Free Larkstorm by Dawn Rae Miller

never get over it.” Bethina’s voice is strained. She’s been crying.
    “Are you worried that she won’t get over it or that she’ll do something rash?”
    “Both,” Bethina says. “You don’t know Lark like I do.”
    I try to move my lips, but they’re dry. My eyelids are heavy. Was I crying too?
    No. I was swimming with Beck and then…
    The images blur in my mind — we were swimming. The water was so warm. Bethina sitting in the chair. Beck in the water, struggling.
    I sit up, startling Dr. Hanson and Bethina. I force my parched throat to spit out some words.
    “Where is he? Where’s Beck?” My voice is hoarse. Maybe we were swimming and I swallowed too much water?
    Dr. Hanson reaches for me carefully. “Shhh…darling, just relax, lie down.”
    I can’t be still. An uncomfortable tingling sensation fills every inch of my body. I have to get up and move.
    Something is wrong, but I can’t remember what. My memory is full of empty spaces and the more I pick at them, the larger the holes become. But Dr. Hanson is here and he only comes for the worst cases.
    Waves of nausea rip through me and I double over. The hands of the grandfather clock tick. Seconds melt away.
    Nothing makes sense. Bethina said Beck’s gone, but that’s crazy. Where did he go? Where would he go without me?
    Fifteen seconds. Each tick brings my mind out of its groggy state. Strong hands restrain me from behind and crush my arms to my sides.
    Why? What did I do? The tingling grows stronger.
    I have to get away. I struggle and thrash until I see Bethina’s face. She touches my forehead and the desire to flee disappears. My muscles tense and then relax as a comforting warmth spreads across every inch of my body.
    In my tranquil state, I remember. Beck was involved in an incident. He did something. Something so terrible that he’s gone.
    The stillness shatters.
    “Where is he ? ” I scream.
    “He’s gone,” Bethina answers.
    The tingling gives way to a surge of energy. It builds and pushes out from my center.
    “But where ? Where did he go?”
    “The State took him,” Dr. Hansen says.
    “Why?” I cry as I swivel my head between Bethina and Dr. Hansen. A loud splitting sound from the other room is followed by a thunderous crash. The house shakes and screams erupt in the hallway. “Because of Annalise? She’s wrong. She doesn’t know what she’s talking about.”
    “Lark, honey. Just relax. You’re going to upset everyone. You need to settle down.” Bethina takes my left hand — my arms are still pinned by Dr. Hanson — and traces small circles across the back of it.
    “Now, take a deep breath and calm down so I can talk to you properly.”
    A pain stabs my heart and I double forward, pulling Dr. Hanson with me. He releases me just before we tumble forward. I gasp as a strange throbbing stings my arms. Every nerve of my body aches as electric currents race along my skin.
    Fully conscious, I shake my head at Bethina. I don’t want to talk. I want to know where the State took Beck and no one’s telling me. I draw on my rapidly dwindling reserve of strength to right myself. The pain is tolerable now, nothing more than a dull stab. My eyes fix on the door. If no one will give me answers, I’m going to find them.
    I struggle to place one foot in front of the other. It’s as if cement blocks encase my feet. The energy surge I felt moments earlier drains away under the physical strain.
    In my hindered state, Dr. Hanson easily blocks me before I can get to the door. I don’t understand ; why can’t I leave? What don’t they want me to know?
    “Please, Dr. Hanson, Bethina. Someone tell me what’s happened.”
    They glance at each other, conferring silently.
    “Lark,” Dr. Hanson begins, using the voice doctors reserve for the worse cases. “The State’s investigation found several students were involved in the security breach. Kyra and Beck among them. They’re not going to be coming back. They’re gone.”
    Gone.