“What are you two eating?” asks Eric.
When I turn to answer, I’m interrupted by Raul. “Wow Mya, you look great!”
I didn’t think I could feel any happier than I was a few minutes ago, but I was wrong. Raul’s compliment makes me beam. “Would you guys like some heated Pop-Tarts or something? We can make you some hot chocolate or even some tea or coffee if you’d like. I don’t want to use any of the eggs, just in case Mom has plans for them.”
The boys eagerly accept our offer, and while I heat up the toaster, Kat prepares the mugs for the microwave. Trying to speed things up, I discover that I can run both machines simultaneously.
Once the boys are served their food, Kat and I decide to experiment a little further. Gathering together pillows and blankets, we set up a giant, plush bed in the living room. We hook up the Xbox and find Raul’s latest version of Battlefront.
After connecting two controllers, I call out to the boys, “OK you wasteoids! Get your lazy butts in here, or you’ll be sorry!”
With one hand on the TV and one on the Xbox, enough power flows from me to run the game. The theme music begins playing, and the sound fills the house.
The boys are thrilled and rush into the room singing my praises.
“You have to thank Kat, too,” I say. “She’s helped me with everything.”
An ottoman and dining room chair are placed under my arms to keep them from dropping. After an hour of split-screen play, I need a break. Raul comes over to hug me and give me a back massage. “You’re the best, Mya,” he says. “This has been a great day.”
Eric and Matthew are smiling and laughing about the game. “I didn’t think you’d be any good,” says Matthew.
“I didn’t expect you to be so bad,” responds Eric.
The friendly banter continues, and our group files into the kitchen. Kat bounces over to me and asks, “What do you feel like doing now, Mya?”
“How about some popcorn?” I say. “I saw some microwave popcorn in the pantry, and we could also have some spaghetti and meatballs. I can heat that up pretty quickly.”
◌◌◌
After eating, I discover that my “affliction” works on battery-charged items as well as those that plug into a wall. While the boys give Charlie some much needed attention, Kat and I unwind by playing Mario Kart on Raul’s Nintendo Switch. We laugh and tease each other as we race to the finish line. Who would’ve thought that an hour of electronic game stimulation would be so relaxing.
The five of us and Charlie return upstairs to Raul’s room to look for other items that I can test. A flashlight powers on at my touch. Fan blades turn and blow cool air.
Just as Eric is suggesting we watch a movie on the DVD player, I feel a small, nagging sensation. My sensory attention is drawn to the front of the house, where I “see” two people try to turn the front doorknob, then they cross over to an open dining room window. The way the men are crouched and looking back and forth concerns me, and I watch as they climb into the room.
I blink rapidly and turn to Raul. “Two men are breaking into the house right now.”
Before I complete my sentence, Matthew jumps to his feet and rushes out of the room. Aroused by the sudden movement, Charlie’s mouth turns into a tongue-wagging smile, and he takes off after Matthew. The remaining four of us look at each other incredulously and go after them. Down the stairs and through the living room we run.
Matthew is fast. Just as we hit the foot of the stairs, I hear him exclaim, “She was right!”
I round the corner and take in the view. Two clean-shaven men dressed for a Texas rodeo stand across the room. Wranglers, a silver three-piece belt buckle, and classic leather cowboy boots adorn the lower half of the men. Wooden handled revolvers on each of their right hips complete the picture.
I reach out to Matthew’s arm and pull him behind me while keeping eye contact with the intruders. “What are you doing in here?” I ask.
Charlie must sense my unease, for his ears perk, and he moves to my side.
The couple seem somewhat perturbed by our entry, but quickly regain their composure. “Now, settle yourself, little darlin’,” the older man says with a southern drawl. “We’re just lookin’ for a little nourishment and a spot to rest a bit. We didn’t know anyone was livin’ here.”
“The windows are open, and the front door is locked,” I say, “I think that’s a pretty clear indication that someone is living here. Besides, you didn’t even knock on the door. You just snuck about and then climbed in. So, you can now turn yourselves around and climb back out.”
