Fear Power

by C. C. Bolick

  “Senator McCall is running for president.” She said the words slowly, ensuring we understood each one.

  “What?” Travis looked as if she’d just told him Dad and Louis shook hands without killing each other.

  “You heard me. Since our president’s health won’t allow him to serve another term and no other party favorites have a chance at winning the election, Senator McCall has organized a campaign and entered the race.”

  Travis shook his head. “He’s the last person who deserves to be president. If our current president knew how he’s used this agency for his benefit, the senator would get zero support.”

  “His approval rating is high,” Sylvia said. “His supporters can’t watch enough stories about him on the news.” Her gaze fell on me. “Find something else to entertain you, Miss Mason.”

  After six weeks, the way she said my name still felt like stepping on a rusted nail. I wondered if she valued my power or my dad’s agent skills more.

  * * * * *

  At the door to Dr. Greene’s suite, I hesitated. I’d visited these rooms almost every day since my arrival in Atlanta. On the other side of the door, Mrs. Greene was probably cooking some kind of lunch for the boys. Their son Samuel lived on the base and Alfie had become an expert at finding reasons to hang out with his new friend. After the first two weeks, Dad stopped arguing and let Alfie walk the halls by himself.

  We were in a secure base. Even at eight, Alfie was in no danger. If he wanted to play video games with Samuel, at least it was better than spending his days wondering if Dad drank too much to come home that night. Like me, Alfie had been assigned a tutor to keep him on schedule with schoolwork. When he refused to do his assignments, Mrs. Greene offered to home school him along with Samuel.

  Alfie adjusted to Dr. Greene’s family so fast part of me felt regret. For the last week, Alfie had stayed with Samuel every night. Even with four years between them, the pair had become friends as fast as Travis and I had. Alfie soaked up everything Samuel taught him about video games and he loved Mrs. Greene’s cooking. After raising Alfie for three years while Dad drank himself to sleep, I was finally free.

  The other part of me missed my brother. It felt dumb to regret losing Alfie when he was happy here.

  Maybe it was best for me to stay away from Alfie. I needed to focus on keeping him safe. He deserved to be safe and happy after losing Mama and Dad checking out.

  My hands tingled and a blue light crawled along my palms.

  “Not now,” I whispered. “Go away.”

  The door opened and Dr. Greene looked down at my palms. “Rena…”

  I put my hands behind my back. “I found my fear. Now I’m working on controlling it.”

  His eyes widened and he yanked the door shut behind him. “It was one thing when you couldn’t find your power. It’s another if you can’t stop it. We can’t have an active bomb walking around this base. If you’re having trouble controlling your power, I need to know.”

  I held out my hands for him to examine. The blue was gone. “Whenever I think about not being able to keep everyone safe, the tingling starts. But I can make it go away. I’ve just got to remind myself we’re in an underground base and nothing bad is going to happen down here.”

  “That doesn’t bring me comfort.”

  “Can I see my brother?”

  Dr. Greene stared at the door. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  I nodded. “I’ve got it under control. I’ll let you know the minute things get away from me.”

  “Preferably before you blow a crater-sized hole in one of the airport’s runways.”

  “I promise.”

  He opened the door and motioned me inside. “Alfie’s in Samuel’s room. If they realize you’re there, you’ll be lucky.”

  I laughed and waved to Mrs. Greene as he closed the door. I sighed with relief when I checked my palms and my skin looked normal.

  “Are you staying for lunch?” she asked. “I’m making those chicken pesto paninis the boys love.”

  Until meeting Mrs. Greene, I’d never eaten any kind of panini. “Sounds good.”

  In Samuel’s bedroom, he and Alfie sat on a low couch in front of an eighty-inch screen. The screen was huge enough to make the resolution of the game seem grainy in spots.

  “Hey, Rena,” Alfie said without looking up. “Sam got a new game.”

  “Don’t you have schoolwork today?”

  “It’s Sunday.”

  I looked around the room. “Don’t you think you should help Samuel clean this room? Your clothes are everywhere. What’s with all the paper?”

