In the five days she's spent so far among the Magicians – albeit against her will – she's learned that they really aren't all that bad. Most of them are quite nice, except Austin, who always seems to be in a bad mood.

Austin's parents treat her like a guest instead of a hostage, and she's grown to like them, as much as a Scientist can like Magicians. She's learned that Austin's mother's power is that of mind control, but she's never used it on Ally. Her abilities make her the perfect police chief, although there isn't any crime at all in their little Magician town. Austin's father is a Telepath, which means he's always reading the minds of everyone around him. He's the principal of the one school in the town, and he's just intimidating enough to be perfect for the job.

Austin takes her on all the errands he has to run around town while his parents are working, so she's met most of the adults here. They've all been pleasant and friendly, but her trained Psychology Specialist's eye can always tell that they're wary of her. They all know she's a Scientist; word travels fast here.

She takes as many notes as she can about the Magicians, their powers, and their way of life. The first day or two, she was doing it for her police report when she finally manages to escape. But now, she feels like she's doing it more for herself, so she can learn as much as she can about these fascinating people.

When she's not running errands with Austin or taking notes, she's usually helping Austin's parents around the house. She's just finished helping Austin's father make breakfast when Austin comes dragging his feet down the stairs, rubbing his eyes.

"You're up early," his father says.

The blond shrugs and yawns before plopping down in a seat at the table.

"Don't you have to go to school?" Ally asks.

"I haven't been to school since you've been here, have I?" he says.

"Well, I just figured it was because you were under too much stress because of me."

Austin shakes his head. "I don't go to school."

"Why not?"

"The teachers refused to teach me because I can't control my powers and it disrupts their classes, and my dad agrees."

Ally looks over at Mike, and he nods.

"So my dad homeschooled me, and I graduated last year," Austin finishes while Mike sets a plate of scrambled eggs in front of him.

Ally brings her breakfast to the table and sits across from the blond.

"I have to go to a Healer today," he says to her. "Wanna come?"

She nods, eager to learn more. And because she doesn't have much of a choice, considering he doesn't trust her to be alone at his house.

So after they eat their breakfast, they go back upstairs to get ready and then they set off for the Healer.

They walk in silence, as per usual, because Austin isn't all that pleasant to talk to. But she can tell he's nervous – if the look on his face isn't enough, the trail of small flowers that sprout up behind him after every step say it all. She glances behind them at all the daisies, wildflowers, and daffodils popping up, and she wonders if he even notices.

"What're you looking at?" he asks, looking over at her coldly.

She realizes she was staring at him, lost in her thoughts. "You," she replies honestly, because unlike Dez, she tells the truth like Scientists are supposed to.

Yes, she's still mad about that.

"Why?"

"You seem nervous."

"Well, I bet you just know everything," he says, sarcasm dripping from his voice.

"I'm a Psy-"

"You told me."

"You're also growing a garden behind you," she notes.

He glances behind them and curses under his breath, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath.

Ally watches the flowers expectantly, but nothing happens.

"What're you doing?" she asks.

"Trying to calm down."

"So you are nervous."

"A little."

"Why?"

"I don't like these appointments."

"How come? They're called Healers."

"It's…complicated. You'll see when we get there, and then you'll talk about it the whole way home like you know everything when you actually don't."

"You think you've got me all figured out, don't you?" she asks him, tilting her head.

"I know I have you all figured out."

"That's impossible. As a being of higher intelligence, your mind can't physically comprehend – "

"Would you stop with all that talk for once?" he asks.

"I don't understand."

He rolls his eyes and keeps walking in silence, wisps of smoke rolling off his hair.

She presses her lips in a tight line and follows him into the Healer's office.

Austin tells her to sit in the small waiting room while he walks up to the desk. She can't hear what he says to the man sitting there, but the nervous expression doesn't leave his face. The conversation is short, and Austin sits down next to her to wait for the Healer.

He stares down at his feet, bouncing his leg nervously.

Ally resists the urge to ask questions. While no Scientist would be offended at her desire for information, she's learned that Magicians put emotions first and intelligence second. She still isn't quite sure what kinds of questions are off limits, but she can tell that Austin isn't in the mood for talking. She wonders why he brought her here to begin with; his parents are home, and he clearly doesn't want to be around her.

