The Octopus Effect by Michael Reisman

greatness!”
    Sara Beth frowned. The man sounded like a babbling psycho, but somehow every word he said almost made sense. It was on the tip of her mind, just out of reach, but so close. So close. “My greatness?”
    â€œOnce you’re back to your proper age, your tattoos should work again. You’ll be able to control all that power and use it to destroy our enemies!”
    Sara Beth’s heart pounded, and her head throbbed, as if something was pushing, straining to get free. She pulled up her sweatshirt sleeves and stared at the colors. Yellow, green, silver, blue. Were they ever more than just blotches?
    â€œThis is it, Sir. We’ll take a secret route to the Order of Biology, where allies will restore your proper age. That should also restore all your magnificent power. We’ll topple the Council of Sciences, tear apart the Keepers, and destroy Simon Bloom!”
    â€œOrder of Biology? Council of Sciences? Keepers?” Part of her was starting to see. To feel how right this all was. Whatever was fighting inside her mind was winning . . . breaking free of its chains.
    â€œWe won’t go by Gateway, of course—the Union would know. We’ll use another method, not as fast, but safer. Come on, Sir—remember. Embrace the truth!”
    The man’s face was bright red from his excitement. He was practically foaming at the mouth. He looked completely bonkers. And yet . . .
    â€œI know you?” she asked, tentative at first. But then, “I do know you.” She pulled out a small mirror from her bag and stared at her reflection. It had never seemed so artificial. “You have powers? Show me.”
    â€œOf course, Sir.” He pointed to a nearby cart filled with books. “Keep your eyes on that!” He spoke what sounded like nonsense to Sara Beth and then pointed at the cart. It started to spin around, faster and faster, its wheels squeaking as it rotated on the carpet.
    The books went flying in all directions; Sara Beth had to dodge as one soared at her. Finally, the cart smashed into the far wall, clanging loudly.
    Sara Beth gaped at him. Her first quick thought was about the damage to all those books. Then she realized what she’d just seen . . . how was that possible? But deep down, she knew. Whatever barrier there was in her mind was crumbling. She pushed up her sleeves and stared at the colors there. That blue blob on her right arm . . . she associated it with air expanding, making things explode. She patted at a spot on one leg, where her jeans covered another blue mark. It made her think of blazing, all-consuming heat. And that silver tattoo below the knee of her other leg gave her an image of a glowing ball of light that could shatter solid steel.
    These thoughts shattered more than steel. Memories that were supposed to have been destroyed were returning, coming back from where they’d been safely stored by an old Order of Psychology trick she’d taught herself years before.
    â€œYes. YES. Your name . . . you are Willoughby Wanderby!” He nodded eagerly. “And I . . .” There was pain, now. A piece of her, deep inside her head, was disintegrating and beneath it—inside it—was another thing entirely. Her everything. Her self.
    â€œI remember!” she shouted, triumphant. Her hands were clenched into fists, both held above her and shaking. Trembling with rage. “I remember everything.” She finally, truly saw . The books around her were filled with pathetically limited knowledge. The Outsider librarian rushing over, probably to investigate the noise, was a helpless fool. Her own thirteen-year-old hands were her prison. And the novel in one hand that just minutes ago had offered her such peace was only a distraction from her true purpose, from the blood and pain she’d have to dispense before she was done.
    Sara Beth Doe stared at the book in her hand. Then Sirabetta tossed it aside. There was no room for