Gifted Connections: Book 2(107)

“Now,” I barely whispered as I felt us connect.

It was like I was transported out of my body. I was hovering above us. I could finally see what it looked like when we used our connections together. It was so surreal. I felt like I was dreaming. I saw the glow that encompassed us. We looked like we were nearly transparent.

My team seemed to snap out of it as trendils of gold crept across the dying leaves and twined around them. One by one, comprehension dawned on their faces. They looked over at us with a combination of gratitude, awe, and surprise before they turned and began to cross the water. Jumping or hopping from rock to rock.

My heart was warmed when I saw how well they worked together. We had proven that, time and time again this morning. We hadn’t argued. We hadn’t belittled anyone, even when some of us came up with some far-fetched solution to an obstacle. When someone fell behind, someone else would drop back and encourage them. When someone stumbled, someone was there to catch them before they fell.

The empath and illusionist had done a number on them. They had already been physically exhausted, so they were more susceptible to the empath. After five minutes under their influence, they were now emotionally exhausted, but our bond wasn’t severed. My team was still working together.

Rachel, Jemmy, and Marcel were having difficulty jumping to some of the rocks. Marcel and Rachel, because they had shorter legs and Jemmy because endurance wasn’t her strength yet.

I watched the last person cross and dropped my hands. If I was exhausted before, now I was damn near comatose. I had used my gifts too much today. I tried to allow others on the team to use their gifts when they could, but sometimes there was no way around it. Rachel, Jemmy, and John were part of the team, but none of the obstacles required them to use their gifts of energy manipulation and fact detection.

“I got him,” Jace said with concern as we came back to the clearing in front of the river.

I smiled at him in appreciation, knowing he was going to help Jaxson cross. The rest of our team were across at a safe distance, cheering us on as the other team came into the clearing.

They had been in high spirits for the first few obstacles, but as the day wore on they had begun to snipe, yell, and disparaged each other. This race had been an eye opener for me. I knew now which teams I would never want to work with and which individuals came up short. We hadn’t seen quite a few teams, so I had a feeling they weren’t taking their training seriously, or they lacked the motivation or endurance needed to be an excellent agent.

“Come on, Blake!” Jemmy encouraged me.

I snapped out of my musings and began to gingerly make my way across the rocks. If I wasn’t so fatigued, I wouldn’t have to concentrate so hard to make the jumps. I looked up constantly to see how the guys were faring and if I was getting any closer to the other side. It was one of these times when I was looking up and not paying attention that I felt water slam against the back of my legs and a tug against my feet. I looked down in curiosity when I saw the water swirling around my feet.

I felt my gift beginning to slip. I had been blocking the empath up until that moment. The combination of the water crashing against my legs, the slippery surface of the rock, and the fear that came crashing down made me lose my footing. As I fell, I bounced off the top of the rock, my ribs connecting with the solid surface. I lost my breath; I inhaled water as it enclosed over me. I was normally a strong swimmer, but the water was frigid, and I couldn’t breathe from the pain in my ribs.

I felt panic encompass me, my lungs were burning. I tried to kick up to the surface, but my hoodie had caught onto something. The water was murky brown, and I saw the dark shapes moving in on me.

Darkness was closing in on me. Well this sucks, I thought as I fought against it. Who knew water and a river monster was going to be the death of me?





Chapter 27


I threw up my entire banana, along with all the water I had inhaled. I blinked as I looked around. My connections, my family, my friend’s mouths were moving, but I didn’t hear anything.

Looks like rain is coming in. The clouds are moving in. Angry, angry sky. Time for the heavens to weep. Oooh, maybe I can have a rainy day. I’ll ask Jace to play the violin for me. I’ll lay in Remy’s lap, so he could play with my hair while Troy gives me a foot massage. I can curl up with a book while I rub my hands through Noah or Jaxson’s hair. I’ll ask Drake for one of his kisses and his famous chicken soup.

I’m cold. Soup sounded good. On second thought, maybe I would like a hot bath and ask Drake to join me. We could read together in companionable silence.

Damn, my ribs hurt. I had my ribs fractured before. One of Heidi’s boyfriends kicked me once. He thought it was funny when I feared him. He was a big man. I was eleven, maybe. I could barely breath and Heidi wouldn’t take me to the hospital. It hurt to breath. It hurts to breath now.

“Blake!” Drake’s voice sounded so far away as his face came into my vision. I loved the sound of his voice. I mean, all my guys had great voices, but Drake had this Zen, relaxing, musical quality to his.

“Blake,” Drake repeated. Why did he sound so scared? I hated seeing him scared. His mom did a number on him. Why did she leave him? Who would ever want to leave him? Who would ever want to hurt him, period? He’s sensitive. I loved that about him.

“Blake.”

I heard his voice again, and it finally seemed to clear my mind of all its ramblings. Everything came rushing back to me. I remembered how the water had churned. How waves had appeared from nowhere. I lost my balance, dropped my barriers, panicked, and then I almost drowned. Drake’s hair was wet soaking wet, his hair dripped into his face, so I assumed he had jumped in after me.