by K Swanson
CJ leaned forward, eyes sparking with excitement. “What about a flower? Could you create one?”
Instead of answering, Jayden reached into his bag, pulled out a pad of paper, then set it on his lap and got to work.
We were silent as he drew, and I wondered if anyone else was afraid of distracting him. I supposed he probably didn’t get distracted easily, considering he had been able to draw something while we were fighting.
Within minutes, he flipped the page to draw on the back of it. Why did he do that? Had he messed up on the first page? His intent focus didn’t allow him to show any emotion, so I couldn’t tell if he was frustrated. He didn’t seem like he was though. Leaning forward, I tried to see what he was doing, but he shielded his page from even Lex, his left arm acting as a barrier as he blended the lead with the fingers on his right.
The way everyone else sat forward, I could tell they were all curious to see what he was creating.
Finally, he finished and tore out the page, then he flicked the flat piece of paper toward CJ. It seemed heavy as it hovered over the dirt, but as it got closer, the paper shriveled up, crumpling, until all that was left was a flower. I inched toward CJ as he picked it up, inspecting it. His teeth sank into his bottom lip, his fingers brushing over the stem and petals.
Nick’s impatience got the better of him, and he leaned forward. “Well?”
“It’s almost like the real thing… but not quite.” CJ tilted his head, brow furrowed as he held up the flower in the meager sunlight filtering through the treetops. “It’s probably the most realistic fake flower I’ve ever seen.”
“May I?” I held out a hand. Did it feel as real as it looked?
CJ handed it to me and I ran my fingers over it. The stem was stiff and velvety, and the petals felt soft. Curiously, I tugged on one of the petals. It came off in my fingers, but I couldn’t say I was really surprised. The whole thing was so life-like it seemed to have just been taken from whatever plant it originated from.
Lex stretched his legs out in front of him, crossing one ankle over the other. “What can you do, Haylie?”
“Do?” I wasn’t sure if it was because my powers seemed pathetic compared to everything else I’d seen, or if it was because secrecy had been drilled into my head for as long as I could remember, even before my escape, but I felt uncomfortable discussing mine.
Nick slipped his fingers through mine and squeezed my hand. Just like that, tension melted from my body. I wouldn’t say I was thrilled about the turn this conversation had taken, but I already knew I could trust them.
Taking a deep breath, I stared at the ground, making shapes in the dirt with a finger. “I’m telekinetic…”
Nick cleared his throat, and my cheeks heated. “And you have to be naked for that power to work?”
“Erm… no.” I couldn’t bring myself to meet their gazes. I didn’t want to be laughed at. A couple of the others at the institute had laughed when they found out that my clothes didn’t turn invisible with me. I hadn’t even liked them much and it still hurt. I didn’t want to take the chance that my friends would find my power funny as well. “I… it doesn’t work unless I’m invisible.” After a moment of silence, I cringed. God, this was harder than I thought it would be. “My clothes don’t… I mean, I go through…”
“You go through what?” Although it was phrased as a question, Nick’s tone made me think he just wanted confirmation about something he already knew.
“Inanimate objects. I can go through things that aren’t sentient, so although a tree or plant is technically alive, I can still go through them.” I scratched my forehead. Was I even explaining this right?
“Do you have to concentrate to go through things, or is it automatic?” Lex’s voice startled me enough to bring up my head.
At least they weren’t laughing. Not yet, anyway.
“I can’t touch anything when I’m incorporeal. Which is why I can’t keep my clothes on.”
CJ snickered, and I shot him a glare even as heat flooded my entire body.
It was nice to know I could feel warm again after I’d spent the last hour shivering.
Until Nick tightened his fingers around mine, I’d nearly forgotten he was touching me. “Oh, before I forget.” He tugged his hand back and shoved it into his pocket. “Here.”
My bracelets clinked together as they landed on my knee. I was grateful both for the change in subject and that I wouldn’t need to find some other piece of silver to wear.
