The Powered People

Chapter 6

In a flash, Evian put up her hood and hide within the bushes. Imani pressed her back against a tree and let the vine climb over her again. Nolan stared at the two of them for a moment. He looked up.

"I-it's just the lab helicopter," Nolan scoffed. Perhaps if I shout loud enough they'll-his thought was cut off.

"Get down," Evian whispered, pulling Nolan into the bush. She pulled his hood over his head, the sticks and sharp leaf edges scratching his face. Imani closed her eyes tight, while Evian kept hers fixated on the sky. As the helicopter passed overhead, trees shook and rattled. The noise was loud enough to make full branches fall off of trees. And afterward, Nolan's ears rang. The whole time, Imani and Evian were completely on edge. But Nolan didn't even cover his face or inch too deep into the bush.

When the helicopter had finally passed over them, the three slowly emerged from the bushes.

"What the hell was that?" Nolan breathed.

"People from the lab, of-" Evian began, still a little quiet.

"No, why'd you have to dive into the bushes? They can't see you from here!"

"I saw Toby when he stuck his arm out of the helicopter when he was kidnapped."

"I mean, they wouldn't have done anything that bad to him if he got along."

"Still going on about that?" Evian groaned.

"Let us just take him home," Imani said.

"I'm not sure if that's how that contraction-" Nolan muttered.

"Maybe a bit of Taiga's guilt will shut him up," Evian muttered to herself.

Back at their dwelling, the first thing that Nolan saw was that little girl, Evie, playing with fire. Doesn't she know that she'll get burned? Nolan thought, rolling his eyes.

"She doesn't get burned!" Meg called out.

"Yeah, idiot!" Evie exclaimed, cheerfully, placing her ball of fire under her chin. Suddenly, she raised an eyebrow. "But you wanna who it will hurt?"

As he was distracted, Evian hurried to the back of the room, where Taiga stood.

Evie thrust her ball of fire towards him, and Nolan jumped back. His back hit the wall as he squeaked, "Don't you dare."

"What, it's just fire," Evie defended.

"Burning to death is literally the worst way to die-"

"Hey Evie, force him in that chair, place?" Evian asked, casually.

"Okay," Evia replied, in a much deeper voice than usual. Keeping the ball of fire in her hand, she shoved Nolan down into his chair. Right across from him was Taiga, who was glaring at him with intent. Evian and Imani leaned up against the wall, Taiga to their left, and Nolan to their right. Evian and Imani exchanged a smirk.

"Would you like to begin?" Imani asked, Taiga. Taiga didn't even hesitate.

"Know what were you telling Evian earlier?" Taiga demanded, her eyes piercing through him.

"God, I was just correcting them on something," Nolan groaned.

"On what?"

"She said that being tested at the lab was the worst thing in the world when clearly it isn't."

Taiga gasped. "What do you mean it isn't bad at all?"

"Well, it's probably a little bad, but not that-"