Telekinesis is a type of Blessing highly regarded for its versatility. But how can one use a superpower that is paradoxically as versatile as it is specific? The answer is a highly analytical mind, a perceptive mind. Ashley Baker fulfills these conditions easily.

  -Roger Hill’s Notes

  In a quiet room inside Central Seraph Police Station 3, Ashley lounged in an uncomfortable chair. She stared at the countless bracelets adorning her from the beginning of her wrists to the end of her forearms. The variety of colors became twin rainbows on her arms, where she can run her telekinetic hands across, feeling for her lucky color.

  This was supposed to be part of her morning routine; finding Today’s Color. Instead, she was rushed off campus—offbase, technically—to be questioned as a witness to yesterday’s fiasco.

  The cause of all this piped up from her left.

  “Hey, Ash? You ain’t mad at me though, right?”

  Ashley remained silent as her invisible hands gently sorted through the options.

  No reds today, which is alright since red isn’t too common.

  “C’mon man, I said I was sorry!”

  But gray and white aren’t working either.

  Maybe blue? Nope.

  “They’re probably just gonna ask us some lame premade questions and we can leave. Right, Jerry?”

  On Ashley’s right, Jeremiah stumbled over his words slightly. This distracted Ashley. After all, Jeremiah is a pretty distracting looking person.

  “W-well, we d-definitely aren’t suspects?” He replied, sounding like he asked a question. Ashley paused her daily routine to side-eye Jeremiah, who had remained as silent as Ashley until now. His eyes bounced from Isaac to Ashley as he attempted to placate her, small beads of sweat trickling down his ruddy cheeks.

  Ashley took a moment to decide what to call this sight.

  She settled on one word.

  Adorable~.

  This big, sweaty frog was adorable when he was nervous.

  Wait a sec, Ashley thought, Frog. . .

  Ashley looked back at her bracelets and ran a telekinetic hand over the green bracelets. Finally, the intangible hands managed to grip something in the physical world. She smiled at Jeremiah, who didn’t seem any calmer from it.

  “Thanks, Froggy~.”

  “Uh, no problem?”

  It was Isaac’s turn to swivel his head from Jeremiah to Ashley and back. He braved a grin and raised a hand for a high-five.

  “Well, I dunno what that was but does this mean you aren’t m—”

  “Still mad.”

  Isaac was quickly interrupted as Ashley’s telekinetic hands removed the green bracelet from her wrist and pulled it as taut as possible just before launching the bracelet, efficiently nailing the target, being Isaac’s birthmark. Isaac whimpered as he clutched his forehead.

  “Oww! That’s way more painful than it should be!”

  Before Ashley could deliver some ruthless reply, the door to the soulless room swung open.

  And in comes Detective Clark, with Roger close behind.

  When Roger Hill told the three who they were meeting with, they were definitely expecting something else. This was supposed to be Thomas’ father, so Ashley expected a grown up version of Thomas. Same level of uptightness but a little more maturity and common sense.

  From the look of things, that didn’t seem to be the case.

  Detective Clark’s skin and eye color was the only similarity between him and his son. He had the face of a brute: untamed eyebrows, unkempt stubble, a once broken nose, and lastly, a deep scar that stretches from his forehead through his military high-and-tight haircut. Ashley noted the same level of roughness applied to his clothes. His heavy beige trench coat was stained with a toss up of either coffee stains or dried blood. Ashley definitely wasn’t going to ask, so she tried her best to ignore it.

  It was decided right then and there.

  Detective Clark was a terrifying guy. Roger’s serene, near jolly expression behind the detective was almost infuriating in comparison. Ashley realized she was suddenly sitting up in perfect posture. So were the other two.

  “Apologies for the wait, everyone. Detective Clark here was—”

  “Let’s make this quick.” Detective Clark said. His way of talking was curt and deep. Another difference between him and his son. Roger simply smiled and shrugged at his interruption.

  “You already know what happened. Now let me tell you why you’re here. Some idiot steals an old lady’s purse. And then another idiot chases after the first idiot. On a populated highway, risking a pileup of innocent lives.” With each sentence, Detective Clark bores his eyes further into Isaac’s head. Isaac barely managed not to sink under the table.

  "Isaac, your intentions were certainly admirable,” Roger said, “But there are rules, laws, and other hoops to jump through when using your Blessing to fight crime.” Ashley couldn’t help but sense insincerity from Roger’s tone.

  Almost like he was reading from a script.

  “Instead of jumping through them, you broke them.” Detective Clark said, “We got you on unauthorized use of your Blessing in a public space as well as government property.” He snorted. “Hell of a first entry to your record, kid.”