As I finish my orders, Raul comes to stand beside me. Holding his father’s hunting rifle, he presents an intimidating picture. “Is there a problem, gentlemen?” he asks. “I don’t know you, so why are you in my dining room?”
“I was just telling the little miss that we don’t mean no harm, we’re just lookin’ for food and a place to lie down.”
I’m about to respond, when I’m stunned with the revelation that I’m not the only person in this room who has “special skills.” Matthew is in possession of a super power. While he may have had the ability for years, I just now realize the magnitude of it. Matthew is stupid. He is completely ignorant of all common sense when confronted with a serious situation.
“Better be careful of this ‘little miss’!” he shouts from behind me. Then putting his hands out as if he were Spider-Man, he adds, “She’ll zap you dead.”
“Matthew!” Kat murmurs. “Be quiet.”
“Zzz zap! Just like a bug!” he screams.
Eric reaches forward and grabs ahold of Matthew’s arm. He yanks hard and quietly commands, “Shut up.”
Meanwhile, Raul has taken a couple of steps toward the front door and is trying to redirect the men’s attention. “I’m sorry,” he forcefully says. “You’ll have to look somewhere else.”
Hostility is building in the room, and my sensory receptors are screaming. The gradual rise of temperature in my torso is a warning signal, and I notice as the older man shifts his right arm toward his weapon. I don’t want another one of my friends to be shot, and I’m getting nervous. I tense, and my fingers begin to tingle.
Just when I think a gun will be pulled, the younger man places a hand on his friend’s arm. I watch as they exchange glances, and a private message is sent.
Both men relax their stance and look at Raul. With hands before him, the older man starts backing up. “Ok, ok. I understand. We’re sure sorry to bother y’all. We’ll be headin’ out now.”
Raul crosses to the front entry, unlocks the door and swiftly yanks it open. He sweeps his right hand toward the outside, while staring at the men. Once they cross the threshold, he shuts the door and re-engages the lock.
Matthew starts to ask questions, but before he can complete a sentence, I raise my hand and put a finger to my lips. I head to the open window and watch as the men stroll away. That seemed too easy, and I want to make sure they leave the property.
I’m about to turn around and tell the others, when a shiver of recognition courses down my spine. That younger man was in the hallway when Emily was shot. I spin toward the window and hear, “That’s the girl. The girl Danny took into that room…Did you hear what that kid said? What now, Bob?”
◌◌◌
I’m stunned. Frozen in fear. My eyes are glued on the duo, and I begin to shake. Bob! It was Cowboy Bob! He shaved his beard, but I know I’m right. I’m able to shift my neck slightly and lock eyes with Raul.
A look of concern comes over his face. “What is it?” he asks.
Still trembling, I point out the window. “Those men,” I whisper, “they were at the hospital.”
“Are you sure?”
“The young one recognized me,” I say while looking down to see small sparks running across my palms. “He mentioned his friend. I think he knows what I did. Matthew said I’d zap them.”
Raul steps forward and bends to look out the window. The men are out of sight now, bu
t I can still “see” them crossing the property.
A hand settles upon my back and rubs in a soothing circle. Raul says, “He doesn’t know anything. How could he?”
“He was in the hallway,” I say. “He was with the man who shot Emily and wanted to hurt me.”
My teeth dig into my lower lip to steady my trembling. “I killed his friend. I didn’t know what I was doing, but I’m positive his friend is dead. I looked at the body before I ran. He was electrocuted, and my hand marks were burned into his chest.”
“They’re gone now,” says Raul, pulling me into a protective embrace. “If they really do know anything about your powers, then they’ll stay away. Besides, if they recognized you, they must know that you can recognize them. They’re wanted men. If they’re smart, they’ll head out of town tonight.”
“I agree,” says Eric, joining in the conversation and placing a hand on my arm to soothe my overactive senses. “It would be stupid of them to stay anywhere around here. But just in case, we’ll talk to Mr. Miller tonight.”
