Influent

By Ariel Avelar

Desperate to save her siblings, Nysha will do anything, even use her strange powers of influence to force a military captain to protect them from a sinister government agency. But when she loses control and he becomes convinced of lies she never meant to tell, she and her siblings find themselves trapped with a guardian who may be their only hope of survival—or their deadliest enemy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ariel Avelar
• Release date: Feb 13, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393764465

Book preview

Chapter One

Three months ago, the tall gray hallways had echoed with her desperate voice screaming her brother’s name and pleading with the guards who pulled them in opposite directions. Today, the silence of her cautious steps seemed to echo just as loudly, competing with the pounding of her heart. Today, a single sound could ruin everything, so Nysha stood still and pressed a hand against her chest to quiet it.

Her hand trembled as she pulled it away, and she clenched it into a fist to make it stop. That fist was too small and delicate to hurt anyone, but hopefully she wouldn’t need violence today—the day they finally escaped.

A tug on her other hand drew her attention back to her little sister. They stood exposed in the gray corridor, with no one else in sight but the potential of endless threats beyond the corner of the intersecting passage up ahead. Nysha pulled the five-year-old with her into a small alcove in front of a windowless gray door.

She breathed deeply, trying to hide her fear, and crouched to meet her sister’s eyes. It’s time, Trissi. His room is right around that corner. I’m going to go try it on the guard and get him out, then I’ll call for you.

Trissi grabbed Nysha’s shirt, her brown eyes stretched wide, as they had the last time they left their quarters—only three times in the last three months, and never without an escort. What if it doesn’t work?

Nysha took in another calming breath. I’ll call for you when it’s safe. Stay here and only come out when I call.

But—

He needs us. She took her sister’s shoulders under her hands. Okay? Wait here until I call.

The little girl nodded, bobbing the pair of brown braids over her shoulders. Nysha fingered one sadly—sloppy braids she’d done herself, never as smooth as their mother’s, though she’d practiced them every day for months. She forced a smile, kissed her sister’s forehead, and ventured out of the alcove.

Alone with her pounding heart, she returned her hand to her chest and continued down the hall with soft steps. Ahead, where it branched in three directions, she paused and peered around the corner to the right. She remembered this corridor and the door with the single guard in front of it—the door Jace had vanished behind on their first day there. Of all the identical doors, this one had to be his—and if not, she’d never find him in this maze of corridors.

With a deep breath, she walked around the corner and headed directly toward the guard. After five steps, she remembered to keep breathing and almost choked. The tall, strong man in uniform turned at her approach and put a hand on his holster, but she continued toward him without slowing.

Hey. What are you doing out of your room? he asked in a low voice, glancing her over with a quick, thorough inspection and observing the empty hall behind her. You shouldn’t be here alone.

I’m here because today’s the day scheduled for our release, she replied calmly as she’d rehearsed, though her voice trembled at the end. Didn’t that sound the way an adult would say it? She released the effect into her voice, and maybe it worked, but she’d only practiced it twice on her own guard, and never to this extent. You received orders about that. Remember?

His hand stayed on its weapon but didn’t draw. He frowned at her as though considering it, then reached for his radio.

Wait! Nysha blurted and reached out a hand, which she pulled back as his eyes narrowed in suspicion. You already have your orders. You got them this morning. But I... I’m here to remind you. Now standing only ten feet away, she calculated the distance between them and how quickly he might bring the radio to his lips.

I need to touch him!

The guard thought for a moment before lifting his radio, and she ran the last few steps to reach him. He jerked back, but when she caught his wrist, he stopped and slowly let her pull the hand with the radio back down.

Your orders are to let us go. Remember? she prompted, struggling to find enough air to sound soothing. She met his eyes as she held his wrist in both hands. You’re supposed to open this door, then take us all outside the compound. It’s always been on the schedule for today, remember?

The guard scowled at her, but after a pause, his brow softened into confusion. Was that today?

