The Institute (Falling Ash Chronicles #1) Read online

  “What’s your poison today, doll?” the attendant asked. I slipped my card underneath the partition. The kitchen attendants scurried behind the long serving counter, filling orders and shoving them out like a well oiled machine. They were constantly changing, hardly a week seeming to go by before a new crew was in place. I grabbed my tray and turned to face the cafeteria, scanning the tables for a place to sit.

  It was easier said than done. I didn’t fit in with any of the groups at the tables. None of the students particularly liked me. I was one of the rare students whose powers resulted from the dominant gene. Both of my parents had been gifted. If that wasn’t enough last year I had been selected to take part in background missions, namely the ones Erik pulled me into. That ‘special treatment’ only served to put a target on my back.

  I wandered over to one of the emptier tables. I sat down on one corner, content to ignore the other students like I did most days. It wasn’t to be. I’d barely started poking at my congealed oatmeal when I was joined by three of the members of the Scorpion team.

  “Hey!” Kate said, draping her mile-long legs over the bench. Tye slid in across from me, his gaze going to a group of girls sitting at a nearby table. The Nordic twins, as they were called due their blond hair, blue eyes, and abnormal height, were a rare pair. Their powers, like most of the other students, were based on a recessive gene. It was rare for two members of the same family to get powers, normally just popping up once every few generations. Somehow both Kate and Tye had ended up with powers, which gave them a superiority complex and ego to match. Kate was able to predict her opponent’s moves while Tye was gifted with incredible strength.

  Jose, the third member of the team, slapped his tray down on the other side of me, sitting as far away as possible. His napkin lifted up into the air as if by its own volition, folding into an origami swan. Jose was telekinetic. He was constantly making his birds, much to the annoyance of his teachers. Whenever anyone asked why, he would just smirk and say “Focus.”

  I secretly thought that he had anger management issues. Everyone knew he’d been transferred here from his last school, transferred being the operative term. He’d been expelled and his parents had to pay a hefty fee to get him in here. He was shorter than Kate and Tye, though that still put him at almost a full head over me. He was thin and wiry with creamy skin and jet-black hair. He’d taken an instant disliking to me, taking turns either ignoring me or sneering at me.

  “Um…. hey,” I said. “The brief’s not until after breakfast,” I pointed out helpfully.

  “I know,” Kate said, looking at me like I was an idiot. “Look, I know we don’t get along. I wanted to make sure we’re going to be fine working together. You know. Considering,” Kate said. Well, that was cryptic.

  “Um…. Sure. We’re fine,” I said. Anything to get them to leave me alone.

  “Great. I just wanted to make sure there wouldn’t be any tension,” Kate said. I glanced at Tye for help deciphering, but he was still too busy twisting in his seat, staring over at a table filled with girls. One of them winked. Tye’s fingers flexed, bending his metal fork until it snapped. He cursed as he fumbled it, letting it drop to the table. The girls twittered and looked away.

  “No hard feelings. We’re fine. I’ll see you after breakfast,” I said shortly. Still hungry but not willing to sit through the inquisition any longer, I grabbed my tray and came to my feet. Kate was prepared, already reaching out to grab my arm almost before I could move. I dropped my tray with a thud, glaring down at her manicured hand.

  “That’s not all. What can you tell us about our mission?” she asked. I could instantly feel Tye’s and Jose’s eyes on me, waiting eagerly for my response. Jose even set aside his bird, letting it drop on his tray. I sighed, sinking back into my seat and grabbing my spoon. I knew an ambush when I saw it. I wasn’t getting away anytime soon. They were on an information hunt, trying to find out as much as they could before the brief. They wanted to look well informed for the Special Mission Head, Jeremy.

  “There’s not a whole lot I can tell you. We’re investigating a murder,” I said. The quicker I gave them what they wanted, the quicker I could escape. I blindly shoveled my food into my mouth, trying to get done with my meal as quickly as possible.

  “We know that. But what are the details? Come on, Ells, be a pal,” Kate urged.

  “You’re feeling out a suspect. That’s all I know,” I said around a mouthful of food. Not hardly, but I wasn’t about to tell them any more.