◌◌◌
The parents return and provide an update, while we eat dinner. “Everyone’s on edge,” says Mr. Miller. “Harrow’s turning into a ghost town. The shops still standing have been stripped bare of all supplies; homes have been looted; and several people have been attacked by the outsiders.”
“Some families have moved in together,” says Mom, “but we couldn’t locate a lot of people. I did see Ms. Adams over by the school. She said that none of the kids have shown up since the night of the flare. We also saw Mr. and Mrs. Jimenez with their food truck. They hand out water and a bit of food to anyone in need…There are good people in town, but everyone’s still leery.”
“People with guns are everywhere,” says Mr. Miller. “You kids stay close to the house and be careful. We may need to set up some sort of evening watch with all the looting that’s happening.”
I look over at Raul and grimace. Then I turn to Mom. “We had visitors today.”
“Two men climbed in the window!” announces Matthew. “But Raul and Mya scared them off.”
Mom looks at Mr. Miller. “Tom, this is serious. We need to do something. What if they come back? What if one of them killed those two girls?”
“We’ll set up a watch schedule,” he says, “and no one goes anywhere alone.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
A restless night of imaginary noises and unsettling dreams has filled me with a determination to know if I have any defensive capabilities. Kat is sleeping soundly, so I tiptoe out of the room and head downstairs.
Eric’s already up and sitting in the dining room with a dry bowl of Corn Pops in front of him. The morning sunlight shines in the windows and reflects off the white walls.
“Have you been up all night?” I ask, pulling out a chair to join him.
“No. Only a couple of hours,” he says with a yawn. “Mr. Miller was up most of the night, pacing the hallways, and searching the yard. He’s really concerned about yesterday’s visitors. He just went to bed a little bit ago, when your mom got up.”
I look around the room and glance into the empty kitchen. “Where’s my mom now?”
Eric motions upward with his chin. “Pacing the hallways and searching the yard. Earlier, I heard Mr. Miller talking with her about the murdered girls and several attacks in town. I think it’s made her really nervous.”
He stares at me for a few seconds, then gives a questioning glare. “I thought you’re able to see where everybody is. Why don’t you know where your mom is, when she’s right above us?”
“I forget I can do that,” I say. “Besides, I have to actually concentrate to see that stuff. Then it goes into hyperdrive sometimes, like when I was watching you the other day. It kinda creeps me out when I start seeing thousands of living things all around me.”
I point my fingers to the table and cringe, “I’m not real interested in finding out if there are hundreds of baby spiders crawling around under this.”
Eric bends over and looks under the table. Raising his head, he smiles and says, “You’re in luck. No spiders today.”
“Ok, sure,” I say a bit sarcastically and roll my eyes. “I’ll take your word for it.”
Eric picks up a piece of yellow puff cereal, and before placing it in his mouth, he asks, “What brings you downstairs so early this morning?”
I scrunch up my face and explain my trouble with sleeping and worrying about someone coming back to hurt all of us. “I want to know if I can use this ‘energy thing’ to protect myself,” I confess. “I was hoping you might have some ideas.”
After swallowing the bite and taking a sip of water, he says, “Maybe there’s some way to channel your energy. The government has directed-energy weapons that can be used to focus energy into a defensive blast. After the others wake up, maybe we can go out to the garden site, and you can practice.”
“How am I gonna do that? I don’t know anything about energy blasts.”
Eric’s face clouds over, and I can see that he’s thinking. “The other day in the garden, you didn’t know how to blow up the ground, but you did it anyway. Maybe you just have to concentrate on an idea, and it’ll happen.”
He snaps his fingers and points at me. “Like with the twig,” he adds. “You told Kat you were just thinking that it should catch on fire, and then it did.”
Reaching into his bowl, Eric pulls out a piece of cereal and places it on the table in front of me. “I have an idea,” he says, then points at the corn puff. “Blow up the kernel.”
Leaning in for a closer examination of the food, I complain. “I can’t blow that up. I don’t know how.”
