Awakened: Book One of the Mind Agents series

Awakened: Book One of the Mind Agents series, Chapter 25

"We can't run away," Maya says as she walks hurriedly down the hall with the others.

Chris rubs his head lightly and smiles at Sabine. "I'll never underestimate you again."

Maya gets in front of him. "Chris, listen to me."

"Yeah."

"How about a compromise," Jack says. "Let them know what's happened. Find out how quickly they can move us to a more locked-down area. If they blow us off us after that, then I vote we go with Chris."

Jack thinks Chris is being reckless, but the nod to his leadership could cool his bravado. Jack never thought he would meet anyone more reckless than himself, but then he never expected to meet anyone like Chris.

"That's a good first step. I agree," Maya says. "If we run, they'd just come after us. If we can work with them we'll have a better chance against this terrorist."

"Okay," Chris says. "We'll try it that way. We give them one more chance, and they better not screw us over." Their pace quickens as they move from the dorm area into the administrative wing.

"But remember," he continues, "we have the power in this situation, now that we've 'manifested'—is that what you called it? At least most of us." He puts a hand on Jack's shoulder. Jack can tell he's trying to show understanding, but it's more like a punch to the stomach. He hardly needs a reminder that he's the only one in the group who hasn't unlocked an ability.

Jack does his best to brush it off. He slaps his hands together as they round the hall to the training center's command office. "Okay, let's go."

A receptionist in a military uniform stands from behind a desk to bar their entry. They barge through, with Chris in the lead. Sabine trots along, expressing hope that they don't get into trouble.

They find Jewel, the doctor, and a few other men huddled in a control room over a console. Maps, dossiers, and scrolling data fill a large screen above them. The doctor stands to face them. "You children are not allowed in here."

Jewel steps in front of her, his arms out. "Let's go."

Chris fixes himself in Jewel's path. "Let see what you can do," he says.

Jewel reaches for Chris as if to usher him out, but just before his hand makes contact, it stops. Jewel struggles to push it forward, but can't seem to move it.

"Ha!" Jack yells. "Check that out! Children, huh?"

Jewel looks at Chris. "How are you doing that?"

"I'm not," Chris says slyly.

Jewel looks at he other kids and spots Maya focusing intently on his arm, gripping Sabine's shoulder.

He withdraws his hand and rubs it. He nods to two other security officials in the room. "Let's get these kids back to their rooms."

As two large men step forward, Maya angles her gaze toward them. One of them slows, pushing ahead as if against a powerful wind. The other steps around him.

"I can't stop them all!" Maya cries.

Jewel looks at the doctor, then back at Maya and the others. "You may have powers, but we still have rules here," he says with a slight quaver in is voice.

"Everyone, stop," the doctor says.

Maya falls to one knee. "That hurts," she says.

"Go around it," Sabine whispers to her.

"Trying."

The doctor steps in front of Maya and cracks something approximating a smile. "This is extraordinary. You controlled them, Maya?"