Existence: Shadows At Midnight

Chapter 8

"So today's class is on the chronological events that led to the existence of today's music. Turn to page..." As the music teacher spoke about the topic of the day, she felt it. A familiar wave. One that resonated within her due to her Gift. Stella sensed a power activate. Her gift gave her a sort of radar. A sonar similar to that of a submarine. The use and implications of hers though were totally different.

"Hey Stella, you listening? Hey." Her shoulder was shaken by the girl beside her. Cherrie, pronounced with a 'sh' sound, beckoned to her. She smiled in response and fixated her eyes on the teacher. Her face showed uninterrupted attention. Her mind was far away though. How long had it been since she sensed his gift? How long had it been since the Brightest Light used his power? It felt like ages had past since she herself witnessed Connor's power of teleportation. Her radar showed his light shining with its lost but never forgotten brilliance. 

The class ended and as the teacher finished and gave out assignments, Stella had resigned herself to performing three things that day. First, she would have to pinpoint exactly where Connor was. While she could sense his light and see his whereabouts, she had no idea what that place was. She needed a map. A map would have to suffice for going there in person would be troublesome. And to an extent fatal because it would defy the rules. The second thing would be to relay the information. Better to let her companions know that Connor activated his power. There were only two people she could talk to though and one of them was nowhere on her radar. Most likely it was nothing to worry about considering who Damian was. The other one though, whose light never faded was in an area she knew very well. She couldn't meet up with him though. Rules rules. She could, in some way, send him a message. Inform Adam that his rival just used his powers. That would surely rile him up. Class adjourned, she left for home as quickly as possible. Rejecting any and all people who intended to converse with her.

The third thing would likely be the most difficult. Figuring out why Connor used his power. On such a large scale too. Her sonar, when activated, showed her a series of dull and bright blips. The dull blips were those without any powers, or rather Gifts. She termed those people as  Norms. On the other hand, the bright blips were quite self-explanatory. They were referred to as Gifted. When the so called 'Gifted' used their powers, their light would shine brighter. Just like Connor's did. Stella smiled to herself as she walked at an even pace recalling how she coined the terms that their group had accepted. It was nostalgic. And at that moment, it was all gone.

'For now maybe. But it looks like I might get my wish after all with or without a shooting star.' She thought planning and scheming. If she could at least get to Adam, at least contact him, then it would begin anew. He'd definitely be in on their long awaited 'rebellion'. The rules didn't say that they couldn't have an uprising did they?

*

"So what's up? You gonna stick me with a needle?" Damian was re-energized. His strength was mostly back. His mind was fully alert. His instincts were at full throttle. With him though, much to his surprise, was Denise. One of the many people he didn't get along with. Probably due to him stabbing her some time back but forgive and forget you know? The girl with the ponytail was sitting somewhere on something behind him. Likely a chair. They'd never have a bed for him cause that would mean unfastening his restraints to let him lie on it. A stupid move that. Yet now, in the ' mental asylum ' kind of place he was, in addition to his ' doctors ' was a former accomplice.

"I'd love to. I really would. I hear silver nitrate isn't too good for the blood." Came the threat from behind him.

"Really? I wouldn't have guessed." Damian, fully aware that Denise would gladly inject some foreign crap into his body, wasn't afraid. She may want to do it but she wouldn't. More appropriately, she couldn't. If he of all the 7 billion people on the planet was being held in this facility, then she of all the 7 billion people in the world would be in here for the same reason as him. Regardless of who was chained to a sturdy chair and who wasn't.