“It hurts.”
“You’re feeling an echo. That’s all. It’s not real. You aren’t there anymore. You’re alive, in the cafeteria, sitting with your friends.” Kyte is so soothing.
“Why does this keep happening?”
“You haven’t learned control.” Ceredes seems to stroke the nape of my neck with his wide palm. “But you will.”
“For now, you need to pull it back. Just like last time.” Kyte’s phantom arms ghost along mine. “Twine it inside you like thread on a spool.”
“What’s happening? When I open my eyes, everything is black.”
“Shh. Focus on the spool, on the power. Spin it. I’ll help.” A white spool materializes in my mind, golden thread around it. “Go on.”
I grip its sides, the spool warm and light, and begin to turn it, pulling the taut golden thread out of the darkness bit by bit. The gloom begins to fade, I can breathe again, and the horrible memories sink back beneath the surface.
With one more deep breath, I stop spinning, all the thread back in place.
“Good,” Jeren coos.
I open my eyes.
The first thing I notice is nothing. The tables, chairs, and the cadets in them are gone, the cafeteria utterly empty when it had been clicking with chatter only moments before.
“No,” I breathe.
“I’m here.” Kyte runs through the double doors, his face drawn.
“Where are they?” My voice comes out tremulous and weak. “What did I do?” My knees start to buckle, but Kyte eases me into his arms.
“They’re safe.” You created a barrier strong enough to push everyone and everything out into the courtyard. You were able to change the molecular structure of the walls, separate them somehow and create space. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“They’re okay?” I can’t stop my chin from trembling.
“Fine.” A wet Tilda jogs in, Uaxin on her heels. “I mean, it kind of tickled and happened really fast. One second I was here, the next, I was in the fountain.”
“I’m so sorry.” I bury my face in Kyte’s chest as Jeren and Ceredes stride in. “All accounted for. Even the cafeteria workers. No one was harmed.”
“I can’t stop.” I cling to Kyte. “I can’t control it. I’m a danger to everyone.”
“Let’s go before Harlan gets here.” Ceredes jerks his head toward the door.
“Too damn late!” the male barks as he enters the cafeteria, his yellow skin even brighter than usual. “You will get yourself under control, or I will—”
“Sir.” Ceredes’s voice has a low note of warning. “I’d advise you to lower your tone.”
“Is that a threat?” Harlan steps to Ceredes, both of them eye to eye.
“Don’t.” I clutch Kyte tighter as the walls begin to shake, then waver.
“She’s unstable and still suffering trauma from what happened to her.” Jeren steps just behind Ceredes. “Making threats isn’t going to help.”
“Breathe, my love. Breathe slowly.” Kyte presses his forehead to mine.
Onin hurries in, his four arms pumping, a white medic bag dangling from one of them. “I think I’ve managed to synthesize something that can work with her body chemistry. It took longer than anticipated, and it’s not perfected, but it’s needed.”
“You what?” Harlan turns.
“We won’t let you drug her.” Jeren flutters his fingers but doesn’t draw a knife … Yet.
