Malcolm pulled the wind toward him from behind, exactly as he would to give himself a speed boost on the ground. Immediately, the paraglider’s canopy lost form and buckled. He screamed, falling a dozen feet or so before switching the wind to come from below him instead of behind.
The canopy spread out again, and Malcolm breathed a sigh of relief, his heart pounding away in his chest. He made a mental note to never try to push himself directly forward, and tried to wipe the sweat off his palms.
CHAPTER 32
It took Malcolm a couple more minutes to get used to the feeling of paragliding, but once he had, he was in heaven. It was different from anything he’d done with his powers before, and it made him feel like he understood the wind.
Wind manipulation was less about pushing, and more about guiding. Air currents were like invisible rails, and the paraglider would follow them by default, all he had to do was make sure he was aimed in the right direction.
He was high enough up for the air to have a chill to it, and his teeth chattered from the cold, though he barely noticed.
“See anything?” asked Tapestry.
“There’s a small trail of smoke coming from the campgrounds to the north,” said Malcolm. “Probably nothing, but I’ll check it out anyway.”
“Be careful,” said Tapestry. “And pace yourself. Don’t use your powers more than you have to.”
“Right…” he said.
This is the best use for my powers that I’ve ever found. I deserve to play around a little, don’t I?
Malcolm pulled the wind in front of him and felt the paraglider pick up speed. He dipped lower, passing over Vanderbrook’s buildings, wondering if anybody on the street could see him. If they could, they wouldn’t think much of it. He was just a paraglider, up a little higher than normal.
He used his powers to swerve from side to side as he approached the campgrounds. As soon as he made it over the trees, Malcolm saw that it was just a man building a small campfire. He pulled the wind up from beneath him, rising higher and higher into the air.
“It’s nothing Tapestry,” he said. “I’m going to stay airborne for now, just in case something else turns up.”
“You should take a break soon,” said Tapestry. “Malcolm, it’s really not good for you to get in the habit of using your powers when you don’t need to.”
“I’m fine,” he said, grinning. “Quit worrying.”
He switched over to his music, and for a couple of minutes, thought of nothing other than the wind. Birds flew in flocks, occasionally coming close to him. He chased after them, and teased them with bursts of concentrated wind.
Malcolm knew that eventually he would find a way to fly without the paraglider. He would merge with the wind, move through it as a native. He had the power to do it, he just need more skill.
His heart pounded in his chest. He could feel something there, deep inside. It was almost like a second store of energy, a force waiting for him to reach out and take it. Malcolm knew that he wasn’t supposed to, and that it was off limits, but it was still there. He would be okay if he opened himself up to it, wouldn’t he?
I don’t have to follow the rules. I can live however I want, make whatever choices I want.
“Malcolm!” Tapestry’s voice was sharp over the headset. “Wind Runner! What is your status?”
“I’m… still keeping watch.” Malcolm pulled the wind upward, lifting even higher into the air. The town below looked like a satellite image, and the wind was roaring in his ears.
“You need to report back in,” said Tapestry. “It’s Morph’s turn. We aren’t risking you up there any longer.”
“…No,” said Malcolm.
He spun himself in a slow circle, angling the wind so that he leaned to the side.
“Wind Runner,” said Tapestry. “That’s an order from Multi. Get your head on straight.”
“Oh, I think I see another fire.” Malcolm switched back to his music. He used the wind to guide himself forward and down, feeling a rush of euphoria at the control he now had. It was addictive. He understood so much more about being gifted now, about the temptation and urge to merge with his powers.
He could hear something, a whisper in the air. The wind was calling to him. Malcolm felt hazy, like he was trying to make out important words in a dream he was on the verge of waking up from. The wind was calling to him, and he suddenly knew why.
Malcolm reached across his harness, touching where the straps secured him in. He didn’t feel any fear or trepidation as he released the buckle. He still hung from his shoulders, the harness holding him under his armpits.
“Malcolm!” cried Tapestry. “Report! What’s your current status?”
He took off the Bluetooth headset, unhooked it from his phone, and threw it into the open air. Malcolm was grinning from ear to ear, feeling a sudden rush of euphoria and confidence. He’d only been toying with what he could really do for the past few days. It was time for him to become who he was meant to be.
Malcolm lifted his hands over his head. The wind did the work for him, ripping the paraglider back like a balloon wrenched loose from a child’s grip by a strong gust. He fell, but only for a couple of seconds. He could sense the air currents, and using his wind manipulation, he coaxed them into action.
His shirt flapped against his chest wildly. He couldn’t hear anything. For a couple of seconds, the ground surged up toward him, and even in his manic state, Malcolm felt terrified. Then, the wind cooperated, submitting to his demands. Malcolm flew, slicing through the air, pulling up and away from the trees before he reached them.
He shifted, leaning back and turning in a slow flip, the pleasure of each movement more intoxicating than any drug. Malcolm’s skin was cold, but he was sweating from the exertion. He was using his powers more than he ever had before. And there was nothing wrong with that. He would use his powers, and live on his own terms.
We both can. Rose and me. She’ll be my queen, and they’ll never be able to stop us.
He was on his way back into Vanderbrook, the town’s buildings illuminated by the setting sun. Malcolm could feel the wind shifting and dancing. It was playful, and it called to him even as he tried to recollect his senses and get back to reality.
Malcolm saw his apartment. It took all the willpower he had to circle over it, slowly dropping lower and lower, listening to the reactions of pedestrians as they witnessed him descending. He landed on the sidewalk nearby, and had to suppress a sudden urge to throw up.
No, I’m fine. I can go my own way now.
He headed up into his apartment, wanting nothing more than to find Rose and be free.
CHAPTER 33
Rose was still in bed with the curtains pulled tight over the window. She sat up immediately when he came in through the door. She was still wearing the lingerie she’d promised to leave on for him, and she had a wicked smile on her face.
“Rose,” said Malcolm. “I’m back.”
She stood up from the bed and slowly walked into the living room, bearing the sunlight without complaint.
“I take it you had an interesting night,” she said, nodding to his clothes. “Care to share the details?”
“I’ll share more than just that,” he said. “I want to share it all with you, Rose. I’m free now. I… I get it.”
He extended his hand, wiggling his fingers at the couch. All three of its cushions lifted into the air. Malcolm twisted his hand, juggling them around each other, controlling them with powerful, accurate bursts of wind. He dropped them and picked Rose up instead, tumbling her through the air and placing her back on her feet next to him.