Stunned (The Lucidites Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

reporters. I rely on individuals with skills like yours to discover new reports. Other types are expected to investigate them for authenticity.”
    She strides down the hallway to another window. Three women lie on cots. They’re bathed in the blue, purplish light which illuminates most of the department.
    “These are news reporters. Here we ask the trainee to find something of usefulness to the Institute and record it. This is the last task that a news reporter must pass before moving to the floor.” She points to the area that resembles the dentist office.
    “If these participants rouse with information that is of use to the Institute or a Lucidite then they will continue with us.” Shuman stares through the glass, her hands clasped behind her back.
    “So, you want me to start training?” I ask, turning to Shuman.
    With a quick shake of her head, Shuman leads me through a door at the end of the hallway. I squint from the sudden bright light in this new area. It’s another conference-type room, but the light has a gold tone to it. Shuman takes a seat at the table and indicates I should sit opposite of her.
    “I could never ask the person who challenged Zhuang to go through my training practices,” Shuman says, her hands steepled in front of her. “This would be an insult. You have already been tested in multiple respects and proven yourself in extraordinary ways. Furthermore, it would be an insult to the Institute that chose you for the challenge.”
    “I don’t think it would be an insult. Wouldn’t the news reporters be offended if I worked alongside them without having to pass any tests?”
    “You sacrificed yourself to protect every person in this Institute. So no, I do not think any of them would be the least bit offended.”
    “I appreciate what you’re saying, but I don’t want special treatment.”
    “Then stay in your room.”
    I blink, startled.
    “It is no good for me to delude you into thinking that you are average or that you are going to assimilate into this culture the same as everyone else,” Shuman says, her tone rough. “You did not enter this Institute under normal circumstances and the ones that kept you here mark an incredible event in the Lucidites’ past. The battle between you and Zhuang is the single most frequented event inour history.”
    My mouth drops. “What? How do you know that?”
    She tilts her head. “It is my job to know that.”
    The idea that Lucidites have dream traveled to watch Zhuang pummel me to bits is jarring. I never thought that our battle would be like a trending video on YouTube.
    “O-kay. Soooo, you don’t want me to pass a test, I get that. But I don’t know how to news report. I do need to be trained.”
    Shuman shakes her head. “No, you do not.”
    I open my mouth to argue, but she holds up her hand, silencing me. “I believe you possess the skill and intuition to successfully news report. What you lack is confidence. What you need is to prove to yourself that you are worthy of the position.”
    Reading Faulkner right now sounds a million times better than what I’ve just gotten myself into. Tension constricts my thoughts as I await Shuman’s next words. She’s appraising me, making me self-conscious of my every nonverbal behavior.
    “In a minute I am going to leave you alone in this room. This will give you the opportunity to use your clairvoyance to pick up on one newsworthy event. It must be important, unreported, and verifiable. If you do not have something to report to me within the hour then we can agree that news reporting is not the right fit for you. If you do succeed in this challenge, then I will expect you to start work on the floor with the other news reporters tomorrow morning.” She stands, looking down at me, her cheekbones even more pronounced from the gold light overhead. “If this is agreeable to you then stay here. If not then show yourself out.” Shuman strides away. At the doorway, she flips a switch and the gold