Ingenious

Chapter Five

 The thoughts going through my head can't be described in words. So I laugh. I tend to do that in awkward situations. I let out a laugh, but after seeing how serious Kacey is, I stop.

"I'm sorry what?" I ask them. "Are you playing a cruel prank on me or something. We aren't in a Marvel movie, powers aren't real." I say this with so much confidence I feel bad. Kacey takes my hands in hers and I find it hard to look her in her deep chocolaty eyes.

"Raegan we do have powers," she says. "The government still doesn't know why. That's why we are here. They don't want it getting out."

"But I don't have powers. I never have, it must have been a mistake!" I tell Kacey, hoping she's wrong. That I can just leave and head to pre-gov.

"Rae, the powers develop after they activate your chip. You'll notice it slowly developing in the next couple months. We've learned to use them, and we can help you learn," she tells me quietly, trying to calm me down. This all freaks me out. "We each have different abilities."

"What can you do?" I ask, though I can't help thinking how terrified I am of what I am. Kacey looks to the boys and back at me.

"Promise you won't freak out?" she questions. I nod anxious to see what happens. Within moments I'm surrounded in a field of flowers, butterflies circling me. In the same amount of time it came, it disappeared. Kacey smiles at my dumbfounded face. "Illusions. I can make people see and think they are somewhere different or someone looks a different way. Although altering human appearances is always a challenge." I nod, confused by it, but accepting it. I turn to the boys, where Shawn is picking up the bed with ease. Super strength. It makes sense, especially with his muscles.

"I can crush things too," he says winking. I shiver thinking about a bone breaking in his hands. Next Everett moves over a bit, he holds his hand out and soon enough my hand is moving with his. I don't like the feeling of it.

"Telekinesis, and it's pretty damn cool," he chuckles. Finally Ryan. He looks up at me, his eyes locking with mine.

"Keep in mind I've only been working on this for a year, and I'm a slow learner," I nod, and keep looking into his eyes. Something in me just doesn't want to let go of the eye contact. A feeling of sadness goes through me, and it's like a hit to the stomach. Bailey, Morgan, Mom and Dad. My whole life I'm leaving behind. I try not to, but it's like I can't control it as I start to cry. "Sorry," he shrugs, "that's just the emotion I'm best at, and the one that would show." I stumble back wiping the tears away.

"You..." I trail off, "you pushed those emotions on me? I- I-, what, how?" Ryan smirks, and locks eye contact with me, and suddenly I feel a wave of happiness I can't even fight. I blink twice and stare at his grin.

"Yeah, it's pretty fun," I close my eyes to bare my ground, and when I open them, I have one question.

"What's my power?" I ask with certainty. I want to know. They glance between each other.

"We don't know yet..." Kacey trails off, "but we can help you find it, certain things can... stimulate it." I nod,

"Let's do it," I say, waiting to be hit with something. They look between each other as if they have an unspoken language.

"You've had a really long day Rae," Ryan says, "get a good night's sleep and we can do it first thing tomorrow." I nod sad I can't find out yet, but agree I am tired from a long confusing day.

So I get ready for bed. I use the toothbrush and toothpaste left for me, and I take a quick shower using the cheap shampoos and body washes and change into sweatpants and tank top. I climb onto the hard lumpy mattress, and cuddle under my own blanket. The other one is rough on my skin. I watch as everyone else falls asleep, since this is their home. It's mine too now I guess. I reach for the box beside my bed, and pull out the letter entitled; Open when you finish your testing... I open the letter, crying silently as I read the encouraging words in my best friend's loopy writing. I picture her voice in my head and hold onto the last memories I will ever have of her, and Morgan, and my parents, and all my other friends.