“What happened to my Ability, doctor? It’s gone!” I snapped. The loss of my Ability put me in a bad mood. 

A moment of hesitation later, the doctor told me, “Your Ability’s gone because you were trapped in the ice for too long.” 

“Is that a fucking joke? Abilities don’t just go missing!” I roared furiously. 

Joshua appeared in the doorway and made a hasty apology to the doctor before seeing him out. 

“Why would my Ability go missing?” I tried to summon it, but nothing came to my fingertips. The empty power core seemed to be laughing at me, and I felt a hole tear through my heart. Pain welled up from within and coursed through my veins. 

I collapsed like a living corpse, my soul drained from me. 

“I know you’re in pain, Sera, but it’s alright. You have me. I’ll keep you safe.” Joshua held the crying me in his embrace, but I smelled the fragrance of jasmine coming off him. I knew that scent. That was Irene’s scent. 

I pushed him away, hatred boiling within me. Joshua, however, was perplexed. “You haven’t eaten anything. Why don’t I feed you?” 

It took everything I had to keep my bile down. “I’m craving some cake, Joshua.” 

Joshua frowned. “Cakes are expensive, Sera. You aren’t this demanding before.” 

I sneered silently and lay back down, my back turned against him. 

The middle-aged woman beside us started lecturing me, “Cakes? People your age are princesses. Do you have any idea how much a cake costs?” 

The whole ward was starting to berate me. I pulled the blanket over my head and ignored the voices. Once Joshua was gone, I told the nurse I needed a wheelchair. Though my strength failed me, my heart was telling me that I must seek the truth. 

I went around and avoided the nurses. My heart guided me to the VIP ward. 

I looked into the window of the first ward, and I saw Irene. She was enjoying candies on her bed, while Joshua was peeling a fresh apple for her. The whole room was sickeningly pink and radiated an air of disgusting serenity. It was quiet, a stark contrast against the regular wards. 

“Sera won’t get mad, will she?” 

“Think nothing about it. You’re still adjusting to your Ability, and you need rest.” 

“What if Sera finds out I have her Ability?” 

“She won’t.” 

I fell out of my wheelchair. 

“Sera!” Irene exclaimed. 

The commotion drew everyone’s attention, but none would lend their hand. Joshua was radiating his Ability’s aura and forced everyone back. He looked at me like I was dirt and asked coolly, “You heard everything?” 

“That’s my Ability, Joshua! And you took it from me while I was weak! You gave it to Irene?” I clutched the edges of Joshua’s pants, and my heart was trembling in pain. 

“She needs it more than you do. Now stop throwing a tantrum.” 

“That’s my Ability! Mine! If she does need an Ability, why didn’t you give her yours? Why mine?” 

“Because your Ability suits her perfectly, and she’s your best friend.” 

‘Yeah, and that friendship is now going to kill me,’ I screamed in my head. 

“I hate you, Joshua!” My mind snapped, and I turned feral, unleashing all my wrath and frustration, but then Joshua’s psionic power crashed into my mind. The sting of pain attacked my head, and I fell unconscious.