“Hmm... Can you do anything more?” he asks. “Or is this as far as you can go now?”
“I...I can do more.” Mr. Hoover nods his head firmly, signaling for me to press on. I begin to draw more from my core, and the flame begins to grow unstable, fading in and out of existence as its size and consistency shifts. Sweat beads around my forehead and my hand starts to shake, but I ignore my body’s warning signs.
“More.” I comply and strain, audibly grunting while I struggle to aggregate energy, ignoring the voice in my head questioning why it’s so hard for me to do something that had become second nature. “Aiden, if you can, I need you to push yourself a bit further for me.”
“Yes...sir...” The pain comes next—a sharp cutting sensation across my forearm and a dull, numbing sensation slowly begins to spread from my core to the rest of my body. My flame violently expands and a wave of agony overrides the numbness, almost bringing me to the point of throwing up.
“Okay,” he says. “I’ve seen enough.” I call off my energy and exhale sharply. My breaths come uneasily, and I notice that my sense of balance is distorted.
I lay my hand across his desk and use the other to brace my abdomen hoping to quell my uneasy stomach.
“See?” I groan. “Something’s wrong.”
“Something is wrong, indeed, Aiden. Is there anything else you haven’t told me?” Mr. Hoover places two of his fingers on my wrist. I perk up a second or two later, my pain, now a thing of the past.
“I’ve been having nightmares.”
“Nightmares? About what?” Mr. Hoover presses.
“Von. It’s always Von. On the good days, I may have one or two, but when things are bad, I don’t sleep much and he’s always there... I’ve been having them for a while now. The scenario is always different, but he always wants the same thing. He wants to kill me. I fight as hard as I can, sometimes with other students, but he kills us all.”
“Have you shared this with Ms. Stacy?” Mr. Hoover asks.
“No. No, I haven’t. I’ve just been...dealing with it. You’re the first person I’ve told,” I confess.
“I see...” Mr. Hoover leans back in his chair and folds one leg across the other. “Your powers aren’t dying, but there is an underlying problem, Aiden. Do you recall your lectures on spirit?” I nod, remembering them well. “Our spirit is fickle, yet extremely powerful. In some ways it is superbly defined, but in others, it is unpredictable, without form. Everyone agrees on the principles of spirit, but it is called many things, even within the academy...energy, will, essence, power, the list goes on. The important thing to realize is, regardless of the name, that force that you draw from to manifest your gifts can be influenced in a variety of ways. When you first reawakened your abilities, it was from a sudden welling of emotion. Your instincts kicked-in, and you found yourself forced to defend yourself. The same story is true for when your powers originally came to be. As my student, one of the first things I set out for you to do was project your spirit in physical form by manifesting your flame and concentrating on sustaining it. There was a time when you struggled to speak and hold your flare. For all intents and purposes, this was because your spirit was poorly developed and continued use was a surefire way to mold it. It functions almost like a muscle. It’s part of you and unique only to you. In times of peril, your spirit found itself amplified and you were able to push beyond what you thought were your limits. This is similar to the phenomenon when a person may experience a burst of adrenaline when their life is in danger and use their newly acquired energy to accomplish extraordinary feats. Your powers are tied to your emotions and your resolve, just like the rest of your body, and when those are compromised your abilities suffer. You’ve made great progress, Aiden, and you are a fantastic student. Unfortunately, key parts of your development were facilitated through circumstances that weren’t ideal... Pain. Trauma. Hardship. In your battle against Von, your life was on the line. You persevered and were able to unleash a degree of power that you weren’t able to tap into before, but at a cost. Doing this took a tremendous toll on you, both mentally and physically. While your physical body has healed, your fighting spirit has not. I thought the sessions with Ms. Stacy would address this before it became a problem, but it hasn’t. Your powers are intact, and your physical body is without injury. Dr. Kresnik and I confirmed this during your recovery. The problem is that unfortunately, you have a mental block preventing you from accessing your powers. From what you’ve disclosed to me, and your efforts at the academy, I’m certain that this restraint you put on yourself is involuntary...a safety mechanism implemented by your subconscious, and understandably so.”
