Chapter 9

“Are you certain you want to do this?” Darren asked as we walked into the camp's building.

“You don't still think this thing is infectious, do you?” I sighed.

“No, but I don't like you putting yourself in danger these kids are not in control of their abilities,” he warned me, “One of them is the boy who creates storms inside and I don't want you getting struck by lightning.”

“I won't,” I assured him, “Eva had some of it too, but you still trust her.”

“That's different,” he muttered.

“No it's not, Dare you are just overly protective because you don't know these boys as well as Eva,” I reminded him.

 

“I just don't see why I can't do this for you,” he said seriously, “I can relay any message you have.”

“It's not something that I can generalize for you,” I insisted.

“You probably don't even know most of these kids,” he argued.

“I am going to know them,” I told him, “You know for a tough guy, you're being awfully weak with your reasons why I shouldn't do this.”

“Like stopping you is an option,” he rolled his eyes, “I have seen what these kids can do.”

 

“What exactly can they do?” I asked then I heard a scream from inside. I automatically headed for the door, but Darren blocked my path.

“No,” he snapped, “If they're in that bad of shape then you're not going in.”

“I can handle it,” I repeated.

“Maya, why can't you listen I am two years older than you and I have more experienced with troubled, angry teenagers,” he complained, “They are mostly military kids.”

“They are afflicted and that's my area of expertise,” I responded hearing another cry, “Please Darren, they're in pain and I need to help them.”

 

“I won't risk it,” he caught my arm when I tried to walk past him.

“Try to stop me,” I pulled my arm free and dodged around him. I opened the door and walked in to the room to find six boys scattered throughout the room. They mostly looked scared, frustrated or were rubbing their heads. One of the boys, though, saw me and smiled slightly.

 

“You're Maya Garnet,” he pointed at me.

“I am,” I nodded, “What is your affliction, young man?”

“I'll show you,” he said then in the blink of an eye, he was in front of me.

“Watch it,” Darren pushed me behind him.

“I am Dex,” he offered his hand and I reached around Darren to shake it.

“Call me Maya,” I gave him a smile, “How are you dealing with the effects of neuro-stroma?”

 

“What is neurostroma?” another boy came walking over.

“The plant you guys were eating,” I remarked and Darren was trying to signal something to me behind his back, “It's called neuro-stroma it was in the adaptors everyone was taking that gave us our abilities in the first place.”

 

“We are under lock-down because we got a disease out in the mine where we were eating that plant,” one of the older looking boys told me.

“Darren Price,” I turned on him, “Did you let Dr. Jamieson and the others tell them that?”

“So we aren't infected,” the older boy looked at Darren, “What is wrong with us going to our tents then?”

 

“The neuro-stroma made your abilities stronger and more powerful,” I recognized the boy who caused storms, “Gordon right.”

“Yeah,” he focused on me at last.

“Darren said you were making lightning lately, but you couldn't do that before,” I said seriously, “That's one sign that your powers are widened in range.”

“I zapped my brother when he came to visit though,” Gordon stormed over, “I got an argument with his and he passed out after the strike hit him, he was out for three days.”

 

“That's why we need to help you control it again,” I countered, “I'll get Eva to come and help she's going through the same struggle, but she's not as independent as you boys.”

“I miss my family,” another boy said, he looked the youngest of all of them.

“What's your name? Do you have family here at camp?” I went over to him.

“I'm Levi Chase,” he looked up at me with gray eyes swimming with tears, “My two older sisters are not allowed to see me while I am in here, I can see into their minds and they do want to see me.”

 

“See into their minds,” I looked around at Darren.

“It's different he can only see what you're thinking about at the given moment,” he explained.

“Now I can see from here to the edge of the campsite,” Levi informed me, “Sometimes I think I hear normal city people.”

“You're all gifted,” I said looking around, “And you will all be able to control yourselves soon, I know it doesn't sound reassuring, but the pain will get worse,” I bit my lip, “But then you'll have clarity again and control.”

 

“Do you have your gift under control?” Gordon asked me.

“Most of the time, my gift isn't as easy to manipulate it kind of has a mind of its own,” I answered honestly.

 

“So what is so great about seeing future events?” the older boy questioned, “I am Jake by the way.”

“Pleasure,” I replied, “There is nothing so great about seeing things happen in the future, but sometimes something that is meaningless to me could affect others and I want to help them.”

