The Changed

Chapter 27- Tess

After Edward fainted, I didn't speak to anyone for the rest of the day. I stood by the door to Edward's room which had a window in it and just stared at Edward's face. He was having nightmares again, thrashing around like he was fighting a tiger. The doctors had already strapped him down so he wouldn't hurt himself. I know he wouldn't like that when he woke up.

I have no idea what had happened to Edward today but he gave me quite a scare. The doctors were just saying that he was tired but I didn't think it was that. The look on his face said it all. He completely panicked. Scared even. The only time I had seen him like that was when he first got rescued. If only I could get inside his head. I could straightened out his every problem. But I can't. I have to do it the hard way.

I turned away from the door and sat down on my mattress. I had tried to get as close to the door as possible which meant Caleb had too. By now, all of the kids had said goodbye to their parents and had got themselves down to the bunkers. The nurses and doctors had too. I had no idea where Nick and Caleb's mother were, probably planning an attack, but I really wish I could speak to Nick. He'd be able to help me. "Hey," Caleb said suddenly, sitting down next to me.

"Hey," I said meekly.

"You OK?"

"Not really," I sighed. "I just wish this would all end. I wish I didn't have powers or ever knew about the bomb or met Frost."

"You have to think about the positives," Caleb said. "I know things may seem hopeless but out of everything that happens, there is something good."

"What can possibly be good about this?" I asked.

"Well, for starters, you met me," he said. "And without you, we wouldn't have got this chance to hopefully defeat the government for good." I looked at him. The boy I had only known for days yet had become one of the best friends I had ever had. He had become more than a friend. "Thanks Caleb," I said. "I needed that."

"I'm always here for you," he replied. I hugged him tightly. For the rest of the evening, we just talked about anything and everything. We talked about our lives before the bomb, our schools and old friends. I realised that it was such a relief to get this off my chest. I needed to talk to someone about this and I think he did too. It felt good to have a normal conversation without having to be scared out of our minds all the time. Eventually food was handed out and we heard the distant rumble above our heads from the fight. Many children fell quiet and tried desperately to go to sleep, not wanting to think about what was happening above. Me and Caleb fell quiet too and went to sleep quite quickly.

***
My dreams were connected to Edward's again, like they were most nights. This time, I could feel his sense of panic as Frost came up with his knife and multiplied. I tried to stop it like I usually could but it felt like something was blocking me. I tried so hard to stop the nightmare but the more I tried, the harder it became and soon, I was cut off by something and the dream went black.

***

I woke up to a slamming of a door. Nick had come out of Edward's room and slid down the wall beside the door, his head in his hands. "Nick?" I asked. He lifted his head.

"Morning Tess," he mumbled.

"Is everything OK?" I said, pushing myself up. He looked up at me and bit his lip.

"Umm...yeah...kind of," he stammered.

"Why were you in Edward's room? Is he awake?" I asked, getting up and heading towards the door.

"Woah, wait a minute, Tess," Nick said, standing up and holding me back. "It's probably best that you don't...don't go in just yet."

"What do you mean? I want to see him," I said.

"Look, he doesn't want me saying anything about it and I respect that. I don't like lying to you either but I promised Edward I wouldn't tell you," Nick said. "It's best that you don't see him for a while, OK? We need to check some things out."

"I can't see him? But for how long?" I said.

"I don't know," he said. "But trust me when I say he is only doing this to protect you."

"That's the only reason he ever does anything," I cried. "When are you and him ever going to learn that I don't need protecting anymore! I can look after myself. Now tell me what is going on with my brother!" Nick looked hurt and took a step away from me.

"I promised him," he whispered. That was enough for me. I turned and ran. Dodging the sleeping figures and slamming into the doors. I could hear Nick shouting behind me, warning me not to go out but I didn't listen. I lifted the heavy bolts and ran out of the bunkers, not bothering to see where I was going.

***
When I finally came to my senses I realised that I was standing in the valley by a big tree. I had no real memory of how I got here but Nick was no where in sight. I suddenly noticed how close I was to the battle field. I could see the two sides and their trenches with the big guns. It startled me to see how many people we really had fighting on our side...not very many at all. But the thing that scared me the most was the big golden dome that covered the government's forces. That must be their shield because it looked exactly like Edward's. My spirits sank. This really is a war we can't win, even with our powers.

"Tess!" Someone whispered. I lifted my head up in surprise but there was no one there.

"Hello?" I called. A figure stepped out from behind the tree trunk. I gasped. "Caleb?"

"Come on! We have to go!" He said, beckoning me.

"Where? What are you doing?" I asked.

"I followed you. Nick has got everybody looking for us. I thought this would be our only chance," he explained, pulling me towards him.

"Our only chance to do what?"

"To stop this. Me and you are going to take out that shield."

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Ahhh I am so sorry for the terribly late update. I have been so busy it's unbelievable. I haven't even started on the next update for I Fell for an Angel yet. Sorry!!!!

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CricketCat