by Laura Winter
“Figured you’d still be making out with your fiancé. Do you guys ever breathe?” he asked, laughing.
“Little weird that you were watching us make out, but whatever.” I shrugged and looked around. “Have you seen Luci and Glitch? I’ve lost them.”
“Last I saw they went down to the basement.”
I relaxed. “Okay, Nate will find them then.” My phone rang in my pocket and I pulled it out to show the screen to Caden. “See, he found them.” Though I wasn’t quite sure why he didn’t just reach out in our heads. We were still close enough for me to hear him.
Caden frowned. “It’s Madeline.”
My heart dropped to my stomach as I answered it frantically. “Mads? What’s wrong?”
I couldn’t hear her on the other end with the music and thoughts pounding in my head. Caden saw my panic and ushered me toward the front door. It was nearly two in the morning. Why was she calling?
“Mads, I’m outside. What’s the matter, why are you up so late?” I asked, panic in my voice.
“Finnley, you can’t be at the party. You weren’t supposed to go,” she gasped, out of breath.
“Why? Why can’t we be at the party?” I asked, gripping my hand into a fist. It was hard to ignore Caden’s confused and concerned thoughts ringing in my head, especially since I was nervous.
“Big monkey. Find Nate, now!”
I don’t remember letting go of my phone, but I felt it bounce off the ground and hit me in the shin. Caden was reaching toward me but I moved around his arm and sprinted inside the house.
“Wait, where are you going? What happened?” Caden shouted, chasing after me.
I didn’t have time to worry about him following me. I had to find Nate, especially if big monkey was here. I shoved through the sweaty people, ignoring their comments as I looked around for Nate. If he wasn’t up here, he had to be in the basement. I found the door and ran down the stairs.
Nate! Nate! “Nate!” I tried shouting over the music, but I couldn’t see him or hear his thoughts. I spotted Glitch and Luci in the corner and ran over to them, out of breath. I yanked Glitch off Luci and grabbed his collar.
“Madeline called. Find Nate. Big monkey.”
I dropped my grip and kept running around to look for Nate. Glitch understood and started doing the same. But Nate wasn’t in the house. I pushed out the back door into the yard. It was empty outside, and clear of all the noise, but I could still pick up the traces of a person’s thoughts.
I knew that voice.
I looked beyond the back gate, swinging closed without a breeze. I sprinted out of the yard and skidded to a stop in the middle of the back alley road. Not thirty feet in front of me, big monkey was waiting, Nate hanging limp over his shoulder.
“What did you do to him?” I shouted.
Big monkey just smiled, especially as Caden came running up next to me. He nodded toward Caden. “Got yourself a new toy because you forgot about this one? Does he know you spent time in the crazy house?”
Big monkey smirked as my fists curled, unimpressed by attempt to seem intimidating. I needed time to figure out how to save Nate, but there weren’t a lot of options that wouldn’t hurt him in the process. Big monkey would probably put him in the line of fire if I tried to use my powers against him.
I growled. “You drugged us out of our minds in there. Is that what you did to Nate just now?” I asked, keeping my eyes locked on big monkey. I whispered to Caden next to me. “Go get Glitch and Luci. Now. I’ll stall.”
“You can’t take him by yourself. He’s five times our size,” Caden said back, his voice shaking. Shit, I didn’t have time for this, especially if he was going to be frozen in fear. I shoved him back behind me.
Big monkey laughed. “Why is it that the weakest girl thinks she can protect everyone else?”
“I’m a lot stronger without that cuff you forced on me. Put Nate down and you can test me out for yourself,” I hissed, jabbing Caden with my elbow. “Caden, get them now. I’ll handle this.”
“I’m not leaving you out here alone,” Caden said, pushing back against me.
Big monkey’s smile grew bigger. “You were so weak that a five-year-old had to be the one to protect you. If it weren’t for her, you would have been dead that first week. I can’t wait to find her again.”
“I’ll never let you touch her ever again. I will end you,” I growled, pushing Caden back again. It was easier this time, partly because he was stunned and partly because my emotions were fueling my power.
“You won’t risk hurting your precious fiancé. Oh, that’s right, you forgot about him. Did you even know you were engaged?”
His smile grew again, but I could use this. He didn’t know I had my memories back and I could buy more time until Glitch found us.
“What do you want with him anyway? And where’s Jackson in all of this?”
“I don’t give a shit about this sack,” big monkey replied, adjusting Nate over his shoulder. “Jackson only wants you, and this is drawing you out. Do you have any idea what you’re really capable of? Jackson can help you reach your full potential, but you can’t let this boy keep dragging you down.”
“Why would I believe Jackson wants to help me? He kidnapped me and stole everything from my head,” I growled. My fists were starting to hurt as I gripped tighter, but I had to hold on. Glitch and Luci’s thoughts were getting stronger in my head. I just needed to buy more time.
“Jackson didn’t steal everything, he shut off the part of you that was holding you back. Your connection to this pathetic creature makes you weak. It’s your power and the Blue Soul that makes you unstoppable, but you have to learn how to use it.”
