Brushed

Chapter 7

“Adriana, thank you so much for what you did. That is just about the bravest thing I have ever seen; you really did sacrifice your life for hers.”

                 “You are the only reason either of us are alive, Mackenzie. I still have no idea what happened or how I got into her vision, and how I got her out. I am basically clueless. But you seem to know everything about this,” Adriana responds, glancing at me. “Well, at least I’m alive.” She sighs, and a tear rolls down her cheek. She really did save me, didn’t she? She put her life on the line to save me.

                 And wait—she thinks I’m dead? I want to shriek that I am very much alive, and I will remain alive. But the words get stuck in my throat. Not only that, but I can’t talk. No matter how hard I try, the words won’t exit my throat.

                 “Don’t talk like that. She’s alive, I’m almost sure of it. Her power is just forming, and we haven’t looked that far into it yet. But because of the research I’ve done so far, I think this is just the first stage. Who knows if she would’ve actually died if she went into the light…but she didn’t. You told me that yourself. You fell, I gather?” Mackenzie inquires.   

                 “Yes, we fell. Nikki stomped her foot at something I said, I think. And then, the ground started to shake. I think she said something, but I couldn’t quite make out the words. And once we fell, everything went black. Then I woke up,” Adriana explains.

                 “If she’s dead,” Mackenzie says, “then what differed between her fall and yours?”

                 Adriana doesn’t respond right away. From the angle I’m looking at her, she looks truly puzzled. “Maybe it’s because of her power. Maybe it did something to her where she couldn’t get out of the vision and she fell into it, not out of it. That’s all I have.”

                 “It’s been three hours now. What do you think?” Mackenzie asks, gesturing to me.

                 Is she suggesting that they leave me here to die? I’m not dead! If only I could tell them that.

                 “Mackenzie, we can’t just leave her. That wouldn’t be logical. I mean, something big just happened. We should at least give her a chance.”

                 “I guess you’re right. Well, I guess we just wait for her to wake up. I have a class coming up… so you guys will have to leave before then,” Mackenzie says.

                 “Okay, we’ll leave before then. And I have something to talk to you about, later. About Nikki.” Adriana frowns. “Someone needs to figure this out.”

                 “Someone does,” Mackenzie replies. “And quickly, before anything else like this happens.”

                 The room becomes dead silent. I can barely open my eyes, my mouth, or even move my arms. Does this mean I’m paralyzed? I sure hope not. They would call me dead and then bury me. They would bury me alive.

                 I decide that I need to do something. Being buried is actually one of my fears, and I can’t have that happen to me; not so young! Since I can’t say anything, I attempt a grunt instead.

                 I try to talk, but it comes out more like a moan. At least I said something.

                 “Nikki, was that you?” Mackenzie asks, and Adriana races to my side.