“Well, I’m not so embedded anymore,” she says in a raspy voice.
She holds out her hand and I notice her slight frame. She has a black, pixie-cut hairstyle, but more noticeable is her short stature. She barely reaches my shoulders and she can’t weigh more than eighty pounds. I carefully clasp her delicate hand and shake it like I would a small child. How such a small female gained such a powerful position in the male-dominated Magnus Order intrigues me.
“So, young lady, tell me how you like our little resistance so far?” she says, as if she is much older than me. Like most in this resistance, she is young, most likely in her mid-twenties.
“Um, I like it just fine, I guess,” I stammer. “I’m pretty impressed by the size of the gathering here. I didn’t think the group was this big.”
Together we scan the clearing before she turns to me. “Seventy-five strong and willing souls all ready to take down corruption.”
Farren stands with his arms locked behind his back as he listens to her speak. His formal stance tells me he must respect this woman. They have been stationed together at the Talas hub for a couple of years now. I might be jealous of this, but I can tell he looks at her as a mentor more than anything else.
“So what made you guys join this resistance?” I say while looking at both Owen and Miya.
“Same reason you did,” Owen jumps in. “Farren. He’s quite the recruiter for Jax and the resistance. I would gladly give my life for this man.”
“What about you?” I say, turning back to Miya. “Did Farren inspire you, too?”
“He’s really grown as a leader,” she says. “When he was first recruited to Magnus, he was quite immature and a little angry. Age and structure have really helped him. I am glad I was a part of that growth. I never had the connections to break away from Magnus until Farren opened up to me about Jax and the others. I am very proud to be part of this resistance. And I am even more excited to see what you are capable of. I’ve been hearing about the elusive Kaylin from Lost Souls for years now. The leadership of Magnus put a lot of effort into finding you. With very little luck, might I add.”
It still surprises me that my one push, when I was eleven created such a recruiting frenzy. Amanda was right to keep me hidden and on the run all these years. She couldn’t keep me from being recruited forever, though. The resistance has me now and I’m okay with that.
Farren tells the others that we will meet up with them later. Together we decide to take a walk around the clearing. It gives him the chance to check on the progress of the group while spending some time with me. His movements are less confident. I find myself leading this little walk as he follows in a state of disconnect. At first he is quiet, but once we create some distance from the bustle of the resistance, he opens up to me.
“Miya told me she hasn’t seen Jax since he left to meet us here the other day,” he says. “I’m really worried that Magnus has him now. I don’t know how I’m going to do this without him.”
His words are soft and missing that commanding presence I’m used to. He and Jax are the reasons for all of this progress. To lose him right before we make our move must be hard.
“He really means a lot to you, doesn’t he?” I say.
“I wouldn’t be doing this if it wasn’t for him.”
Without even thinking, I slide my fingers against his palm, taking hold of his hand. Before I have a chance to realize what I’ve done, he gently closes his hand around mine.
We walk like this for several moments, saying nothing, but it isn’t long before we’re snapped back to reality. Maddux and Ava rush up to Farren, reporting that all the groups have arrived and we need to begin our final preparations. Just as Maddux tugs at Farren, Ava pulls me away, explaining that she needs to go over the push tactics for our strike. Not ready to leave this moment, I turn to him and say, “We’ll continue this later, I promise.”
Maddux and Farren make their way back to the hub to plan with the leadership. Ava and I head back down to the perimeter trail to meet up with other tactical Influencers. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see that she’s smiling at me.
“What are you looking at?” I ask.
She laughs and then says, “Oh, nothing, nothing at all.”
This sort of attention is not comfortable at all for me. I need to stay focused on what’s to come. We are preparing to take on a deadly sector group in a few hours. Who knows if I’ll even be alive tomorrow.
Following Ava’s lead, we stumble through a creaky metal gate, which brings us to the rear of the enormous hub. We find ourselves in a small fenced area with dried-up, raised garden beds and a few busted-up animal shelters resting against the chain-link fencing.
I don’t remember seeing this part of the hub when Jax and I walked the clearing the other day. I was caught up in what he was saying, so it doesn’t surprise me.
In the middle of this enclosure, five kids are laughing and playing around at a wooden picnic table. Most of them look a few years younger than me. Ava tells me these are the tactical Influencers who, like me, will be using their ability from a distance. Remembering my own experiences at Lost Souls, my throat tightens at the thought of these kids fighting for things they can’t even truly understand.
Ava introduces me to the others at the gray, weathered table. She speaks of me as if I am the savior of the world. “Hey, guys, this is Kaylin. Her gifts are going to help us win this war.”
She starts talking about my powerful pushes over the last few days. Hearing someone else talk about them tends to make them feel more real. This pressure put on me by Ava is not welcome, at all. I’m not as mentally strong as her yet, but I will not allow my fear to hold me back anymore. From all directions, the young Influencers begin poking and prodding me with questions.
“How are you able to control groups of people so quickly?” asks a girl who can’t be much older than eleven.
Without pause, a boy at the far side of the table asks, “Can you speak to animals?”
