Dad woke me up and told me to get ready since they will do a check up before I set foot out of the house. I will get a digital pass that says I can be out of the house for three hours. It is a bar code. It can be scanned as many times as possible but once the time is up I need to get a new one. I put on plain clothes and made sure to look excited for good measure. I put on earpods and connected to my phone. Dad and mom sat down for breakfast. We eat reheated Caesar salad sandwich and grilled vegetables. Dad gave me a few hundred bucks. After eating we waited till a man wearing a hazmat suit walked in. He sat down and gestured me to sit near him. He swabbed both eyes with separate cotton buds and dropped it into test tubes with some sort of solution. It didn't change colour. He took a deep breath as he documented everything. Dad was live streaming this for good measure so there can be no argument. The doctor took off his suit. The man congratulated me for being amongst the cured.
He send my student ID number to an unknown system and I got a message. It was a QR code. I took a screenshot and made it my lock screen. The doctor was pleased. He wished me luck as he walked out. He took a deep breath as he zipped the suit shut again. I decided I will do a henna design of the QR code. So if I lose my phone I have nothing to worry about. I walked out and mom told me to wear a small wireless camera. It is used mostly by YouTubers. I clipped it on as I stepped out for fresh oxygen. An officer scanned my phone and told me my three hours has begun. I smiled as he explained the rules. Return home before the time is up. Do not rent a room for the night. If in doubt go to a CDC official. Don't interact with strangers. I can contact my parents if I feel dizzy. If I ditch my phone I will be under house arrest for ten days with an ankle monitor. I had to sign a waiver and he wished me an adventurous day.
I happily boarded a bus as it drove me to the city centre. I spaced out till the bus stopped near the seer's house. I found out her name is Abigail. She was looking out hoping for a joggers. None were my age. Everyone who showed up was older than her dad. Her dad wanted to use her gift to his benefit. She would predict the result of games just so he can get enough money to live an opulent life. He was seeing dollars. I was bored till the bus took off. I stared at the van on the other side. A man wearing a suit walked out. He looked both sides before he went into her house. I kept my expression neutral but inside I was laughing so I hard. I was rolling over the floor. The bus moved to the next stop. I saw one of the kids I had helped. A part of me wanted to say hi but the inner voice ordered me to shut up. I waved. The kid awkwardly waved back. His mom carried him into the candy store and she was very careful who came near. I noticed the Fed was also onboard. He was a few seats away. He was busy distracted by the chatterbox next to him. I happily disembarked the bus.
I walked to the burger joint and ordered the all beef heart attack burger with the works. I casually ate all of it and looked up to see a few teenagers on the back stare at me. I extended my senses to see it was the kids from the hospital. They were making bets that I can't finish it. I ate it all and they said the oldest one. He was laughing till I came over. I made them see my disguise look and they jumped. I smiled, "I told you we will meet once I am not under house arrest." They knew I was it because they discovered there can be no duplicate. They can't imitate someone else. They asked me if I was celebrating my freedom. I nod my head and head straight to the counter to pay. The youngest of the group paid. I asked her why and she just said daddy. I wished her luck. I explained that I can't talk right now because someone is chasing me. I am trying to shake him off. I have a restraining order but the guy can't take a hint. They wished me as I tried to leave.
One of the guys asked me to sit down. He explained his sight showed a girl whose face was barely visible going to Abigail's house. She identified her as the whale. But this time no one showed up. I asked him if she was a jogger stopping to ask for directions or catching her breath. He stared at me, "It was you" I smiled at him, "Counter sight. Staying as random as possible." The others applauded quietly. He wanted to know how counter sight works. I extended my hand and he stared at it before we pressed palms. He saw the comics regarding the situation. After a minute he took his hand back and he asked me to write down the names since he is going to get them all. I told him not spread it around since the government will use that is as standard to find our kind. They promised to keep it a secret. I showed them Dresden files, X-Men and a little known comic called Ocular. They promised to be careful as we shook hands and parted ways.
