” I stared at the mountains, wishing I could disappear into them. “I’m afraid if I tell her I believe in the prophecy or that I’m dreaming about monsters, she will start thinking I’m a freak like everybody else does. I’m scared of what they’ll think if I tell them I believe in the prophecy. This is probably the only thing I’ve ever kept from Cody.”
“Dacia”—her voice sounded soft and comforting—“I think you need to give your friends credit. I know it�
�s hard for you to open yourself up to people because you think it will give them the opportunity to hurt you.” She put her hand on my shoulder. “However, Samantha and Cody are good kids who genuinely care about you and want to help you overcome your difficulties. You should let them into your world … all of it.”
I knew she was right, but I had spent my life building up a protective barrier around myself. It was difficult to knock it down and let people in. “Maybe when I get back to my room, I’ll have a nice long talk with Cody and Samantha. I could use them by my side through all this.”
“Have you talked to anyone at all?” Sarah asked in her motherly tone.
I shook my head.
“Your parents don’t know anything about this?”
I couldn’t help but laugh before responding, “My parents would die if they found out people knew.”
She shook her head. “I think you’re underestimating them.”
“No, I’m not.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “They’ve spent my entire life denying I have powers. They convinced me that I had nothing to do with any of it. They worked hard to persuade me that everything was coincidence.”
Sarah’s eyes widened, and she shook her head. “I can’t believe that. How could your parents be so blind? Your powers are obvious.”
“Well, I uh … I don’t think they’re blind to them. I think they choose to ignore them because it’s … well, it’s hard for them to believe their child is a freak of nature.”
“Oh, Dacia, I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I know you didn’t mean anything by it. Besides, look how they’ll feel when I save the world.” I laughed in an attempt to remove some of the awkwardness that was in the air and, to my relief, Sarah joined in.
The rest of the journey back to my dorm was spent in silence. I couldn’t help but think about the task ahead of me and wonder if I stood a chance. We reached the dorm in no time at all, and as I walked up the stairs to my room, I tried to decide if I really should have this conversation with Cody and Samantha or not.