Chapter 1 ~ Jeremy
The lighter sparked to life in the teenage boy’s hand with a familiar click. The flame that emerged was small, harmless, ready to be extinguished the moment the trigger was released. Then it gained a mind of its own. It leapt with unnatural purpose from the lighter onto the tabletop, attacking a discarded straw wrapper.
The boy watched with a satisfied grin as the straw wrapper writhed under the heat, white paper turning to crumbled ash.
“Com’on, man, you’re gonna get us kicked out.”
The voice of reason was Robbie, who sat in the diner booth with his arm rested behind his girlfriend, Makenzie.
“Relax,” said Levi, the fire starter. “They never kicked us out before.”
“And let’s keep it that way,” said Makenzie with a grin.
“Yeah, I been on Mr. Stonesmith’s shit list enough lately,” added Jeremy, with a noticeable country accent.
That comment got a laugh out of his brother, Nick.
The five teenagers were all high school seniors at Stonesmith Academy, except for Nick, who was a 16-year-old sophomore. The school was a boarding school where they all resided. The headmaster was a patient man, but even his patience only went so far.
Levi scoffed. “You guys are no fun,” he said, as the flame abruptly ceased to exist.
He said that, but Jeremy knew he enjoyed their company. This corner booth was practically theirs, they hung out there together so often. Levi just had a more reckless personality, while Robbie and Makenzie were the better rule followers.
Jeremy and his brother were awful at following the rules, honestly. They were lucky they hadn’t been kicked out of the school by now.
“Hey, I thought it was cool,” Nick said with his usual carefree grin.
“It is a cool power,” Makenzie said. “Just not in the middle of a diner.”
“It’s not like the fire would get out of control,” Levi replied. He leaned back in his seat and flicked on his lighter, but this time he didn’t take control of the flame. Sometimes he just liked to watch the fire, it seemed.
Jeremy’s own powers weren’t as cool or flashy. His were morbid. He could sense exactly how close to death others were. It was something he couldn’t shut off. Even now, having fun with his best friends, he could sense when they would each be gone. It was like a cloak weighing over every person at the table. He couldn’t look at someone without that feeling in the back of his mind. That nagging voice whispering how long they had left.
He could feel everyone in the diner. He tried his best to block it out, but sometimes being around people was just too much. That was half the reason he got in trouble so much. Leaving school grounds when he wasn’t supposed to. But sometimes he really just needed distance from others. He needed his own peace.
“You know, you’d make an awesome fireman,” Nick said. “You could just stop any fire you went to!”
“That’s actually not a bad idea,” said Robbie.
Levi shrugged his shoulders.
Jeremy didn’t want to say it out loud, but he had the feeling Levi would rather be starting fires than putting them out.
“I think some kind of demolition would be more exciting,” Levi said. “Where’s the fun in putting the fires out?”
“Man, it’d be fun either way,” Robbie replied. “I’d love to get a job where I could use my powers all day.”
They all had superpowers. They were what people called omnis, from the term omnipotent. The boarding school was literally for omnis. It was a safe haven for young omnis who needed a place to live, and it was a teaching ground for omnis who needed help controlling their powers. There was a reason it was known in the omni community as Sanctuary.
“So, have you guys figured out what you’re doing after graduation?” asked Nick.
The thing about Sanctuary was that it wasn’t a permanent residence. Once students finished their schooling, they were expected to go out into the real world as capable adults. People who stayed longer had to have a reason.
“Yeah, actually. Mrs. Stonesmith offered me a position at the school’s medical,” said Makenzie with a touch of excitement in her voice.
Robbie seemed happy for her, as he looked at his girl with a proud smile and squeezed a hand over her shoulder.
“Oh yeah? I thought you was thinkin’ about going to medical school?” Jeremy asked.
“Well, I am still thinking about that. I might take courses online, so I can do it from here,” Makenzie said.
Really, she didn’t even need medical school. Her omni ability was to heal others. She could heal someone from any physical injury with just the touch of her hands.
She was life where Jeremy was death.
“You’d make a really hot doctor,” said Nick, making laughter erupt around the table.
“The hottest,” Robbie agreed, giving Makenzie a look that made her grin and kiss him.
Clearly, neither of them were bothered by Nick’s comment. That was just how Nick was. Ever the flirt. The boy couldn’t keep his mouth shut whenever a girl was around. He wasn’t actually trying to steal Makenzie away and they all knew that.
“What about you, Jer?” asked Levi.
That was indeed a big question. Jeremy was going to graduate this year but his brother still had two more years to go.
