Chapter 7

Chapter Seven

Rachel's heart was pounding as she stood perfectly still. Harry's words hung there in the air between them weighted with an unexpected importance. A kiss? The idea had come from left field. They were only friends, allies in that weird, shared journey of theirs. But something about this moment felt different.

She looked deep into his face, into his eyes-trying to find some sign that he was teasing, but those eyes were all but somber, quiet, yet serious.

"Harry." Rachel tried to begin, but her voice faded, not knowing how she should continue.

Harry, sensing the air was a little tense, unbent. He smiled, but his eyes still held a little sadness in them, as if he hadn't expected her to say yes anyway. "I'm just teasing, Rachel," he lied, faking a chuckle. "You don't have to kiss me. It's just.I wanted to lighten things up a bit.

Rachel let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. But even though Harry had laughed it off, the atmosphere between them had subtly changed. She sensed something in him that he hadn't expressed before-an emotion running deeper than friendship.

Rachel gave a small, uncertain smile, but her brain was still reeling from everything that had just happened-the ritual, the old man, the power now claimed. It was all so surreal. She had spent so much of her life feeling weak, rejected, not enough. But now, standing here in this strange, mysterious place with Harry, she couldn't shake the feeling that something monumental had changed.

I'm so sorry; I didn't mean to make things awkward," Harry said, stepping back slightly, as if giving her space.

"It's fine," Rachel said quickly, softer now. "It's just. a lot. Today has just been a lot."

Harry nodded. "Yeah, I get it. You have just gone through something huge. I shouldn't have-" He stopped mid-sentence and just shook his head with a self-deprecating smile.

Rachel leaned forward and laid a hand on his arm, squeezing it gently. "It's okay, Harry. Really. I'm just. processing everything." She paused, then added, "But thank you for being here with me. I really don't think I could have done this without you."

Harry's face relaxed and for a moment they just stood there, staring into each other's eyes, the silence between them thick with unspoken words.

It was the longest silence ever, and finally, Rachel spoke her mind. "We should probably get going. It is getting late."

Harry nodded and the tension was dissolved between them as they turned back toward the path from which they had come. The forest seemed different around them now-less ominous, more known. Rachel wondered if that was due to the power she had gained or if it was because she walked beside Harry. In any case, the weight of the world seemed a little lighter.

As they walked, Rachel couldn't help but think about what he said: the old man had told her, "In order to get power, you must lose something precious." She agreed to this ritual, but she had never fully known what it was that she was to let go of. What would she lose in exchange for this strength? And would that even be worth it?

Harry must have sensed her unease, because after a while, he glanced over at her and said, "Are you okay? You seem… distant."

Rachel hesitated, unsure how to put her thoughts into words. "I just keep thinking about what the old man said," she admitted. "About the price of power."

Harry's brow furrowed in concern. "Do you regret it?

"I don't know," Rachel admitted. "I feel. different, but I don't know if that's a good thing. What if I lose something important?" Harry said nothing for a time, as if weighing her words. Then, he said, "I really don't think you'll lose anything you can't afford to give up. You've already lost so much, Rachel. Maybe this is a chance for you to gain something back."

She looked at him, her heart heavy with the weight of his words. Maybe he was right. Maybe this was her chance to reclaim her life, to finally be more than the girl that had been rejected, that wasn't enough. But still, doubt gnawed at her. Was she ready for the kind of power the old man had promised?

The rest of the walk was quiet, only the crunch of leaves beneath their feet and, at times, a rustling in the underbrush as an animal scurried through. By the time they reached the edge of the forest, the sun had started to dip below the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow over everything.

As they approached Rachel's house, she turned to him, an unspoken question burning on her lips. "What if this power. changes me? What if I become someone I don't recognize?"

Harry stopped in his stride, turning to face her fully. "It won't change who you are," he said firmly. "It'll just make you stronger. And you deserve that, Rachel. You deserve to be strong.

Rachel bit her lip, unsure. But something in Harry's eyes, some earnestness in his gaze, made a spark of hope flicker within her. Maybe he was right. Maybe this was her chance to be something more.

As they reached her front door, Harry did an about-face, as if indeed he did have something more to say. Rachel noticed the way he fidgeted, the way his eyes darted toward her before quickly looking away.

"Harry?" she prodded, since she could tell he was holding something back.

He blew a breath out, rubbing the back of his neck. "I know I made that joke earlier about the kiss," he started, his voice low. "But… I wasn't totally joking."

Rachel's breath caught in her throat as he continued, his words tumbling out of him in a rush.

"I've liked you for a while, Rachel. More than just as a friend." He paused and looked up at her, his expression open, almost vulnerable. "But I didn't want to make things weird, and I didn't want to pressure you. Especially now, with everything that's happened."

It was as if Rachel's heart had stopped beating as she digested his words. This was quite unexpected; she had never thought Harry actually felt this way about her. They were always so close, yet she had never thought of him that way. Or had she?

Taking a deep breath, she tried to steady herself. "Harry, I-

He reached out his hand fast and silenced her. "You don't have to say anything," he stammered. "I just wanted to be honest with you. You've gone through a lot, and I don't want to add more to your plate. But I couldn't keep it to myself any longer.".

Mute, Rachel stared at him, her mind racing. She didn't know what to say. Harry had always been there for her, always supported her, but this confession managed to catch her off guard. Did she feel the same way? Was it possible that she could see him as more than a friend?

Before she could get a word out, Harry had retreated a step, his smile sad but resigned. "It's okay," he said quietly. "You don't have to say anything now. I just. I wanted you to know.

Rachel's chest constricted as she watched him turn and walk away, his figure melting into the dying light of evening. She stood there, frozen on her doorstep, her emotions caught in a storm of confusion, gratitude, and something she wasn't quite ready to name.

As night wrapped its cloak of darkness all around her, the only things Rachel could be sure of were her questions: what the future held-for her, for Harry, for the power she had gained. She knew one thing: nothing would ever be the same again.