Chapter Twenty One

The killer breathed deeply and tried to keep calm. The killer's mind was racing, and that wasn't good. The killer needed to control the thoughts that danced across the killer's head, not let them run amok.

But the killer couldn't help it. This was the worst of them all. She was the most important one. She didn't just have the super hearing that could let her hear the killer's thoughts. She could give that power to others.

The killer turned the volume of the car radio up just a little bit more. The killer hoped the noise would drown out the thoughts that refused to stop racing through the killer's mind. There was no way of knowing if any of Hannah Ford's students had yet gained the ability to hear thoughts.

But she could. She absolutely could. The killer could see it in her gleaming blue eyes and the smugness of her smile.

She lifted her hands to begin the next ritual, and the killer tensed as she waved her hands and contorted her body to align the energies that allowed her to hone her powers. Her students followed. They weren't as good as she was yet. But they would be.

The killer wondered if the others had learned from Hannah. Had she given them the abilities that made them such a threat to the killer?

A more horrible thought came to mind. What if there were more like Hannah? What if she was only one of many sages who could impart this gift onto the government's soldiers?

What if they were the government? What if they were the ones in charge? The killer could see that. The killer could easily see that. If they could hear thoughts, was it really much of a stretch to imagine that the more powerful among them could influence thoughts?

The killer's hand trembled and knocked against the steering wheel. Hannah frowned and turned toward the killer's car.

The killer dropped below the window, blind panic causing one thought to form and outrace all the others.

She heard me! She heard me she heard me she heard me oh God she heard me!

A second thought forced its way to the top. Get a hold of yourself! Do you want to die here?

The killer slowly sat up, mouth dry, hands clammy, legs trembling. With a soft cry, the killer turned his head to look back at Hannah Ford's classroom.

She was leading her students through another ritual. She wasn't looking at the killer. The killer hadn't been seen yet.

The killer released a heavy sigh of relief. That was too close. The killer needed to get out of here.

The killer put the car in gear and drove away. This one would have to go quickly. It would have to happen tonight before she could create any more mind readers. It was risky to take two people in one night, but the killer had no choice.

The killer would sneak up on her but wouldn't lie in wait. The killer would have to stalk her and take the first opportunity that came rather than try to lure her to the best spot.

It was dangerous, but it was the best chance the killer had.

The killer took one more calming breath. It was okay. It would all be okay. If the killer could destroy an instructor, then the killer could get to any of them.

Time's up for you, assholes, the killer thought when enough distance had been put between the killer and Hannah. You're all going to die.