Introduction

 Akira entered the coffee place with her stomach growling; she couldn’t resist any longer. She chose one of the places’ last tables, the one in the back facing the door. From there she could see every movement and everyone coming and going. She kept her sunglasses on and thank the waitress handing her a menu, keeping always her head down- she sensed the security cameras in the corners.  

  She ordered coffee and an omelet. She waited until the waitress was away, relaxed and closed her eyes. Her head was killing her. She concentrated at the pulsing sensation at her temple- it had started slowly, but by then it was like a thunderstorm in her head that made her dizzy and nauseous. Her ears were burning and her face was getting redder as the minutes went by. She knew it was time to knock it off before she collapsed in front of everybody. 

It never took her long, not after all of those years of practicing- she struggled with the pain and the waves pushing to enter her mind before concentrating enough to gather the impulse to sweep it all away. The waves came out of her, strong and powerful, and washed away every poor intent of violating her thoughts. 

 And that was what she was, her purpose, the ability that had freed her and enslaved her at the same time, protecting her psyche like a titanium shield; impossible to break through, to overpass. Her mind's capacity of resisting [G5] any attempt of control, its strength, and her unnatural efficiency at learning telepathy.  

  As the tugs at her mind backed away, she let her mind wander, slowly swallowing the coffee place with it like an invisible wave, barely sensing other people’s minds before continuing its path. She relaxed and enjoyed the shivers of pleasure that went down her spine as she felt herself losing away.  

 -Excuse me, miss? - She snapped back to reality, coming back to her senses to quickly, hurting herself in the process. She held her temples and clenched her teeth.  

-Miss, are you okay? - The waitress asked, looking uncomfortable and unsure of what to do. Akira took a deep breath and tried to smile at her like a normal person would do. 

 -I'm fine, thank you- she assured- just a headache. 

Looking pretty satisfied with the answer she let her food over the table with an absent smile and continue working.  

Without even thinking, Akira started eating, devouring her omelet. She hadn’t eaten anything for more than thirty hours. She had traveled straight from Argentina to North America without making any stops, barely eating or sleeping in the way. She had traveled by plane, by train, she walked and took countless buses- she even stole a car- ‘til she got to where she was. Texas.  

It had been exhausting, but after finding a small trail of what she had been looking for years, she couldn’t stop.  For the first time in her life, she saw it.   

While her mind surfed the massive Net- that black and abstract space that just a few creatures in the universe could visit, the spider web where every living begins’ thoughts and interactions took place; plagued by bright star-like knots joined by strings pulsating with energy- she found one that looked exactly like hers. A big, bluish, knot; a person’s mind that vibrated with the same energy hers did. 

 Someone else who, possibly, could not only scanned the Net like she did, and have her telepathic abilities; but who also could resist the virus that had been spreading all over the web for years that was taking control of people’s minds. A virus that she helped to create. They had used her, broke her little girl's mind, and made experiments on her that changed her forever. And they got away with it. For now.  

She closed her eyes and traveled to the knot she had found- solid and vibrant- and smiled.  

For now.  

To be continued…