Suspension

Chapter 5

Alex was in shock at what he had just witnessed and so it was Reece who helped me with Carolyn. To be honest, we were all shocked; but it looked like Alex wouldn't be able to move for a while.

"Elizabeth Rose," I said calmly, "I need you to take Alex outside. Don't go far, take my knife. Lock the front door to the building. Stay close to our classroom after that."

"Why can't Reece do it?" She asked. I raised my eyebrows and Lizzie coughed. "Oh, right."

Lizzie forced Alex to stand up. I handed her my Swiss army knife. When she had gone, I had Reece hold Carolyn down.

"I know she's unconscious at the moment but she will start thrashing and maybe convulsing. I don't really know because I've only done it once. And that didn't go so well. Actually, Reece I'm not so sure I should do this." I panicked.

"Wait, you can heal other people too?" Reece asked.

"Yeah, I can and last time I did it, someone died and I really don't want another death on my hands." I started to sob. Reece stared at me. "Look, long story short, my ten year old sister was diagnosed with cancer. After a while I decided to try to heal her. I asked for some time alone and it worked.

The doctors had no idea how the cancer disappeared. But one day it reappeared. I cried so much that day. But not as much as I cried when I tried to heal her again. She was so weak when I laid my hands on her body. I- I didn't realise..." I trailed off.

"Realise what? Lia, you have to heal Carolyn now!"

"I didn't realise that the pain of healing hurts twice as bad as the actual injury and while I cured her of the cancer she died from the pain. It was too much for her body to handle. But the worst part was when the doctors came in and thought that she had gone quietly.

But I was in the corner shaking like Carolyn was when I found her in her classroom. I killed my own sister, Reece. Have you ever had that happen to you? I didn't want to. I was only trying to help. I don't want anyone else to get hurt." I shrieked.

It was Reece said next that shocked me more.

"She'll die anyway, Talia." Oh god his eyes were so sincere but his words were so harsh. "I guess I was the only one who noticed that her spine snapped also?"

I silently pleaded with him but inside I knew he was right. I took a few deep breathes to try and ready myself for this.

I lay my hands on Carolyn's disfigured legs and closed my eyes.

"Hold her tight, Reece." I whispered- and with that I felt the ice of my power leaving my fingers. A successful feeling ran through my body and I felt her bones knitting back together.

And oh Carolyn screamed. She screamed so loudly that the building shook. I tried to block it out with a whimper. I could feel my life force flowing out of my body and into hers and as soon as the icy feeling left my hands and Carolyn was still, I collapsed to the ground next to her.

*

"Lia, do you want some water?" I heard. I opened my eyes wide when I recognised the voice. "I think you should have some even if you're not thirsty because you need to be hydrated its important, y'know?" Carolyn told me. I sat up almost immediately and wrapped my arms around her.

"Carolyn, you're ok!" I said huskily, "and, yeah I think I do need some water." I took the bottle that Carolyn handed me and took a long swig.

"Careful, don't drink too much, we need to keep the water rationed. You're just lucky you passed out and so this bottle is yours if you really need it." She said.