The door was thrown open, startling me. I spun around and felt my chest tighten when I saw Astrid standing there. She wandered over to where I stood near my desk.
“Looks like you’ve been having fun while I was gone?”
I stared at the far wall and let out the breath I was holding.
“Watt thinks he’s in charge.” She turned the page of a travel journal. “I take things away, and he gives them back.” Astrid stood in front of me. “But from what I’ve heard, you’ve been doing better.” She smiled. “Maybe a little freedom is enough motivation to make you actually start caring because I could take it all away.”
Clenching my jaw, I felt my temper rise.
“We finished the new chamber.”
My eyes flicked over to her.
“What?” She smiled slightly. “Did you think that bastard and that stupid girl chased me off? I let them handle you while I took care of other business.”
I noticed the men standing in the hallway. Was she going to put another device on me? The necklace had been bad enough. I nearly destroyed the chamber.
“Your break is over,” said Astrid. “You’ve been slacking lately on your training. You’re not here to make friends. The government has high hopes that you are going to change the way this war is going, if not end it.”
“I don’t want to hurt people,” I whispered, scowling at the floor.
She shrugged a shoulder. “We’re not hurting anyone. Just a few simple tests.” She shot me a smirk. “Let’s go and see what kind of power is trapped inside you, Eiko. I’ve been wanting to see it for myself for a long time.”
***
Astrid led me into a giant room only lit by computer screens. The large dome was made from dark glass and appeared thicker than the other. She pointed to a mental chair sitting outside the entrance.
I sat and took in a calming breath. Training wasn’t that big of a deal. Most of the time, it was to test the seals to see if I could break them. I was getting used to not being in so much pain.
“Let me see your hands.”
I placed them on my knees and braced myself. Astrid placed hers on top. I was shocked when she removed the seals.
“What—”
She held up a hand to silence me before doing the same to my feet. Nothing was holding in my energy. I felt like I was going to explode. All the barriers had been removed. This was dangerous. Why was she taking them off? She said we wouldn’t hurt anyone, and this seemed like the exact opposite.
“Alright.” She stood and looked me in the eyes. “Go inside and let off some steam.”
“Do what?” I clenched my hands.
“We’re testing to see if the chamber can hold you. We’ve tried it on other destructives, and now it’s your turn. Go inside and give it everything you got.”
My mouth felt dry as I tried to swallow. “What if it breaks?”
“Then stop.” She folded her arms with a shrug. “You’re always going on and on about never wanting to hurt anyone. Today, you’re going to prove it. Stop yourself or become what you fear most. A weapon.”
Breathing out through my nose, I shook my head. “I don’t want to do this.”
“You’re not being given a choice. Either do it by yourself, or we’ll cause the reaction ourselves. It’s up to you.”
Scratching at my hands, I stared at the chamber. Would it hold me? The whole dome started to roll, and a door appeared.
“Go on.”
Nodding, I stood and went inside. I listened to it move back into place. All the walls were smooth, seamless glass.
“Go to the middle,” said Astrid into the speaker.
She and the others had moved to rooms around the chamber protected behind another layer of thick glass. I did so and stood on the center ring that rippled into the center. They were crazy. If the glass broke, I could hurt, if not kill, everyone.
“Alright, when you’re ready,” said Astrid.
Closing my eyes, I steady my breathing. The resistance was gone, and the energy that was usually trapped in my chest flowed freely through my body. I wouldn’t use all my power, just enough for them to let me return to my room. The blue light jumped from finger to finger. I watched it move so easily. It felt different than my other outbursts. I had more control over it. Nothing was fighting me.
The blue encompassed my hands and started to build. It spread up my arms and legs. My head fell back at the immense feeling of power. It had been trapped inside me for so long. It felt amazing to finally release it.
The energy shot out from me. My hair lifted off my back as my feet raised off the ground. Sparks hit the class, and the room was soon filled with blue light. It crackled and snapped, and I could feel it fighting against the glass. The same tight feeling built in my chest when I wanted to escape. The room started to vibrate. I could hear the chamber straining to contain me.