Several more questions are fired at me. Most of them I can’t answer, as I probably have less experience using my ability than they do. Still, I do my best to add to the discussion. Anything they can learn from me will help us all be better prepared for what’s to come.
Ava raises one of her long legs and puts a foot on the table. The white tattoos lining her dark skin are on full display. The brittle table rattles and it gets the attention of all of us. She rests her elbows on her knee and says, “Enough gabbing, it’s time to prepare for the battle.”
The group falls into place, with each kid sitting at the table waiting for us to lead. I feel like one of these youths rather than a leader, but I need to be strong for them as they seem to look up to me.
“I need each of you to give Kaylin details on your push abilities,” Ava says. “Let her know your strengths and weaknesses.”
After a few minutes from each of them, I realize they are just, well, Influencers. Not having any specific talents other than changing the mood of a group of nearby people. Then one young boy with blond hair, no more than thirteen, catches my attention with his unique ability. His name is Trevor and his push is like nothing I have heard of before.
“I… uh…” The slender teen struggles to get the words out. “I can force my thoughts on to people from far away.”
If I understand him correctly, he can project his thoughts over a large area while pinpointing who he wants to hear it. Basically, he is a mental one-way communicator.
In a soft voice, he says, “I don’t change people’s moods. They just hear what I think in their own head.”
Fascinated, I dig deeper to learn he accesses the inner thoughts of the target and in their own voice creates a message from his mind to theirs. I bet that must freak people out. I imagine hearing my own voice in my head speaking without me actually controlling it. The tailored way some Influencers have honed their push to do certain things is crazy.
Intrigued by his ability, I step in and say, “I’m impresse
d, we can use this. We need you to send out our instructions as the battle evolves. Even if we can’t reach the frontline Influencers, we can still react as a group much faster if we send messages to the fighters.”
The boy looks up at me with wide eyes and a grin. It’s a look only a mother would get when a child feels they have lived up to their parents’ expectations. Most of these kids are orphans like me. Some will be fighting alongside their parents with our resistance, but Trevor is not one of them. I need to look out for him. A thirteen-year-old kid should never be asked to fight, but all of them have volunteered and we do need their help.
Finishing up the meeting, Ava instructs an eager younger girl named Envee, who has the ability to amplify another Influencer’s push, to become the antenna for our group. Her nearly white hair glimmers in the sunlight. She’s cute, with her delicate features and constant smile. She endlessly shifts in her seat as if needing to flee. Her eyes can’t focus on one thing for too long. Licking her lips and tapping her fingers makes it look like she’s hopped up on sugar at all times.
The others will strategically scan Talas’ population for vulnerable civilians to mold as the attack develops. Ava and I will do what we do to create chaos in the most strategic way possible.
Returning to the clearing, we find most of the resistance has gathered near a fallen section of the hub’s battered wall. Standing atop blocks of singed cement, Farren, Maddux, and Caiden prepare to address the group. Just behind them, Miya and Owen sit on a raised boulder studying the crowd. Farren notices us and waves his hand over for Ava and me to join them. Ava drags me over to the makeshift stage. Farren reaches his hand down, pulling me up effortlessly. Feeling uneasy about all the prying eyes, I find a spot next to Owen in the back. I hunch my shoulders, wishing to become invisible. Ava sits to my right and drapes her arm over my shoulders. I’ve never had this many people know who I am, much less, be focused on me.
A familiar awareness washes over me as I look up to see Amanda smiling at me from the back of the crowd. She gives me a thumbs up and I read her lips. “I’m proud of you.” Smiling back lifts my spirits and I feel a little better. Farren looks back and I can read it on his face. He too is making sure I’m alright. I nod to him and he turns his attention back to the crowd. I know he’s taking on a bigger role since we lost contact with Jax. I can see the unease in his body. His shoulders hang lower and the way he moves is not as confident. He has to break the news to them about Jax and it won’t be easy. They’ll be looking to him to lead, so his words must show strength. Failing to do so could lose the trust of this young and fragile resistance.
16
MOVING OUT
FARREN STANDS AT the edge of the rebar-laced rubble, ready to lead us into a war against a powerful enemy, but first he has to win over his own army.
“We’re here for one reason.” Farren projects his voice over the crowd. “All of you have been affected by Magnus or one of these other corrupt sector groups. They have taken our freedom and manipulated our realities.” He inches closer to the edge of the rubble platform. “The time is now to break the mental and physical hold this evil group has over our friends and families. We are taking our stand… for… um… we need uh…”
He pauses and looks at the ground. The crowd begins to look back and forth at each other, confused. I can feel the tension as they wait for him to continue.
“I’m sorry,” he confesses. “I wasn’t supposed to be doing this.” He takes a deep breath.
“Most of you are not aware of this, but Jax Riley has been out of contact for over thirty-six hours,” he continues. “We have to assume he’s been compromised.”
You can almost see the anxiety in the group as people shift in place, muttering to each other. I can feel the change in their mood. I am flooded with anxiety as they look to Farren for answers.
“I’ve always known my role in this resistance,” Farren continues, “but with Jax gone, I have taken over as leader.” He paces a few steps back and forth.