“A restraint? So, what can I do? How do I get rid of it?”
“You have to face your demons, Aiden, as rudimentary as it sounds.”
“But I thought I was already doing that, or at the very least, I’m trying.”
“I agree, you seem to have been making strides on this issue, but matters of the mind are often multifaceted. Ms. Cosgrove made the announcement in class after you left that there will be a potential rearranging of the teams for the upcoming ABT exercise, four weeks from now. While I support your recovery, if I find that you aren’t ready, putting you in such a situation would prove detrimental to your health, understand?”
“Yeah, I get it. I’d be a huge risk for everyone.”
“Precisely.”
“So, what can I do to prepare...to face my demons? I know I haven’t told Ms. Cosgrove about what’s going on, but I have been talking to Ms. Stacy.”
“Hm... When you first informed me of the situation, I figured a mental block of some sort was in the realm of possibility, so I reached out to an associate of mine—a graduate of Crown Academy. He should be able to help; however, the process will be daunting, and there are no guarantees. There’s also a chance that you may die.”
“Die...? That’s pretty extreme.”
“The chance is fairly low, and he’s experienced. I have faith that he’d stop anything from progressing to that point, but it would be negligent of me to fail to mention the potential dangers.”
“I appreciate it...but I want to know more. What’s his power?”
“Interiorization—the ability to merge his consciousness with another person,” Mr. Hoover explains. “It’s a projection type ability, but rather than projecting an energy or an element, he’s projecting his consciousness into your mind. The process is painless, but there can be risks involved for both parties. In a combat situation, it’s extremely dangerous due to the fact that the user’s body transitions into a suspended state, completely open to external stimuli.”
“An empty vessel...”
“Correct. The same suspended state is forced upon the target as well. From there, your mental spaces merge, and your thoughts are shared on the same mental plane. Anything that you feel within this new existence will be as if it happened to your physical body. The bond between the mind and body is naturally strong, however, with Ferris’s powers, things are taken to another level once the link between the two of you is established. The mind has a hard time distinguishing between fantasy and reality. A compelling dream can even make us momentarily question our own reality. Needless to say, if you die in the reality you two fabricate, you die in real life.”
“That’s a lot to take in.”
“It is, indeed. Do you need more time to weigh your options? This route may be faster and give you better understanding of your inner workings, but as I said, it can lead to potential harm.”
“No,” I say. “It’s fine. I know what I want to do. If using him is a way to get over this, then that’s what I’m going to do. I just started here, and I’m not going to let Von win.”
“Hmph. I had a feeling you’d say something along those lines. I’ve already contacted Mr. Ferris and have had an arrangement made for you to work together.”
“How long do I have before we start?” I ask.
“You’re scheduled to see him at five-th
irty tomorrow morning. He prefers to work at dawn. Is that okay?”
“Yeah. It doesn’t bother me.” I probably won’t be getting much sleep anyway.
“Perfect. I’ll see to it that he knows you’re interested. The training will take place on North Campus beyond the parks, right where the waterfall is. You’ll know him when you see him.”
“Got it.” I nod. “Is there anything I need to bring or...?”
“Just an open mind and a body that’s well rested. As I’m sure you can imagine, mental activities of this caliber are bound to be quite draining. He’ll explain the intricacies of his powers tomorrow when you arrive.”
“Perfect.”
“Be sure to keep your other appointments as well, and be as forthcoming as you can. I know this is a sensitive issue, but do know that we’re on your side and here to help.”
“Don’t worry, I will.”
