The man introduced himself as Mr. Sharma.
No first name. No organization name. Just Sharma.
"We've been watching you both for some time," he said, pacing slowly around the room. "The girl, of course, we've known about for years. She's... special. But you, Aarav Malhotra—you were a surprise."
"I'm not special."
"You can read minds. That's very special."
"Lots of people can."
"No." Sharma stopped pacing. Turned to face him. "Lots of people claim they can. But you're the real thing. Both of you are. And that makes you valuable."
"Valuable for what?"
Sharma smiled.
"Tell me, Aarav. What do you know about the evolution of human consciousness?"
"Nothing."
"Most people don't. But here's the truth: abilities like yours aren't random mutations. They're the next step. The next stage of human development. In fifty years, people like you won't be freaks. You'll be the norm."
"And you want to speed that up."
"We want to study it. Understand it. Use it to help humanity."
"By kidnapping teenagers?"
"By recruiting them." Sharma's smile tightened. "We've tried asking nicely. Most say no. So we've adapted our methods."
Aarav looked at Kavya. Still unconscious. Still tied to the chair.
"If you hurt her—"
"We won't hurt her. Not if you cooperate."
"And if I don't?"
Sharma's eyes went cold.
"Then we'll take what we need anyway. But it will be... unpleasant. For both of you."
Aarav's mind was racing.
He couldn't read Sharma. The man's thoughts were blocked—not naturally, like Kavya, but technologically. The machines in the room were creating interference, scrambling his ability.
But Kavya—
She was still unconscious. But her mind was there. Faint. Flickering.
Wake up, he thought at her. Please. Wake up.
Nothing.
Kavya. I need you. Wake up.
A flicker.
—Aarav?—
His heart leaped.
I'm here. We're in a warehouse. They have us. Can you move?
—drugged... can't...—
Try. Please. I can't do this alone.
Silence.
Then:
—give me a minute—
Sharma was still talking. Something about "the greater good" and "sacrifices for progress." Aarav stopped listening.
He focused on Kavya.
What do we do? he asked.
—their equipment... blocks abilities... but if we work together...—
Together how?
—you amplify me... I push through...—
I don't know how to amplify—
—yes you do... you've been doing it all your life... when you focus on someone's thoughts... you make them louder... do that for me...—
He understood.
He couldn't read Kavya's mind—not with her wall up. But he could push his thoughts into her. Make her stronger. Make her ability reach further.
Ready? he asked.
—ready—
He closed his eyes.
And pushed.
The effect was immediate.
Kavya's eyes snapped open.
Sharma turned. "She's awake. Increase the sed—"
Too late.
Kavya reached.
Not with her hands. With her mind.
She pushed past the technological interference, past the drugs in her system, past every barrier the hunters had built.
And she found Sharma's mind.
Not to read it.
To break it.
Sharma screamed.
Fell to his knees.
His hands clutched his head as Kavya's ability tore through his defenses. The other hunters in the room—three of them—stumbled back, confused, afraid.
"Now!" Kavya shouted.
Aarav moved.
He couldn't read the hunters' minds—the interference was too strong—but he didn't need to. He could see them. Their bodies. Their movements. Their weaknesses.
He took down the first one with a kick to the knee.
The second with an elbow to the jaw.
The third tried to run.
Aarav caught him by the collar and slammed him into a wall.
"Kavya. Let's go."
She was already free—she had used her ability to convince the guard watching her to untie her ropes. The man was standing in the corner, staring blankly at nothing.
They ran.