The Centerpoint Trilogy by Kayla Bruner

much as the bindings would allow her to do. “I can control fire with my head, the same way that you can control well, random stuff.”
    “I can make things explode,” muttered the quiet young man. He was a handsome dark skinned man with brown doe eyes and a strong jaw.  “I can’t make it happen now, though.”
    “It’s gotta be the chains,” Anna said. It was the common factor. They were all bound with the same kind of chains. She struggled against them and then tried to use her power. She found that the ability was welling up inside of her, but it was blocked off. That wall was there and it was standing tall. Because of this, it failed. “Yeah…”
    “What about him?” the young man asked, looking at Ethan. “After the crazy blonde used her powers on him, he was able to call you.”
    “When she hurt me,” Ethan muttered, “I felt it burst through some kind of boundary. I think I was desperate.”
    Anna thought about what the boy was saying. It made sense in a strange kind of way. Maybe the alloy that they were bound with had some kind of properties that blocked their abilities, but maybe when one was desperate enough then they could break the blockade, burst through the dam.  “Maybe you can call out again,” she murmured. It also could have had something to do with Ethan’s powers being more subtle than the rest. It was inside, where the rest of them had powers that were already on the inside, but burst out when they worked.
    Ethan’s struggle to do just that was obvious. She could see the sweat that had beaded up on his face. He frowned heavily and grunted, like he was trying to physically force it out of him. His eyes were wet with tears. “I’m trying,” he admitted dully.
    In an attempt at comfort, she reached out a bound hand and touched him. She could barely touch him, more than a brush of her fingers over his closest arm. She brushed her hand over the bare skin and tried her best to be of help.
    I need help!
                  All of the individuals in the room winced as Ethan screamed into their heads. They closed their eyes and cringed inward. “We heard you loud and clear, bro,” the man commented. “I sure hope that they didn’t.”
    “It was a cry for help and hopefully directed only to those on our side…” Ethan whispered, looking sheepish and unsure. He was just as surprised as they were at his ability to cry out as loudly as he had. It seemed that the moment that Anna touched him, he had been able to break the walls down. The slight physical contact was the thing that had done it, wasn’t it? It had to be.
    “Wait,” Alicia called out. “Did her touch make it happen?”
    Anna looked to Ethan. He seemed to be considering it. He then nodded and she knew that he agreed that it was her touch had done it. It was the only thing that had changed in that moment and it was a real, strong possibility. “Yes, I think so…” Ethan said.
    Alicia seemed to accept that possibility as the only hope they had. She reached over and touched James in the same way. James reached back and they were able to link fingers, just briefly. They linked those fingers close and Alicia closed her eyes. All of a sudden a red heat swirled around her body. The flames appeared and they raged. The red glow stayed close around Alicia and James but the flames raged and then died quickly. She and James were free from their chains.
    “Damn, that was epic!” Alicia yelled. She laughed, giddy, getting her footing back. She raised her hand again.
    That was when they burst back in.

Chapter Eight
     
    “I would not attempt to use your powers again.”
    The man who had taken them captive stepped through the darkened door. He looked the same as he had before, but she paid more notice to the fact that he was regal, in control and overwhelmingly powerful. He raised his hand in a flourishing gesture. He swept underhand, palm upwards and into the air. “Come, my ladies,” he said. The blonde woman, as well