Young Writers Society

"I'm not."

Ken gave him a weird look and shrugged. “Alright.” That was weird. The boy had completely changed his demeanor in what seemed like an instant, which Ken didn’t like. Maybe this boy was more than he was letting on.

Ken had noticed Cloud's inspection. This boy was more than he was letting on.

"What is your power?" blurted Cloud, suddenly regretting it. He just had to ask! Ken seemed like the type with some ability. Just like Joan of Arc, Alexander Hamilton, and many others, Ken had the obvious innate strength that Cloud noticed immediately.

Ken paused mid-bite. He put his fork down and raised an eyebrow. “I never get sick,” Ken said coolly. It wasn’t a cool power, but it did promise a long and healthy life. A “natural death” or “death in his sleep” was practically out of the cards for Ken because he couldn’t get any of the things that caused old people to die.

Ken didn’t mention the one time in pre-school he got so angry at another student that he wished they were dead and the next day a tumor was found in their brain. Or the time in middle school when he got too angry and everyone around him got a migraine. Those times were both complete accidents. Of course he hadn’t really wanted that other kid to die; he’d just been angry. And he hadn’t figured that part of his power out yet, so he certainly wasn’t going to tell it to this kid before he himself understood it.

"Pathokinesis," said Cloud, with realization dawning in his eyes. He hadn't seen such a devious-seeming Pathokinetic since Black Death. Now that guy was basically a nightmare.

To explain further, Cloud said, "Pathokinesis is the ability to control and manipulate diseases, illnesses, chronic disorders, and bodily functions."

Ken laughed. “I know what the name of my own power is. Just didn’t expect you to know what it meant if I said it.”

"You had an unsure look in your face. I was merely reinforcing what I believed you doubted in yourself," said Cloud.

Ken took another bite of his food before answering in an attempt to calm down the anger rising in him. This kid was definitely not normal. They were acting rude and weird, and saying that Ken didn’t understand something, which he most definitely did not appreciate.

“No need to doubt,” he said with a smile. “I know what I can do.”

"I see," said Cloud. He could feel the heated intensity of Ken's glare. It was certainly very terrifying. The cold, threatening tone gave him the shivers. What are you doing? he told himself, I've faced more intense glares than this!

Something about Ken's glare was different-- as if he could reinforce that outward threat by force.

"Do you . . . um like your power?"

"It's alright." Ken shrugged, playing it down. "Does mean I can't fake a headache to get out of class and go to the nurse though." He gave a playful smile, even as his eyes watched Shelly carefully.

"I can fix that," said Cloud tentatively. He was sure he wanted this dangerous boy on his side, yet he still wanted to stay on the cautious side.

“Fix what? My power?” He smirked, but his eyes remained narrowed. “Do you think it needs fixing, Shell?”

"No. I can help you get out of class faster."

Ken raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Then you must have a power too. What is it?”

"Mostly, I . . . can make time go faster and slower," said Cloud, deciding that if he kept things hidden from Ken right now, it could be dangerous in the future, "And I can, uh, manipulate space-- so I can teleport or move things."

But Cloud definitely wasn't going to tell Ken about the re-incarnation. That was way too embarrassing.