Chapter 57 Caleb
CALEB
Evan’s laughter floats around my head. It’s light and airy. I can picture his bright smile in my mind. My handsome man.
I will come home. I shoot through our non-existent mindlink that’s gone now I’ve rejected him. I promise.
It’s the only thing that’s keeping me going. I’m determined to see his face again and shower him in love and nothing less.
Something prods my arm, and I drag myself out of my daydream. I glance to my right to see Lula kneeling beside me, eyes wide, realising she’s caught my attention.
“Sorry,” she mumbles. “I was looking at your tattoos.”
My lips twitch into a weak smile. “That’s okay.”
Her eyes trail over my arms, and I watch as they light up. “This is honestly the most exciting thing I have seen since being here.”
“Lula,” Fi warns her from behind us. “Leave him alone.”
“It’s okay,” I murmur. “I don’t mind.”
Fi nods at me gratefully as Lula takes my wrist so she can inspect the ink sitting on the inside.
“Do you want tattoos when you’re older?” I ask softly.
She shrugs as she continues to trace lines over my skin. “Maybe. But I don’t know what. I don’t want to regret it.”
“Smart.” I laugh.
“Do you regret any of yours?”
“Some,” I admit. “But now I have so many that they all blend into one.”
“I think they’re cool.” She grins, and the light in her eyes makes me so incredibly sad.
That this is what’s entertaining to her after what she’s endured. I’d sit here for days as she explored my tattoos if she wanted. They deserve better. Everyone here deserves better.
“Thanks.” I nudge her gently. “I appreciate it.”
She draws her hands back after a few moments and meets my gaze. “Can I—” she pauses. “Can I ask you a question?”
I lean forward. “Of course.”
“Ryker has powers,” she states as she pushes back her dark blonde hair.
“Yeah.”
“Do you have them?” she asks with curious eyes.
I purse my lips and shake my head. “No.”
The light in her expression dies. “Oh–” she sinks into herself. “Have you tried?”
“Yeah, when I was younger.”
“And not since?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I thought they would have made themselves known by now.”
Lula chews on the inside of her cheek. “Maybe you have powers, but they’re helped by emotions like Eleven.”
“Who?”
Her mouth hangs open. “You don’t know who Eleven is?”
“Funnily enough, I don’t know everyone in this world. And what sort of name is Eleven?”
“She’s a fictional character.”
“That explains it.”
“Do you think they could be brought to the surface with emotion?”
I sigh and rest my head back against the wall. “I don’t know. I wouldn’t even know where to start.”
Lula slumps onto her knees. “That sucks.”
Silence washes over us, but she doesn’t take her eyes off me.
“Do you think we’ll get out of here?” she asks as her fingers attempt to untangle a matted piece of hair.
I reach over to stop her from tearing out the clump. “I know we will,” I say with honesty.
Lula looks over at her mother, who now has her eyes closed in the corner of the cell. “She tries so hard to stay positive for me,” she whispers, her voice cracking. “I think somewhere deep down, she knows we’ll never be able to escape, but she tries to keep me believing.”
My hands tremble at the sadness in her words.
“She keeps telling me how much life I have to live, and this isn’t the end.”
“It’s not the end,” I reassure her. “I promise.”
“A promise is big.”
“I know.” I nod. “And I’ll stick to it.”
Because I promised Evan the same thing.
Lula claps her hands together. “Then we should try to draw any potential powers to the surface with your emotions.”
My mouth slants to the side. If it keeps her entertained, then I’ll give it a go. But something tells me if I had his powers, I’d know about them by now.
“Ryker always does this thing where he can push someone up against the wall by their throat,” she explains as she holds out her arm to me.
I scowl. “I’m not doing that to you.”
“I know,” she says as she slides her hands to the back of her neck and removes her necklace.
Lula places it on the floor in front of me and moves out of the way. “Try to move my necklace into the wall. I bet you can do it.”
Her enthusiasm is adorable and amusing at the same time. I give her the benefit of the doubt because we have nothing better to do.
A deep breath leaves my lips as I channel all my inner feelings into the necklace. My head starts to sting as I focus, but it’s probably due to lack of sleep and dehydration. I relax after a few moments, and then cough.
“What happened?”
“Nothing, Lula. Nothing happened.”
“You almost went purple.”
I release a laugh through my nose. “I was holding my breath.”
“What about if you think about things that make you angry or sad?”
That’s the thing. I don’t really want to. It’s only going to dig up emotions I’ve tried to bury over the last few weeks.
I meet Lula’s gaze as she looks hopeful. “Please?”
“Okay,” I murmur in defeat.
My eyes close as I think about Evan in the hospital bed. The way my father flung him through the window. My hand on his throat. The vile words he spouted at me. Our entire world shattered as I rejected the love of my life. I part my lips to exhale a trembling breath.
My body starts to vibrate with the force of the hatred and resentment I hold for Ryker. For taking away my life. For hurting my mate. For being my father.
I lock onto the necklace and pour every inch of emotion I have into my senses, my soul, my determination. The second I feel like I’m about to combust, I break my trance and lower my head. It’s useless. I don’t have a drop of my father’s abilities.
Lula gasps, and I glance up at her.
“What?”
“It moved.”
I stare at the necklace, but it looks like it’s in the exact same position as before.
“The chain.” She points. “I swear. I swear.”
“It’s dark in here, Lula.”
She frowns deeply at me. “I saw it. I know I did.”
I drag my tongue over my bottom lip. “I didn’t feel anything,” I declare.
“But, I–”
“You should sleep,” I tell her as exhaustion washes over me.
Her dark eyes dart between mine. “Fine.”
I follow her with my gaze as she grabs her necklace and curls up beside her mother. If I had my father’s powers, I’d tear this entire building down. But reality sinks in; I don’t, and we’re utterly helpless.