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I gots an idea from Nick. I will post what my writing has amounted to because I'm ADD-tastic. If you take the time to read these, take the time to comment, please. My writing will get no better unless I get some criticism.

Darkness Hiding:




“A dark night,” a man mumbled under his breath while he stood in a dark alley. The man himself was shrouded in shadows… or so it would appear. He was draped in a black cloak and had midnight black hair. His face was angular though oddly handsome, and his manner was, to say the least, demeaning. His eyes were dark amber, shining with a sinister and intelligent light. They were reflecting the non-existent new moon. His body was skinny and wiry. His name was Nerez. He felt the heavy blade hanging from his back. To most it would be too heavy to lift, yet he swung it with a single arm. He could use it to sever a man’s head from his body with a singly swing, and yet it was not his favorite weapon. Neither were the many knives he had hidden on his body which he could reveal, kill a man, and conceal so quickly that no one would know it happened. No, these were not his weapon of choice. His weapon of choice was the great power that boiled within his blood. His weapon of choice was that not made of steel. It was the magic that many a wizard gave his physical being to gain. He had it and the strength and speed that warriors and thieves were vying for. He was the ultimate weapon. And he still ran free. He planned to keep it that way. “Well, the night isn’t getting any darker at this hour.” And he was gone with nary a rustling of his cloak.
He entered the building silently and searched the room with his glowing amber eyes. The room had broken crates and cobwebs everywhere. It was most certainly abandoned. “Hmmm, this will do.” And with that he had chosen his new home. He summoned fire on the long forgotten candle sticks standing on the table. He then set about making the place a suitable home for his needs. Over the course of the night it became a base of sorts. A place that he could run his new exploits from. For you see he was planning on taking the riches of the richest man around, a man by the name of King Renail. He did not act as the kings of old. He was not honorable nor was he kind. He was ruthless and greedy. Nerez wanted that money. Since the king stole it from his people in the first place, he felt no guilt. Stolen items were anyone’s who decided to take them from the thief in his mind. So he toiled the night away checking every inch of his new home.
Finally, as the sun rose, he walked out onto the street. People were already clogging the streets. There were merchants calling out their wares and one woman stopped to barter with a merchant selling herbs. Nerez decided to go to the tavern to catch some gossip. “Hey, can you tell me where the closest bar is?” he asked a near by man in a kind voice, though something in that voice made the simple question sound like a demand for an answer.
“Aye, Sir. The nearest one is jus’ down the end of the road ‘ere. It’s called the Drunken Soldier. Its sign is a man with a sword and a mug.”
“Thanks.” He took off down the road at the fastest pace he could while still managing to dodge the crowd taking up the road. He had quite good reflexes so this was not too difficult. As he snaked his way through the crowd certain people stood out to him. He always had a good sense of people who could some day make a big difference. He darted in the bar the moment he saw the sign. Inside there were some people playing dice, some playing cards, some playing an odd game with a knife that he had never seen before. Must be regional, he thought. One man had to of been drunk because he was screaming for more ale when he had a full tankard and was pinching the waitresses when they came over to quiet him. He decided that someone had to have some good info so he went and sat down at the bar.
“You new?” some man asked him. “I ain’t seen you in town, and I know everyone.”
“Actually, yes. Just moved here on business.” Nerez said in a manner inviting chat while carefully not demanding it.
“Ah, a Merchant then?”
“Not really. Just been wondering around for some time,” he dodged the question skillfully.
“Ah. Well good. Most people would mug you if you had that type of money,” the man said.
“You know names?” Nerez asked seeing his chance at getting some useful info.
“Well… Now, you won’t tell none, will ya?”
“Not a soul.”
“Well, it’s said there’s an old palace guard’s gone crooked. His name’s Skut. He was loyal to the last king, but not so much to this one. Now, don’t go sayin’ nothin’, but I don’t blame ‘em. He can’t be any more crooked than Renail.”
“I’ve heard that from more than one person.”
“What? What did you hear, then?”
“About the king being unfair. I’ve heard that the way he rules is like stealing from the people.”
“Don’t go ‘round saying that. There are some people, don’t know why, that are loyal to him an’ill turn you in.”
“Thanks for the advice. Here, this’ll be enough to buy you a drink.” He tossed him a coin, though he gave virtually no information, and decided that he would learn the game with the knife. He walked over and sat by the two men playing it, “Would you two mind explaining the game?”
“Only if you’re willing to bet on one afterwards,” The bigger of the two laughed.
