Chapter Seven
Training with the guys had been exactly what I needed to get my mind off things. But now, I was once again consumed with the endless cycle of overthinking, leaving me feeling overwhelmed and anxious.
In theory, it should work. I knew this. But how could I follow such a dangerous plan with people I didn’t really know?
As Annie pointed out, I didn’t even know myself, anyway.
So maybe it was time to talk to Nick about my memories .
. . It’s just—if they were right . . . What if I ended up hating Kevin?
Or worse, what if I realized how much more they should all hate me?
Beth and Andrew left Elisa with us and went to set up our getaway RV. The boys would take turns driving it, while Anali and I stayed mostly hidden. We’d move between states on our hunt for Antonio while having somewhere to sleep and keep to ourselves.
The plan was for Jay to mimic Nick’s powers, enabling him to hypnotize anyone if the situation called for it.
We’d tried convincing Chris to come with us, but he had taken the training facility under his wing.
The moment he heard the young Luminaries might be in danger, I could’ve sworn he started aging.
He looked more serious and mature overnight.
I couldn’t speak to the change, since I hardly remembered who he was. Kevin, however, noted how much he’d changed. Chris just wanted to make sure everything was in order and help the rest of our friends go into hiding. If that meant no more joking around, so be it.
“Man, you’re acting like such a grownup now,” Kevin said to Chris.
“Yeah, you should try it sometime.”
I laughed. “Grow up? Yep, that does seem like the thing he needs to do.”
“He clearly needs it.” Jay nodded.
Kevin eyed Jay sharply. “I have to go see Marcus now. You’d better pray his solution doesn’t work, or I’ll zap you all the way to the rebels’ lair so they can deal with you.”
I followed Kevin. “Can I see what they do?”
“Yeah, come on. We need you to amplify me, anyway.”
“No, Annie is going to boost you.”
“You can help too.”
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
“Don’t worry, it’s fine. We’ll be fine. Just give it a try.”
As much as I didn’t want to be a part of the lie, the placebo effect might be exactly what Kevin needed.
If I had to actually amplify him, I only hoped I controlled it better this time.
The last thing I needed was another disco ball party in the sky pointing the FBI, rebels, or whoever directly to us.
I was curious to see if he’d just been holding himself back the way I had. Given that my supposed death caused his powers to falter, I was optimistic about this plan. From what Gabby said, Kevin’s powers were amazing, and I wanted to see for myself.
Dr. Ryder and David sent me to stand with Annie and Nick while Kevin sat in the middle of the lab.
“Stop fidgeting,” Annie told Nick.
“I’m not sure this is the best thing. He’s off their radar this way.”
“You don’t approve?” I asked.
Annie turned to me. “Nick doesn’t want Kevin to have his powers back. He’s being an overprotective older brother.”
“They won’t come after him if he has no powers. You can’t blame me for wanting to keep him safe, but not my call. I get it.” Nick raised his hands.
“He’ll be okay, Nick. You know? Since you trained him and all.” Annie cupped his chin and gave him a peck.
He smiled. “I know you’re manipulating me.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she whispered. “They’re starting.”
Kevin sat and Dr. Ryder took more blood. David then hooked up a couple of wires to a halo-like metal hat he placed over Kevin’s head. They gave him a pill and sent small jolts of current into him. Then David nodded to Annie.
She grabbed my hand, and the three of us walked up to Kevin. Nick leaned over and stared into Kevin’s eyes. His pupils dilated, swallowing the hazel in his eyes as the black took over. Then he moved over, and Annie held my hands, sending her energy through my veins.
As the tingling sensation built and the rumbling warmth flowed through my body, I could see the lilac hue in my vision.
I transferred the pulsating waves to Kevin, who hadn’t taken his eyes off mine once.
I could see the twinkling purple pulse bleeding into him until his eyes shifted from hazel to small lilac orbs.
He closed his eyes, and when he opened them, there was a swirl of lilac and blue that almost immediately turned into pure blue electricity.
The room buzzed, making everyone jump. The wires connected to the metal band on his head hummed and began to smoke, right before the lights went completely dead.
“Ah, yes, yes, Mr. Pierce. There you have it.”
“How do you feel?” Annie asked Kevin.
He shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“There’s no problem. None at all, Mr. Pierce.” Dr. Ryder removed the band from Kevin’s head. “Go ahead now.” He pulled Kevin up to stand.
“Go ahead?” Kevin asked.
“Your power. Try it,” Dr. Ryder encouraged.
Kevin closed his eyes, and after a few seconds, he shook his head.
“It might be too soon,” David said. “Eat something and give it another try later.”
We went into the cafeteria, which was our go-to meeting room. Kevin shook his head as he walked in, so no one asked how it went.
Jay handed him a bottle of water. “Drink up, bro.”
I looked at Jay. “Are you just walking around with bottles of water? I feel like you’re always handing them out.”
“You, my dear, are the one who requested I always have one on hand for you.”
“I did?”
“We trained together a lot,” he said. “And you were always going on about the importance—”
“Of being hydrated,” Kevin said, finishing his sentence.
Jay laughed. “Oh, Rylexa, when are you going to come back to us?”
He attempted the fist bump with Kevin again, who reached out but pulled his hand away at the last second, smirking.
“Soon, actually.” I turned to Nick. “I think I’m ready.”
“Good. We’ll set up in the lab with Gabby to block any unwanted effects.”
“Where is she?” I asked.
“Around somewhere. I’ll get her,” Chris said, already halfway to the door.
“Jay,” Nick said. “Why don’t we set you up with my powers and I’ll show you how to hypnotize and how to use fireballs?”
