Exciti

Chapter 31 (Adam)

Adam kicked against whoever held him back, half blinded and screaming for his family.

It seemed like forever had passed before his vision adjusted to the light. He looked up to find Dr. Little holding him in a tight grip, his face concerned and his mouth murmuring something that sounded like, "It's okay, it will be okay."

Adam's body trembled. How can it be okay?

Then, he started noticing his surroundings.

Endless rows of towering stone columns extended as far as he could see, each covered in pictures and hieroglyphics painted in vivid colors. He looked at his feet, he was standing in the middle of a circle carved in the sandstone floor. A pile of dust was starting to sift in the wind a few inches away from his shoes. A movement dragged his gaze to the perimeter of the circle, where men and women in white linen clothes groaned and helped each other get up as if they had just been blown off their feet.

One of the men, who seemed to be a sort of Excitus made of bronze, stood up on limbs that shook worse than Adam's, then raised his arm with difficulty and pointed at him. His voice both wheezy and tremulous, "monster... You are a MONSTER!"

The Excitus then turned and half stumbled, half ran into the columns. The others started whispering between themselves. Several looked terrified, some even disgusted.

Ion came over, dressed in the same linen as the others. She looked shaken, but not scared of Adam as she fixed him with a somber gaze, "We better go to my chambers." She held his arm gently and guided him through the maze of columns. They entered a simple room with white walls and a window that overlooked a green oasis of palm trees and reeds under what looked like a blue, sunny sky. Adam could hear the faint sound of trickling water nearby.

Ion closed the door and the Doctor sat him on one of the stone benches that lined the walls. She started examining Adam's eyes and face. "Can you tell me what happened?"

Adam shook his head. It had just hit him that he had melted down in front of a whole load of strangers.

Ion looked at him with a gentle smile, "There is no need to be embarrassed. In this Bubble, we have a few Seth statues, first circle Exciti that can induce a vision of one's worst fears. The visions tend to be so real that most naturals under evaluation would involuntarily release their gift, showing the extent of their power. It allows us Sensorials to be able to accurately determine their strength."

Adam tried to swallow, but his throat felt like ash. "A warning would have been nice."

"It doesn't work that way."

"Did, did you see it?"

Dr. Little, who sat on his other side, placed a comforting hand on his back, "Only you see what the statue shows you. To us, you simply walked in, froze, then started screaming... and the statue..." he paused, looking at Ion in a silent inquiry.

She shook her head, "His Eclipser abilities were stronger than we thought they would be, we could barely protect the Exciti in my team. Letting it turn to dust was a necessary sacrifice."

Adam thought of the pile of dust under his feet and mentally noted to throw away his shoes.

Ion started talking again, "Daniel, both boys are powerful. It is almost unheard of to reach such a late stage before one is evaluated, so I advise you to start their training as soon as possible. Naturals who fail to gain control are as dangerous to themselves as they are to others. Not to mention the Board..."

Dr. Little interrupted her, "Let me handle the Board. I have already contacted Joseph Kerman."

"Really? I thought he retired."

"Lago talked him into it. They are friends and he welcomes a challenge, apparently."

She nodded, "That makes me feel better,."

Her gaze dropped to Adam, and she looked like she wanted to say something, but then she shook her head and stood up, "I'm sorry, I normally give the evaluated Natural some time to recover, but, as you see, my team is really unsettled, and I have to report this to the Board immediately."

Adam shot to his feet, then stumbled on his wobbly legs. "I want to go anyway." He said once he righted himself up, eager to put as much distance as possible between himself and this place.

Dr. little stood up, shook hands with Ion and thanked her before he turned to the door. Adam was starting to follow when Ion held his arm and whispered something in his ear before letting him go.

As Adam walked with Dr. Little through the oasis to where Nut was waiting, he was aware of the whispers and fearful glances that accompanied them. He squared his tense shoulders, reciting Ion's words to himself.

"Be brave."