Back to school

The walk back to school was silent. Finally, Dan spoke.

'Thank you.' Silence. 'I'm not sure what I would've done if you hadn't been there.'

'Stop it.' Steve was blushing now.

Dan laughed. 'All right then.'

Steve smiled. 'Tell me. How did you create that ball? I don't think I've ever heard of someone doing that before.'

Dan could not help grinning. 'It was easy. I mean, our power is mostly mental, right?'

'You can say that again.'

Dan snorted. 'I didn't mean like that.'

'I got it. What's your point?'

'We're only limited by our imagination. If we can imagine it, we can do it.'

Steve shook his head. 'It doesn't make sense. Electricity is still electricity. You can't change nature.'

'Well apparently I have.' Dan shyly raised a fist. 'Go me.'

They stopped in front of the school. 'Okay. If you're so brainy, then explain this. Why did you set that pen on fire?'

'It was an accident!'

Steve frowned. Dan raised a hand. 'Sorry. I was pretty clumsy as a boy so that response is sort of instinctive.'

A smile. 'That I can understand.'

'Thanks. Well, people like us are kind of like exposed wires. What happens when you bring two of them close together?'

'They spark.' Steve was nodding now. 'I see.' Then he frowned. 'You've known about this less than an hour and you're already forming quite plausible theories.'

Dan bit the inside of his lip. 'I was quite good at doing experiments in science. Couldn't remember all the equations, but I've always been really good at making connections.' He paused, and then laughed. 'I just remembered. I've been thinking about getting a job next year.'

'Seems kind of boringly normal, huh?'

'It isn't that.' Dan shook his head, still smiling. 'I want to be an electrician.'

Steve chuckled. 'Oh wow. And you were born one.'

'Exactly.' They walked through the gate. Dan spoke. 'I suppose I'll see you in French tomorrow morning?'

'Yeah. Gotta work on learning that language so you can find out what the hell the teacher's saying.'

'Yeah. You know, French isn't as boring as I thought it'd be.'

Steve raised an eyebrow. 'If you thought it would be boring, why take the class?'

Dan froze, feeling the dreaded heat rising in his cheeks.

Steve smiled slyly. 'The blonde?'

Dan was uncomfortably hot now. The blonde girl had been sitting at the same row as Steve, so whenever someone had noticed him looking, he had switched targets. Apparently Steve had noticed that part of the ruse.

'Hey, I don't blame you. She is quite hot.' Steve's smile turned into a smirk. 'If you want I could introduce you.'

'No! No. Maybe later. When I've got this electrician thing under control.'

'Okay.' Steve gave a mock salute. 'Let me know when you're ready.'

Dan almost sprinted home. It was just a bit too disturbing, having his crush talking about setting up a date with someone else. It was wrong on so many levels.

But back home and in bed, he couldn't think of anything other than that cocky grin.

Steve lay on his bed, staring at the peaked ceiling. He always dreaded his dreams, but at least he didn't remember them any more. Just a headache and the faint feeling of sheer terror. He checked his medication was ready on the bedside table, then snuggled under the blankets and closed his eyes.

A few minutes later, he opened his eyes. He stood, blankets falling carelessly to the bed. He walked to the door in his pajamas, a strange, blank look in his eyes, like there was nobody there.

He walked out the door and down the gravel path to a wrought iron gate. A man stepped out of the shadows. The gibbous moon did not show his face. He was dressed entirely in black, but not the black that said 'this is my colour.' It was the blackness of a moonless night. The blackness that concealed the terrifying drop over the cliff that would kill you. The man placed a hand on Steve's head. Static sparked in Steve's hair.

'Report.' His voice was silky smooth.

Steve replied. 'There is a new recruit. An orphan with lots of control and little power.'

'An orphan? How interesting. Do you know who his parents are?'

'No.'

'Find out.'

'Yes Master.'

'Go.' Steve turned on the spot and walked mechanically back to his bed. The man turned his face up to the moon and smiled. Perhaps this time he would succeed.

The moon illuminated white teeth and bright blue eyes and jet black hair. Uncle's face.