Marilyn Kaye - Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

"And was she pleased with the results of the experiment?" Madame asked.

Emily had to strain to hear Jenna's low voice. "Yes. And she didn't care what happened to Howard or George. There are other people involved, but not them. And the other people-they've got plans. I don't know what the plans are, Madame, but I think something big is going on. Something a lot bigger than a bank robbery."

Madame spoke calmly. "Yes, I can believe that, Jenna."

"Who are these people, Madame? What do they want?"

"I'm not sure. But you're right, Jenna. They're planning something. And they're very dangerous."

"What are we going to do, Madame?"

"We're going to work together, and you're going to learn how to use your gifts defensively."

"Are you worried?"

Emily wished she could see Madame's face. She had a feeling it might tell her more than her words.

"I'm not worried about you, Jenna. Or your classmates. I'm worried for the world. And how my gifted students are going to have to save it."

There was a silence in the classroom. Which was fine with Emily. She didn't want to hear any more. She could leave her sweater there for the time being.

The halls were crowded now as people hurried to their first classes. Emily hurried, too, and tried not to think about the conversation she'd overheard. But she had to think about it because it was there, in her head, and it couldn't be pushed aside. And the questions went around and around.

What did those people want from them? Who were they, really? Would she be called upon to predict their motives? And how could a handful of middle school teenagers save the world? So much to think about, to worry about …

But oddly enough, she didn't feel panicked. She and her classmates were special. They had gifts. Maybe now they'd begin to learn the real purpose of those gifts. Hearing voices, reading minds, snatching bodies--there was a reason why they had these unique talents. Maybe now, in the face of something really big, they'd learn how to use them in the best possible way.

Emily would have her visions. She'd try to see what she could in the future and try to understand what she was seeing. She'd look for clues and read between the lines. She would interpret; she'd weed out the irrelevancies.

And always keep her eyes open for butterflies.