From Embers

S E V E N T E E N

Right after I grabbed a small snack, I started the journey from my unit to Coach Mo'hingan's office. I didn't know what to think of this meeting. Coach seemed completely emotionless when he told me to report here. I just kept walking and wondering if it would be good or bad. I didn't really know how it was going to go until I arrived. After about ten minutes of walking in the air that never seemed to be any warmer, I arrived at the entrance. I walked inside and the secretary instantly opened the elevator and told me to go straight up. I guessed Mo'hingan told her I would be coming. Before I stepped into the elevator I turned around and spoke to the secretary.

"Would you mind putting the elevator on the normal speed?" I asked.

"Of course, no worries at all." She responded. She tapped her tablet twice.

"Thank you." I responded.

I finally stepped into the elevator and waited, the doors closed, and it started to rise slowly. The ascend only took about half a minute to the fourth floor. The doors opened slowly and a large room opened up in front of me. It was like the Headmaster's room, but smaller. Mo'hingan sat behind his desk at the other end of the room. I stepped forward and tried to analyze his face, but it was unreadable. The elevator doors closed behind, leaving me feeling like I was trapped. He eyed me seriously but never said anything. He nodded towards one of the chairs in front of his desk. I slowly moved toward him and sat down. He scribbled something down on a piece of paper in front of him and set his pen down beside it.

"So," he began,

"Let's talk about what happened on the trails today. You were running with the team and after about a mile and three quarters, you burnt out and started to walk. Then, from who knows where, you get a burst of energy and catch up to the team, who were another mile ahead of you when you started again, in fifty-one seconds. Which after, you slowed back down to just faster than the group. Would you like to explain how all of this is possible?" He finished.

"I don't know what you're talking about Coach, I wasn't that far behind the team when I caught back up. It's not humanly possible to run a mile in under a minute, that's basic science." I played dumb.

He was onto me. I don't know how he saw me using my abilities, we were in the middle of the forest for crying out loud. The school was far out of sight from where I started back up again. Somehow, he knew I used my abilities. Was he part of the Hierarchy? Did he know about us?

"You know a thing or two when you've seen a thing or two." He responded.

"Coach, it was just a normal 5k. I caught up after I cooled off a little, what you're accusing me of is not possible." I laughed.

He jotted something else down on his paper.

"Maximus, you have no reason to lie to me. Just tell the truth. How did you do it?" He persisted.

"I'm telling you that nothing happened out there, I slowed down to stop, and when I felt like I could breathe again, I ran to catch up with the team, and beat everyone." I lied again.

"Alice on a good day can run a 5k in under 18 minutes. She's no beginner; but somehow, you managed to beat her, running the last mile and a quarter in under two minutes." He stated.

"I know it wasn't that long of a distance. It was just beginner's luck beating her." I reassured.

"Very well, I'm watching very closely Maximum. What I saw out there was not natural, nor was it just pure talent. There's something different about you. If you believe that I am mistaken, then I must be." He responded.

I knew he didn't believe me. I don't know how, but he knew I was different. Did I pass him when everything blurred around me? I wasn't even going that fast. He knew I was different, and now I needed to be more careful if I was going to use my abilities on the team.

I stood from my chair and started towards the elevator doors. I pushed the call button and it arrived in a matter of seconds. This thing is always fast. I stepped inside and pressed the ground floor button. I caught one more glimpse of Coach Mo'hinigan as the doors closed in front of me. He didn't have any expression, just blank eyes as he stared into my eyes. It made me feel very uncomfortable. Something was off about him, but I couldn't pinpoint what yet.

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After leaving Mo'hinigan's office, I felt very uneasy. I didn't like that he was suspicious of me. It doesn't make sense how he knew. He was there at the end of the trail waiting for us, there's no way he could have been there and then at the end of the race in such a short amount of time. I only knew of two beings that could do that: myself and Scott.

I retired to my room and contemplated my next move. I wasn't sure what to do at this point. Someone was onto me because I wasn't careful. Scott encouraged me to use my abilities, but didn't tell me to be cautious. I just needed to lie low for a little bit. Don't overshow my true power. I needed to seem normal on the team. That's exactly what I would do. Fake exhaustion, breathing heavily, and fatigue. It was the only way that I would be able to keep up and not be suspicious. Eventually Mo'hinigan would see that he was wrong.

"At least ye kept yer cool in there." Scott stated.

I spun around quickly in my desk chair and eyed him.

"I told you to stop doing that!" I stated loudly.

"Can't help it mate, it's worth the laugh every time." He chuckled.

"Why didn't you warn me that Mo'hinigan was watching me?" I demanded.

"He was what?" His smile faded.

"Mo'hinigan somehow saw me catch up to everyone, I don't know how. He was there at the end of the race, there was no way he saw me. Is he like us?" I asked.

"No mate, he's normal as far as I could tell. And I've been doin' this for a while." He answered.

"Then how did he see me using my abilities?" I asked, more to myself than towards Scott.

"I don't know yet, but I'm gonna do some watchin'. He shouldn't have seen ye." He stated.

With that, he vanished from sight like he always does. Leaving me with more questions than answers. I changed into some more comfortable clothes and lied down in my bed. I pulled out my tablet to work on a few assignments that were due whenever we started class again. They were all easy, but took time to complete. While I was finishing up the final assignment, my phone vibrated, letting me know that I had received a text.

I picked up my phone and knew who it was from instantly.

Hide.