She looks down at her hands. “Shit. Shit. I’m too upset!”
Her voice sounds far away and almost wavy as the lines around her blurs like a mirage on a hot day.
“I’m here. Try to steady your breath,” I say, stepping forward. When I do, she seems to register me again and her face twists in confusion.
“I’m so angry,” she cries out, her voice a crackling fire.
“I’m here. It’s okay. I’m here.” I reach for her hand but she’s still herself enough to pull back.
“It’s never felt like this.” She turns her head toward me. Her eyes are completely whited out. “I could stop him.”
I’ve never seen here like this either. The other times in the lab all seem so tame compared to the unfettered rage pouring out of her.
“Men like that. They think they can get away with anything.” Heat flows off her in waves. Sparks fly. I stomp out one that lands on a dry patch of grass.
For the first time, I start to worry that she might hurt me by mistake. She wouldn’t be able to live with herself if she did. I have to calm her down.
“Think of the tests. Focus the energy if you can,” I say, but she doesn’t seem to hear.
She’s too far gone in her own torment.
The light is so bright I can’t look at her directly anymore. The force of whatever she is feeling is actually levitating her off the ground. Or at least I think she is. She burns too bright to see clearly. Meanwhile, I’m starting to feel weird. Weird but good. I sort of like it.
I stumble toward her. Out of options.
“Julia,” I whisper, her name like a prayer. I grab for her. I throw out my arms and hold on tight.
“No!” She screams before the world goes totally white.
* * *
Julia
My scream cuts off suddenly.
The world which was whited out only a moment ago returns to its normal color. Nathaniel is on his back at my feet.
“Oh god!”I killed him.
I drop to my knees and press my hands to his neck and chest. My hands shake and every single fear I have ever had culminates in this moment. I can’t lose him. I cannotlose him. His pulses is strong and my breath whooshes out.
“Oh, thank God,” I moan. “Nathaniel.” I shake him gently, pressing fingertips to his forehead and cheeks.
He groans and it’s music to my ears. His moan is long and low and borderline … sensual?
I scan his body and find …oh my!
I bring my focus back to his face and a blush burns my cheeks. It’s not that I haven’t seen him in this state before. Not long ago in my office, to be exact. I just wasn’t expecting to see it here and now after I thought I just killed him.
“Julia?” He reaches for my cheek and strokes it with his thumb. I don’t pull back this time. The worst has already happened.
I went off on him. Bigger and more ragey than I have ever gone off before and he is … fine?
“You’re okay. Are you okay?” I ask in utter disbelief.
I have never lost control like that. I have never felt the anger shoot over me in such an insane and instant moment. And yet Nathaniel isn’t burnt to a crisp.
I mean, yay! But also,what the hell is going on?
