Gift: A Story Of Love, Hope And Zombies (Work In Progress)

6. With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility

Every spare moment she had, Hannah was sneaking up to her room to study. She didn't enjoy distancing herself from her friends and family, but she felt that her reading was far more important, besides, this would make it all easier in the long run.

Hannah read and prepared and cried within the solitude if her room. She didn't think anyone noticed though. She was careful. She had excuses prepared to explain her frequent absences, she made sure that she would disappear at times that the others were least likely to miss her. She did everything in her power to keep her and her plans safe, and she was doing a good job at it too. Or so she thought.

Kelby started to notice that Hannah was acting weird. She noticed how Hannah always seemed to be jittery and on her top gaurd, like she was constantly being watched. She noticed how dark the bags under Hannah's eyes would get, and how she would disappear into her room for hours on end. It was kind of concerning, but she decided to ignore it, at least for that moment.

Hannah is deep into reading her book, hidden under her covers, reading only by the light glowing from her fingertips, when Kelby bursts in. Hannah squeaks in shock at the sound of the door opening and slams the book closed, dulling her light and sitting completely still. She knows that Kelby knew she was awake, but the panic in her brain tells her that it was perfectly logical to believe sitting still would completely hide her from Kelby, even though she was sitting directly upright.

Perhaps she can tell Kelby that she's practicing sleeping like a cow, and even though shes sitting up, she was indeed sleeping.

The door closes harshly. "Hannah. I know you're awake. It's pretty obvious." Dangit.

Hannah takes a deep breath, and plasters a ginormously annoying grin to her face before pulling the sheets off her head and facing Kelby. "Oh, hi Kelby! What's up?" She pulls the covers around her protectively to hide the book. Kelby was the last person she's ever want seeing it.

Kelby crosses her arms, scowling and jutting her hip out. "I don't know Hannah. What is up?" Direct and right to the point.

Hannah's sickeningly forced smile falters a bit. "What do you mean?"

Kelby takes an assertive step towards Hannah. Hannah tightens her grip on the covers. She can feel her heart thudding rapidly against her chest. She hopes Kelby can't hear it.

"You've been acting weird lately. I want to go know what's going on." Kelby gets closer.

Hannah is panicking. "Nothings going on! WHOA, Back off!!" Kelby progressive steps are not assuring to Hannah. Kelby pauses. She looks hurt, and frustrated with Hannah's outburst. Then she looks down and noticed the corner of a book peeking out from under Hannah's blanket. Then she notices just how protectively she's holding on to that blanket. Hannah doesn't realize that the book is exposed.

"What's that?"

"What's what?"

"That!" Kelby is at the edge of Hannah's bed now, reaching out her hand for the book.

Hannah looks down too late. Kelby has stolen the book and is pulling it closer to look at it. "No, no, no! Give that back! It's not yours! It's not important! Please Kel-"

Kelby gasps and looks Hannah in the eye. Her face hold a new expression of fury, an expression that makes Hannah very, very scared.

"Hannah," she growls. "Why do you have a book of spells?"

Hannah climbs out of bed and reaches for the book. "Please Kelby, just give it back!"

"I thought. We had all agreed. Not to be involved with magic, we don't understand." Kelly's voice is low and dangerous.

"Kelby, it's not what it looks like!" Hannah's hands grab for the spellbook, but Kelby pulls it to her chest, refusing to let go.

"Not what it looks like? It doesn't matter what this looks like! Do you remember what happened last time we messed around with magic?!"

Hannah nods desperately. Yes, of course she knows. How could she ever forget? But this was more important than that!

"Kelby..." Hannah pulls on the book. Kelby doesn't let go, but her temper rises.

"My sister is stuck as a freaking animal, Hannah! We all agreed! We. Don't. Learn. New. MaGIC!" Kelby pulls the book aggressively, successfully yanking the book far away from Hannah.

Hannah snaps. "I KNOW, OKAY? I KNOW THE RISKS, BUT I'M DOING THIS ANY WAY. NOW, GIVE! ME! MY! BOOK!" She grabs the book, and yanks it from Kelby. Kelby tries to pull it back to her. The pressure of the situation gets to them, and they both collapse on the ground.