I loaded my punch from a distance. “I think you’re the one who doesn’t know what I’m truly capable of. Now!”
About ten glitches popped in as I pushed forward, directing my blow at big monkey. Luci ran up, but wasn’t using her powers just yet. She couldn’t risk hitting Nate who was still hanging off big monkey’s shoulder.
The monkey stumbled back, but gained his balance just as one of the glitches came close to fight him. He swatted his arm out and connected with Glitch’s chest, sending him flying back and rolling across the street. Big monkey’s grip never changed on Nate. What was his power besides being massive?
As I ran forward, he smiled and let Nate drop to the ground. I didn’t have time to panic about him getting dropped at an awkward angle. I got close enough and loaded my power into my left arm. Big monkey was prepared, though, and reached out as I swung, stopping me mid punch.
Shit, he had extra strength. He smiled as his grip tightened on my hand, twisting my arm and crushing my fist in his fingers. I struggled in his grip, trying not to scream from the pain, as he leaned closer.
“See how weak you are?”
I grimaced but moved closer as well. “I’m not weak, I’m a distraction.”
I enjoyed the brief confusion that flashed across his face just before Luci hit him with the light from the street lamp. Big monkey threw me back easily and I tripped over Nate before slamming hard into the cement. Big monkey was blinded but turned and wobbled toward an unmarked van that screeched to a stop about forty yards away. I recognized a few of the monkeys as they pulled him into the van and sped forward.
I didn’t have the energy to stop the van, but I was able to put a good dent in the side as I pushed forward with the last of my power. It sent the van skidding up on the sidewalk as it scraped a street lamp, but it didn’t stop them from getting away.
My head was throbbing, and my arm was shooting with pain, but I didn’t have time to think about it. I scrambled forward and untangled Nate, holding him in my arms. His head was cut above his right eye, and I could see the bruise forming around his neck where big monkey had stuck him with a needle. I pressed my forehead into his and relaxed when I felt him breathing softly.
When I looked up, Luci was helping Glitch stand. He was badly shaken, but was still able to move. I sigh
ed. We were all alive and Nate was safe, thanks to Madeline’s warning. I went to reach for my phone, but remembered I had dropped it back with Caden on the front porch.
Shit, Caden.
I turned to see him standing right where I had left him, his jaw hanging open. He had just seen us all use powers to fight. There was no playing it off like a trick or convincing him that it didn’t happen. He saw everything.
“Caden…” I adjusted Nate in my arms to try to get a better look at Caden. His eyes fixed on me, but he didn’t look scared. He looked relieved.
“You exist. You’re real,” he said in a daze. His thoughts were spinning too fast to keep up.
“Caden, please. You can’t say anything. You can’t tell anyone about this,” I said, trying to pull him out of his trance. But he didn’t seem bothered. In fact, he looked excited.
“My grandpa was right,” Caden said, finally focusing. “There are people with powers and he wasn’t crazy.”
Glitch, Luci, and I froze. “What?”
55
Finnley
I carried Nate to the car and crawled in back as Luci took the keys to drive us back to the dorm. Glitch sunk into the passenger seat, groaning, while Caden slid in back with me. He was silent, but his thoughts were racing and making me dizzy.
“Phone,” I said, holding out my hand. I waited for Caden to give it to me, but he just kept staring at Nate in my lap, thinking about how easily I had carried him to the car. He was also freaking out that Nate’s blood was blue. I rolled my eyes and leaned over, yanking the phone out of his hands to call Madeline.
She answered on half a ring. “I know you’re okay. Don’t worry, Nate will wake up.”
“Mads, you warned me and I made it to him in time. Thank you,” I said, breathing a sigh of relief.
“I didn’t see it soon enough,” Madeline said, her voice cracking.
“Don’t, Mads. This is not your fault. But I need to— hold on a second,” I said, pulling the phone away from my ear to stare at Caden. “Can you please stop thinking? I’m trying to concentrate and you’re making me sick.” I went back to the phone as Caden just looked at me, completely lost.
“She can hear your thoughts, dude. Just listen to her and keep your mind blank. It’s for the best,” Glitch grumbled in the front seat. “Tell Madeline to give us a heads up next time we have to fight someone with powers.”
“Shush,” I said, glaring at Glitch. I returned to the phone. “Mads, I need to concentrate. I need to know if he comes after you. He said he couldn’t wait to find you.”
“No, he doesn’t come find me,” she said, her voice shaking. “Finnley, I want to come back with you. I see things better when I’m around you.”
I closed my eyes to fight back tears. “It’s okay, Mads. Go wake up my mom and get Angie and Tom. We’re going back to the dorm, but we need you all down here.”
I held Nate tighter, brushing my fingers over the cut above his eye.
“Okay,” Madeline replied. “Use the back door and don’t take the elevator or you’ll get caught.” She hung up.
I leaned forward. “Luci, park in the back lot. We have to take the back door and use the stairs.”
