Bryn’s Ability could be classified as both mental and physical, in some ways. She could influence someone’s mind in a calming manner while also lowering their blood pressure. As a whole, it made her very popular around exams.

Hunter led the way to Bryn’s usual hang out spot behind the school, K riding along in Daniel’s backpack. She wasn’t too surprised when she saw Erik leaning against the wall beside her.

“What’s crackin’, tattooed messiah?” She called to him. “What’s in the canteen today?”

Erik turned on her, his face turning red from embarrassment and rage, but Bryn laughed. “Just water, thank god.” She waved them over, brushing her platinum blond hair out of her face. “To what do we owe the pleasure of your attention, Miss Perfect Memory?”

Hunter grinned. “‘I forget.’” She joked before turning to Daniel. “We have a little conundrum that you might be able to help out with.”

Daniel unzipped his bag and K looked out at them. Bryn stepped forward, offering a hand. “You brought a cat to school? And made it to lunch?”

“He’s my classmate.” Daniel told her. “His name’s K.”

“I can’t control it.” K added, choking back tears.

Bryn frowned, rubbing her hand on K’s head. Closing her eyes, she moved her hand around to his face and down his throat. “Fear.” She said finally. “And lots of it.” She picked K up out of the bag and set him on the ground. “Are you new?”

“First day.” Daniel answered.

“I used to go to a public school.” K added.

“I see.” Bryn nodded in understanding. “Well, K, you may not believe this, but your fear is what’s causing the problems. You’re scared of transforming, right?” K’s furry head bobbed up and down. “It’s that fear that’s causing you to transform at random.”

“That sucks.” Carter offered, playing with his hair, which was now lime green.

“How do I stop it?” K asked, tears in his eyes.

“Stop being scared.” Erik said bluntly, earning a jab in the side from Will. “What? It’s pretty obvious.”

“But it doesn’t always work.” Jasper whispered under his breath. Hunter patted his arm before turning her attention back to K.

“I told you before. This school is different.”

K rose onto his hind legs, the fur on his face and paws shrinking back into his skin while the fur on the rest of his body morphed into the fabric of his clothes. After his transformation was complete, he gave Bryn a shy smile. “Thanks.”

Bryn laughed. “Without that fear, I think your control will be excellent.”

“Fear doesn’t just go away.” K stated, wiping tears from his face.

“But it can be managed.” Will put a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “And we’re here to help.”

K smiled and allowed himself to be led back into the building. Hunter moved to follow them, but Erik grabbed her arm. She raised an eyebrow at him, but he waited until the door closed to speak.

“How’s Jasper?” He asked, sharing a look with Bryn. “It’s been two years now, and…”

“He’s fine.” Hunter said a little louder than she intended. “He’s… having a bad day.”

“Hunter.” Bryn gave her a sympathetic smile. “How many good days has he had.”

“I don’t know.” Hunter lied.

They all knew she’d been counting since he’d first had problems. They also knew she didn’t want to admit that she could count off the good days without taking off her shoes.

“I hate to be a downer.” Erik confessed. “But it might be time.”

“No!” Hunter shook her head hard enough to give herself a headache. “He’s fine.” Tears welled up in her eyes. “He’s not broken!”

Bryn reached out to her, but Hunter brushed her off.

“We all knew this was a possibility.” Erik reminded her. “One in every ten Ability users get marked as broken. That doesn’t mean he can’t get better.”

Bryn nodded. “That’s right. Mr. Ranson was a broken once. He spent five years in a facility before getting control back.”

Hunter knew Mr. Ranson’s story. Everyone at RTAA knew. He’d had terrible control over his ability to transform parts of his body into blades when he’d been a student. Tests would be handed back with numerous punctures and hardly any marks from a pencil.

He’d been taken away in his third year. When he’d come back, he was completely different. Now, he only ever used his ability for demonstration purposes.

“Jasper isn’t going anywhere.” Hunter stated firmly before walking away.

I won’t let that happen.