The Power by Gabby Caleb sat at the table, eating some pancakes. A copy of the Trinity Guardian lay on the table next to his plate. He was really happy for his cousin Gail. He knew that if it wasn't for this job, she would have left. She was his only family left, and he didn't want her to leave. But lately he had been worried about her. She would blank out when you were talking to her. But when you asked her what she was thinking, she said nothing. "Oh, well," Caleb said to himself, "I guess everyone has their days. Or weeks." Gail was sitting at her desk, drinking a Coke. She was trying to think of a really good story. "Boy, Trinity sure is a boring town," she thought to herself, "It is nothing like the city." She looked at a copy of the day's paper. She got as far as the first headline. "Peter, now that you're in jail, is it safe to say that your wife is on the rebound?" "Buck, I swear. If you go near her, I'll kill you." And Lucas's laugh could be heard, loud and clear. "Hahahaha!" "Haha!" Lucas was laughing with one of Gail's assisstents. He noticed her looking at him. "Well, hello to the prettiest reporter these eyes have ever seen. "Save your cheap talk for someone who cares," Gail snapped, turning back to the paper. "I just came to tell you what a great paper this was," Lucas said, coming up behind Gail, "I knew it was a good idea reopening the Guardian." "Yeah, well, I don't know how long it will last. There are just not enough good stories to fill these pages. Maybe you would be able to provide some action, Lucas." she said bitterly. Then an idea came to her. "On second thought..." Gail headed to the hospital. She went there more often now because of her relationship with Billy. But right now she was looking for Matt. She went to his office and knocked. Matt's voice from inside called "It's open." Gail opened the door and stepped in. Matt looked up from the book he was reading. "Hey, Gail, what's going on?" Gail closed the door behind her. "I have got the biggest idea for a story." Matt put down his book, interested. "What kind of story?" "I am going to write about everything weird that has happened in Trinity. I want to expose this town for what it is." Matt looked worried. "Are you sure you want to do that? I mean, you remember the guy from the Miami Tribune. He came down here to do just that, and look what happened to him." Gail smiled. "I remember, but this a secret project. You are the only person I've told. No one else will know until the paper comes out." "Well, good luck. If you need me, I'll be here." From outside the door, Lucas smiled. Then he headed for the exit. Caleb looked at the clock. 2:45 P.M. Yes! Only 15 more minutes of school. To Caleb, Miss Coombs was just droning on and on. He looked over at his friend Boone. Boone rolled his eyes. Finally 3:00 came. Caleb jumped up and headed for the door. Just as he was out the door, Miss Coombs called, "Caleb, honey, can you come here for a minute, please." Caleb let out a low sigh, and turned around. "Yes, Miss Coombs?" "Caleb, will you be seeing your cousin Gail any time soon?" "Uh, huh. She's picking me up." "Good. Can you give her this for me." She handed Caleb a folded up piece of pink paper. Caleb nodded, and headed out the door. Caleb ran over to Gail's car. "Hey, Caleb, how was school?" Caleb got in the car. He held out the pink paper. "Fine. Here, Miss Coombs wanted me to give you this." Gail looked at the paper with curiosity. She decided to wait until she dropped off Caleb to read the note. She took it and put it in her pocket. After Caleb was dropped off, she drove to her apartment. When she got in, she took out the note and read it. It said: GAIL. I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU. LET'S MEET AT YOUR NEWSPAPER BUILDING TONIGHT AT 9:00 SEE YOU SOON, SELENA Gail did not understand why Selena would want to see her. "Well, Selena, if you want me there, I'll be there." It is now 8:56 P.M. Gail headed to the building. The door was unlocked. She wondered how Selena was able to get in. The building was dark. Selena had not turned on any lights. "Selena?" Gailed called as she groped for the light switch. When she found it and turned the light on, she saw Selena sitting on one of the desks. Gail held up the pink note. "I got your letter, Selena. What do you want?" "Want? Did it ever occur to you that I just wanted to talk. After all, we are such GOOD friends." Gail balled up the paper and tossed it over Selena's head. "Cut the act. WHAT do you want?" "Okay, Gail, I won't beat around the bush. I wanted to TALK about MY Billy." Gail let out a laugh. "YOUR Billy? Excuse me. You're the one who dumped him. He figured you'd rather be with Lucas." Selena just smiled. She reached behind her and pulled out a gun. Gail looked at Selena with shock. "Oh, is this the plan? Kill me in my own building. How clever." Gail glared at Selena. Selena smiled