Chapter 7

   "Please, everyone sit down," said Adam and everyone did so.

    Emma sat in one of the living room chairs while Shalimar sat in the other.  Brennan sat down on the couch and Aurora sat on the other end of it.  There was only one place for Jesse to sit – in the middle of Brennan and Aurora.

    "I guess I'll sit here," he said as he sat down. 

    Jesse could feel the tension between the two siblings.  In fact, everyone could feel it.  Adam remained standing a walked so that he was facing them.

    "First of all, who are you?" asked Aurora. "Everyone here seems to know me but I know nobody here.  Well, almost nobody." She looked directly at Brennan.

    "Let me guess, you're Adam?" Aurora asked.  Adam nodded.  "Okay.  As much fun as this family reunion is," Aurora said sarcastically," I'm just gonna leave."  She started up stand back up.

    "Please, sit," said Adam.  "I'm afraid your life maybe at risk."  Aurora sat back down.

    "Those men who were after you were working for a man named Mason Eckhart-"

    "If you can even call him a man," added Brennan.

    Adam continued.  "He has his men go after new mutants such as yourself, so he can study them and use them for his own personal vendetta."  Adam paused for a moment.  He looked at everyone, then looked directly at Aurora.  "If Eckhart had you in his clutches, who knows exactly what he would do. Being able to read minds is an uncommon ability among new mutants, but you possess this power."

    "Are you saying that when it comes to new mutant powers, I have a rare power?" Aurora asked.  "You mean I'm valuable to this Eckhart guy?"

    "Yes, that's exactly what I'm telling you.  Not only that, but Eckhart is not someone you want to be involved with."

    "Yeah, he sounds evil to me."

    "You're not wrong," replied Jesse.  "Eckhart doesn't have a single good bone in his body."

    "But what does he want with me?" Aurora asked.

    "I honestly don't know," said Adam.  "That's exactly what we have to find out."

    "Where were you when you the GSA agents went after you?" asked Shalimar.

    "I was waiting for my friend Gabriel to pick me up from the airport."  Aurora smacked her forehead.  "Oh my gosh!  I forgot about Gabriel.  He must be wondering where the Hell I am.  I need to call him.  If that's okay?"

    "Go ahead," said Adam.

    Aurora stood up and walked behind the couch she was sitting in.  She checked her messages.  She had three messages.  All from Gabriel.  She pressed the number two on her speed dial.  That was Gabriel's number.  She walked back and forth as she waited for her friend to pick up.  She hung up and tried again but got Gabriel's machine.  

    "That's weird, Gabriel always has his phone on.  I have a really bad feeling about this.  I have to go find him," she started to walk away.

    "It's not a good idea for you to leave," said Brennan as he got up and stepped in front of his sister.

    "Why shouldn't I?  I have to find Gabe!"

    We could look for Aurora's friend for her while she stays here, Jesse thought.

    "That's a good idea Jesse," Aurora said.

    "Okay, this is getting a little weird," said Jesse.

    "Sorry, sometimes I read people's minds and I don't even know it.  It's hard at times to block out other people's thoughts all the time."

    "What was Jess's idea?" asked Emma.

    "My idea was that we could go look for Aurora's friend and she could stay here," said Jesse.

    "Alright, Brennan and Shalimar will go and find Gabriel and will tell him Aurora's okay."

    "I don't think it's a good idea for Brennan to go," said Aurora.  "He isn't exactly one of Gabriel's favorite people because of past history.  He's not even one of my favorite people either."

    "She's right Adam," Brennan said. "I shouldn't go."

    "But you're the only person other than Aurora who can identify Gabriel.  You're going to have to put your past issues behind you.  And I'm saying that to everyone."  Adam looked at Brennan and then at Aurora.

    Yeah, and pigs will fly, she thought.

    "We better go Shal," said Brennan who was heading towards the door.  They both left to find Gabriel as the room became silent.