After a pretty calm morning, when the sky was tinged with the colors of the sunset, the Nerys of the Council were forced to intervene. The cameras of a bank had filmed a boy crossing the walls of a vault.
«I've already deleted the videos.» Jeyson said. «But the Hunters may have already tracked him down.»
«Alright. Let's not waste any more time.» Dawn said to her companions. «It's not necessary to all move together. Sam, Oswald, Richard, Nathan, Jeb will take us there. The rest of you will stay here, in case there are others in danger.»
«Be careful.», Ellen recommended before they approached Jeb to reach the coordinates indicated by Jeyson.
When they arrived on the scene, Dawn told them to wait hidden in the alley, where they landed. She advanced slowly and leaned over the wall, without exposing herself too much. The boy was kneeling on the ground with his hands in the air while two policemen held him at gunpoint and ordered him not to move.
Dawn went back to her friends. «They caught him. They're already pointing their guns at him.»
«Why doesn't he teleport away? He could disappear in an instant.» Jeb wondered aloud, puzzled.
«Maybe he just discovered he can move through walls, he isn't fully aware of his powers.» Sam surmised.
«That doesn't matter. We must try to bring him here, without exposing our powers.» Dawn said. «He has already made quite a mess, let's not make the situation worse.»
«I can't go get him and bring him here, but Richard can run without being seen.»
«You should first distract the police and the people on the street.» Nathan pointed out, before Richard took off running. «He has already passed through the walls, if he disappears before their eyes, they will only become more suspicious.»
Dawn turned her gaze to Nathan. «You're right, we need to be discreet. We can't let them start asking questions about people like us. We already have the Hunters after us.»
«So what do we do?» Oswald asked. «The boy is getting agitated, he could make his situation worse by provoking the police. They intend to call for backup.»
Dawn looked at Sam. The rust-colored haired girl immediately knew what to do. Within a few seconds all telephone transmissions in that area were interrupted.
«Blow out the manholes.» Nathan said to Dawn. «It may not be a pretty sight, but it's still water in the sewers. They would be distracted enough for Richard to take the boy.»
Dawn nodded. «Okay.», she and Richard reached the entrance of the alley again, to have a clear view. The young Nerys was yelling at the police, even though they were pointing guns at him. Dawn took a deep breath. Then, with a command from her mind, from the depths of the tunnel that led to the sewer, she guided the water upwards. From the lid onto the street, water began to slowly leak out along the sealed edge, until it exploded like a fountain, completely blowing up the metal disc that served as a cap.
Richard quickly ran towards the sidewalk, where the young man was kneeling, grabbed him and in a few moments he was already across the alley with the others. Jeb grabbed his wrist to neutralize his powers and prevent him from escaping as soon as Richard put him down.
«And who the hell are you?» he asked, trying to free himself from Jeb's grip.
«People who are saving your life.» Jeb replied.
«Guys, they're coming. I hear their footsteps.» Oswald announced agitatedly. «They are very close.»
«Let's get a move on.» Sam said as she approached Jeb.
Jeb let go of the boy only for Richard to grab him again. He couldn't move him from there with his power, not directly, but, by teleporting Richard, he would also take with him the young man they had just rescued.
Before Jeb took them back to the Nemlyth, they were joined by armed Hunters. Sam didn't have time to raise the barrier and one of the shots reached Oswald. The boy immediately fell to the ground. The substance that had been fired at him was absorbed by his body and he began to move spasmodically.
The Hunters were suddenly thrown away, before they fired another shot. Richard hadn't moved, he was there next to the others. Nathan then looked at Dawn and noticed her threatening gaze directed at those men in black clothing. She must have used her control over the wind to summon a gust strong enough to push them all back.
«Jeb take us away.» Sam said.
He nodded. He bent down next to Oswald and squeezed his arm. He had to do his best not to let go, as the boy with the animal ears continued to writhe.
