"Skye Tillman, please come to the front office."

Skye's stomach jumped when she heard her name. She had heard it even though her hearing was on mute, as if it was spoken into her mind. She quickly turned on the sound, to see if she had imagined it. Though she headed no cradle from the speaker, it has definitely been said out loud, for all eyes were on her. She knew why, Skye was never called to the office, ever.

The speaker crackled once more, to add something,” Please bring your belongings, you will be leaving.”

That made no sense. Her dad would never pick Skye up from school at this time, he was at work. Her mom definitely couldn’t, she wasn’t alive anymore. She turned her eyes to Samuel Conaway, her best friend, he would know how peculiar the call was. How little sense it made for her to be picked up. The only other adult allowed to pick Skye up was Sam’s mom and if she were picking Skye up, Sam would be going too. Skye racked her brain for the reasons that could be behind this call. Maybe she was just overreacting, it could just be nothing.

Though, that wasn’t what Sam’s face told Skye. His mouth was drawn into a line and his nose wrinkled as if he had smelled something horrid. He looked pained, he was scrunching his forehead. He opened his mouth to say something when the teacher had to interrupt.

"Skye, you were called to the office. Pack up now, you won’t be missing anything, now hurry along.” Mrs. Len always thought kids didn’t want to leave, when they hesitated to do so because she was sure they would want to stay in school all the time.

Skye met her teachers eyes and nodded, "I know, I will. Thanks, Mrs. Len." Skye stood, picking up her purse she swung the shiny purple strap across her body. She grabbed her backpack, pulling it onto her shoulder. With a small smile at her teacher and a worried glance toward Sam, she left the room.

The empty hallway allowed her to turn the sound up on her headphones. She then closed her eyes, picturing Sam in her mind. His black wavy hair, falling in front of his dark sunglasses. His constant wearing long sleeved shirts under jean jackets and jeans with leather boots. She thought of his eyes and how tormented they were when she actually saw them. They were always changing color just like his embryos were always changing. Though she didn't want it to, his image disappeared and his thoughts replaced it.

'I hope you are listening, keep your head out of the clouds. D-danger...' Sam's thoughts broke and his headache came through into Skye's head. The pain made Skye lose focus. Falling against the wall, the headache worsened. it pounded in her head like drums inside her head. Her hand traveled to her right headphone and she the muted sound. Though the headache lingered, she could now think straight.

Sam's power often scared Skye. He could sense danger, which was cool, but it caused him pain. It was even worse since he had been getting mad lately. He was changing. He was so different from the boy she had met four years ago. Skye stopped and leaned against the wall, pushing thoughts of what she had to be doing from her mind. Sighing, she thought of when she had met Sam...

 

"Give them back!" Skye screamed, hands going to her ears.

A laugh ripped from the girl tormenting Skye's mouth. She threw the headphones then grabbed Skye's arms and pulled them from over her ears, "What's the matter Skye?"

A head splitting headache blurred Skye's vision. Everything swam before her, sound so intense that all other senses shut down. A strong buzz of noise was all that she could hear and everything felt like it was in slow motion. She saw a blur and felt the pressure released from her arms and she blacked out.

~

"Hey, you ok?" A voice breaks through the fog in Skye's mind.

Her eyes fluttered open a she shot into a sitting position Skye studied her surroundings. She was in a wooden room, with the looking of a cabin. Before she knew what she was doing she was on her feet searching for a way out. As soon as she was standing the world began to sway and she fell back to where she had been sitting. Looking at the blurred image of a person sitting in front of her she tried to speak,"Who..."

The swaying image pressed a finger to her mouth, "You got quite a beating. Been out a few hours."

Skye squinted her eyes, fighting the headache, "H-hours?"

The image, which was quickly becoming a person, nodded, "Yup, couldn't wake you up, tried but you just wouldn't."

His voice was a comfort, it sounded familiar but she couldn't place why, "W-who are you?"

"Wait, you don't remember?" The fuzzy image asked, voice shaking slightly. Skye felt his hand on her chin as he seemed to be studying her, "Y-you can't see right now, can you?"

Skye shook her head surprised by the emotion in this stranger's voice, "Everything is

blurred."

