T-Squad-Origin

Chapter 5: No light in the darkness

After forcing myself to use the water like I did, and still managing to conjure nothing I took a break in the corner of the training room. I squeezed my trigger, a bottle of water and threw it in frustration.
My friends continued their training after depositing hopeful words of encouragement that was withdrawn by my frustration. I kept forcing myself until I felt a headache come, eventually my nose bled a bit.

"I suggest you stop." Cleondra walked into the area. "You'll only harm yourself at this point."

"I can do it." I panted. "Just give me a while and I..."

"You've been like this for seven hours with no improvement." She harshly stated. "There is a big difference being a hard worker and working yourself hard."

I gritted my teeth.

Cleondra turned to my friends.

"That goes for all of you, that's enough for today."

Everyone stopped their training and sat on the white tiled floor, panting like thirsty hounds.

"Come I'll escort you to your dorms."

We all were given a room to stay in for the day and rested there. I grabbed my phone and saw the missed calls and text from mom and Amber. With a sigh I called mom back and heard the worry in her voice.

"I've been calling you for half of the day!" She exclaimed. "Where are you, Darren?"

"I..." I let out a long breath. "Well, I went to get a job and wouldn't believe where."

She paused and listened.

"I'm at the Greek Institute and they are interviewing me for an internship." Continuing the lie, I sat on the soft white mattress. "So right now, I'm waiting on results."

"Why the Greek Institute?" She inquired. "You haven't really had an interest in that."

"I did for a while now." I chuckled nervously, hoping this would work.

"Alright." Mom gave a defeated sigh. "Just tell me next time."

With that I hung up the phone.

"Crisis averted." I went to Amber's number and called.

"Hey..." She answered solemnly.

"Hey." I smiled to the sound of her voice. "Sorry I just called; a lot of crazy things are happening now."

"I know."

"I might be here for a while, Amber." I lie in the bed. "Me and the guys are really busy."

"Are you going to fight those people who did that to Chanel?" Amber asked.

I paused, but eventually told her the truth.

"I can't avoid it." I stated. "We just learned we are the only ones who can really stop this sick cult." My mind went on that thing. "Amber, when that thing planned to hurt you, I lost it. Chanel was killed in front of me, I never want to feel that powerless ever again. If the same thing happened to you I..." My sentence refused to come out.

"Just be careful." Amber whispered. "You know I feel the same about you..."

We silently took in the moment.

"Hey..." Amber broke the silence. "I... love you."

"Me too." I smiled.

She hung up.

My mind was still in a haze, but she seemed to clear a bit of the fog over me. Thoughts soon ceased when the heaviness activated over my eyelids, the mattress seemed to be putting me into a deep slumber to my unawareness.