Page 83 of Captured Immune

“First off, superpowers is a term only used when referring to superheroes, like the ones in comics and movies. Our gifts are simply passed down by genetics. Think of it like getting your nose from your dad or your hair from your mom. There’s nothing super about that.”

I wonder who in Trey’s line of genetics had the power to sense emotions like my baby did.

Trey continues, “Secondly, there are more of you than there are of us. Back in the early 1300s, Ordinaries created a poison and distributed it through alcohol. While it did nothing to an Ordinary, it was deadly to Zordis. Two million people dropped dead over the span of a year, and no one knew how it was happening.

“Once the drug was discovered, the zovernment decided we couldn’t live in harmony with Ordinaries anymore, so a bunch of Scrubbers came together to wipe the memories of all Ordinaries and erased any evidence of our existence.”

A secret society of people with powers that the entire world used to know about, who then erased everyone’s memories because they were being murdered by poisoned alcohol? This is getting crazier by the minute. “And the zovernment is?”

“The Zordi government. Also called the Superiors. Casually, we call them the Supes. It’s made up of Keepers and Enforcers. Keepers are the head honchos who make the rules. Enforcers are like the police.”

“And Scrubbers—are those like people who go around with that thing fromMen in Black,zapping people’s memories away?”

Trey lets out a light chuckle. “No, they don’t need a zapping thing, just their powers. One of my Zordi schoolteachers said that eighty-nine of the most powerful Scrubbers in the world came together to erase and alter all Ordinaries’ memories at once. Sorta like how you project your immunity onto me, they did the same onto everyone in the world.”

I tilt my head to the side. “Zordi school?”

“Yeah. From the age of one, when our body and elemental powers come in, to eighteen, in addition to Ordinary school, all Zordis go to Zordi school at night. We learn things like our people’s history, our biology, and the way our powers and bodies work. It’s like Ordinary school, except without math since that’s universal.”

“Hmm. It sounds like there’s way more to this Zordi thing than simply having”—I almost call themsuperpowersagain—“gifts.”

“There is. We have our own culture, lifestyles, holidays, and festivals. There are a few islands around the world that are only inhabited by Zordis for those who refuse to acknowledge that Ordinaries exist. Everyone there gets to use their powers freely.”

“Liz is a Zordi, isn’t she?”

At first, he hesitates, then nods and says, “Yes, she is, but how could you tell?”

“Because she looks like one. You all have this impossible beauty about you. Everyone’s so healthy-looking, with perfect skin and straight teeth. Katie said you guys have higher metabolisms too. Liz has the same beauty you and Katie do. Also, I can’t imagine you could be as close to her as you are and be able to keep this big of a secret from her.”

He purses his lips and nods. “You’re right. I wouldn’t. It’s actually against Zordi laws to have close personal relationships with Ordinaries. My relationship with Liz would probably cross that line.”

“Where is the line?”

“Dating, for sure. Kissing and sex are definitely off the table. Basically, we just need to keep as much of a distance as it takes to prevent Ordinaries from noticing that we’re different.”

Trey broke all those rules with me. We dated, we kissed, and we had lots of sex. I noticed he was different the first time we went out for dinner. I should have questioned it more back then. I should have demanded that he tell me how he knew that teenage boy was getting beat up in an alley from all the way at the restaurant. Instead, I ignored it because I was charmed by his beauty, his humor, and the way he made me feel so protected.

“What happens if the zovernment ever finds out that an Ordinary knows about Zordis?”

Trey swallows hard. “It means a scrub for the Ordinary and z-prison for the Zordi who caused the exposure. Depending on intent, it could mean death.”

This is a lot for me to process. It’s as if I’ve recently discovered that math exists and I’m trying to understand all of its elements from simple addition to calculus in one day. It feels impossible, yet I’m curious and I want to know it all. I suppose that’s a little counterproductive when I’m also trying to forget that any of this ever happened.

However, it’s not the existence of Zordis I want to forget. I mean, not all Zordis are bad. I wouldn’t say Trey’s a bad person, and neither is Liz. I never got the feeling that Katie was bad either. It’s not having powers that makes them bad. It’s how they use them, and that’s the part I want to forget.

I want to forget that Victor had Trey spinning in a tornado while he threatened to kill him. I want to forget hearing Trey’s screams while they caused him so much pain, he could barely breathe. I want to forget that Derek threw spiky ice balls at me while Trey fought for his life only a few steps away. Just like those spiders in my apartment, I’ve got a good feeling these moments will haunt me in my sleep.

With a light finger, Trey tucks some of my stray hairs behind an ear. That entire side of my body tingles, betraying me again. “I know you probably have more questions, but I have some I wanna ask you.”

My voice comes out breathy. “Okay...”

“First, you’re still making me immune, right?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Great. Second question: What do you think about when you’re doing it?”

“Water,” I say easily. “A wave surrounding you, protecting you with an impenetrable liquid shield.”

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