I kept seeing his face reaction playing over and over in my head like a record tape. I felt more tears build up, hating how I’d let myself relax. I should have known better. This was all fake, and I’d let my emotions take over tonight.
I walked deeper into the woods, not sure what I was going to do. I didn’t know where I was going. I couldn’t go back to the bar because Kaleb would be waiting. I couldn’t go home because he would eventually get there. I thought about going to Jade and Kaleb’s, but it was late.
A gust of wind hit me, and I shivered. But this cold felt different, like I had been shoved into a freezer. I felt the hair on my body stand up, and I stiffened, realizing that it was magic. My entire body felt utterly cold, and I felt a pull to something deep in the woods.
It was like a heavyweight was being pressed down on me. The cold shifted, and I felt hot like I was being shoved into an oven. I could feel that it wasn’t just me in here anymore. There was something else lurking around, and I didn’t know what.
I then heard snapping of twigs, and my heart raced for another reason. Whatever was out there was coming for me. I moved, forcing myself to run for it. I pumped my legs, trying to jump over rocks and get over fallen branches. My mind was thinking only one thing: survive.
I could hear footsteps getting closer. They weren’t heavy like a hybrid’s, but that didn’t mean they weren’t in their normal human form. Suddenly, my foot tumbled under me, and I slammed into the ground. I tried to catch myself slamming my hands hard into the ground. I felt something pierce into them, and pain radiated through my palms.
Tears formed for another reason as I realized they were already bleeding. But I didn’t even have a moment to cry because I could hear someone still following me. I turned around and braced myself. I didn’t know what I could do. I had seen the hybrids to know I couldn’t fight one off myself. I could try, but I would fail.
I thought of my magic and how I was supposed to be able to use it. But I didn’t know how. I didn’t even truly believe I had any because I didn’t feel it. It was nothing like how Jade described it.
My heart raced as I could hear they were closing in. They had to be just a few feet away from me now. I stared, pulling my hands up to defend myself. I stared at my hands, feeling that warmth from just a moment ago forming in my palms.
And then I felt something shot out of me like lightning. It was a light that slammed forward, looking like electricity, and I watched as Kaleb stepped out from around a tree. His eyes widened as the light slammed for him. He ducked, dropping to the ground just in time as the light went past him.
My heart seemed to stop beating. If he hadn’t ducked, god knows what would have happened. He likely would be dead, and that churned my stomach in so many ways.
“Jesus Christ!” Kaleb yelled, pulling himself up. “Are you trying to kill me? I mean, I understand I’m an ass sometimes.”
Tears fell freely, and I started to cry all over again. I could have hurt him, and I didn’t even know what I was doing. I didn’t know what that was or how I did it.
Kaleb moved closer to me, his face softening. “I was only joking. I didn’t mean it. I know you would never hurt me.”
I started to cry harder as he reached out, pulling me tightly against him. “Please, don’t cry, Nora.”
“I…I didn’t mean to do that. I don’t even know how I did that. If you hadn’t ducked.”
His arms tightened, and I felt his hand land on my head, brushing my hair. I tried to push away, but his hands only held me tighter. “Don’t push away. I know you don’t exactly like me right now, but let me help you.”
I wanted to keep pushing, but I was so scared. I just kept thinking of what could have happened. How would I explain it to anyone? How would I forgive myself?
I leaned against him, trying to ground myself. I could feel my body shaking, and I couldn’t stop it.
“Deep breaths,” he whispered, his hand rubbing circles on my back. “In…and out.”
I did as he said, trying to calm myself. My fingers still shook as I looked up to where the light had been. I could see burn marks along the bark of the tree. “I could have killed you,” I whispered.
Kaleb cupped my face, giving me a worried look. “Nora, I’m fine. You didn’t hurt me.”
“But I could have.”
“I ducked.” He brushed his thumb over my cheek. “I ducked, Nora. I’m okay. I’m all in one piece.”
“But if you hadn’t! I could have hurt you! I don’t even know what that was.”
He pulled me closer. “Nora, I’m okay. I’m a big boy. I’m not hurt. You didn’t hurt me, and if you had, maybe I deserved it.”
“This isn’t funny!”
He gave me a soft smile. “It will be in a few days.”
I stared into his eyes, taking the softness of them in. I took a few deep breaths and closed my eyes, slowing my breathing. He was right. He was okay, and he wasn’t hurt.
“I broke the door down and found the bathroom empty. I watched your little ass running off into the night, so I followed you. I’ve been calling for you, but you just kept running. I wanted to talk.”