"That stupid girl, didn't know what she could have done to your ears, your brain."

Those words sent a chill down Skye's spine, "You...you know?"

The image became clear, a sideways smile was the first thing in sight, "Of course, you told me years ago."

A gasp escaped Skye's mouth and before she knew what she was doing, she was hugging the boy, "Sam..."

 

But he wasn't like that anymore, he had changed. Skye pushed off the wall and continued toward the office. Her thoughts turned toward how Sam had changed...

 

Skye, noticing Sam down the hall called for him, "Sam! Wait up!"

Sam's body stiffened as he stopped, "What do you want, Skye?"

Skye's smile fell as she walked up next to Sam, "What's the matter? You haven't talked to me all week. Did I do something?"

Sam pulled off his sunglasses, the sight caused a gasp to escape Skye's mouth, "You see? They change completely now!" Sam eyes went to the few people who had heard him and he put the glasses back on, "Not just a flash anymore, Skye. They are completely different now! Completely!" Red light glowed under Sam's sunglasses.

Skye moved a hand to Sam's shoulder, "Hey calm down..."

Sam snatched Skye's wrist, "Don't touch me!" He pressed his nails into her skin.

Skye's eyes widened, blood ran down her wrist from where Sam's nails dug into her skin, "Sam...please...you're hurting me." She wondered what was going on in his head

A malicious smile spread across Sam's face, "Oh, I know."

"S-sam..." Skye whimpered tears running down her face.

Sam dropped Skye's wrist, the glowing under his sunglasses going blue. Her stared at the blood on his hand then the blood dripping from Skye's wrist. His hard look softened to panic, "Oh no, Oh no...I...Skye..I..." Sam turned and disappeared, running at the speed of light.

Skye stared at the blur of her best friend, scared and worried, "S-sam..."

2: Chapter 2: Parker

Parker Duvall pushed his brother, Charles, out of the house, "We are going, now."

"But...Parker...why?" Charles high pitched voice was piercing.

Parker studied his brother, the young boy's hair was black, it always had been black. But there were now strands of silver and gold throughout the mop, "Charles..." His eyes were dark, gold was shimmering in his irises too, "It isn't safe here..."

"Why?" Charles went for the door.

Parker walked through Charles as to block entry into the house. He snatched the boy's wrist, "First of all, you were the one who decided to go to high school, remember? You could still be in elementary school, Charles. Second, YOU decided to use your abilities on Dad last night..."

"But I was helping you! He was going to cut you!" Charles' eyes filled with tears, pulling his hands from Parker's.

Parker's lips spread into a frown, "Charles, your powers are doing something to you. They are changing your appearance and can't imagine what it is doing to you on the inside. I know you were trying to protect me," Parker placed his hands on his brother's shoulders, "and I appreciate that, but I don't like you using your powers and besides I can take care of myself bud."

Charles shook his head and pulled at Parker's sleeve. Pointing to the light scars that covered his dark skin, he clenched his teeth, "You can't. You are normally protecting me and when you do that, you get hurt. I didn't want you to get hurt more."

Parker glanced at his arm before pulling his sleeve back in place, "Charles, I get it. But you are more important to me..." Parker sighed, "Look, the point is that you used your abilities when I told you that you shouldn't. They can be tracked and they are dangerous. You are REALLY powerful, bud. Way more powerful than me with my petty abilities. But because of that, you are in more danger. Remember, the reason Mom is gone...I just don't want you home alone."

Charles nodded, "Ok."

"You will be fine buddy. I promise." Parker made Charles look in his eyes, "I  won't allow anyone to hurt you."

Charles nodded, "Alright..."

Parker walked to his car and nodded for Charles to get in.

Though Parker thought his brother would be shaken by their conversation, he was dead wrong. Charles talked all the way to school, all the information he had pushed in that had of his came spilling out.

Parker merely tuned him out. Even if his brother wasn't shaken, Parker certainly was. He had been replaying the scene from last night over and over again.

 

"Parker Henry Duvall!"

Parker looked up from his Pre-Calc. homework and met his dad's eyes, "Yes?" His dad was a mess, his clothes were dirty and torn. He hadn't washed his hair in days, it shining with oil.

