The Institute (Falling Ash Chronicles #1) by Kira Lynn Farnsworth Page A
Authors: Kira Lynn Farnsworth
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somehow managed to shake free from Tye’s granite grip and lunged in my direction.
I backpedalled, trying to avoid his headlong dash. He fell, his arms wrapping around my waist and sending us both crashing to the ground. I got up on my elbows, trying to army-crawl out of his grasp. He grabbed my hips, somehow managing to flip me over and straddle my waist, his hands gripping my shoulders.
“You know. You know I didn’t have anything to do with this! You know!” he said urgently. I felt a strange buzzing where he touched me; feeling like something was trying to burrow beneath my skin.
“I don’t know anything! Get off me!” I shrieked. I scratched at his hands, trying to push him away and break free. My glove came off in the tussle; my hand wrapped around his wrist.
I felt something in me snap, like an old, brittle rubber band pulled too taut. My powers reached out for his. I could feel it, white-hot tendrils latching on to his and sucking them into me. I had never felt anything like this. It was like I saw inside of him, centering in on the source of his powers. I saw his eyes widen, awareness entering his gaze. He knew what was happening.
“You are your father’s daughter,” he whispered, low enough that only I could hear him. My jaw dropped. What was that supposed to mean? What did he know about my father? Hands came down, grasping Tim around the chest and yanking him back away from me. My hand released his wrist, the strange power dissipating only to curl in the pit of my stomach.
The Bruiser that had come to my rescue squeezed Tim in a choke hold. Tim fought, his face turning red, but it was no use. He fell limp, unconscious. The Bruiser dragged him backward, dropping him unceremoniously into one of the interrogation rooms and closed the door after him.
“Hey, you okay?” A hand appeared in my peripheral vision. Jeremy gripped my arm, helping me to my feet. Kate scowled at me from behind him, not happy that his attention was not on her.
“Yeah,” I said, staring after Tim. “Yeah, I’m fine.” Jeremy cast me a glance that clearly said he didn’t believe me. I didn’t believe me, for that matter. He guided me to one of the seats just outside of the interrogation room, motioning for me to sit. He dropped my glove on my lap. I pulled it on with shaking hands, closing my fist when I was once again protected.
“You’re going to have to stay here until we get this all figured out. Everyone else, move on. There’s nothing to see.” Action finished, the rest of the students dispersed. I caught several curious glances, ignoring them as I focused on my hands clasped in my lap. One thought ran endlessly through my head.
He knew my name.
The door to the interrogation room opened. I straightened from my slumped position as Meredith stepped out. Her lips were pursed with displeasure. Things must not be going well. Her eyes fell on me and she stopped.
“Come. He wants to speak with you.” She turned on her heel and marched back into the room.
I trailed after her. He wanted to speak with me? And they were going to let him? That was violating every rule I knew. It was one thing to participate in background missions, but to actually make contact with one of the Rogues? My hands were shaking as I entered the room.
Meredith had her back turned to me, standing in front of a one way mirror. There was a man standing near her, someone I didn’t recognize. He looked official, wearing a neatly pressed dark suit. He very nearly blended in with the shadows; I guessed more by design than default. His alert gaze took note of me, seeming to size me up in a quick glance. I tucked my hands under my arms, waiting for Meredith to address me. What did she expect me to do? If she wanted me to give Tim a shakedown she was severely overestimating my power of intimidation.
“Do you recognize him, Elsabeth?” Meredith asked, gesturing through the mirror towards Tim. I hesitated, looking curiously at the man standing
I backpedalled, trying to avoid his headlong dash. He fell, his arms wrapping around my waist and sending us both crashing to the ground. I got up on my elbows, trying to army-crawl out of his grasp. He grabbed my hips, somehow managing to flip me over and straddle my waist, his hands gripping my shoulders.
“You know. You know I didn’t have anything to do with this! You know!” he said urgently. I felt a strange buzzing where he touched me; feeling like something was trying to burrow beneath my skin.
“I don’t know anything! Get off me!” I shrieked. I scratched at his hands, trying to push him away and break free. My glove came off in the tussle; my hand wrapped around his wrist.
I felt something in me snap, like an old, brittle rubber band pulled too taut. My powers reached out for his. I could feel it, white-hot tendrils latching on to his and sucking them into me. I had never felt anything like this. It was like I saw inside of him, centering in on the source of his powers. I saw his eyes widen, awareness entering his gaze. He knew what was happening.
“You are your father’s daughter,” he whispered, low enough that only I could hear him. My jaw dropped. What was that supposed to mean? What did he know about my father? Hands came down, grasping Tim around the chest and yanking him back away from me. My hand released his wrist, the strange power dissipating only to curl in the pit of my stomach.
The Bruiser that had come to my rescue squeezed Tim in a choke hold. Tim fought, his face turning red, but it was no use. He fell limp, unconscious. The Bruiser dragged him backward, dropping him unceremoniously into one of the interrogation rooms and closed the door after him.
“Hey, you okay?” A hand appeared in my peripheral vision. Jeremy gripped my arm, helping me to my feet. Kate scowled at me from behind him, not happy that his attention was not on her.
“Yeah,” I said, staring after Tim. “Yeah, I’m fine.” Jeremy cast me a glance that clearly said he didn’t believe me. I didn’t believe me, for that matter. He guided me to one of the seats just outside of the interrogation room, motioning for me to sit. He dropped my glove on my lap. I pulled it on with shaking hands, closing my fist when I was once again protected.
“You’re going to have to stay here until we get this all figured out. Everyone else, move on. There’s nothing to see.” Action finished, the rest of the students dispersed. I caught several curious glances, ignoring them as I focused on my hands clasped in my lap. One thought ran endlessly through my head.
He knew my name.
The door to the interrogation room opened. I straightened from my slumped position as Meredith stepped out. Her lips were pursed with displeasure. Things must not be going well. Her eyes fell on me and she stopped.
“Come. He wants to speak with you.” She turned on her heel and marched back into the room.
I trailed after her. He wanted to speak with me? And they were going to let him? That was violating every rule I knew. It was one thing to participate in background missions, but to actually make contact with one of the Rogues? My hands were shaking as I entered the room.
Meredith had her back turned to me, standing in front of a one way mirror. There was a man standing near her, someone I didn’t recognize. He looked official, wearing a neatly pressed dark suit. He very nearly blended in with the shadows; I guessed more by design than default. His alert gaze took note of me, seeming to size me up in a quick glance. I tucked my hands under my arms, waiting for Meredith to address me. What did she expect me to do? If she wanted me to give Tim a shakedown she was severely overestimating my power of intimidation.
“Do you recognize him, Elsabeth?” Meredith asked, gesturing through the mirror towards Tim. I hesitated, looking curiously at the man standing
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