When I was kidnapped, it was called Psychedone 5. Each version became more deadly. The Knights forced their victims to take the drug, then trained the strongest to become Knights. The rest were used as scapegoats for the Knights’ crimes.
I also now understood how Captious knew of the Walpurgi. I was worried that Munificent had let secrets slip, so I asked during practice. Andy assured me it wasn’t so. Apparently Munificent had told the police force that the Knights were a powerful street gang called ‘The Walpurgi.’ And even if Captious had knowledge of the Psi Fighters’ existence like I feared, that didn’t automatically guarantee our destruction. The Whisperers spread rumors about us on purpose. That’s how we let the Knights and the rest of Greensburg’s underworld know that they were being watched. By the time we were done talking, Andy had confirmed what I already knew. In my exhausted state, I let my real fear surface—the fear that I would lose my family. Again. Andy told me that the time would come, probably sooner than I wanted, when I would have to stop suppressing my past. All well and good, Dr. Phil, but first, I needed to figure out Mason’s part in all this.
My assumptions had been totally wrong. I assumed Mason and Captious were in this together. But when Captious took Christie, Mason was angry. It seemed that Mason was as surprised by Christie’s kidnapping as he was clueless about the Class Project.
A strained voice around the corner broke into my thoughts. I flattened myself against the lockers and listened.
“No, it’s illegal and I’m not doing it.”
“It’s not. I think you should reconsider, little guy. You are the best we’ve ever had.”
“You never had me. Did you make Gable plant that stuff in my locker? Angel said it wouldn’t have happened if I had listened.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You’re a liar. I’m outa here. Leave me alone.”
“Please, Bobby, this is important. The work we do here is completed at Old Torrents. They have equipment we don’t. They use our product to make medicine that helps the mentally ill. I doubt that you can understand it, but this means a lot to me. My mother was mentally ill. If I can help people like her, I will do whatever is necessary. Please reconsider. We really need you.”
“No, you don’t understand. Talk to Angel. She’ll tell you. I’m done.”
A dull clang, like the striking of a gong with a stale loaf of bread, echoed down the hall. I sprinted around the corner. Bobby crouched on the floor in front of a dented locker, holding his forehead, Mason towering over him. Mason turned at the sound of my footsteps.
“Lucky you, Bobbykins,” he said, smiling at me. “It appears that it’s time for me to go to class. We’ll have to reschedule. Have a lovely day.”
As Mason turned to leave, Bobby leapt to his feet, grabbed him by the shoulder and shoved him. Mason’s face brightened with an admiring expression that said, You are extremely cool for a four-eyed dweeb, but I can’t honestly believe you did that and expect to live!
“Touch me again and I’ll knock your teeth out,” Bobby growled. He looked tiny next to Mason, but I had never seen such fire in his eyes. He was shaking with the force of his anger, both hands tightly clenched, and his chin raised, daring Mason to hit him.
“Ooh,” Mason said, reaching out with his pinky. “How tempting. But I think I’ll have to decline for now. I have other duties at the moment.”
“Like pushing drugs?” Bobby snarled.
Mason cocked his head like a bird and looked sideways at me. “Wherever does Roberto get his imagination, Miss Noelle?”
Mason was acting like a jerk, but Bobby was off base. I thought maybe this one time Mason deserved the benefit of the doubt. “I’ll talk to him.” Then I pointed at Mason, not in a mean way, but so he would know I meant it. “But you’d better stop hurting him. There is no excuse for it. You told me you liked Bobby. You told me that being nice would become a habit. I’d like to see it. Please?”
Mason bit his lower lip. He looked right into my eyes, and said, “For you.” He turned to Bobby and extended his hand. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. Can you forgive me?”
Bobby glared at Mason, but didn’t say a word.
Mason’s eyes flashed sadness, but he smiled, dropped his hand, and walked away. As he rounded the corner, I heard him mumble, “Everybody deserves a second chance. Even me.”
“I’ll give him a second chance. Next time he touches me, I’ll knock his teeth out,” Bobby whispered, still glaring as Mason disappeared. “Twice.” Then he turned to me and smiled. I noticed the swelling redness on his forehead. “Kathryn says you do kung fu. I’ve been researching on the Internet and already know a little. I need you to teach me a little more. Just one punch? Or a death ray. That’s all I need. Pretty please?”
“Hey, hey, hey!” Kathryn waltzed down the hall toward us. “What did I miss? Fill me in!”