Yes, you must have lost the... uh... memo. But it was supposed to be an hour ago. That’s why I’m here. You were supposed to come get us. So let’s go, before your boss finds out.

She cautiously released his hand and stepped back, holding her breath to see if the effect would last. When he keyed open the door, she peered past his shoulder into the room: square like the one she shared with Trissi, with a bed, sink, and toilet but none of the books and games scattered about. Only the light from the hallway lit the windowless darkness, with no visible lamps or switches as she ventured inside. Her brother’s form lay on the bed against the far wall, curled with his back to the door. He wore a simple gray uniform, with the single blanket clutched against his chest instead of spread over him.

Jace? She approached him slowly and put a soft hand on his shoulder when he didn’t respond. It’s Nysha. It’s time to go, she whispered and gave him a little shake. No response came, though his back filled with deep, slow breaths. At fourteen, he hadn’t matched her height, but he weighed more than she remembered as she pulled him toward her onto his back with a grunt of effort.

Jace, wake up! Tears blurred her vision as she shook him again. A frown creased his pale face, and a month’s growth of dark fuzz lined his scalp where they’d shaved his wavy hair. Nysha took his hand and looked over her shoulder at the guard watching through the door, wondering if she dared risk trusting an enemy to carry her brother out of the building and what to do afterwards. Then the hand in hers twitched and pulled away.

Jace. She whirled back as her brother’s soft green eyes eased open, exhausted and disoriented until they found her face leaning over him.

He jolted and stared at her. Nysha!

She laughed in relief and wiped the mist of tears from her eyes. We’re getting out. We have to hurry—come on. She stepped back, and he sat up stiffly and peered past her to the guard.

How? he whispered with a weight of caution and fear in his face that she’d never seen there before.

I convinced him, she leaned in to answer softly. I figured out how. He’s going to lead us to the door, but we have to hurry.

You’re sure? he pressed as he pulled on his shoes, yet he followed as she took his hand and led him toward the door. What if it’s a trick? he whispered by her ear.

He believes me, but I don’t know how long the effect lasts, she admitted in the same tone before stepping out into the corridor. She eyed the guard in question, gauging if anything in his demeanor had changed toward her, before calling, Trissi, it’s time. Come join us.

Ignoring her brother’s anxious scowl, she waited until the little girl’s face appeared around the corner. Trissi came out slowly, pressed close to the wall opposite the guard, but she smiled as she spotted their brother. Jace! she cried and ran to meet them, and he bent to catch her in his arms.

Are you okay? he whispered into her hair. Did they do anything?

Nysha had the same questions to ask him, but this wasn’t the time. She put a hand on his shoulder, and he lifted his face to look between her and the guard. Jace straightened, taking Trissi’s hand and holding her two steps back behind him as they faced the guard, whom Nysha prompted, Should we go, then?

With a sharp nod, the man turned and led the way down the corridor. He turned right at the intersection, and the siblings followed. Nysha managed a smile for her sister, but Trissi missed it, instead staring up at Jace for reassurance. Jace walked quickly, shoulders and neck stiff and gaze darting wildly around the hall, behind them and then ahead, over the guard and often to the man’s holster. He looked more likely to steal the weapon than just keep track of its whereabouts. But none of them had ever used a gun, and her gentle brother wouldn’t hurt someone with it even if he could—would he?

She took Jace’s free hand to reassure him, and he acknowledged her with a quick squeeze before pulling away, his arm tensed and half raised as though ready to defend himself. They turned another corner, passing no one else in the halls this early in the morning, and Nysha let out a sigh as the double doors appeared at the end of the corridor. She’d forgotten most of this place in her panic, but those doors were seared on her memory as they closed with finality against the outside world.

Summer will be over now, but it’s probably still warm. She shivered, thinking of last year’s early snowfall in the middle of autumn. Please don’t be cold and cloudy. Please let me see the sun again.

The guard unlocked one of the doors, held it open, and gestured for the siblings to go ahead of him. Clean morning air rolled through the opening, already warmed by the golden sunlight that fell over the threshold, and she