“Sure.”
“The point is to study the design on the card,” he flashed the symbol, “and cut it into the table faster and more accurately. I play this game because you can’t cheat like the nobles do at cards.”
“Here let me try. I’ll bet 50 gold on it.” He flourished one of his own knives as he pulled it out.
“Big better then? Cut it to 10 gold. That’s all I’m willing to bet.”
“Fine.” The man flashed him the card and he quickly hacked into the table. When he was done it was an exact copy of the picture on the card, and it was done in less than 5 seconds.
“Wow that was better than I’ve ever seen. You sure you’re new to this?”
“First time.”
“Well, here’s your money.” Nerez left the bar. “We’ll get that man as he leaves,” the man whispered to his friend. “He definitely lied to us.” They ran for the door. Unfortunately for the two men Nerez expected this. As they leapt for him with their knives out, he turned and just touched each of them lightly channeling a bit of energy into their muscles. It was just enough to paralyze them for a couple of hours.
“Better luck next time,” he said as two guards dragged the men away. He calmly walked out of the bar with all eyes nervously watching him. He decided to take the winnings home and, as it was getting late, watch the castle a bit in the dark. He went over to the walls and stared in. He carefully marked each entrance and the number of guards in his mind. “Five guards at each entrance, and none patrolling the walls. They make it too easy. But tonight is not the night… tomorrow.”
He planned all night and slept the next day. He only awoke when the moon was high in the sky. He left the house, careful not to let any see him. He slipped into a back alley and planned to the alleys the whole way there. As he was walking he saw a man leaning against the building to his left. He chose to ignore the man; he took this as he had not seen him. He leapt out and put the knife to Nerez’s throat. “Give me any valuables or money on your person.”
A common pick pocket, Nerez laughed at the man’s stupidity. “I warn you to leave me alone or die.”
“Right. Just give me the money.”
Nerez then pulled out his long sword, and, spinning, split the man’s body from his left shoulder to the right part of his waist. He looked at the man as he fell in two and mumbled, “I warned you, filth.” He looked like a man he saw before, then he realized who it was. It was a man that, not a day before, Nerez had saved from two guards on the road. He had said that he was falsely accused of the crime of murder. Now Nerez knew he was lying; he had helped the murderer escape his sentence. He might have let him kill again. Well, he had met the executioner just now.
He left the man lay in the alley and continued on to the castle walls. As he reached the walls he assessed how to get over them. He decided that he could probably jump them. He attempted and failed by a couple of feet. Luckily he could use his magic to help in this. He jumped and when he could go no further he made an upward gust of wind to push him higher. He landed on the other side with a thud muffled by his soft leather boot. Not a guard heard him.
“Security’s tight,” he laughed sarcastically. The door was tightly shut and locked but his magic was the perfect cure for that. He slightly channeled bits of electricity into the lock. It crackled slightly and snapped, broken. As the door swung open silently the only guard in sight ran to check it out. Too late did he realize the tall man was there. He fell to the ground clutching his leg where Nerez kicked it forcefully. Nerez knocked the man out and dragged him to the garden. He smiled to himself thinking of how the man would cover this up. Anything to not embarrass himself, right?
He encountered no others on his way to the treasure room and left the palace quite uneventfully with a large sack of valuables. He deposited it in the house and crept to his room to sleep. A creek from the corner of the room startled him and he whipped his head around to stare at the sound. His eyes allowed him to see the small man crouch and prepare to leap at him, so he lashed out and whipped a dagger at the small form. It passed through it.
Nerez started to panic before he drew his huge blade and rushed forth to meet the creature’s. It snaked up the wall onto the ceiling and launched its full body weight at him. Nerez swung his huge blade in a swiping crescent motion as he crouched to leap out of the way of the tiny things knife. He slightly scraped the things arm and set it off balance as he slammed against the wall dodging its stab. As it fell from the ceiling he stabbed the great sword at its frail body to kill it. It crawled up his blade to kill him. He sent fire through the blade and, as an unintentional result, made it glow bright. The thing did not flinch at the heat, but burst into a brilliant flame as the light of the glow touched it. All evidence was gone in that second. It was if though the fight never took place at all.
“What…? The light killed it. Not the knife or the sword or even the fire, but the light…” He snatched up the only thing left; its tiny dagger. “This thing has no weight… It has no sheen… It’s made of pure shadows…” What that thing was he had little idea, but he knew one thing, he had almost died. Of all the dangerous things that had happened that night; him sneaking into the palace, stealing a sack full of jewels and other valuables, killing a pickpocket, even knocking a guard unconscious; and he had almost died in his own home. There was one more thing he knew, that was no pickpocket or robber, it was some type of assassin. From whom, and for what, he did not know. But it was an assassin.




