Program: Superhuman *ON HOLD*

Chapter 18: More Answers

    "I... I don't understand."

    Mom faced the TV, a ways from us with her arms hugging her stomach. Arden and I shared a glance, then looked back to the hunched figure. Mom slowly turned back to us, staring at me with a scared look in her eyes.

    "You have powers?"

    Her voice sounded fragile and shaky. I gazed at her suspiciously. She sounded scared of me.

    "Oh, goodness," Mom murmured, sitting down on the coffee table and covering her mouth. She stared unseeingly in the distance. "I... I prayed for so long you wouldn't develop anything like this."

    I scoffed. She focused on me and I felt tears fill my eyes, which made my cheek warm in embarrassment. I sniffed, standing up and walking away.

    "Willow, wait! I didn't mean it like that."

    My mom stood and grabbed my hand. I whirled around to face her.

    "Didn't mean it like what? Didn't mean it to sound like you're terrified of me?" I snapped my hand back, glaring at her.

    "I'm not terrified of you, Willow. I'm terrified for you." She stared at me for another few seconds, then sighed, enveloping me in her arms again. "Oh, Willow. The fact that you have powers, and that you know about them means we're all in danger, you especially."

    She pulled away, then looked to Gale.

    "We've been careful, Kylee," the woman reassured her. "No one else knows about this but the team at the bookstore and this family."

    "The team?" Mom repeated, alarmed. "What team?"

    "Forge finds other people from Program: Superhuman and takes them in. We have several living with us... and a normal bystander, but she's completely trustworthy."

    "They're trying to teach me how to control my powers," I said, my earlier anger and hurt melting away.

    Mom glanced to me again. "What... are your powers exactly?"

    "So far, I can shoot blue energy from my hands. Mac... one of the people at the bookstore said she had a "theory" about my powers, but she didn't give away anything specific."

    "What about..." she trailed off, expression hesitant.

    "PS doesn't know anything," Gale said. She glanced to me. "At least not that we know of."

    Mom sighed, reaching up undoing her bun. "I want to speak with Forge. In person."

    "I can make sure he's at the bookstore tomorrow morning." Gale glanced back to her. "I'm sure Willow and Arden can show you where it is."

    "Thank you... Gale.  But... I still have to ask. What are you doing here?"

    At that question, the woman hesitated. I froze. The whole reason Gale was here was so she could keep Arden and me safe while Mr. Vale went on a date with Mom – while Uncle Forge and Caspar spied on Mr. Vale and Mom.

    "Maybe... you should hear that from your kids."

    Mom tilted her head curiously. I rolled my eyes. She was totally pawning off that responsibility to us.

    "I'll... leave you three to it, then." Gale looked uncomfortable as she turned to the front door. Panic instantly flared in my heart.

    "Wait!" I exclaimed, taking a step forward. "What about-"