Thunder and Storm

The One

SALLY.

“I don’t know how he did it, really. He just teleported us there. He was a real lifesaver,” Cameron said.

I shook Grayson, trying to get him to open his eyes but he didn’t. Cameron was talking about him saving his life but he wasn’t doing anything to help him. He just left him lying on the floor. That was not how you treated someone that saved your life.

I shot up and moved towards him. “If he’s such a lifesaver, why aren’t you doing anything to help him,” I yelled at him.

He looked stunned by my outburst. His eyes narrowed at me. The look should be enough to cowl me but for some reason, I couldn’t stop yelling at him. “He’s not waking up and you’re not doing anything to help him. You just left him on the ground.”

“He’s fine; he’s just resting. I would think hearing news of the cure would make you excited, seeing as that would end everything and life can finally go back to the way it was.”

Naturally, I should be excited. I could see they all were but then again it didn’t mean anything to me. There was no one for me to go back to. I caught Hakeem’s eye in the crowd and I motioned for him to help.

“Come help me carry him, Hakeem.”

He moved immediately and grabbed both his arms and pulled him up. He leaned on both of us and we took him to my tent and placed him on the mat. I looked down at him and bit my lip in worry.

“Do you think we should try to wake him up?” I asked Hakeem.

“I don’t think we should. As Cameron said, he’s probably just resting and would wake up on his own.”

I nodded but I couldn’t stop worrying. It was odd, really. I’d never been this worried about anyone before.

“I’m gonna stay and watch him for a while,” I said.

“Do you need me to stay with you?”

“No, I’m good, thanks.”

“Alright then.” He turned and left.

I sat down beside Grayson and watched him sleep. He looked peaceful. Long lashes fanned his cheeks. His lips were slightly pouted. I found myself reaching out to touch him, I grabbed his hand and ran my finger on it. With him, I felt comfortable.

I didn’t know how long I stayed watching him. Suddenly, his brows wrinkled and he groaned. He started whispering incoherently and kicking out in his sleep.

I didn’t know what to do. I grabbed his arm and shook him, then rubbed them slowly. He calmed down afterwards and his eyes opened. He had a sleepy smile on his face.

“You’re here,” he whispered.

“Yeah.”

“I knew it was you,” he said. Unexpectedly, he got up and hugged me. At first, I froze, then I hugged him back.

“What happened to you?”

He let go of me and swallowed. “I need water.”

I went out to get him a bottle of water, Cameron accosted me on the way. I was still mad at him for what he’d done to Grayson.

“How is he now?”

“He’s fine, not like you care about him,” I said as I walked to the boxes containing the bottles of water.

“Would I be asking about him if I didn’t care?” He hissed at me.

“I don’t know, maybe you felt guilty for leaving him there to die.”

“What? I didn’t do that.”

I bent and picked a bottle. I thought better about it and picked another.

He sighed. “I was just excited about finding the cure and I got carried away.”

“You endangered his life. He doesn’t know how to control his power and you took him back there,” I accused and he narrowed his eyes at me.

“Is that what he told you? He can’t control his power?”

I frowned. “Yes, that’s what he said.”

He muttered something under his breath that sounded like lying bastard. “I think you should go give him his water.” He pointed behind him, turned and walked into his tent.

What was that about? I went back to my tent and found Ash in it, sitting on her mat and watching Grayson. They both looked uncomfortable to be near each other. Grayson was sitting up and playing with his shirt while Ash looked everywhere but at him.

They both looked up upon my arrival and the relief that washed over their faces made me hike a brow.

“Here’s your water.” I uncapped it and handed it to him. He took it and guzzled it down like a man dying of thirst.

“Since you’re here,” Ash got up, “I’ll leave you two alone to talk.”

She practically dashed out like her tail caught on fire. That was suspicious behaviour enough.

“Is there something going on between you two?” I asked Grayson.

“Between us? No, of course not,” he protested.

“Hmm! Well, I have to tell you my friend likes her and I wouldn’t want you to break his heart.”

“I don’t have anything to do with her. Why would you even think I’d have the power to break his heart?”

“Well.” My cheeks reddened at the words that were about to leave my mouth. “You look like yourself and Hakeem is cute and adorable but he’s nowhere near you.”

“Are you saying I’m handsome and you find me attractive?” He wiggled his brows at me.

I pushed him away and he laughed. True, he was good-looking but I wasn’t attracted to him.

“You shouldn’t bully a man when he’s down,” he complained, rubbing his arm where I’d pushed him.

“What happened there?” I asked. I didn’t need to mention the place. He already knew what I was asking.

His expression changed. His mouth turned down at the corners. “We walked into a trap. We went into some kind of basement and found a lot of vials which Cameron believes is the cure. We were gassed and taken to this weird room that made me lose control of my power.”

A gasp escaped me and I clenched my fist. They were taken to the white room. He had a faraway look in his eyes as he spoke.

“Getting out of there took a lot out of me. What is that place anyway?”

“It’s a cage,” I found myself saying. I thought about the weeks I spent in there almost losing my mind. “A cage meant to keep people like us under control. Nothing else exists in there but your thoughts bouncing off the walls.”

My hand shook as images flashed in my head. I closed my eyes to stop them but they wouldn’t stop.

“How do you know that?” he asked softly.

My eyes opened and I stared into his brown orbs. They seem to come alive in the dark. “Because that was my room.”


CAMERON.


I marched back into my tent, annoyed with myself and my thoughts. What did I care if Grayson was taking shots at her? Cheap shots by the way since he had to lie about his abilities to get her to care for him.

I sat on my mat and stared at his empty space. It didn’t matter that he was sleeping in her tent tonight. All that mattered was I found the cure. I could make everything right again.
I got up and went to Jemma. She was fast asleep. For the first time in a while, she was sleeping peacefully and wasn’t groaning in pain or having a fitful sleep. I decided not to wake her, I would tell her of the good news later.

Now I had to strategize a plan to get in and out of the base without getting caught. I knew they’d be expecting our return and this time, we’d be prepared for them.