The Forbidden Trilogy(109)

Mr. Black cocked his gun. "You think you can hurt me before I pull the trigger. Try it."

The boy's fire winked out.

"I'm glad we understand each other. Now, are you going to pull something like this again?"

"No, sir."

"Good." Mr. Black lowered his gun and let the boy turn around and leave.

Damn kids. They never learn. Think they can just do what they want, when they want.

The boy had only taken a few steps when the gun went off. The bullet slammed into the back of his head, splattering blood and brain matter onto the sidewalk.

The few kids who remained screamed and ran away.

Higgins bent behind a bush and vomited.

Mr. Black waved to the guards around him. "Clean up this mess, and take the girl to the clinic for medical attention."

Someone grabbed his arm on his way back to the office.

Higgins's face contorted in horror and rage. "How could you do that? What were you thinking? You just killed that boy in cold blood."

"I meted out justice to someone whose power could destroy others. He could've killed that girl, or don't you care about her? Look, Higgins, I know you have a soft spot for these kids, but you have no one to blame but yourself. If you hadn't let them run wild, they wouldn't be rebelling like this. I don't tolerate fools, regardless of their powers. And I can guarantee you one thing: no one else will be dueling on my watch."

A disheveled guard rushed over to them. "Excuse me for interrupting, but Mr. Black, the Seeker would like to speak with you in his chambers."

"In person?" Seeker's powers scared the shit out of Mr. Black, not that he would admit it to anyone. Still, he avoided face-to-face meetings when at all possible.

The guard shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot. "Um, yes sir."

"Very well."

He turned and walked as quickly as he could without actually running.

Tension poured from Higgins as clearly as the sweat dripping from his face.

Mr. Black shoved Higgins out of the way. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have a lunch date."

***

Footsteps clicked on the tile floor. Mr. Black waited in a room that was entirely dark. His foot tapped the floor in time to the person who walked the hall.

A sliver of light appeared as the Seeker entered and sat in a chair across the room. "I trust you had a nice meeting with our illustrious Headmaster?"

Mr. Black couldn't make out any of his features—that was the point of the darkness, he assumed. Well, one of the points. "It was fine. How's the hunt for Sam and Drake going?"

"We have them in our sights. They should be our guests shortly."

"Care to define what you mean by 'shortly?' I'm trying to keep this school safe and in lockdown, but it would help if I knew what was happening."

He heard the Seeker shift in his chair. "You need not worry about my business. Focus your attentions on your own job. You seem to have a problem keeping order among the children. If any more escape, you are done here."

"I've got it under control. These kids had too much freedom under Higgins, but soon they will not question my commands." The darkness set Mr. Black on edge. He rested a hand on his gun, ready to use it should something unexpected happen.

"And this is your idea of maintaining control? To whip and shoot children? They are young. They do not deserve such treatment."

"You want to put a group of incredibly powerful kids in one place, train them to use their powers, and expect them to stay in line? It's insane. They're dangerous, and they have to know that someone bigger and stronger can stop them. My sources say they're planning something. A group called the Freedom Fighters has formed, led by those twins you just sent on assignment. They're the most dangerous of all. They're experienced, good at what they do.... Mark my words, they're planning a rebellion, and we can't allow it."

"There are many pieces to this puzzle that you are not privy to, Mr. Black. Know your place and keep to it. Soon, we will have Sam with us. Combined with the encrypted data you secured in Russia, we will have the two most dangerous weapons in the world. We will be unstoppable."

That thought frightened Mr. Black. No one should have that much power, especially not genetic mutations who considered themselves the next evolution in mankind. He would destroy them if he could, but he needed them too much. "Do you have family? Kids, siblings?"

The Seeker's laugh filled the dark room. "I have an interesting family tree, one with many divergent branches. Sadly, I do not know my family well—a circumstance I am working to remedy as we speak. I do know that family should be cherished. I was sorry to hear of your wife's accident. We have not spoken of it, but know that I feel your loss."