Zero

21 : Rockets

P A R T 2 1

"What?" I say. "What do you mean, you found us long ago? Do you know how long we've all been waiting for you?"

"Almost a whole month, I believe," Devon replies. "I got here before you found the guy inside. I've been tracking your progress on finding the others ever since. And I'm really impressed. You've found all of them."

I raise an eyebrow. "Not by myself. And not all of them. There's still the Nineteen."

"Ah. The Nineteen," he pauses painfully. "Well. It's Paige."

All at once I remember the hints she gave me: the person being older than a teenager, her mumbling that she, like me, had a ten added to her number, and always wearing a turtleneck.

I'm now pretty sure that if I checked her collarbone the day I escaped her house, I would see a Nineteen, only the line would not be faded, it would be prominent. Maybe that's why she always wore a turtleneck.

The pieces all fit together. "Who killed her?" I ask.

"Someone from the government, probably," Devon answers sadly.

I realise he's still standing outside and I glance at Jarren. He's immersed in his own thoughts, completely uninterested in Devon.

So I invite him in. Devon settles down on a beanbag seat beside Jarren, eying him. He looks at me, then at Jarren, then at me again. "You both... live together?" He asks, not very apprehensively.

Jarren eyes him back, probably reading his mind. He sighs, then says tiredly, "It's not what you're thinking."

"If you say so," Devon replies dismissively. He takes out a laptop from the briefcase he's carrying and opens a file, placing his fingers on the keyboard, getting ready to type. "Now, I would appreciate if you could fill me in on the above-Nines found."

I raise an eyebrow at this dude's briskness. "Well... there's the Eleven, Mitchell-"

"In chronological order, please," Devon interjects.

I shoot him a disdainful look. "Maybe if you don't interrupt..." I suggest, then continue. "The Ten is me, I have enhanced senses such as eyesight and hearing. I'm sixteen years old.

"The Eleven is Mitchell Owen. He has enhanced strength. He's thirteen years old.

"The twelve is Kingfisher 'Kole' Flyn. He has enhanced imitation abilities. He's seventeen years old. His twin brother, Kookaburra 'Kev' Flyn, is the Thirteen. He has enhanced immunity.

"The Fourteen is Jarren here," I say, pointing to him. "He has enhanced psychic abilities and is seventeen years old.

"The Fifteen is Cady Melrose. We haven't found out her enhanced ability yet. She's fifteen years old.

"The Sixteen is Cha. He's literally a genius and is fourteen years old. The Seventeen is Linnet Kimble. She has enhanced speed, sixteen years of age.

"Lastly, the Eighteen. Fleur Montez. Sixteen years old. We don't know her enhanced ability," I finish. "And there's Paige Miles," I add after a moment.

"And there's Paige Miles," Devon echoes, a little regretfully, I notice.

He has typed down what little information I have been able to give.

"What was her enhanced ability?" Jarren suddenly pipes up, curious.

"Wow, the ice king finally speaks," Devon jokes. "Enhanced hypnosis."

"She never tried that on me," I muse.

Devon shoots me a doubtful look. "You wouldn't know if she did," he deadpans.