Once we’re on the train, he motions for me to sit but chooses to stand like a shield between me and the rest of the world. As people get on and off at each of the stops, I watch River shift to let them pass, with none getting even close to me… My protector. It feels good.
Giggling has me turning to the seats on the right where a couple of college-age girls are eyeing River and whispering to each other. Hearing them, he turns briefly, causing them both to flash flirtatious smiles, but he simply turns away. Pouting, they look at me, and I smile back. I don’t blame them. There’s something about him that draws your attention. I know I can’t stop looking.
Somewhere around the fourth or fifth stop, he motions for me to stand, and with his hand at my back, we exit the train at Midtown Station, where he ushers us onto a bright yellow trolley.
Once seated, he leans over to the girl next to him. “Do you mind if I borrow your phone? I left mine at home and need to text a friend that I’ll be late.” A soft feminine voice agrees, and he quickly takes her phone and sends off a quick text. “Thanks.”
River turns toward me. “Jordan is a friend I met last year. Great guy. Similar to us. If he’s still here, I’m sure he’ll let us stay with him a night or two.” The grin on his face tells me he’s looking forward to seeing his friend again.
I fiddle with the zipper on my jacket. “Is he going to be okay with you bringing someone else with you?” He lifts a shoulder, and I bite my lip, wondering what we’ll do if he doesn’t like me. “We could go to a hotel. I’ve got enough money for a couple of nights.”
His eyebrow rises, and he shakes his head. “Don’t say that out loud and don’t tell anyone, especially not Jordan. He’d steal it in a heartbeat, and I wouldn’t blame him. People like us…” He pauses. “We live close to the bone with few morals. Trust is rare. The only way to survive is to be on guard all the time.”
“Should I trust you?” The question slips out before I can stop it, but I lift my chin and force myself to meet his bright green eyes.
The corners of his mouth turn down, but his eyes never leave mine. “No.” Confused, I drop my gaze to my hands. “Our kind will do anything to avoid capture. Nobody wants to be an experiment. Always remember that.”
He seems to have plenty of experience with Hightower and his group, but does he know Phoenix is out there offering protection against them? Maybe once I’m in contact, I can convince River to join me and give him some hope in this dim world of ours.
The driver announces the next stop, and River pulls me to my feet. “Let’s go. He’s usually in the chemistry building.”
Once we get off and start walking, he links his fingers with mine. Sidewalks full of students walking from one building to the next make me envious and homesick for my old life. Not for things, but for Lionel and my dream of getting a doctorate. Everything happening to me feels surreal and a part of me keeps hoping it’s just a really bad nightmare.
“Jordan is a Cryo and utterly fascinated with all things chemical,” River says with a chuckle. He darts a glance at me and suddenly stops. “Are you okay? Did you see someone?” His head turns from one end of the campus to the other.
I place my hand on his arm to stop him. “Sorry. No. I’m being silly.”
He tilts his head and studies me. “What is it?”
“It’s stupid. Really. I miss my life, including school.” When I hear the words out loud, I’m even more embarrassed by them. After all, I’m alive. That should be enough. “Let’s go.” I tug on his hand to get him moving, but he doesn’t budge.
“That’s not stupid. In fact, I’m jealous,” he admits in a low voice. “I had to leave and go on the run my freshmen year of high school. That’s when my powers showed up. I was taking biology, and we were conducting an experiment with plants. Mine sort of took off like Jack’s beanstalk. My mom has powers, so I instantly knew what it meant. I ran home, and we left that night.” There’s a slight tinge of red to his cheeks. “My mom home schooled me after that incident, but I always wanted to go to college.”
I throw my arms around him, hugging him tightly. “I’m so sorry. For both of us and our lost dreams. Do you think anything will feel normal again?” I look up at him, hoping he has the answers, but he shakes his head.
“No,” he replies with a twist of his mouth. “It sucks, but only because we can’t enjoy our powers out in the open. We’re special, but we can’t let anybody know, so we run and hide and try to pretend we’re just like everyone else when we’re not, and we never will be again. It’s not fair.”
I ease back and study the bitter expression on his face. “I’m sorry.” For a second, I hesitate but realize he should probably know in case they find us. “I’ve only used my power once.” I bite my lip as I continue to tell him how clueless I am. “I don’t even know what the official term is for my powers.”
His whistle pierces the air. “Once?” He sees my slow nod and sighs. “What is your power?”
“Water,” I reply hesitantly. “It responds to me, although I’m not exactly sure how yet.”
“You have the power of hydrokinesis. We use the nickname hydro.” He begins walking again, tugging me along with him. “It takes time. When I first came into my powers, they were sporadic and unpredictable. Unfortunately, we don’t have time for you to gradually learn how to control yours. Maybe Jordan will have an idea on how we can fast track them.”
Warmth travels from my hand to my chest. I’ve never wanted to hold someone’s hand, but I like the fact that he’s always reaching for mine. “What’s a cryo?”
He leans in and murmurs, “A cryo controls cold and ice.”
I blink. That’s unnerving. “What are you called?”
His lips curve in a big smile and he taps his temple. “A phyto. Phytokinesis is the ability to manipulate plants with your mind, although my power extends to all of nature.”
“Impressive powers, but the nickname lacks something,” I tease him, quickly dodging his tickling fingers. “Are there a lot of powers?”
“More than we know,” he replies as he stops at the corner of a huge grey building. “Let’s go around to the front steps.” He pulls me toward the entrance. As we get closer, his face lights up. “Jordan!”
I follow his gaze to a young man around our age, standing in the shadows of the building. Stocky, with light brown hair and intense brown eyes, the guy studies me for a second, his hand tapping restlessly on his thigh.
