Annaka

"Annaka! Get up!"

I feel myself fall off my bed and onto the floor, my hair covering my face as I lie on my stomach.

"Ow," I moan. "Who is it?"

I brush my hair out of my face and look up to see all the girls standing up above me!

"What are you guys doing here?!" I hiss, my stomach and head aching.

"What do you mean?!" Kealani exclaims. "We only called you like, oh I don't know, a million times to try and tell you we're coming over!"

I groan and roll onto my back, closing my eyes. "Why didn't you ask me?!"

"We figured it would be fine," Kealani says.

I let out a big breath, trying not to get angry. "What time is it?"

"Noon," Emily replies.

My eyes open and I immediately stand up, my head throbbing.

"What?!"

Kennedy puts her arm around my shoulders. "Sleeping in late? I taught you well."

I narrow my eyes at her and punch her forcefully in the stomach.

"Ow," she moans, curling into a ball on the floor.

"This is your fault!" I exclaim. "Why did you call me at freakin two in the morning?!"

"I...already told you," Kennedy says in pain. "To...check if...you were...alive..."

I groan and rub my temples with my hands. "Why would you ask me that?!" I let out a huge breath. "You know what? Whatever! Just get out for a minute so I can get ready!"

They all walk out of my room and I shut my door.

Once the door is shut, I flop down onto my bed.

Good god...

.

I walk out of my room and to the bathroom.

I quickly brush my teeth and hair, then turn to the waiting girls.

"Let's go in my room," I say.

All of us walk into my room.

But I stay at the back and quickly grab Kennedy's arm and pull her to me as everyone else walks inside.

"I'm sorry for punching you and blaming you," I apologize. "I was just..." I sigh. "Frustrated."

Kennedy smiles at me. "It's fine. I could never stay mad at you."

I smile back at her and we walk inside where the girls are waiting.

I take a seat on my bed next to Alyssa.

Kealani is in the front of the room, looking like she was going to announce stuff.

And sure enough, she does.

"Alright!" Kealani exclaims. "Annaka, where are your parents?"

I shrug. "I have no idea. Give me a minute."

I walk over to my door and stick my head out.

I yell, "Mommy! Daddy! Where are you?!"

"In our bedroom!" my mom replies. "And I've told you if you need to talk, don't yell!"

"Sorry!" I yell back. "Are we doing anything today?"

"No, but," my mom yells in reply. "why is there so much spaghetti in the fridge? I know your father didn't make it!"

I bite my lip and put a hand to cover half of my face as I try to think. "Um...does it matter?"

I hear my mom sigh. "I suppose not. But I'd still like to know who cooked it. It's actually pretty good!"

"Well, actually," I say, feeling thankful for her saying that. "I've...um...learned how to cook it. I cooked all of that."

"Really?!" my mom exclaims. "Why so much?!"

"BECAUSE I AM THE GREAT-" I cover my mouth and swallow hard. "Um...nevermind..."

After my mom stops talking and continues doing what she was doing before, I shut my door and droop my head down, sighing.

"That was close," I say under my breath.

"Luckily you stopped yourself," Nya says.

I look up and give her a small grin, then nod. "Luckily. And by the way, what side effects for the powers? Anything different?"

Everyone shakes their heads 'no.'

"What about you?" Alyssa asks. "Same side effects?"

I put a hand up. "Just what my mom said. And what you witnessed. I've actually almost said that stuff a lot to anyone in my family. I've just gotta be more careful." I sigh and shake my head. "Anyways, why did we meet today?"

Kealani nods. "Right. Let's continue."

I walk over to the bed and sit back down as Kealani continues to speak.

"Alright! Tomorrow is Monday and we need to talk to the people we guessed also possess Soul Power," Kealani announces. "Underground tonight?"

"We have to wait for the others so what's the point?" I say.

Kealani nods. "Ok. Why don't we just relax now? Let's take our minds off of Soul Power, ok?"

Everyone agrees and we all take out our phones or computers.

I take my chrome book out and plug my earbuds in.

I sit over in a corner and watch another episode of 'Your Lie In April,' starting to tear up a bit.

Once I finish the episode, I shut my chrome and take my earbuds out, looking around at everyone else.

Some people are on , others are on computers and phones.

I smile at all of them.

I hope we always stay like this.

There's a point in your life, I hear a voice in my head say, when everything you love will be taken away from you. Especially your friends. And you'll never get them back.

"Leave me alone," I say, quietly enough so no other girls hear me.

Why should I? the voice continues. Everyone should suffer. Especially you. Because you caused a huge disadvantage for humans, but great for me.

"Go away," I say a bit more loudly, my eyes starting to fill with tears.

But it's true, isn't it? the voice says in a demonic way. After all, in this world, it's kill or be killed.

"Just stop!" I exclaim.

The room grows quiet and everyone looks at me.

I stand up, shaky on my legs.

"S-sorry," I say quietly. "I-I'll be right back."

I start to walk until someone pulls me back.

I look up to see it as Nya.

"No Annaka," she says. "What's wrong?"

"It's just..." I sigh. "Voices. In my head. Th-they just keep talking to me. They're freaking me out and I don't know what to do! I can't stop them!" I exclaim, my voice cracking at the end.

Nya sits down, pulling me down with her. "It's ok, Annie. Just tell us everything."

The mystery in the story fills you with DETERMINATION

(Please continue to show your support and I hope you enjoy! Stay determined!)