"W-whaaaattt are you doing? What is this all over mmmmy table?" Parker's dad staggered over to the table and grabbed one of the pages of Parker's homework.

Clenching his teeth, Parker stood, "That is my homework, Dad."

"Don't you talk back to mmee young man!" He threw a weak right hook.

Parker dodged the swing and snatched the paper from his dad's hands, "I will just go do it in my room."

"No, I want to talk to you. This house isssss a messsssssss."

"That isn't my fault, Dad, you messed it up yesterday."

"What? I did not!" Mr. Duvall pointed to himself, "I was at work." There was something like pride in his voice.

A fire lit in Parker's eyes, "Work?!" He spat, "YOU don't work! I do! That is why I'm doing my homework at one in the morning!"

Mr. Duvall staggered into the table, knocking it over. All of Parker's homework went flying, "What did you say to me?"

Parker clenched his teeth and grabbed his book from the floor, "You know what I said."

"You are lying, boy! Yyyyou had a party!"

Parker sneered, "No! You raged last night because I was home late! Because I had work!"

Mr. Duvall pulled a knife from his pocket and flicked it open, "I don't like you attitude."

Parker's barrier fell and fear entered his eyes, "Dad...no..."

Staggering toward Parker, Mr. Duvall sneered, "Too late, I don't like this kind of attitude." He knocked the Pre-Calc. book from Parker's hands and pushed him against the wall.

Parker stifled a gag at the stench of stale beer, "D-dad, stop."

Parker's dad was no longer look for an apology, "Too bad son," He pressed his knife to Parker's right arm, "Where'd I do it last kid? Don't wanna make it in the same spot."

Parker tried pushing his dad off, but that only caused the knife to start into his skin. Parker squeezed his eyes shut, "S-Shoulder."

Mr. Duvall laughed in Parker's face, "Perfect."

There should have been a pressure, harder and harder until it broke the skin. Instead, there was nothing. He slowly opened his eyes. To his surprise, his father was frozen in front of him, "Charles..."

 

"Parker, what is the matter?" Charles asked, shaking Parker from his thoughts.

Parker glanced over at Charles, "Nothing buddy. Just thinking." Parker pulled into the high school parking lot and parked, "Ok, time for acting."

Charles nodded and grabbed his backpack. He angrily opened the door, "Fine, I'm going." Charles slammed the door and walked away.

Parker exited the car calmly. He locked the car then stuffed the keys in his pocket. Casting his eyes to the ground, he headed into school.

"Hey, Parker!" a gruff voice shouted.

Parker glared at the boy, who might as well have been a football player with his attitude, and tried to walk past.

"Don't ignore me!" The tall blond teenager seemed to tower over Parker though they were the same height. He put his hand on Parker's shoulder.

Anger burned in Parker's chest, "Don't. Touch. Me." He slapped the hand off of him,  "You want to talk to me? Go ahead. Just don't touch me, Jake. I'm really not in the mood."

Jake pushed Parker against the wall, pushing other people out of the way in the process. They might have Bern the same height but Jake actually had time to work out, Parker wasn't getting out of this any time soon, "You just made a mistake dude, a big mistake."

"You don't scare me. You never will."

Jake growled, pressing a meaty hand to Parker's bad arm.

Parker cried out, "Jerk," he spat.

A smirk played on Jake's lips, "Oh, I know."

"Jake, get off him," a female voice commanded gently.

Jake glanced over his shoulder and dropped his hands. He pressed his nails into Parker's arm for good measure then stepped away. Looking back at Parker he sneered, "You're lucky I am dating her sister."

When Jake had gone Parker stared at the girl who had saved his skin, "M-Melanie?"

Melanie, pushing her long auburn hair from her face, smiled, "You're welcome, Parker."

Parker, as to save his reputation, straightened up and stuffed his hands in his pockets, "I would've been fine without you're help." Parker started toward his locker keeping his eyes in front of him.

Melanie sighed, "Sure."

Parker glanced over are Melanie. She was beautiful. Parker had always loved the fact that she wore skirts. She wore a gray skirt, white blouse, white gloves, and white sandals. Parker quickly noticed something was wrong. She was rubbing her hands together for some reason, "You ok Mel?" Parker could never keep his tough guy attitude up around her.

