Chapter 44

Chapter

Forty-Four

I stand there silently.The minutes tick by and I'm speechless. A wave of emotions rolls through me. Hurt and confusion swirl uncontrollably through my head. The dream life I had just pictured so vividly shatters, falling apart like a house of cards in a sudden gust.

"Why does everything I want get ripped away from me?" The question throbs in my mind, a relentless ache. The vision of the life I had dared to dream—so vibrant and so tantalizingly close—crumbles before my eyes, dissolving like mist at the touch of harsh reality.

With a sudden burst of defiance, I clench my fists, thrusting them downward in a futile attempt to ground myself. I square my shoulders, tilting my face toward the fading warmth of the sun, as if seeking an answer from the sky. "Okay, Universe, you win," I mutter under my breath, the words bitter on my tongue. "I don't know what you want from me, but I have had enough!"

Inside, a scream builds—a silent, desperate cry born of frustration and anger, invisible and unheard by those around me. But it"s there, oh, it"s there—burning through my veins, demanding release.

And then, it happens. Something snaps. The scream finds its voice not in sound, but in power—a raw, untamed force that surges forth from the depths of my being. In an instant, the pavilion erupts into chaos. The air crackles with unleashed energy as light bulbs burst overhead with sharp, echoing pops that sound like miniature explosions. Fuses blow with a fizz and a hiss, spitting sparks like miniature fireworks, while the ovens flare up, their doors blasting open with flames. Every appliance in the competition area surges, emitting cracks and pops, their circuits frying before they die altogether.

The scent of ozone and burnt wiring fills the air, adding to the confusion and panic. A collective gasp rises from the crowd, now a blend of nervous murmurs and anxious whispers as everyone tries to make sense of what just happened.

Feeling overwhelmed and unsure, I barely register the reactions around me. My heart pounds fiercely in my chest as the reality of what I"ve caused sets in. I"ve somehow unleashed a dormant magical power in a public spectacle, turning a competitive baking event into a scene of kitchen carnage.

I need to get out of here, and fast.

Eliza is by my side before I can even process the full extent of the disaster, her eyes wide with shock and something akin to awe. "Was that you?" she asks, her voice a mix of concern and incredulity.

I shake my head, struggling to find words. "I don't know. I mean, I guess it was. But I don"t know how," I stutter, the confusion evident in my voice. My hands are shaking.

Eliza"s brow furrows, her protective instincts kicking in full force. "I"m going to murder my brother," she half-jokes, though there"s a serious undercurrent to her words. She knows Morgan"s to blame.

I don't correct her.

"I need to get out of here. Quiet my head."

Eliza quickly digs into her pocket and presses her car keys into my palm. "Here, take my keys. Take a breather. I'm sure we won't be baking anytime soon," she says with a forced chuckle, trying to lighten the mood.

I clutch the keys, feeling the cool metal grounding me slightly. "Thank you. I'll be back, promise."