The Forbidden Trilogy(106)

Gary ignored her attitude and turned his attention to Darren, who focused on levitating a rock by his foot. "Darren, what about you?"

"I've got to agree with Mary on this one, but not for the same reasons. I just think you're fighting the wrong people. Rent-A-Kid keeps us safe. I know it's gotten a lot worse around here, but it's to protect us. Who knows what the rest of the world would do if we were discovered?"

Lucy left them and continued back to her room. Mary's refusal didn't surprise her—she would always look out for herself and no one else—but Darren's response was concerning. How many other students felt they were better off trapped here than out in the world, free?

***

The rest of the week came and went in a blur of para-power practice sessions.

Luke and Lucy stood in the training arena with dozens of other students, each practicing their shadow power. Lucy focused on her brother and compelled him to lie.

"At night I like to wear ladies underwear and dance around singing show tunes." Luke's face turned bright red as the room erupted in laughter.

"Lucy, I'm so going to kick your butt for that." He held up his hands.

Lucy tried to move, but the air around her had thickened and held her prisoner. When she opened her mouth to talk, another draft of air tightened around her jaw, so she could only grunt.

"Now who's laughing, Sis?" Luke released her and she mock-punched him. She was happy they could all laugh and enjoy something, if only for a few days.

In the corner, one kid screamed. Desirai looked up. "I'm sorry. I think I should stop practicing. Giving waking nightmares to people is going to send everyone into therapy."

Okay, she thought, maybe it wasn't all enjoyable. "I know some shadow powers are scarier than others, but we all need to strengthen these muscles if we want to defeat the people who are keeping us prisoner."

Each night, after everyone had retired to their rooms, Lucy found herself again mesmerized by the powerful sphere she'd acquired in Russia. A rush of calm flowed through her whenever she focused on the soft light that sometimes emanated from it.

The next day during training, the loudspeaker came to life. "LUKE AND LUCY, REPORT TO THE HEADMASTER'S OFFICE RIGHT AWAY."

Everyone stopped practicing and looked to her and Luke. "We'll be fine. Let's call it a day for now and meet up tomorrow. Just go to your rooms and stay out of everyone's way."

Lucy spent a lot of time telling everyone how fine it would all be, and almost no time believing it herself. Her sense of foreboding increased as she and Luke crossed the campus.

The headmaster's office had changed very little compared to the broken man sitting behind the desk. "Thank you both for coming. I'm afraid you are being requested for another assignment, something urgent that can't wait."

Luke's face hardened into granite. "You cannot be serious. Have you seen my sister's face? She still hasn't recovered from the last assignment, thanks to your head goon. He beat her nearly to death, even after she completed her assignment and brought back what was asked for. If it hadn't been for the clinic's miracle drug, she'd still be bedridden right now."

The flesh of Higgins's face sagged off his skull like a man being stripped of his skin. "This is beyond me. I am only relaying the message. It's just an assignment like any other. Do it and be back in no time."

Lucy tried to read him, but something prevented her. She knew her powers were working, so something must have been protecting him.

She needed to assess what was truth and what wasn't. This whole situation felt very off.

Higgins had tells like anyone else, so Lucy focused on his body language and the inflection of his voice. She also tried to read the micro expressions in his face. Luke had been right. After all these years of seeing the difference, she should be able to tell when someone was lying—even without her powers.

Lucy leaned forward. "I can't go on another assignment. I'm still having trouble breathing at times. What happened to your policy of not sending kids out unless they passed the health screening? There's no way I'd pass one now."

Higgins shifted in his chair, looked down at his hands and fidgeted with his tie. His left eye twitched a fraction when he looked up at her. "It's going to be fine. You'll be back before you know it."

He'd lied. She was sure of it.

She recalled her conversation—well, beating—with Mr. Black. He'd said she and Luke would be leaving and not coming back.

This was no assignment. They were being sent off to breed.

***

"We're being sent away, and this time it's for good, I think." Lucy let the news of their impending departure settle on the Freedom Fighters before she continued. "Higgins said the news came from up above. We have no choice. Luke and I think that because we are the oldest and most experienced, they're sending us off to begin the breeding process, and to get us away from you."