The Feeling of Flying

The class bell rang at an inopportune moment.

"All right, all right, back to your seats!" Mr. Harrison, the history teacher, walked in with his lesson plans tucked under his arm. He was a middle-aged man with a slight receding-hairline crisis, but he was always full of energy. "Before we get into the boring Civil War, I have some good news to announce.

This year's summer camp has been finalized. The location is—Crystal Lake Camp!"

"Woohoo!"

A small cheer went up in the classroom. For these young people with nowhere to vent their energy, summer camp meant campfires, games, and clashing hormones.

Edward's brow rose almost imperceptibly.

Crystal Lake?

That name was far too interesting. If he remembered correctly, a famous mama's boy lived there—one who loved exercise, hockey masks, and machetes.

Jason Voorhees.

That was far more exciting than some Mirror Demon.

"It will last a week and cost three hundred dollars, including lodging, meals, and all activities." Mr. Harrison wrote the registration information on the blackboard. "Spots are limited. Anyone interested can come get an application from me after class."

Edward raised his hand first, with almost no hesitation.

The entire class turned to look at him, including Mr. Harrison at the podium.

"Connor, are you sure you want to go?"

"Of course." Edward answered as if it were only natural.

Mr. Harrison was clearly surprised. In his view, an honor student like Edward should have had no interest in group activities like this. He should have spent his time in the library.

During lunch break, the burger joint outside the school was packed with students.

Edward's group had a hard time securing a window-side booth.

"You're really going to that Crystal Lake place?" Jennifer asked around her straw. She wore a tight cropped T-shirt today that showed off her hot figure perfectly.

"Sounds fun, doesn't it?" Edward stuffed a huge bite of burger into his mouth, savoring the way the patty and cheese melted together.

"Fun?" Frank pushed up his glasses, their lenses reflecting the greasy fast-food lighting. "I looked it up. Crystal Lake Camp has had several vicious murders and accidents over the past few decades. The locals call it the 'Bloody Camp.' It was shut down for several years, and this is the first time it's reopened."

"Doesn't that make it even more exciting?" Edward looked eager. "Maybe we can even explore a haunted house."

"Crazy." Jennifer and Nitty said it in unison.

"Are you two going?" Edward looked at them.

Jennifer shook her head, a trace of regret on her face. "I can't. My dad's going to New York for a medical conference, and he insists on taking me along to broaden my horizons."

Since Jennifer was not going, Nitty, her loyal best friend, naturally would not go either.

"What about you, Frank?"

"I have to spend the summer with my mom," Frank said with a shrug. "You know how it is. Summer break in a divorced family is always planned out to the last detail."

Edward's gaze finally fell on Carrie, who had been quietly chewing on fries.

Noticing his gaze, the girl looked up and nervously clutched the ketchup packet in her hand.

"Carrie, do you want to go?" Edward softened his voice slightly.

"I..." Carrie glanced at Jennifer and Nitty, then at Edward. After hesitating for a moment, she gently nodded. "I... want to go."

Ever since Edward had saved her last time, Carrie was still introverted, but there was now a determination in her eyes that had never been there before. She wanted to change. She wanted to step out of that shell of inferiority.

"Then it's settled." Edward snapped his fingers. "The Crystal Lake adventure duo is officially formed."

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Jennifer looked at Edward, then at the flushed Carrie, and an indescribable look flickered through her eyes.

On the way home, the students gradually went their separate ways in twos and threes. Edward and Carrie walked back together.

The setting sun stretched their shadows long behind them.

"How has your ability practice been going lately?" Edward asked casually.

At the mention of it, Carrie's eyes brightened. She was no longer as reserved as before. "I don't lose control because of my emotions anymore. I'm practicing moving heavier things now, like... fire hydrants by the roadside."

"Not bad." Edward was a little surprised. A fire hydrant was not large, but it was far from light. Carrie's talent seemed even better than he had thought.

"And..." Carrie stopped walking and held out her pale palm. She hesitated, as though making up her mind about something.

The next second, Carrie took out a lighter and lit a tiny orange-red flame. She moved it onto her palm, where it danced quietly as she shaped it into all kinds of little animals.

"Whoa, fire control?" Edward was even more interested. Telekinesis mainly manipulated matter on a macroscopic level. Shaping flames so precisely into different forms required an extremely high degree of control.

"Yes, I figured it out myself." Carrie looked at him as if showing off. The flush on her face might have been from nervousness or excitement. "I think controlling these little invisible things is easier than moving those big ones."

"You're a genius, Carrie." Edward praised her sincerely.

At his praise, Carrie's smile grew brighter. The little flame in her palm gave a happy flicker before quietly going out.

Edward looked around. There were few pedestrians, and dense trees lined both sides of the road. Suddenly, he grinned, showing a row of white teeth.

"Want to try something even cooler?"

"Huh?" Carrie had not yet reacted.

Edward grabbed her wrist and, without giving her a chance to protest, led her deep into the small woods beside the road. He stopped in a clearing.

"Hold steady."

The moment he finished speaking, an invisible force supported both their bodies. Carrie felt her feet lighten as her entire body slowly began to float upward beyond her control.

"Ah!" She cried out instinctively, squeezing her eyes shut and gripping Edward's arm tightly with both hands.

"Open your eyes and look." Edward's voice sounded beside her ear, carrying a reassuring smile.

Carrie trembled as she opened one eye a crack. Then her eyes widened further and further, reflecting an unbelievable sight.

They were rising higher. The trees beneath them grew smaller and smaller, like clusters of green broccoli. The wind howled past their ears, whipping up her long hair.

The distant houses, streets, and cars all shrank to the size of matchboxes. For the first time, the entire town lay clearly spread out before her.

The fear brought by weightlessness was soon replaced by an unprecedentedly expansive view and sense of freedom.

"This... this is..." Carrie was too stunned to speak.

"A higher-level application of Telekinesis," Edward's voice came through clearly. "Flight."

He used no complicated technique. He simply wrapped them both in pure Telekinesis and directly, brutally countered gravity.

Carrie slowly released Edward's arm and tentatively spread her arms, like a bird embracing the sky.

The wind flowed through her fingers, carrying a hint of chill, yet making her feel more real and free than ever before.

The gloom that had once weighed on her heart—the mockery of her classmates, her mother's harsh rebukes—seemed to shrink along with the scenery beneath them, becoming insignificant.

She turned and looked at the boy beside her.

The afterglow of the setting sun outlined his profile in gold. His eyes, usually carrying a trace of teasing amusement, now reflected the sunset clouds, sparkling like stars.

Her heart skipped a beat.