hand like it couldn't handle me. Water spilled,

can stop me. I don't know where I'm going. Just.

wrapped tight around myself. My skin still tingles. My heart's racing like I've just run miles. What was that? I stare at my hands like they

ght. Like I can't breathe right. Like I'm trying to hold something in that doesn't want to be caged. I want

ot even sure

ri

hat voice. I know that quiet way he says my n

gentle but tense. Like he knows I'm about to

ay?" he

n front of half the school and my fingers were glo

lose but not touching. I glance at hi

u s

energy it changed. Spiked. Like some

freak,"

me, really looks.

d. "I didn't a

her d

A silence stretches out. Not awkward. Just

turned into a full-on wo

l, crooked smile.

"Terrif

till came

"I didn't wan

ession. Something soft and a

ind rustle through the trees, pretending for a second that we're just

"You're changing, Aria. I don't know what into-but i

uld you

sn't scare me. It calms me

ps. "It's like you're the moon,

f this had happened, if I were just a regular girl would he stil

through the air-and I fee

go. All sharp angles, smooth movements, and unreadable eyes. My whole

ach other, two

ou," Eric s

s to protect,"

period," I sna

from his coat. A piece of the crack

I...?". I didn't m

nd low. "You're not controlling it anymor

ront of me. "Is

blink. "It'

lowing with something ancient. Power. Anger. Fear. Me, caug

it!" I

t hits. Like a force. Like a soundwa

ches-flinches. Like I hi

. Brighter. White and silver, like moonlig

know how t

n. "Because it's not

about?" My voice is sh

shakes his head. "No, Aria. This is o

ind him. "Back of

ngs flash

cre

fear. I

them both backward. They hit the ground hard. I drop to my knees,

glo

ead out around me like cracks in the earth. Like I've awake

surge. The pull. And I'm

of what I'm

forward, no way back. Like something inside me is taking

taring at me like they don't know who

, voice shaky. "W

I whisper. "I don't

w. They're cautious. Wide. "You're more tha

ots. "What do

But there's something else. Somet

e. "We'll figure it out, A

g away. "I can't ju

ad. The glowing earth. My hands. Everyt

ndle this,"

n. "You don't hav

ore. There's something behind his words. A weight. A plan

in. His hand brushes mine

it out," he sa

ing. My breath too loud. My heart too wild. I'm

this t

rt? I don't know