to Cato's desk, picking up the small glass globe, used as a paperweight, from its base. He began to play with the globe, rotating it in one of his hands.
Cato knew his words fell on deaf ears, but he continued anyway, "Besides, Kaitlyn is the strongest Gaia I've ever encountered. Possibly the strongest in history."
At those words, the globe in Shawn's hands went still.
Cato didn't notice, "Handled appropriately, she can make a real difference."
"What did you say?" Shawn asked.
"Handled approp– "
"No. Before that."
Cato hesitated, "I said she could be the strongest Gaia the Earth has ever seen."
"Right. And if I had that strength..."
"But you don't."
"You are right, old man." Shawn walked toward the door, placing the globe in Cato's hands as he passed. "I don't…"
Chapter 8
Fast Enough
My eyes fluttered open to the sound of a shower running and a deep voice humming a muffled tune. Dad? Couldn't be, unless I was dreaming. I pinched my leg. Definitely awake. I shot straight up in bed. Micah! Did we? No. My clothes were still on. Wide awake now, I tried running my hands through my hair. One was stopped short, metal clinking as my wrist jerked. I was handcuffed to the bed. I heard Micah’s humming over the shower again. Now it only annoyed me. Despite the intimate kissing, I was still trapped here like a caged animal. Guess I wasn’t that great of a date.
I looked around his room. It was messy, and lacked any sort of decorating attempt, but it smelled like him. I frowned. I ran my tongue over my lips, which were still recovering from his bites. The sting was painful but sparked warmth deep in my belly. My cheeks flushed in embarrassment. I'm glad he didn't take it any further; had I not been so exhausted, I don't think I would've stopped myself. Besides, being drunk with power would have been a convenient excuse for the morning after.
I spotted my dream log on the bedside table; Micah must have brought it to me. I reached for it with my free hand and flipped to the last page, anxious to fill my mind with something other than dirty thoughts.
* * *
My recurring dream finally concluded last night; it scared me and exhilarated me all at the same time. In my dream there was only silence and darkness. Except for one thing – me. As long as I was still there and aware, there was hope. I began to reach out with my mind for anything else, a tiny glimmer, the slightest speck, and they started to appear. They seemed to materialize from nothing, answering my beckoning call. They all converged in exactly the right way, a perfect way. The creation of air, water, and soil. The creation of all that was good and bad, the creation of animals and plants – and the most special creation of all – life. I know now what I had been searching for – a purpose. My purpose.
* * *
I set the book back down as if it had burnt me, and for the first time was willing to admit there may have been some merit to my dreams. I was needed. With powers like these, my life had to have a higher purpose than photography. But they were still dangerous to myself and anyone around me. Staying here would only lead to trouble. It already had. Yesterday's storm. Cato. I couldn't put anyone else at risk. Maybe I could return as soon as I had my powers under control. Not before.
As I ran my fingers through my hair again, metal chinked and I was abruptly reminded of my imprisonment. What am I doing? Preening for Micah? I wanted to look my best for him, whether he was my captor or my newest fling. I wonder which will come out of the shower.
The only thing keeping me from the chance at fulfilling my life’s purpose was handcuffs. I looked at them, perplexed, and pulled. They didn’t budge. I growled at my incompetence. I could correctly judge aperture and shutter speed from a quick glance at
Cato knew his words fell on deaf ears, but he continued anyway, "Besides, Kaitlyn is the strongest Gaia I've ever encountered. Possibly the strongest in history."
At those words, the globe in Shawn's hands went still.
Cato didn't notice, "Handled appropriately, she can make a real difference."
"What did you say?" Shawn asked.
"Handled approp– "
"No. Before that."
Cato hesitated, "I said she could be the strongest Gaia the Earth has ever seen."
"Right. And if I had that strength..."
"But you don't."
"You are right, old man." Shawn walked toward the door, placing the globe in Cato's hands as he passed. "I don't…"
Chapter 8
Fast Enough
My eyes fluttered open to the sound of a shower running and a deep voice humming a muffled tune. Dad? Couldn't be, unless I was dreaming. I pinched my leg. Definitely awake. I shot straight up in bed. Micah! Did we? No. My clothes were still on. Wide awake now, I tried running my hands through my hair. One was stopped short, metal clinking as my wrist jerked. I was handcuffed to the bed. I heard Micah’s humming over the shower again. Now it only annoyed me. Despite the intimate kissing, I was still trapped here like a caged animal. Guess I wasn’t that great of a date.
I looked around his room. It was messy, and lacked any sort of decorating attempt, but it smelled like him. I frowned. I ran my tongue over my lips, which were still recovering from his bites. The sting was painful but sparked warmth deep in my belly. My cheeks flushed in embarrassment. I'm glad he didn't take it any further; had I not been so exhausted, I don't think I would've stopped myself. Besides, being drunk with power would have been a convenient excuse for the morning after.
I spotted my dream log on the bedside table; Micah must have brought it to me. I reached for it with my free hand and flipped to the last page, anxious to fill my mind with something other than dirty thoughts.
* * *
My recurring dream finally concluded last night; it scared me and exhilarated me all at the same time. In my dream there was only silence and darkness. Except for one thing – me. As long as I was still there and aware, there was hope. I began to reach out with my mind for anything else, a tiny glimmer, the slightest speck, and they started to appear. They seemed to materialize from nothing, answering my beckoning call. They all converged in exactly the right way, a perfect way. The creation of air, water, and soil. The creation of all that was good and bad, the creation of animals and plants – and the most special creation of all – life. I know now what I had been searching for – a purpose. My purpose.
* * *
I set the book back down as if it had burnt me, and for the first time was willing to admit there may have been some merit to my dreams. I was needed. With powers like these, my life had to have a higher purpose than photography. But they were still dangerous to myself and anyone around me. Staying here would only lead to trouble. It already had. Yesterday's storm. Cato. I couldn't put anyone else at risk. Maybe I could return as soon as I had my powers under control. Not before.
As I ran my fingers through my hair again, metal chinked and I was abruptly reminded of my imprisonment. What am I doing? Preening for Micah? I wanted to look my best for him, whether he was my captor or my newest fling. I wonder which will come out of the shower.
The only thing keeping me from the chance at fulfilling my life’s purpose was handcuffs. I looked at them, perplexed, and pulled. They didn’t budge. I growled at my incompetence. I could correctly judge aperture and shutter speed from a quick glance at
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