  Isaac’s lips trembled into a nervous grin. He was incessantly scratching at the birthmark over his eyebrow.

  “Yeah. Sorry.”

  Detective Clark grit his teeth and continued.

  “With the mishap of yesterday, the precinct can’t put this under the radar anymore. The higher ups need something to show for this. We don’t have a suspect in the station, but we got witnesses.”

  The trio visibly flinched. Being involved as witnesses to the crime committed would be proof that they were not only involved in some shady business, but it may as well be a signed confession that they broke curfew. Roger covered for them with a convenient half-truth about extracurricular lessons, but if they learn Isaac specifically chased after the thief?

  Forget the three of them. Even Roger would probably have to resign.

  “Detective.”

  Detective Clark turned to face Roger. So did everyone else. Everyone noticed the icy tone Roger adopted all of a sudden. Of course, the serene smile persisted, but his eyes narrowed into slits.

  “It is in the interests of Director Hunt that future students of Myriad High do not go on record as witnesses in any criminal investigation. Relations between T.H.R.O.N.E. and Seraph City’s police should be maintained to the best of our ability.”

  The bland room suddenly felt like a warzone. The trio shared looks between each other, wondering if they should make a run for it.

  “Right, Clark?” Roger continued, pressuring a response from the detective.

  Detective Clark smiled without a hint of mirth. A wolfish grin.

  “And what do you expect me to do, Instructor? I couldn’t care less about some purse thief. You want to wave threats around? Bring it up to the Commissioner.”

  Roger chuckled.

  “That would be counterintuitive, I think.” Roger then feigned a look of epiphany. “How about this?”

  He leaned in to whisper in Detective Clark’s ear, who was now staring back at the three kids. Then, his eyes widened. He quickly left the room with Roger, who spared a wink to the trio and a gesture to wait a moment.

  A few seconds of silence. Ashley used her telekinetic hands to tug at the rest of her green bracelets in an attempt to calm down.

  Forest, sage, olive, jade, moss—

  Isaac leaned in and whispered, “Hey, did I hear that right? Teach just said future students, right? Does that mean we’re in?”

  Jeremiah just sighed, giving an exasperated smile. Isaac’s lack of tact eased the tension somewhat. Not that it didn't keep Ashley from wanting to launch all of her bracelets at his birthmark like a bullseye.

  Before she could enact justice, the two adults returned. This time, Detective Clark had a much more reserved look on his face, while Roger, now smiling giddily, snuck a thumbs up to the trio from behind him.

  Ashley didn’t know what that meant, but a wave of relief washed over her. Whatever Roger did, they were probably going to be okay. When she first met him, she thought the plain Instructor was some kind of kindergarten teacher who got lost and wound up at Myriad High by accident.

  One thing she knew for sure was that he knew what he was doing, and she could at least count on that. Unconventional thinking or not, he was an Instructor through and through.

  The other thing she knew for sure is that he’s really, really weird. Which means there might be a catch here.

  “Change of plans,” Detective Clark grumbled, “You are no longer needed as witnesses.”

  Isaac stupidly let out a sigh of relief.

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  Ashley did her best not to smile. Like I thought, Roger knows what he’s doing.

  “Um, Mr. Detective,” Jeremiah muttered. “The way you say we aren’t needed as witnesses. . .”

  Ashley’s lips spread thin.

  Wait, Froggy’s right. Detective Clark didn’t say they were free to go. She shot a glance towards Roger, who met her with a twinkle in his eyes.

  Detective Clark confirmed her and Jeremiah’s suspicions.

  “That’s right. You aren’t needed as witnesses, but as assistants. Help Central Seraph in finding the culprit, and you all are free to go.”

  Ashley’s head slowly sank into her hands.

  Like I thought, Roger’s really, really weird.

  “Returning to the scene of the crime? Makes sense.” Isaac declared.

  They returned to the cramped alleyway from the previous day. The smell of urine and trash ruined Ashley’s already sour mood. But she couldn’t scrunch her face in disgust. It would only mess with her cosmetics.

  “But the motorcycle guy didn’t steal from that lady here.” Jeremiah said.

  “Yeah. . . but my almost-murder happened here!”

  With a clap of his hands, Roger began to speak in his jovial, teacherish tone.

  “You three! Fighting crime is more than just subduing the criminal. Police departments are still more than relevant, and when they’re after a suspect who they believe to be using a Blessing to commit crimes, T.H.R.O.N.E Agents will be dispatched alongside them.”

  He gestured towards Detective Clark.

  “When you graduate from Myriad High, you’ll most likely be working side-by-side with officers or detectives like Mr. Clark here.”