  “That’s it?” Tye questioned.

  “Sorry to disappoint,” I said dryly.

  “I told you she wouldn’t know anything,” Jose grumbled. I bristled, opening my mouth to retort.

  “Or maybe she’s being a good student and letting the proper authorities give you the correct information.” I snapped my jaw shut, twisting in my seat to face the newcomer. Traci Ackerman, head of Strategy and Stealth and the second head of the Scorpion team. She offered me a friendly smile as her hand landed on Jose’s shoulder. Jose scowled, attempting to shrug her hand off. So I wasn’t the only one he reserved that glare for. I barely held back a smug grin.

  “I’m glad to find you all here. Are you guys prepped and ready?” she asked. Her gaze went from one person to the next, demanding the attention of everyone at the table. I knew from classes that it was an intimidation technique. Something about establishing leadership, a silent challenge. Like when you were facing down a wolf. The first one to give in lost. I failed abysmally at my every attempt. There was just nothing intimidating about a five-foot-nothing girl with huge brown eyes that dominated her pixie face. It was a fact I’d come to terms with. As her gaze met each member, their eyes flitted away. “Has anyone read the brief we sent out last night?” she asked when her initial query was met in silence.

  “I skimmed it,” Kate offered. Traci sighed, looking disappointed.

  “You’ll need to do better than that. Your meeting is in a half hour,” Traci chided.

  “That’s why we’ve got Ells,” Kate said, nudging me with her shoulder. I flinched as she came in contact with the tiny sliver of exposed skin between my gloves and my t-shirt sleeve. In a flash I was no longer in the Cafeteria, instead out in the courtyard. I was wrapped in a passionate embrace… With Jonathan. Her memory nearly made me choke.

  Of course, the fourth member of the Scorpion team. How could I forget? Jonathan Adler, the classic boy-next door. He came from a rich family that had paid well to get him into the program. He was supposed to be some sort of predictor, able to guess at different outcomes that might occur, but I didn’t buy it. More often than not his “predictions” were way off base.

  Jonathan and I had a bit of history. We’d dated briefly, very briefly, almost a year ago. It was all going well until I let him kiss me. He was my first kiss. It was too terrifying to let anyone get that close, knowing that one brush of the lips could send me spiraling into their memories. It had done exactly that. I’d found out I wasn’t the first person he’d kissed that day, or even the second. And now we had to work together while he bagged his next conquest? I edged out of her elbow range, scowling down at my beige protein drink.

  “Ells, don’t tell them a thing. You guys need to read your brief. I don’t want to hear about any of you not being prepared,” Traci said warningly. She rested her other hand on my shoulder, squeezing it supportively. I raised my head to find three accusing sets of eyes on me. I shrugged. Not my problem.

  “I have to go,” Jose said abruptly as he came to his feet, forcing Traci to drop her hand and step back.

  “Watch it, Jose. Take care of your tray,” Traci called. His tray lifted and floated over to the messy stack that decorated the top of the stainless steel counter leading into the dish room, clattering into place. A single napkin rested on top of the stack, folded into his trademark swan. It looked oddly battered with one wing coated in oatmeal. “By hand,” Traci said, exasperated. She released a heavy sigh, turning back to us and offer
ed a friendly smile. “I’ll see all of you at eight-thirty sharp,” she said. There was a chorus of murmured agreements as she turned and headed back towards her table.

  “Well, that was disappointing,” Kate grumbled, pouting as she shoved her tray away from her. Unable to sit any longer I abruptly came to my feet.

  “I’ve got to get going. I need to… um…. meditate before the meeting,” I said. I grabbed my tray and left the table before they could stop me, stacking it on top of Jose’s. Realizing I had forgotten my bag I turned to head back to the table. Already Kate and Tye’s heads were bent conspiratorially together. As I got closer I could hear that they were talking about me.

  “She’s so weird. Seriously,” Kate said.

  “Come on. Play nice. We need to be on her good side. Things are already promising to be rough with Jonathan on our team,” Tye warned. So that was it, the ‘tension’ Kate had referred to. I stiffened my shoulders, gritting my teeth. I deliberately clomped over, grabbing my bag. Kate leapt back in her seat, looking guilty. Tye offered me a wary smile. I glared as I shrugged my backpack over my shoulder and walked away.

