The Twisted Future (Teen Superheroes Book 4) by Darrell Pitt

past Agency radar and into orbit.’
    ‘Orbit?’
    He nodded. ‘The Agency’s main research facility— Olympus —is in orbit. We have access codes that’ll get us past security.’
    I nodded at the new panels. ‘What’s with the disguise?’
    Mr. Brown spoke up. ‘It’s highly unlikely that anyone is actually going to look out an Olympus window, but if they do they should see something that looks like an Agency vessel. Kind of.’
    ‘And who’s the pilot?’ I asked.
    ‘I am,’ Mr. Brown said. ‘For this you get the best.’
    I felt a little better about the mission. He led us to quarters that looked more like a cell than a residence, but as least they were clean, containing two bunk beds and a bench. Meals arrived a few minutes later, stew made of a fine mea t. Mr. Brown said it was rabbit, but I kept thinking about the rats I’d seen in the upper tunnels.
    I ate it anyway.
    Mr. Brown stopped at the door just before he left. ‘It’s nice to see you again,’ he said, his eyes misting over. ‘It’s so good to see you young...and strong and healthy. I’ve missed the old days. I’ve missed them a lot.’
    ‘Thanks,’ I said. ‘For everything.’
    Nodding, he pulled the door shut behind him. I turned off the light as we climbed into our bunks and stared at the black ceiling. ‘It’s been quite a day,’ I said. We woke up this morning in the present and now we were forty years in the future. ‘And the worst part is that I’m a douche bag.’
    ‘You’re not a douche bag,’ Ebony said. ‘ Your future self is, but...I mean...’
    ‘I get your drift. I think.’
    ‘You’re not like him at all. But this is a different world. I can see why he...you...want James Price dead.’ She sighed. ‘What should we do?’
    ‘About what?’
    ‘About James Price.’
    I had already been through this once. I had been given the choice to sentence the Russian Premier to an equally terrible fate—and I hadn’t been able to pull the trigger. But this was worse. The fate of the entire human race could depend on us.
    ‘I don’t know,’ I said. ‘What do you think?’
    But Ebony didn’t answer. She was already asleep.
     
     

Chapter Fourteen
     
    What are you? Dan thought. What sort of question is that? 
    ‘Uh, hello,’ Dan said, flustered. ‘What am I? I’m a boy like you.’
    ‘I’m a boy like you,’ Henry said.
    ‘How did you get here?’ Dan asked.
    ‘How did you get here?’
    He’s just repeating everything I say , Dan thought.
    ‘I arrived in a plane,’ he said.
    ‘I arrived in a plane.’ 
    ‘Do you understand what I’m saying?’ Dan asked. ‘Are you here with your family? Or are you alone?’
    ‘Alone.’ Henry looked at the ceiling. ‘That is day.’
    It was worse than having a conversation with Ferdy. At least Ferdy made sense. Maybe Henry suffered from an intellectual disability. But how did he get here? Were there others with him? Dan tapped his communicator.
    ‘Ferdy? I’ve found a boy in the basement of the building.’ The only reply was a long squeal of static. ‘Can you hear me, Ferdy?’
    Nothing. There was a problem with reception. Dan pretended to examine the cell lock.
    ‘I think this is broken,’ he said, gripping it in his hand, but focusing on the metal. It snapped open. ‘At least I can get you out of there. Where are your parents?’ 
    ‘No parents.’ Henry’s voice was soft. He had wide, brown eyes and black hair, and wore trousers, black shoes and a white open necked shirt. He was surprisingly clean considering the state of the cell. ‘My name is Henry.’
    ‘I’m Dan.’
    ‘Dan.’
    Dan’s eyes followed the trail of debris leading to the opening. Thick jungle surrounded the top.
    ‘Will you follow me?’ Dan asked.
    The boy regarded Dan uncertainly for a moment before trailing him outside. A fresh breeze pushed back Dan’s hair. It was cooler. Maybe the weather was changing.
    Henry still held the book.
    ‘Is that good?’ Dan