The Games Heroes Play by Joshua Debenedetto Read Free Book Online

see someone so covered up on such a warm day.  Jay decided he liked the look.
    “My name is Jay.  So you’re new here too, are you a mind reader?”  He figured this would make the most sense.  The pictures he’d seen of the strength people showed they were easy to spot, and he assumed the speedsters would be jumping off the walls.  A wrong assumption.
    “No, I’m a Hermes.”
    “A Hermes?”
    “Oh, sorry, I move quickly…what do you call it? Oh yes, you call us speedsters, right?”
    “Wow, I’ve never met a speedster before.  Why do you call them Hermes?”
    “It is not I that calls us Hermes, that’s the name the school gives us.  There are different terms for the quick, the strong, and the smart depending on where you are on the world.  Here at the Academy, they use the names of ancient Greek deities.  Lieutenant Johnson told me that on the plane.”  She motioned over to the woman who was now speaking with Captain Williams; or speaking to , as it appeared to be more appropriate to say.  So not all of them ignore the students.
    “What’s the name for the mind readers?” 
    “They call those who can see into others’ minds Prometheus.  So that’s what you are?  Wow, that is a very rare gift.  What am I thinking about right now?”
    Jay was a little embarrassed that his ability to read minds was still not showing up.  He decided the best thing to do was to make light of the situation.  “You are thinking that mind reading is a rare gift, and are wondering if I can see what you’re thinking right now.”  To his relief she found the joke funny.  He decided it was alright to continue.  “Actually, I’m not very good yet.  I’m still learning how to use it.”
    “That’s ok; I guess that’s why you’re here.”
    At that moment Captain Williams and Lieutenant Johnson came over to the two of them.  Captain Williams addressed Jay immediately, “Lieutenant Johnson will show you both around the school and tell you what you can expect from these next few days.”  Without any sign of a goodbye, he turned and marched off towards the school.
    Lieutenant Johnson looked nice enough.  She was friendlier than Captain Williams, but still maintained a professional demeanor.  “Jay, did you have your meal early or late in your flight?”
    “Excuse me?”  Jay was not sure what Lieutenant Johnson was talking about.
    “Your lunch on the plane; did you just finish, or would you be willing to have an early dinner?  Hermes tend to eat more meals than most, and it has been a few hours since we have had ours.”
    Jay learned two things from this comment.  First, he learned that Lieutenant Johnson was a Hermes; a speedster, just like Zahrah .  Second, he learned that the ever gracious Captain Williams had never given him a lunch.  “It has been a while since lunch for me also, and I would be happy to begin our tour at the dining hall.”
    Lieutenant Johnson smiled, and began to lead them in the direction of the main building of the school.  She began at a normal pace, but Zahrah walked a little faster than the two of them.  Jay sped up in order to walk between the two, but Lieutenant Johnson apparently took this as a sign that they could go faster, and she sped up as well.  Before long, the three of them began weaving through the crowds at a much faster than normal pace towards the dining hall.  Lieutenant Johnson was constantly checking to make sure Jay was staying with them, but since he was, they continued with the pace.  It was not very long before they reached the dining hall. 
    “I’m glad to see you’re in shape, Jay.  It will certainly help in the physical part of your classes ,” Lieutenant Johnson said after they had gotten their food and sat down at a table.  Neither Lieutenant Johnson nor Zahrah were out of breath, and to his surprise, neither was Jay.  He was thankful that he did not have an asthma attack from their dash to the dining hall.  Jay realized he needed