Torn Read Online Free PDF

an idea.” I bit my lip. “But it’s not a great one. When they come back, I can use my persuasion. I can convince them to let us go.”
    “Do you really think that’s strong enough?” Rhys voiced the concern I’d had myself.
    So far, I’d only used persuasion on unsuspecting humans, like Matt and Rhys, and Finn had told me without training, my abilities weren’t as strong as they could be. I hadn’t begun my training yet in Förening, so I had no clue how powerful or weak I might be.
    “I really don’t know,” I admitted.
    “Persuasion?” Matt raised an eyebrow and looked at Rhys. “Is that the thing you were telling me about? That mind thing she can supposedly do?” Rhys nodded, and Matt rolled his eyes.
    “It’s not supposed .” I bristled at his skepticism. “I can do it. I’ve done it to you before.”
    “When?” Matt asked, still dubious.
    “How do you think I got you to take me to see Kim?” I asked, referring to when he’d taken me to see his mother, my “host” mother, in the institution.
    He hated her and didn’t want me to have anything to do with her. I’d used persuasion on him, even though I’d felt guilty about it, but it was the only way I could talk to her.
    “You did that?” His shock and hurt were instantly replaced by anger. He looked like he’d been slapped in the face. I lowered my eyes and turned away. “You tricked me? How could you do that, Wendy? You always say you never lie to me then you go and do something like that!”
    “It wasn’t a lie,” I said sheepishly, trying to defend actions I couldn’t even justify.
    “No, it’s worse!” Matt shook his head and stepped away from me, as if he couldn’t stand to be near me. “I can’t believe you did that. How often did you do that?”
    “I don’t know,” I admitted. “For a long time, I didn’t know I was doing it. But once I figured it out, I tried not to do at all. I don’t like doing it, especially to you. It’s not fair, and I know it.”
    “Damn right it’s not fair!” Matt snapped. “It’s cruel and manipulative!”
    “I’m really sorry.” I met his eyes, and the hurt in them stung painfully. “I promise I won’t ever do it again, not to you.”
    “I hate to break up this moment, but we need to figure a way out of here,” Rhys interrupted. “So what is the plan?”
    “We call someone,” I said, happy for the reprieve from thinking about how much Matt must hate me.
    “What do you mean call someone? Do you have your cell phone?” Rhys asked excitedly.
    “No, I mean, summon someone. The way Matt did before.” I pointed to the door behind me. “Knock on the door, say we’re hungry or cold or dead or whatever. When they come, I can use my persuasion on them to get them to let us out.”
    “You think that will really work?” Matt asked, but the disbelief had dropped from his voice. He was only asking our opinion now.
    “Maybe.” I looked at Rhys. “But I have a favor to ask. Can I practice on you?”
    “Sure,” Rhys shrugged, trusting me immediately.  
    “What do you mean ‘practice?’” Matt asked with a concerned edge.
    He moved a bit closer to Rhys, and I realized with some surprise that he finally believed Rhys was his brother. He wanted to protect Rhys from me. I felt some relief and happiness knowing that he’d started accepting him, but it hurt a little – okay, a lot – to know that Matt thought of me as a threat.
    “I haven’t done it very much.” I didn’t like the way Matt scrutinized me, so I paced the room, as if it could alleviate his gaze somehow. “And it’s been awhile since I’ve done it all.”
    That last part wasn’t entirely true since I’d just used it on Rhys the day before, but I didn’t want him reacting the way Matt did. This whole process would go a lot easier the less people hated me.
    “So what do you want to do?” Matt asked.
    “I don’t know.” I shrugged, unsure of what exactly I planned to do. “But I just need to