43. Showtime

                                    

                                          
Lena Matthews
                          
The ground pulsed with a determined energy. All around me, the world was starting to blur, like I was teleporting again. I was everywhere at once, and feeling everything at once. Every forest in existence intertwined with my spirit effortlessly. My vision split into a million pieces, all of them swirling like a kaleidoscope. 
                          
 The floor shook with my unyielding anger. Roots beneath the earth began to contort and twist, and trees outside the Academy thickened their armor of bark in preparation. 
                          
I stretched out my arms, drinking in this unfamiliar power. I was ready to fully accept the Forbidden part of me. Not because I had to, but because I wanted to. A rumble became audible, slowly overtaking the howl of snow.
                          
Almost all of the party goers had left, and the only people that remained were Finn and I. We locked eyes for a second, and I almost faltered in fear. Finn just smiled at me. He lit Aaliyah's lighter, and fire coated his hands. The flame flickered in the domineering blizzard like a tiny hope. Like a way to say, Look, I'm a freak too. 
                          
"Stop!" A crackling megaphone interrupted. A battering ram took down the rest of the auditorium doors, and they crashed next to the one Carter had broken down. An endless stream of men riot gear marched into the auditorium. I stared at all of the agents, and spotted Dad, front and center. He was holding the megaphone. "Lena? What are you doing?" 
                          
"I'm protecting everyone!" I yelled back. The agents had their weapons locked in place, all of them aiming for the yuki onna. They were going to kill her without a second thought. They didn't see the person behind the storm. "I'm doing the right thing. For once." I added. 
                          
In a cataclysmic shock of energy, trees violently shot through the floor of the auditorium. Ice shattered, splintering into the air. The trees rapidly unfurled, some of them shooting straight through the ceiling. The roof crumbled away, welcoming the night sky inside. The force of the eruption knocked the agents to the floor, and I smiled in satisfaction. The adrenaline coursing through my veins was incredible. I was floating on a perfect high, unafraid. 
                          
My senses expanded again. Every new tree was an extension of myself. I summoned a vine to wrap around the yuki onna, and slammed her onto the stage. I shivered as a sharp chill traveled down my spine, but remained standing. 
                          
Finn leapt onto the stage. The yuki onna was restrained by the strength of an entire forest, but she was still fighting. Her onyx eyes lashed out at me in anger, but the snow was dissipating. She was weakening. 
                          
"Finn, I need you to move," said Dad. He climbed around one of my summoned trees, the megaphone still in his hand. He was approaching us slowly, trying not to trip on the ice or roots that littered the floor. 
                          
"I'm not going to do that, Dad," said Finn. He held his hands up. It almost looked like a surrender, but both of his hands were coated in flames. "What's going to happen when your agent buddies get up and see what I really am?" He asked. "Do you think they're going to figure out where I got this from?" 
                          
"Finn, please don't do this." Dad begged. 
                          
"Why not? It's about time the Agency figures out who you are." Finn announced. 
                          
"Finn, if you do this then-" 
                          
"Can you just shut up?" I yelled over the megaphone. I looked back at the stage. "Do it." I whispered to Finn. 
                          
"I'm sorry I didn't realize what happened to you, Lena." Finn apologized. "It doesn't change anything. I'm still your brother. No matter what." 
                          
"Just do it you idiot! She's going to break free!" I shot back. Despite everything, I had a stupid smile on my face.