A Psychic's Coffee

Chapter 7 part 1

I'm so screwed, I thought. What mess have I gotten myself into, bringing twenty-four people to my own coffee shop? At first, it may seem like good business, but the horde of customers all had psychic powers. It would be pretty weird if a man came up to you and ordered a cup of coffee...with his mind.

At least I had some company which includedㅡ

"When are we gonna be there," Miguel whined. He is such a newborn baby sometimes. I swear.

Amber added, "I agree, how long should this take?"

"Like five minutes. If you guys would stop asking me, are we there yet, every second then it would go by quicker."

"Yes but you don't answer our questions," Sandra commented.

"Thanks for the feedback. I'll take it into consideration."

They've been pushing my buttons for the entirety of this, what, two-minute car ride. I wish Miguel was still knocked out so I'd only have to deal with Sandra. Sandra, seemed intimidating until I got to know her. Her leader-like qualities, or lack thereof, made me wonder how unprofessional the rest of this group was. Amber wasn't much better, annoying me in just the right way where it had to be coming from someone who lacked empathy and was of great intelligence.

"So are we there yet," Amber badgered me.

"I hate you all."

"Great to hear," She bit back.

Finally, the goal was in site. I don't think I'll ever be this happy to see my own home ever again, for my sake at least. The small shop was a safe haven and was away from all of these idiots.

"So, imbeciles, we're here."

Sandra sighed, "Thank the lord,"

"All right," Miguel yelled.

"That's why Alex likes you, I guess. You get us free coffee."

"Shut up, Amber. I don't want to hear it from you right now."

The crackling of pebbles came from behind me. My "entourage" followed me, enticed by coffee. Several SUVs pulled up behind me, inconspicuous I might add. Good to see that government money was getting some college students with black vans with tinted windows. My blue sedan parked in my gravel laden driveway and the engine sputtered to a stop. Finally, Sunshine Cafe glorious rise in the East is giving of its warm glow.

Click! All four of the doors popped open. The rest of the organization's vehicles looked like a herd of buffalo on the plains, for both were large, dark in color, and shadowed their leader. They followed, in line, to the visitor parking, Hopefully, the income that this collection of psychics would bring would at least serve as an incentive to listen to their demands.

I walked through the open, glass, door: "So what are you guys gonna do to us?"

Amber sighed, "We're going to use you as test subjects."

"You're going to be going on an important mission for us. It will include some dangerous encounters with Monolyth. If you are captured by this group you will most likely be tortured, mutilated beyond recognition, and your abilities will be used to the advantage of," Sandra listed.

At this point, I think a contract was needed to include all of the risks and regulations of this mandatory excursion. She continued to list out the details of what was going to happen until Joseph interrupted her by asking for our orders. The line of people waiting for coffee was starting to feel less like a line and more like a mob, for the longer, Sandra continued to talk.

"Hurry up," A man shouted, a few feet from behind our point in the line.

I echoed him, "Sandra, hurry up!"

Talkative as ever I suppose, I had to forcefully remove her from the line. We were all able to order, but the boring speech continued on and on. I put Sandra in a chair and we took ours.

"So any questions?"

"Yeah, so what do I have to do again? It doesn't even concern me, so I don't know if I should even care; it is your problem," I said, half focused on the conversation and on the order of coffee we were expecting.

"You and a team of four others will be trying to get access into the inner workings of Monolyth. Some of you may get jobs and become moles and others may try brute force, but the method doesn't matter as long as you get into the psychic division."

She continued on, "Monolyth uses psychics to their advantage by predicting the market, buying up other companies, etc. They're a corporation, they seek profit, though most businesses aren't bad, this one just forces psychics into terrible conditions almost to that of subhuman levels."

"Wouldn't that entail a civil rights lawsuit," Miguel though out loud.

Amber added, "As far as the government is concerned; we don't exist. Revealing a group who can change the planet in such a way would create at least some panic if not more, so they just keep us under surveillance."

"So does the government know about Monolyth," I questioned. I think I made a good point, and shouldn't the government take a strong stance on violations of human rights. Though, government bureaucracy isn't the greatest at solving problems quickly or in an efficient manner.

"Scott, Monolyth pays taxes, so it would be an unwise decision to take down a major manufacturer and distributor of technology. That means they just use us to get rid of the problem," Amber countered.

"O.K. what do you want me and Miguel to do?"

Sandra leaned into us, whispering, "We're going to get you an internship at Monolyth, go to a school with several employees' kids, and have you set up in a house in Denver."

"Why are you whispering," I whispered.

She ignored me, "I hope you come back alive. You could be a vital piece in this large game of chess."

"Thanks for leaving me out," Miguel glared.

"What do I tell my mother? What do I do about my schooling; they shouldn't be doing the same sort of things at my school. Miguel and I still want to get into a good college, and how do you afford all of this?"

Amber's green eyes bore into my soul, and it was if she was looking into the deepest parts of my mind. She offered an explanation, "We work for the government, so they will just pay for everything. Also, we can just give your parent an official notice that you've been accepted into an academy. As for our schooling; all of us are advanced enough that our classes won't change much."

"And you think she'll believe that whole story. It's like the most cliche thing ever, and it's like in every spy movie ever," I challenged, still awaiting my order.

"The government has handled covering us up from the whole population of the U.S.A, and you think that it can't handle one mom with a small business that she has to run. If it comes to it we'll just bribe her."

"When you put it that way it makes sense."

What weird position I'm in. The hustle and bustle of the shop mimicked my inner thoughts, running and scrambling towards a goal. I could smell coffee, and not just that of the other patrons but my own unsophisticated brew. The scent was emanating from right in front of me, and only the air took up space where a cup should have been. Something primal triggered.