Written in Life

(Chapter 9)

I walked in the dry heat and remembered the base California. I laughed aloud but it came out more of a wheeze. I had been walking for sometime now and I thought of going back... to Cody. I don't know why I was thinking these things, but it felt unnatural. It was probably from dehydration. Water crossed my mind and thirst appeared raw and strong. I swallowed the dry, harsh air down my dry mouth and looked back at the trail of footprints across the hot sand. I didn't need him for water. I mean, if he could make a horse no problem, than how hard could water be? I looked at my sun burnt hands and sighed, sitting down. I closed my eyes and pictured a freshwater stream. I heard the trickle of water, the cool liquid sliding down my throat, felt the refreshing water slide over my body. I opened my eyes and looked into my cupped hands... empty. I already did it with Renae, why not now? I grunted with frustration and let my hands fall to the hot sand. I heard a shuffle of sand next to me and looked to see Cody sitting beside me.

"Have you been following me?" I asked hoarsely. He shrugged.

"Yes and no," he said. It was silent for a moment.

"Are you going to explain how?" I asked curiously.

"With my mind. Us inked have a connection in long distances," he said.

"How come I couldn't feel you then?" He looked at me and smiled.

"'Cause you still a rookie," he said." But I'll teach you." He stood up and held out his hand. I took it and he helped me up off the sand. I brushed myself off and I realized I was still holding Cody's hand. I quickly pulled away and I wasn't sure if I was blushing or not. I didn't bother to turn around because even if I was blushing, the sunburn would be coverage enough." Anyways," Cody started,", I noticed you were trying to do something." He pointed to my hands and I looked at them to see ugly black smudges covering my palms.

"Yeah. Water," I said before he asked what. Not that he would. He gave me a I-already-knew-that-but-thanks-for-the-information look. I rolled my eyes and he smiled. I saw a flash and I vision of him holding my hand and then back to him smiling. He opened his mouth to say something  and I put my hand in front of him. He tilted his head to the side and gave me a mischievous smile.

"Bernie..." he said, nodding." Looks like your reading my mind already."

"Bernice," I corrected." My father's trait." He took my hand and traced the outlines of the ink with his finger. I fought the urge to giggle because his gentle touch tickled. He looked up and smiled. He was smiling an awful lot.

"Looks like someone's ticklish," he said. I pulled away.

"You tickle me, I'm not responsible for your injuries," I said, making sure to add a heavy dose of seriousness. He let go of my hand.

"Your being too brief with what you want," he said.

"How?" I asked.

"You pointed out that you wanted fresh water, the temperature, but you need to be more specific," he said. He cupped his hands and I did the same. He placed his hands under mine and a chill shot through my body, a relief in the scorching weather." Close your eyes," he ordered. I opened my mouth to say something, but Cody cut me off before I could." Please." I took a deep breath and let my eyelids relax, bright colors indicating where the sun was behind the darkness." Okay, now focus on what you want," he said calmly. I could hear my heart hammering in my ears and I tried to focus on the same element as before.  I pictured the stream and felt the cool temperature slither through my body." Okay, your doing well. Now think of the state of harm," he said.

"What?" I asked.

"Think of it's purity," he reworded it. I thought of the purity of the water. It glistened and the sun reflected it's magnificence into an array of images and figures." Color," Cody added.

"But it's clear," I said.

"Than focus on making it clear," he said gently. His hands softened and my breathing quickened.

"Don't get too anxious," he said.

"Did I mention I've never done this before?" I said.

"I could already tell. Don't worry, just focus," he said. He was extremely calm for someone who probably was teaching someone to do this for the first time. I imagined the clear liquid in the palm of my hand and a cool wetness covered my hands and drained through my fingers, into Cody's hands.

"Open your eyes," he said. My eyes flicked open and a perfectly clear puddle of water sat completely still in my cupped hands. I looked to him and smiled looking back to my hands afterwards." Keep focus," he said. His hands slipped away slowly and as soon as out connection broke the water started to bubble and hiss with heat." Focus," Cody pressed. I didn't understand what was happening and dedicated every part of my mind to concentrate on the water. I began to hiss and pop even more and it steamed uncontrollably. The crisp clear color turned an ugly dark grey and the liquid began to harden.

"What's happening?!" I asked, panicked.

"I don't know," he responded quickly. He reached out to put his hands beneath mine again but as soon as we touched he winced and pulled his hand back, a large cut sliced from the tip of his index finger to the beginning of his wrist." Will it away," he ordered strictly. Go away! The substance wrapped around my hands in a thin, slimy film and grew as it stretched to the ground and fell upon the hot sand, turning it to glass. It formed the figure of a person, but it was anything but. There were deep hallows where eyes should be and sharp, razor-like teeth. Go Away! It smiled at me and I pulled and strained to try and get get my hands out of it's chest, but it held like concrete. I felt the original ink harden and started pumping sticky thick liquid.

"CODY!!!" I shrieked, pulling and falling to the ground, only until the creature wouldn't let me fall any more. Out of nowhere a gorilla clashed against the creature and I fell with it. Cody ran over while the gorilla distracted the monster, pulling at my arms with me, trying to get me free. I felt something snap and my hands pulled out an inch and jerked to a stop. The creature snapped it's head to look at me and the ink pulled me back in." LET GO!!!" I yelled. Cody and I pulled harder, but it was no use. The creature reeled me in like a prized bass. I was doing everything Cody told me to do... and then it hit me. I never do what I'm told. I focused on the opposite of what Cody told me and the creature got lighter. It's smile disappeared and I placed one on my face instead. The ink grew soft and I pulled one hand out, my other still gripping the heart." Looks like you lose bitch," I said. I pulled out it's heart with one swift movement and it let out an ear-splitting squeal, sinking into the sand beneath it. The heart in my hand turned to water, sliding through my fingers and sizzling when it hit the sand. I flopped on my back the same time as Cody did and breathed. We turned our heads to face each other and laughed to dispose of the unwanted fear and panic we developed in the last few minutes. I don't think I've ever laughed like that though. It came out as a girlie giggle and a witches cackle combined. It only made me laugh harder.

"How did you get rid of it?" he asked, smiling so big it was unnatural. I was probably smiling just as big. I laughed.

"I did the opposite of what you told me," I giggled. He sat up and laughed with me.

"How is that even possible?" he chuckled. I shrugged. I sat up and a huge breath of hot air exploded against the back of my head. Cody snickered and I looked behind me to see the gorilla from earlier smiling at me. We burst out laughing again and the gorilla pounded on his chest playfully." How about I deal with the ink and you listen and learn," he said.

"That's a good idea," I said. We smiled at each other.