“Thank you.”
Nick inclined his head. “I need another watch.”
Movement from the corner of my eye caught my attention, and I glanced over to see Sam putting his necklace over his head.
Lex seemed to be watching everyone at once. “What silver do you use, Jayden?”
Silently, Jayden held up his hands, three silver rings glinting off the mutated light.
“And it didn’t hurt to use your abilities while wearing them?” Lex’s brow furrowed.
Sam slid the chain down his shirt, letting them rest against his bare skin. “H-how is that even p-p-possible?”
With a shrug, Jayden replied, “I don’t know. It helps with my dream walking, but I’ve never had any trouble while drawing.”
“Dream walking?” Nick cocked his head to the side, bringing to mind a curious puppy.
Jayden hunched over, placing his sketch pad and pencil back into his bag. “I can alter a person’s… reality, I guess. My power is stronger when they’re asleep.” He kept his gaze on the ground, swallowing hard. “It’s not something I ever use. It gets worse the better I know someone.”
“How does it get worse?” I couldn’t help asking. Did he find it harder to control his power around those he knew well? Perhaps that was why he didn’t seem inclined to make friends.
His dark eyes came up and met mine. “I can’t control it when I’m sleeping…” Pursing his lips, he picked up a stick and scraped it through the dirt. “When I’m awake, I can only alter someone’s thoughts if I can see them. When I’m asleep, I’ve yet to reach a limit.”
That explained the constant dark smudges under his eyes. I wouldn’t want to fall asleep under those circumstances either. His teeth scraped against his lip ring.
Nick voiced my thoughts. “And that’s why you don’t sleep.”
Jayden nodded once, his movement jerky. “Yeah. I can’t take the chance that my mom or grandma…”
Shifting, Lex brushed his fingers against his earlobe. “I need to find something else I can wear until I can get another pair of earrings.”
Nick nodded, his expression solemn. “I concur.”
CJ twirled the fake flower. “Do you even know what that word means?”
The faint humor in his voice told me he was joking, but my gut twisted as I focused on Nick. I didn’t like it when they implied he wasn’t smart.
“Hurtful.” Nick’s voice dipped slightly.
A ghost of a smile touched CJ’s lips. “You’re still awesome though.”
With a grin, Nick nodded once. “Damn straight I am.”
Their banter made me smile as I slid on one of my bracelets. “Want to borrow one?” I held up the second bracelet, offering it to Lex.
“You sure?”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
I wasn’t completely sure what his power was, although, I at least had an idea. Tossing him the thicker of my two bracelets, I inclined my head. “What is your power?”
He snatched the glinting silver from the air and slid it over his hand. “Weather control. It’s tied to my emotions. I’ve never really tested how far reaching it is—”
“Wait, so… you’ve never done testing?” How had they learned to control their power without being put through rigorous training?
Lex met and held my gaze. “Nick and I have both been given multiple tests to see if we have power. We never talked about it with our grandfather, but as far as the scientists know, we don’t have any.”
“How did you h
ide it?” The question was out before I really thought about it. My heart pounded. Was it even possible to keep it a secret?
With a shrug, Lex leaned back against the tree. “I found a way to nullify my power, but it’s temporary. Very temporary.”
Nick leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Mine was a bit easier to hide. I just had to learn how to lie so convincingly that even I nearly believed myself.”
That sounded horrible. I couldn’t imagine teaching myself something like that. But perhaps learning to lie would have been better than being locked in the panic room. “What is your power?”
He frowned. “Improved senses, I guess?” He scratched his side then winced as he pulled his shirt away from his skin.
“You guess?”
Muttering a curse, Nick nodded. “I can improve any of my senses at any given time, but it makes my other senses weaker.”
“What about you?” I asked, turning my attention to Sam.
“T-t-technop-path,” was all he said.
I should have guessed. “And you?” I asked CJ. More than likely, he could do something with flowers.
