Page 84 of Fallen Thorns
“Not at all,” she answered hoarsely.
“I didn’t mean to do that, I swear.” I continued to try and explain myself. I genuinely did not expect it to work, but even the tiny part of me thatdid,had no idea how strong the Manipulation would be. I expected her to at worst, agree, and ask for a makeup wipe perhaps, or at best, laugh and prove to me that Icouldn’tcontrol her. I didn’t want to control her, ever, so I didn’t for a second believe she would start mindlesslytearingat her face.
I made a retching sound, and Marianne retreated quickly before I vomited onto the stone. If Carmen reacted to this, I wouldn’t have known; instead, my gaze was fixed on the blood before me. I hoped, in the rush of panic, that the dimness of the corner of the room would hide the fact that parts of my vomit was black.
Black.
Michael.
“Arlo that was… strong. Too strong. You didn’t even havetotry…” Marianne’s body sheltered me in the corner, hiding our conversation with a hushed tone.
Is that not a good thing? That I’m learning fast?
What? No… No, that wasn’t me. I didn’t think that. Please. Please. No.
Is it not?
Please.
“You are seriously worrying me now, Arlo. To do something like that at ease takes decades of experience, at the very least.Decades, Arlo, not mereweeks.”
“I won’t do that again. I won’t… I won’t. I’m so sorry.”
Marianne’s look was hesitant, but I needed her to believe me. I would have never done that on purpose.
It wasn’t me.
I know that now.
Arlo didn’t do that.
I had lost my awareness.
I stood up again, but this time, my head split with pain. “Please Marianne, you have to believe me, I will never, ever do that again. I can’t… I couldn’t… I frightenedmyselfthere.” That was the best I could manage without choking up.
Get out of my head.
Marianne leaned in closer, Carmen sat, unmoving, focusing solely on Rani. I thought it odd, however — I expected Carmen to be ripping me to shreds for what I did.
“I wiped their memories,” Marianne whispered. “They don’t remember those last few moments. Just the training, and you challenging them, but this time Rani fainted — just fainted. Nothing to do with your mind games.”
Wait…
Then she stepped even closer, an inch away from my face. “This will not happen again. If it does, you know what I will do. You understand what I am capable of. I will not hesitate to keep them all safe.”
Rani stirredand Carmen propped her up in her arms. Bleary-eyed, Rani looked to Carmen, as if slowly beginning to process her surroundings.
“You passed out, I was worried,” Carmen said, ruffling Rani’s hair.
Marianne finally rejoined the scene, throwing a brief and cautious look my way. “I think that’s enough training for today.” She stepped in and took Rani’s hand to help her up.
“But we’re only just getting started with the hard stuff!” Rani released herself from the leader’s grip; determined and convincingly unafraid. “I’ve just not eaten enough today, I’ll be fine.”
The lie Rani believed sounded so convincing and plausible, and to anyone else would have sounded perfectly valid, but a lump grew in my throat until it blocked my airways.
“Marianne is right,” Carmen interjected, patting Rani on the back. “We both probably need some rest. This can wait for another time.”
“Actually, girls. I don’t think I want you to continue this training.” Marianne stopped them, biting her lip in concentration.
