Lysander
Iwokeuptothe smell of antiseptic and the stark white of the school infirmary. The room was strange, like it hadn’t changed since nineteen-sixty-five or something. I only had a moment to wonder why they never upgraded it when I heard talking in the room next to me.
I got up and patted myself down to ensure I had no significant wounds that had landed me here. When all seemed fine and I had no pain to speak of, I assumed I’d just passed out. I walked to the door and peered out.
Dr. Aynesworth was talking to Kaden, not trying to keep his voice soft. “Why didn’t anyone try to intervene?”
“I don’t think we understood what was going on until it was too late.”
Dr. Aynesworth nodded. “You should know that if the allegations prove to be true, Dr. Bisbee will be sent away, and unfortunately, since she was your sponsor and advocate, you too will be required to leave.”
Kaden looked at him, clearly surprised by his revelation. “What will happen to me?” he asked.
“You’ll be returned to the facility you were at before coming here. They will decide what to do with you from there.”
Kaden nodded sadly. “Can I speak with him?” he asked, and nodded toward me.
I could tell Dr. Aynesworth didn’t want him to, but he nodded. “After I speak with him, you may do so, then you should pack and prepare to leave.”
I returned to the bed, crawled in, and sat in the middle, waiting for Dr. Aynesworth to question me. I wondered if maybe I’d be forced to leave as well.
The president walked in and smiled. “So, I can see you’re feeling better.”
I nodded but didn’t respond. I was waiting for the shoe to drop. Not that I wasn’t ready to go, but I would miss Kyle and Kaylee.
“Do you remember what happened?” he asked.
I thought for a moment, trying to remember. My head hurt when I tried. “Um, I have vague memories. I can remember being in class and being asked to participate. I-I um, I didn’t want to, or I don’t think I did.”
I put my hands over my eyes, the light suddenly beginning to hurt them.
“Here, let me,” Dr. Aynesworth said, resting his hand on my head, his palm on my forehead. Within seconds my mind cleared, and I could see how it all happened. In fact, I could now see everything, even the times when Dr. Bisbee had me under her mind control.
“Oh, I didn’t want to be in that class. I’d tried to withdraw, but Dr. Bisbee forced me to attend. She did some sort of mind control thing on me. So, I was just trying to make it through the class.”
“When she tried to force you to participate, you fought back using your powers?” he asked.
When I nodded, he sighed and stood up. “Mr. Phillips, have you covered all the elements in your Elemental class yet?”
I nodded. “Earth, Water, Air, and Fire.”
“Have you discussed how all those elements are part of the human body?” he asked, and I shook my head. “This is why we don’t put freshmen in second-year classes,” he said with a sigh. “Your body contains the four elements. You’re mostly carbon which is the Earth. You also have Water, which you know about. You breathe Air, so oxygen and other particles infiltrate your cells and move about your body. But what causes us to function and sparks our lives is Fire or energy.”
He searched my face to see if I was still following. Of course, I was, but I didn’t have a clue why he was telling me.
“As a Terrestrial power source, you can utilize the energies within you. Unlike the elementals who can only bend those elements to their own will, you can use them.” He made eye contact. “You can absorb that energy, all energy forms, and that is extremely rare. There are only a handful of people who have ever had that skill. Some can take people's powers away or negate them, but that’s different from absorbing them.” He walked over to the window and looked out. “When plants take energy from the sun, photosynthesis, they absorb it. Without getting too technical, let’s just say the plant's carbon atoms absorb that energy and turn it into sugar. Well, you know how photosynthesis works, I’m sure.”
He came over and sat on the bed next to me. “You absorb energy in a similar way. You can store that energy in the elements in your body, but when that energy exceeds your body’s capacity to store it, your cells literally explode inside you. Dr. Bisbee is very powerful. She’s also a Terrestrial being, but she’s spent decades honing her skill using the different elements so she can cause the neurotransmitters in other people’s brains to fire as she wishes. That means she can force you to do things against your will.”
“Why is she allowed to do that here?”
He chuckled mercilessly. “She isn’t supposed to. Teachers take an oath not to use their powers against the students. However, recently we’ve had a few students who’ve made poor choices. We’ve had to utilize Dr. Bisbee’s powers to keep the rest of the students safe. I’m afraid she must’ve confused what’s necessary and what’s not.” Dr. Aynesworth shook his head. “So, we don’t want you using your skills against people more powerful than you again, not until you understand them. Eventually, you’ll be able to absorb almost any power, provided you understand the powers and how to store the energies in the elements around you. You don’t have to use your own body,” he said, chuckling.
I nodded, and he stood to go. “Your friends have told us you are considering withdrawing. I highly recommend you reconsider. Our school has a lot to offer you, and Dr. Bisbee will likely no longer be here to cause you harm. Of course, it’s your choice.”
I thought for a moment before responding. “Dr. Aynesworth, I’ve been attacked unacceptably by this school’s faculty, not just any faculty, but the dean of students. I will stay, but only if Kaden Pierce is allowed to stay as well.”
The president looked at me in shock. “But, son…”
