Abnormal {Book 1: Completed, Book 2: Ongoing}

Chapter 1

My name is Lyanna.

I'm turning sixteen today.

Not that anyone would care.

Over the years, I had learned to disguise myself, hiding who I truly am. An Abnormal. At least that's what they call kids like us these days. We are people that have superpowers. Some can turn themselves invisible. Some can fly.

My power, is mind control. I am able to link my mind to someone else's, and make them do whatever I want them to do.

I've only used my powers once. It was an accident, and since then, I vowed never to use those powers again, for fear that I might hurt someone. There is a reason why the government wants to hunt us down and kill us, after all.

And ever since my parents were killed, I learned to blend into the crowds.

To remain undetected.

You may have thought that after all those years, they would stop searching for me. But I know they haven't.

I know this from the "Wanted" posters that are taped on store windows, on brick walls, nailed into tree trunks. I know that there is a list of the names of almost a hundred teenagers, with a bounty next to each of the names.

My name is listed at a top, with a bounty of 20 million coins.

Today is just another day on the streets. I pull my hood over my head, then scurry towards the bakery, trying to remain inconspicuous. As I duck inside the bakery, I accidentally bump into someone. He swears under his breath, then hurries away. I swallow hard, trying to calm down. I don't feel like myself today.

I eye my surroundings carefully, making sure that I won't make another careless mistake. Then I whip my hand out, snagging a piece of bread off a tray and shoving it into my bag.

Keeping my head down, I walk casually out the bakery, rounding the corner and hurrying towards the small, dimly lit tavern at the end of the alley.

The City Tavern is the only safe place for me now. The people there never ask questions, because most of them only mind their own business. They are either fugitives or Abnormals, and nobody wants anyone to know their true identity. In the City Tavern, we learn not to make unnecessary eye contact, not to speak to anyone except for the staff, and most importantly, not to make friends.

We are all lonely, miserable individuals. But ultimately, this way of living is the only thing that keeps us alive and breathing.

Once I enter the tavern, I walk towards a small table in the corner, which is where I usually sit. But then halfway to my table, I stop in my tracks, staring in disbelief at the young man already sitting there. He is slowly sipping a glass full of a strangely colored liquid, a mixture of bright blue and green.

It matches his eyes, I think distractedly. His hair is a dark, rich shade of brown, and he wears a simple light blue T-shirt with faded jeans. He is also wearing tennis shoes.

A chill goes through me. He doesn't look like the others in the tavern, with their dull colored coats and hooded capes. He doesn't look like he's hiding from anything. In fact, he looks quite relaxed as he leans back in his chair, a faint smirk on his shockingly handsome face. I have no idea what he is doing here.

Just as I'm about to head to another empty table, he suddenly opens his mouth and speaks.

"Hey!" He calls out in a friendly tone.

My cheeks flush from embarrassment. He must have noticed me staring at him.

Reluctantly, I look up at him, and he waves enthusiastically in my direction, beckoning me towards him.

I hesitate, not wanting to put myself in any danger, but his face is so open and honest that I decide to join him.

I sit down across from him cautiously, and he smiles brightly at me.

I swallow hard, meeting his unflinching gaze. "What do you want?" I ask in an irritated tone.

He leans forward, as if telling me a secret. "My name is Adrius." Then he shakes his head. "I just want to get to know you. Why are people so suspicious these days? Is it so odd that I want to get to know more people and make new friends?"

I think for a moment before answering his question. "I wouldn't say that its odd. It's just that people like you...don't normally show up here."

"People like me?"

I choose my next words carefully. "People here, usually prefer to be isolated. They prefer not to be disturbed. They don't usually want to make friends."

His smile is so bright now that I think it will blind me.

"Why do you want to be isolated? Are you hiding from something?"

He sounds so innocent that I'm tempted to answer him. But of course, I don't. Instead, I ask, "What brings you here today? There must be a good reason as to why you would want to show up at this dark, gloomy place all by yourself."

"Changing the subject, I see." He nods to himself.

And in that moment, I see something shift in his expression. His face is no longer friendly and unguarded. When his eyes meet mine again, I see something cold and calculating underneath.

My hand slowly inches towards the knife hidden in my boot, but my movements aren't subtle enough. He raises his eyebrows, and his gaze moves to something behind me.

Not something. Someone.

I whip out my knife just as a fist connects with my skull. I fall out of my seat, and the knife falls out of my hand. I've had no fighting experience at all, and my movements are clumsy. I am in no shape to fight two grown men.

My attacker then punches me again, this time in the stomach. I gasp, wrapping my arms around myself, hunching over on the ground.

Then suddenly, I feel a needle being injected into the side of my neck. I flinch, trying to move away, but the chemicals have already taken over my body. I collapse onto the ground, and feel strong arms scooping me up.

Then this is when I realize that I could have used my powers against Adrius and my attacker.

I could have forced them to leave me alone.

I could have forced them to walk away.

But I didn't.

Because I am afraid of my own powers, afraid of what I might be able to do.

Afraid that I really am the monster that everyone thinks I am.