A Final Stand

Chapter 5: Trapped

~Lukas's POV~

How did Jesse figure out her power? That seems hugely unfair. She can read minds and speak in them, and I have no clue what I can do. Meanwhile, she doesn't even know what her mark is.

I don't know how, either, she answers. I just started picking up your thought-voice, and when I tried to answer, it worked.

So you're going to spy on my every thought now? I ask angrily. So no one can have any privacy?

No, she answers. She sounds hurt. Why would I do that?

Because you can. Whatever I think or feel or - or anything - you can pick up now. And you don't even know where your mark is!

Hey, I didn't ask for this, she shoots back. There's anger in her voice, loud and clear. I didn't ask for the flint and steel. I didn't ask for everyone to die. I didn't ask for you to judge every move I make! Her voice cuts off, and she speeds her pace, leaving us behind. "I'll scout ahead," she says, without looking back. Then she crests the next hill and disappears.

"A lovers' quarrel," Elle snickers. Then she hisses, "Ow! Magnus!"

I roll my eyes and keep walking, listening to the others talk. Olivia and Axel come up next to me.

"You know what's up with her?" Axel asks.

Yeah. "No, I don't," I lie.

"Oh. Okay," he says, and we keep walking in silence.

After a while, we reach the plains. The sun is setting once again. I begin gathering dirt, but Olivia says, "No, Lukas. We need to shelter underground, dig out a cave."

I shrug and help them punch out a hole under the ground, and everyone files in after us. I peek my head out, but there's no sign of Jesse or anyone else, other than the tree houses behind us.

I feel a pang of worry, but ignore it. She can take care of herself. Besides, she'll be able to hear anyone coming.

I can't help but feel that something's going to go wrong for her. I don't regret what I said earlier, but I do think I could have said it better. A lot better.

<Jesse's POV>

How dare he accuse me of wanting to spy on thoughts?! I didn't ask for these powers! I never wanted any of this!

I draw my sword and spin it in a circle. With a yell, I throw it at a lone tree. It buries itself in the bark up to the hilt, and I pull it back out.

"Stupid boys," I mutter, continuing to speed walk. I slowly speed up, until I'm running full speed across the plains. I lose myself in the beat of my feet against the mostly level ground. My worry about the Hunters, fear for the others, anger at Lukas, is all channeled into energy.

A tear is ripped from my eye, but I can't tell if it's from the wind or something else.

The sun falls, and I keep running, careless of the monsters. I just dodge around them, occasionally using my sword to cut through one. All I can think about is to keep running, no matter what.

A few hours later, I slow to a stop, panting. I've never run so far so fast in my life. I collapse on the ground. "Slime blocks," I gasp, trying to calm my racing heart.