“What are you talking about? What do you think you know?” Alex questioned.

  “Oh Alex, I have been watching you for a long time now. I was recruited to watch for people that might be… more than what meets the eye.” Zayd responded, stepping out of the shadow of the doorway and towards Alex. Taking an instinctive step back, Alex looked at him warily as the video still played in the background.

  “What do you want?” Alex asked his brows knitted. “Better yet, where have you been? We have been looking for you since the day of the review.”

  Zayd grunted in disgust, “I have been in the woods.”

  Alex’s heart beat out of his chest, Is he who I have been sensing out there. Feeling him watching me?

  “Oh yes, I have seen your experiments,” he snarled. Alex gulped, as a slight sweat broke out on his brow. “Why is it that you,” he gestured towards Alex, “You can have these abilities? Your hands glow, you can move things, change the density of the earth. How is it that you can do this, but someone like me can not?”

  “I don’t know,” Alex grimaced. “I suppose there is no point in denying that I can do these things anymore.”

  “Good we don't need to pretend then,” Zayd continued. “I started watching you after that first experiment was successful. Trying to figure out if it was something you did or if by some miracle that stupid thing actually worked.”

  Alex looked at Zayd warily. I need to put some space between us, he thought. Alex walked towards his kitchen, “you want something to drink?” Zayd eyed him suspiciously but didn't move. “Suit yourself,” Alex sighed, grabbing a water and leaning on the far side counter so it was between him and Zayd.

  “That first day after we assembled the press. Do you remember?” Zayd said, looking towards Alex as he made his way to the armchair in the living room. “You were picking up the solid pieces and there was a static discharge that happened. The part that still stands out to me is the fact that it looked like your hands emitted a light as well. Almost in response,” he trailed off.

  Alex took a sip of his water watching Zayd carefully, what am I going to do? He literally knows everything. “If you have been watching me this whole time, why have you just not asked me? Talk to me about it? Why keep it a secret and confront me now?”

  “There are bigger things at play. Bigger than you know,” Zayd confessed quietly. Sighing he sat back in the chair and stared at Alex. “I was only told to watch for anyone suspicious, monitor them, and turn in anything I find,” he laughed dryly. “I just thought it was some nonsense. Didn't think I would actually find something… someone. Guess I should have known. It is the government afterall.”

  Alex closed his eyes and pushed out his senses. He could feel Zayd's movements, feel him tapping his foot on the ground. That’s new. Have I always been able to do this? He thought to himself. Opening his eyes he looked at Zayd again, keeping his senses open.

  “After my suspicions about you I set a camera up in your apartment. The video that is playing there on your television is from that. A lot of good stuff was captured there,” he mulled. “Anyway,” he continued, “when review time came about, it was time for me to relay my findings about you.”

  “To General Dempsey,” Alex concluded.

  “Correct, he has a, let’s say, vested interest in people that are a little special,” he finished.

  “That’s why I saw you two together. Why he was watching me,” Alex mumbled mostly to himself.

  “Yes, my findings on you definitely piqued his interests,” Zayd nodded. “He told me to sabotage the project.”

  “What would that have done? That would have hurt everyone,” Alex said.

  “Exactly. We would have failed the review and they would have split us up. Perfect way to move you without suspicion,” Zayd replied.

  The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  “If they wanted to take me or move me, they just could,” Alex said, shaking his head.

  “See, the problem with that is everyone knows who you are and it was announced that you were coming to help with the efforts. So if the “golden child” went missing people would notice,” Zayd answered.

  “I see. Did you show him the video?” Alex asked quietly.

  “No, I didn't show him,” Zayd admitted.

  Alex furrowed his brow in thought. “Why not?”

  Zayd's face went blank for a moment, “I don't know.”

  “If they had you looking for people with abilities that must mean that there are more out there. More people that can do what I can do,” Alex pondered thoughtfully as he rubbed his chin. “If you did all this then why have you been hiding?”