As most men, Nerez did not like the idea of dieing. He was not afraid of death; rather he was not keen on the idea of not finishing whatever he was here for. What he was here for, he had, as other men, no idea. But he knew he had to do it before he died, for he was getting no second chances at anything.
He never had.
He was a man who had grown up in the middle of a city with his mother being the wife of a wealthy merchant. Now his mother had once been the wife of a wealthy pickpocket, his father. But his father had died from one extremely dangerous, though finally honest, job on an old, abandoned tower. The tower was one devoted to the dark arts and it was an obstacle for one old scholar who was studying all the magical texts he could find. These were the last that eluded him; he had copies of every other magical text known to exist. This is the reason Nerez’s father was venturing into an old, dark tower against his instinct.
Now, Nerez had studied under his father for the first 10 years of his life until this very tragedy. The old scholar had felt horrible and had given all the text he had carried with him, enough to start the spark in a young boy, to the poor ex-thief’s son. Nerez studied very hard, getting to the point of buying additional scrolls later on. He had later trained under his step-fathers guards, learning great techniques for sword-play. He seemed to be a natural at everything.
His mother had died shortly after marrying the merchant as she had known she probably would; she was marrying him only because she knew he would care for her son. Nerez grew up knowing only the work of preparation for anything and everything.
He also knew he had to put all that training into use just to try and find the man or thing that had sent that assassin. Well, he had never been more accurate than in that thought, and it was with that very accurate and true thought that he awoke. He had not had a good night sleep; the attack had sparked old doubts in himself, and he had had dreams of his mother speaking to him. He knew this was impossible, and yet he was sure she was truly there in his dream. In any case he needed to start his search for his powerful enemy.
Hmmmm… what could it have been? It moved like a shadow, dancing around the room… and its dagger was absolutely shadow, he thought, how can I find something I’m not sure exists?
So he set off into the city that morning, after only hours of sleep. He was looking for odd rumors but could not go back to the other bar; people there would never welcome him after the trouble he had caused. He had to find more of a hell-hole of a bar, a pit as it was called in his home town. These pits were hardly ever out in the open, and usually had no marking sign. He would have to check the back alleys… or ask someone who knew the alleys.
“Sir may I have a coin?” asked a beggar.
Seeing his opportunity Nerez asked, “How about you answer some questions first?”
“I’ll tell you what I can…”
“Where is the closest pit?”
“Aye, sir, just down three alleys is a pit. But, sir, may I ask why?”
“You may, but I won’t answer. Here are twenty gold coins, is it enough? No one will know about this, will they?”
“Of course, sir! Eh,” He added a moment later with a grin that almost made his old leathered face light up “about what?”
“Very good, my good man,” Nerez called as he left. He went down to the alley described by the beggar looking for the pit. He noticed a door where music seemed to drift out of and went inside. As he opened the door two bouncers came to greet him.
“Welcome! May you leave your grievances at the door on your way in, or your head at the bar on your way out,” the bouncer said with a sneer.
“I’ll keep that in mind…”
“See that you do.”
Nerez walked calmly into the bar like a regular. This was something those that met him always noticed; he was always calm and friendly. He had an air about him like he knew everyone and liked most of them. He looked around the bar casually, as if looking for a friend. There was a stage at the back of the pub with a small band a singer that was as good looking as her voice was. She had long flowing blonde hair, falling down her shoulders and framing her body, and curves that delighted the eye. The oddest thing was she had the look to him, the look of a world changer. Seeing nothing else of interest he decided the bar was the best place to start. He went over and a kindly bar-keep came over.
“How’re you this day?”
“Fine,” Nerez said kindly.
“What c’n’I getcha?”
“A hard liquor. And, if you could, some information.”
“I c’n getcha both here.”
“Could you find someone to identify this?” he asked pulling out the shadow dagger.
“I can… And here’s our hardest,” the bar-keep said keeping others from getting suspicious. “I know a man who can tell you ‘bout any weapon you can find. No matter what.”
“No exceptions?”
“None,” said the bar-keep with a smirk crawling onto his face.
“Very good… So, were can I find him?”
“Heh. At no place in particular, but I can tell you where to find a contact.”
After waiting a few seconds, Nerez asked, “And?”
