The Forbidden Trilogy (106 page)

But, humans are humans. And it seems a shadow side of the
human condition that we’re so anxious to enslave each other and use each other
for profit.

Someday I will find the people behind this whole operation
and wipe my ass with their money—after I destroy everything they’ve built.

LUKE RIVERA

Real Name Luke Rivera

Height 6'

Weight 190

Eyes blue

Hair brown

Age 18

Threat Level Minimal Threat

Para-Level (1-10)

6-A strong para-power that can influence others or
environment (ex. Molecular manipulation, control of metal, fire power, ice,
control of electronics, influence others to lie)

Para-power(s) walk through walls, change molecular structure

Aliases too many to count

Occupation IPI Agent, student at IPI Academy, former
Rent-A-Kid spy

Place of Birth unknown

Relationship Status dating many girls

Known Relatives Lucy Rivera, twin sister

Group Affiliations IPI, RAK

Base of Operation Washington, D.C.

History born to a doctor at Rent-A-Kid and raised in the
facility whole life. Martial artist and bug expert.

First Appearance: Forbidden Mind

Resources on this paranormal: Forbidden Mind, Forbidden Fire,
Forbidden Life, Blood of the Fallen, Tears of the Fallen, Flight of the Fallen,
Pathways, Christmas Lites II

MARY CUNNINGHAM

Real Name
Mary Cunningham

Height
5'7"

Weight
125

Eyes
blue

Hair
blonde

Age
18

Threat Level
Least Concern

Para-Level (1-10)

4-
A more highly advance para-power above human
power, useful and active, can sometimes affect others, but in limited ways (lie
detecting, seduction, walking through walls)

Para-power(s)
seduction

Occupation IPI
IPI Agent, student at IPI Academy,
former Rent-A-Kid spy

Place of Birth
unknown

Relationship Status
seduces every man she meets

Known Relatives
none

Group Affiliations
IPI, RAK

Base of Operation
Washington, D.C.

History
abandoned as a child, raised in RAK, used for
seduction

First Appearance:
Forbidden Mind

Resources on this paranormal:
Forbidden Mind,
Forbidden Fire, Forbidden Life, Blood of the Fallen, Tears of the Fallen,
Flight of the Fallen, Pathways, Christmas Lites II

OTHER RESEARCH AND FILES:

Brad's Blog—Paranormal Interview with Mary Cunningham

Hi, I'm Brad, the independent journalist who brought you the
internationally sensational story of the Rent-A-Kids.

For those new to my work, let's back track a bit. When my
best friend, Drake, went missing, I knew someone had discovered that he had special
'powers.' Basically, he can control minds and he's freakishly strong. Try being
best friends with a guy like that who's also an award-winning surfer.

Anyways, I don’t want to go into all of the details, but he
found out there are a lot more people with para-powers in the world than he
realized.

This led to my current assignment: Interviewing these
extraordinary teens and reporting their stories to you, so that they won't be
exploited by secret organizations anymore.

Today's interview is Mary. I recorded her conversation and
transcribed it as best I could.

Brad:
"Hello, Mary, thanks for agreeing to speak
to me."

Mary:

"You're
welcome. I know you've been interviewing the others, and they have probably
painted me in a most unlikable light—as a bully or a flirt—so I figured I'd
need to tell my side."

Brad:
"Well, actually, we didn't really speak
about you—"

Mary:
"Whatever. Listen. I know all the girls at
school hate me because I can seduce any man I want."

crosses her long legs.>

Brad:

"Yes, well,
be that as it may… um,"

"
So, you're para-power… "

Mary:
"Seduction, obviously."
pushes her chest out, exposing extra cleavage and licks her red lips.>

Brad:
"Right. Obviously. How is this power
useful for assignments, when Rent-A-Kid rented you out to the rich?"

Mary:
"Men are more willing to give up their
secrets while under the thrall of a beautiful woman. And my powers allow me to
manipulate a man to such a degree that he loses all reason and will do whatever
I say."