  Detective Clark scowled.

  “Consider this a one-day internship. I’d never ask for the assistance of kids if it wasn’t for your crooked Instructor.”

  While Roger laughed off Clark’s rudeness, Ashley tugged on her Instructor’s sleeves.

  “Teach, what do we have to do to get out of here? It stinks!”

  “Right, right. I’d like you three to form a theory. Answer this question: How did the suspect seemingly disappear from this alleyway?”

  He waved his hand down the alleyway, like an auctioneer showing off a prized artifact.

  “This is a dead end of an alleyway, the wall at the end being part of the building on the other side of the block, which is easily over 20 feet tall. The alley is also incredibly narrow, no wider than 5 feet.”

  Surprisingly enough, Detective Clark chimed in from the entrance.

  “The motorcycle was left behind, but the stolen items such as the lady’s purse are gone as well.”

  Surprised by the detective’s cooperation, Roger stayed silent as the Detective continued with the details.

  “Footprints of both Isaac and the suspect have been found, but only Isaac’s are shown leaving the alleyway. There’s no sign of the suspect somehow climbing the walls. That’s all from me.”

  “Well there you have it, kids. The detective and I will be having a chat right outside the entrance to the alley,” All of a sudden, Roger stared intently at Ashley.

  “When you have a well made theory, let us know.”

  And with that, the odd teacher and the grumpy detective retreated to the entrance.

  “They are like, totally making us do their job.” Ashley complained.

  “Man, I shoulda read more detective books growing up.” Isaac said.

  “You can read? No waaay~”

  Knowing he was the fault of all of this, Isaac sighed as he took the verbal attack.

  “When you think about it, this could be a valuable experience,” Jeremiah said. “How many of our peers could say they helped in an investigation before graduating? We’re already ahead!”

  Ashley and Isaac were equally put off by Jeremiah’s sudden enthusiasm. Noticing this. Jeremiah cleared his throat.

  “W-well um, anyways. Any ideas so far?”

  Whatever Roger is planning, I better give him what he wants so we can get this over with.

  Isaac spoke first, as always.

  “It’s gotta be invisibility! The guy straight up vanished right in front of me and then he was right behind me! When he thought Thomas’ bike lights were the police, he turned invisible and got the heck outta there!”

  Isaac suddenly looked grim as he recalled his close brush with death.

  But there’s something wrong here, Ashley thought.

  “But there’s something wrong about that.” Jeremiah said.

  Ashley smiled.

  “You have an idea about his Blessing, Froggy?”

  “Maybe. Isaac, you said he disappeared, then reappeared behind you?”

  “Uh, yeah. I had him cornered, then all of a sudden I couldn’t see him. Right after that, he was behind me and then I was cornered! Cruel world, man.”

  Ashley shook her head as she remembered what Roger told them. It is also incredibly narrow, no wider than 5 feet.

  “We saw this guy before you chased after him. He was totally buff, not some scrawny kid. If he turned invisible, you would have bumped into him in this super narrow alleyway when he got behind you.”

  Isaac tilted his head like a confused puppy.

  “Ohhhhh. Well there goes my idea.”

  Jeremiah adjusted his glasses as he spoke.

  “His appearance behind you after disappearing still happened, even if he didn’t turn invisible. It’s very possible we’re dealing with a suspect with the Blessing of Teleportation.”

  Isaac gawked.

  “Wait, but isn’t that rare? Why would a guy with a Blessing like that spend his time with small-time stuff like stealing purses?”

  Jeremiah shrugged, but his face still seemed troubled. Ashley once again understood why. There was still something wrong here.

  “Wondering why he didn’t teleport from the beginning, Froggy?

  He nodded.

  Isaac scowled as he looked between the two.

  “Now what? You guys gotta stop with this weird smart people telepathy thing and just say it all out loud!”

  “It’s just. . .” Jeremiah sucked his already thin lips in. It bunched his cheeks up, like a ribbiting frog.

  Cute.

  “If this suspect can teleport, why’d he go through all the trouble of coming here?” Jeremiah said. “Couldn’t he have teleported the very moment he stole from the old lady? Why use a motorcycle as a getaway vehicle when you are the getaway?”

  Isaac made an attempt to contribute.

  “Maybe he didn’t want anyone to know he was teleporting? I hear you never want your enemies to understand your power and stuff.”

  “Or,” Ashley said. “He has limits on his teleportation ability.”

  The trio went silent as they mulled over the possibility.

  “We need more details.” Ashley spoke up.

  “I think so too.” Jeremiah agreed.

  “Teach wanted theories, and we have some. We don’t have to have the right answer.” Isaac said.