  Zayd’s attention snapped back to Alex, “well, when my sabotage failed the General was… let’s say, very displeased. Despite everything I had told him, it wasn't enough. I held off on the video, something was telling me to hold on to it…” he trailed, off his eyes going blank again.

  Alex watched Zayd carefully, his senses still open, he could feel a subtle change in his pulse as his eyes glazed over.

  Shaking his head and refocusing on Alex he continued, “I had a feeling that I would be on the list to be moved, so I moved myself first.”

  “So why come to me about all this now? What is it you want?” Alex questioned.

  “What do I want? I want my life back?! I can't have that though, can I? Not while you are here,” Zayd spat, while he gripped the arms of the chair.

  “So what, are you here to kill me?” Alex prompted.

  Zayd barked with laughter, “What would that do for me? You being dead does nothing. No, I need you to come with me, willingly, preferred,” he finished with a smile that matched the cold look in his eyes.

  “And where would that be?” Alex demanded.

  “I know a nice little lab where we can work on all your abilities,” he sneered.

  “Right, uhhh, I am going to have to decline your invite. Might I suggest that you seek help,” Alex replied.

  “Oh that’s not nice Alex. You are coming with me,” Zayd growled as he stood up from the chair.

  Panicked Alex sensed his movements, What am I going to do? Looking towards his bucket in the living room he called to the loose dirt. Harden into gulfball sized rocks! Alex’s hands flashed with light as the material responded.

  “What do you think you’re doing!” Zayd growled, noticing the glow and lunging towards Alex.

  His eyes widened in surprise as Zayd’s sudden movement made him jump back, losing his open sense on him. Flailing his arm, he called for the rocks to shoot at Zayd.

  “Ahhh!” Zayd exclaimed, stopping to protect himself from the assault. “Pest!” he shouted, leaping forward and grabbing Alex by the shirt. Alex tried to fling himself away but Zayd’s grip was too strong. “Oh no you don’t” Zayd said, as he pulled Alex towards him and punched him in the face.

  “Nnngh,” Alex groaned, seeing stars with the sudden burst of pain. Fear flooded his senses as he swung his fist back at Zayd. Tumbling to the ground, the struggle continued. Zayd rolled on top of Alex pinning him to the ground, thrashing him over and over. Alex got knees up under Zayd and pushed him off, scrambling to his feet. Flexing his hands, he called to the rocks and shot them at Zayd with force.

  “Oomph!” Zayd groaned, as one of the rocks hit him on the temple knocking him out

  and he fell to the floor.

  Alex let out a shaky breath as he took a cautious step towards Zayd’s body. Zayd did not move as he lay unconscious on the ground. Alex went to his room and grabbed a tie from his closet. Going back to the living room he willed the materials back into the container. Warily, he approached Zayd and tied his hands behind his back.

  Crap, he thought, seeing blood pooling by his head. Reaching out he put his fingers to his throat searching for a pulse. It’s weak but there, he sighed in relief. Going into a drawer he grabbed out a cloth and held it to his head.

  “Now what?” Alex asked himself. “If I turn you in you might tell everyone, but who will believe you.” Alex sighed and turned off the television. Staring at Zayd’s unconscious body he let out a deep breath and called Emily.

  “What?!” she exclaimed as Alex told her about the encounter, leaving out some of the details. “I will have security there right away.” Hanging up the phone, Alex went back to Zayd and checked his pulse and temple. What seemed like only seconds later there was a knock at the door and two large men in military outfits walked in and scooped Zayd, removing him without a word.

  “Well, that's over at least,” Alex said plopping on his couch. A few moments later there was a knock at the door. “Did you forget something?” Alex asked as he opened the door.

  “Where is he?” said Emily, with two men in security outfits, one holding a first aid kit.

  “Uh, he was already taken,” Alex answered confused.

  “What? By who?” Emily asked bewildered.

  “Good question,” Alex muttered, a slight feeling of dread in his gut.