Chapter Ten: Control
698 Words
“Again.”
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Amara exhaled sharply.
“I’ve been trying,” she said, frustration slipping into her voice.
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They stood in an empty, abandoned field far from school.
No people.
No noise.
Just space.
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Tunde had chosen it carefully.
“If you lose control here,” he had said, “no one gets hurt.”
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But that wasn’t what scared Amara.
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It was the feeling.
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“Focus,” Tunde said calmly. “Not on the power—on yourself.”
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Amara closed her eyes.
Her fingers tightened.
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The bracelet warmed.
The pendant pulsed.
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And there it was.
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That energy.
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Restless.
Waiting.
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“I can feel it,” she whispered.
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“Good,” Tunde replied. “Now don’t let it control you.”
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Her breathing slowed.
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The energy rose.
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Faster.
Stronger.
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Too strong.
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Amara’s eyes snapped open.
“I can’t—”
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“Don’t fight it,” Tunde said quickly. “Guide it.”
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Guide it?
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The power surged again.
This time—
It pushed outward.
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The wind picked up suddenly.
Dust lifted from the ground.
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Tunde stepped back slightly, watching carefully.
“That’s it… don’t panic.”
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But panic was already there.
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“It’s too much!” Amara shouted.
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The air cracked.
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A sharp force burst outward—
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Trees shook violently.
The ground trembled.
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“Amara!” Tunde called.
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Her vision blurred.
The voice returned.
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You don’t need control…
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“No…” she whispered.
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Let go…
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“I said no!”
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The energy spiked.
Wild.
Unstable.
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Tunde moved fast.
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He grabbed her shoulders.
“Look at me!”
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Her eyes met his.
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For a second—
Everything slowed.
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“Breathe,” he said firmly. “You’re stronger than it.”
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Her chest rose and fell rapidly.
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“I can’t…”
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“Yes, you can,” he said. “You already survived worse.”
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Silence.
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That hit something.
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Amara’s expression shifted.
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Her breathing steadied.
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Slowly—
The energy began to settle.
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The wind died down.
The ground stilled.
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Everything went quiet again.
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Amara’s knees weakened.
Tunde caught her before she fell.
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“I almost lost it…” she whispered.
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“But you didn’t,” he said.
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She looked up at him.
“…Because of you.”
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Tunde shook his head slightly.
“No. Because of you.”
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Silence.
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For a brief moment—
Everything felt… calm.
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Then—
The temperature dropped.
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Suddenly.
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Amara stiffened.
“…Do you feel that?”
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Tunde’s expression changed instantly.
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“Yes.”
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The air grew heavy.
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Unnatural.
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The wind stopped completely.
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Too still.
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Then—
A shadow moved.
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Not on the ground.
Not on anything.
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In the air.
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Amara’s heart began to race.
“What… is that?”
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Tunde stepped in front of her.
Protective.
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His voice dropped.
“…They found you.”
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The shadow twisted.
Shifting.
Watching.
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A voice echoed—
Not like before.
Not inside her.
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Around them.
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So… she’s awake.
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Amara froze.
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Her fingers tightened.
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“That’s one of them…” she whispered.
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Tunde didn’t respond.
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His eyes stayed fixed on the darkness.
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“Stay behind me,” he said quietly.
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Amara didn’t move.
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The shadow pulsed once—
Then vanished.
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Just like that.
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Silence returned.
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But this time—
It felt wrong.
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“They’re watching now,” Tunde said.
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Amara’s heart pounded.
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“…What do we do?”
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Tunde looked at her.
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For the first time—
There was no calm in his eyes.
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“We get stronger,” he said.
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A pause.
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“Fast.”
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Amara swallowed slowly.
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Because deep down—
She knew.
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This wasn’t just about her anymore.
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This was a war.
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And it had just begun.
- Writer