Robbie and Makenzie were eating each other’s faces, but Levi and Nick were both looking at him now.
The truth was, he had nowhere to go. He and Nick had no other family to rely on. For years, it had been only the two of them. He really didn’t want to leave his brother alone. He didn’t want to be on his own himself.
“I dunno,” he admitted with a sigh. “I might see if I can stay on at the school. At least until Nick graduates.”
“I don’t see why they wouldn’t let ya,” Nick said, always the optimist.
“Yeah, I bet they’d make an exception in your case,” Levi agreed.
Jeremy felt lame just needing to tag along with his younger brother. There was more to it than that, though. He felt safe at Sanctuary. He wasn’t sure how well he’d control his power if he was entirely out in the world. Because his power wasn’t simply sensing when others would die. He also had the power to make someone die.
It was something he hadn’t told his friends. Not even his brother. None of them knew about that ability. But he was terrified of it. He was the world’s biggest pushover because he was terrified of getting angry and losing control. He didn’t want to kill anyone else.
“Yeah, I guess I’ll talk to my counselor about it,” Jeremy said.
“Damn, you guys, get a room,” Levi said, turning his attention to the couple still making out in their booth.
Nick grinned and flicked a balled up straw wrapper at them. The paper ball bounced right off Robbie’s temple. Robbie pulled away from his girlfriend’s kiss, looking around at the others with a playful glare.
“Okay, okay,” he said. “I just can’t get enough of my girl.”
Makenzie smiled and kissed Robbie’s cheek, before they both settled back into their seats.
Levi made an exaggerated gagging sound, causing laughter around their table.
Nick said something that made everyone laugh more, though Jeremy didn’t hear it.
He was distracted by a sudden, overwhelming feeling of death.
It was his power. Practically screaming at him. Screaming that someone was going to die soon.
Jeremy looked around for the source. It was the couple that just came in. He wasn’t good with ages, but he would’ve guessed they were in their 50s or 60s. The waitress led them over to a nearby table, and the sensation got stronger with every step closer they took.
It was the man. His cloak was tight. Squeezing around what little life remained for him.
If Jeremy focused, his ability could be rather precise. He didn’t even need to focus now to see that the man would be gone soon.
He didn’t know how. He didn’t know if it would be natural causes, or a horrific car accident, or if he’d slip in the shower. What he did know was when.
That man would be dead tomorrow.
“Jer? Are you okay?” Makenzie asked with worry in her tone.
Jeremy was still staring at the other table. He hated knowing this shit. He hated looking at that couple, who were grinning over some silly inside joke, and knowing it would be their last happy meal out together. He hated knowing he couldn’t even do anything to change it.
He was wearing that torment all over his face and didn’t realize it.
“Jeremy?” Nick put a hand on his arm.
That pulled him back to his own table. He looked at Nick, and then at the others, feeling whiplash as he focused on his own world.
“Uhh...” Heat flushed his face as he realized they were all staring at him.
He didn’t like being the center of attention. He suddenly felt hyper-aware of each of their lifespans. That man from the other table was still screaming at him. And now his friends wanted to know what the hell was wrong with him.
“It’s just...” He hesitated. He glanced at the man again, then leaned in closer to the table and lowered his voice. “I just got a feeling... that man over there, he’s gonna die tomorrow.”
Robbie and Levi lit up with surprise, while Makenzie gasped and put a hand to her mouth. They all three looked to see what man he was talking about.
Nick frowned, the grin for once leaving his face. He was more used to Jeremy’s powers than the others, though honestly, Jeremy didn’t talk about it much with anyone. His counselor heard about it the most. Nick was looking at him like he felt bad for him.
“Shit, are you sure?” asked Robbie.
“Can we help him somehow?” asked Makenzie.
“No, I can’t change it,” Jeremy answered. “I just know it.”
“What’s gonna happen to him?” Levi asked.
Jeremy frowned. He didn’t want to think about what might happen. He hated even knowing it was coming.
“I dunno. Just forget I said anything,” Jeremy said, suddenly wanting everyone to drop it.
“How can we forget that you said that man’s about to die?!” Robbie said in a loud whisper.
“Shhh!” Jeremy snapped. He glanced at the other table and the man’s back was to them, but the woman was now glancing at the table of teenagers acting like weirdos.
“You can’t say nothing to them, okay? They won’t believe you, or worse, they’ll think you’re threatening them. There’s nothing we can do. So just forget it.”
Jeremy knew that from experience. Trying to be nice and warn someone never worked out well.
“This is freaking me out,” Makenzie said.
