Gifted

Chapter Twenty-Two

I came out of the trees the same moment Chase slammed a body against the brick wall of the girls' dorm. I heard a grunt and knew it was a girl. I tried to get a better look at her around Chase. Her dark eyes were wide in shock.

"Who are you?" Chase demanded shaking her shoulders.

She lifted one of her eyebrows. "I'm Raven," she said. "Do you go around slamming all girls into brick walls?" she asked sarcastically and threw me a sympathetic look. What a sight I must've been with my tear streaked cheeks, leaves and twigs in my hair.

"Let me guess, Power?" she said redirecting her attention back to Chase.

"What are you doing here?" Chase continued to interrogate.

"Getting an education, and you?" If I hadn't been so shocked by the events I would have laughed. Her hair was black and short. Her eyes were heavy with black shadow and liner. She was sneering at Chase, and he reluctantly let her go.

"So..." She started, studying us awkwardly. "I hope you two aren't the welcoming committee."

"What were you doing out here sneaking around?"

"Well, um, actually I didn't realize the trail was private." She judged Chase's glare and seemed to decide not to push him too far. "I came out here, heard you two having a private conversation and decided I'd come back later."

Chase's tone didn't improve however; in fact, he seemed even more on edge. "Does the Council know you're here?" he asked.

"No," she said simply.

Chase started to pull out his cell phone.

Raven went on. "I didn't think I had to have my life approved by the Council. Plus, I haven't been to a Council meeting since I was like seven."

Chase waited for her to finish so she went on.

"My parents moved away; we just got back in the area. We weren't ever regulars at the Council anyway. My parents are kind of hippies." She smiled at Chase sarcastically.

He turned to me and said, "Morgan, why don't you go to your room? I'll call you later." I just nodded; I was speechless. Walking away I heard Raven call after me.

"That's right Morgan, listen to daddy."

I paced my room waiting for Chase to call or hop through my window. Something had me curious about Raven. Her eyes were different. I knew she was Gifted; I could feel it, but I couldn't tell which Gift she possessed. Her eyes weren't the typical colors; they were black as midnight. What had me the most uneasy, they reminded me of my nightmare. I waited for over an hour before my phone finally rang. Chase was detached; he seemed in a hurry.

"Hey, I just wanted to call and check on you," he said.

"I was just waiting to see if you had heard anything from the Council."

"Yeah, Uncle Spencer's checking on it right now. He's supposed to call back after he talked to Mr. Dawson. I'll let you know after I hear back from him."

"Yeah please, but um, Chase?" I asked.

"Yeah?"

"What Gift does she have? I mean her eyes..."

"Yeah, I know. I haven't seen anyone like her before. I told Uncle Spencer, he didn't seem like he knew either."

"Oh."

"So I just wanted to remind you to lock your window tonight. I mean, the Council may not seem to think you're in imminent danger, but I wouldn't risk it, especially after the incident in your room."