Andy's Apple Farm: Dolce's Game

CHAPTER 16: TO TELL THE TRUTH

"Okay...Go ahead and try it." Andy said, placing a small log on the tree stump.

Dolce focused her power and concentrated on the log several feet away from her. She materialized her shadowy tendril and shot it straight at the log.

SLASH! THUD! THUNK!

Slowly, she withdrew her tendril, mentally commanding it to recede back into her shadow as Andy walked over towards the stump to evaluate her progress.

"How's it look? 'And?'" Dolce asked stepping closer.

Andy picked up the sliced up log halves and inspected them carefully. "Not quite there yet. You're off a few inches from it being a clean split."

Dolce narrowed her eyes in irritation. "'A few inches' isn't good enough." she growled. "It's still hard to manipulate with willpower alone, and ten feet as max range is pretty abysmal if you think about it."

"But you seemed to be able to hold your own against that guy Peter for a bit weren't you?" Andy curiously recalled.

"I was acting upon desperation Andy. And even then trying to fight back with one tendril was already taxing on my mind. It was hard enough forcing myself to focus on lifting heavy objects like fallen trees. And don't get me started on my accuracy..." she bitterly replied, annoyed with herself. "I don't see how I'm ever gonna be able to stand a damn chance in Hell against Peter if I don't even have the slightest ounce of control over this power like he has!"

Andy grimaced at her words. "Please don't talk like that Dolce. I...don't want to ever hear you compare yourself to a creep like him...Because you aren't." he spoke sincerely.

Dolce's ears perked a little, realizing what he meant. "Sorry...You're right. I'm not him..." she glanced down at her blackened, corrupted arm and heavily sighed.

"You're a smart woman Dolce. You'll get the hang of it in time. I know you will." he replied with encouragement, walking back over to her.

They both shared a quick kiss before Dolce turned away slightly, blushing timidly with a small smile on her face. "Heh, still getting used to that too."

"I know what you mean. It's a first for me too, having a girlfriend." Andy admitted.

"Hmph, 'Girlfriend,' right..." she hesitated near the end.

"...That, is what we are, right...? 'Boyfriend' and 'Girlfriend?'" Andy hopefully asked, though looking a little concerned.

"Those are the proper terms..." Dolce shook her head then refocused on Andy. "Sorry 'And,' it's not about us being in a relationship that's on my mind. It's about the rest of our friends."

"What about them? I don't think they will disapprove of it." he said sitting down on a good sized rock nearby. He gestured Dolce to join him which she did. "Felix may take a few jabs at us but we know he's gonna joke around like that so that shouldn't bother you too much."

"I can handle all that no problem. What bothers me is this power I've got." she slowly shook her head and sighed. "I swear I can never have it easy...Not even in another world far from home, it's just one headache after another..."

She paused for a moment, thinking carefully on her options. Andy wrapped his arm around her and pulled her closer to him and patted her shoulder in a display of comfort.

"...I gotta come clean about this to the others Andy." she spoke candidly.

"Dolce-..."

"-Look they have to know. They have a right to." she held up her hand, stopping him before lowering it back down. "Even if you and I kept our mouths shut about it, this thing's just gonna rear it's ugly head one way or another and then at that point it might be too late. No...Before things get to that point, I might as well be the one to tell them, on my own terms."