“Guys, Jeremy can’t help his power,” Nick said in his defense. “Let’s just drop it.”
An awkward silence settled over their table. Yeah, he definitely shouldn’t have told them. He wasn’t trying to give any of them nightmares tonight.
Nick was the first one to speak. “I’m gonna run to the little boy’s room. Don’t steal my fries if they come out while I’m gone.” He slipped out the end of the booth and headed off toward the restrooms.
His attempt to lighten the mood didn’t really work. The other three were still awkwardly stealing glimpses of the doomed man. Jeremy felt like he wanted to leave. The man’s presence was so strong. They hadn’t even got their food yet, though. The diner was slow today, for some reason.
“You really can’t turn that shit off?” Levi asked, clearly not dropping it.
“No...”
“That sucks.” Levi flicked on his lighter. Released his thumb to let it go out. Flick. Release. On and off like a fidget toy.
“Can you... tell when we’re all going to... you know?” Makenzie hesitantly asked.
Jeremy had befriended Robbie and Levi before she came into the picture, so she didn’t know as much about his ability as the others.
“Yeah,” he answered simply.
“And we don’t ask him,” Robbie said quickly. “I don’t wanna know.”
“I don’t need to know,” Levi said. “I’m not going out before I make a name for myself.”
Jeremy had never told him, but Levi’s life was the shortest of them. It wasn’t soon, it wasn’t tomorrow, but Jeremy felt that it was much closer than when Robbie or Makenzie would pass.
He definitely wasn’t going to say that now. He said nothing at all. Maybe if he stopped talking, they’d drift on to another subject.
They went back and forth a little more, talking about whether or not they’d want to know, when finally the waitress approached with a tray full of plates.
Of course the food came when Nick left for the bathroom. That was like some law of the universe.
The waitress was pleasant and offered apologies for the wait as she set the plates out in front of people. She was new, not one of the usual wait staff. Her name tag read Delilah. She was young, pretty, and Jeremy had the passing thought that Nick was going to be bummed he missed this chance to talk with her.
As Delilah was passing over the final plate, she jerked, dropping the plate onto the table with a loud clatter. She took in a sharp breath and gripped a hand to the side of her head, looking as if she was just struck with a massive headache.
“Whoa, are you okay?” Makenzie quickly asked.
Delilah didn’t answer for a moment, then she seemed to recover.
“Ow... Oh, I’m so sorry. I just got the worst pain in my head,” she said, rubbing her temple.
Jeremy noticed that Levi was giving him what could almost be an accusing look. Did he think he did something to the waitress?!
“Look at this mess. I’m so sorry,” Delilah was still apologizing, now picking up the food that had bounced all over the table.
Makenzie and Robbie assured her repeatedly it was fine. She left with the dropped plate and gave a promise to bring out a replacement plate of food soon.
Nick returned as she was leaving.
“Hey, where’s my food?” he asked, sitting down and seeing everyone else had a plate but him.
“Did you do something to her?” Levi asked Jeremy, ignoring Nick.
“No way!” Jeremy replied.
“What happened?” Nick asked.
“It’s just weird. You were just freaking out over your power and then that,” Levi said.
“And then what?!” Nick said.
“Leave him alone, man. His power isn’t to cause headaches,” Robbie said.
Nick let out an exasperated sigh.
“It’s nothing, Nick. The waitress just had a bad headache,” Jeremy said. “Here, you can have my food. I need some air.”
Jeremy pushed his plate in front of his brother, then nudged Nick with his arm to get let out of the booth seat. Nick slid out to let Jeremy free.
“Are you okay?” asked Nick. He still looked confused.
“Jeremy, if your power’s doing freaky shit, we need to know,” Levi said, not willing to let it go.
“It wasn’t me!” Jeremy snapped, getting angry with Levi now.
It wasn’t good when he got angry. He really needed some distance right now. He spun away from the booth, but he did so haphazardly, and he bumped right into the man he had been trying to avoid. His hand clamped onto the man’s shoulder as he caught himself from falling right onto their table.
In an instant, he wasn’t in the diner anymore. He was in a living room. Seeing through eyes that were not his own. There was pain... The man he was seeing through gripped at his chest and fell to his knees. He was suffering from a heart attack. The woman from the diner was there, looking at him with panic in her eyes. Then he fell to the ground... and Jeremy was thrown back to the present moment.
Jeremy stumbled a step back. The man was looking at him, asking him something. Nick was asking him something too. But Jeremy wasn’t hearing any of it. He just... Did he just...?
What the fuck was that?!
