The Enhanced Ones (paused)

Ch. 5 Willow

As soon as the hand closed over my mouth I knew it was over. The only thought left to think was who. Who in my small town would be so sick as to murder me in my own school?

I did not get blind folded, though that helps little as I am dragged through the dark halls. My attacker is male, beyond that I know nothing of him. We go up stairs to a door that is propped open. A window in the far corner has had the glass entirely removed. The sheet of glass now leans on a nearby wall.

"Out. Climb." The suddenness of his order coupled with the prevailing silence makes me jump. He pokes my back with what could only be the muzzle of a gun. "Move." He growls at me. I slowly step up to the window. A thin rope ladder rests against the window sill. Who is this guy? My fingers are numb as they wrap around the rope. The gun forces me to lean out. Below on the field I can see the dance team performing during half time. Even if I screamed at the top of my lungs right now, no one would hear me. Feeling the weight of death on my shoulders I pull my body out the window and with some choice words of encouragement from my soon-to-be murderer I climb.

The wind bites the skin on my face and arms as I reach the roof. I've always wondered what was up here. It's flat with a dingy gray color covering every surface. At random points important looking metal protrusions stick up. The man pulls himself up behind me, never moving the gun away from my direction. "Go over there." He points to one of the nearest protrusions with his free hand. I hesitate but the reminder of the gun urges me to obey. I try to look as meek as possible standing there. Any minute now this will all be over. I tell myself. Holding onto that thought I force myself to look at the man that would stain his hands with my blood. He is short with brown or black hair. Of thin build most likely late thirties-forties; I've alway been bad with ages. When he notices my scrutiny he growls and points his gun at me. "No funny business now. If you try anything I will kill you."

"Why?" I ask.

He looks at me with the blankest of faces. "Because you are Enhanced and therefore not truly human." Shocked by his answer I fall silent. He whispers something as he presses his free hand behind his ear.

The wind picks up blowing my hair into my eyes and mouth. Using the hair band I keep on my wrist I pull back my hair into a ponytail. The familiar motion both calms and frustrates me.

"Understood." He says at a normal volume bringing my attention back to my situation. I lift my eyes and stare down the barrel of his gun. A shriek escapes before I can stop it. I clap my hands over my mouth as I fall to my knees. The muzzle is pressed against my head and I wait for the pain. Instead I get a miracle. I hear a grunt then the gun falls away. I look up in shock and see Shiloe standing over the collapsed form of the man.

"How?" I ask as I get to my feet. Shiloe points over her shoulder where Miss Fazer is walking in a big circle. "What is she doing here?" I ask my best friend, trying to speak quietly.

"She helped me save you." She says. She shrugs at my questioning look. "I tried asking and she said it wasn't important."

"It still isn't." Her clear voice startles both Shiloe and I. "We need to go before he wakes up." She gestures to the man who is still unconscious on the ground.

"Why did he go after you Willow? Do you know?" Shiloe asks me her eyes dark with worry.

"Cause I am Enhanced, but I have no idea what that even means." I say on the verge of panic.

"I don't either. You're the most average person I know."

"Thanks Shiloe I feel so loved."

"Were neither of you paying attention in class?" Miss Fazer says stopping whatever remark Shiloe may have thrown back at me. We both look at her. She sighs then looks down at the man. "He is a government agent assigned to clean up the 'mess' they made decades ago." Her face is hard when she looks at us again. "We have been genetically altered to have enhanced abilities. The government was hoping to use us as weapons when my generation matured. But some of the abilities we developed were...unexpected."

"That explains the ceiling." Shiloe says more to herself than anyone. Then her head snaps up and looks at me her eyes wide. "And why I can..." After so many years of keeping silent about it, it doesn't surprise me that she can't say it.

"But what about me? I have no 'abilities'." I say turning to Miss Fazer. "Why did he want to kill me?"

"I do not know." She says looking unsure for the first time since coming to my school. "Normally they only go after Enhanced that have displayed their abilities."

"If I had displayed any I would have known." I persisted.

"What I don't understand is why he didn't go after me." Shiloe says her eyes resting on the gun that had skittered a few feet away from the man.

"You were probably next. He would have waited until you were alone."

Shiloe scoffs. "I could have taken him easy."

"Too bad you're not just dealing with a simple man." A feminine voice calls out to us. We all spin towards the intruder and an audible gasp escapes Miss Fazer. "Hello, Sam." The mysterious woman chuckles. "It's been far too long."