Spitfire ━ Jasper Hale

20 ━ NO CONTROL

Shadow took a hesitant step back, alarmed. "I didn't agree to that!" She refused to participate in such a senseless idea. She had already promised herself not to hurt them again.

Esme touched her shoulder. "Don't worry too much about us. We can always recover. It's more important that you get the opportunity to learn."

Shadow felt nauseous. "Even if it hurts you?"

  Emmett laughed and was immediately met with a punch to the arm by Rosalie.

Carlisle gave an amused smile. "Your scream puts our most heightened senses in disarray," he explained. "Enough that it gives the imitation of pain, but it's only harmful when in close range."

  "Think of it as a stun grenade," Jasper supplied.

  "Yeah," Emmett called out. "You're like a flash-bang for vampires."

  Shadow was comforted by the analogy. It was true enough. In spite of the fractures she could inflict, her screams didn't appear to have long-lasting effects. The fractures would heal. They would still stand.

  "Okay," she finally agreed. "But, if anyone has to stand the closest, it's going to be Edward." If there was one person she didn't mind roughing up, it was him.

  "You wish," the red-headed boy scoffed. "I have plans, so I won't be sticking around for the show."

  Shadow scowled. "That doesn't seem fair."

  Edward shrugged, his grin wide as he made for the garage. "Life isn't fair," he taunted her.

  Shadow glared at his back. "Rest assured, Eddie, you're gonna be target practice one day."

  "Only in your dreams!" He called over his shoulder, taking the Volvo with him as he left.

  Carlisle clapped his hands together, gathering the attention of Shadow and the remaining Cullen family. "Let's get started."

  Everyone took their places. They each went to a marker, while Shadow stood a few feet from the first one. Carlisle was the closest, with Esme at the furthest end and every other Cullen in-between.

Jasper was in the middle. Far enough to comfort her, but close enough to still make her nervous. Shadow wiped her sweaty palms against her jeans.

"Try to let the scream come to you," Carlisle guided her. "Focus on what it feels like when it usually happens."

  That was easy. Shadow rarely forgot the horror and overall fear that came with her screams. It was like a living nightmare.

  Shadow felt her fingers begin to shake as anxiety crept in. She dug deeper than her memory, searching for that feeling, calling on the scream to answer to her. The sooner she could finish, the better. She didn't want to stun anyone, whether it hurt the Cullen's or not.

  Dread swept over her so suddenly, Shadow found herself gasping. She caught herself as her knees went weak. The feeling tried to flee, but she clung to it. Building it up.

  Shadow closed her eyes and let the shrill scream loose. It was short and weak; weaker than what she was used to, but it was a start.