  Ashley thought about the pointed look Roger gave her. This was a test, She thought. They probably already have the right answer. Roger, you suck.

  With those thoughts, she stomped over to the entrance, the other two scrambling to follow her.

  Ashley found the two where they said they’d be and hesitated to move further. The two spoke in low voices and dour expressions. Detective Clark looked incredulous and condemning, while Roger’s expression was icy and tight-jawed. As they noticed the three, their expressions evaporated to normal. It happened so fast that Ashley dismissed it as a misinterpretation on her end.

  “That was fast! You have a good theory for us, I hope?”

  Isaac and Jeremiah looked reluctant, but Ashley, with her hands on her hips, looked at Detective Clark.

  “Can you, like, answer a few questions for me, pretty please?”

  Detective Clark raised an eyebrow, smirked, then nodded as he stomped out a cigarette.

  “Go.”

  “Okaaaay. This was an ongoing investigation right? So that means he’s done this a lot, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “Okaaaay. Has he ever robbed someone before sundown?

  A wolfish smile crept upon the detective’s face.

  “No. He robs exclusively after sunset and before sunrise.”

  Bingo, Ashley.

  “Alright~ I know the answer to how he did what he did.”

  “Oh? What would that be?” Roger asked, a suddenly hungry glint in his eyes.

  Ashley inspected her acrylic nails, clicking them together.

  “He shrinks.”

  “Huuuuuuh?!” Jeremiah and Isaac shouted in unison.

  Roger placed a hand on his chin.

  “What led you to this conclusion?”

  Ashley jabbed a thumb at the alley.

  “It can’t be invisibility, because Isaac would have most likely bumped into him as he got behind him. Also, if he could turn invisible, why go through the work of getting behind him instead of just stabbing him up front?”

  Roger nodded.

  “I accept that deduction. But why not teleportation? That could explain how he got behind Isaac despite being right in front of him.”

  Ashley shook her head. He doesn’t think it’s teleportation either. He’s just setting up obstacles for me. Lame.

  “Why the motorcycle, then? He totally wouldn’t need that if he could teleport.”

  “That goes for your shrinking theory as well, doesn’t it? Why use a motorcycle when he can just become the size of a bug and hide?”

  Detective Clark chuckled harshly as Ashley continued.

  “Because, Roger. He can’t do it all the time. It’s why he robs specifically when the sun is going down. I bet he can only shrink when it's super dark.”

  Isaac facepalmed in realization.

  “Oh snap, that’s why he got me into that car chase! He was just stalling for time to lead me into a dark alleyway.”

  “That way, he gets the upper hand over Isaac as well as a chance to evade capture. . .” Jeremiah’s eyes widened. “It all checks out, Ashley!”

  Ashley watched as Jeremiah’s opinion of her changed in his eyes. She wondered why she smiled so dumbly.

  “The girl and I share the same theory.” Detective Clark said. “I can also confirm that at the very least, he didn’t show up on the rooftop with some sort of Blessing either.”

  “Huh? How do you know that?” Isaac asked.

  “Because I was there that night.”

  In a blink of an eye, Detective Clark’s form broke down, melting like slime. His entire body, clothes and all, morphed into that of a large crow. Ashley muffled an eep! with her hands as the trio flinched at the sudden transformation. It flew onto Roger’s shoulder, who winced a little at the bird’s harsh grip.

  “Might need those claws ironed down a bit, Detective.” Roger said.

  With an overexaggerated gasp, Isaac pointed at the crow.

  “Wait, that bird noise last night was you?!”

  The crow responded with a caw.

  “The police force benefits greatly from an eye in the sky like the detective here.” Roger explained. “Detective Clark used his Blessing to follow after his son last night, and didn’t see the suspect escape via the rooftops.”

  Attempting to play off her astonishment, Ashley fumbled with her hair as she changed the subject.

  “Soooo, anyway! We’re done here right? Can we go home, Roger~?”

  “Hm?” Roger looked at her with childlike confusion. “But we haven’t caught the suspect yet?”

  While Ashley hung her head, Isaac pumped his fist, before wrapping an arm around Ashley and Jeremiah each.

  “Let’s do it, man! We’ll catch this guy for real this time. Legally, too!”

  “Wait, but isn’t this dangerous? He pulled a knife on you!” Jeremiah whined.

  “Well, yeah that’s true. But now we got numbers!”

  Roger, while attempting to pet the evasive head of the crow named Detective Clark, pointed towards the surrounding neighborhood.

  “With our current theory, we can try to get some confirmation from previous victims of this crook. We’ll solve this crime by the end of the night!”