  Chapter 4

  Why was I surprised? I shouldn’t care. I hardly knew them, and they certainly didn’t know me. I didn’t care. So why did I find myself battling tears, stung by their careless words? I needed to be alone; a moment of solitude to settle my mind around the fact that I was going to have to work with the jerks. Don’t let them see your pain, I chided myself. Even a moment of weakness could be construed as a soft spot that they would mercilessly take advantage of. That I’d learned early on.

  I escaped through the glass doors that lead out to the courtyard that marked the center of the Institute. It was roughly the size of a football field, the entire area covered by perfectly green grass that never grew above an inch. It was mercilessly chopped before it got a chance to be unruly. A weed wouldn’t dare invade. A long track ran along the outside edge where students could jog. The enclosure was surrounded on all sides by long windows that went up all three stories.

  The courtyard was full of students taking advantage of the few minutes they had before starting classes for the day. I stalked out, dodging the students on the track and focusing with singular intensity on the large oak tree that was planted at the very center of the courtyard. Several students sat beneath it; more were tangled up in the branches, but I didn’t care. I would climb higher than most of them dared. I knew of a spot where the branches wove together, providing a perfect seat.

  I swung up, bypassing the other students and planting myself on my special spot. I propped my feet up, leaning back against the trunk. I plugged in my ear buds, determined to shut out the rest of the world. I’d barely settled when I felt the branches shaking beneath me, warning me I had a visitor. A clumsy one at that. Irritated, I pried open my eyes. I straightened and let my legs drop as Jonathan swung up to sit on the branch next to me.

  “You better have a dang good reason for bugging me,” I said, letting my legs dangle as I pressed my hands on the branches in front of me.

  “Can you at least try to be civil? We are going to be working together,” he said. I growled low in my throat, my nails digging into the bark, wishing they were wrapped around his throat.

  “This is civil,” I bit out.

  “Hardly. Come on, Ells. When are you going to forgive me? It’s ancient history,” he coaxed, offering the easy grin that usually won people over. Not me. I wouldn’t be fooled by his boy-next-door charm again.

  “I’m not. You can forget it,” I said.

  “Why are you still mad? We’d barely started hanging out.”

  “Two months,” I corrected.

  “Exactly!” he said exuberantly.

  “Two months!” I said, waggling my fingers in his face. “And I wasn’t just hanging out.”

  “Come on. I didn’t mean to hurt you. You can’t have expected me to be exclusive. Stop being so sensitive,” he said reasonably. My nostrils flared, an expression that would have done Meredith proud. You want to know how to make a woman mad? Tell her she’s just being sensitive. That was right up there with “you’re just PMS-y.”

  “I’m being sensitive? Are you kidding me? Get it through your head. I’m not interested. I want nothing to do with you, now or ever. Leave. Me. Alone.” My last words came out as a shout. I’d had enough. My last few precious moments of freedom were ticking away; my limited patience, gone. “You need to go. Right now.” I tucked my earphones back in, closing my eyes as the faint strain of Beethoven filled my ears. Jonathan hooked his fingers around the cords and tugged them out.

  “Give me a break, Ells Bells. Hear me out….” I glared at his use of my nickname, reaching out to snatch my earphones.

  “No. I’m done. We’re finished. Like you said, ancient history,” I reminded him.

  “It doesn’t have to be that way. We can still work it out!” he insisted.

  “There will be no ‘working it out.’ I’m done. Leave me alone,” I said. Realizing he wouldn’t be leaving anytime soon, I abandoned my seat and swung down the branches. I dropped the last few feet to the ground, scurrying in the direction of the safety of the glass doors. I heard him grunt as he half fell, half dropped from the tree, running to catch back up with me.

  “One more chance. That’s all I ask. Please?” he pleaded, reaching out to grasp my hand. I whipped my hand free, furious he would try. He knew I hated being touched. I turned on him, ready to strike out, then thought better of it.

