Our Last Summer

Chapter 34, More Training

(Madelyn's POV)

Training... training... training... more training. Nonstop agony and achiness of the constant power serges inside of us. My hands feel numb. They were burning and my skin was tearing. It was covered in blisters I'd never had before while using my hands. They had already been hurt before this, but they were just getting worse. I hadn't said anything to anyone because I figured it would go away. I'm overworked.

It's been like this since nine in the morning yesterday, the nonstop training. We've had a ten-minute breakfast break and twenty-minute lunch, but I don't eat when I exercise. Jason had to make me eat otherwise I would get sick from not eating. We got to sleep at eleven thirty after the long warm showers. I was so tired, I felt like I couldn't go on. Kristine was trying to encourage us, but she was out ruled by Ayanna's speeches about how we need this so we can save Ethan. Ayanna was logical, and Kristine was understanding.

I was too hard on myself, and everyone else was too. We wanted more than anything to stop, but even if we got the chance to, the bone-chilling guilt would stick with us. If we stopped and then knew we didn't save Ethan, then we knew we could've done better. We could've sacrificed more and pushed ourselves more. We aren't going through what he's going through right now. So, we train until we can no longer stand, and then we train harder. After training yesterday, I was drenched in sweat. My hands had scars on them, even though they were supposed to heal. My eyes had smoke in them because they taught me a new way to manipulate smoke. I had bruises on my skin that were supposed to go away. I had glass stuck in my skin from a training exercise. At the moment, I was so focused on making sure I was doing it right, so I didn't care to feel that pain. Now, my body was sore and I could feel every place where my skin was torn.

Kristine said it was because I was tired and when we use our powers for a long time, our other powers are weaker, but I should be healed by the next morning. I was to an extent. You couldn't see the damage to my body, but I could feel it. I could barely get up this morning. We ate breakfast again and then right back into training again. I could barely do the extremities I did yesterday, but we did. This time, it was different.

There were more people in the training room and it was a little odd, to say the least. They were all wearing black suits like they were part of some sort of organization. Ayanna explained that these people helped her and her army to try and fight Casper the first time, but failed. These people helped with training and making sure our bodies were okay. We went through a series of body checks, and they found a lot of damage to our bodies. They assured us that we would be okay. I thought that Ayanna would lighten up a little on our training after she saw what condition we were all in, but that made her push us harder.

"Do you think Rebecca's going to stop because you're hurt? You're sore? No, fight harder! Ethan's life depends on it!" She would yell at us. I hated this anger I was feeling, but it was fueling my power, so I let her continue.

Danielle and Tyler were probably the most impressive in this training. I understand why. To Danielle, this is like losing him all over again. She hasn't spoken a word since the carnival. Tyler was filled with anger. I get it, he and Ethan were best friends. They were so close and now listening to his screams triggered something in Tyler. A drive to fight and save his best friend, when, a couple of days ago, he was ready to leave this island without Ethan.

Ethan broke all of us by betraying us and leaving without saying goodbye. I would've let him go if he had the guts to say goodbye to us. I think he thought it would be a quick trip there and back as if we wouldn't have even known. I hate him for the fact that he didn't say goodbye. After that video, my only goal is to get Ethan and get the hell off of this island.

There was some talk with Kristine and one of the men in the black suits about arranging a boat to get us back home. I hoped so deeply that we would be able to get off with Ethan. I want all of us, including Kristine, Ayanna, and Kaeo, to make it home. I don't care about Rebecca and Casper anymore, they can run on this island, but I want to go home.