kids.”
The grey agent, the one called Rainor, had the grace to duck his head in shame. “There is nothing we can do about what happened at this time. Not openly, anyways.”
As if confident that he had identified the dominant personality now, Sanders locked his eyes on my face and moved so that he was directly in front of me. “That little stunt of yours back at the house tells me that you’re that psi the Company has been looking for.” He pointed the muzzle of the taser at me.
“Why would anyone be looking for me?” I answered angrily. “My friends were killed and I didn’t even get there until after they’d all been murdered!” The aura of danger radiating from the black-clad agent had my whole body quivering. The hair on the back of my arms and neck was bristling, and my telekinetic energy was building in response to the threat.
“Well, actually, we tend to keep a real close eye—and ear,” Sanders chuckled arrogantly and gave Rainor a conspiratorial wink, “on our competition in the Company.”
“Now, we know that they were sent to that house by a tip they got on a young psi that pretty much matches your description, but I guess you don’t know anything about that, now do you?”
Sanders tried to get me to look him directly in the eyes, but I moved aside, feigning concern for the small child and dog that had persistently returned to cling to my side. Bending close to straighten the little girl’s jacket, I whispered in her ear, “Take Dusty and go to Kelly.”
I was not fooled by the agent’s tone of concern and friendship. The hot breath of this man looming over me was making my skin crawl and I was very much aware of the many atrocities committed by agents just like these in the name of national security.
Merry patted the snarling dog I was holding between us and slowly slipped her little hand under the collar. When I was sure the child had a good grip, I released mine and took a step away, letting Merry quietly drag the dog closer to Kelly. Lost in his own arrogance, Sanders was paying little attention to the children’s constant shifting and shuffling.
I couldn’t help noticing Rainor’s reaction. It was as if his training and skill at dealing with people was closer to the surface rather than buried under the crude arrogance displayed by the other agent. His eyes were on the younger children slipping away to the outer limits of their control. Jennie stepped into his line of sight, trying to draw his attention away from them but I knew it was too late.
“Ex-excuse me sir, but—” the grey agent tried to interrupt his superior.
“Stand down, Rainor, don’t you see I’m busy? Why, I was just about to explain to this little girl how lucky she is to have such a patriotic daddy that he’d be willing to sacrifice his very own child for the good of her government.” Sanders reached a hand out and tried to touch my arm, but I quickly side-stepped out of his reach, and several feet further away from the others.
“But, sir, I think you should—” the sergeant waved his taser at the group of younger children, “I mean, you really should—”
Sanders snapped his head around, prepared to roar some reprimand but before he could speak, I interrupted in a smooth, self-assured, and very angry voice, “That bastard that turned me in is not my father and I am not a child.” I looked him dead in the eyes.
Startled by the sudden change in attitude, Sanders stuttered and his eyes got very big. I saw him cast a look back at his subordinate and I saw the look on his face change when he noticed the children that were now openly sliding along the building away from them.
“I think I’ve had just about enough of this crap,” growled Sanders. He pointed the muzzle of the taser at me and I saw his trigger finger twitch in anticipation. “You need to make a decision right now, you little freaks! Either you come with me real nice and peaceful-like, or I’ll take you out right now and they
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