Author's note: I know it's been forever, but I have been crazy busy. I actually wrote a couple of chapters for this story, but for some reason they didn't get saved. SInce then the story has gone in a different direction. Hope you enjoy the chapter.

Chapter 9

Riley tossed in her bed, unable to sleep. She hadn't slept since she came back a week ago. It was starting to worry the others, but she felt fine. It was almost like her body didn't need sleep anymore.

There were other things like that had changed. Little things that the others hadn't notice yet. The way her eyes seemed to flash without warning. Her powers were growing stronger. She avoided physical contact at all costs, moving away before someone could touch her. She was constantly using to anticipate when it would happen.

Riley sat up in bed and glanced around the room. She used to turn on the light as she climbed out of the bed. She grabbed her ipod off the desk and grabbed a jacket off the floor. She slipped on some running shoes and headed downstairs.

She stretched as she put in her headphones. Starting at a slow pace, Riley cranked the music up. She ran, not paying attention to where she was going. It wasn't until she arrived at Putnam Barn an hour later that she stopped.

Riley crossed the damp grass toward the rubble. Everything from the past year flashed through her mind. Moving to Ipswich, dating Caleb, meeting Tristan, Catherine returning, fighting Elizabeth.

She gasped as she let go of the memories. She shook her head and glanced around. Caleb's mustang was parked several yards away from her. He was standing next to the rubble his back to her.

"You couldn't sleep either," Riley called as she drew closer to him. Something had drawn her here, maybe it was him.

Caleb turned slowly and met her gaze. "Your eyes are doing it again," he said as he turned away from her.

"What," Riley asked.

"You think I haven't noticed, but they keep flashing with power. Its because you use so much. We're not stupid Riley, we all know what you are doing," Caleb replied.

Riley sighed softly and moved closer to Caleb. "There's not a lot I can do about that Caleb," Riley pointed out.

"You could stop using so much, you could learn to control it. You don't have to be like this."

"Caleb power like this can't be controlled," Riley snapped. "This isn't something I can turn on and off."

"You're not that strong Riley."

"That's bull shit and you know it Caleb! I'm stronger than you, I'm stronger than all of you combined. You've never seen or felt power like mine before and it scares you. You think you can't control me anymore."

As soon as it came out of her mouth, Riley knew she shouldn't have said it. She also knew that it was true. She'd seen it, she'd felt it. Caleb was afraid of losing control of her.

"That's how you feel about me now, isn't it," Riley asked.

"You don't know what you're talking about Riley," Caleb said, but he avoided her gaze.

"Yes I do Caleb. I've seen and felt that from you. I'm so strong that I could lead this generation of the Covenant and there is nothing you could do to stop. Since we don't know what brought me back, you're scared that I may be evil."

Riley stared at Caleb waiting for him to confirm her words. He finally looked up and met her gaze. "What if I do feel that way about you now? Maybe it's because I don't want to lose you again," Caleb said.

Riley sneered at him as she spoke, "If you don't want to lose me, maybe you should be honest with me Caleb." Riley spun around and headed back toward the gravel road.

"Riley, wait, Riley," Caleb shouted after her.

"Why Caleb?" Riley came to a stop and turned to face him. "So you can tell me that you didn't mean it like that? So you can promise me that everything is going to be ok again? I don't want to hear it. This is one problem that you can't fix, I'm not some problem that will get better with time."

"You're not a problem you're my girlfriend and I don't want anything to happen to you."

"No I'm not," Riley said firmly.

"What?"

"I'm not your girlfriend, not anymore Caleb. A girlfriend is someone you trust, that you are honest with. You don't trust me and you certainly aren't honest with me either," Riley shouted.

"Riley, please," Caleb said quickly. He grabbed her arm to keep her from moving. Riley flinched hard as his thoughts and feelings washed through her.

"Don't touch me," Riley shouted before pushing him away. "I know how you feel Caleb, I already know, but I can't keep doing this with you."

With that, Riley disappeared. Caleb screamed in frustration and headed toward his car. He yanked his cell out of his pocket and dialed Pogue's number. "Hey man, listen she's losing it Pogue. I can see that she's starting to lose her grip. We have to do something."