“I can communicate with and control plants.”
Nick sat up straight, startling me as he yanked his shirt over his head. No one else seemed surprised, but I tilted my head, watching him.
He grimaced. “The dried blood is making me itch.”
I frowned. “How did you get so much blood on you?”
He blinked as if surprised by my question. “Got shot.”
With a scowl, I moved closer. I saw a small hole in his skin, but that wouldn’t have been responsible for that much blood.
“I pushed the bullet out of my body and I heal fast.” He shrugged, as if it weren’t a big deal.
A chill swept over me, and I rubbed my arms, trying to warm myself up again. “How did you—”
Sam got to his feet, face pinched. “G-guys?”
Sitting up straighter, CJ followed Sam’s movement. “What’s wrong?”
Sam ran his hand through his strawberry-blond hair and then brought his arm down, fiddling with his fingers. “We might want to turn on the news.” His fingers pressed against his temple.
Standing up, CJ grimaced. “Maman doesn’t watch the news. If she hasn’t seen it yet, I’d rather she didn’t.”
My house wasn’t much farther away than his. “We can go to mine. Min’s at work and Phil said he was going out with friends. Even if he’s home by now, we can go up to the game room.”
“Let’s go,” Lex said as he stood.
* * *
At the house, we found Phil on the phone in his office. “Hold on, I think I heard her come in.”
I closed the front door and turned as Phil came out of his office with a frown. “Haylie, where have you been?”
I stepped back, nearly running into Jayden at Phil’s hard tone. “I was out with my friends. You said it was okay this morning…”
Was I in trouble? I hugged myself, covering my chest as coldness swept through me. Had I done something so unforgivable that they’d send me away?
“Your phone. Why didn’t you answer? Min’s been calling you. You said you were going to the mall, and a couple people made it into the hospital with injuries from a mall shooting.” He glared at me. “Min is half panicked, although I convinced her not to leave work.”
I shrank back even as I glanced at the guys. Was this normal? Why would Min have panicked?
Before I could ask Phil about it, he moved his glare onto the guys. “And out of five of you, no one could be bothered to answer your phones?”
Lex shifted his weight, and I felt more than saw him dig a hand into his pocket. His other hand dropped to my shoulder, making me jump. “We’re sorry, sir.”
Phil’s hand moved through his hair and the red strands stood on end. His face had become nearly the same shade as his hair. I swallowed hard, not sure how to react. I’d never had to answer to anyone like this. My gut twisted as tears pricked my eyes. I didn’t want them to be worried about me.
With a shake of his head, Phil spoke again. “Sorry isn’t going to cut it. I haven’t pried into your life before coming here, Haylie, and I’ll continue to respect that you’d rather not talk about it.”
I nodded, biting my lip hard enough to taste the metallic tang of blood. “I’m sorry. It won’t happen again, sir.” My hands shook so hard I put them behind my back to hide them.
Phil’s dark eyes met mine, flashing fire. “I don’t want you to be sorry because we’re upset with you. I want you to be sorry because you made people worry about you.” His gaze traveled over everyone else. “And that goes for all of you. I get what it’s like, being teenagers. Your world revolves around you. You get lost in the moment, and you don’t even realize that when you’re ten minutes late for curfew, your parents have no clue where you are. You could be dying in a ditch somewhere and they wouldn’t know!”
Everyone stood unmoving and completely silent. I stepped forward. I didn’t know what I could do to make things right, but in that moment, I wanted nothing more.
With a snort and another shake of his head, Phil spoke again, although his voice was softer and some of the color had leeched out of his face. “I want the world for each of you.”
Jayden shifted, drawing Phil’s attention.
“Yes, all of you. I don’t know you well, but I do know that each of you is important. You all matter to someone.” He released a breath and paced the hallway. “Two weeks, Haylie, you’re grounded for two weeks. You’ll still be allowed to text your friends, but outside of school, you’ll be stuck on our property for that time.” He lifted a shoulder then glanced at his phone and quickly tapped out a text. “Boys, after you check in with your parents, I think you ought to head home. If any of them have seen the news or heard about it, they’ll be frantic.”
