Crossfire - a sizzling slow burn with supernatural powers

Duncan Energy Technologies, Inc.

Andrea, Penny, and were seated at our usual table for lunch. Tuesday was better than Monday. Andrea was telling us of her brother's pranks.

"My mom had told him to peel half the potatoes, and of course Ben peeled half of each potato."

Her story was cut short by someone from the office, calling my name.

"Oh oh," Penny said, adjusting her glasses on the bridge of her nose.

"I better see what that's about." I conceded and walked over.

Perhaps it was the fact, that I hadn't been to school Friday and Monday with a pass. In my mind I was running through excuses that sounded better than a guy forcefully removed me from my home and then we ran away together to his aunt. A prolonged migraine sounded more believable. And my mother was on a business trip so she couldn't call my absence in. By the time, the administrative worker and I had navigated the halls to the office, I had a solid story.

In the office there two men in suits, looking strict.

"Harper Scott." One of them said. I nodded. "You need to come with us." No nonsense. No explanation.

I looked at the principal, who merely nodded.

"Can you tell me what this is about?" I started with a confidence I didn't know I had. This was suspect. Two men coming to the school to pick me up with a reason or a message from my mother, and the principal just consents.

"Now, please." The talker said, herding me towards the door. They haven't shown a badge, so they are not law enforcement. And then again why would the police be interested in me? Did they have something to do with Brandt or his family?

They ushered me outside where a black SUV was waiting and we were on our way. Once in the car, I asked where we were going. Neither man answered. I pulled out my phone to follow our route and the talker grabbed it out of my hands.

"Sorry, that would spoil the surprise."

This had something to do with Neil Duncan. This wouldn't have happened before last Wednesday, and Brandt would have come himself. I sat back in my seat with my arms crossed and tried to prepare myself.

An hour later, the SUV halted in front of a downtown skyscraper with the name Duncan Energy Technologies, Inc. front and center. Sometimes, I hate being right. I hadn't realized that the Duncans were those Duncans of the largest energy company in the state, but it made sense with their power of great energy.

Here I was, dressed in my jeans and sneakers with my backpack over one shoulder sandwiched between the two suited men escorted from the SUV, through security, and up in the elevator. I bet this looked ridiculous, but there was a knot in my stomach. Why the heck was I here? The men led me directly to the executive floor and an executive assistant knocked on the massive door in front of me so that we could enter. Only the two men stayed outside.

Neil Duncan was standing by the windows with two men and a woman, talking. When he saw me, he said,

"Leave us for a few minutes." It wasn't cordial, it was an order. They scrambled out of the office, glancing at me as if I had three heads. I kept my head held high, knowing there was no way that I stood a chance against Neil Duncan, but that he was quick to anger, and I did not want his anger directed at me, anymore than it already was.

Neil Duncan ran his hand over his short beard, deep in thought. My guess was, he already knew what he was going to say. The pause was for dramatic effect, just as the car ride.

"You are not a normal person after all," he said, looking at me with his piercing blue eyes. "What is your power?" He asked nonchalantly, but his question was anything but. All power could be used for good or bad. He could find a way to use mine. And then I didn't have the power of lightning, nor was I a smoker. Weren't they the two fractions in this part of the state?

I bit my tongue to stay silent. I didn't have to answer. If he asked, then perhaps he didn't know the answer himself. Stay silent, I yelled to myself, biting down on my tongue.

"Fine, for now," he stated, but I saw his anger dance in his eyes. "I made a promise not to harm or bother you which I will keep, for now. At least as long as Brandt does what I say. Stay away from Brandt, and Harper.."

Neil Duncan grabbed my arm painfully hard and sizzling with electricity, making my entire arm hurt. I told myself not to push back and not to absorb his power. Feel the hurt. Go with the pain. The pain brought tears to my eyes.

"If you tell anyone about us or the empowered, I will make you regret it, before I end your life." He let go of my arm and I wanted to scream. I didn't doubt his words, but the threat that hurt the most was his command to stay away from Brandt. We hadn't talked since he dropped me off and it wasn't like we had a long relationship behind us, but we had a connection.

"Good day, Harper." Neil Duncan finished my audience and turned to look out the window again. I turned and left his office rubbing my arm.

Outside the door, the two men were waiting and they escorted me down to the lobby again. As we exited the elevator or cleared the security barrier, I saw Brandt coming through the glass doers from the outside. I audibly gasped for air at the sight of him. He looked up and our eyes met across the lobby.