Powerful (The Powerless Trilogy, #1.5)

by Lauren Roberts

spine. I have yet to get accustomed to the ability I possess—a result of the Plague that swept through Ilya and formed the generations after into Elites. I don’t dare look back until I hear a heavy thud hit the cobblestones behind me. I barely catch the Imperial’s face hitting the stones before the girl is bounding behind me. “Don’t stop!” she shouts, not bothering to fight the smile pulling at her lips. All I can manage is a breathless laugh in response as I focus on forcing my tired legs faster. We run until she yanks me down a narrow alley, dodging the huddled homeless. “This way,” she orders, continuing to tug on my arm. It’s only after slinking down several shadowed alleyways that we allow ourselves to lean against a grimy brick wall, gulping down equally dusty air. She looks over at me, and I look over at her. Something like understanding seems to settle between us. As though loneliness has found its equal. The girl raises her eyebrows at the sticky bun still gripped in my hand. “First time stealing?” “That obvious?” I smile sheepishly. She shrugs. “You would think a Phaser would be better at escaping.” “See,” I sigh, “that’s what I thought. And look at where it got me.” There is a stretch of silence before I blurt, “Oh, and I’m not really sure what you did back there, but thanks for your help.” She flashes a smile. “Nothing difficult. Just stuck my foot out. It’s the Imperial’s fault for running into it, really.”