Psychic Mind: Psychic Mind Series #1

By Quitaries

Dove Nest is a stoic, apathetic sophomore in high school when a new boy named David Snow comes to town. David seems oddly interested in herstaring at her and saying bizarre and cryptic things to her. She doesnt know what he wants or whether he can be trusted, but she has a bad feeling about him right from the start.

As David insinuates himself into Doves lifewith the well-intended matchmaking help of her best friend, Madisona chain of events is set in motion that will bring Dove nothing but trouble. She has bizarre dreams that seem almost real. Meanwhile, other strangers show up in her life, attempting to recruit herfor what, however, they wont say. As rival organizations work to gain her trust, it becomes clear that people believe she has a valuable giftpsychic ability. Soon, however, Dove learns that the situation is even more complex than she ever could have imagined.

In this fantasy novel, a teenage girl finds herself the target of mysterious recruiters who insist she is a psychic, and her life begins to change forever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Apr 24, 2014
• ISBN: 9781491840795

Quitaries

QuietAries was born in Mannheim, Germany, and currently lives in Alexandria, Virgnia. She graduated with a bachelor of liberal studies degree with a minor in writing at Barton College in North Carolina. She has written and published short stories for the college’s literary journal and articles for the college’s newspaper. She is now working on getting her master’s in English and Creative Writing at Southern New Hampshire University.

Book preview

PRELUDE

S he found herself in the woods, walking in the darkness with the stars above her. She heard an ominous noise. The trees surrounded her. A few nocturnal creatures roamed the thickets. She was alone.

Suddenly the sun shone through her window. She got out of bed, put on a long black dress, and went downstairs to the kitchen. As she entered, her mom handed her a cup of herbal tea. The scene was always the same during the school year. She left the house and walked to the bus stop with her friends. As always, the bus was loud with the chatter of people. They arrived at school around seven. Students stood outside of the building talking to friends.

The day was like any other. Little was going on. The teachers were as boring as ever, delivering long lectures on nothing of importance. She was sitting in the back of the classroom, copying what the teacher put on the board, when a knock came at the door. Stopping the lesson, the teacher opened the door. After a few minutes of conversation, she returned with a boy following her. A new student had arrived—odd since this was the middle of the school year.

He was a handsome guy with unkempt black hair and deep blue eyes. He wore a black T-shirt, faded blue jeans, and Nikes. His eyes roamed over the classroom and landed on hers. She quickly turned away and began to blush.

As the day continued, she felt like someone was staring at her. She found those deep blue eyes following her every move. It was a strange sensation. This new kid was in all of her classes. The staring persisted even when she had caught him doing it. The bell signaling the end of the school day came as a relief.

She decided to walk home instead of taking the bus. She didn’t need the constant din. The walk provided a refreshing change from the shouting on the crowded bus. But as she made her way home, she felt those same eyes on the back of her neck. Looking behind her, she saw the same boy staring at her. Panic-stricken, she quickened her pace. Up ahead she could see a park. She hoped to lose him there. Passing a fountain, she took a path leading to the park’s interior. She thought she had shaken her pursuer. She slowed her pace and looked around her. A squirrel ran up a tree and birds flew nearby. Then she looked ahead of her and saw the same guy. This was getting awfully creepy. She had no idea what he wanted.

He looked intently at her, his eyes narrowing as if he were trying to figure something out. She started to hyperventilate and didn’t know what to do. Suddenly the scene changed. She was enveloped in blackness with a spotlight directly over her. She couldn’t make sense of what was happening. Then to her shock, she was knocked backward, and the next thing she knew she was in her bed. She was breathing hard and covered with sweat. She realized that all of this had been a dream. But everything had seemed so real, like it was all happening or was a premonition of events about to unfold. Looking at the clock, she saw that it was three in the morning. She still had time to sleep before going to school.

CHAPTER 1

D ove awoke breathing heavily. She couldn’t understand her strange dream and took a few deep breaths to calm herself. As soon as the dream came it started to disappear. She found it hard to grasp all the details. Everything was a blur, a mixture of colors that made no sense. The more Dove tried to recall the dream, the more quickly it faded away. Deciding it wasn’t important, she got out of bed to prepare for school.

