The Maplethorn Initiative (Book 1, The Maplethorn Series)

An Unfortunate Necessity

The cold railing cut into Cam's belly as he leaned out to study the narrow strip of brown grass, four stories below. He was hoping to summon the reassuring tingle of his newfound ability, but all he felt was the flutter of panic.

"What do you think?" Keegan asked.

"I think we should get Tober back here and make him walk us out the front gate."

"Why didn't we do that earlier?"

"I don't know!" Cam threw his hands in the air. "Coming up here made sense at the time."

"It's too late for second guesses, Drex. Let's go!"

"Hold on, hold on." Cam turned away from the railing, continuing to wave his hands as he spoke. "Where do we go once we're out of here? Assuming I don't kamikaze us into a tree."

"I don't know, man," Keegan moaned. "Your place?"

"My place? Like my mom and dad's house?"

"Wherever."

Cam tried to imagine what it would be like to walk through the front door of his home again. He pictured his mom asking, "Honey, why are you here?" and his dad rushing him out to the car and speeding back to Maplethorn. "We can't go to my place," he murmured. "How about yours?"

"Drex, man, I bet your folks drove you here and gave you a big, huggy, weepy goodbye."

Cam responded with a lopsided shrug. "Kind of."

"My mom turned me over to the U.S. Marshal after she cut a deal," Keegan said. "They didn't know what to do with me, so I sat in a jail cell until Gates showed up."

"Wow..." Cam blinked rapidly, wondering how close he came to Keegan's situation. "Was your mom always that bad?"

"Picture a velociraptor in a blazer and scarf."

Cam's snort grew into an uncontrollable giggle as the image formed in his head.

"It's less funny when you're living it."

"I bet. Sorry."

Shrugging off Cam's sympathy, Keegan returned his attention to the horizon. "If your place is out, and my place is out, where then?"

Cam bit his lower lip and frowned. "I might know someone who could help us."

"Who?"

"My girlfriend."

"Pree—" Keegan caught himself in the nick of time.

Cam's eyes narrowed. "You were going to say Pre-tend, weren't you?"

"Sorry. I forgot her name. Blame Burke."

"It's Pree-tah."

"I know," Keegan said. "Get us out of here, and let's go meet the missus."

Cam led Keegan to the side of the building nearest the skylights and slid the backpack from his shoulder. "Stand back," he warned, motioning Keegan away.

Keegan covered his mouth with one hand. "Drexler One, this is Mission Control," he said, making his voice sound like it was coming from a radio. "You are go for launch."

Ignoring Keegan's attempt at humor, Cam took a deep breath and toppled forward. He seemed to bounce off the rooftop before rising six feet into the air.

"Impressive," Keegan said, offering a slow clap. "But what about me?"

Cam spun himself around with a single arm. "I'm still working that out."