She decides to focus on a different subject.

"Am I ever going home?" she asks him.

"If you go home, will you turn us in?" he asks, unfazed.

"Yes."

"Then no."

Just then, the woman she presumes is the Healer walks into the room.

"Austin?" she says in a voice that reminds Ally of a spring breeze.

Austin looks up and swallows, rising to his feet. He follows the Healer wordlessly.

Ally wonders how many tiny flowers are sprouting under the floor right now under Austin's feet.


Austin refuses to answer any of Ally's questions about his appointment as they walk out of the office. But she notices that he seems a bit dizzy and almost…calmer.

He leads her to the grocery store on his mother's orders, and as they're walking in something strikes her.

"How come none of you Magicians have tried to kill me?" she asks Austin.

He looks over at her. "What?"

"I mean, human actions are never complete guarantees. The only way to be absolutely positive you won't get in trouble because of me is to kill me, but no one here has even tried."

"Because we don't kill people."

"Your magic – "

"I told you all that stuff you learned about us being murderers was a myth," he tells her. "You guys killed us off, remember?"

"Because you – "

"Look, I don't wanna do this with you right now, okay?" he says, putting food into the bag he's carrying. "Please."

She sighs and nods, wanting nothing more than to just go home and fix this mess.

"Will you tell me what the Healer did to you now?" she asks after they've finished at the store and start walking back to the house.

"Why do you care?"

"I'm curious."

He sighs. "She just has a spell that makes me more relaxed to help control my powers."

"I've noticed that your magic only acts out when you're experiencing strong emotions, like fear or anxiety," Ally notes.

"Uh…yeah," he says. "I just have an appointment once a month to try to get that under control."

"Does it help?"

He shrugs. "Not really. But something is better than nothing."

She nods. "I'm sure you'll learn to control them eventually."

He glances over at her, raising his eyebrows. "Are you…comforting me?"
"You've been practicing controlling your powers for almost your entire life so far. Statistically, practicing something that much would eventually lead to mastery. So if the facts comfort you, then yes, I suppose I am."

He blinks at her. "I don't understand you."

"Probably because I'm far more intelligent than you."

"No, I understand what you just said. What I don't understand is how you act so much like a robot. Do you even experience emotion?"

"Well, of course I do. I just don't let my emotions affect me because they get in the way of my search for knowledge. It's what Scientists are supposed to do, although my generation seems to be headed in a slightly different direction."

"You mean you're the only Scientist your age who acts like this?"

"I'm sure other prodigies know the disadvantage of allowing their emotions to affect them, but my friends aren't prodigies, so unfortunately I have to deal with their emotions."

"You have friends?" he asks, walking into the house in front of her.

"Of course I do. Human interaction is necessary for the best health and wellbeing."

"Ah," he says. But there's a tone in his voice that she doesn't quite understand.

"What?" she asks him.

"I just think it's…fitting that you only have friends for the health benefits, not because you actually enjoy spending time with them."

"I do enjoy spending time with them," she says, tilting her head. "I don't understand."

He sighs, shaking his head. "Just forget it."


Went to a Healer with Austin today. She puts a calming spell on him to try to help him control his powers. Theory that his powers become uncontrollable when he experiences strong emotions seems to be correct. He did not want to talk about the appointment – his inability to control his powers seems to be an emotional subject for him.

Magicians do not seem like the killers they were in history. Must turn them in to abide by law, but will however do more research on the matter of their history, culture, people, and legitimacy of the claim that they are a threat to society.

She finishes her journal entry and turns off the light in the room she's staying in. She lays down in bed, staring at the ceiling, and tries to shut off the gears constantly turning in her mind.

She never sleeps well. Her theory is that because her mind is so much more advanced than the average Scientists', she has trouble relaxing enough to even enter into the first sleep stage. She never told her parents or saw a doctor about her sleep troubles; Medical Specialists probably wouldn't be able to help her. She doesn't mind dealing with this one struggle, though, because she knows how incredibly intelligent she is, and that's more important than anything else.


listen i know this chapter was pretty boring BUTTTTTTTT it was necessary i promise! and i also promise next chapter is when things start to get interesting ;))) anyway thanks so much for reading and i love youuuuuuuuuuuuuuu