The Risk Takers

Part 33 | Whispers

I feel like everything is happening in slow motion. A loud ear piercing scream escapes me as I watch Liam drop to his knees on the sidewalk. Topher drops his hands to his sides horrified at his mistake and I push myself off the grass to throw myself over to Liam. He is now on his back laying on the sidewalk and hot tears are streaming down my face. My hands are shaking and somehow I've managed to block out all noise around me. I glare at Topher as I seethe, "What did you do?!"

The whole neighborhood can hear my screeching and Topher is staring at Liam. Still in shock he chokes out, "He no longer has his abilities."

I shake my head in disbelief as I look back to an unconscious Liam. Every cell in my body is enraged and I am shivering with anger. I feel an emotion I have never felt before bubble up inside me and suddenly Topher is being thrown through the air. I watch as he lands in the middle of the street on his back. I leap up and fiercely stride over to him as he catches his breath. He pulls himself into seated position, unsure of what I just made happen and as soon as he spots me, I somehow manage to raise him up in the air again. It's as if he is a puppet connected to invisible strings that I am controlling. His eyes are wide as I shout, "Liam said if you ever came around us again he would kill you. I think I'll make good on his word!" I toss Topher thirty feet further down the street and I've never so boldly used my abilities in public with zero concern of being caught. I've also never had the ability to throw a grown man around like a rag doll. 

As soon as he hits the asphalt I raise him into the air again and spin him so I have his full attention, "You are the worst thing to have ever happened to Liam and I am going to make it so you can never come near him again. You have always been so fascinated with my abilities so enjoy the view as I discover a new one. It will be the last thing you ever see."

I try to channel all the anger, pain and frustration I've felt this past month and ball it into some kind of ability I can use to destroy Topher. I've somehow managed to silence him and his eyes are still wide as he's suspended in the air. My hands are shaking and I'm shivering all over. I can't see anything other than the man I despise with every fiber of my being and my eyes are laser focused. I think back to him breaking into head in college, taking Liam away to Virginia, throwing me across Lisa's house and filing destruction of property charges against me. I think of him trying to kill Teddy's parents and ruining everything I worked so hard for. I think of him trying to manipulate Liam against me and trying to take my abilities away from me. I take all that anger and with all my might I throw it as hard as I can against him.

I watch in awe as Topher swells in front of me and a split second later he bursts in dust.

I somehow managed to disintegrate an entire man. Into dust. 

I realize I've been holding my breath this entire time and I release it before my lungs explode. I am not sure my brain can comprehend what just happened. I feel like I am in a dream. I just turned Topher into ash in the middle of the street. I pull myself into reality and quickly spin around and sprint back to my front lawn. I catch Leelah standing in a artsy purple frock with her messy gray hair piled on top of her head in her doorway, staring at me in fascination. How much did she witness? She looks to Liam and worriedly asks, "Is Mr. Greysor gonna be okay Miss? I called him about that man at your house but not the police. Do I need to call the police?"

I look back to Liam who is still unconscious but breathing on the sidewalk. I look back to Leelah and shake my head, "I don't think so, I think he's going to be okay."

She nods and I am beyond grateful when she doesn't ask any questions. I'm thankful she's a bit looney anyway so no one would believe her if she tried to tell anyone about what just happened. All she says before darting back inside is, "Let me know if you need anything."

I don't know what she saw but I am not going to stick around long enough to find out. I search for Liam's phone inside his jean pocket and immediately call Teddy when I find it. I burst into tears as soon as he answers, "Topher accidentally took Liam's abilities away from him and I...I killed him."

"Where are you?" He says completely panicked and I quickly respond, "My front yard. Teddy come quick! Liam is unconscious and I want to move him inside!"

"I'll be there in two minutes. Liam called me after your neighbor told him a strange man was lurking in your front yard."

He ends the call abruptly and I drop the phone beside me. I pull Liam's head into my lap and his eyes flutter but they remain closed. I wipe the tears still spilling down my face with the back of my hand and suddenly I hear whispers. My heart leaps into my throat when I realize they are Liam's. His mind is no longer sealed shut and I can hear him regaining consciousness. I've always wanted free access to Liam's quiet mind but I never wanted it like this. I never wanted access without his permission.

I hear the squeal of tires in the distance and smell the distinct smell of burning rubber. I look behind me and watch as Teddy's blue Camaro screeches to a stop in front of me. He leaps out of the car and drops down beside me on the side walk. He hears Liam's whispers too and in horror he looks to me, "Topher took away Liam's ability to seal his mind?"

Still crying I let out a distraught hiccup and nod, "He took everything away. Liam won't be able to read minds or become in invisible anymore. He won't be able to have visions either." Teddy doesn't know what else to say and he scoops Liam into his arms. He uses all his strength to lift Liam off the sidewalk and I run ahead of him to open my front door. I look around one last time to see if any one caught my use of paranormal abilities but when the silence of the neighborhood surrounds me, I disappear back inside.