“We have to carry him up eight flights of stairs?” Glitch groaned.
“Shut up,” I growled. “I’m the one who has to carry him. You can’t do shit.”
I pulled my sleeve over my hand and held it against Nate’s face. The cut was still oozing blue blood across his forehead and into his hair.
Caden was still thinking a lot of things, but I didn’t really want to yell at him again. There were a lot of emotions to experience when you first found out about powers, but his were different. Somehow he had known about them.
As Luci pulled into a spot, Caden jumped out and ran ahead to open the door for us. He watched, stunned, as I hoisted Nate into my arms easily and shuffled through the door. Eight flights of stairs didn’t feel like much when the adrenaline was coursing through me. We made it to the room just before RA Alyssa walked around the corner. I lowered Nate onto my bed as Luci helped Glitch into hers. Caden stood at the door, waiting for Alyssa’s shadow to pass before he finally spoke up.
“Alright, can someone please explain what just happened?” He walked over and pulled out my desk chair to sit.
“Caden, remember all those long stories I wasn’t telling you?” I watched him nod. “Well, you’re about to find out about them.”
“I thought we were writing a book about this,” Glitch said, rolling onto his back.
“How did you all get powers?” he asked, looking between us.
“Power source a few months ago,” Luci said as she pointed to herself.
“Unknown,” Glitch groaned.
“Both born with them,” I said, pointing to myself and Nate. “Also juiced up with a power source a year ago.”
“Okay… and that guy…” Caden was piecing the story together, trying hard to keep himself calm.
I hesitated. “Remember when you thought I was joking about spending eight weeks in a mental institution?”
He froze. “You’re crazy?”
“No,” I scoffed, before thinking about it a little harder. “Well, actually kind of, but not in the way you’re thinking. Nate and I were kidnapped. Some guy took our memories and messed with our minds. That guy back there was one of the guards who kept us pumped full of drugs. We actually believed we were insane, so much so that we weren’t able to escape.”
“Some guy?” Glitch said, struggling to sit up. “Jackson is your uncle. I swear, your dad’s side of the family is messed up.”
Luci shook her head. “It took us a while to find them, but we were able to get them out. Madeline was stuck in there too. She has powers as well.”
Caden leaned back in his chair, exhausted. “I still feel like I’m missing half of this story.”
I sighed. “I had an evil power hiding in me since I was a baby. Kind of our parents’ fault, but when I turned eighteen, the Cold Soul took my memory after I used a different power source, the Blue Soul. I ran into Nate and Glitch who helped me figure everything out from my past. Turns out I was running from my dad and ex who wanted to steal the Blue Soul power. Well, we killed my ex after he attacked us, but my dad ended up killing me. Nate had to bring me back which subsequently released the Cold Soul. We learned that our powers combined could stop the Cold Soul, so we trapped it. But we ran into my uncle, who we didn’t know was my uncle, and escaped the first time. That’s when Luci got her powers. But Jackson didn’t rest and came after Nate and I, kidnapped and drugged us, took our memories of each other, and gave me back my old memories from a time I was legitimately crazy. The Cold Soul voices basically talked to me and I blew a lot of shit up trying to shut them out, but when I couldn’t remember how they went missing, I kind of lost my mind. Anyway, I have my memories back now and I’m slightly less crazy. Did I miss anything?”
“Yeah,” Glitch said. “How you had to kill your dad again and that Jackson thinks you’re some crazy super-powered explosive supernova.”
I shrugged and turned to Caden. “You said you knew about powers.”
Caden leaned forward. “My grandpa used to tell me stories. He claimed he had seen someone touch a rock and get these crazy powers. He started researching and trying to find out how it was possible. My family thought he was crazy, but there was something about his story that seemed to make sense. It’s why I’m studying what I’m studying. I wanted to help him.” He hung his head. “He’s never going to know he was right. He passed away last spring.”
“I’m so sorry,” Luci said, her gentle voice trying to calm the room.
Caden shrugged. “I’m not sure he was ever onto something legitimate because I couldn’t understand his notes. I have the books upstairs in my room. Now that I know about powers, maybe you can help me make sense of them?” There was a new hope in his eyes as he looked over at me.
“Let’s go,” I said before turning to Luci. “We’ll b
e right back. Call me if Nate wakes up before we are done.”
She nodded and I pulled Caden up from his seat.
Alyssa had her back turned as we ran the opposite direction and ducked into the stairwell. Caden stuck his head out to see if the coast was clear before pulling me along behind him. We were halfway to his room when I heard the thoughts of his RA coming down the hall.
I reached out to grab his shirt and pulled him into the study lounge. Out of habit, I reached with my now broken left hand. To keep from shouting, I shoved Caden into the corner and buried my face in his chest, grunting and breathing through the pain. Trying to groan quietly, I did my best to focus on the RA’s mind. There was a giant glass window that made it really easy to spot a giant girl with purple hair. I focused on hiding Caden and I from the RA’s sight. As the RA reached the study room, he glanced in and only saw an empty room.