Shine: Season One (Shine Season Book 1)

by William Bernhardt

  And Ms. Klein had stood in front of the cameras and fed them the story.

  Why? Who did she really work for?

  Lost in thought, she nearly passed the office Ms. Klein and the nurse had ducked into. The sound of voices brought her around.

  “…her hand. Did you expect that result?” the nurse asked.

  She froze, sure they spoke about her. No longer eager to talk to Ms. Klein, she crept closer, careful to make no sound as she pressed against the wall outside the office.

  “I didn’t know what to expect,” Ms. Klein answered. “Frankly, I’m concerned she has no feeling at all. I’d hoped for a definite outcome.”

  “But you saw it—no evidence of severe burn? That’s unheard of. Something is happening.”

  “I hope you’re right. Otherwise we wasted a perfect opportunity.”

  “Not wasted. We’ll learn something regardless. If nothing else, at least she isn’t suffering. She can focus on class.”

  “True. We need to keep a close eye on her, though. No telling what might happen next. Maybe nothing. Or maybe something none of us even imagined.”

  “Should we report our findings?”

  “No. For now, let’s just wait and watch her. I don’t want to report anything until we know for sure. I’ll talk to you after Enhancement.”

  Cassie realized Ms. Klein was leaving the office and bolted behind the door of an adjoining room. She stayed there long after she heard Ms. Klein’s heels click down the hall.

  What had they done to her? She wished she’d overheard more of the conversation. Part of her wanted to believe they had been discussing an experimental burn treatment—something to help her heal. But she couldn’t. Ms. Klein intended to watch her for something.

  But what?

  CHAPTER 13

  Cassie joined the other girls, maneuvering into a pew with Baby. Shine Enhancement was held in the old sanctuary of the church.

  “Everyone comes to Enhancement,” Baby explained. “It’s mandatory, every night before dinner.”

  Ms. Klein stepped to a podium at the front of the room. Silence descended over the girls.

  “We’ve had a good week,” Ms. Klein began. “We’ve welcomed two more Sister Shines into our family.”

  Heads turned to the new girls. A smattering of applause ricocheted around the sanctuary.

  “I’d like to take this opportunity to recognize Winter, Shade, and Cain for their bravery in our first-ever rescue mission. Let’s hope we see more in the future.”

  Another round of applause.

  She did not clap along. And not just because her hand was lifeless. She was grateful to the girls who rescued her but was more skeptical than ever of Ms. Klein.

  “That brings us to the focus this evening. What can Shine do when they work together? All of you here have been given an incredible gift.”

  The girl to her right nodded her head and murmured, “Yes.”

  “Some would have you hide or conceal your gift. I say, let your light Shine.”

  Palms rose to the roof. Shouts of “Shine” punctuated the stillness.

  “What can your Shine do for you? What can your Shine do for the world? And how far can you take your Shine?”

  Some girls jumped to their feet.

  This wasn’t what she expected at all. Startled, she hunched down, unwilling to take part in what resembled a religious fervor.

  “Who here has felt their Shine grow within them?” Ms. Klein’s voice rose, growing louder and more animated with each sentence. “Who has been moved to push themselves further? To see just how much they can expand the gift bestowed upon them? To stretch to the limit and then push even further?”

  A girl jumped to her feet. Ms. Klein pointed to her.

  “Come forward. Share with your sisters, Raina.”

  The girl squared her shoulders and joined Ms. Klein.

  “I think my Shine is stronger,” the girl shared. “And I’m learning to control it better.”

  “Please. Show us.”

  The girl closed her eyes and breathed deeply.

  Cassie leaned forward in her pew, craning her neck to see. This entire facility creeped her out. Ms. Klein’s behavior grew more disturbing every time she saw her. What did the woman intend for the girls to do?

  Raina’s head tipped back, and her hands shook.

  A drop of water splattered her head. She jumped. Another drip followed the first. She looked up, wondering if the roof leaked or the church suffered from plumbing issues.

  Then she realized it was raining. Inside the building. She was pelted by droplets of rain.

