Chapter 29

Rebecca was still unconscious. I went back over to her and picked her upper body up while I knelt down. I used my aura to heal her as best as I could.

She had some broken bones, but she was still breathing, and it seemed she was getting better quickly with my healing powers... Whew, I think she will be okay.

"I didn’t hurt her too badly, did I, Steven?"

Fran stood awkwardly to the side, but she kept her distance.

"She’ll be okay, Fran. It might take her a minute to wake up, but she is alright..."

We stared at each other in awkward silence. It had been a rough little bit since we’d spoken last.

I broke the silence. "So how is Logan?" Fran looked confused.

"Who?" Fran wasn’t a liar. Did she really not know who Logan was? But they’ve been seeing each other for days now... But Fran was also a shadow person a moment ago... Could she have been under Talon’s control all that time?

"Fran, you’ve been seeing another boy in our class for several days now... You haven’t even acknowledged me all that time... Do you really not remember?"

Fran was in utter horror. "W-w-what!? Who?" She looked almost disgusted with herself. Ah, I guess she is back to her old self... But for some reason, I can't smile like I used to.

"Ah, never mind. That must have been someone else." I forced a big smile, but I couldn't feel good enough to put any feelings behind it.

"Steven, how did this happen? Why did I punch Rebecca?"

I explained about the shadow men and the conditions for transformation when her eyes widened in disbelief...

"Ah, a wish maker takes control after granting your wish? That would explain it."

I shot her an even more worried face than she had. "Did you make a wish, Fran?" She closed her eyes tight like she was in trouble and peeked with one eye open. "Maybe... just a little one..."

"So that’s how you lost your powers? You wished them away and Talon granted the wish?"

She shrugged a little embarrassed. "But I have my powers back now. I don't feel any of his influence anymore." She stretched out her hands and flexed her muscles to check that everything was in order. Sure enough, her aura was coming out. I guess she broke the spell.

Suddenly, Rebecca opened her eyes and jolted up, then glared at Fran with a death glare. Fran backed away a little in concern. "Wait, it wasn’t me. I would never have done that if I was in control!"

Rebecca closed her eyes, sighed, then laid down again. "I’m still in pain, so keep healing me," she barked at me, then grabbed my hand as if it was helping the pain go away.

Fran looked bewildered. "How... How long was I out for exactly?" She didn’t blink as she stared at Rebecca’s hand grabbing mine. I didn’t pull my hand away because I had to remain in contact to heal her anyway. But also, I didn’t really want to pull my hand away. I was actually a little upset, but I couldn’t really tell why... Why am I mad, and why is my healing factor not fixing it? Maybe I wanted to be mad...

All this time, I couldn’t even look Fran in the eyes. I couldn’t look in her direction. I couldn’t speak to her. I couldn’t say hi. She was ripped from me, and it left a large hole. I didn’t want to let go of this new hole in my heart so easily.

Fran looked a little awkward but then walked up to Rebecca and said, "Hey, that’s my boyfriend. Don’t start getting chummy with him!" In an instant, I realized something... I wasn’t angry at Fran, I was angry at myself... Why didn’t I do that? I stared at Fran in the eyes for the first time in what seemed like forever... That’s right, she was this kind of girl. The kind who didn’t take no for an answer. The kind who fought for what she wanted, and she never gave up. Who am I then... Did I not love her enough to fight for her?

Rebecca peeked with one eye and closed it again. "Oh right, I almost forgot. My bad." She smirked and grabbed my face, pulling me in.

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