Phoenix's Secret

Chapter 5

Just wanted to apologise for changing perspective so much 😂

Phoenix looked down at the list.

• David Summers

• Evelyn Howard

• Abigail Walker

• Tom Jacobs

• Holly Waters

She was aware of the fact that she knew despairingly little about them, but this was the shortlist of the most dangerous savants in the community, and she had to try to find them.

*

Tony lying on a leather couch, staring intently at the flat screen tv in front of him. Colours flashed across it at a speed too fast for Phoenix to comprehend, but he seemed riveted.

She signalled to the girls, using her arms instead of telepathy in case it was heard, and stepped into the room.

"Phee!" Tony stared up at her, shocked but amazed. He got to his feet and encased her in an enormous hug.

"I can't believe you're here! How did you find me?" Phoenix shrugged, not sure how to explain Crystal's unique gift. She could track close friends as well as soulfinders.

"Never mind that now. Sit down, I have so much to tell you."

Phoenix smiled as she accepted his offer. Tony had been the only thing she'd missed about the community, and now she'd found him everything was brighter.

After a few moments of happy chatter, filling each other in on what had happened after the Seer's arrest, Phoenix remembered why she was there.

"Actually, Tony, I didn't just come here to catch up. I'm looking for these people. Have you seen them?"

She handed him the list. He studied it for a few moments before looking back up at her, happy expression replaced by  a sad one.

"Phee..." He began, breaking off. Taking a deep breath, he tried again. "Phee, they're all dead."

                                    *

"Are you sure?"

Phoenix looked around at the girls huddled anxiously around her.

"That's what Tony said. Someone's been hunting down members of the Community, and taking them out. One by one."

Sky rushed to her side, hugging Phoenix tightly.

"Don't worry, you're safe."

"I know. I just can't believe someone would do that. We were criminals, but j don't see why anyone would hate the us so much they'd want to murder us."

"You don't think it was Kelly?" Crystal asked.

"No. She was close to those guys, and I don't think even Kelly would be insane enough to kill everyone."

"Then who?"

Phoenix studied than all, worried. "I don't know."

*

Phoenix let out a slow breath. She was sitting on her bed in the hotel room, packed bag beside her like a faithful dog.

Looking around at the sleeping faces of her co-conspirators, she felt a pang of guilt. Was she really going to do this again?

But the answer was clear in her mind. She had to. Taking another deep breath, she closed her eyes, and grasped at the mind strings of the sleeping girls. Carefully pushing out her power, she froze them. Sleeping minds were much easier, why had she never thought of this before?

Tiptoeing out the front door, she let them go as soon as the door closed behind her, returning them to their sleeping states.

Jogging out the front door, Phoenix didn't look back.

*