“Oh? Ah… see that singer up there? She knows a man who is in the man’s close companionship.”
“This seems like a chase through the entire city…”
“No more difficult than the three.”
Nerez thought on it. “Well I’ll talk to her… Who should I ask for?”
“Eh? Oh, ask for Kemly. He’s the one who knows this man.”
“Thanks…” He said and walked away not sure as to what he learned, if anything. He walked up to the stage and looked up at the woman singing. She looked as if she was enjoying herself quite a lot up on the stage. She looked down at him staring, amused. He spoke up, “I need to talk to Kemly. The bartender recommended I speak to you.”
She looked down at him and nodded toward the back room with a look saying, “I’ll see you back there.”
He walked toward the back, getting odd looks from the other patrons, and opened the door. He was immediately confronted with a man who looked angry at everyone and a man who glowed with the flame of magic in his blood. “So, who’s this one, then?” the angry one commented.
“Yes, friend, who are you?”
“Me?” Nerez commented off-handedly, “I’m just waiting for the singer to come back here… She sent me in,” he said reassuringly when the angry one looked more angry and a bit apprehensive.
“Eh, well, stay outta my way.”
“Sorry ‘bout him, eh…”
“Nerez.”
“I just don’t know why he can’t be a bit friendlier to those allowed back here. It’s protected by a ward not allowing anyone not directed here to even see the door, much less get in.”
“Explains the looks I was getting.”
“Heh, yeah, that must look quite odd to the other patrons, huh Nerez?”
“It must…”
The door opened and Nerez whipped around, staring at the singer. He withdrew his hand from the hilt of a dagger without notice. “Hello, Nerez.”
“How do you know my name?”
She laughed, “Don’t get excited, I heard him call you that.”
“Oh, okay,” he said, still keeping his guard up, however; he hardly let it down. “I was to ask about Kemly?”
“Ah, yes… Why, may I ask?”
“To find out what this is,” he stated flatly, pulling the dagger of shadow form his cloak with an excessive flourish. Only the woman kept herself from looking impressed.
“Is that right? You’re not looking for Kemly, then, but for his brother.”
“The bartender said Kemly knew where to find a man who knew of all weapons. I am in the dark to further details.”
She laughed again in a twittering laugh; she was quite enchanting really. “Yes, he is one for the whole cloak and daggers business. As if anyone would want to take down our organization. Imagine the chaos.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You don’t know what you’ve gotten into do you? Thought that some lay-person could identify that thing for you, did you?”
“I knew that something must be going on, but what organization are you exactly?”
“We are a group dedicated to order. A group that must not be seen,” said the man who had the magic flowing through his blood. A lesser man would have forgotten his presence in the face of a woman as lovely as the one before Nerez, but he had not and turned calmly to face him. “We work behind the scenes to protect the citizens, while staying out of the king’s hair.”
“The best way to protect the citizens would be to kill the king,” the angry one said, well, angrily.
“Yes, yes, but the chaos would be immense,” the mage commented in a voice that sounded as though this conversation was one held far too many times.

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Operation: Mind Games


My name is Frank, and you have embarked on a journey that will have you second guessing all you know. Everything that you knew was impossible just happened; if it had to do with the limits of the human mind that is.
This operation is a study on psychic ability. It started as an I.Q. test… or so they told me. I was sitting there taking my test when half way through they told me that they had been monitoring me and I was what they wanted. They told me I had the mental capacity to control the world with my mind; that I had the ability to tap into the fabric of the universe and change it; that I was a chosen human of the billions of people who could control the fabric of all things. Me, the boy who couldn’t remember his homework in school, had the ability to take apart the world. And I was only 13. Yeah, right.
Then they told me that they could show me how to use that part of my brain. You know how they say that people don’t use their entire brain? I supposedly had a part of brain no one else, but other mind players (that’s what they called us), had. And the scary part? It was all true…




After the “I.Q.” test, they took me to a large room.
I asked, confused, “What are those glowing rocks?”
“They are a rare type of quartz crystal that records energy, like all quartz is supposed to, except it also takes in the psychic energy. It’s to stimulate the psychic part of your mind. The fact that they glow to you only cements to us the fact you have the ability,” answered my personal mentor.
“So, what, is it to, like, make me realize my power, or something?”
“Yes, it’s to make you find it in your head. Like when you first exercise a certain muscle and you learn what it does and how to build it up. This makes your psychic mind work so you find it and can use it later on.”
