Sparkle (KOTLC) {Completed}

3

Sophie! What are you doing? Janessa yelled in her thoughts.

Trying to find you! We're going to rescue you! Sophie yelled back.

No, you're not. I don't need rescuing, Sophie, I'll be fine. Don't worry about me.

How can I not worry about you? You're my sister! And there's no way I'm leaving you!

You have to, Soph. There's no way you're taking a stupid risk to rescue me especially since they're not even hurting me.

Not yet at least! I can't leave you with them!

You won't be! I'm doing great, I'm not hurt.

YET!!

Sophie. I. Am. Fine.

No. You're. Not.

YEs I am! We'll lose more by you risking everything to come get me when I can learn here without putting you in danger!

What is there to learn more important than freedom?!

Pyrokinesis!

...What?

*Sigh* Fintan's been teaching me. I've learned more in these few days than I had my whole life. I feel more free than I've ever been.

How can you say that?

Because trying to teach myself to control it was killing me! And, believe me, I wish there was another way for me to learn, but there isn't.

But JJ-

Don't reach out again Sophie. Goodnight.

Janessa quickly blocked off her mind, refusing to let Sophie in again. Guilt clawed at her heart, but she pushed it down, knowing she was right. There's no other way to stop Sophie from coming.

Still, the thought of Sophie and all their friends without her hurt. They had become family so quickly. At the thought of family, the image of the Freemans, specifically Natalie, came to her, causing her eyes to tear up even more, but she only let one fall, trailing the scar on her right cheek until it reached her chin, leaving a line of rainbow flames along the tear track.

Upon noticing the light, Janessa cut off the air supply for the fire, sighing as she lay down and hugged her pillow to her chest. It's going to be ok. This is for the best. This won't last forever. I just need to hold on until the right time.

Repeating those phrases in her mind, Janessa slipped in and out of an uneasy sleep, trying to avoid thinking about her friends or family and empty her mind.

For the next few days, she went through every movement with much less spirit than before, barely understanding what was told to her. Sophie didn't try to contact her again.

Every night, she seemed to get less sleep, to the point where she couldn't even bring herself to try to close her eyes on the fifth night.

Finally, light filtered through the tiny window near the ceiling and Fintan came in with her breakfast. Not making eye contact, Janessa quickly grabbed a fruit and devoured it, before wrapping her arms around herself.

Fintan didn't say anything, just stood in front of her, until she looked up and made eye contact.

"Did you get any sleep?" He asked sternly. She didn't answer, which was answer enough.

"Are we going to practice or not?" Janessa mumbled.

Fintan frowned. "Fine. Let's go."

The two of them made their way out of the hideout and light leaped to the same forest as every day for the past week.

Body shaking out of exhaustion, Janessa started to conjure flames without Fintan even needing to ask. The flames grew bigger and wider and Janessa's body shook with the effort; she snapped. The flames grew out of her control and consumed the surrounding area. Quickly, Fintan took control of them and snuffed them out as Janessa crumbled to the ground.

Lips quivering, she stared at Fintan. "I- I lost control."

"Yes, you did. But nothing bad happened. No one was hurt, except for you fainting." Fintan sat across from her on the ground. "Now, tell me. What has been bothering you to the point of not being able to sleep and losing control so quickly?"

For the first time in many days, Janessa felt something. Rage. "What do you think, Fintan?! I've been locked up here for I don't even know how long, I haven't been able to see any of my friends or family, and I'm stuck with you all the time even though you're the source of the problems my friends are facing!! How am I supposed to deal with the fact that I'm betraying everyone just being here!!" By then, Janessa's entire body was coated with white flames as Fintan looked on in awe. "And it's all your fault!!" Janessa' threw a giant ball of blue flame at him, which he promptly stopped and snuffed.

"You're not betraying anyone. If anyone blames you for using the opportunity you've been given to control your ability, they don't deserve to be your loved one. But, if you insist, I don't need to teach you anymore and you can be a prisoner alone. It's your choice." Fintan said calmly.

Janessa faltered and sat back down, letting the flames enveloping her body die. "I... You... That... actually makes sense. I'll keep up with the lessons. Sorry for throwing fire at you." Janessa froze when she realized she just apologized to Fintan, before relaxing again. As long as she never switches sides, it's ok. She's not betraying anyone.

"You should get some rest. Tomorrow, we'll do something more fun." Fintan smiled secretively.

Janessa's eyebrows furrowed before she shrugged, wincing only slightly with the pain in her shoulder that had almost completely disappeared, though there was almost no muscle there still. "Sounds concerning."

"Don't worry, you'll enjoy it."

"If you say so."

They returned to the hideout and Janessa went to her room, collapsing onto her bed and finally getting some rest.