CHOSEN (ON HOLD)

CHAPTER 16

Amelia's P.O.V

         Sun filtered into my room, the rays were sizzling. Birds chirped happily around my window causing me to smile. I could hear the Morning Glory plant blooming. Yes, i could hear that. Nature is life.
         
The rustling of dried leaves as people raked them from their compounds, the sounds of passing vehicles, the clinking of kitchen utensils, the ticking of the parlor clock, sound of dripping waters from the bathroom, the clapping trees, and the noise from the birds all filled my eardrums. I smiled Good Morning to myself.

"Add a little more salt, Kate"
I heard Granny say to mom in the kitchen. I smiled. Granny's love for salt was surprising.

       Oh! I haven't fed you up on how yesterday went! Mom and Granny had acted weird because changing someone's mind was the hardest and last thing a Chosen would learn to do. Granny said it consumes all energy and a Chosen could pass out after changing someone's mind. Chosens could also lost their mind or lose their memory if they try hard to change someone's mind. That's a lot, isn't it?

Well, maybe I didn't change Miss Palmer's mind after all. Maybe it was a coincidence. And maybe I did change it. I'm scared to find out. I don't want to try it and lose my mind or memory.

I heard Mom drop a spoon and sigh frustratingly in the kitchen. I stretched and got out of bed.

Wait... How could I have heard that little sound up here? The sound of moving vehicles? The main road is far from the house! Did I say I heard the sizzling of sun rays, the blooming of flowers? Oh my!

"Careful, Kate" I heard Granny say.

I ran downstairs, skipping stairs. I need to see if all I heard happened.

Downstairs, I saw mom getting up after she picked the spoon.

"Baby! You are up!!!" She screamed!

I flinched and held my hands tight to my ear.

"That's too loud. Hush!" I felt so dizzy. My ears were hurting. Why is everything so loud?

"Mom, Amelia is observing her second change" Mom called to Granny in a hushed tone, clearly trying not to make my eardrums explode.

Granny dropped the book she was reading and it felt like she dropped a sledge hammer on my head.

"Aww!" I held my head tight. Everywhere was spinning.

"Amy, calm down. Take a deep breath. Relax" Granny said slowly.

I did as she said. I just want the banging to stop. I always knew Granny and Mom can hear the tiniest of sounds but I never connected it to them being Chosens.

"Now focus on your ears. Control the sounds you hear. Control the waves, Amy"

"How do you expect...Aww!" My own voice was louder than normal too.

"Shh... Close your eyes, focus on your ears. Listen to what you want. Zone out the disturbing noise. Pick the information it brings"

I sighed, closed my eyes. Trying to focus on my ears! How the hell does she wants me to control my hearing?
I sighed and waited for what felt like ages until I felt the slightest of moves in my ear! It twitched. I gasped and tried to refocus on my ears. I heard Granny's voice telling Mom to make a noise. Then, I heard the clinking of metals. Too loud.

I focused on the sound, reducing the waves like a switch. The sound came again a bit loud. I closed my eardrums a little and the noise became normal.

I could hear everything but not in a noisy way. I tuned out the noise. Yeah, it was my second change...