Hues of Purple

Chapter 15

Thursday, June 18th

Over the past few months, Alexander and I have gotten really close. I'm going to Obsidian Corps almost four days out of each week. We've done testing, meetings, even advertisements to boost my networking. Alexander had us take photos for billboards and even the Obsidian Corps website. This is becoming really serious. Last month was the end of school for the summer, and Alexander has become even more excited to work on this project.

"Okay Stephanie, we're gonna try it again, if you feel any pain or any negative feeling, let us know and we'll stop." I nodded at Alexander's assistants. The machine starts, and the needle in my arm heats up gradually. How this machine works is when the needle gets really hot, it'll trigger me to explode energy from my hands forward into this wall that absorbs my energy and it goes to Alexander. It's similar to the training walls at the school, but all of it goes to Alexander. He then channels it into this device that stores it. This energy will be used in these new devices that help people identify their abilities if they have any earlier on.

The needle is getting really hot, and then without warning my arms shot out and released all of the energy I had inside of me. It wasn't actually all of it, that's impossible, but it felt like it. I cried out, "stop! Please stop!" The assistants stop the machine and run to my chair. Then my vision goes dark.

I woke up in the Obsidian Corps medbay, with an IV in my arm, and my Mom and Emma are sitting around me. "She's waking up! Hey sweetie, how're you doing?" They immediately start hugging me and freaking out. "I'm okay Mom, did I do better this time?" Emma rolls her eyes, "you always do amazing! Just because Alexander wants more from you doesn't mean you're not already doing enough. Seriously, you should stop doing these tests, it's draining you." I looked in the mirror to my left, I had some serious eye bags, my skin looks like I've been doing a lot of physical work, she was right. "I agree Stephanie, Emma's right, I'm going to talk to Alexander about your physical condition." He'll be so upset, and this is going to help people, "Mom! No it's okay, I'll ask him for a break and during that break I'll recover. Don't worry I'll be okay." I smiled at them, and Emma shook her head and put her face in her palm.

After a while I felt able to get up and walk, so I carefully got out of my bed and headed towards Alexander's office. Once I walked in, I saw Alexander talking to Ben?? "Stephanie! I see you're feeling a bit better, are you ready to schedule our next test?" He smiled, he wasn't hurt at all, why was I so affected? "Yeah about that, I have something to ask you. But first, what is he doing here?" Ben glared at me, "oh! This is Benjamin, do you know him? He's one of my apprentices here." I proceeded to sit at one of the chairs at Alexander's desk. "Yeah I know him, he's the one that gave me this scar," then I showed Alexander the blue scar that covers most of my arm. "Oh I see, Benjamin I'll speak with you later." Alexander adjusted himself, "so Stephanie, what was it that you needed to ask me?" I cleared my throat, "would it be possible for me to take a bit of a break from our frequent tests? I'm feeling physically drained and I still want to work on this project, but I want to put myself first." I could tell he didn't like that question, "Stephanie, we're making so much progress! At this rate we'll be done in the next two months, don't you want to help these people?" I feel bad, but I don't feel good enough to keep going on like this. "I do want to help, but I don't feel like I have enough energy to keep going at the rate we're going. The break doesn't have to be too long, how about like three weeks or a month? After that we can go back to testing regularly." He sighs, "alright, your break can be a month, make sure you rest and take good care of yourself while you're away. See you later Stephanie." He reached his hand out to shake my hand, he's never done that before.

After we get home and settled, my Dad brings Emma and I some food on his way home from work. "Hey girls, I brought you guys takeout, it was on the way home. How were your tests? Are you feeling okay?" He's gotten a lot better since he stopped drinking, "I'm alright, I asked Alexander for a break because this has been so tiring. So now I have a month of no tests, but I have a couple new billboards coming out with me on them. So that's pretty cool I guess."

He laughs, "that is cool, I've worked there for many years and I haven't gotten recognition like that. The only thing I get is 'hey isn't your daughter working with Mr. Oswold? You must be proud.' Which I am but still." I honestly am so proud of my Dad for making this much progress, he's really cool now, I can also tell that my Mom is a lot happier. "Well yeah, here's your food, love you guys." "Love you too," we both say. I really like how my parents are so loving of Emma, I'm not fond of how much Wyatt likes her though. 

A/N: Thanks for reading again guys! Stay tuned for more chapters! :)