Discovery

by Lisa White

“Got it.”

  Ben took one last look at Tom before bursting through the cabin door.

  Gregory looked up, not startled in the least. “Hey, Benny Boy. We’ve been expecting you.”

  Ben’s eyes narrowed at Gregory’s response and he glanced over at Grace. She sat motionless, her wide eyes staring at Tom who stood behind Ben.

  Ben stepped to the side, placing his back against the wall. He looked over at Tom now standing beside Star.

  “I believe you’ve met my sister, Star,” Gregory smiled.

  Star smiled at Ben and he instantly realized the resemblance to her despicable brother.

  “And of course you already know my brother,” Gregory pointed to Tom.

  Ben stiffened at Gregory’s perplexing introduction of his own brother. As Ben stared at his older brother with questioning eyes, Tom’s form shifted into the young blonde teenager who tried to smear Grace with the white pickup truck that fateful day. Then, as soon as the blonde girl fully appeared, she transformed into the familiar, bulky boy whose green eyes Ben had learned to hate.

  Andrew.

  Ben’s heart raced. It was not Tom outside the cabin just now. The full Powers were not already on their way. It was Andrew. That stupid shape shifter messed with Ben’s odds. He had been outnumbered all along.

  “So what now, Greg?” Ben asked. When in doubt, stall.

  “Now, we wait for our father to arrive. You see, Grace is expected at our lab for some testing and we wouldn’t want to make her late, now would we?” Gregory walked toward Ben.

  Ben glanced over at Andrew before turning his steel blue eyes on Gregory. “You know I can’t let you do that.” Ben noticed his last words slurred slightly.

  “Oh, Lover Boy, but you can and you will.”

  Gregory was so close now Ben could hear him breathe. He felt tired suddenly, his head swirled. He looked over at Grace and the last thing he remembered was hearing her scream, “Ben!” Then everything went black.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven: Jamison Reich

  Grace watched as Andrew threw Ben’s limp body into the large square contraption of a chair. It had been hidden in the back corner of the cabin and, watching Andrew clamp the metal cuffs down over Ben’s wrists, it reminded Grace of an executioner’s electric chair. It had wires protruding from all sides like an electric chair but instead of being built from wood, however, the entire chair was made of some strange-colored metal that was not exactly shiny and not exactly dull and had a slightly reddish sheen to it. The chair was unlike anything Grace had ever seen and, while its harshness had scared Grace when she first entered the cabin, it was even more frightening with Ben’s practically lifeless body lying across it.

  “Don’t move,” Andrew smirked at Grace before flipping an ornate silver switch on the chair and heading outside to join Gregory and Star. Grace could see the three siblings through the nearest window. Lounging by a large oak that towered over the cabin, they did not look like they had a care in the world. They were laughing and smiling and were obviously not worried about the two prisoners they were supposed to be watching.

  “Ben!” Grace whispered as loudly as she could. She was in the corner opposite him on the same side of the cabin and only had to move her chair a short distance to reach him. But if she did that, she would lose sight of the window and her captors outside. Torn, she opted to maintain her vigilance at the window. “Ben!” she repeated. “Please wake up!”

  Ben’s head bobbed and he mumbled something but whatever Gregory and his weird chair had done to him was too powerful and he remained semi-conscious. Grace studied the chair with its wires and weird metal and fancy switch.

  The switch.

  Grace glanced outside and the siblings were still beside the tree. Still tied to her own chair, it took Grace five large scoots across the cabin floor before she was beside Ben and his immobilizing apparatus. She maneuvered her chair sideways until her foot was beside the switch. Just as she was ready to flip off the switch with her foot, the cabin door opened and in walked Gregory.

  “Tsk, tsk, Grace darling. Now, you should not mess with other people’s property. You know better than that,” he scolded. He waved his hand flamboyantly and Grace’s chair, with Grace tied to it, instantly slammed back to its original place in the opposite corner. “Besides, even if you could get Benny Boy out of that chair, he would be useless to protect you. Just look at him. I have manipulated his mind into a stupor. That chair is just a little added bonus from my father to ensure he stays put.”

  Grace glared at her captor.