  “We built a bomb.” Samuel’s eyes were locked on the screen. “Mom assigned us a science experiment. Alfie thought building a bomb would be cool. We created a reaction to distribute the energy released in the explosion.”

  “Which is why the paper is everywhere,” I said. “You think making a bomb is cool?”

  Alfie laughed. “I wanted to explode a bomb like you can, Rena. I know why you think it’s fun.”

  “Fun?” I shook my head in disbelief. “I don’t mess with bombs for fun. It’s a job.”

  He looked at me about the time he lost his last life. Alfie tried to recover before the game-ending loss, but ran out of time and said a word that would have made Mama blush.

  “Alfie,” I yelled.

  “You can’t lose concentration,” Samuel said. “You looked away and I won.”

  “Rena distracted me.” Alfie tossed his controller on the couch. “You should see Samuel play when he goes into power-mode. He forgets where he is, but then he’ll remember when the game is over. No one can beat him.”

  “I’ve seen Skip go into power-mode,” I said. “He drove us through traffic without wrecking.”

  “You rode with Skip in power-mode?” Samuel asked. “Now that’s cool.”

  I lifted the largest pieces of paper around my feet.

  “You don’t have to clean in here, Rena,” Alfie said. “I don’t need you to take care of me anymore.”

  “Good,” I said, with more hurt than I wanted to reveal.

  Alfie jumped up from the couch and gave me a hug. “You don’t have to, but you can if you want to.” He leaned back with a smile. “I miss you, Rena.”

  I pulled Alfie close. What would I do if I couldn’t protect him?

  Chapter Four

  I left before Mrs. Greene finished the paninis despite the way my stomach growled with the smell of buttered bread on her griddle. My fear of keeping everyone safe wouldn’t subside; Alfie’s hug only made me worry more. I kept my fists closed and my eyes averted as I walked to the restaurant that served BBQ. I’d find a table and hide near the back… Maybe no one would see my hands.

  From the hostess stand, I noticed Angel at a round table in the back corner, partially hidden by a wall of plants. Her head bounced as she laughed.

  “One for lunch?” the hostess asked.

  “I’m meeting someone.” Before she could argue, I shoved myself between the crowded tables.

  Angel looked up in surprise when I reached the table. “I thought you went to see Alfie. You shouldn’t be here.”

  Next to her sat Rachelle. Across from them was Hannah, who gave me a welcoming smile. “Twice in one day. How lucky can I get?”

  “Travis is so mad at me,” Angel said. “If he sees you here with us—”

  I ducked around the wall of plants and dived into the seat between her and Hannah. “Travis left for a mission, didn’t he?”

  She nodded, though her face showed concern. “Travis was right. I shouldn’t have introduced you to Hannah.”

  Rachelle finished her BBQ sandwich and threw her napkin on the table. “Why is everyone freaking out about what Travis thinks? His name isn’t on the director’s desk.”

  On Angel’s plate was an untouched BBQ sandwich and potato salad. “I thought you didn’t eat real food.”

  Angel glanced down at the food. “When I’m in a public place, having real food m
akes me look normal. I can eat, but nothing tastes right anymore.”

  “We must keep up appearances,” Hannah said, with the slightest hint of sympathy.

  The waiter appeared and asked for my order.

  “Same as them,” I said. “Sweet tea to drink.”

  He nodded and Rachelle leaned back in her seat. “At least one good thing about me leaving,” she said. “I won’t have to keep up the show anymore.”

  “You’re leaving?” I asked.

  “You haven’t heard? The agency is sending me away.”

  “Away?” I glanced at Angel. “Why would they send her away? The temperature feels normal today.”

  “Don’t you get it?” Rachelle said with spite. “If the agency can’t control you, they find a way to make you disappear.”

  “That’s not true,” Angel said.

  Hannah lifted her drink. “Sounds like an accurate assessment to me.”