Dropping her hands to her sides she nodded, "Yeah. Fine."

Parker unlocked his locker and grabbed his physics book, "Thanks for that." He mumbled under his breath, "I don't think I would've gotten out of that without bleeding by myself."

Melanie's face paled, seeming to pick up on Parker's meaning, "Your dad..."

"Not recently," Parker lied. He self consciously, put his hand to his shoulder. The wound suddenly stung like when it was first created.

"Parke..." Melanie reached to touch his hand when the bell interpreted.

"I...I g-got to go..." Parker quickly turned to walk away.

"Parker, we are in the same class, you can't run away from me."

"Yes, I can," Parker mumbled.

"Parker, please, I want to talk."

"And I don't," Parker tried to push Melanie, but instead he phased through her. He quickly stood, glanced at Melanie, and ran.

3: Chapter 3: Christina

"Ccccccchristinaaaaaaa!" a mocking voice shouted.

Christina turned and gave the owner of the voice a death glare, "What do you want, Michael?

"Can't I talk to my sister at school?" Michael teased, his hazel eyes sparkling with childishness. He crossed his arms, raising his eyebrows in defiance.

"I would prefer you..."

"Oh look, Jona, it is the two orphans." Jake interrupted, walking up hand in hand with Jona, who was Melanie Giles' twin sister, though they were blogging alike.

Michael glanced at Christina, brown hair falling in his eyes, then he looked at Jake,"Must you always be a jerk? I saw you harass Duvall; that was just low."

"Any lower than harassing us?" Christina cried, exasperated.

Jake dropped Jona's hand and grabbed Michael by his shirt. Pulling him to look in his face, "Didn't come to get your pity, just wanted to have some fun." He threw Michael to the ground, "Wanna fight?"

Michael scowled, scrambling to get away from Jake, "Why you always pick on those you know hurt? You don't torture who look weak, just us who are."

"Oh, shut up. I don't need your stupid physiological arguments."

Christina glanced at her brother on the ground, then backed out of the circle that was forming around them. Michael could fend for himself, despite what he said about being weak. Christina didn't want to stick around in case she got pulled into it.

She glanced at the people running toward the fight, noticing one was her eldest brother. He must have heard that Michael was the one in the middle of it all. She was planning on going to the end of the hallway and waiting it out.

"Christina!" A boy ran up to her, black curly hair falling over his dark sunglasses, "Have you seen Skye? She left school yesterday and I haven't heard from her."

"No, haven't seen her," Christina glared at Sam, "Not that I care."

Sam opened his mouth, surprised, "You're still mad?"

"Duh, of course I'm still mad. You stole my best friend."

"I...no...I...I didn't we were..."

Christina noticed a blue glow under Sam's sunglasses but decided she was imagining it, "Sam, my parents and sister DIED last year. My best friend wasn't around because she was with you."

"Christina, we were all friends, remember? We would never do that to you. You don't know the whole story...it was...something had happened..." Sam stumbled over his words, nervous.

"Oh yeah?" Christina's voiced started rising, "What would that be?"

Sam took off his sunglasses, showing that his eyes were ice blue, "Y-you always wondered why I always wore sunglasses, right?"

Christina's eyes narrowed, "Yeah, you would never take them off."

"T-that's...b-because..."

A scream echoed through the hallway, Christina turned toward it. She saw ice all over the floor, she followed it up to a person who was covered by it, "No...." Her legs began to feel weak. Jake had backed into the wall, surprise and terror on his face. In front of him was the frozen figure, a figure that was all too familiar, "No...Michael....what've you done?"

Michael stood there, staring at the figure that was frozen in front of him, then he was gone. He has just disappeared.

Christina's eyes filled with tears as she ran over to the frozen figure, "No...Tommy! Not you too! Please, please." She didn't care who was there or if they saw her. Christina sobbed, "Tommy! Please! Tommy, wake up!" Christina felt someone's hands around her waist and she was pulled from her brother, "Let go! That's my brother! Let go of me! Let go!!!!" She was pulled away, kicking and screaming.

"I understand that but there are doctors coming to help him," a masculine voice replied calmly.

