The Distort Arc: Cape High Books 1-4 (Cape High Series Omnibus) by R.J. Ross Page B

seen it.  It's not really a place you take your kids to visit--rumor had it it was the site of a nuclear bomb.
    "We're here," Technico says, getting out of the car.  He doesn't even wait for us to climb out before starting for the building.  I'm left fighting with his chair to try and get it to lean down so I can climb out.
    "Why didn't you make a four door?" I demand as I finally get free.  "You knew when picking us up that there were two of us!"
    "It had the best body and least amount of work to do," he says.  "Besides, I like how it looks."
    "Self centered," I mutter, dragging out my bags and swinging the door closed.  Sunny's already out.  Then again, he didn't have to fight to get there like I did.  I literally have to run a step to catch up with them.
    "Does she complain this much all the time?" Technico asks my brother.
    "Not really," Sunny says.  "She just doesn't like you.  Besides, she's got a point.  If you have kids you've got to have a minivan or something."
    "Nah, not with two teenagers," Technico says.  "But fine, tomorrow we'll go over to the junkyard and pick out a different one.  I can sell this one for cash."
    "Maybe you should paint it first, though," Sunny says.  "It'd bring in better money."
    "And replace the back seat," I add.
    "I've changed my mind, we're keeping it," Technico says.  I glare at him, because I almost swear he's doing it just to spite me.  "It's a classic!  If you're so against it, I'll take you out to the junkyard and you can make the next one," he repeats, looking me straight in the eye.
    "I don't know how to do that!  All I can do is blow up televisions!"
    "That's the time you need to go to the junkyard the most," he says.  "Tomorrow, bright and early--"
    "We have school," Sunny says.
    "Skip school," Technico says.  "Nothing you learn there is as important as this is, anyway."
    "You're a lousy parent," I say.
    "Sure I am," Technico says.  "But which is more important, who started a war a hundred years ago or you blowing up a school this one?"
    "I'm not going to blow up a school!"
    "Try going into the computer room sometime.  Oh, sure, you'll be fine--even if you're the most vulnerable you're going to be for the rest of your life, but your norm boyfriend and other classmates won't.  Honestly, your transfer papers are probably written up and signed already--"
    "Transfer papers?" Sunny asks.
    "Yeah.  You're going to a new school as soon as it’s completed."  Technico is saying this far too casually as he leads us to a rickety looking elevator.  He pushes the button, but nothing happens, so--unlike any logical person I know--he pries the doors open with brute force and looks up.  "Huh," he says.
    "What are you doing?" I demand.  "You could have waited for it to come down!"
    He looks down.  "Up, you mean.  For it to come up.  Man that sucker's slow.  Well, get in."
    "What?" Sunny says.
    "Get in.  You can climb, can't you?"
    "I'm taking the stairs," I say, walking away.
    "This is part of your training," Technico tells me, grabbing me by the back of my shirt.  "In you go," he declares, tossing me into the empty space that the elevator is supposed to go through.
    "This isn't training, this is child abuse!" I declare, grabbing onto the wires that lift the elevator.  "We should report you!"
    "The elevator's coming!  You better start climbing!" he replies.
    "What about you?  Why aren't you in here, too?" Sunny demands as he’s tossed in a bit higher than me.
    "I'm already trained.  Top floor, kids, and you're wasting daylight!"  Then--to my shock, although I should really stop being shocked by anything--he closes the doors again.  I look down, seeing the elevator coming.
    "Climb!" I yell at my brother.  He starts to climb and I follow.  My heart is in my throat because I can just picture myself being smashed to bits by the elevator, dead before I can even drive, much less use my powers.  Hand over hand we haul ourselves up as fast as we can, stopping