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“What happened?” she asked, as we turned onto the main road.
“Car accident. But I don’t know where he is. Just keep an eye out.”
“Then how do you know he had an accident? Did he call you? We should tell someone…”
I didn’t answer any of Taylor’s questions. I was already trying to reach out to Darren’s mind. I knew that I would have to delve deeply. I needed to experience what he was experiencing. I needed to know where he was.
“Darren!” Taylor and the truck I was riding in faded away. I was with Darren now. He was outside the car, with pieces of broken glass scattered around him. Smoke filled his nostrils and everything on his body ached. He was wondering if he was about to die, wishing he’d stayed to let me explain… Thank God, he was alive.
Through his eyes, I could see a water tower not far away and that was all I needed. I broke off our connection and found myself being shaken by Taylor. We were parked in the grass just off the road.
“Ana, are you alright?” she asked. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m…I’m fine. Do you know where any water towers are?”
“If we turn around and take Muller’s Street, there’s one set off into the woods. I don’t think it’s being used anymore—is that where Darren is?”
I nodded.
“But how—Nevermind. Gotta get used to this whole witch thing.”
She whipped the truck around and sped back toward Muller’s Street.
I didn’t wait for the truck to come to a stop before I jumped out. His car was upside down at the bottom of the hill but he wasn’t very far down. I slid down beside him and let my hands find his chest. I didn’t need to kiss him to tap into my healing abilities—my love for him was right near the surface, not buried inside of me like it was with Tristan. Just by looking at him brought up those intense feelings inside me. I felt the tingling start and saw the grass light up around us.
Darren started to cough, and rolled over onto his side. After a minute or so, he was healed, and I moved away from him. I found Taylor a few feet away from me, staring at me with awed eyes. I couldn’t help but smile, only Taylor would have stayed after witnessing something like that.
Panting and exhausted, I let myself fall backwards onto the grass. I had done it. I’d saved both of them. Part of me wanted to say “Ha!” to London’s claim that I had to lose one of them, but I realized that had she not tipped me off, I never would have known that Darren was in trouble. I might have waited for him to cool down first, and by then, it would have been too late.
“Ana,” Darren called. I leaned up and crawled over to him. “I should have let you explain,” he said. “I can’t lose you. Not now. You chose me, Ana…I’m the one you chose.”
I nodded and took his hand. “I know, Darren.”
“I love you,” he said next.
“I love you too.”
Taylor came over and put her arms around both us. My family and friends were still safe. I let out a grateful sigh.