  “You really have no clue about my many powers do you?” Gregory laughed. “Physical strength, intellectual powers beyond comprehension, and my rare ability to manipulate a person’s mind and emotions. To make them feel whatever I want in their innermost soul.”

  That last power hit Grace hard and it showed.

  Gregory snickered, “Oh, I hit a nerve, did I? You mean you actually thought I liked you? Silly human, of course not! How could you ever think you were worthy of me? Look at you and then look at me. There’ is no comparison!”

  Grace felt a lump in her throat looking at Gregory who was still the most gorgeous boy she had ever seen. Or was he manipulating her emotions again? Grace could not tell the difference between what she felt and what Gregory was making her feel.

  “I was just doing my job, my dear. That’s all you were. My assignment. Isn’t that the term Benny Boy uses for you?” Gregory continued, moving closer to Grace. “Although, I particularly enjoyed our kisses. I’ll give you that. You are quite a good kisser.” Gregory’s lips were close, his green eyes mesmerizing. “Perhaps we should show our friend Ben just how good.”

  Grace tried to turn her head away from Gregory’s face but his pull was strong. She was unable to fight him now. Their lips met and she felt lost. Her head bobbed and her lips sensuously moved with his but somewhere in the background she heard Ben groaning.

  Gregory briefly released his hold on her. “Sounds like Benny Boy doesn’t like our kissing.”

  Grace looked over and, although Ben’s eyes were barely open, they still bored into Gregory with a hatred she had never seen before. His head twitched and it was evident he was fighting whatever Gregory was doing to him.

  Gregory walked over to Ben. “Give it up, Benny Boy. As long as I am here, there is nothing you can do for Grace,” he laughed before turning back to her. “Now where were we?” He leaned in to Grace again and she began to feel relaxed. Too relaxed. He was close now. Her lips opened, waiting, wanting Gregory’s lips.

  “Gregory!” Jamison Reich’s voice boomed at the cabin door.

  Gregory stood straight up, releasing his hold on Grace. He wiped his mouth with his sleeve and winked at Grace. “Yes, Father.”

  “Stop toying with Miss MacKay. We need her at full strength for our tests.” Mr. Reich walked over to Grace. “Hello, my dear. So glad you could finally join us. We have been waiting a long time for you.”

  Grace looked over at Ben whose eyes were slightly more open and now focused on Mr. Reich.

  “It’s nice to finally see Mr. Pickett where he belongs,” Mr. Reich continued. “He and his family have been a thorn in my side for far too long.” Mr. Reich concentrated on the metal cuffs around Ben’s wrists and they visibly tightened, practically cutting off the young Guardian’s circulation.

  Ben grimaced and his half-opened eyes looked angry now.

  “And you, my sweet Grace,” Mr. Reich turned to his prize prisoner. “I know you will be worth all the trouble I’ve gone to. From the minute you survived your parent’s car crash I knew you were special. I melted that car into such a large metal mess. But it did not affect you. Not a scratch on you. I knew then, you would play a part in the Anti-Powers’ rise to greatness.”

  “You? You killed my parents?” Tears started welling in Grace’s eyes.

  “Of course. Who else would be so bold? I killed your parents and your brothers. Of course, I had the troops take care of your cousins and ev
eryone else in the Family. I mean, why should I have to do everything when I really needed to concentrate all my efforts on you? When you survived that crash, I realized I only needed you and had to make sure the rest of your Family did not stay under Council control. It was quite a brilliant plan if I do say so.”

  At that moment, Star and Andrew reentered the cabin. But they were not alone. Between them stood Annie, expressionless and unmoving.

  “Annie!” Grace cried out. “Oh no!” She looked at Mr. Reich. “Please let her go. She’s not part of the Family. She’s just my friend. Please don’t hurt her. I’ll do anything. Just please don’t hurt her and Ben. Please!” Grace pleaded.

  Mr. Reich just smiled.

  “Annie,” Grace turned to her old friend. “I’m so sorry they got you involved. You shouldn’t be here. You shouldn’t be part of this!”

  “Gracie,” Annie smiled. “But I am a part of this. I’ve been a part of this from the very beginning.” And in Annie’s smile, with her long blonde hair flowing around her face, Grace saw it.

