The Girl of Shadows [COMPLETE]

Twenty-Three

["Imagine all the things we could be if we weren't controlled by insecurity." -Bridgett Devoue]

Feeling emotionally exhausted from the encounter with Niko, I stayed quiet for hours. I wanted to speak, but I couldn't move my lips to form the words. My mind raced, and yet, all I could do was nothing. It was best to ignore it.

I stayed out on that rooftop for hours, replaying the moment over and over again. I could feel the warmth of my cheeks flaring up, and the marathon my heart paced. I wanted to feel that again, as I was already addicted to the rush of it, but I knew it wasn't going to happen. There was no point in pumping myself up for an inevitable let down. I didn't need that sense of heartbreak. Not then and not ever.

I was wrong about being alone, as my eyes noticed a concerned Chloe standing so agile behind me. She was waiting for me to acknowledge her presence, and was supposedly disappointed I was so caught up in a fantasy world.

"I heard what happened." She said as she walked towards me. I flinched, tears swelling in my eyes. My heart had been so fragile, and that was when I finally realized that.

"Oh." Was all I managed to say, glancing down to face the hustling ants moving at unmeasurable rates below.

"And I understand. It's okay, Hannah." She assured me. Her affection reminded me of Gianna's, making me miss home more and more.

"I'm here for you."

"Thanks." Her words made me feel better, even if they weren't as genuine as they seemed.

"C'mon. We get to meet more Talisman holders." Her tone was cheerful. I matched that to mask my pain, following her downstairs to the barren lobby where the newbies were. I was nervous, but more or less enthusiastic to greet them. As they say, 'The More the Merrier.'

There were five, two girls and three boys, all as mute as the prairies during nighttime. They varied in appearances, though I didn't let that aspect dictate my overall opinion on themselves as people.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you guys," Niko greeted, shaking one guys hand, "Let me introduce myself as well as the others."

"I am Nikolas, preferably Niko, Dalton, this is Chloe Thomas, Senna and Lilith Bronson, Ryker Reynolds, Jesse Hunt, Kaia Edison, and Hannah Dalton."

"Right. Are you guys married or something?" One of the boys asked. His voice was gruff and deep, almost like Cohen.

Niko chuckled. "No, we're merely adopted siblings." He said, amused.

"Right."

"I'm Rowan Whitlock. This perky redhead is Arabella Schaefer, and her stupid healer boyfriend Cole Reford," He teased, "And Ashlee Gilbert and Simon Whitehurst."

"Nice to meet you." Cole added. He seemed sweet.

"You're... a doctor?" Chloe asked, noticing his ID on his hip.

"Yeah. I'm twenty-three and am already a certified physician. Pretty cool, huh?"

"I wonder how that happened.." Senna butted in, also just as intrigued as the rest of us were. Except maybe Lilith - she was distracted by the lobby's decor.

"My father had me study for years on medical terminology since he was an outstanding doctor himself, and I was already prepared for medical school at sixteen."

"And they gave me a medical license when I graduated last year. It's strange, but doctors are pretty high targets right now. It was particularly amusing how desperate they were." Cole chortled.