When I look up at Eric for guidance, I discover a smirk on his face. Then he points his finger at the cereal and says, “Pop!” He raises his eyebrows and points at me. “Now you try.”
I frown at the cereal joke. “Your sense of humor is really bad in the morning.”
“Just try it. Think about making it blow up while you say it.”
I roll my eyes again and shake my head. “Fine,” I say. Then I touch the piece of cereal and say, “Pop.”
I’m not surprised when nothing happens, and I give a look that says, “I told you.”
Across from me, Eric leans back in his chair and puts his hands behind his head. “You aren’t even trying, Mya. If you want my help, you have to put forth at least a little effort. It’s as if we’re working on a project; and you expect me to do all the research, all the design, and all the presentation.”
He lowers his arms and leans his elbows on the table. “If I could do everything by myself, why would I need you?”
He’s right, and I accept his reprimand. I bite my lip and lightly touch the puff. In my head, I imagine watching yellow sugar corn bits flying around the room. “Pop!” I command.
Instantly, a white spark stretches from the end of my finger, and the kernel explodes into hundreds of pieces. Yellow powder spreads across the table and into the air.
My mouth drops open, and I jerk backward in my chair. I look up at Eric and see a huge smile on his face. “Oh! Wow!” he excitedly says. “You did it, Mya! Oh my gosh!” Then he snatches another kernel from the bowl and places it on the table in front of me. “Do it again!”
◌◌◌
Discovering that I can blow up cereal is really neat, until I realize that I’ve spread a bunch of sugar bits all over the dining area. After destroying five puff pieces, I look around and notice a fine yellow mist coating not only the table, but also the chairs and floor.
“We need to clean this up,” I say. “The ants are gonna go crazy over all this sugar. Then my overactive senses will pick up all the insect activity, and I’ll end up in a loony bin somewhere, obsessing about bugs. Let’s wipe up as much as we can, and then when Mom and Mr. Miller are both out of the house, I’ll run the vacuum.”
Before responding, Eric reaches out to grab the last few pieces of cereal in his bowl. I can see he’s deliberating about someth
ing as he chews. Finally, he swallows and asks, “Do you think we should tell them what you can do?”
“I think they’re under enough stress at the moment,” I say. “It might be the final straw that pushes them over the edge if they discover that I can shoot electricity from my fingers and explode things.”
“Ok. I’ll leave that up to you, Mya,” he says, “but I think you should consider sharing this information with them. Besides, I have a feeling that Matthew will let the cat out of the bag fairly soon. I don’t think he can help himself.”
◌◌◌
Once everyone is up and has eaten, we kids head out toward the garden. Eric suggested to my mom that we put fencing around the veggie plot to keep out wildlife poachers and set a few snares around the area for fresh meat. It’s a good idea and is also a good excuse to leave the house.
Since Mr. Miller is still asleep, I leave Charlie with Mom. She says she may run into town today, but she’ll wait until Mr. Miller can go with her. Mom’s very sensible and knows that it isn’t safe for even an adult to be alone.
After several trips back and forth to the house, the dirt path is becoming more defined, and our pile of supplies is finally complete. Everyone is beginning to breathe heavily and is ready for a short break.
We lay the building materials around the garden area and sit down to discuss the possibility of Bob’s return. The recent influx of criminals in our town leads to the topic of defending ourselves.
In addition to the obvious use of the guns we have stored at the house, Eric suggests stretching a few strands of wire around the perimeter. “If Mya can sense the approach of someone, maybe she can electrify the wires.”
I grab the hammer that’s lying on the ground next to me and frown. “You sure have a lot of faith in my unproven abilities, Eric. How am I supposed to electrify wires that are all over the place without electrifying everything else?”
“You’ll just have to practice,” he says matter-of-factly. “It’s probably just like a musician or an athlete—practice makes perfect.”
“Ooo Mya!” says Matthew as he walks over and tugs my arm. “Practice now! I wanna see!”
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