No Peace for the Damned

Charles jumped back and clutched his hand to his chest. “What the hell?” he yelled.
    “I don’t think so,” added Marie. She stepped forward to block me from Charles. It was a sweet move, actually, even if she was a raging bitch.
    “I have to get the cast off. You can cut it off yourself if you want, but I can’t do anything with that huge thing on your hand.”
    Marie snatched the knife. I tensed. She glared at me then handed the knife to Jon. It took forever for him to remove the damn thing. They were being so careful. I poured another drink and had it half finished by the time Charles rested his hand palm-up on the table. The others stood at his back, watching. I reached across the table. Charles flinched before I even touched him.
Oh, come on
.
    “You have to hold still,” I said. He scowled at me but took a deep breath and braced himself. I gently rested one hand on his forearm then hovered my fingers over the worst of his breaks. He flinched. Before he could pull away again, I lowered my fingers and focused my power into his bones. He gasped and jerked as if electrocuted. Marie and the others closed in behind me. I didn’t stop.
    Through gritted teeth a strangled cry escaped him. “Stop it!” Marie shouted right at my ear. I slowly turned to face her. She took a step back.
    Finally, it was done—the bones healed around the pins from his surgery. I released him and he sagged to his knees, cradling his hand to his chest. I stepped around the table and lifted my drink.
    With a toast to the others I said, “You’re welcome. Now let’s start some training.”
    …
    Charles’s hand was perfect. And after a couple of days of watching me fight, the scowls faded to reluctant respect. Unfortunately, it didn’t last.
    Theo lunged for me, armed with a stiletto. He spun, then leaped forward again in a move we’d practiced at least a dozen times. He missed, but his hand grazed my waist under my tank top. The moment our skin touched, power exploded between us. An electric current erupted, launching Theo through the air. I stood shocked as he landed on his back several feet from where I stood.
    The others jumped to action. Shane guarded Heather and Jon as they rushed to Theo’s side. Marie and Cordele took up defensive posts with Charles between them, each one ready to kill for their fallen teammate.
    “You see!” Marie shouted. “She’s using training as an excuse to take us out!”
    The three in front went for their guns. I hunched in a defensive position, ready for an attack.
    A crash at the house had us all turning. Thirteen and Banks raced through the back door, their movements tight with purpose. Another Network member had been found dead.
    Our standoff instantly fell to the back burner. Thirteen and Banks gave orders, and the team moved without question. Theo got to his feet, rolled his shoulders in a stretch, then followed in pace behind Jon and the others. He didn’t look back at me once.
    Thirteen briefly nodded to me, but Marie was the only one to look back. She paused at the back door to glare at me over her shoulder. Then she slammed the door shut, leaving me alone in the field. The sound of their cars shook the air until they disappeared in the distance. Then all was silent.
    I stared at the cloud of gravel dust covering the driveway, my mind numb.
    I’d lost control of my power. The energy released at Theo’s touch—I couldn’t have stopped it. Not even if I’d tried. My knees gave out and I hit the ground.
What the hell was happening to me?
    I closed my eyes. Bright colors flashed in my mind. Red and yellow—the colors had haunted my dreams all week. On the estate I’d never slept soundly enough to dream. But here, I dreamed every night. Maybe that was the problem—I was too well rested.
    I held up my hands in front of me. Power rose beneath my fingers then ran down my arms and into my chest. My whole body swelled with energy. I felt the power pulse, felt the strength of my muscles and the heat of my senses. Whatever had happened before, I was in control now.

“This is bullshit and you know it!” I yelled at Thirteen from the front porch. Since I happened to be outside when he arrived, he hadn’t bothered getting out of his car. Nice.
    “I’ve done everything you’ve asked, Thirteen. There’s no reason I shouldn’t come. You just don’t want to give up what little control you
think
you have over me.”
    “I never said that.”
    “Yeah, well, you thought it.”