The Power of the Mind (Cassidy Hall 1)

Chapter 1

2005

"Hey Cass! Come on! Throw the ball!" Some child shouts at her as they run across the open field. Nothing but dust and stones lay around them, a place once known as a bustling town now one of many reduced to rubble and dust.

Cassidy Hall, 8 years old, runs along with them, playing soccer with the other girls and boys with a ball of plastic bags, the best from a bad situation. She kicks the ball way off course, missing the goal by a long shot.

"Oh my gosh! You suck Cassie!"

"You suck Nimrod!" She shouts back at the scrawny red head. She didn't like being shouted out.

"Hey, my name's Josh!"

"Nimrod!" She taunts him and starts running in the opposite direction, all the way home, or at least, the best version of a home for someone like them.

"Hey! Get back here!" Soon all the children, dressed in ragged clothes and dusty till their knees are running around the field, chasing and throwing each other around. 

The sound of a police car ringing its siren stops them all in their tracks.

The kids group together, afraid because of the stories they had heard about what they do to Mutant kids. Cassie stood in the middle, curious but apprehensive.

Two officers climbed out of the car. One was younger, more cheery, and walked like he had been a cop since he was born. The other was short and stocky, with a moustache. He looked mean.

"Hey there kids." The younder of the two officers shouted as they approached them. None of them moved. "Don't worry. We just wanna make sure no one's causin' any mischief. Where's ya parents?"

No one dared speak. Cassie did though. "They're gone."

Both the officers looked at her. The younger one smiled a big smile that never reached his eyes and waved her over. "Well now, that's too bad. Where'd they go, pumpkin?"

She looked at his face. She didn't like him. He smiled too much.

"They're dead. Bad people came to our house and killed them."

"Well, ain't that a shame. What happened? Do you remember?"

She shrugged her shoulders. She didn't understand him. Nobody asks about their families around here, so why does he want to know? She stared at him as he smiled even wider.

He nodded to her locket. "That's a pretty necklace you got there."

She stayed quiet. What does he want?

"Now what's your name little one?" Before she could answer him, Delilah walked out, bat in hand.

"Is there a problem officer?" She pulled Cassie behind her legs.

"Delilah. I see you've taken up more strays."

She huffed. "These kids need someone to look out for them. I guess I decided it would be me."

"Yeah yeah I know. You won't stop telling everyone you meet. Just be careful darling. You don't know if this are the kids of monsters." His southern accent drew out his pet name for her, even more disgusting when it came out of his mouth.

Cassie peeked at the officers again. The older one kept staring at her. She didn't like him much either.

"If they are, you'll be the first I call."

He smiled at her before looking at Cassie. "You be careful there, little one. Reg, let's go." The older looked at her again before walking back to their car. As they drove off Delilah pulls Cassie to the house.