The dome started to spin and defuse the energy. The pressure decreased, so I released more. It felt so good. Finally, I could set free the power that had been vibrating inside me for years.
The walls of the chamber were lost in the swirling light. I wanted it to go faster and suck up more of my energy, so I could continue to fill the room with more.
This felt incredible.
***
“Eiko,” called a voice. “Eiko, open your eyes.”
“Hmm….” My vision was fuzzy before it slowly focused on Watt’s face.
“Hey, how are you feeling?”
I lifted my hand to rub my eyes and saw the tattoos were back. Had it been a dream? Watt helped me sit up. I was sitting in the middle of the dome.
“What happened?” I wiped my hair out of my eyes.
Watt shrugged. “I don’t know. Astrid called me in here. Your energy is still too strong for the guards to come inside.”
I could sense my power spiraling around the room, looking for something to attack.
“She took off my tattoos.” I swirled my hands and noticed my feet had the seals as well. “But there back?”
“Astrid put them on and left. I’ve been trying to get you to wake up.”
Yawning, I felt like going back to sleep. “It felt good. I let all of it out.” I pressed my hand to my chest. “It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re feeling better and not in pain.” He looped my arm around his neck and helped me to my feet.
My legs crumbled. I grabbed onto him as I gasped for air. That took more out of me than I thought. My head was spinning, and I felt like I was going to pass out. Maybe I had released too much.
“I got you.” Watt picked me up. “Let’s get you upstairs.”
It was hard to focus on anything. My eyes were already starting to close as my head rolled onto his shoulder.
Letting out a sigh, I let my body hang limp. “I want to do it again.”
“We’ll see,” said Watt. “Let’s see how long it takes you to recover before you do it again.”
“You should try it.” My eyes shut.
Watt laughed. “I don’t think I’m the right aster type.”
“It feels super good. Everything is, poof, gone.”
“I can tell.” He stepped into the elevator. “You sound high.”
“What’s that?” I breathed.
Watt fixed his grip. “I’ll explain it when you wake up.”
“Hmm…. that sounds good. I can sleep now.” I yawned.
“Alright, sleep well, Eiko.”
***
Rolling over, I rubbed my eyes and spotted Watt slumped over in my bean bag chair. An open book was resting on his chest as he slept. My body felt completely renewed. There was an unfamiliar lightness floating around in my chest. They should have invented that chamber years ago. For once, I wasn’t fighting with myself to hold my power inside.
Quietly climbing out of bed, I went to the bathroom. I was surprised that Watt didn’t wake up from the sound of the toilet and faucet. Going to sit at my desk, I watched the man. He was strange and tended to smother me, but I was getting used to having him around. Watt took in a deep breath.
I spun around and slammed my knee into my desk. “Shit.” I rubbed the spot. “Aw.” That hurt way more than it should.
Watt stretched his arms to the side. “How long have I been out?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. I just woke up.”
Rubbing his face, he slowly sat up with a groan. “How are you feeling?”
“Good.”
“Are you just saying that?” He rose to his feet.
I shook my head. “The pressure is gone.” I touch the middle of my chest.
“Well, it sounds like Astrid’s contraption worked.”
“I’d do it again.” Opening my sketchbook, I started working on one of my designs.
“Then it must have worked great. You were out of it when I came to get you.”
Propping up my head, I focused on my drawing.
“What are you up to?”
I put my arm over it. “Nothing.”
Watt arched his neck. “From what I can see, it looks good. It’s a cool design. I could see it as a tattoo.”
With a scoff, I laid my head on the page. “It’s not one. I want to get rid of all of mine. I’m not going to get one for the hell of it.”
He laughed. “Me, either, but they mean something different to us than non-asters.”
“I guess.”
Watt sighed. “Anyways, I meant it as a compliment. The colors work well together.” With a wave, he headed for the door. “I better go check in and tell them how you’re doing. I’ll see you later.”
I lifted my hand slightly. Once alone, I examined my hands, twisting them around. I couldn’t wait until the day all of my seals were gone. I smiled to myself. I wouldn’t be getting any tattoos for fun, either. I wouldn’t mind drawing them for other people, though.
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