  The same look she saw in Star. And Andrew. And Gregory.

  “No!” Grace shrieked.

  “Oh, Gracie. Stop being so dramatic. So what if I’m an Anti-Power? We had some good times didn’t we? I know I did. Well, except for wearing those stupid contacts. I’m so glad I’ll never have to wear those again.” Annie’s green eyes glowed as she put her arm through Andrew’s. “But my job is over now and it’s time for me to be with my own kind.” She patted Andrew’s arm. “Besides, I’ve missed my family.”

  Grace’s chest hurt and her stomach rolled. “But … but why?” she stammered.

  “Because we couldn’t allow the Council to be closer to you than we were,” Mr. Reich said. “When we found out about Ben, we had to send my sweet Annie. You see it was easy for you to pick her as a best friend. That’s one of her many powers. Annie can make anyone like her. Or as it was in your case, need her. And you needing your best friend these past few days really worked to our advantage. With all your desperate phone calls to Annie, we knew just where to find you.”

  Grace’s entire body was numb and trembling all at the same time. Her best friends. The Three Amigos. It was all a lie.

  And she had told Annie exactly where she was. Bess’s Diner. Cooper’s. Grace had led the Anti-Powers right to her.

  “Now that we have you, it should be easy to dispose of the Council,” Mr. Reich leered toward Grace. “With your genetic material, the Anti-Powers will be everywhere, out in the open, not hiding like some sniveling weaklings. So, before we go any further, I want to thank you, Miss MacKay. Thank you for helping me realize my father’s dream.” He brushed his hand across Grace’s face and his fingers lingered on her lips. “I can see why my son enjoyed kissing you. You really are quite beautiful. Despite your dark hair and blue eyes, your genetic make-up and looks will fit in nicely with the rest of my family.”

  Grace pulled her head away from his hand and glowered at Mr. Reich.

  “Oh, come now, dear,” he smiled. “Look at the family I have arranged — Andrew, Annie, Gregory — magnificent creations if I do say so myself. Your genes will make excellent offspring for them.”

  Grace felt nauseated. She looked at Star who stood off to the side behind Gregory. “What about Star?”

  Mr. Reich stood a little straighter and cleared his throat. “My daughter’s glowing power did not exactly fit into my plans. I made sure the Misfits found her as a baby and I assume she has had a happy life.” He looked at Star and smiled. “But thanks to your little visit to their community, Star has reclaimed a place in our family. She played her part beautifully and here you are.”

  Star arched her back and unintentionally glowed, her pride evident on her face. “Thank you, Father.”

  “Yes, yes. But try to control that glow of yours,” he said brusquely with a wave of his hand. “We still need to stay concealed until we get out of these mountains and nasty trees. You know how I hate the woods. I don’t want to spend any more time here than I have to.”

  Star’s glow immediately disappeared and she sank back down onto the couch.

  “So now,” Mr. Reich looked to his other children, “it is time to move on. Please go get the Hummer ready. We have a long drive and the lab is waiting.”

  The three siblings nodded at their father and headed toward the door.

  “You too, Star,” Mr. Reich directed.

  Star’s face beamed as she popped up from the couch. “Oh yes, Father. Thank you, Father, thank you,” she gushed before rushing outside to join her siblings.

  “Andrew,” Mr. Reich called after them. “Please take care of Ben after we leave. And try not to make too much of a mess. I don’t want any evidence left behind.”

  “My pleasure,” Andrew’s eyes glowed red and he winked at Ben before he left the cabin.

  Mr. Reich bent down and began to unlock Grace’s restraints. “Time to go, my pet.”

  Grace looked over at Ben, whose eyes were now wide open as he struggled with his metal cuffs. “Stall,” he mouthed to her.

  “What about the Misfits? Aren’t you afraid they’ll find you?” Grace asked, wringing her one free arm out in relief. She glanced out the window and saw that the four siblings had their backs to the cabin, preparing to leave.

  “Of course not,” Mr. Reich laughed. “I went to training camp with that Dave and Petra and am fully aware of the Misfits’ limitations. We’ll be long gone before Petra can see anything.”

  Petra. Grace’s eyes tried not to twinkle.

  “So what are your great powers, Mr. Reich?” Grace said as she stretched her free arm up above her head.