  Baby joined the other girls in applauding Raina, now beaming from ear to ear. The rain stopped as easily as it began.

  Winter, sitting behind her, leaned forward and whispered. “I remember when all she could do was form condensation on her hands. And now she makes it rain. Incredible. Just incredible what we can learn to do.”

  Cassie wondered if the girl’s Shine had improved entirely due to their classes—or if some other treatment was involved.

  Raina took her seat, congratulated by the girls around her.

  “Who else?” Ms. Klein asked. “Who else will come forward and demonstrate their growing Shine?”

  She noticed Baby sinking lower in her pew and staring solemnly at the floor.

  “How about our new girl? Cassandra?”

  Seriously? Good Gandhi, she’d attended one day’s classes. She hadn’t had time to “expand” her Shine. What if hers was as powerful as it would ever be?

  Every face in the room turned toward her. She wanted to say no. But she also wanted these girls to accept her. She was stuck in this place until she sorted out how to leave and where she could go.

  “Show them what you’ve got,” Baby encouraged her. “It’s really cool.”

  Her eyes never left Ms. Klein’s tight smile as her legs carried her to the front.

  “Aria, why don’t you join us as well? Chris tells me he’s seeing great progress in Self-Defense.”

  Apparently if no one volunteered, Ms. Klein simply chose from the group. What purpose did these demonstrations serve? That was really what she was doing—demonstrating her Shine for everyone present so they were aware of her abilities.

  Aria cleared her throat. “I’m getting better, I really am. I can control myself a little bit now.”

  “I’m glad to hear it,” Ms. Klein said as the girls in the sanctuary clapped. “You can show us. Cassandra. Use your Shine to subdue Aria. Aria, exercise your new control and don’t hurt Cassandra too badly.”

  Facing off against Aria? With a useless hand? This was getting better and better. Not entirely certain what was expected of her, she stood beside Ms. Klein, shuffling from foot to foot, her bandaged arm useless in front of her.

  Aria pounced, using one of the new moves Chris taught the girls in Self-Defense. But Cassie had only learned warm-ups and some basics. She hadn’t learned this move or how to counter it.

  Good arm pinned behind her, she was trapped. She reached out, scanning Aria’s mind. The girl’s synapses glowed crimson, pulsating with spurts of golden excitement. Adrenaline coursed through her opponent, giving the girl extra strength and stamina.

  No brain hug would calm this situation, that was clear. Her positive strokes would never impact a brain that inflamed.

  Aria tightened her grip. She felt the girl’s pleasure center light up. Yeah, don’t encourage that. What she needed was to contain the adrenaline, to stop the red pulses pounding through her brain.

  “Well, Cassandra? Any minute now.”

  Her eyes darted to Ms. Klein. The woman’s eyes seemed to be searching for something. Or maybe waiting for her to do something. But what?

  She felt a tremor ripple through her injured hand, a pulsing shiver so strong she knew she didn’t imagine it.

  Control the red, contain it. Calm the girl. She’d never attempted to control someone. Her abilities included stroking the pleasure center, offering a casc
ade of serotonin and endorphins. That was all. Wasn’t it? Did her Shine extend beyond brain hugs?

  She dove back into Aria’s mind, this time focused on the red pulses. What should she do with them? Another crimson glow raced through the girl’s synapses. She focused on that pulse, straining, attempting to catch it. Could she grab it?

  Her tendril crossed paths with the adrenaline rocket, sending a shiver through her body. She felt the pulse and the energy behind it. Her tendril snaked around the synapse, latching on with all the force she could manage. Her lifeless hand buzzed.

  Aria’s grip weakened.

  She chased another red pulse, using her tendril to grasp rather than to stroke, seeking to take rather than give.

  Aria seemed to realize what was happening. She felt the girl unleash her Shine full fury. The girl’s amygdala glowed, an army of synapses firing through her brain, charging into the fray.

  Crimson pulses ignited, flooding Aria with strength. The girl’s arms tightened around her. She caught another and another, each sending a shiver through her body. Her dead hand buzzed and trembled.

