Part 12 (2/2)

”Cameron,” Aaron's sharp voice was my second warning.

”Sorry,” I muttered, even as my face grew horrifyingly hot. Concentrate, concentrate. Right. Sure, I could concentrate.

Thunder rumbled menacingly outside, rattling the gla.s.s in the windows, so easily drawing my attention. Concentrate. Concentrate on the thunder. Our little cottage would be freezing right now, wind seeping in through the windows. Was Grandma warm? Or was she being stubborn and keeping the temperature at 65 degrees because she didn't want the heating bill to be high?

Concentrate, Aaron's voice whispered through my mind. ”I'm going to count backwards from five. Just keep breathing. Five.”

I released a breath. A storm was coming. I could practically feel the energy in the air. I imagined the waves cras.h.i.+ng against the sh.o.r.e, could practically feel them pummeling the island.

”Four.”

Concentrate. Breathe in and out.

”Three. You're feeling very relaxed. Two. And one.”

Aaron paused as I took in a deep breath, my body oddly weightless.

”You're in a room,” Aaron's voice was soft, calming. I'd grown use to that deep voice. Almost as used to the tone as I was to my own. ”The walls are steel, metal. But you're not afraid. You feel safe in this room. Do you see it?”

I was in the room. It came unbidden to mind, not forced, and easily accepted. It was coming so quickly now, this meditation thing, as if I'd always done it.

”Nothing can get into this room. No one can hurt you when you are in this room.”

The warm sensation of peace settled around me. Slowly, the imaginary me turned around, studying the steel area. It had soft carpet, a big fluffy couch, but no doors and no windows. For some reason that didn't bother me. I settled on that couch, sinking into the cus.h.i.+on. I imagined feeling safe, protected. I could hear the thunder and wind outside, but it didn't reach me. Nothing could reach me.

”Now think of those walls as being completely steel. Think of your own mind as steel, as impenetrable. Nothing can get through your mind unless you let it. Pull your thoughts in, hug them close to you. They're in that room with you. Can you see them?”

I breathed deeply and did as he said. I thought of Lewis. He appeared inside the room with me. Easy Peasy. My many other thoughts weren't so quick to catch. They flittered and floated around me like a thousand b.u.t.terflies on the wind.

Did Lewis really like me?

Did Aaron?

Was I doing well here?

How was Grandma?

Did anyone at school miss me?

Each thought fluttered around me, annoying and persistent. I jumped up, grabbed hold of one b.u.t.terfly and held it close; a tiny, white b.u.t.terfly nestled on my palm. An odd, calming sensation settled over me like a warm blanket. There was a soft swoosh, like a falling star, then another and another. Suddenly, the b.u.t.terflies danced around me, landing softly all over my body, their delicate wings tickling my exposed arms and neck.

”Think of something...anything,” Aaron's voice intruded.

My father came unbidden to mind. I saw him as I'd seen him in the photo. Young and happy, full of life. But seeing him didn't thrill me as it had before. My sadness weighed down, heavy and suffocating. I'd never met him, never truly know him, and never would.

”Hold that thought,” Aaron whispered.

I did, kept thinking of my dad, even though it depressed me, even though there were a million other things I'd rather think about. My room shook slightly, sending me stumbling off balance. I frowned, glancing up at the walls, but they were still there. What had just happened?

”Do you feel it?” Aaron asked. ”The ever so subtle pressure of my mind delving into yours?”

The room shook again, sending me stumbling backwards. Almost immediately I felt an odd pulling sensation on my body, as if someone was inside me, moving, tugging at my brain. I froze, standing my ground. My heart hammered madly in my chest as I waited for what would happen next.

A crackle of electricity branched across the ceiling. The lightning burst anew, reaching out and stabbing me. Fire exploded inside my body. I gasped, stumbling back. I'd been shocked, the tingling sensation was still there. I was under attack. The walls suddenly disappeared and I was surrounded by empty blackness, floating in nothingness.

”Aaron!” I screamed.

That's me, Cameron, Aaron warned. I'm in.

Frustrated, I wanted to give up, but my pride wouldn't let me. I felt my thoughts burst into the universe, like stars flying past me. It felt good to let go, as if a pressure had been released. Yet, I scampered to pull those thoughts back to me, knowing I needed them.

”Now, I want you to push me away, push me out of your universe and throw up those walls.”

And if I didn't, would there be more pain? I gritted my teeth, rolling my shoulders to relax my body. Keeping my eyes shut, I gave up on trying to recapture my thoughts; those d.a.m.n stars were long gone. Instead, I pictured my steel room. The walls appeared.

”Good, you've set up the walls again; you're keeping your thoughts inside. Now keep your thoughts close.”

I looked around my room. Same metal walls. Nothing out of the ordinary...except for the little girl who was sitting on the couch. Startled, I stumbled back a step.

Hi, she whispered, watching me with those large, knowing eyes.

The girl I'd seen outside my window that first morning here. I froze, Lewis and Aaron forgotten. Who are you?

She plucked at the hem of her green dress. Someone like you, she said.

”Keep your eyes closed and relax,” Aaron interrupted our conversation and I realized that he had no idea this child was here. ”I'm going to try to break through your walls. No matter what, do not let go of your thoughts.”

No, wait, I muttered. But the girl disappeared. d.a.m.n. I spun around, looking for her. I even tried to imagine her in that room. It didn't work. Then I felt it and I had no more time to dwell on the girl...that subtle pressure that said Aaron was attempting to break through.

Picture the walls, Lewis said, his voice urgent. Push against those walls.

So I did. I pictured that steel room, those steel walls. I felt the tentative push on my brain, the slight shock of someone trying to invade. Panicked, I rushed to the closest wall, settled my hands on the cold steel and pushed back. An odd tingling sensation rippled up my arms, electricity branching through my body. I bit my lower lip, squeezed my eyes shut and pushed back. A cold sweat broke out on my forehead. My arms were trembling. A sharp pain pierced my head. It was too much. All too much. I sucked in a breath, my knees folding.

”Hold it,” Lewis urged, speaking to me out loud, his voice so demanding, I didn't dare refuse.

I squeezed my eyes more tightly shut and focused on that room, focused on the walls, focused on my trembling arms pus.h.i.+ng back. Hot tears stung my eyes and I had to bite my lower lip to keep from crying out. The pain pulsed through my body, streaming through my veins, an electrical burning sensation that ate at my flesh.

”She's had enough,” I vaguely heard Lewis say.

I ignored his words, tried to stay focused on those walls. I couldn't fail. If I failed, they might send me back. I felt Aaron pus.h.i.+ng; I knew it was him now. Sweat trailed down my temples. I felt this insane desire to win, to prove to myself and to them that I was the prodigy they seemed to think I was.

”She's in pain,” Lewis snapped.

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