Chapter 12 Part 2: Ability Control

“Jeff.”

A familiar voice, soft and gentle. Shine.

“Hmm…”

I mumbled sleepily, burrowing deeper into the blankets.

“Wake up.”

I was jostled awake. Even small hands could move my equally small body. My memories slowly returned. I sat up, rubbing my messy hair. Shine held my head, supporting it as I yawned.

“Ugh…”

I stretched, my short legs dangling off the bed.

“My head hurts.”

“Does it hurt a lot?”

I grumbled. She gently touched my head. I felt a flicker of unease and pushed her hand away.

“I’m okay now.”

The girl in the mirror wore a fragile smile. I quickly adjusted my expression. It was difficult to control the muscles in this unfamiliar face.

“Is everyone awake?”

Amy, dressed in a black suit, sat on a plush sofa in the living room. I’d never seen her in a suit before. What had I thought of her during our first meeting? I’d been so focused on the beam of light from her hand, I hadn’t registered anything else.

“Are we going somewhere today?” I asked, hopping off the bed.

She looked down at her suit and nodded. Her pink hair swayed. “I’m behind on work.”

Going to commit more terrorist acts? I wanted to ask.

The word “terrorist” triggered a cascade of fragmented memories. The buzzing in my head intensified, bringing a sharp pain. I winced, rubbing my temples.

“What’s for breakfast?”

Shine pressed herself against my side, her arm around me. Her warmth soothed the buzzing and the pain. I thought about breakfast.

We walked to the cafeteria, hand in hand, Amy leading the way, distracted by her constantly buzzing phone. I watched her screen, trying to decipher the messages. I caught a few words: District 15. Acquisition.

She put the phone away. I looked away, as if I hadn’t been staring. Shine gave me a strange look.

“No Amy today?”

Shine asked during breakfast.

Amy, who’d barely touched her food, looked up and smiled.

“That’s right. I might be away for a few days.”

Shine seemed to like her.

“You have to come back.”

The buzzing in my head stopped. Amy’s eyes went blank for a split second. Then she was back.

“Of course I will.”

She smiled brightly and patted Shine’s head.

I jumped up, dropping my spoon and chopsticks with a clatter.

Shine turned to me, her gaze intense. I stared back, horrified.

“You…!”

“Jeff?”

My voice caught in my throat. I tried to get down from the chair, but Shine held my hand tightly. The buzzing returned.

“Jeff’s hand hurts,” Shine said.

I nodded dumbly. My right hand trembled. I couldn’t hold the chopsticks.

“I think so,” I said to Amy, cradling my shaking hand.

Amy, looking concerned, gave me new utensils.

Breakfast was good. The buzzing subsided, replaced by a calming quiet.

After breakfast, Amy took us to a large gymnasium. Dozens of machines filled the vast space. I recognized some of them: equipment for testing and enhancing physical and psionic abilities. I understood why Amy brought us here.

“Are you going to remove this?”

I raised my hand, the silver bracelet glinting in the light.

“You know what this is, Jeff?” Amy patted my head. I hated the feeling of her large hand ruffling my hair. I pulled away.

“No one’s here,” Shine said, looking around. This place should have been staffed.

“It’s a day off,” Amy explained.

“A day off? The weekend?” I hadn’t known what day it was. This small body was so limiting. If only I had a computer or a phone…

“We only need one machine, so it’s fine.”

She led us to a large circular dome. She turned it on and removed our bracelets. They came off easily, leaving faint marks on our wrists.

I entered the dome first.

[Jeff, can you hear me?] Amy’s voice came through the speakers.

I turned and saw her at a control panel, holding a microphone.

“Yes.”

[Good. Release your power.]

Release my power? I raised my hands. The familiar tingling returned. Blue sparks crackled at my fingertips.

Crackle. Buzz.

I spread my arms. Blue electricity surged through my body, filling the dome with a sizzling sound. A powerful electric field formed around me. My white hair stood on end. My feet lifted off the ground.

[Jeff, are you okay?]

“I feel great.”

I unleashed my power, letting the electricity flow freely, drowning out the buzzing in my head. The blue light danced around me.

Crackle! BANG!

The small sparks became lightning bolts, striking the walls of the dome. BANG! BANG! The air crackled with energy. My vision turned white.

It felt exhilarating to use my power without restraint. I’d always had to be careful, surrounded by sensitive equipment.

[Jeff?]

[You can stop now.] Amy’s voice brought me back to reality.

I reluctantly reigned in my power, the blue sparks fading. My feet touched the ground. My hair settled. A tingling sensation lingered in my mouth. My power was the same. It was me who had changed. This smaller body disrupted the flow of electricity. New pathways, unfamiliar and unpredictable, like a wild bull breaking free. I could see the scorch marks on the walls of the dome.

[Come on out.]

I obeyed, my gaze fixed on my empty wrists. I paused before leaving the dome, looking at Shine. She stood beside Amy, watching me.

I raised my hand, a surge of emotion causing blue sparks to flicker.

“Jeff.” Shine smiled brightly. I lowered my hand, smiling back. Her smile calmed my anxieties.

I bounced out of the dome and joined them. Amy held out a bracelet. I took it reluctantly. I hated putting it back on.

“What’s Jeff’s power?” Shine asked.

“Electrokinesis. High-level. A rare and valuable ability. Which is why bad people are after her,” Amy explained.

Shine took my arm, her own wrist adorned with a silver bracelet.

“Shall we go back?” Amy asked.

“Huh?”

“What are you waiting for?” She turned and walked away, holding a file with my and Shine’s information.

Wait. Wasn’t this supposed to be a power assessment?

Shine hugged me from behind. Her warmth was comforting. She rested her chin on my shoulder and whispered, “Jeff.”

“Yes…?”

“We have to go back and eat snacks.”

I shook my head. “I want cola, not snacks.”

A soft chuckle. Shine stroked my hair. I nuzzled against her like a contented cat.

“You two are really close,” Amy said, watching us.

I looked at Shine. She smiled.

“Yes,” I said, agreeing with Amy. We were close. I nodded.

Shine, pleased with my answer, pulled me forward. I forgot about my questions. All I wanted was cola. Cold, refreshing cola. With ice.

We left the gymnasium.