  “Come on, Cassandra, push yourself.” Ms. Klein spoke through clenched teeth. Why did the woman care? What did she want?

  Aria changed holds, crooking an arm around her neck. Despite her misgivings, this was not the time to contemplate Ms. Klein’s potential motives.

  She fought against Aria’s hold and chased the shimmering crimson bursts, snatching at them as though capturing fireflies. They whizzed past her. Too many. She couldn’t catch them all.

  Aria squeezed. She could barely breathe. Looked like she needed an act of Gandhi to get out of this.

  Her numb hand buzzed.

  Focus. She breathed deeply and dove back into the brutal firestorm Aria’s adrenaline-saturated mind had become. Red streaks bounced in all directions at once.

  Her tendril lashed again and again at the crimson blurs. They were too fast. She couldn’t catch even one now. They slithered past her struggling tendril.

  “Weak,” Aria whispered in her ear. The girl sounded like she could keep this up for hours. And was enjoying every moment of it.

  She angled one foot behind her, attempting to swipe Aria’s feet out from under her. She might as well have kicked at a brick wall. She couldn’t physically overpower the bigger girl. She had to use her Shine if she hoped for any advantage.

  Though she’d never tried it before she plunged a second tendril into Aria’s mind, striking with both at once, grasping at the red bursts streaking past. She crossed paths with one and latched onto it. Her tendril held fast, but only momentarily. The synapse broke free.

  Sweat trickled down her temples. She couldn’t subdue Aria mentally any more than she could physically. Panting for breath, she clawed at Aria’s arm, a vise around her neck. She needed air. She couldn’t escape the hold.

  Aria’s grip loosened. She could breathe again. Pity wasn’t a trait she’d observed in Aria. Thank Gandhi the girl chose this moment to develop some.

  She bent forward, gulping air into her lungs, waiting for Ms. Klein to ridicule her for the failure she was.

  The other Shines gasped.

  Aria screamed.

  CHAPTER 14

  Cassie whirled around.

  For a moment, she couldn’t move. And she couldn’t believe what she saw.

  Aria’s hands covered her eyes. The girl shook her head back and forth and screamed again.

  This was exactly how the girl had appeared in her vision—scared and screaming.

  “No. No,” Aria muttered.

  Like a bulb switched off, her buzzing hand stilled.

  “Well done, Cassandra.” Ms. Klein’s smile stretched across her face. Her eyes glowed with approval. “Now you see what can happen when you push yourself to the limit and beyond.”

  But she hadn’t done this. She was certain of that. Whatever caused Aria to writhe in fear didn’t originate from her.

  “But I didn’t—”

  “I want all of you to aim higher, reach further. Never stop asking how far you can take your Shine. And how far your Shine can take you. Until tomorrow.”

  The girls responded with raised fists and a chorus of: “Shine.”

  Aria rose from the ground, eyeing her warily.

  “Are you okay?” Ms. Klein asked.

  The girl nodded and scurried to join the others headed to dinner.

  “Your progress is remarkable,” Ms. Klein said when the two of them were alone. “I’ve arranged a doctor to come tomorrow to examine your hand. I must say, though, I’m impressed by how quickly it seems to be healing. No pain this evening?”

  “No. None.”

  “Incredible. But I’ve come to expect startling things from Shines. You still have no feeling at all?”

  She hesitated. The eager glow in Ms. Klein’s eyes disturbed her. This woman wanted—no, expected—something from her. But what? She sent a tentative tendril to discern motive, but read very little. Strange.

  Ms. Klein cocked her head. “Have you felt something?”

  She shook her head. Ms. Klein’s gaze penetrated as though the woman tried to delve into her mind.

  “Perhaps the doctor will be able to tell us something. Off to dinner with the others. Eat well. We want you to heal quickly and regain your strength.”

  She turned, relieved to put space between them. Something about that woman skeezed her out.

  “You can trust me, Cassandra,” Ms. Klein called after her.

  A shiver ran down her spine.

  Baby waited for her and linked arms when she joined her. “Wow! That was great! No one has ever beaten Aria.”

  “It wasn’t me.”