  “In two days, my parents and I will be on a plane to an undisclosed location that’s hundreds of miles from any city.” Rachelle’s voice filled with remorse. “Far enough that I can’t hurt anyone. Now that my dad’s condition is stable, it’s time to disappear.”

  “This is wrong,” Hannah said. “Everyone at this table knows it.”

  “Maybe it’s safer for the base,” Angel said.

  I watched Angel while trying to decipher her feelings. Her face remained as calm as the lake from my dream. Rachelle stared at the plants behind us. Hannah stared at her plate. No one said a word until after my food arrived.

  “Senator McCall thinks it’s time we give Rachelle a break,” Angel said without emotion.

  Hannah’s anger bubbled over. “You should put me in a room with that man.”

  Angel turned to me. “Hannah doesn’t like Senator McCall.”

  “I got that. Neither does Travis. How do you feel about him?”

  She shrugged. “He’s a career politician. I don’t have high expectations for his plans for this country.” Angel met Hannah’s eyes. “He betrayed me before; he betrayed this entire country and got a free pass.”

  “What do you mean?” I asked.

  Rachelle’s gaze returned to the table. “Senator McCall tried to make a secret nuclear deal with other countries behind our president’s back. He kidnapped Angel and tried to use her powers as a weapon.” She glared at Hannah. “You helped him.”

  Hannah’s voice fell. “I did what I was told. He heads up the committee that appropriates funding for this agency.”

  “You could have refused,” Angel said.

  I lifted my glass. “Does anyone here refuse him?”

  “We both know I had other reasons.” Hannah smiled at me. “Enough talk of that evil man. Let’s talk about your powers.”

  “I was wondering when she’d get to that.” Next to the wall of plants stood Travis. The tea slid from my hand and spilled. He rushed forward and helped me spread napkins over the mess. “I’m seeing a pattern here and I don’t like it.”

  “Agent Payne,” Hannah said. “Perhaps you’ll join us if your duties permit. There’s an open seat next to Rachelle.”

  “Just what I don’t need.” Rachelle stood and cut through the crowded tables.

  “I think she’s starting to warm up to me.” Travis rounded the table and took Rachelle’s seat. He pulled Angel’s plate in front of him and lifted the sandwich.

  Angel raised a hand in question. “What are you doing?”

  “You weren’t going to eat this sandwich.” He looked from Angel to Hannah. “Could you give me and Rena a few minutes alone?”

  With a glance around the room, Angel stood. “You’ll never be alone in this place.” She motioned to Hannah and walked away.

  Hannah smiled and followed her path to the door. “Enjoy your lunch, Agent Payne.”

  He rolled his eyes and took a bite of the sandwich. “Wasting good food should be illegal.”

  I took another bite of my sandwich. “What happened with your lead on Louis?”

  “Nothing yet.”

  “What about the woman from the warehouse? Have you figured out who she is?”

  “I’m sure she’s one of his employees. Louis pays well from what I hear.”

  “She called me Regina.”

  “So does Louis,” he said. “It’s a game of his to get under your skin.”

  “But she said—”

  “She works for Louis. Why do you think she was there other than to see your powers?”

  “She said she cut off the camera.”

  “Probably an act. I’m sure Louis recorded every second of you diffusing both bombs. He’s a movie fanatic and he’s obsessed with you.”

  “Not just me,” I said. “Louis wants your power to teleport.”

  “Well, he’s not getting it.”

  “Did they find any cameras at the gas station?”

  “You destroyed the monitor but Louis is smart. He probably had a wireless connection and uploaded everything those cameras recorded. According to Skip, the security company that installed the system was a sham.”

  “How is Louis able to avoid us? Do you think someone from the agency is helping him?”

  Travis paused his chewing. “I hope not. Hey,” he said, lowering the sandwich, “don’t let Louis get to you. We’ll find a way to stop him.”

  I pushed my plate away. “I think I’m going to be sick.”

  He reached for his phone and checked a message. “This isn’t good.”

  “What?”

  “Louis dropped us another message asking for you. He’s planted another bomb. Sylvia’s called a meeting.”

  “Where’s Dad?”

