"I Love You" (Book Three In The "I Promise" Series)

Rescue

MommyDaddyhelppleasehelpIdon'twanttohe'smakingmeMommyDaddyhelpyouneedtohelpRosehe'sgoingtofindherandshedoesn'twanttogobackIknowshe'sagoodpersonshe'syourdaughter.

I sobbed again, the weight of the rumbling city above crushing down on me.

She's my sister, Rose is my sister, and I'll never forgive myself if something happens to her.

The electricity was fire in my veins, barely letting me keep my hands raised at the underside of the city above me. I wanted to stop so badly, but every time that I tried to move my hands away of push the city back into place, my arms were jerked back into place, and the electricity intensified.

I heard an explosion, out of sight in the shadows. Something had gone wrong. I'd destroyed a gas line, or one of the toxic waste factories, or the city was deteriorating much faster than Slade had calculated. I had no way to tell how much time had passed. Maybe an hour? Maybe thirty minutes? At least the time wasn't up yet, since Slade hadn't forced me to bring it down all the way.

Suddenly, two bright blue lights shot out of the darkness, obliterating the chains that held me in place. Someone flew out of the shadows and into the glow of the light cast by my powers.

The team had arrived. 

I wanted to shout with joy, run with them to safety, but the electricity flowed over me like a tidal wave, holding me in place, and I screamed in pain.

"Rachel, what's wrong?" Leo asked.

"What are you doing?" Michael asked, his pointed, elf-like ears drooping. He reached for my arm to pull it down, and I screamed for him to stop all too late. With a shout he jumped back, whimpering like a kicked puppy.

"What was that for!?" My little brother screamed at me. Everyone else was immensely confused.

"I'm sorry! I am so sorry!" I said, not even trying to hide the tears crawling down my cheeks. My arms were tired, I was exhausted from such an extensive use of my powers, and all I wanted to do was go home.

"Slade has this device, it's controlling my nervous system. He's making me use my powers to destroy the city.

Rose's one visible eyes narrowed at the mention of Slade. Her hand curled into a fist, and I could just barely see the faintest glow of yellow surrounding it.

"Cardinal, Hex, Swift, Nightstar, with me! We're going to find Slade and shut down the device. Crow, Beast Twins, you two stay here. Try to find a way to keep the city supported until we can shut down the device controlling Galatia!" She commanded. Without another word, she ran into the shadows, followed by those she had named.

Swift almost ran ahead, but she stopped and zipped back over to me.

"You okay?" She asked.

I nodded, trying to shake off the tears. "Yeah, yeah, I'll be fine."

Katie smiled sadly. "You're my best friend, Rachel Logan. You're strong, you can fight this!"

I smiled back at her. "You're my best friend too, Katie West."

With a two-fingered salute, she ran off after her squad.

Michael and Leo had grown from teenage boys to elephants to T-Rex's, trying to grow tall enough to reach the ceiling and push it upwards, leaving me with Andre.

"You sure you're alright?" He asked, brow furrowed in concern.

I gritted my teeth. "I've managed to make it this far," I said painfully, sweat starting to slick my arms and neck under the suit, especially the places with the metal armor.

"Here, let me help." Andre's body was covered in a black aura, his features outlined in a white light that filled his eyes. He reached up and grabbed both my hands, combating my powers with his dark magic. It felt like some of the weight had lifted from my shoulders, and I sighed with a shudder. The electricity was still there, but at least the load wasn't as heavy. The base of the city was covered with Andre's dark magic, and i saw it ever so slightly inch higher.

Much like me, Andre wouldn't be able to keep this up forever. The floor rumbled, and tiny pebbles continued to fall, stirring dust on the floor of the cavern. Michael and Leo were constantly changing, trying to grow tall enough and strong enough. the three of them kept pushing as hard as they could, but I kept pulling. I hoped that Rose and the others would stop Slade soon enough. 

Then, the electricity suddenly vanished. I gasped, nearly fainting against Andre. They'd done it, they'd destroyed the device. I let my arms drop, and they stayed there. I was back in charge of my own body again.

I laughed. Of all things I could have done, I laughed. It had never felt so good to be myself. To feel my hair with the abnormal green streak, to knock my knobby knees together,  to clench my hand into a fist and feel the warmth of my own powers surging through me.

Andre caught me, kneeling down to sit me on the ground. but he wouldn't move his arms from around me.

My brothers came running over. "Is it over? Did they do it?" Michael asked, out of breath and panting like a dog. I hugged him and Leo in response. Yes, I was back in control.

Rose came running back with Cardinal, Nightstar, Hex, and Swift. Katie hugged me tightly, and Jai not-so sneakily placed his arm around Rose's shoulders.

"It's done," Rose said, hardly noticing Jai as she smiled at me. "Now let's get out of here." 

I heartily agreed with her, but as we made a break for the door, another earthquake threw us to the floor.

"It's not done." I gasped.

"The city's unstable!" Mar'i cried. "It'll come crashing down into the volcano!" We looked down at the floor, all feeling the rock grow hotter beneath our feet.

"I'll stop it." I said without a thought, getting to my feet and running back to the center of the room.

"Rachel, no!" Rose cried, grabbing my arm and pulling herself to her feet. "The exhertion, it will kill you!" She shouted above the falling rocks.

"I'm the only one who can fix it, Rosie!" I screamed. "I did this, so I'll fix it!"

I stared at her darkly, daring her to tell me other wise.

Finally, she held up her hand, which was now glowing bright yellow. "You won't do it alone."

Rose had powers. She was like me! We really were twins!

I grabbed her hand, pulling her back to the circle. As one, we raised our joined fists, pointing them up at the city growing too close for comfort. It was surrounded by a yellow glow, slowly pushing upwards.

Nightstar joined our efforts, pushing up with her super strength. Michael piggybacked Leo, both of them as a dinosaur, pushing up with prehistoric strength. Andre used his own powers, and Katie created an updraft, the wind keeping the city from falling any further.

Jai and Ryan blasted any debris that fell towards us, protecting us while we worked to save Jump City.

"Titans, Together!" With one last, unanimous cry, we all gave one final push. With her eyebeams, Mar'i sealed the city in place. 

The rumbling had stopped, the volcano was no longer a threat.

Now, it was over.

I had just enough time to cheer with everyone else before i fainted next to Rosie.

My dear, sweet sister Rosie.