Something snapped in Christina and she forced the hands holding her off. She turned and looked directly into the eyes of Parker Duvall. They were dark eyes, pained eyes, tired eyes. Christina noticed all of these things and she wanted to make them all worse, "It is too late. He's dead."

"Now, calm down, you don't..." Parker's eyes filled with terror.

She grabbed Parker by the shirt, pulling him closer so that they were touching noses. The terrified students grew silent around her, "Oh, I do. It takes five minutes for the frost seep into the heart and stop it," there was a fire in Christina's eyes, "I could have stopped it..." her anger grew, "I was going to! But you STOPPED ME!"

"You...You are...You have abilities?" Parker squeaked.

"When you realize?" Christina tightened her grip on Parker's shirt, she pressed her hand into Parker's neck, longing to cause more pain. She held him high off the ground

Parker's face started to go blue. His black hair fell over his dark eyes which made Christina shake him so she could see those terror-filled eyes, "I can just tell." Tears ran down Parker's face, Christina felt him stop breathing.

Someone grabbed her and jostled her enough to make her drop Parker. She whipped around to see who was there, but there was no one there. Christina scowled, turned back around, and saw Parker, looking as if he were dead, on the ground. The fire she had felt was gone, she turned and walked away from the scene.

4: Chapter 4: Sam

Sam rested his head on his left hand. His chemistry teacher was droning on about moles and moles. Even if the topic had been more interesting he wouldn't have been able to pay attention, he was too worried about Skye. He couldn't believe he had just let her walk out. the way she had looked when she left was branded into his mind. Her bright blue eyes filled with confusion and worry, her beautiful shoulder length wavy blonde hair under her purple headphones, her pink plaid flannel over her purple shirt, and her purple converse. Why was he thinking about how she looked? He had sensed there was danger and warned her, but he could have at least tried to help her. What an idiot he had been.

"Sam, the bell rang." The teacher broke through Sam's thoughts.

Sam looked up, the classroom was empty, "Oh, sorry Mr. Hart, I had been thinking."

"I could tell. You should go, you are lucky it is break, young man." Mr. Hart pushed up his glasses and shook his head.

Sam nodded as he picked up his stuff and exited the classroom.

The hallway was abnormally empty, he soon saw why. Jake Pearson had started another fight, he must have been unsatisfied with his torment of Parker Duvall. Sam couldn't quite make out who was the person in the fight but what he could see was a familiar girl exiting the crowd, "Christina!" Sam ran up to her, a headache started to pulse in his head. He sensed danger but was it from Christina? "Have you seen Skye? She left school yesterday and I haven't heard from her."

"No, haven't seen her," Christina glared at Sam, eyes seeming to burn holes in him. There was something off about her. She short dirty blonde hair was static filled and unripe, "Not that I care."

Sam opened his mouth, surprised by how she was acting, "You're still mad?"

"Duh, of course I'm still mad. You stole my best friend." Christina's words were like acid, Sam's headache intensified

"I...no...I...I didn't we were..." Sam didn't know how to put it into words.

Christina's eyes narrowed, "Sam, my parents and sister DIED last year. My best friend wasn't around because she was with you."

"Christina, we were all friends, remember? We would never do that to you. You don't know the whole story...it was...something had happened..." Sam stumbled over his words, nervous.

"Oh yeah?" Christina's voiced started rising, "What would that be?"

Sam knew this could be the time to tell her about his abilities. Skye had been begging him to so they could gloss things over with Christina. But there was something bothering Sam about Christina. There seemed to be something darker and so dangerous that it made his head feel like someone was drumming inside. He took off his sunglasses, "Y-you always wondered why I always wore sunglasses, right?"

Christina's eyes narrowed, "Yeah, you would never take them off."

"T-that's...b-because..." there was a scream. As shrill scream of horror. That was when Sam saw it, a boy that he knew all too well was frozen in front of Jake. Sam could tell from the way Christina moved that she knew who it was too.

Sam could hear Christina's whisper, "No...no...Michael...what have you done?"

When Sam heard that, he tuned Christina out. His eyes went to Michael.

