parents or anyone else . He looks at X for a second. What about Vlayne ?
Excuse me ?
Kale ’s eyebrows come together like he’s trying to think. He takes in a deep breath, then lets it out. He looks at X again.
Scar , X says, we need you to penetrate Vlayne’s mind and find where the ShadowBlades are hiding.
I cannot. I will not.
But you need to! Kale yells. They have Lindsay! They could be torturing her.
X puts his hand on Kale’s shoulder. He turns to Scar. The ShadowBlades are responsible for the virus, Scar. The virus my mom was afraid of. We need to find and stop them.
It is only possible to stop the virus with the antidote. Locating the ShadowBlades would accomplish nothing. Scar’s eyes get serious. Only death .
There is no antidote, X says in a calm tone . We don’t know what happened to the formula. We don’t know if the League is synthesizing it.
Unfortunately , the humans will die. He says it with no emotion.
Kale slinks down to the floor and pushes his knees to his chest. He looks at Scar. You won’t help us?
I will not .
Kale slams his fist on his knee.
It’s okay, Kale, I say.
Like hell it is. He hasn’t taken his eyes off Scar. I can’t believe you won’t help us .
Scar doesn’t answer. It looks like he doesn’t care.
“ Guys,” I say. “Let’s go.”
X and I turn toward the door, but Kale remains on the floor, his gaze still on Scar. “Dude, c’mon,” I say.
You’re scared , Kale says to Scar, getting to his feet. You don’t want to penetrate Vlayne’s mind because you’re scared.
Oh , man. Why did he say that? Scar looks like he wants to melt Kale’s brain. His eyes are dark, intense, filled with rage.
I’m sorry, Kale says. Was just mad. I didn’t mean it. His eyes light up. What if we pool our energies? You’re a strong telepath and I share my mom’s brain waves. Maybe together, we can contact her.
Scar’s quiet as he think s this over. His eyes flash. I will not help you, Kale Zenith. This does not concern my family.
Kale throws his hands up. “God. You’re ridiculous, you know that?”
“ Kale,” X says.
Scar turns to Blaze. Escort these children out .
Kale snorts, crossing his arms over his chest. X pulls his arm. “It’s not worth fighting with them.”
Kale shoves X’s hand off. X pins Kale against the wall. “You’re not thinking clearly.”
“ Get your hands off me, man.”
Blaze and another guy, one with huge biceps, inch closer to X and Kale. I’m left standing near the doorway, when it hits me. No, we shouldn’t leave. I know Scar only cares about his family, but we need to stand our ground. Kale’s idea about pooling their energies is good. It might work.
“ We’re…” I clear my throat. “We’re not leaving.”
All heads turn to me. X still has Kale pressed to the wall. He lets go.
Scar moves closer. What was that, Andrew Mason?
I swallow. “Y-you have to know what it’s like. To be completely alone in the world. To be scared. To miss your family so much and have no clue where they are. If they’re okay.”
Scar’s eyes soften. For only a second. I continue, my voice shaking, “Our home was destroyed. We don’t know who’s alive or what’s going to happen to everyone. Every day, we wake up in fear. We’re terrified of everyone and everything. We don’t know who to trust. You know what that’s like, Scar. You wouldn’t want us to go through that.” I swallow again. “Kale’s idea is very smart. You guys…you guys should try it.”
The room is dead silent. Everyone waits for a reaction from Scar. He moves closer. Circles me, his gaze never leaving mine. After a few seconds he stops.
Very well. I will do as Kale requested.
A huge sigh escapes me. I feel like a load has been lifted off my shoulders. Like I can finally breathe freely.
Scar motions for Kale to join him in the center of the room. Kale smiles, all hopeful and excited. They face each other. Scar holds out his hands and Kale takes them.
Excuse me ?
Kale ’s eyebrows come together like he’s trying to think. He takes in a deep breath, then lets it out. He looks at X again.
Scar , X says, we need you to penetrate Vlayne’s mind and find where the ShadowBlades are hiding.
I cannot. I will not.
But you need to! Kale yells. They have Lindsay! They could be torturing her.
X puts his hand on Kale’s shoulder. He turns to Scar. The ShadowBlades are responsible for the virus, Scar. The virus my mom was afraid of. We need to find and stop them.
It is only possible to stop the virus with the antidote. Locating the ShadowBlades would accomplish nothing. Scar’s eyes get serious. Only death .
There is no antidote, X says in a calm tone . We don’t know what happened to the formula. We don’t know if the League is synthesizing it.
Unfortunately , the humans will die. He says it with no emotion.
Kale slinks down to the floor and pushes his knees to his chest. He looks at Scar. You won’t help us?
I will not .
Kale slams his fist on his knee.
It’s okay, Kale, I say.
Like hell it is. He hasn’t taken his eyes off Scar. I can’t believe you won’t help us .
Scar doesn’t answer. It looks like he doesn’t care.
“ Guys,” I say. “Let’s go.”
X and I turn toward the door, but Kale remains on the floor, his gaze still on Scar. “Dude, c’mon,” I say.
You’re scared , Kale says to Scar, getting to his feet. You don’t want to penetrate Vlayne’s mind because you’re scared.
Oh , man. Why did he say that? Scar looks like he wants to melt Kale’s brain. His eyes are dark, intense, filled with rage.
I’m sorry, Kale says. Was just mad. I didn’t mean it. His eyes light up. What if we pool our energies? You’re a strong telepath and I share my mom’s brain waves. Maybe together, we can contact her.
Scar’s quiet as he think s this over. His eyes flash. I will not help you, Kale Zenith. This does not concern my family.
Kale throws his hands up. “God. You’re ridiculous, you know that?”
“ Kale,” X says.
Scar turns to Blaze. Escort these children out .
Kale snorts, crossing his arms over his chest. X pulls his arm. “It’s not worth fighting with them.”
Kale shoves X’s hand off. X pins Kale against the wall. “You’re not thinking clearly.”
“ Get your hands off me, man.”
Blaze and another guy, one with huge biceps, inch closer to X and Kale. I’m left standing near the doorway, when it hits me. No, we shouldn’t leave. I know Scar only cares about his family, but we need to stand our ground. Kale’s idea about pooling their energies is good. It might work.
“ We’re…” I clear my throat. “We’re not leaving.”
All heads turn to me. X still has Kale pressed to the wall. He lets go.
Scar moves closer. What was that, Andrew Mason?
I swallow. “Y-you have to know what it’s like. To be completely alone in the world. To be scared. To miss your family so much and have no clue where they are. If they’re okay.”
Scar’s eyes soften. For only a second. I continue, my voice shaking, “Our home was destroyed. We don’t know who’s alive or what’s going to happen to everyone. Every day, we wake up in fear. We’re terrified of everyone and everything. We don’t know who to trust. You know what that’s like, Scar. You wouldn’t want us to go through that.” I swallow again. “Kale’s idea is very smart. You guys…you guys should try it.”
The room is dead silent. Everyone waits for a reaction from Scar. He moves closer. Circles me, his gaze never leaving mine. After a few seconds he stops.
Very well. I will do as Kale requested.
A huge sigh escapes me. I feel like a load has been lifted off my shoulders. Like I can finally breathe freely.
Scar motions for Kale to join him in the center of the room. Kale smiles, all hopeful and excited. They face each other. Scar holds out his hands and Kale takes them.
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