Shattered by Sophia Sharp Read Free Book Online

the thoughts of all the students in the school ?”
    “And some of the teachers, and some other people close by.”
    “That’s… astounding. Is it dangerous?”
    Logan shook his head. “If it was, I wouldn’t have shown it to you.”
    “Was that some sort of link that was made, when our hands touched?”
    Logan smiled. “You’re quick. Yes, you could say that a link was created. It’s more of a bond, real y, but it’s… hard to explain.”
    “And what about you? Can you hear them, too?”
    Again, Logan shook his head. “No. I can’t make any of them out. Al I can do is transfer them to another person.”
    Laura stared. She had just heard the thoughts of people around her. And Logan was explaining it to her patiently and calmly, as if he was completely used to it. “How long have you had this? How long could you… transfer … these thoughts to other people?”
    “Forever,” he said simply.
    “What are you, like some kind of mutant? Like those X-Men?” The closest thing Laura could think of that would match this was Professor Charles Xavier’s mindreading abilities in the X-Men, but that was just a movie !
    Unexpectedly, Logan began to laugh. “No way,” he answered. “Definitely not.”
    “Then… how do you do it?”
    “I don’t know. I just can.”
    “Have you ever used it before, then?”
    “Like how?”
    “For some kind of an… advantage?”
    He laughed again. “Some advantage,” he said sarcastical y. “Al the voices converge as one, and you can’t separate them at al .”
    “Then, what’s the point? Why’d you show me?”
    “Wel , to tel the truth, there is one way you can separate them.”
    “And what’s that?”
    “If you have a strong emotional bond to somebody, and they share it with you, their thoughts… stand out. Call out is more like it, actual y.”
    “A strong emotional bond? Like… love?”
    “Or hate. The person… cal s to you. Their thoughts become more distinctive. But in that case, it works both ways.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “They feel the emotion more intensely if you do it.”
    “You mean, if you listen to their thoughts?”
    “Yes.”
    “That’s… that’s a miracle,” Laura marveled.
    “Not so,” Logan answered.
    “What? Why not? It’s absolutely a miracle.”
    “No, not real y. They start to feel the emotion more intensely. So somebody who hates you starts to detest you, wanting you dead. And somebody you love becomes obsessive, fol owing your every move. It’s quite the opposite of a miracle, real y.”
    “Woah. I didn’t think of it that way.”
    “And if the emotion fades some time later – if you stop feeling it yourself – the bond from this stil remains.”
    “They continue to hate you?”
    “Yes. But in the new, stronger way.”
    “Wow,” Laura whispered.
    “Did anyone cal out to you like that, when we touched?”
    Laura thought back. She knew what Logan was asking. He wanted to know if Brady’s thoughts beckoned her.
    “No,” she final y admitted.
    “Wel , I think that answers your original question, then.”
    “Yes… I think it does.”
    “So you see, I meant what I said.” He flashed a triumphant grin. “That I could show you what Brady thought of you.”
    “Apparently, not much,” she mumbled. “But it’s not like I expected anything more after what happened, anyway. Thank you, Logan, for sharing this with me.”
    “Of course. But you mustn’t tel anyone about it.”
    “Who would believe me anyway?”
    “That’s right,” he chuckled. “No one would.” He paused for a second. “And, Laura… I hope you won’t hate me.”
    “Hate you?” She was taken aback again. “Why would I hate you?”
    “Because of what I showed you.” Suddenly, he looked every bit the shy boy she had met last week, and nothing like the proud young man who was standing before her.
    “You shared with me a precious gift,” she told him quietly, “and I could never hate you for that.”
    “Thank you.” He looked