I was staring at a shop window when I noticed he was at a distance. I casually kept walking. Part of me was tempted to do something. Do anything. My mind yelled at me. Make him go away. I chose to talk to a police officer. I told him about the deranged creep was following me and he handled it nicely. He was stopped and interrogated while I took the subway to the mall. I sat on the train and was about to stretch my legs when a man in a suit asked me where the train goes. I told him that I had no clue. He gave me a dirty look as he disembarked. As the train took off I watched as a bunch of girls sat down and started complaining about the situation. One was upset that she can't access her parent's credit card to go shopping. The other was upset that her dad was sending her away. She was sure that her dad was losing his mind. The other said she was being sent to rehabilitation. She will come back when her dad is satisfied. After four stops the train lurched to a halt and I saw a man drop a package as he walked out. My inner alarm told me to get out. I wanted to grab the parcel but my inner self told me not to touch. So I used telekenesis to move it into a garbage bin. Since the place was crowded so no one saw and no camera caught it. I stepped out to see it was the shopping district.
I went to the clothing store and tried out a few stuff. I wasn't the mini skirt type so I chose a few printed t-shirts and two pairs of pale blue jeans. I saw a pair of shorts that I liked. I bought those and took a bus which lead me to the Mexican food truck mentioned as trending online. My order was simple. A few hard shell birria tacos, Mexican street corn and an all beef burrito. Enough me and my parents plus extra for morning. I took my order and tried to find the bus that will take me back home. One of the kids came on his bike. He asked if I needed a ride. I hoped on board and gave him directions. He drove off and I sensed we were being followed. I told him and he took off in a different direction. The driver of the SUV was persistent. I saw a police officer had pulled open the trunk. I told him to keep going. As we went by I secretly waved my hand and the officer grabbed the spike strip. He put it down but it unfurled itself and the tyres on the SUV slashed as it came to a stop. We both laughed as he drove me home. He gladly chatted at dad as I took the stuff inside. Dad was pleased to meet him. They were talking as I came out to give him a bottle of lemonade.
Dad walked back in. He introduced himself as Teddy. I introduced myself as Cassie. He winked at me, "I will see you at school." I explained that I can't go to school at least for another week. He told me his dad was a military lawyer who had advocated for reintegration. So I will be going to school tomorrow. I will get the notification in an hour. He gave me a fist bump before he took off. I waited till he disappeared from view. I walked back in. Mom was so happy she was dancing. Dad was happy to join in. The two were synchronised in this symphony till they said it out loud. "Cassie finally found a guy." I blushed red, "No. He is just a guy I helped rescue from the hospital incident. He was kind enough to give me a ride. I noticed someone was following me." Dad asked me who. I pointed towards mom's friend's house. Their faces turned white. Dad told me to be extra careful.
Mom held me close as she made me swear not to show off. This is a problem which attracts the wrong crowd. I may end up in area 51. I promised to keep myself under control. Dad watched from the window as he showed up. He walked over and knocked on the door. He was curious why I wasn't out and about. Mom called police and he was dragged away. He explained that he can wait till I make a mistake. I will expose myself and he will be there to take me away. The officer told him to shut up as he was shoved in. He stared at me as he was taken away. I went back in. Dad was channel surfing till he found a documentary on the Mariana's Trench. The different species were stuff of nightmares. Some made mom shriek. Others had me say Ooh. We were eating when the door wedge alarm went off.
We went out to see Trevor. Dad grabbed him by the collar and took him to his uncle's place. Trevor explained that he is here because he is hoping to find someone who can see. He believes that government was right to capture us at random. He believes society will benefit from our absence since the virus may have mutated and we might be infecting others. The uncle sent him to juvenile detention and insisted that dad press charges. His grandfather can't do a thing since he was caught red handed. Dad came after an hour and we ate quietly. Dad wanted proof that I can handle being by myself. I have to avoid introducing myself to others like me since not everyone wants me to live a life. I would disappear and that would hurt. I promised to behave. Mom took me seriously. Dad was skeptical. I explained that I promised to tell them my identity since I had saved their life. I only told them since they promised to keep me a secret. I have no interest in announcing to the world. Dad stared for a full ten seconds and called the hotline. He was sending me to school.