After that, not much was said between the two of us. Mr. Hoover warned me again of the nature of Mr. Ferris’s ability, but I didn’t back down. I knew the risks, and I was fine with them. Von’s been plaguing my mind since our fight, and if there’s a way I can beat him, I’m all for it. He’s like a parasite in my mind, and he’s infected me to the point where I’m losing my ability to function... And I can’t have that. Not if I want to stay here.
Since Mr. Hoover excused my absences for the day, I spent most of my time trying to put my mind at ease. Mr. Hoover said the activities would be draining, but I wasn’t sure how much, or under what circumstances. Summer and some of my other classmates texted me after class was over, asking me what happened, and understandably so. It was my first day back, and I was already being dismissed. I danced around the subject, and they didn’t push it.
I just didn’t feel comfortable airing out everything that happened, and what I’m going through now.
Even at dinner things were a bit weird when I bumped into some of them at the cafeteria. Tyler didn’t push it though. When I finally settled into my dorm for the day, he asked me how things went. I told him I was fine, and that was all he needed. My poker face has gotten significantly better, and he was too busy grinding online on his game to know the difference.
I set out to go to bed earlier than normal because Mr. Hoover wanted me to be well-rested. It was something that usually wouldn’t be hard to do, but now, I dread the night and what it brings. Von, the shadowy figure that torments me in my dreams.
Chapter 5
“Man, oh man, I’m sooooo relieved that these classes have been getting easier.”
“You think so? I thought Chemistry’s still giving you a run for your money. Aren’t you and Erik supposed to be studying for it later?”
“Yeah, because you keep dodging us!”
“I told you a thousand times already, Summer. I hate studying in groups. I need to be alone to focus. If I’m in a group, I just get sidetracked. Last time we studied together you almost froze Erik’s hands off because he kept going for your curly fries.”
“And? He got off easy.”
“You froze his hands to the table...”
“I stand by my previous statement... Anyway, if I’m studying alone, I have like, thirty minutes, tops before I fall asleep. I honestly think I’m going to record myself reading my notes and then play them in the gym while I work out. Oh! Maybe I could play it while I sleep! That would work, right?”
“I don’t know, Summer. I mean, I guess, but wouldn’t that mess with your sleep quality?”
“I used to sleep with the TV on all the time when I was younger, and I came out just fine.”
“Debatable...”
“Hey!”
“You know I was kidding, right? There’s nothing up for debate.”
“Ha. What happened to the Aiden I used to know?”
“What do you mean? I’m righ—"
“Aiden, move!” I turn down the hall to see him—Von—bulldozing everybody and everything that gets in his way as he moves at full speed. Summer pushes me out of the way and incases herself in a sphere of ice, taking Von’s shoulder charge head-on. The impact sends her flying until she crashes into a brick wall at the opposite end of the hall. Summer’s sphere shatters, and without her battle suit she’s left unconscious amongst the rubble.
“Summer!” I grit my teeth and begin to gather my energy, but my flames amount to nothing but a flickering ember. Von lunges towards me with a hellish shriek. His fist collides with my face, and then, nothing.
My eyes fly open and I gasp, only to find out that I’m in my bed and it was all a dream. I look at my clock and realize that I’ve beaten my alarm by over an hour. My sheets are damp with sweat, and my heart’s racing. I know it was just a dream, one of many, but it doesn’t change the way that I feel. It’s just like what Mr. Hoover said the day before—the mind has a hard time distinguishing between fantasy and reality. Everything’s real at the time, but when you wake up, you can see that it was nothing, even when your body was telling you otherwise.
I examine my hands, still trembling from the aftermath of my encounter. What’s crazy is, Von’s probably sleeping like a baby wherever he is, while I’m going through hell.
I ball my hands into a fist and squeeze in a desperate attempt to gain control. There’s no use in trying to go back to sleep. I’m too hopped up on adrenaline. Usually I’d train, but I can’t today, not when I don’t know how intense my upcoming session is going to be. Staring a hole into the wall won’t help either. Ugh... If I don’t get a handle on this soon, I’m pretty sure I’m going to go crazy. Is this what everyone goes through who fights for real?