Farren’s movements slow as he regains his composure. Just before he gathers himself to continue, a raspy male voice calls out from the back of the crowd. A bearded man who looks like he has seen better days shouts, “We can’t do this without Jax. He is our leader, not you.”
The murmuring of the crowd intensifies. People look around, seeking answers and guidance. Doubt fills the air.
“We need to rethink this, we are not ready,” a young woman blurts out.
Shortly after, a boy no older than Trevor steps out in front of the crowd and cries out, “I don’t want to do this anymore.”
Similar comments intensify and begin to merge into one unified uproar of doubt. Farren has lost the group as the realization of Jax’s absence has blanketed the resistance. I have only known Jax for a brief time, but I do understand his importance. The calming influence he radiates can draw you in. Even without using his push ability, he has a way of making you feel at ease. I understand how his loss can fracture this group.
“Hold on, hold on,” Farren urges. “We need to stick together. We need to be one.”
“I’m sorry,” says the raspy-voiced man. “I’m going back to the camp, and I don’t think I’m alone.”
Gaps begin to form in the crowd as people break off. My gut churns as I feel Farren’s anguish. We are losing our best chance at taking down Magnus.
Farren and the other leaders call to the crowd, but the sounds of the scattering group drowned out their voices. The tight formation of people in the clearing thins and spreads out in all directions.
Before I have a chance to think, I rush to my feet and stand by Farren’s side. My push pours out of my being and within a few moments it floods over the crowd. Desperation and anxiety bounce from the surrounding reality ripples of each individual. Without even thinking about it, my desire to keep them here activates my push deeper into the gathering. Quickly a sense of confinement stops the group.
Jumping into the current reality of that young boy, I witness his most recent experience. He’s terrified, looking in all directions for someone to go to. A deep-seated desire to retreat back to the group creates an awareness field that acts like a barrier in his mind. Pulled from the boy, I’m forced into the raspy-voiced man’s reality. I recognize his position in the crowd. Then I notice he’s looking right at me. A jolt of fear rips me from his mind. Gasping for air, I’m brought back to the platform. It isn’t long before Amanda’s deep awareness draws me back into the crowd and into her recent experiences. I see the consciousness bubble enclose her as well as the uneasy group. Its translucent mist seems to move and bend with each individual’s attention. A cool sensation flows across her face from the edges of this illusion. Our shared experience creates what is needed to satisfy the push. Closing around the unshielded like a cloud, this barrier is a manifestation of the sum fear of the crowd. All people have the same primal instinct of falling back when scared that Influencers can tap into. My new loyalty to Farren and the resistance has awakened my ability.
Amanda’s understanding of Influencer powers keeps her calm as she watches it all unfold. The crowd falls back into a tighter formation, all looking out toward the cloud that surrounds them. Fear overtakes all the people around her. They begin shouting for help. My natural empathy snaps my concentration. I leave Amanda’s mind and return to my own. Closing my eyes, I draw the gathering into the center of my push as I inhale. My arms tingle and my heart pounds as I shout, “Stop!”
Bouncing from person to person, I see the barrier pushes outward and pops like a balloon filled with too much air. Tendrils of mist retreat into the nearby woods. Soon, all that is left is a tightly formed group of civilians looking confused. Gazing into the clearing, I see several people wandering around looking for answers. Farren turns to me and asks, “What just happened? Did you do something?”
The push did not affect Farren and the other implanted resistance members. Nor did it affect the Influencers among the crowd. Some of them turn to me with a look
of disbelief. They have not witnessed my brand of rapid-fire influence. To them, it looks as if the group went crazy. One second they are leaving with the crowd and then a few moments later, everyone changes their mind. The smoky illusion everyone else witnessed never happened for them. I like to think of it as circumvented reality. They’ve been left out of the conscious fold of the unshielded and put on a different path only to be united when the push was completed. It can be disorienting. For a moment you feel disconnected from the world. As your being reconnects to the surrounding reality, you sense a rush of acceptance that is quite exhilarating. I can see on the faces of those blocked out of my push that some of them are experiencing this for the first time.
The civilians begin to put it all together as they turn to me with scowls. Justified anger has built up at the realization that they’ve been pushed into staying. Something needs to be said here or this is going to be a bigger mess than before I did my push.
I place a hand on Farren’s wrist and raise my head to say, “I’m sorry this happened. It was not my intention to do this.” I scratch my head as I look up at the blue, clear sky. “For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Kaylin. I joined this cause because I believe in Farren. I barely know Jax.”
The crowd stirs, but I still have their attention. “I realize I can do things that seem impossible,” I say, forcing myself to continue despite my unease. “I am willing to give whatever power I have to this resistance.”
I want to retreat to the loneliness of the back of the makeshift platform, but Farren stops me with his gentle touch on my shoulder and warm smile.
At the contact, I feel a surge of confidence as I continue. “I never want to subject anyone to the unwanted will of another as I just did to you. I am sorry for that. I’m one of you and I know we have to do this now or we’ll never do it.”
The crowd once again stirs with unease as they look to each other for what to do next. I might have forced them to stay, but it doesn’t change the uniformed uncertainty that is rampant in their minds.
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