11

The world was closing in around Elara. The throbbing pain in her ankle was the only thing that reminded her she was still alive, still able to feel. But the fear gnawing at her heart was louder than the pain. She couldn't stop now. The flashing lights in the distance were too close, and she couldn't let them catch her. She couldn't let anyone see her like this.

Her breath came in shallow gasps as she limped through the underbrush, each step dragging her deeper into the woods. The trees seemed to close in around her, the shadows growing darker as the night pressed in on all sides. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and leaves, but all Elara could smell was the burning panic in her chest.

She stumbled once again, her foot giving way beneath her, and she barely caught herself against a tree. Her hands were shaking as she pressed them against the rough bark, trying to steady herself. The forest felt like it was swallowing her whole, the darkness so absolute that it seemed to stretch on forever.

I can't breathe. I can't think. I need to get away.

She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to push back the tears that were threatening to fall. She didn't know what had happened to her. She didn't know what she had done. All she knew was that she couldn't go back. Not to her mother. Not to the school. Not to anyone.

The memory of the chaos she had caused replayed in her mind like a broken record. The way Tara's group had taunted her, the way Aiden had tried to step in, and then… then it had happened. The power, the energy, surging out of her in a violent wave. The way Tara and the others had been thrown across the room like ragdolls. Aiden's blood. The terror in their eyes.

What am I? What am I capable of?

Her thoughts spun out of control, the questions coming faster than she could answer them. The weight of her own abilities crushed her chest, and she didn't know if she could bear it any longer.

She was so lost in her mind that she didn't hear the crack of a twig beneath someone's feet. She didn't see the silhouette that appeared at the edge of the forest, a figure standing still, watching her. She only realized someone was there when she heard a voice—soft, gentle, but full of authority.

"Elara."

Her heart skipped a beat, and she froze. The voice was familiar, but she couldn't place it at first. And then she saw them—two figures emerging from the darkness. Her mother, standing a few feet away, looking at her with wide, startled eyes. Behind her stood a police officer, his hand resting on the holster of his gun.

Elara's body went cold. Her mother was here. The one person she had been trying to escape. The one person who would see her as a monster.

"Elara…" her mother said again, but this time her voice was different—soft, pleading, as if trying to reach her. "What's happened to you? What's going on?"

Elara could see the fear in her mother's eyes. The same fear that had been there ever since she was a child. The same fear that made her mother treat her as if she were something to be handled carefully, something to be feared. And now, it was worse.

Elara's heart shattered as she looked at her mother. This was the person she had been trying to protect—trying to protect—and yet now, she was the one who had caused this. The fear in her mother's eyes wasn't just about her powers—it was about Elara herself.

"I… I didn't mean to," Elara whispered, her voice trembling. "I don't know what's happening to me. I don't know what I am."

Her mother stepped back, her hands trembling at her sides. The police officer looked at her with a mixture of concern and caution, his eyes flickering between the two of them.

"Elara," her mother said, her voice cracking. "You've—what have you done? What did you do to them?"

The question hit Elara like a slap, and she recoiled as if physically struck. She looked away, unable to meet her mother's eyes. The shame and guilt that washed over her was overwhelming.

"I didn't mean to hurt anyone," Elara whispered. "I just… I was scared. They… they were hurting me. And then, I just… I don't know what happened. I couldn't control it."

Her mother took a step forward, but the fear in her eyes only deepened. She raised her hands in a gesture that was both defensive and pleading.

"Elara," she said, her voice trembling with a mixture of disbelief and fear. "You need help. You're not normal. You're—" She couldn't finish the sentence. Her words faltered, and she looked down, her hands clenched into fists.

"Mom, please," Elara begged, her voice breaking. "I'm not a monster. I'm not."

But her mother didn't respond. Instead, she took a step back, turning her head toward the police officer. "You need to take her away," she said, her voice cold and distant now. "She's dangerous. I can't… I can't handle this."

The words hit Elara like a physical blow. Dangerous. That's what she was. That's what she had always been. Her heart twisted in her chest, and she could feel the tears welling up in her eyes.

The officer stepped forward, his hand still resting on his gun. He didn't want to do this. Elara could see it in his eyes, the hesitation, the uncertainty. But he had no choice. He had to follow orders.

"Elara," the officer said, his voice steady but firm. "We need you to come with us. You're not in trouble. But you need to come with us."

Elara felt her world crumble. She couldn't do it. She couldn't go with them. Not like this. Not when everything had already fallen apart.

Without another word, Elara turned and fled, her broken ankle screaming in pain as she forced herself to move. She couldn't stop. She couldn't let them take her. Not like this.

The trees blurred around her as she ran, her foot dragging behind her. She could hear the officer calling after her, but it was too late. She was too far gone.

I'm not going back. I won't.

Her mind was consumed by the need to get away. To escape. She had to disappear. She had to be free.

And as she pushed herself harder, deeper into the woods, she could feel her body breaking down. Her injured ankle was a constant reminder that her flight was futile, but it didn't matter. She couldn't stop. She wouldn't stop.

But the pain was too much. The exhaustion, the fear, the overwhelming guilt—Elara felt herself crumbling. Her vision blurred, and she stumbled, falling to the ground in a heap.

The darkness closed in, and she felt the world slip away.