Kin (Annabelle's Story Part Two) Read Free

When I saw you lying on the beach, it was the worst moment of my life. I thought I’d lost you.”
    “Yeah, then your precious mission would’ve been ruined.”
    “No, no, no. It had nothing to do with that.”
    “Yeah right,” I said in a juvenile tone. My resolve only took so much.
    “Come on, I’m serious. This is from my heart.”
    “Really?”
    Immediately, I chastised myself for the hope that budded within me.
    “Yes, really… of course, really. For three years I heard about you—how you were so kind, and giving, and also smart. Then, when I finally saw you in that net, you were just so beautiful. I longed for you even before I spoke to you.”
    Based on recent events, it wasn’t exactly apparent, but trust wasn’t something I threw around casually. Hearing his sentiment made an impact though—a small one. The outer layer of my protective wall crumbled.
    Adrian gave me the time I needed as my mind scrambled to decide my next move. I wanted to believe his heartfelt soliloquy. If I was going to be honest with myself, feelings had developed from my end as well. Adrian was a rock in my world that threatened to dissolve from uncertainty. Over the past few days, I pushed my nascent affections away because of Blake, because of a relationship that turned out to be a complete lie.
    My heart gave in. I slowly rolled to face Adrian. “Promise me you’ll never hurt me again.”
    “Now that’s the easiest promise I’ve ever had to make,” he responded, his face serious.
    As I stared back at him, the edges of his lips curled into a soothing smile. Another layer of my defenses dissolved.
    Reluctantly, I reached my hand out to touch his, yearning for the feel of his skin.
    Without hesitation, he returned my sentiment.
    We felt like a team again. Well, almost. It would take time until my faith was renewed in “us.” “So what are we going to do?”
    “We need to get out of here, that’s for sure. How are you feeling?”
    “Tired. Weak.”
    “Is your head okay?”
    My hand made a move toward the back of my head then stopped. I didn’t want to touch the bump again. The sting from before wasn’t so easily forgotten.
    “It’ll be okay,” I said to not only reassure Adrian, but also myself.
    “I was thinking,” he whispered. “Maybe we can use your water affinity to get out of here.”
    My gazed rested on the bars, examining them. “Yeah?”
    “Maybe your currents could move the bars apart. Just enough to squeeze through.”
    “I can try.”
    As I sat up, I tried to push aside the dizzy haze that clouded my head. Slowly, I positioned myself directly in front of the cell. A row of bars separated Adrian and me. The ones at the front of my cell were further apart than those between us. I targeted the front as the best spot to focus my energy.
    Moving closer toward my point of attack, I mustered up as much mental strength as I could. I knew I’d need all I could summon to counteract the deficiency I felt inside.
    Inside my head, I screamed.
    Move god damn it.
    Nothing happened.
    The bars didn’t budge at all, not a single millimeter. My body was too battered from the scars left behind and the throbbing at the base of my neck. Each second of screaming caused my head to scream right back at me.
    “Adrian, I can’t. It hurts too bad.”
    “Okay, okay. Stop. It’s not worth hurting yourself.” His eyes dropped to his hands folded within his lap. “We’ll figure out something else.”
    We sat there in silence for what seemed like forever. I tried to create options for an escape, but my mind offered nothing but blankness. No ideas crept into the folds of my brain.
    Frustrated, I moved toward the bars again.
    Adrian jolted, one hand pushing off the ground to jumpstart his body toward me. “What are you doing?”
    “I want to try again.”
    “Please don’t hurt yourself. We can think of something else.”
    Determined, I focused on the bars, ignoring him.
    “Anna—”
    I waved my hand in his direction,