The People with Useless Power

Chapter Two

"Mmmmmm..," Emily groaned, blinking open her eyes and squinting at the bright light above her.

She sleepily realized it wasn't her bedroom lamp.

Emily snapped her head up and peered at the room. It looked like a padded cell, though she couldn't get her head up all the way; she was strapped to a table in a straitjacket. She felt as if her heart was about to explode out of her chest.

The pink-haired woman, Emma, stepped into the room and walked over to the side of her table. She laid Emily's head back down and observed her.

"Where am I?" Emily asked in a dazed voice.

"Sweetheart, you've got to know I didn't agree to this," Emma muttered.

"Where am I?" she repeated.

"You're in the headquarters of our organization. We haven't really decided on our name, though," she explained in a hushed tone.

"Where's that other woman?" Emily asked, and Emma looked annoyed at the continuous questions.

"'That other woman'? Oh- ooooh, you mean Mara. Yeah, she's the head of this organization. She's really... horrible, and never call her Mara. She makes everyone call her 'Unknown.'"

"Why?" Emily breathed out.

"Because she's insane, that's why," Emma drawled, starting to unstrap Emily from the chair.

"And why am I here?" she asked once more, only to get a disappointing answer:

"I'm afraid I can't tell you that."

"Come on," Emily groaned, "you seemed like, really cool!"

Emma gave her a haunting scowl. "I am really cool, you little brat, and you'd better watch your mouth. I'm the only one here that's on your side. I'm the only one in your life so far that's on your side."

"Ha! Right. What about Erin? And Yasmine?"

"They both have extremely amazing powers. That means they're on the government's side."

"Hey- my power's cool!"

"Who are you trying to kid, sweetie?" Emma drawled.

"Oh yeah? And what can you do?"

She held up her tan hand, outstretched with the tips pointing up to reveal the hints of neatly cut, short fingernails, and closed her eyes. On top of each fingertip, a flame popped up, one by one, until they casted their warm glow all around her palm.

She opened her eyes and blew them out.

"That's all?" Emily asked as Emma finished unstrapping her and helped her sit up.

"Yep. Pretty useless, I know, but every power has its perks," she shrugged. "Sometime I think there's more to it, like it's underdeveloped-"

"What about Mar- Unknown's power?"

Emma's smirk grew. "You'll see. It's something pretty useful, but at the same time..."

"Stop conversing with the enemy, Miss Taylors, or the committee will have to take immediate action against you," a monotoned voice barked. Emily looked from Emma's smirking face to Mara's dead serious one and gulped. Emma turned around to face the woman.

"When you say committee, do you mean those little puppets with clay masks that do whatever you say?"

"Clay masks?" Emily repeated.

Mara slapped Emma across the face with the back of her hand. "I keep telling you to watch your mouth, Emma, and you know what happens when you don't listen!"