Mind Over Mask

3. Arya

"So, what exactly are we doing here?" I asked.

"I'm going to read your mind," Angie said.

"Uh.. I don't know if I-" I said, stepping back a little. She'll know what you did.

"Don't worry," she said with a smile. "I won't be able to understand most of it — it's just general senses and stuff. I can only see what you want me to see."

She was still smiling, assuring me that it would be okay. I had no reason to believe her, but I followed along regardless.

"Hold out your hands," she instructed.

I obliged, and she pressed her palms firmly against mine. Here we go.

Probably like 20 seconds later, she pulled her hands away and clutched her forehead. She let out an "ow!" and scrunched her nose.

"What happened?" I asked. "Did I do something?"

"It felt like I was running into a wall — repeatedly," she said. "I've never experienced something like that. You've really built up quite the mental block.."

"Damn," I said. I really thought it would work. "Shall we try again?"

"Maybe later..." she said, still clutching her forehead. I nodded — I could sense that she was in more pain than she was letting on.

***

"Hey Angie?" I asked, looking at her body sprawled across the blue velvet couch. She was no longer rubbing her temples, which I took as a good sign. She sat up, indicating for me to go on.

"Do you remember a couple of hours ago, when you said that I should be careful who I tell about my powers?" She nodded, and I went on.

"What did you mean by that?"

She laughed a little, before saying "Well, I guess to protect your secret identity. I don't know, it's just kind of what superheroes do."

I sat there, dumbfounded. I never had to conceal my powers before. Where I came from, everyone had powers. I felt a twinge of sadness upon realizing that I used the past tense to describe my home.

"Well, I'm kind of a nobody," I said. "My identity's not really worth protecting. And I don't really do the whole 'hero' thing."

Now she was the dumbfounded one. "I'm sure that's not true!" she exclaimed, straightening her posture. I saw her wince a little, but she didn't let it show on her face. "And hey, it's never too late to start."

She's tough. I then realized one more thing.

She had trusted me enough to show me her powers.