It's dark, which is something that has never bothered Thuan- no, dark was good, dark was dark, dark was safe, dark was good- and he knows he shouldn't be doing this, he shouldn't, he doesn't want to get seen again, doesn't want that weird memory-loss, time-lapse thing to happen again.

But still.

Door locked, single window covered with that overly fluffy brown sheet that was always there when it was sunny, nothing even remotely flammable nearby, even though it's not fire, at least he hopes not. He stands in a corner, back against one wall, leaning slightly. Hands outstretched, fingers spread, thumbs touching.

He has to try it. One more time.

He doesn't expect anything to happen before the light comes out.

Thuan doesn't think there's anything happening. He should. He knows that.

And nothing does.

And he's relieved for a moment.

And then there's a quick, bright flash of a sickly greenish light that causes him to instantly slam his hands against the wall before it goes out. Even when he raises his hands and he knows its gone, he can see a slight trace of that light.

Which is nothing compared to what happens next.

It's so sudden, he doesn't even react, doesn't even think.

One second, thick darkness.

Next, little ball of light hovering over his open palm.

Thuan stares. He doesn't know what else to do. It sits there, and he hears a faint hum, and there are little rippling shapes inside it, like it's hollow and there's water splashing around the inside. It's not the sickly green light; it's yellow, pure yellow, and lights up most of the room. He moves his hand, wanting to smash his hand against the wall again, like with the other light, but it's like he's frozen there. His arm moves stiffly, slowly, as if trying to preserve the little ball there.

He doesn't know what to do. He honestly doesn't.

His fingers curl into a fist, what he always does when he thinks, and the minute his fingers touch his palm the light vanishes, as does the stiffness, the humming.

He opens his fist.

Light.

Closes.

Darkness.

Opens.

Light.

Closes.

Darkness.

Thuan stares. He knows he does that too much, but he can't help it. His mind is reeling. Why? And what was that light?

Answerless, he collapses onto his bed, curls his knees up, and cries to himself.


"How do you know?" he demanded- not even remotely like a question, a command- when he saw the dark haired boy in the library. Seconds after, he knew what he'd done wrong. But it was too late.

Thuan swore he saw at least a hint of a smile on the boy's face. "Your sister. Ask a question, and she breaks." He knew that was true. Always had been. Mai couldn't keep a secret.

"Why did you ask her, though?"

"It's not exactly a secret why you're here. Oh, no one knows the details, of course- but the dead stepmother part is common knowledge. So I aksed your sister, and she broke down. Told me not to tell anyone. I didn't."

"You know about the light, then."

Then there was a smile, or, at least, a grin. "I do. And let me say something: there are other people like you, you know. Eleven, so far."

"Like me?" He was sick of asking questions. He always hated whenever he did that, one of the amny things hew always did. But the boy showed no signs of annoyance.

"Able to do... things. There's a girl who run way too fast. Another girl can teleport across a room. And there are others, too," the boy said. Thuan didn't really want to know what the "others" were, but for some reason, he was fascinated. He knew he shouldn't be believing the boy- it was probably just attention-seeking nonsense, but he couldn't help it.

"Are you... um... are you one of those people?" It had been bugging him since they had started talking, and he couldn't stop himself from asking it.

The boy didn't answer. Instead, he held out his hands towards a bookshelf. Two book slid off the shelf as if someone had grabbed them, rose in the air, and then went into place perfectly.

Thuan didn't know what to say.

He really didn't.

"If that didn't answer it, then yes- I am."

Thuan slowly nodded.

"Do it. Your light thing. I want to see."

His mouth was dry. "I can't. I don't even remember what happened last time."

"Try. Hold out your hands- powers seem to come from there, I don't know why- and just... try."

"What if someone sees?"

The boy laughed, quietly. "No one will. And if they do, they'll think a light blew or something. Just try."

Thuan shifted. Focused. He really didn't know what to do- imagine that blinding light that was ever present in his memory? How was he supposed to know this stuff? So he just cleared his mind and sort of... stood there.

There was a flash. He knew that.

And then he staggered backwards. Fell. The boy was gone. The analog clock on the wall read 8:39.

He'd gotten there at 7:43.

There was no way that much time had passed.

Thuan pulled himself upright. He'd done the light thing again.

And he didn't remember.

Again.

How wonderful.