Silent Currents

Chapter 9: Silent Currents

The tension between the children had grown in the days since I last spoke with #0529. Eyes lingered on me more than they had before, especially after I had returned from isolation. The whispers, once faint and fleeting, now seemed to follow me wherever I went. But I no longer shied away from them.

I understood more now. This place wasn't just about survival—it was about control. Power wasn't something the staff handed out. It had to be earned, taken. I had spent too long being passive, waiting for the right moment. Now, I was beginning to create my own.

Today, the common area was quieter than usual. The children were scattered across the room, some practicing their abilities, others keeping to themselves. The air felt different, heavier. I could sense the subtle shifts in power, the hum that surrounded those who had started to unlock their potential. It was an undercurrent of energy, something only those attuned to it could feel.

I wasn't fully attuned yet. But I would be.

I caught #0529's eye across the room. He didn't say anything, just gave me a small nod before returning to his practice. That nod had become a signal between us—an unspoken understanding that we were both working toward the same goal, though for now, we kept our distance. The staff was still watching, and I couldn't afford to be careless.

Instead of approaching him, I moved toward another boy, #0611. His number was higher than #0529's but still lower than mine. He was older, his abilities more refined, but he wasn't one of the top-tier children. Still, he had been here long enough to know more than I did.

I sat next to him without a word, watching as he manipulated a small silver sphere, letting it hover just above his palm. His control was precise, the sphere spinning in slow, perfect circles. It was a simple display, but I could tell it took great concentration.

At first, he didn't acknowledge me. Then, after a few moments, he spoke, his voice low enough that only I could hear.

"You've been asking about the fragments," he said, his eyes still on the sphere. "Be careful with that."

I didn't respond right away, unsure how much he knew or how far I could push. Instead, I watched the sphere, waiting for him to continue.

"You think you're the only one who's curious?" His tone was neutral, almost indifferent. "We all are. But curiosity only gets you so far."

"And what gets you further?" I asked, keeping my voice calm, controlled.

His eyes flicked toward me then, sharp and calculating. "Understanding that not everything is about the fragments. The fragments are a tool. They unlock something, yes, but what they unlock is already inside us. You don't need the fragments to find it."

I frowned, trying to piece together what he was saying. "What do you mean?"

#0611 let the sphere drop into his hand, closing his fingers around it before turning to face me fully. "The power isn't in the fragments. It's in us. The fragments just… amplify it."

A chill ran through me at his words. I had always thought of the fragments as the key to unlocking something external, something beyond myself. But if what he was saying was true, then everything I needed was already inside me. The fragments merely brought it to the surface.

"Then why can't I access it?" I asked, frustration creeping into my voice.

He shrugged. "Maybe you're not ready. Maybe the staff is keeping you from it. Or maybe you're looking in the wrong place."

My fists clenched in my lap, my mind racing with new possibilities. I had been so focused on finding a way to reach the fragments, convinced they were the answer to everything. But now, I wasn't so sure.

Before I could ask more, #0611 stood up, slipping the sphere into his pocket. "Don't overthink it, #0732. Just keep your eyes open. You'll figure it out eventually."

He walked away, leaving me sitting there with more questions than answers.

I stayed in the common area a little longer, watching the others, my thoughts swirling. If the power was already inside us, and the fragments merely amplified it, what did that mean for me? Why hadn't I felt anything yet?

I glanced across the room at #0529. He had told me that the fragments were for those who earned them, for those who took them. But maybe it wasn't just about taking the fragments. Maybe it was about taking control of myself—my potential.

The fragments were important, yes. But they weren't everything.

I stood up, determination settling deep within me. I had been looking for answers in the wrong place, waiting for something external to change me. But the truth was, the change had to come from within.

The fragments were part of the puzzle, but they weren't the whole picture.

As I walked out of the common area, my mind was clearer than it had been in days. The staff may have thought they controlled us, but they didn't control everything.

I was ready to start taking control for myself.