[ WP ] You have been able to read minds your entire life . One day , in a fast food restaurant , and you 're casually reading someone 's mind . However , to your surprise , they furrow their brow , look at you angrily , and say , `` Stop that ! ''

Hmmm... I've been working on my homework all day. I guess I should head out to get something to eat. I put down my pencil and stretch. It feels so good to move again! 
 
 I grab my jacket and head out the door. My neighbour is leaving too so I give him a wave. Honestly, he creeps me out but I still try to be friendly. I scan for a second and, surprisingly, he thinks I'm creepy too. 
 
 See, I have this gift. I would never tell anyone close to me about it but you can keep a secret, right? Ready? I can read minds. Easily. I do it all the time. 
 
 The reason I do n't tell anyone about my mindreading is, well, I've seen the X-Men movies and cartoons. I know people with special powers would just be shot down in a world like ours. There's just too much fear. 
 
 I walk the block to the nearest burger joint and head in. I scan the crowd to see what people around me are up to. Someone is really worried about their taxes. Another person is very frustrated about work. Yet another wishes they were dead. 
 
 Ugh. I hate the blue readings. Even though it's a stranger, knowing someone is hurting so much is painful. I often feel the urge to passively help in any way I can: a smile, a free meal, whatever. 
 
 I order my burger and sit down. I keep hearing the suicidal thoughts even though I'm only passively scanning. I try to hone in on them now just so I can see how serious the person is. 
 
 `` Stop it!'' I hear from a young woman that I did n't even notice sitting in the corner. 
 
 Is- is she talking to me? The woman gets up and walks over to me. 
 
 `` Problem?'' I ask, trying to casually bite into my burger. 
 
 The woman leans in `` I know what you are. Stop reading me. You ca n't help. No one can.'' 
 
 The woman walks away but I just ca n't stop honing in on her. She's like a beacon. She wants to hang herself and... She thinks I'm kinda cute. The suicidal thoughts are only mild in intensity. I have an in. 
 
 I walk over to her and sit down. 
 
 `` Why on earth would a beautiful woman like you want to kill herself?'' I ask, drinking my soda. 
 
 `` I told you I'm not interested.'' She says. Her mind says there is a little hope. I press on. 
 
 `` Is your family a bastard like mine? Is there a guy fucking up your life? What is it?'' I ask. 
 
 `` That should be long enough.'' She says, looking at the door. Her train of thought completely changes and she smiles at me. 
 
 All of a sudden, a big man ploughs through the door with a gun. 
 
 `` Nobody move!'' The huge man says, cocking his gun. 
 
 Most people get on the floor but I just sit there stunned. 
 
 The woman sitting across from me pulls out a gun and stands parallel to the huge gunman. 
 
 `` You all are the hostages. Nobody leaves.'' 
 
 At this point 2 more armed men walk into the restaurant. 
 
 I feel hostility but ca n't seem to read their minds. Their direct thoughts are blocked somehow. 
 
 The police show up in no time. A hostage negotiator is present. The gunmen ask for a helicopter and safe passage of 5 people. 
 
 At this point the woman grabs me and says `` you're the 5th. You'll be safe with us, I promise. My name is Felicia.'' 
 
 `` What if I refuse to go?'' I mumble, removing my arm from her grasp. 
 
 `` People die. Maybe not here and today. But people will die. Maybe even you.'' She answers. 
 
 `` Who are you?'' I ask, reading her mind. She's nervous and wants us all to be safe and... The huge gunman throws her a little device that looks like a bluetooth. She catches it and puts it on. Her thoughts are now scrambled like the others. 
 
 I decide I have nothing to lose but to go with them. I do n't want any of these people to die. 
 
 To my surprise, the gunmen get their helicopter within hours. The hostages are let free and the 5 of us get in. 
 
 `` I still do n't know how the fuck you managed that!'' I say to Felicia as the doors close. 
 
 The driver, the large man, shoots me a look. I notice now he has a huge scar across his face. 
 
 `` They have no choice. They know the war is coming. They want to be on our good sides. They just have no idea how powerful we are.'' Says Felicia. 
 
 The helicopter goes up and I'm astounded at how fast it is. It is kind of terrifying. 
 
 `` Who exactly are the'we' you speak of?'' I ask. 
 
 Immediately Felicia shapeshifts into a German Shepherd to show me her power. 
 
 `` We are the genetic anomolies, the GAs. We help the world like the superheroes do in the movies, just we're much more covert than that. Welcome.'' Felicia says, offering her hand. 
 

