Page 118 of A Lesson in Obedience
“Hmph. Astonishing but not surprising, I’ll say. Mateo and Jade are also ready whenever you are.” I glanced at her and she gave me a knowing look. “You aren’t getting rid of us. You could break a million obnoxious girl’s legs and I would still love you. I choose to believe that despite Chancellor Fowler biologically being your father that Thomas was the real deal. Just remember that whenever you think you’re a bad person.” She rested her head on my shoulder. “You want to rid this university, this world of a man who wants to treat you like property all because you share his DNA? Sign me up.”
I dropped my head on top of hers, feeling the sting of tears hit my eyes, but I didn’t let them fall. “You can tell me no. You can tell meyou love me but you’re done and this is too much. I’ll understand. I went with Chancellor Fowler to cease all the insanity. You can make the powder or potion or whatever and give it to me. I can do it myself. I can’t stop the boys from helping because they will do it no matter what.”
“And you can’t stop me either. We’re all adults, Riley. We might make dumb decisions and fumble around trying to fix them later, but at least we’retrying. The fact that you did what you did tells me you’re worth trying for because you want to help more than just yourself.”
I lifted my face up, dabbing under my eyes where a few tears escaped. “I’m happy I met you,” I admitted.
“Me too.” She squeezed my thigh. “Now, tell me all about this moon gathering plan. Start to finish.”
47
River
Being in my own head sucked. Not being able to wake up and end said loneliness was even worse. The wild part was that I wasn’t technically alone. I could hear the beeps of machines, the chatter of people and whatever was playing on the TV. The art of opening up your eyes and seeing a new day was something people took for granted, because the moment I realized I couldn’t do it so easily had me wanting to scream. My eyes were one thing, but my mind was another.
It was like I was on drugs with the way I fumbled around in my own head. I couldn’t turn my powers on, nor could I even attempt to let anyone else in. My brain felt like it was drunk. I felt pain in my physical body but the act of trying to remember what happened was pointless at the moment.
Little by little whatever was holding me back lifted. I could stretch my telepathy legs and it felt good. There was a hand touching mine, a hard squeeze and then I heard two people talking over me.
“It should be wearing off, so you are welcome to try. I wouldn’t push too hard.”
Asher’s deep voice made its way into my ears. “But it could help him wake up?”
Who I assumed was the doctor answered, “It could, but that’s not my official advice.”
Footsteps sounded and disappeared, while Asher’s hand moved into my hair, brushing pieces of it away from my forehead. My eyes felt glued shut and even though I was in an awakened state, I still felt trapped in some kind of subconscious lockdown.
Something pushed against my head, letting itself in and moving around as if it had been here before. I stood in that empty space in my head, waiting. Vertigo hit me and I leaned against the walls of my mind. I pressed my hand to the side of my head, the feeling passing. Whatever medicine they’d given me must be wearing off in the worst way possible because this was fucking awful.
A hand landed on my shoulder. “River, hey, it’s me.”
I peeked up at my brother, concerned etched onto his face. “Why does it feel like bones are broken?”
Asher pressed his lips into a hard line. “Because they are.”
“Fuck.”
“Fuck indeed.”
Asher explained what happened as best he could and I slid down onto the floor of my mind. I was happy to be alive, but man this was not what I planned for. Not to mention the fact that my bike was also completely ruined.
“You’ll have to get a normal vehicle with four wheels now.” Asher sat down in front of me.
“Hmm, I wouldn’t go that far.” I looked around me, this place I was in was familiar to me, but then again it wasn’t. “Why do I recognize this somehow?” It was dimly lit and there was nothing around but there was something about this place I found myself in. Like it was once something completely different.
Asher slid his hand down his pants legs. “The medicine they gaveyou numbed you and your powers. I guess a safeguard. You mentally went to a place you’ve…created before. Now as an adult you don’t make it so dark. That’s my working theory.”
“What?”
He dropped his head, shaking it. “After all your awful moments with dad, you’d go to sleep and you’d end up here. Back then, it was pitch black and every single time, I’d have to find you.”
I tilted my head to the side, trying to think that far back. Anytime I’d think back to all the times my dad was horrible, the same room came to mind, but it was filled with light and a wave of calm enveloped me. I thought it was my own kind of coping mechanism for when I found myself back in those thoughts. Maybe I didn’t create those things at all.
Asher was never a dictator, but he wasn’t ever easy on me. He wanted me to be good at my powers, but he didn’t care if I was the best. He wanted me to take care of myself but was fine if I made a few mistakes. He knew who I was and he didn’t judge me for it. My happiness, my safety, those things were his top priority and whether it was my dad or even Riley, he would make sure to always look out for me.
“You’ve always been there, haven’t you?”
Asher nodded. “At least now,” he waved his hand around the space, “you know how to create your own light. Now it’s just time that you woke yourself up.”
