Prologue

Tina

Jeez. Giving birth is hard. No. That's not the right word. It's brutal. And it's taking forever. I've been pushing for so long that I'm starting to wonder if this baby has decided she likes it in there. “Can't this go any faster?” I gasp. The nurse beside me gives me the same frightened expression she's been wearing for the past hour. She always looks like she's about to cry. “Just keep pushing,” she says in that tiny, trembling voice. I glare at her. “What exactly do you think I've been doing?” My voice comes out higher than I intend, but I don't care. I want this over. I want to leave this hospital. I want my baby in my arms. Finally, after what feels like an eternity, I hear the words I've been waiting for. She's here. My baby is born. I expect congratulations. A smile. Something. Instead, the room goes strangely quiet. The doctor looks at the nurses. One of them takes my baby, quickly wrapping her in a blanket. “Wait,” I say. “Where are you taking her?” Nobody answers. Then they rush out. Just like that. The door swings shut, leaving me staring at it. My heart starts pounding. A few seconds later, the nurse returns. “Um... madam?” She looks pale. “There's a little problem with your baby.” I push myself up despite the pain. “What problem?” She opens her mouth. Nothing comes out. “What happened?” I demand. “The doctor will explain. I'll be back.” Then she disappears.

I sit there, completely confused. Something is wrong. I know it. The room suddenly feels too quiet. Then the door opens again. The doctor walks in with Livien behind him. My husband looks terrified. His glasses are crooked, and he keeps pushing them up his nose. He looks at me, then quickly looks away. “What is going on?” I ask. The doctor doesn't answer immediately. That makes it worse. “Your baby's powers are unstable,” he finally says. I stare at him. “What?” “They're putting her life at risk. We believe the safest option is to remove them.” For a second, I don't understand what he's saying. Then I do. “Remove them?” “Yes.” He pauses. “We need your consent.” He glances toward Livien. “Your husband has already given his.” I turn to Livien. “You did what?” “Tina—” “No. Seriously? You gave your consent?” My voice breaks. “You agreed to them taking our baby's powers?” Livien's face changes. “What was I supposed to do?” “Say no!” “And then what?” he snaps. “Watch her die?” The room goes silent. I stare at him. He looks exhausted. Frightened. Nothing like the calm, controlled man I know. “We don't have time,” he says quietly. “They need an answer now.”

A doctor places a form in front of me. A pen rests on top of it. I stare at them. My hands begin to shake. “No,” I whisper. “I can't.” But the doctor doesn't move the paper away. Livien doesn't say anything either. He just looks at me. And suddenly I realize what they're asking me to choose. My daughter's powers—or my daughter. There is no good answer. If I refuse, she could die. If I agree, I could be taking away something she was born with. Something that belongs to her. My eyes fill with tears. “Bu... but...” I can't finish the sentence. My mind is moving too quickly and not quickly enough at the same time. I pick up the pen. My hand trembles so badly that I almost drop it. I look at Livien one last time. He doesn't stop me. So I sign. One simple movement. My name on a piece of paper. That's all it takes. I push the form back to the doctor and immediately regret it. Tears roll down my face as I stare at my signature. I have no idea whether I've just saved my daughter's life. Or whether I've just made the biggest mistake of mine.

Chapter 1

Petals

Hey, my name is Petals, and I'm a fifteen-year-old girl who has an ALMOST perfect life. There is just one teeny, tiny, insy-winsy little problem. I don't have powers. Everyone does. Literally everyone. So, sad, right? But don't worry. My mom never lets me feel bad about it. She always tells me I'm special. Right now, I'm getting ready for school when I hear her familiar voice from downstairs. “Petals! Get ready soon!” she calls in her high-pitched, impatient voice. Her power is lightning, so apparently impatience comes with the package. “Coming, Mom!” I shout back. I grab my bag, hurry downstairs, and find Dad sitting at the dining table, drinking coffee and reading the newspaper. He looks exactly as composed as usual, pushing his glasses up his nose. “Morning, Dad.” “Good morning,” he replies quietly. That's Dad for you. His power is mind manipulation. Great, right? Super cool power. Yay. Except I don't have any. I stuff breakfast into my mouth while Mom taps her fingers against the table. “Hurry, hurry, hurry. Chop-chop!” she says. “Mom, I'm eating as fast as I can!” “You can eat faster.” “I'm pretty sure that's physically impossible.” Dad lowers his newspaper just enough to look at us. “She's trying,” he says calmly. “Thank you, Dad,” I say, grinning. I chug down some water, grab my bag, and hurry toward the door. “Bye, Dad!” I call, giving him a quick peck on the cheek. Then I hug Mom. “Bye, Mom.” “Have a good day. And don't be late!” she calls after me. “I won't!” I shout as I run outside.

My two best friends are already walking toward me. Trisha spots me first and waves dramatically. “Finally! We were starting to think you were never going to show up.” I laugh. “I almost didn't. I was running late.” Nancy snorts. “You? Late? I'm shocked.” “Very funny,” I say. Trisha laughs. Her power is gravity, which means she can make things heavier, lighter, or even manipulate how they move around her. Nancy's power is fire. She can literally create flames with her hands. Pretty cool, right? Having friends like that is awesome. “So,” Nancy says, leaning closer, “did you hear what happened yesterday?” I immediately look at her. “What happened?” “You didn't hear?” Trisha asks. “Apparently someone in the senior class accidentally set off the training alarm during combat practice.” “Wait, seriously?” I ask. Nancy nods eagerly. “Apparently the whole hallway started floating because Trisha's cousin lost control of his gravity.” Trisha rolls her eyes. “Don't look at me. I wasn't even there.” “Still, that sounds amazing,” I say. “Amazing? Petals, you have a very strange definition of amazing.” “Well, at least something interesting happens around here.” We all burst out laughing as we continue toward school, talking over one another and catching up on every piece of gossip we can remember.

By the time we reach school, the halls are already crowded with students showing off their abilities in little ways. Someone lifts a stack of books without touching them. Another student sends a tiny spark dancing between their fingers. I try not to stare. I drop my bag into my locker and pull out my books. “Okay, we separate here,” Trisha says. She points down one hallway. “Gravity specialty class.” Nancy points toward another. “Fire class.” Then they both look at me. I sigh dramatically. “And I get boring old combat.” Nancy gives me a sympathetic smile. “Hey, you're still the best fighter out of all of us.” “Exactly,” Trisha adds. “You don't need powers when you can beat everyone without them.” I grin. “Finally, someone appreciates me.” Nancy laughs. “We'll meet at lunch?” “Obviously.” Trisha gives me a quick hug before heading off. Nancy follows, calling over her shoulder, “Don't get yourself knocked out!” “No promises!” I shout back. I turn toward my classroom and adjust the books against my chest. I may not have powers, but I'm actually good at almost everything else. Combat. Strategy. Speed. Reflexes. Everything. Still, sometimes I wonder what it would feel like to have something inside me that everyone else seems to have. Something that makes me different. Something that makes me belong. I shake the thought away and keep walking. After all, my mom says I'm special. And I believe her.