Lonely

Chapter 73, Hanger

Nicco stood proudly, a triumphant grin on his face as he looked at the sheet that was now ablaze.  Arianna smiled indulgently at him.

“Very good, Nicco. Okay, let’s have Boomer next.” Boomer stepped forward.

“I don’t know if there is anything you can teach me about my ability.” He said doubtfully. Arianna made a face.

“We’re going to work on speeder and agility.” Levy coughed to hide a laugh. Boomer shrugged and stepped onto a platform that Arianna was pointing to. She wrote something down on her clipboard and pulled a clicker with a red and green button on it. Dodger nudged me with his elbow and pointed to the screen like ceiling. A car was being held up there somehow. Boomer looked confused, but relaxed. Arianna smiled one last time at him and pressed the button. There was a loud crunching, grinding sound as the car was dropped from the ceiling. I saw Sadie wince next to me.

“Holy crap!” Boomer cried and dove off the platform. The car crashed onto the ground, making a disgustingly loud noise. Dodger winced and pressed his headphones to his ears. Arianna frowned.

“Boomer, you were supposed to catch it.” Arianna instructed. Boomer raised his eyebrows.

“I think I just passed the speed and agility thing. I just moved speedily and agilely to get out of the way of a car about to crush me.” Arianna gave him a disapproving look, and he sighed.

“Fine, but only once.” He said, stepping back on the platform. Arianna looked pointedly at the car in the way, and Boomer shoved it out of the way with one hand. Another car magically appeared on the ceiling. Boomer braced himself and Arianna pressed the red button.

The car,  a red, twisted up thing, dropped from the ceiling and just when I thought for sure that Boomer was about to be crushed, he caught it, squeezing his eyes shut and making a face. He opened one eye, and grinned, then opened the other. He tossed the car a few inches in the air and

rested it lightly on top of his head while still holding the bulk of it with his hands. “Who’s the ultimate macho man?” he asked, tossing the car aside.

“Very good, Boomer. I told you that you could do it.” she said.

"Wasn't that from a movie?" Someone murmured. Arianna ignored it and pointed to Max, indicating that it was his turn.

Everything continued at a fast pace. Arianna called me up and showed me how to be more precise with where I take stuff from and where I send it. It wasn’t until Sadie went up that I started paying attention again.

“Alright, it’s quite clear that you can push people’s mind just fine.” Arianna said, giving Sadie a look. Sadie blushed prettily and looked away, thinking of earlier that morning. “I’m going to teach you how to read people’s minds.” Arianna said. Sadie looked skeptical.

“I think I would have figured out how to do that by now if I could.” She said. Arianna wagged her finger under Sadie’s nose.

“I know you can, you just have to focus. I’m going to think a number, and focus on me. Do what you do when pushing some one’s mind, but instead of putting a thought in, pause and listen to their thoughts.” She instructed. Sadie still didn’t look fully convinced, but shut her eyes. Her face scrunched up as she focused. After a moment, her eyes snapped open.

“Twenty one. This is amazing.” Sadie said gleefully.

She turned to us. She made a face.

“Ewe, remind me not to tap into the boys minds.” she said, shooting Max a look. I thought of something to encourage her. Our first kiss under the willow tree in the rain. She beamed at me and turned her attention back to Arianna.

“Very good Sadie. There is one drawback. Now that you have learned how, I’m afraid it can’t be stopped. You will always hear what ever any one is thinking, but you can learn to tune them out and ignore them.” Arianna said. Sadie’s face fell, but I continued my thought. A smile flickered around her mouth as she stepped back into the line and wove her fingers into mine.

                                                         ******

“This doesn’t really look…safe.” Max said, eyeing the obstacle course. Arianna waved her hand.

“Nonsense. You can handle it.” She said. Max swallowed. Levy grinned. “Whoo! Let me go first!” he cried. Sadie leaned closer to me.

“The boy isn’t right in the head.” She joked. I looked down at her. She had relaxed so much since arriving in Lonely, and It relaxed me. Levy stood in front of the obstacle and rolled his shoulders.

“Ready? The goal is to get through unharmed.” She instructed. That didn’t sound good. She flicked a couple switches and everything came alive. Two balls covered in spikes on chains swung back and forth at opposite times. Flames shot out of holes in the floor at random places at random times. Two sharp spears jutted out, then retracted back in, then came back out. One spot was covered in hot coals. Various other deadly places came and went. Levy grinned, looking determined. All we saw was him as he jumped the fire shooters and hot coals in one leap and then showed up at the finish line. Three seconds, maybe, and he was done. Arianna shut her mouth for fear of catching flies.

“Very, very good, Levy. I think you have used your jumping talent to its full use.” She said. Nicco stepped up next, cracking his knuckles with an eager grin on his face. Arianna flicked the switch again and everything started moving. He darted into the swinging spike balls, then waited and darted past the second one.

“Shut up, Liam! I know what to do.” He said, standing on the fire shooters. One of them came up right under his foot and momentarily caught his pant leg on fire, but didn’t harm him at all, of course. He walked across the fir shooters, not worried at all. He darted in and out, timing each move as he went across the course, and walked calmly over the hot coals. He came put on the finish line and flexed his arms like Hercules. “

I vote that Hanger goes next!” Max shouted. Sadie glared at him, but I shrugged, a plan already worked out in my head. Arianna flicked the switch. I stopped the swinging spike balls in mid air and walked around them, then let them continued their path. The fire shooters were more of a challenge. There was nothing I could do for them except go quickly. I moved around, stopped, started, and planned my way through the obstacle course and came out on the other side. I turned around and let everything start moving again.

Everything passed in a blur. Boomer simply snapped chains and broke things as he went, and passed easily. No one ended up getting hurt, which was good. Arianna had us huddle together.

“This may seem silly to you right now, but in battle, they will be life saving skills. All of you are talented. I’m just trying to push you to your limit. Show no mercy to these creatures, as they will show none to you. I’m afraid that this battle will not only include monsters working for the Avari, but Avari members themselves. You may be faced with killing another human.” She said solemnly, looking at all of us. For once, none of the guys made a joke about it.

The twins were nodding and making faces as they talked to each other in their heads. Boomer rubbed his arm. Levy twitched nervously, pent up energy making him nervous. Dodger rubbed his head, the noise from the car still bothering him. A feeling of confidence suddenly spread through all of us, and made us stand a little taller. I glanced at Max, but he just yawned and acted completely innocent. The twins high fived without taking their eyes off of Arianna, and Levy put his arm around her.

“Don’t worry, Arianna. We got this all under control.” He said, trying to reassure her. Nicco shook his head.

“Jaysus, what I wouldn’t give for a cup of tay right about now.” He said.

“You just managed to ruin two words in one sentence.” Sadie said. Even Arianna started laughing, and things felt a little more carefree. For once.

Hope you guys liked it, sorry for the slow update!:)