POV: Jennifer Knight

“Hello all. I am Father Michael of Virginia.” The pastor addressed the congregation. He wore priest robes and a radiant smile. “I see a few new faces among us. I'm glad. I always enjoy having more ears to spread the gospel to.”

“I want to speak today about plans, and the making of plans.” He stepped out in front of the podium, “Everyone has a plan. Even if just simple daily plans. Coming here was a plan. For everyone.”

He eyed me and a sharp pain shot through my skull.

“Plans are made all the time. But sometimes, plans are more than plans. Sometimes plans are schemes. Created for nefarious purposes. God has his plans but so do the enemy have their schemes.”

He continued on and before long I couldn't focus anymore. The pain continued to buzz and get more intense pulling more and more of my mind away. My brain was being overloaded.

When my powers first awoken overloads were common. I would lose all ability to perceive the world around me. When they happened I would take a moment, close my eyes, and wait for my eyes to return to normal. Whether that took an hour, or a day, but that won't work now.

First, my eyes were normal. Rather they were in their base range of vision, but there was so much around me they were catching an overflow of information my mind couldn't understand. I feel like Father Michael could cook my brain alone if he tried.

Second, I couldn't afford to wait. I had to achieve my objective. I had to get Jerry to agree to gather information about Adrian. I had to, because Semy was counting on me. I had to talk to Jerry. This was my only opportunity.

I turned my head to him and focused my vision on him holding a hand up. He then signed to me, “Wait until singing.”

I turned back with a deep sigh. My nerve was shaking, and the pain in my skull was building up. Something was going to give if I didn't do something. I always tried to suppress my powers when I didn't need or want them, or whenever letting them go would risk my health.

I've been hospitalized before from letting my vision go too far, but maybe I didn't have to let them go so far. Maybe I could compromise, meet them halfway.

I closed my eyes and focused. Feeling out the range of my vision to something manageable. Something that wouldn't cook my brain. When i felt like the buzzing was a simple and steady rhythm I opened my eyes, and then immediately squeezed them shut.

I had made a mistake in having my first sight be of Father Michael. His power shined like the sun and was shaped around him like a cloak of fire. In the after image I could still see the perfect outline of what seemed like a halo.

The sharp stabbing pains turned into dull burning heat. Like putting your hand just a little too close to a fire. My eyes seemed to have learned their lesson and quit their pushing. At least they weren't trying as hard. Still, I was cautious as I turned my head to Jerry and opened my eyes again.

What I saw was truly odd. Through the still fading after image of Father Michael I saw a vortex of strings in front of Jerry's own eyes. They seem to be flowing into his eyes, dozens of threads of various sizes. I could only guess this was him using his powers.

Another thing I noticed was his shoulder. Under his suit seemed to glow a set of letters. Two X's and a single I with a line atop and under them. The roman numeral of twenty one.

Before I could think to question it Father Michael called for everyone's attention.

“Now that I've made my point clear to those who needed it, hopefully, let us stand and unite in song.” Father Michael lifted his hands and everyone stood up. Someone played a few notes on a piano and the room rang out a choir of gospel music. I knew the song, but only enough to mumble on beat.

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“Don't bother if you can't sing it.” Jerry whispered in my ear, “They won't judge you. Now, I believe you have something to say to me.”

My blood wanted to flash boil right then and there. I was lucky for both my dark skin and for Jerry paying only half attention to me. I huffed a breath. I had to be quick and firm. “Are you aware of Adrian’s recent attitude?”

“Of course. It’s common knowledge Adrian has had a complete flip of his usual brutish nature to a more subtle, more moody demeanor.” Jerry answered keeping his eyes forward, “Rather alarming how intimidating his lack of physical threats of violence is.”

He laughed and I smiled. His laugh was sweet and cute. I immediately wanted to think of a joke to keep him laughing, but before that I remembered myself and took a breath.

“Yes, it's very alarming.” I said in a professional tone, mimicking what I thought Semy would say, “A bullying brute is easy to predict. Easy to counter. But a moody brute could cause trouble with little warning. My team is worried.”

“And so you want me to offer warning.” Jerry declared, “While I have no reason to object, I also have no reason to agree. In fact, I have to confess, I couldn't guarantee my services. I would be placing a risk of failure on me and my team. What can you offer to justify that?”

I blinked and furrowed my brow. “What do you mean? I don't understand.”

“My vision has become more blurry as of late. Too many elements acting on one another. Too many decisions are being made. I'm sure Carl has praised my abilities greatly, but I'm running up against a wall.”

Jerry explained and I just continued to scowl. I didn't fully understand Jerry's powers. I understood it allowed him to always know more than most and be at least two steps ahead of everyone. But now there were limitations. I didn't know what to say, so I just asked, “What kind of wall?”

“Uncertainty and the unknown. My two biggest blind spots.” Jerry counted off on fingers, “My powers are easily used against those who I know well, or who know themselves well. But if both I and my target are equally blind, then I'm practically mundane. Case and point, this very conversation.”

He turned his gaze to me and instantly my boiling hot blood turned into solid ice and my heart struggled to pump it through.

“How so?” I said without squeaking.

“Why did Carl send you?” Jerry asked, “Argento is here. Why not him? Why not my fellow Christian who knows every movement he'll take? He was trusted enough to act as backup. Why not the predictable main act? No, Carl sent you. A practically mundane girl with no experience. With no certainty.”

His charming smile had turned villainous. I realized he had the upper hand. No, that was wrong. I realized I didn't even get dealt a hand. I was being so stupid thinking I was a player in this game. I was just one of the cards in the deck and needed to fold now.

“Don't bother.” Jerry said and looked back at Argento, “They can't hear us over the song.”

Jerry was right. We had been talking softly to each other, but standing next to each we were able to focus through the surrounding noise. Argento had rows separating us. Which meant I was going to have to yell. But then Jerry placed a hand on my shoulder and gave me another warming smile that set my blood to a more manageable temperature.

“Don't worry. I'm proud Carl is learning the finer points of leadership. He could have just came himself, but instead he set up things to put me at the disadvantage. He's doing well. Tell him he can come to me directly and I will offer what I can.”

Then Jerry returned his focus to the singing, and I was crestfallen. I was so confused. I was here under Semy's pseudo orders, but Jerry thought Carl had set up some gambit. A gambit based on me being mundane, but I wasn’t mundane. I have something to offer. I had powers. Powers that Jerry didn’t have a substitute for. I had a hand to play, with an ace up my sleeve.

I grabbed Jerry's arm and asked. “I know what we can offer in exchange for an alliance.”

Jerry looked at me with his cute standard smug grin, “Ms Knight, I just told you-”

“Information for information.” I cut in, “I have the ability to see things beyond any spectrum. I'm sure your team would appreciate that. Especially Samuel and Abraham.”

I was running a bluff now and my heart was racing with the rush.

“Carl knows your limits,” I said as to not contradict, “He knows what you value. That's why he sent me. He knows what all this means to you. He knows you want this deal.”

The words rushed out of me. My heart was about to explode in my chest. But still I remained calm.

“Information for information, but you need insurance. If nothing happens by the end of the year, then consider your half of the deal paid.”

Jerry stared for the moment before donning his big winning smile, “Very then. Tell Carl you succeeded. I agree to these terms. Just be sure to tell him I plan on holding that insurance. After all, my powers are becoming blurry as I said. I've been missing things.”

“Like what?” I asked.

Suddenly his eyes grew wide, “Like this.”

He pushed me back and rushed into the center. There was a line that had formed at some point. I saw Jerry was heading directly toward Jesse and in a moment of sudden horror I realized Jesse was about to have a prophecy.