The Paranormal Side

Chapter 16

I don't know how long I ran. Ten minutes? Twenty? Probably not even that long. Tears were blurring my vision and with each sob I stumbled, catching myself only to carry on again. I tripped over tree roots and vines, my hair getting caught in branches and filling with small sticks and leaves.

But still I ran, some insane part of my mind thinking I could run from what I did. Escape the crime I committed.

The murder.

I ran until finally I fell onto my hands and knees, sobs racking my body. I laid back against a tree, letting out all my tears and sobs and screams. Brian thought he was a monster?

I'm the monster.

I just killed someone. Took away a life with my own hands. I'm the dangerous one, couldn't Brian see that? Maybe he was right about staying away to stay safe.

That could have been him.

Is this what came with being a witch? Not able to control your anger, so you kill people? I hate it. I hate all of this.

I hate myself.

I picked up a rock beside me and mulled it over in my dirty and bloody palms, studying its crevices and cracks until my breathing was controlled and the tears stopped flowing. My guilt was crushing me, grinding me into dust.

Monster.

With a frustrated scream, I chucked the rock at a nearby tree.

"Whoa. What'd that rock ever do to you?" A familiar voice asked, stepping into my line of sight. I groaned.

"Paige, I really don't need your sarcasm right now."

"Aw, sweetie. Get over it."

I felt my anger rising again, like water threatening to overfill a crumbling dam. "Get over it? I just killed someone! How could you tell me to get-"

"He's not dead," she stated, crossing her arms over her chest and looking at me expectantly.

I cut off in the middle of my rant, my anger receding. "W-what?"

"Your little witch brother saved him. He's alive. Has a massive headache of course, but nothing a couple of pills can't fix," Paige said matter-of-factly. She examined her nails in an irritating manner.

"He's not dead?!" I exclaimed, jumping to my feet with hopefulness written all over my face. I didn't kill him?

She gave an exasperated sigh. "Do you want me to spell it out for you? A-L-I-V-E. He's alive," she said, looking at me seriously.

I gave a sigh of relief, the tension leaving my shoulders. I no longer felt like I was being crushed. Just sweet, sweet relief.

"No thanks to you, though," Paige added like a side-note, checking her nails once again. I felt heat rise in me, and white clouded the sides of my vision.  "You almost killed him," she continued, her tone maddeningly casual.

"You don't think I know that?" I snapped, my anger returning just as fast as it left. "I'm a monster, I get it."

She laughed. "Yes, you are."

I took a step towards her, my hands shaking as they balled into fists. Her eyes lazily rolled up to meet mine, not flinching at their no doubt scarlet color.

"How about you shut your goddamn mouth?" I growled, grinding my teeth together. I was getting ready to lose control. I could feel it, an impending darkness.

"It's a good thing you and Brian aren't together. You're not good for him."

"SHUT UP!" I yelled, my hand snapping out to close around her neck. I lifted her off her feet, her toes barely brushing the ground. She choked, her eyes bulging from lack of air. I squeezed harder, the darkness inching closer and closer to me. I could feel it, the power of taking lives coursing through my veins. I was strong. Invincible. I could control people.

"You feel that?" She choked, her hands scrambling over mine. "That anger? That's the power you have. The dark side of it. Werewolves have that too. I have that. I've killed people. Lost my temper. It's part of our nature. Who we are. You just have to learn how to control it. Focus on something...good..."

She was weakening. Slipping in my grasp. I could feel her life ebbing away, flowing into me. Good. Focus on something good, Katie.

A memory popped into my mind, taking over my instincts for a minute. Brian and I, lounging on his bed and playing XBOX. Joking with each other. I pushed the controller out of his hands and he ruffled my hair. I laughed, the sound echoing in my head.

Paige slide to the ground, my hand releasing her.

She gasped, taking in fresh air as her fingers rubbed at her red throat. I slid to my knees in front of her, gazing wonderingly at the grass.

"Are you okay now?" She murmured, watching me intently. A blanket of quiet peace was surrounding me, and I couldn't seem to imagine feeling anger.

I touched her neck, using my powers to heal the bruises my fingers had left. She gasped as the pain eased.

"Thank you," I whispered.