Brad:

"Yes. I can see how that would be useful. And how that could make friendships
with other girls hard."

Mary:
"That’s not the only thing it makes
hard."

Brad:
room>

So, you can see how well that interview went. Mary is
definitely one-of-a kind, and she's just one of hundreds of teens kept prisoner
and sold for their unique powers. And don't mock me about this interview.
Women, you wouldn't understand, but any man in my position would have been
lucky to last that long.

HUNTER RILEY

Real Name
Hunter Riley

Height 6'3"

Weight
198

Eyes
Green

Hair
Black and Silver

Age
23

Threat Level
Minimal Threat

Para-Level (1-10)

3-
A useful power that's an amplification of normal
human abilities. (Ex. Super strength. Super speed. Anything that's an extension
of a normal ability, just better.)

Para-power(s)
super speed, strength, and agility

Aliases
NA

Occupation
IPI Agent

Place of Birth
NA

Relationship Status
In a relationship with Lucy
Rivera

Known Relatives
NA

Group Affiliations
IPI Academy

Base of Operation
IPI Academy/Washington

History
Had a father who worked with IPI and was
murdered by a serial killer. Joined IPI Academy and trained with Agent Simmons.
Was the best of his class.

First Appearance:
Forbidden Life

Resources on this paranormal:
The Forbidden Trilogy

OTHER RESEARCH AND FILES:

Brad's Blog—Paranormal Interview with Hunter Riley

Brad here for another edition of Brad's Blog, where I
interview paranormals and give you a taste of what is like for them.

With me today isn't a Rent-A-Kid victim like the others…
this guy actually works for IPI, International Paranormal Investigations, and
spends his life tracking paranormals to either save or… not.

Without further ado, I give you Agent Hunter Riley.

B:
Hunter, I hear the girls are really excited about
your role in all of this. I imagine its hard to be a secret agent when you get
so much attention everywhere you go.

H:
My love life is my concern and no one else's. Next
question.

B:
Well, I hear you and Lucy are pretty close now,
you have nothing to say about that?

H:
No.

B:
Okay then, let's talk about your
past. How did you first get involved in IPI?

H:
My dad was killed by a serial killer. He'd been
involved in IPI and when he died, I wanted to do something that mattered. I was
young but well-trained. Agent Simmons took me in and made me even better.

B:
About Agent Simmons, I've heard troubling—

H:
I'm not talking about her. Next question.

B:
You aren't a very chatty guy, are you?

H:
Words are overrated. I prefer action.

B:
No doubt. Well, how about telling us something
about IPI.

H:
We're a top secret international organization that
tracks paranormals, to keep them safe from humans and humans safe from them. I
can't tell you anything more or I'd have to kill you.

B:
You're… er… kidding right? Lucy said you had a sense
of humor.

H:

B:
Okay then. Moving on. Do you have paranormal
abilities?

H:
I keep secrets.

B:
Right. It seems you can do more than that.

H:

B:
Okay. Um… did you ever find the person who killed
your dad?

H:
Not yet. But I will.

B:
Was he a paranormal.

H:
That's classified. You don't have clearance.

B:
Lucy told me about your sword, can I see it?

H:
No.

B:
Why not?

H:
Next question.

B:
Is there anything else you can tell us about what
happened when you joined with Luke and Lucy to save the younger kids still
trapped by Rent-A-Kid?

H:
The mission fell apart. There were pieces of the
puzzle that we didn't know about. I can't say more than that. It's—

B:
Classified. Right. Got it. You'd have to kill me.
Well, thanks for taking the time to talk to me. You're quite the open book.

And there you have it, folks. The oh-so-chatty Hunter Riley.

Sam Says

Reading minds isn’t as glamorous as you might imagine.
First, everyone’s pretty much freaked out around you. No one wants to make eye
contact, because they subconsciously think they can avoid detection that way.
(It doesn’t work, by the way.) And everyone has thoughts that they would never
want anyone else to know about.