Stolen Powers: Rise of the NGZ

Chapter Eight: Mason vs Donovan

I abruptly sat up in my bed. Lightning flashed behind my covered window, which explained why I heard a loud noise in the middle of the night. Looking around my flashing room, I was alone with fuzzy memories of last night. Bailey must've left after I fell asleep with her, but I didn't really mind all that much. She needed rest as much as I did.

I sighed as I slid out of my warm bed. My hand created an electro-ball to see where my slippers were, and I eventually found them after stumbling a few times and bumping into walls. Following that, I opened the door and began to make my way down the stairs to see if anyone else was awake besides myself.

The lightning helped me get my bearings. When I made it to the mess hall, I saw a figure sitting at a table. I squinted in a weak attempt to make out who it could be.

"Who is that?" I called out. The person looked over in my direction.

"Hey, Mason," a male voice replied. "Storm kept you awake too?"

I relaxed. "Hey, Landon. Yeah, it woke me up just a few minutes ago. Why are you down here?"

He shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm honestly not sure. My mind has been all over the place since last night."

"Like what?" I asked as I took a seat in front of him. A flash of lightning allowed me to see his face for a split second. It looked tired and worn down.

Landon took a few seconds to respond. He looked up at me with a worried expression. "The NGZ. They've been able to follow us everywhere, but it's been going on a month since we've last encountered them. I've been worried that they could be up to something."

I frowned. He had a point, but Landon also seemed like he was overreacting a little too much. "Dude, you also have to agree that it's fortunate that they haven't found us. Trust me, I get where you're coming from, but it's also good that we're still able to rest here."

He sighed softly and turned his attention to the raging storm outside. Thunder rattled the wine glasses that sat on the shelves behind the bar. "If we do happen to go to Bolivia, it makes me wonder about something."

I didn't say anything, but I looked at him, urging him to continue.

"Why did it have to be us?" he asked. "I never agreed to have these powers. I didn't hand over my consent to have some strange fluid that could've killed me. I'd much rather live a boring and average life than to constantly live on the edge, don't you agree?"

I nodded, most certainly agreeing with him. "Of course I do. I miss the fun times Donovan and I had playing basketball. I was satisfied with what I had."

Landon kept his gaze fixed on me. "I believe that. How do you think your life would be if you never had powers?"

I thought that question over. If I never had powers, my dad might've never gone missing. My mom would probably still be alive. I would still be happy. Before I could answer, Landon looked down. "I know the answer to that. You don't have to say anything."

"What about you?" I asked.

He sighed as another rumble of thunder gently shook the house. I could tell that the storm was dying off. "If I never had powers, I could unsee the stuff I've witnessed. Murders, tortures, rapes, all that shit. I'd be a free person, Mason."

"That's why I've always wondered about your powers, Landon," I said, resting my elbows on the table. "You're probably the one that suffers the most."

Landon leaned back. "I don't want everything to be about me. This is about the team's survival."

I stared at him. "And I'll make damn sure nobody else dies if and when we do go to Bolivia."

As another flash of lightning illuminated the mess hall, I could Landon relax and a small grin form on his face. "That's what I'm talking about."