Free Blindsided by Natalie Whipple Page B

to run when Brady gets too close. He skids to a stop, showering us with dust. “Done already? I didn’t quite get to the cave yet.”
    Seth shakes his head. “We have a problem—the Army was at the waterfall. We gotta get to the factory fast. I’ll explain on the way.”
    “Start talking.” Brady holds out his arms, and Seth and I take a seat on his biceps. He has no problem lifting us into the air. “Hold on to my forearms if you think you might fall.”
    He takes off, and I have to cling to his arm as he bounds through the desert. I’ve never been with Brady while he runs faster than any normal human, and it’s both thrilling and horrifying how amazing he is. I’m not sure he’s using his full force, but it feels like we’re covering miles in just a few minutes.
    Seth seems much more comfortable with Brady’s speed than I do. He talks into Brady’s ear—I assume to explain what I did at the waterfall—and seems to trust that his brother won’t drop him. Brady slows the closer we get to the factory. By the time we reach the broken down strip mall, we’re all walking again. Or rather creeping and hiding behind anything we can, just in case.
    There are so many lights in the distance. It seems as if the Army has set up an entire base at the factory, complete with a wired fence and search lights scanning the desert for anyone who doesn’t belong. As we huddle behind a group of rocks just south of the ruins, I catch the distinct sound of machinery and wonder if they’re digging up the place.
    The giant helicopters suddenly make a lot more sense.
    “What do we do?” Brady whispers. “If they got caught…there’s no way we’re getting them out.”
    “Well, better make sure they’re in there first,” Seth says.
    “No.” I put my hand on his arm before I remember we’re fighting. “It’s too far and there are too many places to look—you’ll kill your head.”
    Brady winces. “She’s right, bro.”
    “So what?” His eyes are determined and maybe a little cold when they meet mine. “We already did the invisible thing once tonight, and if either of you suggest that Fi should sneak into that fortress I’ll lose it.”
    Neither of us answer.
    “Okay then.” Seth’s eyes narrow as he begins his search. I try not to cringe as I watch him, but as the minutes pass I worry he’ll be in agony for days because of this. “I don’t see them in the trucks or the tents. It looks like the Army has found something underground though…”
    “Seth, stop.” My voice quivers at the words. “They must have gotten out. Let’s check back at Bea’s house.”
    “Let me make sure.” He grimaces as he pushes his ability, and then he gasps. “There’s a whole building underground! They’ve unearthed stairs and some weird looking machinery. It looks like…”
    He falters, and I grab him in an attempt to keep him up. Brady does most of the work though. Seth probably would have fallen on me otherwise. I try to cover his eyes to make him stop. “That’s enough! They aren’t there, so let’s go.”
    “Wait!” Seth doesn’t flinch at my hands because he sees right through them. “This is crazy. They’re uncovering all sorts of equipment.”
    Panic swells as I picture just how many layers of metal and earth he might be looking through. It’s probably more than he’s ever done, and I don’t know what that will do to him.
    “Seth!” Brady says too loudly when we’re supposed to be hiding. “No more!”
    “Fine.”
    I remove my fingers from his face and wait for Seth’s eyes to focus on me, but instead they fill with horror. Then he cries out in agony and collapses.

Chapter 12
    Brady lays Seth gently on the ground, while I kneel down and tap his cheek. “C’mon, punk, wake up.”
    “What do we do?” Brady pulls at his hair, and his frightened expression reminds me too much of the time Dad shot Seth. “He’s never passed out before. What if he has brain damage?”
    “Don’t say that.”