“I guess so,” Jake agreed, “Officer Price, why is your girl so much smarter than you?”

“I am not Officer Price, it's Price or Darren,” Dare argued, “She isn't as smart as she thinks she is.”

“Thank you for those kind words, Price,” I sighed, “Now you guys need to experiment a little in this room with your abilities, but remember to find something you can use to calm yourselves.”

“Like what?” Jake questioned.

“Like a family member or a good memory,” I suggested, “Levi, you enter your sisters' minds if you start feeling out of control and go into my mind I'll try to calm you down.”

 

“It's really that easy,” Dex blurred across the room, “I think I can handle that, I can run twice as fast now, but if I don't stop running like last night, I can think of Maya.”

“You will not be thinking about my girlfriend in the middle of the night, Dexter,” Darren warned him.

“She probably likes me better anyways,” he smirked.

“Boys are strange creatures,” I said then a flash of something dark made me lose my balance.

 

“Maya,” Darren caught me and sat me down in a chair, “What do you see?”

“A flash,” I said then I saw the snow turn to water then a field where there were graves and people fighting in between them. I saw swords and guns do damage to people I knew, including the boys here. I saw Morrison watching from his building then a flash of Seth and Darren fighting. There was a blast of fire then smoke filled my vision.

“Garnet, focus,” Darren said then I looked up at him.

 

“Is that how the ability works, that is seriously cool it just takes you over,” one of the other boys commented.

“It isn't cool, it's something very few people could handle,” Dare touched my face, “What did you see?”

“I saw fire and smoke, you and Seth were beating on each other in part of it,” I shrugged.

“There is more to it than that,” he urged me.

“Later,” I mouthed then he agreed reluctantly.

 

“How often do you get visions?” Levi inquired. I looked at him he was so young and innocent, I wanted him to grow up and win some girl's heart.

“Every once in awhile, they are subjective though to change,” I remarked, “Most of the time.”

“Did you really survive the death serum like Eva said yesterday?” Gordon asked uncertainly.

“Yes, but that's not our top priority right now, we have to get you guys back to your family and friends,” I cleared my throat, “You guys start practising I'll help where I can.”

“Race you guys,” Dex bounced around the room while Darren brought me to sit on the floor with him.

 

“Are you feeling hungry or thirsty? I know those visions drain you,” he offered.

“That's sweet, but mostly I need to do my part here,” I rubbed my forehead, “I'll eat and drink later.”

“You're worse than Eva about eating,” he shook his head.

“Well not all of us can eat two plates of food like you and Nora,” I retorted, “I am fine, I just don't feel as hungry anymore.”

 

“Are you hiding behind excuses to be mad at me, Garnet?” he commented, “Because I know you're upset about the neuro-stroma and that Levi kid seeing into minds.”

“You realize of the kids here, him and Gordon will be the main targets,” I started chewing on my nails.

“Didn't anyone teach you that's a bad habit?” he slapped my hand away from my mouth.

“Who are you my mother?” I rolled my eyes.

“No, just a concerned boyfriend,” he said seriously, “I am sorry I didn't tell them, but I swore I won't.”

“I didn't make that oath so I was allowed,” I guessed.

“Exactly,” he replied, “You're always breaking the rules anyways, Garnet.”

 

“Well Price, you broke every military rule in the manual to be with me here,” I reminded him, “I am not the only one that Morrison wants either, he still thinks you'd make a good soldier.”

“He isn't going to get me or you,” he promised, “I will protect the people like I am supposed to, but especially you, Nora, Eva and myself.”

“And Seth when we get him back,” I insisted.

“Yes, and Adams,” he made a face, “As long as he doesn't try anything else, he has a girl already and I will share you as a friend to him and me, but nothing more.”

“Got it, Officer Price,” I watched the kids practise, “I wish I'd been taught this when I was their age.”

 

“Do you regret that?” he questioned.

“No, I guess without the sequence of events I wouldn't have had everything I've been gifted with,” I shrugged, “Family, friends and an egotistical worry wart of a boyfriend.”

“Why is there fire?” one of the boys asked and I saw smoke out the window. We raced back to my tent to find Eva laughing and crying at the same time.

“What happened?” I asked her looking at the remains of our tent.

 

“It's Seth, he is coming with the treaty people to guard, it was decided today,” she told me excitedly, 

“He's coming back, May.” I hugged her while she processed it.

Author's Note

what do you think Seth will be like now?