Pivot Point (Pivot Point, #1)(79)

This has to be a Search. I’m in a Search. I try to test out that theory, and when only a static buzz enters my mind, I’m convinced I’m right. I’m going to be fine. Soon I will be done with this horrible vision, snap out of my Search, and everything will be okay. I would never choose this future. I let the only thoughts keeping me halfway sane loop through my mind like they are playing on an old movie reel.

“Addie, concentrate. Try to Search the future now.”

I lay my hands flat on the kitchen table. “Why should I?”

He’s sitting across from me. “Do you really want to play mind games with me?”

“Duke is going to be angry with you for doing this.”

He laughs. “Duke is elbow deep in his own secrets, don’t you think? He hardly has a right to judge.”

If I can just keep him talking, I know I can figure out a way to escape. “So he doesn’t know about your little project? I thought you were best friends. Have you been stealing bits of his ability too? Show me how it works. Move something.”

He gives a low laugh that chills me to the bone. “Move something? Because that’s what Duke does? You are so naive.”

Bobby’s phone chimes. It’s sitting on the counter, not plugged into any sort of charger. Maybe I am naive. His chair lets out a moan as it scrapes along the tile. He picks up the phone and looks at the screen. With a chuckle he starts to read aloud, Hey, Bobby, have you seen Addie? Her car is out front. I think I might be in trouble. He looks up at me. “Is he in trouble, Addie?”

I don’t answer.

“Do you know what’s funny? If he had called me, he might’ve heard you in the background, but because he texted me, there’s no chance of that.” He turns his attention back to the phone. “No, Duke,” he says as his fingers move over the keys. “I haven’t seen her. You know she doesn’t talk to me. Maybe she saw Laila’s truck parked in front of your house. It was the first thing I noticed. Bad luck.”

If he had called, he would have heard me. I’m hung up on those words. Duke and I have been practicing Thought Placement, but my mistrust of him lately has slowed my progress. One time, in my frustration, I told him that I would just call him if I needed him. We both thought that was pretty funny. I’m not laughing now.

I focus all my mind power on feeling Duke’s energy; he’s right across the street. I can do this. I picture pushing the words I’m at Bobby’s. Help toward him … into him. The words seem to tumble around in my brain just like they did sometimes when I practiced, when Duke would look at me and say, “Are you even trying?”

“I’m trying,” I say through my teeth.

Bobby turns toward me. “Good. You’re finally on board?”

“I hate you.”

“Strong feelings help enhance your ability. Work with those.”

I take a deep breath and try to relax. He’s not going to manipulate me. Someone help me. As if in answer to my call, there’s a pounding at the front door and then Laila’s voice. “Bobby, open up. I know Addie is in there and I have to talk to her. Addie, please don’t be mad at me. Just let me in.”

Bobby smiles. “Poor Laila. She thinks you’ve barricaded yourself in my house out of anger.”

I open my mouth to answer, but I can’t. Bobby is constricting my voice. So I narrow my eyes at him, wishing I had the power to shoot darts out of them instead of having my useless power. There’s more banging. Help me, I scream in my mind. From the back of the house there is a loud clatter, and Bobby’s face registers shock for a moment.

“Addie!” Duke’s voice is loud and coming from inside the house. “Are you in here?”

Bobby growls. “Need to change his access. I guess we’re turning this into a party.” He drags me out of the kitchen and shoves me onto the couch in the living room. Then he palms open the front door and pulls Laila inside. “Sit,” he orders her, pointing to the spot next to me. The moment she locks eyes with me, I know she’s not analyzing the situation properly. She sits down and says, “I’m so sorry, Addie. I don’t know what came over me. Please forgive me.”

By this time Duke is standing in the doorway between the kitchen and the living room. “What’s wrong, Addie?”

“What do you mean what’s wrong?” Laila says with a grunt. “She saw me at your house, Duke.”

He maintains my stare. “Is that it? Because I heard you. You were asking for help. That was you, right?”

My eyes dart to Bobby, who still hasn’t loosened my tongue, hoping Duke will get the hint.

“Well, say something already,” Laila says.

“She told me,” Bobby says, clearing his throat, “that she’s too angry with the both of you to talk right now. She didn’t want you to know she was here.”

I remember Bobby saying it was hard to control me and do other things at the same time, so while he’s talking I try my hardest to break free of his influence over me. If teenagers have stronger bursts of powers than adults do, then surely our ability to combat those powers is stronger too. It’s Bobby, it’s Bobby, it’s Bobby, help, I say over and over again in my head as I try to break free.

Duke marches up to Bobby and grabs him by the collar. “What have you done to her?”