“Ok, I see. So it’s showing me where it is so I can locate it next time. Like the first time you go somewhere someone who knows the way shows you.”
“Exactly.”
So I sat there in deep thought when I felt a slightly extra conciseness. As soon as I felt it my mentor said, “I feel you touching on your psychic brain. Can you feel mine yet?”
“I… I… can… it’s like… I can see and hear you and I can… feel you… thinking. I can feel your brain working! It’s like I can see a whole new world out there! The world of minds!”
He laughed, “It’s always amazing that first time.”
I asked, “So it was like this your first time too?”
“Yes. Now do you think you could touch my consciousness with a thought? I’ll try to pick it up.”
“I’ll try.” I then pushed toward that other feeling. I tried to move without moving my body. I then thought the only thing I could think of, Can you hear me?
I can.
Wow, it’s like you’re another part of my mind; like when you argue with your conscience.
Good job. You passed this lesson.
I then forgot about the whole mind thing, “My first lesson? Is that what this was?”
He nodded. “Oh, and one other thing; for tomorrow I want you to try and continue to test your own abilities.”
I walked back to my room, and found that we were sleeping in this huge dorm with a common hall leading to steps that went to the sleeping are in which they had all our things. There were boys and girls stairs. I saw that I was among the youngest. I guessed that they brought us in as teens. When I walked in everyone came to greet me and the kids that came in with me.
“Hi, I’m Josh,” said a kid that was friendly and tall. He had curly blond hair that was kept short.
“Hey, Josh, I’m Frank,” I said, trying to make some friends. “What have they been having you do?”
“Same as you, I suppose. My first day, too.”
“So they did the whole… uh… talking with your mind thing?”
“Yeah.”
“Me too.” said a skinny and almost wiry girl with blond hair and blue eyes. “By the way my names Nichole.”
“Hey Nichole, your first day too?” I asked.
“Yeah.”
“Do yeah think they have group classes or continue on with the 1-on-1 approach?”
“I hope they have group classing,” Josh said with a sigh.
I laughed, “Yeah, me too.”
“I agree.” Nichole grumbled.
“Hey,” I said “shouldn’t we be trying to use our,” I laughed “Psychic minds?” It was still hard to admit it was real.
Ya we should. I heard Nichole’s voice chime in my mind.
Dang you’re good at that. I thought toward her.
Hey, can ----- me? Said Josh’s voice
Huh? I thought toward him.
Thanks. She said.
This is SO confusing. I thought to no one but myself.
Can you hear me? Said Josh completely this time.
Yeah… I said this time. And then I laughed… in my thoughts.
Ha, yeah, I broke up last time.
“It’s getting late, and my head hurts so… goodnight.”
Me and Josh had beds next to each other and on my other side was a kid name Sean. I was too tired to talk though. I woke up the next day with someone talking to me.

........................................................................................................................

Wake up, students. Wake up! Everyone jumped almost a mile high. Good. Now that you’re all awake I would like to tell you that today we start group classes. Josh and I gave each other a satisfied look. Then it became a confused one.
“Who’s saying that?” I asked.
Josh answered, “I got no clue whatsoever.”
I see in here that most of you want to know where the voice is coming from. Well it’s inside your head. It’s your instructor for the day. You may call me… on my cell. It’s a joke ffor those of you with no sense of humor. You may actually call me Captain Dave.
“At least he’s not uptight,” I laugh sarcastically. “but could his jokes get any cheesier?”
“No.” Josh and Sean say in unison.
Now all down the steps and wait in the common room for further instruction.
When we walked into the common room we of course decided that we would speculate on the day’s lessons.
“So, whatcha think they gonna teach us today? Hopefully something really cool,” Josh said to me.
“What? Telepathy isn’t cool enough for you?” asked Nichole with disdain. “Does something need to blow up?”
“That would be awesome!”
“Yeah, it would,” I agree.
“You two are just hilarious.”
“Come on, you don’t think that explosions are cool?” Josh asked coolly.
“Well, yeah, it would be! But so is talking without making a noise! Think of the pranks we could pull!” I chimed in.
“Ha, yeah! Normal people would think they went insane! It would be hilarious!” Josh was already imaging what he could do to his friends and family. He had a slightly evil grin on.
“Now that you’ve all had fun,” said the Captain, “we can get started. All new trainees come with me. The rest of you know where to go for your classes, and you have your schedules,” he paused, “Off with ya!” He looked over at the group of new kids that included us. “Yesterday you all learned telepathy. Please line up now. No, in front of me so I can see every one of your faces. Good. Now, one at a time, send me the message of ‘present’ as you hear your name. Do it using telepathy; no talking,” he gave us each a stern look.
