The Unlocked (Charlie Hartley Series Book 1) by J.D. Stonebridge Page A

Have you heard of Binaural Beats?"
Charlie shook her head.
    Natalia explained, "Binaural beats are sound waves that
can stimulate the brain. It has many uses and forms, including the theta waves
which I exposed you to. Theta waves help you relax and meditate. And in your
relaxed state, I see that the control of your power is more fluid. Other forms
of sound waves have other effects, such as Beta waves, which are a higher
frequency and stimulate excitement or anxiety."
    "Anxiety?" Charlie repeated the word, concerned it
would trigger the emotion in her.
    "Yes, but don't worry, Charlie. It isn't hypnosis. It’s
merely meant to stimulate your brain but not force you how or what to
think." Natalia assurance didn’t completely convince Charlie. "Would
you like to try it again?" Natalia offered, but Charlie interjected.
    "What will it be this time?"
    The older woman shook her head, "Where's the surprise
in that, Charlie? Besides, it's better not to be aware so your mind won't
anticipate and be biased." She clicked on the buttons of her keyboard.
Then, Natalia rested her palms on the table and leaned towards Charlie.
    No sound came from the earphones this time. Charlie waited,
thinking the sound too low to distinctly hear. Moments passed before Natalia
finally asked her, "Now, can you tell me how you like your
schoolmates?"
    Charlie fumbled with the device on her ear. "I thought
I was supposed to listen to something? I don't hear anything from this right
now," she pointed out.
    "It's okay; I decided we'll just talk more before we
proceed." Natalia laced her fingers and rested her chin on them once more.
"So, you were going to tell me about your schoolmates?"
    Locking her own hands together under the table, Charlie
answered. "Some are nice, but some aren’t," she admitted.
    "Why is that?" Natalia asked.
    Charlie hesitated, her eyes scanning every corner of the
training room before returning her focus on Natalia. "I don’t think they
like the idea of me being here," confided Charlie, prodding Natalia to
further probe. "Why do you think that?"
    “Why?” Charlie asked herself. She hadn't done anything in
particular to deserve such treatment, at least in her own perspective. Perhaps
it was because she was new and considered an outsider. "I don't
know," Charlie mumbled.
    "Charlie, whatever you tell me won't reach anyone
else's ears. You were thinking about something, please tell me."
    "I said I don't know," Charlie said once more.
There was a hollow pit in her chest and a sting in her eyes. Her gaze dropped
down to her hands and she noticed them shaking. Charlie squeezed her eyes shut
and tried to force them to stop, but they wouldn’t.
    Thoughts swirled around Charlie's mind. The newness of being
at the institute was unsettling. Her powers, the sister she had yet to meet,
and the longing for both her adoptive and biological family gnawed at her,
adding to her unhappiness. The chain of events was too overwhelming for the new
student. Charlie opened her eyes and her vision blurred, triggering the new
fear of blindness.
    She heard Natalia's voice from afar saying, "Charlie.
Charlie, focus." Charlie bit her lip and shut her eyes once more.
    “I can’t focus,” Charlie confessed. Natalia said something,
but the therapist’s words were meaningless in Charlie’s state of mind. Images
of previous events fleeted in and out of her head: the students' distasteful
looks at her; Madison laughing at her expense; the bullet that could have
killed Hilary; the recurring dream. "What should I do? Can we stop this,
please?” Charlie pleaded.
    She heard shuffling sounds behind her. Charlie snapped her
eyes open to see the guards moving towards her.
    "No, don't!" Natalia's voice was clearer now, but
no one seemed to hear her.
    "Don't come closer!" Charlie shouted and the guard
to her right was hurled against a wall. He remained glued to the metal wall,
unable to remove himself. The other guard pulled something from his belt.
    He's gonna kill me,