ASTRID

Day 5, hour 29. I took a deep breath, the smell of books the only think keeping me awake. I had read through 28 newspapers, 34 online databases, and I was currently 54th government document. News on radiation was hard to come by. Most of the articles were about Perdido, but I needed facts on Neptune. Our powers were back in Neptune California, at Hearst College, and I needed to know how, and why. My last article had been the most informative, and I got my pen and notepad ready to take down notes.

"What'd you find so far?" Roger had walked into the library when I wasn't looking. He sad down beside me, his eyes scanning the table I had reserved as my research desk. You couldn't see the wood of the table underneath the piles of books and papers.

I had actually found a lot, and a few things popped into my head. "There has been a lot of 'suspicion' about the government doing nuclear power testing about 4 miles from here, but nothing nearly as strong as Perdido. I think that's why there are so few powers, and no walls. I'm thinking there's probably another gaiaphage. Maybe not as strong, but definitely there."

The library door opened again, and Albert walked in. He joined us at the table, pushing aside books to place down a bag from McDonald's.

"I didn't know what you would want, so I got like 8 large fries and dumped them into the bag." I reached my hand into the bag, and pulled out a handful.

"Well thanks for the brain food?" Fries aren't exactly the best for staying awake and lively, but I'll take what I can get. Sam hadn't even stopped by once in the days I've spent in the library.

I looked back at Roger. "I think that if we have our powers back, there must be others in the area with abilities. It could get bad." I was thinking of the FAYZ again, flashbacks to war and starvation flooding my mind, all the anger and hatred that was release with the sudden gain of power and freedom. Bad news.

As we sat and enjoyed our fries, I noticed the sound of the door opening and closing.

"Shh, someone's in here with us," I whispered.

"Yeah, no shit." I looked over to Roger, but he was no longer sitting beside me. In his place was an elfish boy, his long hair covering his eyes as he laughed to himself.

"What the fuck dude." Albert backed up from his chair. He tried to move, but his feet were stuck in the floor. "For God's sake."

"Wow! Fancy meeting you here!" A young woman with a slight oriental accent walked out from behind a row of bookcases, followed by two guys. She was smiling too, her eyes crinkling at the corners, her eyes filled with a devilish glint. "Thank you Peter, for making our grand entrance possible."

"You had to see the looks on your faces!" Peter's face changed rapidly to Albert's, and he imitated his surprised face. He was laughing maniacally. I was suddenly reminded of Drake, and my eyes narrowed.

The girl flicked her long hair behind her shoulder, smiling. "I guess now would be a great time for introductions. I'm Drew, and you know Peter. This is Jackson, and this is Raj." She gestured to the two boys behind her. "I bet you're wondering why we're here."

"Cut the bullshit, Drew." I said, my anger rising. "What do you want?"

Peter changed again beside me, and his face began to resemble mine, his hair growing long and blonde. "Cut the bullshit, cut the bullshit."

Drew and the others laughed. "At your party last Friday, we were all hanging out, having a good time, when we noticed we had all gotten these amazing powers! Just like you famous FAYZ survivors. I can control objects, like the floor around your tacky last season loafers."

Albert scoffed, "These are Salvatore Ferragamo, they don't go out of season."

Drew continued, ignoring Albert's attempts to defend his tacky, expensive shoes. "Jackson here has a power called intangibility!" Jackson proceeded to walk through one of the tables.

"That means I can walk through stuff," Jackson said. He had a southern accent.

"Raj here can sense powers, and stop them too!"

Raj stared at first me, then Albert. "None of you have powers." He chuckled to himself. "So weak."

"We just want to make sure you people know to back off. This is our school, and our town, you had your time in the FAYZ. If you cross any of us, there will be trouble." Drew smiled. She looked like a shark. "We have a lot of people on our side, and we wouldn't want to see any of you getting—hurt." She grinned again, and I winced in pain. The arms of my chair had clasped around my wrists, growing tighter and tighter.

"See you around!" Drew, Raj, and Jackson walked out, Jackson walking through every bookshelf he could.

"Hey, tell that girl Diana to call me. She's pretty hot." Peter winked at me and walked out, following his friends. My wrists were released, and Albert moved from his spot on the floor.

"What a bitch." He said, wobbling on one foot as he rubbed his ankle. He joined me again at the table. "What do we do now?"

I stuck my hand in the bag and grabbed out another huge handful of French fries. "I don't know," I said in between bites, " but I bet the rest of the group is going to be pissed." Drew doesn't know who she's messing with.