Free The Sway by Ruby Knight Page A

Today, I felt like I was someone completely new, like the sun was rising with a new life, just for me.
    When I gripped my hands at my side, they felt stronger, almost like if they accidently got smashed in a door, it wouldn’t even phase me. I was crazy. When I glanced at Cole, I could see the hairs on his chin that were trying to push through and break free from his morning shave. Every foot fall, fingers tapping on a smartphone, and quiet whisper two blocks away, I could hear. Not sure what the Eisenhower protocol had been blocking in me or what the supposed cure was doing to me, or if I had always been this way and was just now realizing it because I’d been told to be on the lookout. But the Julia I’d been was gone.
    The Julia they’d created had been a weapon. Made lethal by my body perfectly executing every thought and anticipating every action made by my opponent. In all honesty, I wish I could’ve stayed with The Sway, so I could explore the new recognition I had in my body with the Eisenhower protocol gone. That place might be crazy, but they’d serve a purpose for my ends at this moment. And we also couldn’t dismiss the end of the world catastrophe beckoning behind the door. The Sway was on that at the drop of the mic; what was Eisenhower doing about it?
    â€œWhat's on your mind? You haven't spoken since we left the Catskills.”
    I tried to shake off my inward thoughts and pulled away from the view of the sunlight breaking through the buildings.
    â€œSorry, I'm processing. I have a question for you,” I said, turning to face Cole. “I feel different without the Eisenhower chemicals in me. Like I can see what every single action is going to be and what reaction it will make. Like my body would instinctually react and make whatever situation I’m in become a favorable outcome for me. Is that weird? I know it sounds crazy. I get that.. is it a new normal? Do you feel that way?”
    Cole smiled, and his fingers twitched in a way that led me to believe he wanted to reach out for my hand but decided against it. I couldn’t understand why he didn’t take my hand; we slept in the same bed last night, didn’t we?
    â€œI understand the whole change in your body, because that happened to me when I was seven. I don't have the ability that you have.”
    Huh? “What ability do you have?”
    He smiled and his face flushed. “I can read emotions and can push any emotion I want on someone to feel, just by touch.”
    For real, so not only had the boy been following me for the last six months, but he had been able to read my feelings. Every single one of them. “Awesome. That's just fan-freaking-tastic.”
    Thank you, I love it. Oh no, he’s reading me now, too. I sighed obnoxiously loud.
    I walked away from Cole and gripped the railing on the side of the roof. This was going to be an issue for me. I could already tell. Ugh. Nobody had taught me how to shield my thoughts, just how to not let them show on my face.
    â€œJulia.”
    I turned to Cole. His eyes bore sadness in their depths.
    â€œMy dad is waiting inside. Let’s go.” He slipped his arm around my shoulders after I’d nodded and walked to him, and he leaned into my ear. “I know you’re upset. I’m sorry. I won’t ever push you, unless you ask. I promise.”
    Unless I ask? I wouldn’t be asking for him to push emotions onto me, ever. Thanks, but no thanks, crazy. My shoulders dropped half an inch when I relaxed into Cole’s side. As we approached the doors, Hank Thomas slid them open from inside.
    â€œMiss Caldwell, is it?” Hank said.
    My eyes went wide and my body tensed. He shouldn’t know my real last name. Cole stopped walking and instinctively pulled me tighter to his side.
    â€œNo, it’s Julia Statton, sir,” I said, having recovered my cool and also maybe drawn strength from Cole’s support.
    Hank smiled,