I turned to look at them. Jayden’s forest green eyes held mine for a moment then he gave a small nod, pulling his phone out as he headed outside.
Lex gave me a one-armed hug. “Sorry, Hayls.”
Butterflies filled me as his lips brushed against my hair.
“It’s not your fault.”
He smiled faintly as he followed Jayden outside.
Nick replaced Lex almost immediately, wrapping me in his arms.
Phil was silent for a few moments, his attention on his phone. “I think you all made a mistake. It wasn’t intentional, and I have a feeling it won’t ever happen again. For the future, I expect you to check your messages regularly.” He leveled a glare at Nick that sent a chill down my spine.
“Thank you, sir. We won’t break your trust again.” Nick pulled me tightly against his bare chest. “We’ll text you later.”
Sam stumbled over a goodbye.
Then just CJ stood there. “We’ll see you tomorrow, mon étoile.” He winked, and it settled my nerves just a smidgen.
When Phil and I were alone, he gestured for me to follow him into the front room. “Haylie, have a seat.”
I sank down onto the dark green couch, and he pulled the computer chair over for himself.
After releasing a slow breath, he spoke. “I would like to know exactly what happened while you were out with your friends.”
He… what? That wasn’t what I’d been expecting to hear. “There’s not much to tell. We went to the mall to get a gift for CJ’s mom. We stopped at the food court for lunch, and some men came in and started firing guns.” My hands shook as I recalled my terror and confusion, and I slid them under my thighs.
He leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. “Go on.”
“I don’t really remember much after that. Everything happened so quickly.” Trying to sort through my memories felt a little like wading through syrup. My brain wasn’t making sense of much. It was almost as if it had happened in another lifetime.
After a moment of silence, he asked, “No one was injured? Because I’m pretty sure that wasn’t ketchup on Nick. Or on you, for that matter.” With a nod, he
gestured at my arms streaked with blood.
I cringed.
“They shot the lights overhead. We were cut up by the glass as it fell.”
With a nod, he said, “Go clean up.” As I stood to leave the room, he called my name. When I turned to look at him, concern pinched at his brow. “This might be our first time at being a foster parent, but you’re ours. Nothing you could do would make us give you up.”
My stomach jumped to my throat, and I had trouble speaking or even swallowing. “Thank you.”
“I’m glad you and those boys are safe.”
I murmured another thanks, escaping the room before I burst into tears. He didn’t, couldn’t, know what I was though. I hated hiding something from them, but I didn’t have much of a choice.
With a deep breath, I attempted to gather my thoughts. I didn’t have time for self-pity. First, I’d take a shower. Then I needed to find out who was behind this attack. See if it was the tracker I’d seen around town.
And I needed to train. Because they weren’t taking me back to the institute alive.
Epilogue
Sitting up with a gasp, Sam reached for his phone. It was an automatic reflex. He needed to check in with the others. He knew he wasn’t the only one with PTSD after that shooting, but the others refused to talk about what was going on with them. Haylie and Jayden both looked exhausted all the time. CJ had set up a cot in his greenhouse so he would be surrounded by plants. Nick and Lex slept in the same room, even though they each had their own.
Unable to resist the urge any longer, Sam grabbed his glasses from the drawer in his nightstand and started with checking the cameras he’d set up in CJ’s bedroom and the greenhouse. He found his friend curled up at the back of the greenhouse, a couple of large plants sitting between him and the only door into the building. CJ stared at the ceiling, his hands across his stomach.
Seeing that CJ was okay, Sam switched his focus to the next house. Lex’s room was empty, as he expected. Sam checked Nick’s room, relief sliding through him as he saw the cousins in Nick’s oversized bed. Under normal circumstances, the two were uncomfortable in the other’s space.