  “Sure it was. You beat her.”

  “No. I know my Shine. I didn’t cause that. Someone else must have… Do you hear that?”

  A sound she couldn’t identify drew her attention. She thought it was someone wailing outside. She stood still and listened, her ears straining to glean more information. This time, it almost sounded like someone called her name.

  “What is that?” she asked.

  “I don’t hear anything,” Baby said, shrugging her shoulders.

  Ms. Klein caught up to them. “Cassandra, are you okay?”

  “I hear something. Like someone calling.” The sound grew louder. “Don’t you hear that?”

  She walked to the front door of the sanctuary, certain the sound came from outside.

  Ms. Klein cocked her head. “Wait, now I hear something. It sounds like an animal.” She opened the door. A cat yowled and bounded inside, bolting past Ms. Klein and Baby, straight to her.

  “Nero!” She bent and scooped the cat into her good arm, nuzzling her cheek against the familiar furry face. Nero pressed his head against her, his motorboat purr open full throttle. His raspy tongue lapped her cheek.

  “Your cat found you?” Ms. Klein said. “Remarkable.”

  “Oh, he’s not my cat. He belongs to Derrick.”

  At his owner’s name, Nero stopped purring and stared directly into her eyes. She saw an image of Derrick dragged away by the Patrol. She had no idea where the vision came from. But she didn’t question it. She knew it was real. Sadness and isolation washed over her in a terrible wave. She cradled the cat, stroking his head.

  “The Patrol captured Derrick and they still have him. Nero’s been alone ever since. I need to help him. He didn’t do anything wrong.”

  “Who’s Derrick?” Baby asked.

  “And how could you possibly know what happened to him?” Ms. Klein’s blue eyes bore into her.

  “Derrick tried to help me after…” She still wasn’t comfortable discussing her escape with Ms. Klein. Remembering Derrick and his apartment also conjured memories of Ms. Klein on the news, leading the hunt for her. “He’s a friend. I need to find him. He doesn’t deserve—”

  “You cannot leave. It isn’t safe.” Ms. Klein’s tone left no room for discussion.

  Nero laid back his ears and hissed. She s
troked his head and reached into his amygdala to stroke his pleasure center. An angry cat wouldn’t help her cause.

  “Please, I’ll come back, I promise. I can’t stand the thought of him in jail because of me.”

  “Absolutely not. You haven’t fully healed from your last escapade. You will not leave this facility.”

  “But—”

  “I won’t allow it.”

  As her agitation increased, so did Nero’s. And yet, she also felt the cat’s emotional state feed into hers. Something had happened between them. Her Shine seemed to have created a connection.

  “You sent the others to rescue me. Why can’t I do the same for Derrick?”

  “That was different. I sent them to help a Shine. You want to help a boy.”

  “A boy sympathetic to Shine. He wouldn’t let the Patrol take me.”

  “We will not waste our resources on a boy. Baby, accompany Cassandra to the dining hall and watch her carefully.” She strode away. End of discussion.

  Baby’s eyes were full of sympathy, but she didn't argue. “Yes, Ms. Klein.”

  “Can I at least keep Nero?” she called after the woman. The thought of sending him away filled her with a dread she couldn’t understand. She needed to keep the connection to Derrick. Warmth flooded through her at the memory of the kiss they’d shared, and his last words.

  Come find me someday.

  Ms. Klein paused, turned, and walked back.

  She sent a tendril into Nero’s brain to soothe him and keep him calm. This was not the time to antagonize the woman. On a whim, she also sent a tendril past Ms. Klein’s skull, probing into her mind, searching for the neural pathway to sway her to say yes.

  She thought she felt a ripple course through her numb hand.

  Ms. Klein’s brows furrowed. Nero stretched forward and touched noses with her. The granite face finally broke into a smile.

  “Fine. You may keep the cat. Next supply run is tomorrow. I’ll add cat food to the list.” Her red heels clacked against the tiles as she stalked away.

  Nero purred and tucked his head under her chin, arching his back. She had the feeling the cat was congratulating her. Had she really manipulated the outcome?