The Maplethorn Initiative (Book 1, The Maplethorn Series)

Tober Disappears

Rather than go back to the room when their shift ended, Cam and Tober returned to the picnic table they shared earlier that afternoon. The sun had set, and the table faded into the shadows where Keel met the courthouse. Although it was never truly dark with all the lights that shone down over the yard, it was the most privacy they were going to find anywhere at the school.

Tober collected a handful of pebbles from the edge of the patio and carefully lined them up on the table. "See if you can move these around."

Cam leaned in, but nothing happened. "Maybe it was just the vent?"

Tober waved a hand in front of Cam's face. "Did you feel that?"

"Yes."

"Then you're probably just stressed out." Tober ducked under the table and returned with a dead leaf that he laid in front of Cam. "Try again."

Cam took a deep breath, cleared his mind, and let the curly, brown leaf become his entire world. The sensation between his eyes was growing from a tickle to a tingle when he felt the seat bounce. Looking to his right, Cam saw Tober sitting beside him, focused on a second leaf. "Um, what are you doing?"

"Trying to see if I can move things with my mind too," Tober explained without looking up.

Cam wiggled a finger above Tober's nose. "Can you feel that?"

"No," Tober admitted, recoiling from the finger. "But I can smell the chicken-fried mystery meat we served for evening chow."

Cam's finger inched closer to Tober's face. "How about now?"

"Maybe?"

The finger crept forward until Cam poked Tober between the eyes, causing his head to jerk back.

"I felt that!" Tober exclaimed. "And seriously, would it kill you to wash your hands?"

A warm smile softened Cam's face. "I think you need to leave me alone and let me concentrate."

"Fine." Tober heaved himself off of the bench. "I'll leaf you alone."

Ignoring the pun, Cam scrunched down until he felt the cold metal of the tabletop against his chin. The leaf was so close it made his eyes go slightly crossed but showed no sign of budging. He let his mind go blank and waited.

"Cam!" an all-too-familiar voice called, followed by the rapid thudding of shoes on concrete.

"That was quick," Cam growled without looking up.

Tober dived onto Cam's bench and shoved a hand in his roommate's face, sending the leaf tumbling.

"I thought I told you— Woah."

"Can you see through my hand?" Tober asked excitedly.

Cam blinked several times to make sure the night wasn't playing tricks on him. The outlines of Tober's fingers were visible, but his palm was completely transparent. "Yeah."

"Good! I wasn't sure if my hand was invisible or if I had x-ray eyes."

"Uh, would you mind telling me how you're doing that?"

"That's just an illu—"

"No, it isn't!" Tober covered one eye with his transparent hand, looking at Cam through the palm. "'Cause when I pulled my hand away, I could still see through it!"

"Can you turn the rest of yourself invisible, or is it just your right hand?" Cam asked, deadpan. "'Cause that's kind of lame."

"Says the guy whose superpower is flying paper airplanes."