  “Out of the country.”

  “But you know where.”

  His eyes lifted to mine. “You have no security clearance. I could get locked up for telling you.”

  “You’ve got four powers including the ability to teleport. Is there any way for them to lock you up?”

  “That’s not the point.” He took a bite of the potato salad and made a face. “Guess Rachelle’s going away party is on hold.”

  * * * * *

  An hour later, Skip merged the SUV into traffic leaving the airport. Once again, Travis sat to his side and I sat wedged between Angel and Rachelle in the backseat. According to Louis’s message, there was only one bomb this time. Sylvia thought bringing Rachelle would be a good insurance policy in case I failed to find my power.

  “Ready, navigator?” Skip asked.

  Travis typed on his phone. “You know the streets from memory.”

  Skip laughed. “Let’s try to avoid any fender-benders this time. Check for anything blocking the roads ahead.”

  Angel leaned close to me. “Louis is desperate if he’s pushing another bomb this soon.”

  “Is that good or bad?” I asked.

  “Good,” she said. “When people are desperate, they make mistakes.”

  “Is the agency really going to send Rachelle away?” I asked, loud enough for everyone in the SUV to hear.

  “Maybe some music would be good,” Skip said.

  Rachelle chuckled. “Don’t worry yourself sick over me. I’m okay with a long vacation. I think I’ve earned it.”

  “What about going home?” I asked. “Do you have enough credits to start college?”

  “Close enough. Even if I needed more credits, I’d never go back to that town.”

  “Your town wasn’t bad,” Travis said.

  “The school sucked,” Rachelle said. “I couldn’t wait to get out and neither could Angel.”

  I glanced at Angel. “You went to school together?”

  Angel nodded. “We were best friends.”

  “Were?” I asked. The temperature inside the SUV took a nosedive.

  “Easy, Rachelle,” Skip said.

  She crossed her arms over her chest. “This agency will change you if you let it. Fight to stay who you are, Rena.”

  I rubbed the goosebumps on my arm. If only I’d worn the jacket in
stead of a thin sweatshirt. “Did you grow up in a small town like me?” When she nodded, I said, “Bet nothing weird ever happened there.”

  Rachelle laughed. “Angel had a power, I had a power, and both of our moms worked for the agency. Funny thing is, we never knew.”

  “This story sounds familiar,” I said. “Did yours end with a terrorist threatening your principal or a secret agent driving you out of town?”

  Travis burst into laughter.

  “Dr. Greene was our principal,” Angel said. “I’ve never seen anyone threaten him. We didn’t have agents at the school that I knew of, but we did have a few aliens.”

  My eyebrows shot up. “Did you say aliens?”

  Rachelle grabbed my arm. “Don’t tell me your beliefs don’t extend to aliens. After everything you’ve seen Travis do?”

  “What does Travis have to do with aliens?”

  From the front seat, Travis cleared his throat. “Let’s focus on the mission.”

  “Well…” Rachelle bit her lip. “Maybe that was the wrong thing to say.”

  The mission. I looked down at my hands. “I’ve got to find something to fear.”

  “What worked for you yesterday?” Skip asked.

  “I started thinking about what could happen if I can’t save everyone.”

  “Controlling fear isn’t as easy as it sounds,” Angel said. I cringed as her mind gently scraped the inside of mine. “I think we’re in business today. I feel a little fear poking around inside you, Rena.”

  “Fear has always been an issue for me too,” Rachelle said. “You’re not alone.”

  “Glad I’m not the only one with issues figuring out my power.”

  Rachelle held out a hand. “Let’s make a deal. You don’t stop until this mission is over and I won’t either.”

  I gave her hand a gentle shake.

  “We’re all in this together.” Travis’s voice was light, as if he didn’t have a worry in the world, but the way he put a hand over his mouth told me otherwise. As he stared out of his window, Travis seemed trapped in deep thoughts.

  Skip moved the SUV through traffic and into an exit lane.

  “How far is this bomb?” I asked.

  “The arena is off the next exit,” Skip said.