The other members of the Council created a sort of chain and the last of the group, Nathan, put his hand on Jeb's shoulder to take them all to safety.
As soon as they landed in the Council relax room, Richard released the stranger to lift his friend Oswald from the floor. He had stopped moving and had lost consciousness.
Meg and Ellen got up and left the sofa free for Richard to spread Oswald out on.
«Is he okay?» the newcomer asked with a shocked look.
Chelsea approached him. «Don't worry, he'll recover in a few minutes. You come with me.»
As she directed him towards the door, he was still trying to look over her shoulder, past Chelsea, wondering if everything was really okay. «Are you sure?»
«Yes, it has already happened other times, the others will take care of him. What's your name?», she tried to change the subject as they left the room.
«Darren.» he told her before finally leaving the room.
Like him, Nathan was also shocked. Ever since he had arrived there, they had always been lucky and he had never witnessed anything like that in person. They had told him about it, so that he would pay attention, but it was the first time he had seen it happen with his own eyes. Jeyson patted him on the shoulder. «He'll be fine in a few minutes, he won't be able to use his powers for a while but he'll be fine.» he said to reassure him.
«Where's Dawn?» Ellen asked, looking around.
«I swear I brought her back here. She was with us.» Jeb was quick to say.
Sam sighed. «She used her powers.» she said. «She unleashed the wind.»
The Council members exchanged glances.
«Who's going to go talk to her?» Jeb asked.
Meg approached Ellen. «She is your best friend, you should go. You're the one who understands her best.»
«I don't think it's necessary.» Jeyson said. «Nathan left as soon as he noticed Dawn was missing.»
Nathan had run out while they were talking, he didn't even know why Dawn had left. And he didn't even care why, he just wanted to do what she had done for him since his arrival at the Nemlyth Institute.
He quickened his pace until he was almost running through the corridors.
When he reached the area where the Council members' rooms were located, he saw her opening her door. Nathan made one last effort to reach her before she closed it. He wasn't sure if Dawn would let him in once she crossed the threshold.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed him and did nothing to stop him. «You didn't have to rush here.» she told him as she crossed the threshold.
Nathan entered right after her and closed the door. «Something's wrong, don't lie. On the way here I saw the lights flash more than once.»
Dawn sighed. «And you thought about following me, to make me even more nervous?»
«I thought you might need to talk. You've done it for me before.»
«I'm not like you.» Dawn said, clenching her fists. «Talking won't make me feel better. Talking won't change the fact that my powers are a threat.»
«What are you talking about? You defended us, you didn't do anything wrong.», Nathan looked at her perplexed.
«Nothing wrong... » Dawn echoed, shaking her head. «You can't wait for your abilities to manifest themselves, but what we have, what we are capable of doing, is not a game. There is always a negative side, repercussions. Do you know Ellen and others like her have to sleep in a room protected by a force field? They can destroy everything when they are unconscious and don't control their powers. And Jeyson? If he were to get infected with a virus while he is online… it would take months for him to recover. Meg, Oswald… without sleeping pills they can't silence the noises they constantly hear. And I… », she paused before continuing to vent. «Nature should never be controlled. Evaporate some water, turn on the lights, that's nothing. But an earthquake, an alteration of the climate, here, can cause devastating catastrophes elsewhere.»
«So that gust of wind… is that what's worrying you?»
Dawn nodded. «Everyone thinks that these powers are a gift, but every time I hear on the news about unexpected and inexplicable seismic movements, or climate changes, I feel terribly guilty. This is why I only use them if they are really necessary.»
Nathan couldn't stand the sad look on her face. Usually she was always smiling. She was the one who comforted him. Now that it was his turn, he had no idea what to do. Maybe he should have let Ellen talk to her. After all, Nathan didn't know her that well. He approached her with the intention of hugging her, but his hands moved out of his control. His fingers sought Dawn's face, grabbed it gently to lift her head and allow Nathan's lips to touch hers.