  “One more chance. That’s it?” I said. Jonathan nodded eagerly, sensing he was getting his way. I let my features soften, adapting a considering look. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe I was too hasty,” I said. I moved closer to him until our bodies practically touched. I reached out, running my finger down the center of his chest, winding my finger around the string of his jacket and tugging until he leaned closer. His eyes dilated, focusing on my lips. Our previous argument was completely forgotten. My lips curved cynically. He was too easy.

  “Oh?” Jonathan questioned, sounding intrigued.

  “Hm hmm.” I leaned up on my tiptoes until our faces were practically touching. I angled my face, breathing directly in his ear the way I’d seen Kate do countless times with countless boys. “I’ve been thinking about you. A lot,” I whispered huskily, fisting my hand in his shirt and pulling him tantalizingly closer. I wrapped my other hand around his neck, letting my gloved fingers tangle in his hair.

  “I knew it,” he crowed triumphantly, his hands coming down to land on my hips to yank me closer. I carefully distanced myself, keeping a few inches between us.

  “You were right. I was just a little out of sorts. But I’ll forgive you. I keep thinking about our kiss. It was so…. Hot,” I whispered. I bit my lip and released it on the last word.

  “Yeah, it was,” he said smugly, rocking his hips against mine. I edged back, disgusted by the feel of him touching me anywhere, even through my clothes.

  “Your lips. My lips. Touching me. Kissing me. Can you remember?” I asked.

  “Oh, yeah,” he growled, lowering his head until I could feel his hot and sweaty breath on my neck. Gross.

  “Wrapping your hands in my long, blond hair. Yelling my name. Oh, Kate, Kate, Kate,” I whispered huskily.

  “Your hair is brown,” Jonathan said, sounding slightly befuddled. I smirked, detangling myself from his octopus grasp and backpedalling away. Jonathan nearly fell forward flat on his face when he found his arms abruptly empty. It took him a moment before realization dawned on his face. “You know,” he said bleakly.

  “Yup,” I said cheerfully. “Nice try. Give it twenty four hours next time,” I suggested. Jonathan’s expression darkened, going from enamored to enraged. I grinned as I turned away, heading towards the protection of the glass doors a few feet away from me.

  “No one will ever be interested in you, freak. You should feel lucky I even noticed you,” Jonathan shot out. I froze, my shoulders tensing. I could hear silence fall o
ver the students nearest to us, all eyes zooming in. That stung. I blinked back tears, shaking my head as I continued walking towards the door. So much for getting the last word. My minor victory felt hollow.

  I glanced at my phone and cursed. My little excursion had cost me the rest of my thirty minutes, plus five. Jeremy hated when people were late. I broke into a run, skidding down the hallway and very nearly careening into a girl as she came from a classroom.

  “Watch it!” she yelped. I waved my apology and booked it down the hall. I caught several curious glances, ignoring them as I dashed around the corner. I was breathing heavily by the time I reached the Armory. I stopped dead in the doorway.

  At least I’d gotten there before Jonathan. It was a small comfort, but I needed all I could get as I found myself under intense scrutiny of four pairs of eyes. I hunched my shoulders and slunk in, taking a seat next to Jose.

  “Is this everybody?” Jeremy asked.

  “It is now,” Jonathan said, sauntering into the room. He didn’t even have the decency to be out of breath. “Sorry I’m late,” he said, winking in my direction. I scowled, huddling down in my seat. Jonathan sat down next to Kate, stretching his arm around her back. Kate seemed oblivious, busy making eyes at an equally oblivious Jeremy. I could have told her to not waste her breath. Jeremy was notorious for his favorites, and Kate wasn’t even a contender.

  “Now that everyone is here,” Jeremy said, casting a frosty glance from me to Jonathan, “back on track. Your target today is one Tim Murphy, a person of interest in the murder of Canda Barnes. Your job is to find him and question him without arousing his suspicion. If you need to, bring him in. We need to know what he knows. Ells, you identified him. What can you tell us?” Jeremy asked. I cleared my throat.

  “Not a lot. He has powers; I don’t know what. He frequents a local cafe near the campus. That’s where they met. He might have been staying at Canda’s apartment.”