I woke to a mosquito buzzing annoyingly. I swatted at it but something stopped my hand from moving. Cough the metallic taste from my mouth, I opened my eyes. My hands were cuffed together. I maneuvered so I could sit up. The buzz wasn't from a mosquito, it was the burner phone. I picked it up and clicked answer.

"Hello?" My voice was very hoarse.

"Thank god, I've been trying to call you for awhile," Tess sounded very relieved.

"Sorry, I uh was busy.."

"Are you safe?" Tess asked. "There was a really big earthquake."

"Yeah," I coughed. "Fine."

"I was worried sick."

"Who are you talking to?" I heard in the background. Derek.

"I've got to go," Tess hung up.

I set the phone down and looked around. What had I done outside? Were my necromancer powers pent up from being unused? Or was I just flat out losing control? I looked down at the cuffs, I didn't feel safe taking them off.

I was a bit shaky but I stood up and chugged the rest of my water. I walked over to the fridge, on top of it were some canned goods. I picked out a can of mixed veggies and sat in the chair. I stared at the can for a while, knowing I needed to eat but not having the will to make myself.

When stomach pains finally hit, making me retch. I gave into eating. Eating with cuffs was difficult but I was in no hurry. I had nowhere to be right now.

When I was done I set the can down and stood. Sitting around was making me too anxious. I grabbed the bucket and cleaner. Scrubbing the carpet with the cuffs on was also proving to be a challenge. It was then that I remembered my shirt was on the ground next to the fridge. I swore, I wouldn't be able to get that back on without taking the cuffs off.

I spent the next hour scrubbing the carpeting of my vomit. The room stunk of cleaner but I had kept my promise.

I studied the symbols on the cuffs and started thinking out loud.

"If I had these symbols on me all the time, would it help contain my powers?"

I picked up a splinter of wood and looked at the symbols.

"That's a stupid idea," I told myself. "But would it work?"

I sat down and rolled up my shorts, "One way to find out."

I grit my teeth and starved carving into my upper thigh. Copying the symbols one by one. I used my shirt to wipe up the blood as I went. I could hear Derek in my mind telling me to stop but I thought it was worth the try so I ignored it.