Michael was standing there staring at his frozen brother

Had Michael really done that to his own brother? Sam knew that he needed to know some things and that Michael needed an out. So he ran. Sam grabbed Michael's arm and pulled him along with him

"Hey! What the heck?" Michael shouted, shocked and amazed that he was being pulled at the speed of light.

Sam stopped running and took a sharp breath. He had taken Michael to his tree house.

Michael started at Sam, shock marking his features, "Why? Where? What?"

Sam ignored Michael's questions and jumped right into it, "I am asking the questions. One, what the heck did you just do to your brother? Two, you and Christina have abilities? Three, what are they?"

"Why so many?" Michael asked through clenched teeth.

"Just answer me dude. I saved you from being found by the police who were sure to be there, talk."

"Fine. I...I froze my brother because I was trying to do so to Jake, but Tommy had to jump in the way. Yes, we do have abilities. I have the ability to control ice. Christina had super strength..."

"Christina? Super strength?"

"Yeah, I know, it is weird. She can also control water. I see you have 'abilities' too."

Sam heard what Michael had said but wasn't really listening, "Uh-huh..." The headache that he had had when talking with Christina was now gone, proving that it had been her causing it.

"Ummm...Sam?"

Sam shook himself from his daze, "What?"

"What am I supposed to do?"

"About?" Sam asked, catching up slowly.

"Everyone knows now! They will probably come for me."

"That is fine, You can stay here."

"Where is here?"

A smile played on Sam's lips, "We are in the middle of the woods outside of town. Only two people, I mean three people, know about it other than me."

"Who would the other two be?" Michael asked, looking worried.

"Skye and Jack Tillman."

There was a noise outside then the door to the tree house opened. A small boy poked his head through the trap door. His face was dirty, only clean where tears had tracked down his face, "Sammy..." a sob choked him as he climbed in and fell on the floor, "They are gone..."

Sam was kneeling next to the boy, "Jack, what are you talking about?  How did you get here?"

"I..." Jack muttered.

"You walked all the way here?"

Jack looked up and shook his head, "I ran."

"That would have taken a day..." Sam murmured, realizing what the young boy was saying, "Jack, what happened?"

Jack sat up and stared into Sam's eyes, "You are scared. Your eyes are gray."

"Please answer me Jack."

Jack nodded and moved his hand. The room darkened as if a dark cloud had just rolled over.

"What the..." Michael started.

Sam shot a glare at him, "Jack loves telling stories with light. Light in the shape of stars."

Specks of light appeared all over the room, "The darker the story the brighter the light." Jack closed his eyes, beginning his story.

Sam watched the lights and listened to his young friend, engulfed by the story as if he was who had experienced it...

Jack hated the morning. His sister walked to school and his dad had to drive him. But this morning was different, it seemed darker. Jack had always been sensitive to light and he could just tell. Jack was playing in the back yard, Skye had just left, Jack heard a roaring of cars coming up the street. A bird landed on his shoulder and squawked, "Coming for you Jack! Run!" Sometimes being able to understand animals was really annoying.

"But my mom and dad..." a loud banging could be heard from the back yard.

"Come on!" The bird squawked and it started to pull on Jack with its beak.

"Ok, ok..." Jack mumbled, starting to follow the bird.

"Freeze!" A loud voice shouted from Jack's back door.

Jack turned around and moved his hand, darkening the house and back yard. Lights started to twinkle all around them. He said in a commanding voice, as commanding as a nine year old's voice could be of course, "Light, how could we live without it." The small light particles surrounded the man in the doorway, "But you. You have to life without it." Jack pulled all the light that surrounded the man away and he ran, not wanting to hear the now-blind man yell.

He knew exactly where to go, but first he had to get Skye. If they had come to their house they must have gone to the high school too. The little boy ran as fast as his little legs would carry him. He bent over gasping as he reached the school. He scanned the front of the school. What he saw broke his heart. Skye wad being led from the school by police officers. She was in hand cuffs and her head phones were in the hands of one of the officers. Jack stared at her; she looked like she was in excruciating pain.

A sob escaped Jack's mouth as he stepped back. His parents and his big sister? Tears blurred his vision while he ran from the scene. He had to go to Sam's tree house.

Jack had started sobbing and the lighting of the room returned to normal.

Sam took the boy into his lap, "We'll get them back buddy...I promise."