Winters Family Psi Chronicles 2: Project Onyx Read Free

his classmates out of the room.
    “Yes, sir,” Brian murmured.
    He approached the front and his instructor gestured for him to take a seat at the desk closest to him. Brian reluctantly sank into the chair.
    “Your work on defensive preparation has been spotty over the semester and the last two sessions have been unsatisfactory,” Mr. Hagen said in cold, precise tones. “You will need to prepare harder or your grades are going to drop. Furthermore, you greatly increase the chance of psychic burnout if your shields remain this depleted.”
    “I’ve been working on it forty minutes every morning and one hour after school,” Brian said.
    Mr. Hagen stared wordlessly at him for an uncomfortable moment. “That concerns me a great deal. With that kind of preparation, your defensive mental barriers should be substantially stronger. Do you have any theories on why this is happening?”
    “Yes.” Brian didn’t volunteer any theories as he was reluctant to discuss his personal issues.
    “I sense that this problem has been going on for quite some time – possibly years,” Mr. Hagen said.
    “That’s right.” Brian regarded his instructor with surprise and wariness.
    “You’re correct. I’m reading your thoughts. It’s almost impossible not to do when I’m currently shielding you. Your mental protection is still too weak for me to withdraw from your mind safely.”
    “I spent the entire time working on my shields.” Brian crossed his arms in a defensive posture.
    “I know,” Mr. Hagen said. “Unfortunately, I don’t have the training to build up your shield for you. You’re just going to have to work on it for a bit longer until you’re well enough to leave. If it takes too long, I’ll call your parents and they can decide how to proceed. In any case, I will be informing them of what has occurred today.”
    “All right.” Brian heaved a weary sigh.

 
     
    Chapter 2
    A disturbing sense of unease flared across Brian’s empathic senses as he pulled his blue sedan into the street in front of his house. Paul’s black SUV and Amy’s silver sedan were parked side by side in the driveway. The darkness of night was almost complete with a nearby street light partially illuminating the front yard. Brian’s stomach clenched as he finally realized that the porch light was out. It was set on an automatic timer so it should be on by now. In fact, all the lights in the house were turned out. Brian’s pace slowed as he took in all these details and halted several feet from the front door with the keys gripped tight in his right hand.
    It wasn’t that late so his dad and sister should still be awake. Adrenaline coursed through his veins and he slowly backed away from the house. He’d only taken a couple of steps when the front door burst open and a thin man dressed entirely in black emerged. An unnatural blackness covered his face as though the darkness had coalesced to obscure it. The long, serrated kitchen knife held in the man’s right hand glinted in the streetlight. Brian turned and ran toward his car. He pushed the remote to unlock the door but the attacker knocked the keys from his hand and they flew out into the nearby bushes. Brian knew he didn’t have the time to look for them as his assailant was directly behind him. He ran past his car and pumped his legs as fast as possible. He kept running for all he was worth as the assailant’s heavy breathing reached his ears from directly behind him.
    If Brian slowed down for just a second, he would be dead. He concentrated all his energy on running even as his legs threatened to give out on him. The assailant continued to doggedly pursue him as he dashed past block after block. Periodically, Brian glanced behind him to find that the man was still only several feet away from him. Abruptly, he awakened from the nightmare and found himself lying in bed, breathing heavily as though he’d really been running for his life. Adrenaline coursed through his body and his