The Enhanced Ones (paused)

Ch. 10 Willow

Shiloe having been awake upon arrival acts as my guide. She helps me find a new set of clothes that doesn't smell like smoke and gets me something to eat. The kitchen is massive with several stoves and fridges and a huge table in the center.

"How many people are here?" I ask. Shiloe shrugs and opens the nearest fridge. She pulls out some eggs and chopped bacon. I take a seat at the table while she cooks. I rub my knees where little bruises have formed from the stairs at my school. I hope no one was hurt in the fire. My fire. I look at my hands again.

"Here ya go." Shiloe says as she slides the plate of food in front of me. She pulls up a seat but has no food for herself.

"You're not going to eat?" I ask in between famished mouthfuls.

"It's like 2 P.M. I already ate." She says smiling.

"Oh."

She gestures for me to continue. After a few more bites my curiousity takes over. "So where exactly is this place?" I ask.

"Not sure. I asked Sam and she couldn't give me a straight answer. I know that there's no signal for cellphones and they don't have TV so we must be on some sort of mountain."

"But it looks like a valley out there."

"I know." Shiloe shakes her head obviously as concerned as I am. I take my empty plate to a nearby sink and wash up. "Just stack it on the hanging rack above the sink." Shiloe instructs me when I am finished.

I lean against the sink and face my friend. "Shiloe what are we doing here?"

She looks down at her hands. "I'm still trying to figure that out myself."

"What about our parents? Do they know what happened to us? Last thing they says I was held at gun point by a mad man and then WHOOSH John flies me away!" I lower my hands and my voice and fight for calm. "Shiloe what if they think we are dead."

She looks away from me. "I don't know what they think. All I know is that we aren't safe. We both have a lot to learn and it's dangerous to be out there unprepared. Obviously there are people that want us dead. I'd rather not let them succeed."
We both fall silent for a moment. "Hey." Shiloe says with some forced cheerfulness. "Wanna see the outside of this place."

Reluctantly I follow. She leads me towards the front of the building. We pass through game rooms with pool tables and media rooms and living areas. "This place is huge." I comment after a while.

"Yeah."

Finally we reach the entry way. It's clean and tidy sporting two potted plants on either side of a large white door. Shiloe holds it open and I step outside.

The sun blinds me for a moment but when my vision clears the biggest smile fills my face. "John!" I call out. He turns from speaking with a blonde girl and runs, no he flies, to where I am.

"Hey sis." He pulls me into a bear hug popping a couple points in my spine.

"Please put me down." I plead even as I bask in the fact that I hadn't burned my brother alive. John waits a moment more then sets me down on the ground. "Please stop hovering." I say.

"You should know how good it feels not to hide like we used to." He says as he touches down.

"She didn't know." Shiloe says for me.

"Oh." John pats my shoulder. "It's okay. This is a safe place."

"But what if I'm not safe." I mumble once again looking at my hands. Currently the most terrifying part of my body.

"What?" John asks. Just then a huge branch flies overhead and crashes against the building.