The Truth

Chapter 14

-Jack-

     I read the letter over and over again, specifically the paragraph dedicated to me. I want to rip my hair out and scream and cry at how unfair everything is, but I know that won't change anything. So instead, I fold up the letter, put it in my pocket and turn calmly to Cindy and Blake.

     "We need to get out of here." I state the obvious but neither one says anything sarcastic. I bet they're both thinking about the letter too. As I look around, despair hits me and I stop for a moment. If things are just going to get worse, why would I chose to live through it? It'd be so easy for me to just kill myself and get all of this over with. Never give up. Those words are starting to sound useless to me now. But maybe this seer is right. Eventually things have to get better.

     "You okay?" Blake asks. I look at him, startled.

     "I don't know. Are you?" he shrugs

     "There's been a lot of shit between my dad and I. I guess I thought...I don't know..." He looks away and I nod.

     "Yeah, I know." we stare out the window for awhile until I hear Cindy's scream. We both race into the kitchen where a roach is crawling on a salt shaker inches from her hand. Blake laughs and I flick it off.

     "Eww!!" she shrieks and starts jumping around the kitchen. This makes Blake laugh even harder but it annoys me. It was a bug.

     I look at the shaker the roach was on and lean in closer. There's something off about the way it's positioned on the counter and as I look at the bottom, I realize it's hovering slightly above it.

     "What is it, Jack?" Blake asks as Cindy's still trying to control her breathing.

     "Brace yourself." Is all I say and I lift the salt shaker. Immediately the floor underneath us opens and we fall. Cindy and Blake scream the whole way down.

-Cindy-

     I scream as we fall, wondering what could be at the bottom. In mid-air, I feel something warm hug me, but when I flail my arms they touch nothing. I begin to worry about what might be surrounding me when I hit the bottom. I can tell it's hard and it should have hurt a lot, but I don't feel anything. It's pitch black and I clench my fists, scared something's going to attack.

     "Blake?" I say.

     "Are you okay?" he asks.

     "I'm fine. I didn't feel a thing." I say. He chuckles.

     "Neither did I." he says.

     "Jack?" I whisper and I hear a groan next to me. "Jack, are you okay?" I don't get a response. "Jack, answer me!" I say frantically.

    "Give me a minute!" he says through gritted teeth.

     "Are you okay?" I ask.

     "I just fell several feet onto solid rock. No, I'm not okay." he says sarcastically.

     "Why didn't Blake and I feel the impact and you did?" I ask, more to myself then to him.

     "I cushioned your fall." he replies and a surge of gratitude flows through me. He used his energy to save Blake and I from the pain of the impact and took it all himself.

     "Thank you." I say. His hands light up in flames and flood the room with light.

     "You're welcome." he replies and I get butterflies looking at his beautiful face as the light casts shadows across it. Blake ignites his hands as well and I can see clearly now. I remember the words in the letter telling me I can't always rely on Blake and Jack, so I try to conjure up some fire too. All I get is a small spark. Blake smiles but Jack puts his fire out.