Chapter 14:

With a gasp I opened my eyes, I recognized that voice.

“Joel!!!”

I hopped out of the bed and forgetting about my ankle, collapsed on him. He caught himself so we both wouldn’t fall.

“It seems that you’ve had quite an adventure.”

“Yes, yes! When I ran I found this cabin hidden in the foliage. So I snuck up to it and I met this little girl named Candy.”

“You mean that little girl?”

He pointed to the door.

“No.” I looked regretful.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I killed her.”

“No you didn’t!” said a familiar voice.

I put my head up gradually as the girl walked closer. It really was Candy.

“But how? I stabbed you. You gave me your powers.”

“Yes you did stab me and I did give you my powers. But you healed me after the exchange.”

“How? Wait!! Why did you give me your powers if you knew I could heal you?”

 

“I’m not sure to be honest. But I would not have given you my powers if I had known that you could heal me.”

“So you don’t know how I healed you?” my excitement faded a little.

“Well I have an idea but…”

“What???”

“Were you superfluous?” She asked arrogantly.

“Do you mean like did I pee on you?”

“Hahaha. Of course not I mean did you cry over top of me?”

Self-conscious I nodded.

“Now that you’ve said that I do remember one tear that slipped down my cheek and fell onto your wound. I thought I was going insane because I watched it close your wound and then I fainted again because of the intense heat coursing through my body.”

“Yes! Now we know your tears heal. And usually the transfer of powers doesn’t hurt so… I don’t know what happened there.”

“I do.” Joel said.

“When you are transferring somebody’s power to yourself usually the other is dead but you healed her so it made the power enter her body again and then rush into your body taking everything within Candy. That’s why she was so weak when she awoke. You took her life power and then gave it back forcing her body to live but making her give up all of her powers even the ones she didn’t know she had.”

Looking astonished I apologized to Candy for putting her in that position.

“I do remember that, an invisible voice asked me if I wanted to live and I said yes but it said it would cost me but I still agreed. I thought it was the devil.”

“Nope just me. Ha-ha” I uttered sarcastically.

“Is there a way I can give her powers back?”

“Not that I know of. I’m sure there’s something in the library back at The Sanctuary.”

“Then what are we waiting for?” I looked at them expectantly. Joel coughed and looked at Candy.

“Is there something I don’t know about?” I directed the question at Joel but Candy answered it.

“I’m not going.”

“Why?”

“I have been banished for a year and then I kidnapped you on their property so if I went back I would have to go to the dungeon.”

“Why were banished in the first place?”

“I manipulated and killed twenty-five Court guards.”

“Court guards?”

“They walk around the perimeters making sure nobody is doing what they aren’t supposed to be.”

“So…”

“They caught me hiking a checkpoint in a disguise that might have looked like Joel. When they asked what I was doing I hopped down and pried into their minds, triggering them to kill each other.”

“Why’d you do it?”

“Enough questions!!” She snapped.

“It’s time for us to go Kate.”

“Ok I’m ready.” I locked eyes with Candy and then shamefully looked down for thinking I could sneak her in. “I’ll be out in a minute.”

“Ok.” Joel walked out of the hut leaving Candy and I alone together.

“Please come.”

“I can’t.”

“I’ll beg Joel to lift your banishment.”

“No. I deserve it and anyways I like being by myself.”

“You didn’t act like it when you saw me.”

“It was a performance. That’s all!”

“Candy… I want you to live with me you’re like the little sister I never had.”

“I am so sorry.”

“Candy, you are a part of me now. I will always protect you and stay by your side like a true sister until I have a chance to give you your powers back.”

“I…uh…”

“Candace can I speak to you for a moment.” Joel said while sticking his head through the door.

“Yeah…uh…sure”

I sat down as Candy left the hut. I leaned my head back against the wall and just sat there thinking about nothing. The hut door swished closed and Candy walked in stiffly.

“Everything ok?”

“Get out now.”

“But…”

“DO YOU NOT GET IT!!I HATE YOU AND I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOUR FACE AGAIN!!!”

Her words pierced my heart like a knife. I stood up and whispered bye. Walking out I looked back. She was collapsed on the ground and crying so hard her shoulder’s shook. I paused as if to go back in but Joel waved me over. I silently prayed that God would lift her spirits. Joel stood grimacing.

“That bad?”

“She…I… why?”

“It’s for the best I guess.”

“How could you say that she is like my little sister! I haven’t got that close to someone for so long. I actually had fun with her and experienced true pain with her. She is all I have to rely on and now she is gone. She said she hates me.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t know that’s how you felt.”

“What way is it?” I said ignoring his apology.

“I brought a horse that we can ride it will be faster.”

“I’ll run because I need to get it out of my system. So what way is it?”

“It’s not safe.”

“I don’t care Joel. What f*****g direction is it?”

“Your ankle. You can’t run you sprained it. Remember?”

“Fine won’t tell me I’ll just pick a direction.” I started off but stopped when he yelled wait.

“It’s that way.” he pointed to the trees in the distance. “Just stop at the checkpoint so I can let you in.”

“Whatever.”

I took off running and ignored the pain in my ankle. What did I do to Candy to make her hate me? Besides stabbing her in the gut. She was fine before Joel wanted to talk to her so it must have been something he said. No! He wouldn’t do that but he did say it was for the best. I’ll just have to go back one day by myself and ask her.  Without noticing I ran into the fence and scratched by cheek. Wincing, I bit back tears. I took a step back and examined the checkpoint gate. It was high enough that somebody needed a ladder to get on top and the bars were squished together it would be almost impossible to fit a slip of paper through them. I spotted the keypad and tried to remember what Candy did. Up, over, left, right, right, down, left, and then right. So 1,0,3,1,1,9,9,7. Wow Joel is so smart it’s his birthday how original.