And then, Steven Alver… Sarah Anda… Lee Münzer… and the list went on till, Frank Scarsella…
I sent, Here! as loud as I could.
No need to yell; I heard you.
I was relieved and embarrassed… then I realized no one else heard that. “Oh, thank God.” I mumbled.
“What?” asked Josh.
“Nothing.”
“Do you two have something to tell everyone?” demanded Captain Dave.
“No, sir,” we said.
“Good, then quiet.”
“Yes, sir,”
You two think we’re in the army? It was Nichole.
Shut up! I answered laughing.
No, sir. Yes, sir. I’m surprised it wasn’t SIR, NO, SIR! SIR, YES, SIR
Oh, ya? And I poked here in the side which made her jump and squeal which brought all eyes on her.
“Something wrong, Nichole?” Captain Dave asked.
“No, sir,” she flinched as soon as she said that.
“Then stop being so jumpy.”
No, Sir. I said coyly to her.
Shut it! She yelled.
Nice one. Josh said, suppressing a laugh.
“Now that roll-call is over,” Captain Dave boomed, “let’s get on your second lesson. We will now learn Telekinesis.”
“Sweet!” I yell. Then I get really embarrassed. “Sorry.”
Nichole and Josh both elbow me, giggling. I give them each a dirty look, trying not to laugh myself. “Ok, now what you need to do is touch it the same way you did another’s mind, only this time you have to find the little amounts of energy in the item, which is quite a bit harder. Today we will work with an article of your own. It will be easier because you already have a connection with that item.”
And soon people are taking off shoes and socks and, in my case, shirts and trying to move them without touching them. Most people succeeded, but me, Josh, and two other kids got over excited when they moved and threw them across the room. Several other kids just had theirs flop. “Focus,” the captain said. “Now don’t get over-excited.”
“I’m not trying to…” I mumbled.
“Well, try not to, instead,” he said.
Why do people always hear my mumbles? I thought.
Because you mumble too loudly Captain Dave thought to me.
I’m not safe even in my mind now!
I once again reached out finding minute traces of psychic energy in my shirt. I felt it and used it as a limb… which worked. As I tried to lift a limb that never existed the shirt rose up. I started to get cocky and even made it dance around me. Josh looked at me.
Show off he laughed.
How’d you do it? asked Nichole.
Pretend it’s a part of you.
As I thought this her shoes started to do a little jig.
Wow it works!
Josh’s socks then started to fly around and just dodged a lot of the other pieces of clothing. Most people were getting the hang of it now.
It’s working!
“This is awesome!” I said out loud. I then realized it had been awhile since anyone had actual talked. That’s kinda funny…
What is? Nichole asked.
We just learned telepathy and yet we use it more than our voices…
Wow your right… Josh said.
Hm, it seems a little more private, I guess.
Ya, I guess. I answered.
Did anyone else notice that somehow all three of us are talking? Josh suddenly asked. We all paused.
Wow, you’re right… when did we learn the chat room style telepathy? Nichole wondered, not exactly out loud.
Heh heh… we can, but we can’t understand it… heh… I laughed to the others that seemed almost a part of me. The telepathy was making us close friends and quick.
It’s an odd feeling not knowing what you can do…
Focus on your telekinesis! Boomed Captain Dave, making us jump and throw our items.
We then turned our attention to showing off with telekinesis, even coordinating several people to make our clothing do an impromptu dance, all the while laughing loudly. It was very fun, all in all. We finished up about an hour playing with our new-found ability, before, “OK, next we are focusing on the why and how instead of the what. That’s right its time to understand your bodies!”
Not the talk… I lamented jokingly to my friends. They both laughed back.
Yeah, I know that stuff Josh said.
Or so you claim Nichole poked fun at Josh.
I laughed out loud breaking a silence that was in effect as the captain was setting up the video. Everyone stared. I shrugged uncomfortably.
Good job! said Nichole.
I just stuck my tongue out at her.
“Shut up!” the captain yelled, “Movie's startin’” So, we sat and we watched a half-hour video on which parts of my brain were unique, and when they lit up in use, and some other crap; wasn’t paying attention.

Note: In the second story it may be a little confusing. In the original copy I used italics to distinguish between telekenetic speech and narroratory writing, but it didn't transfer so well... heh.