Ink

Chapter 31

Caleb supports most of my weight as we walk down the small hallway. My thoughts are slightly blurred by my by the dull ache in my head which causes me to groan every now and then. Every time I do I feel his gaze at the side of my head checking to make sure that I'm alright.

"We're almost there, Al." He squeezes my shoulder in reassurance.

The medical center body count is growing. Nearly every room is filled and doctors are frantically running around trying to tend to everyone.

"Where did all of there people come from?" I ask while glancing back and forth between rooms.

Caleb clears his throat and ignores my question .

I lightly nudge him in the side.

"Caleb?"

He tilts his head in my direction. We walk past a few more rooms full of groaning men and women.

"You might not like my answer, Al."

I raise a brow in question.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean-"He stops us in the middle of the hallway and turns so that our bodies are facing one another. "If you knew that the reason all of these people are hurt was because of you, you might not like my answer."

My eyes widen in sunrise.

"What do you mean because of me?" I ask.

He shakes his head and resumes his position at my side before leading me down the hall.

"You're saying that this is my fault?" I can't help the anger that seeps into my tone. "I didn't do anything!"

Caleb remains silent as we turn into my own room. He shuts the door behind him and walks me over to the bed.

"Caleb, say something." I make a move to stand from the bed but he places his hands on my shoulders and pushes me back down.

"You need to rest." Is all he says before walking over to the chair beside my bed and sitting down.

"That's it?" I say. I can't control the fact that my voice is raising. "That's all you have to say?"

He lifts his head and his eyes meet mine. They are filled with frustration.

"I don't know what else to say, Al."

"What about a few minutes ago when you told me that all those people were here because of me? Do you have anything else to say about that?"

He shakes his head again. Only this time I can feel his sense of internal defeat deep into me.

I can feel my anger growing within me and this time I embrace the feeling. It builds up inside of me. So powerful.

I feel it begin to bubble over and deep out of me. The lights flicker rapidly as a mystical energy fills the room more powerful than before.

This time it is different. There is no unexplainable trigger for my powers, I know exactly what the cause is.

My anger. Me.