The world was dark and cold, as if everything had been consumed by a black hole. I shivered, opening my mouth to call for help but finding myself unable to speak. With no idea where I was or how to leave I felt terror begin filling my mind. I closed my eyes, inhaling deeply as tears began to stream down my cheeks. When I finally reopened my eyes I could see a small light in the distance, glowing ever so faintly against the black backdrop. My heart thundered in my chest as I frantically ran towards it. The closer I got the clearer I could hear voices echoing around me, yet it seemed as if the gap would never close, as if I would never reach the elusive glow.

Why am I here? Why cant I speak? Questions raced through my mind a million miles a minute.

"What's wrong with her?" I heard Kevin's familiar voice echo. "She looks like she's in pain!"

I looked around, unable to pinpoint where his voice was coming from in the expanse of darkness surrounding me. Why? Why? Why? Why? WHY?!

"WHY CAN'T I USE MY POWER!" I cried out, tears streaming down my face as I flew upright like a rocket.

"Gwen? Gwen, it's going to be fine. Calm down. Take deep breaths." Ben's voice reassured me.

I looked around, calming slightly as I found myself in Kevin's bed, light streaming in through the windows and erasing any trace of the darkness that had been looming mere moments ago.

I inhaled deeply, searching the room with my eyes as I exhaled.

"What happened?" I muttered, my voice cracking as I did so.

I cringed, wiping my tear stained face with the back of my hand and inhaling again.

"You fainted." Kevin stated from the opposite side of the bed Ben was standing beside.

"What do you mean you cant use your power?" Ben piped up, tearing my gaze away from Kevin and his smoldering eyes filled with concern.
I paused, unable to answer his question.

"I don't know." I finally sighed, pulling my knees into my chest and grabbing the bed sheets tightly in frustration.

I looked down, replaying what had happened in my mind, my knuckles slowly turning white.

"It was almost like…" I paused again, searching my mind for the right words. "Like someone was repressing my power. I could feel someone preventing me from…" I clenched my jaw shut, unable to finish my sentence. "What's happening to me?"

I looked between Ben and Kevin with pleading eyes, searching for any hint they had an answer.

"You know the only one who can answer that is Verdona." Ben finally answered, meeting my eyes with a cold gaze.

I broke away from his gaze, images of Verdona flashing through my mind in a loop.

"I told you Ben, I'm not leaving." I looked down as I said this, torn between answers and my desire to stay.

"Don't be a fool, Gwen." Ben spat, his temper no better than that of his teenage self. "What if something is wrong with you."

A silence fell over the room, his words piercing me like the blade of a knife and causing me to flinch. What seemed like an eternity passed before Kevin finally cut through the tension hanging in the air.

"Gwen…" he paused, as if unsure if he wanted to continue. "You should go with him."

"No." I shook my head, silently begging him to take it back.

He looked away, his face cold and angry. "You cant stay here anymore." He seethed, turning his back towards me and heading for the doors. "I want you gone."

The doors slammed behind him and I stared at them in utter shock. Ben was silent but I could tell he was pleased and I fiercely glared at him in response to the look of content on his face. If he hadn't of come here everything would still be fine! I knew Ben wasn't at fault but I couldn't help blaming him and his rash attack for my condition. I knew he could sense this too as his look of content turned to annoyance and he picked me up and flung me over his shoulder.

"Let me go Ben!" I screamed, thrashing around and hitting his back as hard as I could.

He just grunted, as if to say not on your life, and continued down the hall. I stared at the marble floor as he walked, noticing the still present pools of blood in the area they had fought. I wondered where Kevin was, if he was hurt, if he had really meant the cruel words he had used to push me away. As my mind wandered I barely noticed the marble turn to metal and the location change, almost as if we had crossed an invisible border. I looked up to see an unfamiliar structure that I assumed was Ben's home as he entered without a care in the world.

Once inside he set me down on a bed and left the room, an audible click sounding as he locked the door to ensure I wouldn't escape. I looked around the room for anything that would useful in my escape but found nothing. In fact there was barely anything in the room at all. The room felt very cold and impersonal, as if no effort had been put into its design at all and no one had ever entered it. I laid back on the bed in utter frustration, no idea what to do now that I was supposedly home. If it really had been 30 years then nothing would be the same. My parents, my friends, they'd all have grown up and changed. There was no way I could face them now.

Downstairs I could hear tidbits of Ben, presumably talking on the phone.

"Just get over here ASAP!" he sounded irate, as if whoever was on the line was giving him answers he never wanted to hear.

"Fine." I heard him sigh as he hung up.

I could hear him walking around downstairs, shuffling through drawers and slamming cupboards angrily. After a few minutes of his tantrum I heard a second voice begin to speak, a familiar voice.

"Hello dear." Verdona said, stepping into the room to greet me.

"Hi Grandma." I replied, forcing a smile.

I knew she knew my smile was fake. She knew everything. But she overlooked it and I was thankful for that.

"Tell me what's wrong." She prodded, sitting on the foot of the bed with a smile.

I explained what had happened. My abduction. My life with Kevin. Ben's sudden appearance. The fight between them. And finally my collapsing when my power failed.

She looked puzzled for a brief moment, as if pondering what the cause could be, then met my eyes with a smirk.

"Well Gwendolyn," she began amusedly. "The answer is really quite simple."

I stared at her, waiting desperately for her to continue, my heart thundering from the suspense.

"You're pregnant." She stated, her grin widening into a beaming smile. "Congratulations!"

My breathing became shallow as her answer sank in. I felt like I was hyperventilating, my mind spinning like a top and my body unable to move.

"Breath, dear!" Verdona insisted, closing in on me and thumping me on the back. "Breath! What you're doing is not good for the child!"