The Fallen

Kat

I sigh at the tablet in front of me. I've been reading this book for a week now and I still seem to get it. I have the urge to break this thin piece of glass.

A week has passed by and I still haven't talked to Emms. Gabriel and Adeline have been coming and going to our house for training and giving us their information. Our next mission is getting into a building only where elite scientists attend. Because Alex is the type of scientist only for the introduction of the Fallen, he doesn't have much of a great position at this building.

This building is where secrets hide and possibly another step towards our answers. They are their own government there, so not even the President has complete access to this place. One thing that is out in the open about this place is that they detest Gifted people. Only Normalities are allowed there. How is Danny gonna get in there? I do not know, but that's not my worry now as I put the tablet back in its place.

"I don't know what he sees in you."

I turn around with surprise as I see Adeline come up to me. Today she has a navy blue long sleeve that goes all the way down over her knees. She wears leggings that make her curvy body even more noticeable. She barely has any makeup on and her hair is dyed into a light brown color that makes her blue eyes shine even behind those hazel contacts. Despite her simpleness, her movements are still filled with grace, even in her voice as she says, "I know my brother, and you truly captivated him." Her icy eyes study me from head to toes in a way that sends shivers down my spine. "I don't know with what though."

"I'm not looking for anything or anyone," I say. It's the first time I hear my voice actually sound so depressing. I don't even bother to shake it off as I take a hold of my brown bag.

Even Adeline notices the difference in my usual personality as her teasing smile turns into a frown and her eyebrows furrow. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," I say with annoyance in my tone. I start to walk towards the back of the library to look for a better book to keep me inside my room all day.

"You don't sound fine." I roll my eyes as I hear her follow me. I sigh and ignore her as I look through this new row of tablets. "C'mon. It's about your sisters, right?" My eyes give her a side glance and I try my best to bury my anger. "Look. If there's something I'm good at it's reading people and let me tell you, Kat, you're quite an open book."

I angrily put the tablet back in it's place when my ears are filled with her teasing chuckle. I cross my arms on my chest and say, "If you're just here to make fun of me, I suggest you turn around and leave me alone!" I fight back the tears that are eager to spill out of my eyes. I can't handle a fight today and definitely with this brat.

Adeline seems to understand as her mouth falls shut and her eyes grow wide in surprise. She observes my defeated state and her eyes fill with sympathy. She hesitantly puts a light hand on my shoulder and gives me a small smile. "Whatever is going on between your sisters, I'm sure you will be able to fix it."

Behind those spiky walls, she has this kindness that is so easy to see in Gabriel. I let my body lean on the white wall and slide down to the floor. She doesn't know what to do. Comforting isn't part of her system, but she tries as she sits next to me and lets me cry. A quiet cry. The usual cries I hear in my sleep from my dreams. These cries feel so familiar. So ancient. I know it's from my past. It's what scares me even more. Deep down, I know I didn't have the best life before all of this. Do I really want to go back to it? Do I really want to know the reason for these cries?

My thoughts are interrupted as I feel a soft hand on my back and I look at Adeline. She seems so new to this, but she's good at it as her hand sends warmth over my cold heart. I bite on my lips and let my tears fall out slowly. She slowly extends out her arm to wrap around my shoulders. And once she lets her other arm wrap around me, we let our walls fall down and we create a shelter. A new home in this small piece of wall in such a large library.

She slowly puts her cheek on my head as I quietly cry. Her sigh helps me find breath and then I feel that peace. It runs in the family. That same peace I find in Gabriel's eyes, I feel it here. Wrapped around me. The bell rings, but we don't care as the world runs around us. The place falls silent and we both look up at the large window in front of us. These new colors run through it as a rainbow reflects on the ground.

And just like that, my heart comes back to life. Sunlight shines upon us and my legs recover its strength as I slowly stand up. I take a few wobbly steps, but they become stronger as I take another step. I have to put up a few fingers so the light won't blind me. Yet, as I get closer to the window, this blinding light is what we need for clarity. It's what I needed. Down beneath us there's the beautiful colors of green. The school campus is beautiful, but this isn't what makes my heart stronger. I put my hands on the railing separating me from the large window and sigh. It's the people down there. All those lives probably going through the same thing as I am. The same despair of unanswered questions.

It's a group of kids laughing at a particular boy with his head down as he enters the building.

It's a girl that holds books in her arms and keeps looking behind her as if she feels like someone is following her. As if society has her eyes on her.

It's a couple that give each other a quick kiss as the girl runs inside the building and the boy stays outside for a few seconds to make sure no one is looking. Then he makes himself disappear and a blur of invisibility runs out into the parking lot.

I'm not Gifted. But I can't imagine their pain. Yet, as I stand up high and look through the window, I can see it now. I understand my sisters now. It's like a blinding light. It hurts.

But it's clarity.

Adeline stands by me. Her blue eyes look out with me. I know she sees this same clarity of a scenery as she sighs and says, "It's truly a beautiful sight. Isn't it?"

My eyes then fall on a boy. He's waiting for someone. He feels that we're watching him. So, he doesn't run. He doesn't look back. Instead, he looks up. Immediately, those blue eyes fill me with peace as we lock eyes. I let a small smile form on my lips and let determination tell me that this is the right thing to do.

And as I look back at his blue eyes and his small smile, I know only one thing. Life can be beautiful. It really can if we change. If we put in the effort. If we find our answers.

"Yes. It truly is beautiful," I whisper.