Initiation of the Lost (Book 1) by M.R. Read Free Book Online

for the first time thanks to Derek's help, he was applying them.
    Knowing each guard intimately from his hours of briefing, he psychically suggested sleep to the desk guard. To pave the way for the guard's acceptance of this suggestion, he brought to the forefront of his target's mind the things that might make him most want to sleep–his work, his family–and assured him that it was safe to do so. August had learned that the promise of safety was the equivalent of consent, allowing someone to give themselves permission to reject society's programming of how they should be, and to just be as they wished to be. It wasn't a perfect process, but thankfully the lethargic guard was quick to accept any excuse to rest.
    On the thirteenth floor, the next phase proceeded. Connor and August proceeded to the surveillance center; Derek and Abbey went through the building accomplishing sneak attacks, ambushes from behind with knockout gas, tranquilizing the remaining guards and the janitors, one by one.
    At the surveillance center, three men watched monitors flashing to various locations throughout the building and outside. Their minds locked into August's psychic network, they saw what he suggested: the guards patrolling, one guard at the front desk, and the janitors cleaning.
    Outside the room, Connor and August were at the door. Connor placed metal charges around the portal's edges. He pushed the detonator–the charges released a fluid that burned through the reinforced door.
    "They're alert," said August. "Hurry."
    Connor kicked the door down: the three guards were on their feet grabbing for guns. Seeing his targets, he blinked.
    "I can't see! I can't see!" cried one, dropping his gun and falling to the ground, his hands over his eyes.
    Connor charged the other guard, grabbing the gun from his hand. But there was still the third, who fired aimlessly, bullets shooting through the room. Connor took the guard he apprehended and they crawled under the surveillance console. August hadn't moved. The guard kept firing around him, now aiming at the ceiling. He was seeing a creature crawling about and was trying to aim. The gun clicked. No more bullets. August dissolved the illusion.
    "Sleep, and when you awake it will all be over."
    The guard fell to the ground; the one who was screaming now quieted and fell into a snooze. Not many truly wanted to kill. Knowing these men, August felt an empathy towards them. He knew none of them wanted to cause harm, and he gave the two men permission to follow their natures, to not inflict injury and live in order, assuring them they had an easy way out of the chaos and would be safe.
    Connor came from under the console with the last guard. August released the psychic network and spoke to the last man standing.
    "My friend saved you," he said, using his power to impress the suggestion. "Look."
    Connor blinked. The guard looked about at his colleagues, his eyes wide, chest heaving.
    "They are asleep. And you can be asleep too."
    The guard looked to him earnestly: "Please. I just wanna sleep."
    As August had impressed on each guard–from the front desk until now–the idea of sleep, a part of the idea rippled through his network of linked minds, priming everyone to accept the suggestion. After three suggestions, the guard had felt the fear and alertness of his fellow guards and how peaceful they now were. August did not anticipate this.
    "First, show me James Crawford."
    Connor released the guard who ran to the center of the console. The monitors flashed and showed one picture: two computerized doors.
    "Open 'em. And what floor?"
    The guard pushed a button. "First. P-please...sleep..." The man dropped to his knees crying.
    "What's happening to him," said Connor.
    "I think he felt the collective fear of the others," said August. "I didn't know..." He gathered himself: these men were the enemy. They didn't deserve kindness. "Show us behind the doors."
    "I can't. There are no cameras. It's a top secret zone.