JC Coldwell's Arc

Chapter 5 of 9

JC found Hal outside the workshop door, with Daniel beside him. Hal had one hand raised to knock. Daniel held a thin line of blue light between two fingers. Webster crouched on his shoulder. “We heard you were walking into noise again,” Hal said. “So we came prepared. Well, Daniel came prepared. I came worried.” JC tried to answer. His throat closed. Daniel’s thoughts hit first: sharp lists, ward angles, fear of a mistake. Hal’s came after, quiet as ever. Then more minds pressed in from below. Curiosity. Pity. A stranger’s memory of a slammed door. Someone’s private laugh. JC grabbed the doorframe. “Stop looking at me.” His voice cracked. The words came out thick and soft, carrying the South Carolina sound he had worked years to bury. “I can’t keep all of you out. I can’t do this.” Hal went still. Daniel looked away at once. “I’ve been scared since I was a kid,” JC said. His hands shook against the wood. “My family said I twisted everything. Said nobody could trust me because I knew what they hid. So I learned to act like nothing touched me.” Hal stepped closer, slow enough for JC to refuse. “JC, I’m not going anywhere.” “Don’t promise that.” JC wiped his face with his sleeve. “I don’t know how to let people see this and stay.” Daniel lifted the blue thread. “I can reduce the spill. Not erase it.” Webster croaked. JC stared at the ward. A clean wall. A way to hide again. He almost took it. Then he looked at Hal. “Stay near me anyway. Even when I’m awful at this.” Hal’s eyes filled. “That’s easy. You’re stuck with me.” Daniel drew the ward through the air. Blue light spread around the doorway, muting the thoughts from the street to a distant buzz. JC still heard them. He could still feel Hal’s fear and hope beside him. Hal took JC’s hand. JC did not pull away. “I told you,” JC said, his real voice plain now. “I love you. I get scared, and I run. But I love you.” Hal squeezed his hand. “Okay. Then next time, tell me before you run.” JC nodded. The noise remained beyond Daniel’s ward. But Hal stood inside it with him, and JC let the whole small group see his tears.