“I’m not sure how to work it,” he said, when I ran over, coughing on the smoke.
“We don’t have any more time!” I shouted. The sound of sirens was louder now, but as I stared at the empty corner of the fairgrounds where we were, I knew they’d never get to us in time. The remaining people on the Ferris wheel were wailing for help, but it wouldn’t come.
“Lainey! Help us!” The sound of Maggie screaming my name tore at my heart.
Sweat dripped down my neck as I moved to where I could see her leaning over the side of the pod, panic written all over her face. “We’re coming, Mags. We’re gonna get you down, I promise.”
The Ferris wheel groaned louder this time, the creaks and pops making me jump.
I looked at Maggie’s face for a second longer before making up my mind. I held out my hands in front of me, the green lighting already growing. “Ty!” He turned to look at me. “I have to! We don’t have any other options. I have to save Maggie!”
Ty’s face was conflicted, but he nodded to me and pulled me over behind the tall metal operator’s booth. “No one can see you,” he said, peering around the small building. “Okay, if you’re gonna do this, now’s the time.”
I nodded and pushed up my sleeves. I had no idea what to do; I hoped some sort of instinct would kick in.
The nerves must have been showing on my face because Ty grabbed me by the shoulders, looking deep into my eyes. “You can do this, Lainey.”
“I know.”
Stepping around Ty, I faced the blazing cornfield and closed my eyes, holding my hands out in front of me. I had no real idea how to go about summoning my powers, but this seemed right, so I went with it.
I have to do something. I have to help those people. I have to save Maggie.
A deep warmth was beginning to spread throughout my body, and a strange tingling sensation—like a thousand tiny pinpricks—licked across my skin. An electric flow of energy began to course through my veins, enveloping my senses and taking over my self-control.
The heat from the fire burned my face and skin, and glowing embers fell from the sky, singeing tiny holes into my sweater. Sweat poured down my back, and glistening beads of perspiration fell down the sides of my cheeks.
I have to do this. I have to help them.
Over and over, I said the words carefully and with purpose in my mind. My hands ached as the lightning between my fingers grew brighter.
I’m going to do something. I will help those people. I will save Maggie.
Overhead, the sky erupted with an explosion of light. Lightning streaked across the darkness, its silver fingers reaching and stretching to every corner of the night sky. Deafening peals of thunder boomed across the valley, accompanying the streaks of light, and a strange wind began to blow.
I raised my shaking hands in the air. A force unlike anything I’d ever known took hold of my conscience and dominated my every thought and action.
My hands began to glow, the light as bright as the flames themselves. My whole body convulsed, and I heard Ty yelling my name, but I couldn’t stop.
I cried out in a mix of exhilaration, terror, pain, and pure adrenaline as a huge pulse of energy shot through my entire body and out through the palms of my hands.
My cry seemed to echo across the valley, and suddenly the heavens opened up and torrents of rain began to fall.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
As the wave of energy left my body, I sagged and struggled to stay upright. I barely felt the raindrops on my skin. All at once, the overwhelming energy had completely evaporated, leaving me drained and depleted.
“Easy now,” Ty said, helping me to the ground.
“Ty,” I croaked, my throat both raw and dry, “where’s Maggie?”
“I’ll get her. Wait here.”
I leaned against the wall of the tiny building, breathing deeply. Had I done it?
Several minutes passed. I was too exhausted to move, but the sounds of bustling activity filled the air. Footsteps approached the building, and then Maggie’s face appeared.
“Styles?” she asked, her voice quavering.
“Maggie!” I winced a little as the movement caused a stabbing pain in my temple. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” She knelt down and squeezed my hand. “All thanks to you. Ty was able to get everyone down. You saved us, Lainey.”
My brain was fuzzy on the details. I looked at Ty. “It worked?”
“It worked,” Ty said, his voice strained. His face was a hard mask, though he offered me a tiny smile. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m okay . . . I think.” I was exhausted, and every inch of me ached, but I was otherwise unscathed. I whipped my head toward the corn maze. A gentle rain was still falling, and the air was thick with smoke, but the orange haze was gone. “The fire?”
“Extinguished. Every last bit of it,” Maggie exhaled, breaking into a smile. “You really did it, Lainey.”
I looked to Ty for additional confirmation, and he nodded, though his face was still grim. A wave of relief rushed over me. “Are they okay? The people that were in the maze? Everyone else on the Ferris wheel?”
Maggie nodded. “I think so. I heard someone say there were injuries, but everyone was lucky.” She leaned over and squeezed my hand. “You saved them, Styles. It was so amazing. You conjured this huge storm, and in minutes, the flames were all out. They’re calling it a miracle.”
I sucked in a deep breath; the relief I felt was so tangible it was almost as if I could wrap my arms around it. I’d saved them, saved Maggie. Warmth spread through my body, and I smiled. “Well, it wasn’t just a miracle. It was magic.”
“Do you think you can stand?” Ty held out his hand. His eyes darted back and forth, and his shoulders were tense and rigid.
“The Scavengers. Are they still here?” I asked, allowing him to pull me to my feet. The movement unsettled my equilibrium and I swayed, but Maggie moved quickly to my side. “I got you, Styles.”
“Yes, I think so. We need to get out of here.” Ty peered around the building shielding us from view.
“Did they see me?”
Ty shook his head. “No, I made sure of that. But . . .” He stopped, listening to something too low for my ears to hear.
“The Scavengers are here?” Maggie squeaked, struggling to support my sagging weight.
Ty moved to my other side and wrapped a strong arm around me. I leaned against him, trying to relieve Maggie. “Yes. The fire was magical,” I explained.
“I can’t be sure,” Ty continued. “But there are three men that keep looking in our direction. One of them is wearing a black hat. I think the smoke is confusing them, but they keep sniffing the air.”
My heart nearly stopped. “They’re tracking me.”
Ty nodded. “I think so.”
“What are we gonna do?” Maggie squealed. “If we try to run they’ll see us.”
Lainey.
I jumped at the sound of my name, but I wasn’t afraid—I’d know that voice anywhere. Josephine. I turned, and there she was, standing a few feet away, her fierce gazed locked on my face.
“Is it them?” I whispered. “Did they find me?”