back. "You know, that sounds like a good idea, don't you think?" Selena fired the gun. The bullet came at Gail almost like it was going in slow motion. Gail stared the bullet down, and all of a sudden the bullet changed direction. Now it was flying at Selena. It hit her in the arm before she could move out of the way. Selena howled in pain. The gun fell from her hands, and hit the floor with a clatter. Gail just stood there, not believing what just happened. Someone rushed up to her. It was Garth. The only words she could utter were, "She shot herself." Garth ran over to Selena and pressed a handcercheif to the wound. In seconds it was soaked in blood. Garth picked her up. Gail finally got her voice back. "Come on. Put her in my car. We have to get her to the hospital." On the way there, Gail asked,"Garth, why were you in the office? When I got there I didn't see you." "I was going for a walk, and I saw that the lights were on. As I neared, I heard the gunshot." They pulled up in front of the hospital. Gail ran in to find a doctor. "Rita," she called, "Get a doctor. Selena shot herself. Garth ran in with Selena in his arms. "I'll get Billy," Rita said, running down the hall. When Billy came, he was shocked to see this scene. He was worried that Gail had done this. The bullet was not very deep, and not hard to get out. Billy put a patch on Selena's arm. He was very cautious what he said to her. "So, Selena, how did this happen?" Selena glared at Billy. "I lured your little girlfriend to her building. I was going to shoot her." "Yeah, well, how did the bullet end up in you instead of her?" Selena's smirk turned into a frown. She got off the table. "I don't know." "Maybe someday I'll teach you how to fire a gun," Billy joked. "Or maybe I could just use you as target practice," Selena said, and left the room. "Feel better," he called to her retreating figure. After she heard that Selena would be okay, she left the hospital. She didn't feel like explaining what happened to Billy. She still didn't understand how it happened. Instead of going home, she headed in another direction. She pulled up in front of Lucas's mansion. Instead of getting out, though, she just stared at the huge brick home. She was suprised when Lucas came out and called her inside. Slowly, she got out of the car and headed up the path leading to the front door. When she got in, Lucas told her to sit down. "I've been expecting you," he said. "How did you know?" Gail asked, sinking into a chair. "Darlin, I'm Lucas Buck. I know everything. Do you understand what happened?" Gail was staring at the portrait of her and Lucas. "If I understood, do you think I'd be here," she snapped. "I've got a theory," Lucas said, "Look at that portrait. You and I were meant for each other. We always have been. We have the power, you and I. The power to do things others can't. Only it took you longer to realize your power. Just like Caleb." Luca stood in front of Gail. "What do you think of that?" Gail stood up and walked to the door. "I don't know. I'm going to go home and sleep. Goodnight." She closes the door behind her. Lucas looked at the portrait. "Just, wait, Gail. Your final test is coming." A week passes. Gail is in the office, putting final touches on her Special Edition. The other Guardians were at their own desks, watching her. A couple days earlier that had gotten a visit from Lucas. He had told them about this special edition. He told them to make sure it wasn't published. Now they looked at Garth. Jeri went over to the door and locked it. Gail looked up from the papers. "What are ya doing, Gail?" Garth asked, going over to her desk. "Nothing, just working on a story." Garth snatched the papers. "Let me see." Gail made a lunge for the papers, but was held back by Jeri. Garth flipped through the paper. "You know, we got orders to make sure this story don't become a story." Gail pulled away from Jeri and went to the door. She tried to open it, but couldn't. She turned. "By who? Lucas?" Garth ignored this question. "Wanta see a magic trick?" "Garth, don't you dare!" Gail tried to get the papers, but was once again held back by Jeri. "Now you see it, now you don't." Garth ripped up the pages and threw them up in the air. He bagan to laugh. Gail watched the torn pages fall to the floor. Her eyes connected on Garth's. His laughing stopped. He began to walk to the paper cutter. "Hey, Garth, what are you doing, man?" Jeri asked nervously. Garth didn't seem to hear him. He put his arm under the blade of the cutter. Everyone but Gail looked away as the blade came down on Garth's arm. Garth screamed in pain. Gail seemed to snap out of her trance. She went to her bag and pulled out some papers. She held them up. "Rule number one. Always make copies." She again looked at the door. They were wide open, and Lucas was standing in them. The two of them just stood there, staring at each other.