Linked

Chapter 7

"Oh..."  I groaned.  My body ached as I started to to take in my surroundings.

I didn't know where I was.  Not in the vehicle anymore.  I was definitely in a room.  But everything was still dark, even without the bag over my head.  I fumbled around for something that would enlighten me, but found nothing nearby.  Then a voice spoke out from the room.

"Are you okay?"

"What?  Who's there?"  I replied into the darkness.

"Just some people like you,"  Another person commented. "Your eyes will adjust to the lack of light in a moment.  You'll be able to see us."

"Okay,"  This is weird.  Who are these people?  The other prisoners the guards were talking about?  My eyes adapted to the gloomy atmosphere, and I made-out two figures a few feet away from me.

"Hi,"  Two boys about my age waved.

"What's your name?"  One requested.

"Casey.  Casey Thomas.  What are your names?"  I inquired, still unsure about this situation.

"This is Dustin,"  The boy who asked me my name pointed to the red-haired, freckled guy sitting next to him, "And I'm Jordan,"  He gestured to himself.  His has dark hair like mine,  "You must have a lot of questions about this place, so to start you off, we have powers too."

"Really?  Wait.  How did you know I have powers?"

"Everyone who gets put in here does- in this cell.  We're kinda held captive for the time being."

"For the time being?  You mean they'll let us go?"  Finally, some answers.

"Well, we've always thought they would after the Boss carries out her plans, but nothing is certain.  Sorry, I got your hopes up."

"Oh.  That's okay.  But why are we here?  Who's the Boss?  And what are her plans?"  I was too focused on resolving all my confusion to dwell on lost hopes.  I could worry about that later.

"We are here because our minds are more advanced.  We were born with certain abilities that could threaten people like the Boss.  Anyway, we all have one piece of our minds that was unlocked further since birth, mine is that I can see through other people's eyes.  I sort-of tap into nearby people's brains, and see what they see currently.  Dustin here, has more of an offensive trait.  He can use his mind to will thoughts into other's brains.  He can basically manipulate people however he wants.  But he won't mess with you or me... usually,"  Jordan looked at Dustin, annoyed from a previous event.

"Comforting,"  I replied sarcastically. "So, who's the Boss?"

"The Boss is someone that thinks she owns the world.  She hunts down people like us and tortures them both internally and externally.  She basically wants us to suffer for being 'unnatural,' and take away everything we love."

"Wow.  Well, what will she do to us...?"

"Anything she can to watch us feel pain.  She thinks we have a higher pain tolerance and will find new ways to inflict us all the time.  The real question is: what won't she do?  And I'm not just talking about us personally.  She has no guilt in using others.  That's why it's hard to have emotional ties to people that aren't like us."

"That's... horrific.  Just awful,"  There is a long pause and the room is silent. "Um, off of that subject, do you guys want to know about my powers and how I got here...?"

"Yes!  I love a good story!"  Dustin moved closer.

"Alright, well my friend and I were walking home tonight- or last night?  I lost track of time.  Anyway, I'm walking with him-"