  “Mine? There are too numerous to mention, my dear. But as for my favorite, let’s just say that I am partial to metal,” Mr. Reich snickered as he leaned over Grace, working on the last of her restraints.

  “So you really don’t like wood!” With her one free arm, Grace grabbed one of the long wooden sticks from her hair clip and, with all she had left in her, thrust it deep into Mr. Reich’s chest, piercing his heart through to the other side. His green eyes flew open and he fell back, gasping for air, unable to speak, the gurgle of blood being the only sound springing from his throat.

  The clip banged to the floor and Grace’s hair fell down into her face. For a moment she couldn’t see. She just sat there dazed, trembling with heavy breaths, unable to move as she listened to Mr. Reich’s bubbling throat.

  It did not take long for Mr. Reich to die.

  And with his last gurgling breath, the smell of burnt metal flooded the cabin as the few metal items in the cabin melted. Mr. Reich’s power wafted from his lifeless body, attacking any metal it could find, even the massive chair imprisoning Ben.

  “Grace!” Ben whispered to her. “We need to go!” Mr. Reich’s dying power made the metal cuffs restraining Ben so pliable, he easily wriggled his hands and feet free. He stood up just as the chair became a metal mess pooling on the wooden floor.

  The smell of the burnt metal goaded Grace out of her shock and, after struggling for just a moment, she was finally free of her last restraint. She pushed her hair away from her face and her eyes locked on Mr. Reich’s bloody chest.

  “Grace! Forget about him. We need to go now!”

  Grace blinked her eyes and focused on Ben.

  “Are you with me?” he asked.

  Grace nodded, her eyes returning to the red ooze covering Mr. Reich’s shirt.

  “Okay, then come on!” Ben grabbed Grace’s hand and pulled her toward the door. “But watch where you step. I don’t need you stumbling over him and accidentally bringing the guy back to life.”

  Grace held onto Ben’s hand as she sidestepped Mr. Reich’s body, her eyes still fixated on his bloody chest. The blood was now spreading across the wooden floor and was hard to avoid as she crouched beside Ben underneath the window by the door.

  Outside, a Hummer sat idling, aimed at the woods beyond. Star and Annie were in the backseat and Gregory sat in
the driver’s seat. Andrew leaned against the passenger door, laughing with his siblings inside.

  “I don’t think they know anything yet, but we can’t stay in here forever.” Ben said.

  “So now what?” Grace’s breathing was still heavy. She glanced at Mr. Reich’s blood still streaming over the wooden floor and gripped Ben’s hand tighter.

  “I don’t know. Let me think,” Ben said, releasing Grace’s hand. He had reentered Guardian mode.

  Ben sat there, silently weighing his options and not too happy with his odds when all of a sudden, he saw Powers troops appear from the treetops. Dressed in camouflage, they flew down ropes, scrambled down tree trunks and glided in from the sky. Only seven or eight in number, they still outnumbered Gregory’s entourage who looked around with shocked faces.

  “Come on,” Ben yanked Grace outside through the door. He turned and looked behind the cabin to the top of the hill. There stood Tracker and Dave grinning and waving.

  Hearing the cabin door’s wooden creak, Andrew spun around, his eyes meeting Ben’s.

  “Give it up,” Ben yelled to him. “Daddy Dearest is dead.”

  Andrew stumbled back against the Hummer.

  “Get in!” Gregory yelled to his brother.

  Andrew’s eyes narrowed at Grace before he jumped into the Hummer. The sibling Anti-Powers took off through the woods, the Hummer jostling over the rocky terrain. The Powers troops followed on foot, through the trees, and in the air.

  Ben looked down at Grace and squeezed her hand. “Let’s go home.”

  Chapter Twenty-Eight: First Kiss

  The brick mansion was massive even by today’s standards and the plantation was one of the few in South Carolina that survived the Civil War intact. The huge, white-columned front porch spanned the width of the entire house and the ornately carved front door was bordered on both sides by floor-to-ceiling, triple-sash windows. Inside, the foyer revealed a grand staircase that even Scarlett O’Hara would have envied. The mansion was palatial and filled with antiques and scared the life out of Grace.