Mr. Ranson put a hand on Thomas’s shoulder and the younger man stepped aside. “Home team will be myself, Amber, Maddie, Carter, Bryn, Erik and Will. We will be responsible for taking class notes and deflecting suspicion.”

He was met with words of confirmation from everyone except Erik, who grumbled about being left out of the mission.

“What would you do, anyway?” Bryn grinned at him. “Turn a guard’s water bottle into a canteen of whiskey?”

He replied with incoherent grumbling, but gave her a smile to show he appreciated the joke.

Hunter jumped from her seat, unable to sit still another second. “Let’s go, then!” She tried to keep her voice from sounding like a whine, but she was too impatient. “The longer we wait, the longer the government has Jasper and are doing who knows what to him.”

“I’m not ready.” Tristan said calmly. “I need more time.”

“To do what?” Hunter put all of her effort into not tapping her foot in annoyance.

“To get a read.” The other girl held up a folded bird. It twitched, then fell over. “I don’t know him like you guys do. I need more time.”

“So we have to sit around waiting while you fold dainty origami cranes?”

Thomas cleared his throat. “Hunter, this is our best option. Tristan can find anyone once she gets an idea of what they’re like.”

Hunter frowned and squinted at Tristan. The other girl calmly set down her half-folded creation and looked up. “I can do this.” She guaranteed. “Trust me.”

Biting her lip, Hunter looked away. “Okay.” She finally said. Unsure what she should do, she started for the door.

“Hunter?” Thomas called after her.

“Let her be.” She heard Mr. Ranson say. “A lot has happened.”

Once in the hall with the door firmly closed behind her, Hunter rubbed at her eyes. The shock of the situation was wearing off, leaving behind a hollow ache in her chest. Without Jasper to talk to, she didn’t know where to turn. He understood her better than Lucas or even her brother did. He was her support, her constant as they maneuvered high school.

And now he was gone.

Her legs carried her through the halls. She wasn’t looking at where she was headed and only looked up when a light breeze hit her face. The front lawn of the school greeted her as the doors closed behind her.

Even though the air wasn’t cold, the wind made tears spring to her eyes and she sat with her back against the wall, crying silently.

Someone sat down beside her and she glanced up. K was looking at her, a look of uncertainty on his face. “I didn’t really know him.” He stated. “But… I felt less alone, knowing I wasn’t the only ability user who had problems.”

“He’s gone.” Hunter mumbled.

K shook his head. “We’ll get him back.”

“How?”

He thought for a moment, then held out his hand to her. “As a team.”

They sat perfectly still for what felt like minutes, until Hunter finally took his hand. “As a team.” She agreed.