Chapter 12

CHAPTER TWELVE

Grady and Scott were waiting for us outside. The sight of them tightened my chest with an unexpected pang of guilt.

Grady leaned against the railing, his shoulders slumped and his gaze fixed on the ground. His fingers drummed an erratic rhythm on his thigh. Scott stood a few feet away, arms crossed tightly, his jaw clenched so hard I could almost hear his teeth grinding.

They reminded me of the kids in school who didn't get picked to be on a team. The memory flashed through my mind. The shuffling feet, downcast eyes, and the sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach when you're the last one standing. I swallowed hard, trying to dislodge the lump in my throat.

As we approached, both men straightened, their gazes darting between us with envy and resignation. The tension was almost palpable, making the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

Grady swallowed, clearly struggling to find words. Scott's fingers dug into his biceps, leaving white marks on his skin. The silence stretched between us.

Leadership fell upon my shoulders once again. I knew I needed to say something, to acknowledge their importance even if they weren't coming with us. But as I opened my mouth, the words seemed to stick in my throat, tangled with emotions I couldn't quite name.

This was the first real test of my leadership, I realized. Not facing monsters or magical forests but handling the human element of our team. The challenge made my palms sweat and my heart race, but I was determined to rise to the occasion.

I drew a deep breath. The cool morning air filled my lungs as I closed my eyes, allowing myself to be transported back to my painful childhood memories.

Suddenly, I was in second grade again. The classroom buzzed with excitement as a girl handed out glittery pink invitations to her slumber party. My stomach knotted tighter with each passing moment as I watched her distribute them to every girl but me. The bitterness of being excluded burned my dry throat.

I could still hear the whispers, see the sidelong glances. "Her parents are into the occult," they'd said. The words stung like physical blows, leaving invisible bruises on my young heart.

As the memory shifted, I felt a ghost of comfort wash over me. My mom picking me up from school, her perfume a mix of lavender and hope. The cool smoothness of an ice cream cone pressed into my hand, her words of encouragement wrapping around me like a warm blanket. "You're special, Sawyer," she'd told me, her voice as soothing as a summer breeze. Those words had given me hope, a lifeline to cling to in a sea of rejection.

I opened my eyes, blinking away unexpected moisture. Grady and Scott stood before me, their postures mirroring the dejection I'd felt all those years ago. My heart ached for them.

I decided to trust my heart, not my mind, drawing on how I felt when I was the kid who wasn't chosen.

Drawing strength from my mother's memory, I squared my shoulders and met their gazes. My voice came out gentle but firm, carrying the same warmth my mother had shown me.

"There's a reason you were chosen to stay here." Their eyes widened slightly in surprise. I stepped closer, placing a hand on Grady's shoulder. I felt the tension in his muscles, wound tight like a spring.

"Maggie and Garrick are both vulnerable," I continued, turning to include Scott in my gaze. "Especially Maggie. She was possessed once before." I paused, letting the gravity of the situation sink in.

"It's up to you both to protect them," I finished, infusing my words with all the confidence and trust I could muster. I gently squeezed Grady's shoulder before stepping back.

A change came over them. Grady's shoulders straightened, the nervous drumming of his fingers slowing to a stop. Scott's arms uncrossed, his hands falling to his sides as his jaw unclenched. The look in their eyes shifted from dejection to determination.

In that moment, a surge of pride and hope ran through me. Maybe this was what leadership truly meant. Not only guiding those who followed but also empowering those who stayed behind. As Grady and Scott nodded, the tension in my shoulders lifted, and I exhaled deeply.

I wanted to empower them like someone else had empowered me. I could almost hear their words, but they drifted away, leaving me wishing I could have heard. Something told me it would have boosted my self-confidence and squashed my self-doubt.

But I had to work with what I had and save my team, especially Justice.