It was 6:00 a.m. Dove rummaged through her closet, found a long black dress in the back, and laid it on her bed. She went to the bathroom to brush her hair and her teeth. Then she returned to her room and got dressed. The short-sleeved dress fit snuggly, reaching down to her ankles. Standing before the vanity mirror, Dove rebrushed her shoulder-length black hair. Her violet eyes stared back at her emotionlessly. They seemed duller than usual, and her complexion looked drier and had less color. Dove again thought about her dream, but the memory was getting even fuzzier. Resolving not to worry about it, she grabbed her black-heeled boots and went downstairs to the kitchen where her mom, Chelsea, was already at work.

Hey, mom, Dove said as she sat down at the table.

Morning, honey, Chelsea said.

Chelsea continued to cook breakfast. The smell of pancakes, sausage, and eggs filled the room. A kettle was heating up on the stove. Dove closed her eyes, trying to shake off the weird dream. For some reason, it kept creeping up on her like she needed to remember it. The dream left a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach.

Are you hungry? Chelsea asked.

Not really. I’ll just have pancakes and herbal tea.

Chelsea put two pancakes on a plate and set it in front of Dove. The kettle let out a whistle, signaling that the water was at a boil. Chelsea poured the water into a cup and added a tea bag.

Did you sleep well last night?

Well enough.

That’s good. Now hurry up so you don’t miss your bus.

Dove finished eating, then headed for the bus stop. The sun blazed down as it always does in Georgia when it was near summer time. As she left her house, she saw a friend waiting at the end of the driveway. The friend wore a red halter top with a faded red skirt and heels.

Hey, Madison, Dove said.

Hey, Madison replied.

What’s with the red?

Nothing. I just like it.

Sure you do. I know you don’t wear anything unless it has some kind of meaning to it.

What makes you think you know me at all?

Well, we’ve known each other since we were kids. I’d have to say I know you pretty well.

Whatever.

That’s my word.

Well, I’m stealing it.

They walked down the sidewalk to the end of the complex. As usual, a few kids were already there talking. Dove found the sameness of the scene quite boring. Madison was dragged into a conversation with a girl next to her, leaving Dove to her own devices. She thought about the books she was writing. She had finished a few but was stuck on others.

So did you finish the homework? Madison asked after she was done with the other girl.

Don’t I always? Dove replied.

I’m surprised you finished since you didn’t start until the day before the assignments were due.

You have little faith in me.

I don’t even know how you pass any of your classes.

It’s a gift.

The bus finally arrived, and they boarded it, walking toward the back. The bus was full of people trying to outshout each other. Dove was irritated by the noise. She suffered through it every day. Madison sat looking straight ahead. She wasn’t bothered by anything around her. Arriving at school, they went to their lockers to get what they needed for their first class.

I am so dreading English, Madison said.

I don’t see how. It’s really easy, Dove replied.

Easy for you to say. You’re not failing.

English is our native language. How can you possibly be failing it?

I don’t understand what the teacher is saying half the time.

She’s speaking perfect English.

Whatever.

If you need help, I’ll tutor you.

Thanks.

They closed their lockers and walked down the hall toward English class. The two girls went straight toward the back of the room. The bell rang, signaling the start of first period. Kids piled into the room. The teacher entered when the last bell had rung.

I trust you guys have done your homework. Please pass last week’s assignment to the front of the room, Mrs. Perkins said.

A lot of rustling followed as the students searched their bags for their work. The teacher went to each desk at the front and collected the homework.

Okay, today we’re going to learn about poetry.

Mrs. Perkins continued to talk while writing on the board. Dove started taking notes. For some reason, this all seemed familiar, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on why she felt this way. There soon came a knock on the door. Mrs. Perkins stopped her lecture and stepped out of the classroom. Students began to chat and move their desks around.

Who do you think it is? Madison asked.

Don’t know, don’t care. Dove replied.

You’re not in the least bit curious?

Nope.

Madison shook her head and started talking to Sara, who was sitting next to her. Dove looked out of the window, watching the squirrels chase each other. The door squeaked open, and students hurried to return their desks to their proper places. The teacher entered with a boy right behind her. He wore all black and his hair messy.

Okay, class, we have a new student. This is David Snow, Mrs. Perkins said.

Dove turned her attention back toward the front of the room. The boy’s appearance startled her. He was deathly pale with striking deep blue eyes partially obscured by his unkempt hair. David’s eyes roamed over the classroom until they connected with Dove’s. She averted her gaze as a blush crept onto her face. She didn’t know why she was embarrassed. It was an odd feeling that she had never experienced before. Dove was grateful that no one was paying attention to her.

You can take a seat next to Dove in the back, Mrs. Perkins said.

David walked down the aisle, giving off a cold aura that repelled the other students. They avoided eye contact with him as he passed by. He took his