“Maybe you still remember our encounter in the forest, where you spilled all your pills.” Unfortunately, I remembered it very well. “You had been touching me, and we had looked into each other's eyes.”
I swallowed because the memories were just as intense as the experience. I had felt so possessed.
“It felt to me like you were in control, like I could do anything for you,” he continued, turning back to the railing, and I began to remember better. “Emely told me she had a similar experience with you. There in the room, next to you on the bed.”
Memories of another touch – this time with Emely – appeared in my mind. Her eyes glowing yellowish. This feeling of power flowing through me. But there had been another feeling too. Devotion.
“Ever since that had happened, we've had constant images in our heads of when you are unwell. We see where you are and what's happening, sometimes we even feel what you feel.”
I was shocked.
If that was true, then...
No. It couldn't be true.
“Emely fainted on Monday. I only had a headache, but all that when you had passed out.”
Julian looked back up at me, concern in his gaze again.
“That doesn't make any sense. Mum explained everything to me. Quatura control the elements, but nothing else.” I could feel panic rising inside me. “That could have come from you two, couldn't it? I wouldn't do something like that on purpose. I don't even know how to do it and…”
Julian grabbed my shoulders. His hands were so warm they gave me goose bumps.
“Hey, calm down. All we know is what we saw and felt.”
I couldn't help but stare at him, only this time my gaze was searching for help, less scrutinizing.
I wanted an explanation for all of this.
“I think you should ask your mum, just in case.”
I would, someday, when I wasn't mad at her anymore and my curiosity outweighed my frustration with her.
I leaned on the railing, stunned.
All this madness seemed to have just become reality and now the fear that I would never get out of here was back.
I would stay in Blairville. Forever.
There was only one way to get out of here.
“They have a potion that makes you forget all sorts of things.”
Julian sped around to me.
“Which I hope you'll keep your hands off.”
I looked away again.
“Bay, you should probably stay away from all that Quatura stuff.”
“I don't know what to do at all,” I pressed out in a weakening voice.
I pulled the pen out of my jacket pocket and started scribbling on the soft paper.
Talking to Mum about other powers.
“Apparently you use the notebook just for yourself too,” Julian remarked in a calm voice.
“That's how it turned out. He's hardly going to control what we do with it,” I said, but immediately regretted my words. Alarik had been so passionate about it.
“Hey...,” I said, addressing Julian. “Do you have a book partner?”
He looked at me slightly puzzled as I pressed my notebook to his chest.
He pushed it back, which hurt me slightly.
“I don't want your notebook, strange neighbor,” he laughed as if it were a joke.
I was about to turn away from him to hide my disappointment when he pulled something out of his jacket pocket.
“Let's take mine. I haven't used it yet.”
He handed it to me and I took it, speechless.
Julian had a talent for surprising me.
“Wow...” I said with a dry expression. “You've just really screwed me over, you know that?”