“Sure. I’ve used both in the past, but I’m up for more tips.”
“But wait.” I looked at both of them. “If we can’t get Kevin’s powers to work, shouldn’t Jay get Andrew’s powers instead?”
“He might have to,” Kevin agreed. “It’s more important to get out of the way as quickly as possible than to make anyone forget anything. We’re well trained in talking to people without raising any suspicions.”
Jay nodded at Kevin. “Whatever you think is best, I’ll do. But I’m pretty sure you have your powers.”
“How do you know?” I asked.
“I felt it. It’s there.”
“Oh, wow, you can feel powers?”
Jay smiled. “It’s almost like your sensing abilities. I can feel powers from Luminaries.” He turned to Kevin. “When I gave you the water, I could feel it. Can I try mimicking you?”
Kevin shrugged.
Jay touched Kevin’s shoulder. His eyes suddenly held blue, dancing lightning. I hadn’t noticed his eyes doing anything like that before.
He lifted his right hand and held a ball of electricity in it. The light bulbs all around us flickered as Jay sent it back toward Kevin. What should have electrocuted him didn’t seem to have any effect, except for him staring at Jay with his mouth wide open.
Before I could blink, Jay disappeared from where he was standing and reappeared outside the cafeteria door. He walked in, smiling.
“I’d say it works just fine.”
Kevin stood up and closed his eyes. After a few seconds, his only movement was to raise both hands up at his sides, palms up.
Gradually, the buzzing in the walls grew louder as electricity bolts danced and crackled around him.
There was a mix of dark blue and white as he took deep, exaggerated breaths.
He opened his eyes, controlling the lightning and decreasing its intensity slowly until it died out. “Heck yeah, baby, I’m back!”
“That is so cool!” I was so happy to see him finally have that win. His smile alone put me in such a good mood that I wanted to run and hug him. I stopped before I made a fool of myself, though, and just looked at him in awe. “What about your portal thing?”
“My teleporting,” he said. “Only Andrew has a portal.”
“Yeah, your porting thing. Can you do it?”
“Well, Ry Ry, I can try.” He closed his eyes and then suddenly looked at Jay. “How did you do it?”
“To start with, not by looking constipated,” Jay said. “That face you’re making? Yeah, that’s not it, dude.”
I laughed. “Maybe it’s like me. Jay isn’t being held back by mental blocks or being controlling, so he’s letting it all out like I am now?”
“Maybe.” Kevin shrugged. “That wore me out, though. Can you hook me up, Anniewee?”
She smiled. “Of course.”
Before I could see if his eyes lit up with her boost, Gabby poked her head in. “I’m told you and Nick need me?”
I found myself back in the lab, but this time I was the one in the chair. I didn’t like it. I felt like my entire world was going to crash down on me, and that was saying something considering I was a wanted criminal.
“I’m going to stand right behind you, Alexa,” Gabby said. “I’ll keep everything centered in this room.”
“Okay.”
Nick sat on a chair in front of me. I could count the ticks on the clock as his face reached close to mine. “Look at me,” he said. “You’re not going to feel anything.”
I pulled away. “Are you going to look into my head?”
He laughed. “No. I’m just going to open the door to your mind. Your memories will be unlocked only to you.”
“Okay.” I took three deep, drawn-out breaths. “Go for it.”
I saw the flecks in his eyes as they darkened, and then the ripples of an angry ocean slammed into my head.
I could hear him call my name, but it was muffled and excruciating at the same time.
I saw myself in an unwelcoming darkness.
Bolts of purple within me threatened to rip my brain apart. But I couldn’t open my mouth to scream.
I felt an inward crumbling as flashes of my memories separated into a thousand specks of dust. The various points of light snapped right back into me and I felt myself crash into the chair, as if I’d been falling.
I stared back into Nick’s hazel eyes, knowing for certain I hadn’t moved, reacted, or taken a single breath.
The blazing pain had all been in my head.
“Are you okay?” He placed his hands on my temples and rubbed gently.
I closed my eyes. “That was horrible!”
“I hurt you?” He frowned.
“My head is throbbing!” I looked away from him. His eyes were dangerous as far as I was concerned.
“I’m sorry, Alexa. That’s never happened before. I opened your mind instantly, but then you shut me out and I couldn’t get you out of it.”
“I hated that.” I stood up, but vertigo swept through me, and I almost fell back. With Gabby’s help, I was able to compose myself, and then she gently nudged me back onto the chair.
“I’m really sorry.” Nick’s head tilted as my emotions were assaulted by his compassion. “Did it work at least?”
“Did that torture work? No.”
His head snapped back to me. “It didn’t? But I unlocked your memories!”
“I mean, I saw flashes of images . . . memories. I don’t know. They turned into dust and”—I concentrated, closing my eyes—“I don’t know where they went. I don’t have them.”
He stood and placed a hand on his head, thinking. “Do you not want your memories back?”
“Of course I want them back. That’s why we’re here!”
“You’re strong, Alexa. Did you hesitate at all?”
“I—I . . . I mean, yeah. I’m afraid of what I don’t know.”
He nodded. “You blocked it. Must be the healer or sensor in you? I honestly don’t know. This has never happened before.”
Gabby gave me a banana. “It’ll help with your lightheadedness. We always have them on hand for deep hypnosis sessions.”
“Thank you.” I took it as Nick shook his head at me.
“You and my brother are a stubborn pair,” he said, raising his arms. “You’re both so afraid to confront each other and accept your relationship as it was that you’re blocking everything!” He let his arms fall and he left.