Free The Power Within by H. K. Varian Page A

one Darren was wearing in class today!”
    A skeptical frown crossed Mack’s face. “Are you sure?” he asked, zooming in on the photo. “It’s similar . . . I think. To be honest, I didn’t get a reallygood look at Darren’s wristband. It was leather, right?”
    â€œYes,” Fiona said. “With the same pattern imprinted on it.”
    Mack continued to examine the photo. “Maybe,” he said slowly. Then he gave Fiona her phone. “But I’m not totally convinced. Leather accessories are really popular. A lot of people wear them. Even me.”
    Mack reached under the collar of his shirt to pull out his fox-tooth necklace, a gift from his grandfather that hung on a sturdy leather cord around his neck.
    â€œThey probably even got their wristbands from the same store,” Mack continued. “It’s not like those things are custom-made.”
    Fiona shook her head. “I don’t think so,” she said. “And the stories match up. Ankur said that Jai got his powers mysteriously under control right before he disappeared. And look at how Darren aced practice today—he was incredible! Like a complete and total reversal from yesterday and the day before!”
    â€œYeah,” Mack admitted. “That was . . . unexpected.”
    â€œI don’t know how to explain it, but I think there’s a pattern here,” Fiona said as she started to pace back andforth in the driveway. “Like . . . imagine this: A group of warlocks who are targeting Changer kids having trouble controlling their powers. Somehow, they slip them a leather wristband that . . . that . . .”
    â€œWhat?” Mack asked.
    â€œI’m not sure,” Fiona said. “Maybe it gives them a false sense of confidence. Maybe it controls their abilities for them. Maybe it’s a tracking device. The thing is, I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if the other kids who disappeared were also wearing a leather wristband right before they vanished.”
    â€œWhy don’t we tell Jiichan and Ms. Therian your theory?” Mack suggested. “Maybe they’ll be able to fill in the blanks for us.”
    â€œYeah, I guess we should do that,” Fiona said. “But we have to reach Darren first. At the very least he needs to take that wristband off before something happens to him!”
    With flying fingers, Fiona called Darren and then put her phone on speaker. One ring, two rings, three—and then, to her relief, Darren’s voice crackled over her phone.
    â€œHey, Fiona, what’s up?”
    â€œDarren,” she began, skipping all pleasantries. “That leather wristband you were wearing today—where did you get it?”
    â€œMy wristband?” Darren said. “My brother gave it to me.”
    Mack caught Fiona’s eye and mouthed, Told you so , but a nagging, insistent feeling made her press on.
    â€œI know this might sound weird, but would you mind if Mack and I came over to take a look at it?” she asked.
    â€œYou want to see my wristband?” Darren asked, sounding confused. “Yeah, that’s fine, I guess. But I’m not home right now. Football practice.”
    â€œOh, right,” replied Fiona. “Well, how about after?”
    â€œSure, if it’s so important to you,” Darren said. “I’ll text you when I get home, and you can come over.”
    â€œWhen will that be?” Fiona asked.
    â€œLike, fifteen minutes,” Darren said. “Listen, I have to go before Coach catches me on the phone and makes me run drills for the rest of the week. I’ll text you soon.”
    And with that, he hung up.
    Fiona and Mack exchanged a long look.
    â€œHe thinks I’m crazy,” she said.
    â€œI wouldn’t worry about it,” Mack told her. “Better safe than sorry, right? We’ll head over to Darren’s in a little bit, check