Relentless

Chapter 22

I bite the inside of my lip and a tear slipped past its cage of lashes.

Seeing me cry, Peter approached to comfort me. It has been hours since I lost control, but I still don't feel like myself. Skylar consumes my thoughts. She has become like a sister to me these past few months. In fact she even often reminded me of Ashton.

He put a hand on my shoulder and spoke to me gently. "Hey, she's gonna be okay. She's strong and she'll pull through this."

"That's not why I'm crying," I replied in a quiet voice.

"Then what's wrong?" he asked hesitantly, trying to tread lightly.

"I saved her, my friend. I had the choice to save her or an innocent person who got caught up in the fight. I had the choice between my gravely injured friend who may not pull through over a perfectly healthy person."

I feel numb as I say, "I should have jumped in front of the bullet. What made his life worth so much less than her's?" He keeps trying to interrupt me, but my words never faltered.

"Hey, don't beat yourself up about this."

"No! It's my fault. Statistically speaking, the other man had the greater chance of surviving. If I had made a different choice we would be having a very different conversation."

"Yeah, you would be mourning your friend, and screw statistics, you made a split second decision."

"A selfish one."

"Unless you're the one pulling the trigger, don't blame yourself for someone's death."

I tensed as Peter wrapped me into an embrace. I know he meant this to be comforting but it is distracting.

When he pulled out of the hug, his eyes meet mine and he freezes. Our faces are inches apart. I feel his urge to kiss me radiating off of him. A tear slips down my cheek. My lips part as I release a shuddering breath, nothing more.

Peter's jaw tenses and his eyes dark away from mine. He then, lifts a hand from my shoulder and wiped my cheek dry.

He released me afterward and turned to walk away. Before he leaves he says, "She asked to talk to you."

Without question, I walk through the woods to her tent. The Divine refugees scatter from my path. They're scared of me. I can't say I blame them, but it doesn't hurt any less. I feel terrible for losing control.

I have only lost control once before and that was when Ashton was kidnapped. When I was in training Peter taught me to control and enhance my ability but even I have limitations on my control. He said that I can never truly master it when I am emotional. Whenever I have a spike of adrenaline, either in excitement or anxiety, I risk losing control.

I entered Skylar's tent with a sad smile as her eyes met mine. Her eyes seemed to light up even though the smile rarely reached her lips.

"Celeste! You were just the friend I wanted to see!" Her voice sounded scratchy as she spoke.

Friend. I never thought I'd hear anyone call me that again. It's just a reminder that even though the world hates me that not everyone does.

"Yes, I know." I said taking her hand. "Why did you want to see me?"

He glanced at her wrist and lifts her hand.

"Your wristlet?"

She nodded.

"For me?"

She nodded again.

"But why?"

"You know why..."