Prologue

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Where am I? I question as I try to make out any detail in the darkness. It's a familiar darkness, which is just as disconcerting as it is strange. How can a particular darkness be memorable?

Then I remember.

My name is Kristyll Branch, and I'm a Neek. Stupid name, I know, I didn't choose it. Short for "unique" but I guess if we have an odd name, it's easier to remember that we're odd people.

We have abilities. I don't want to say powers because that makes us seem like we're super. We're not, we're just... different. We have many enemies, but the most dangerous of them are the Bruisers. Named for their extreme aggression and reputation as "peacekeepers" for us Neeks, we spend our lives avoiding them at all costs.

This cage I'm in is what happens when we fail and get caught. That's why it's familiar to me— I spent half of my adolescence in one of these personal prisons, once the Bruisers discovered me.

I decide I need to escape. Again. Only this time, I can't wait until mealtime. I have to get out NOW.

I lay down and face the door to look through the crack at the bottom. I see no movement. I close my eyes and push my mind through the crack and do a full 360°. Still no sign of life.

I focus my vision on the keypad attached to the door. Great, I think to myself, they upgraded from a deadbolt and padlock.

I concentrate harder to make out the last numbers that were pressed. They pop out like a 3-D book. 5821.

I give form to my vision and enter the 4 digit combination that would mean my escape. I hear a beeping noise then a click.

I retract my mind and stand up to push the door open. Damn, that's bright. I look around one last time before I make my way to the one window. The door would have guards, so that's a definite no.

I raise the window just enough for me to climb out and I get a whiff of fresh air.

Freedom. Finally. I start to climb out the window when I hear the door open and I freeze.

"Hello, Kristyll."

Shit.

"Hi mom."

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