I was practically beat within an inch of my life. Is it even possible to come back from something like that?
I hop out of bed after ruminating for a bit and take a shower to wake up. After that, I get dressed and study up on some of my coursework rather than give into the doubts chipping away at my mind. Eventually, it’s time for me to go, so I head out to where I’m supposed to meet Mr. Hoover’s friend, at North Campus near the waterfall.
“You must be Aiden. Mr. Hoover’s told me a lot about you, but it goes without saying that I’ll need to know more.” I approach him even though his back is turned to me. I thought the waterfall would mute my approach, but apparently, it didn’t do much. Mr. Hoover’s associate stands up from his meditative pose and brushes his hands against his sweatpants, relieving them of the dirt he’d amassed from putting his fingers against the earth. He’s not what I’d expected. He’s about a decade younger than Mr. Hoover, putting him in his late twenties to early thirties, and he doesn’t seem like most of the teachers I’ve interacted with in the past. Just from his body language I can tell that he’s somewhat more relaxed. Mr. Hoover and the others are tightly wound, but this guy, there’s something different about him. “Sorry for the lack of formalities, I had to make a great first impression—a mysterious figure meditating in front of a waterfall at the crack of dawn—everything you’d expect from dealing with folks of our kind.” He laughs, and I chuckle nervously. “Sorry for skipping the introduction, that wasn’t very cool of me, was it? You can call me Mr. Ferris, but Kite works too. Harvey Ferris if you care to know what’s on my birth certificate.” He extends his hand out and I shake his hand.
“Kite?”
“Yeah, it’s my alias, but I’ve grown used to it.”
“Oh, so, like, your name when you got out on missions and stuff?” I ask.
“Yes.” He nods and folds his arms. “That is correct. It’s silly, but I like it.”
“So, someone gave it to you? It has something to do with your powers, right?”
“Yeah...a friend did, and I’ll explain soon enough. Let’s get things going first. It’ll be more efficient. Take a seat right there, and sit like me. We’re going to be here for a while.” Mr. Ferris returns to the ground, and I mimic him, our bodies facing each other and our eyes locked. Even though Mr. Hoover told me about his abilities, there’s not really anything that can prepare you for having your min
d linked with another person. “Okay, now close your eyes, but don’t fall asleep. I know it’s early.” He laughs. “The transition will be much smoother for you this way.”
“...Okay.”
“Ready?” I nod, my eyes still closed. “All right. One...two...three.” I feel a pulse reverberate from the center of my forehead, and my body rocks slightly. “Okay, now open them.”
I do what I’m told and open my eyes to a completely foreign sight. Everything in my immediate surroundings is pink...both the ground and the sky for as far as I can see. In fact, there’s nothing really separating the two of them from each other. I don’t know when the sky begins and the ground ends. It’s all seamlessly blended together.
“Yeah, it’s a real sight to behold, isn’t it?” Mr. Ferris says while walking towards me, his hands behind his head. Seeing him on the move makes me realize that I’m standing too. He looks up at the sky and takes a deep breath before sighing. “There are certain things you can only experience in an altered state like this. Ever had a dream or something where you hear sounds or get a whiff of an intense emotion that you’ve never experienced before? When I was younger, I had a dream once that I heard a symphony playing in an abandoned building. They were all children, no older than fifteen. It was the most beautiful thing I ever heard, and I still can’t recreate the sound. It trips me out...there’s so much we don’t know about the world...even our bodies. Just when we thought we all had it figured out, a select few of us started manifesting abilities. It just adds a whole other level to the human experience, you know?”
The sky begins to contort and other layers of color begin to bleed through and form streams of individual lights. Soon, the sky fills with different shades of green, blue, yellow, and violet, just like the aurora borealis.
“So, this is the plane Mr. Hoover was talking about? That means our minds are linked now, right?”
The Prodigy Page 5