Alpha, an orphan with extraordinary psychic powers, is fleeing from her care home and is being pursued by a stranger.

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Thump!

What was that? She sent her mind out searching for the source of the noise….

Oh no! It’s him – the hunter – he’s on the train, he’s searching through it.

She sprang out of her chair and ran through carriage after carriage, bathed in a frantic sweat, but there wasn’t another soul on the train to help her. The driver, she thought desperately, pushing at the seats to speed her flight towards the front of the train. But before she could reach the engine the train slowed to a stop. She swivelled, poised to jump out, but the hunter barged into the carriage and blocked her path to the doors.

‘Hello Alpha,’ he said. ‘I’m Dr Michael Scott. I’m not going to hurt you.’

‘Get away from me,’ she screamed, backing away, dread dragging at her limbs and turning her legs to lumps of lead.

He took one step towards her, held out his hands imploringly. She swung sideways feigning a dodge past him, but suddenly she pulled back and pressed all her energy inside his head.

Get out, she shrieked in the region of his brain that controlled his survival instincts.

His feet stopped working under instruction from his own mind as it filled with the need to flee. He took a few backwards steps, tripped out onto the platform, and fell to the ground. The doors clanged closed once more.

As the train got underway Alpha withdrew from his mind. Without moving a muscle she watched him disappear into the distance. Then she gave a sob, collapsed into the nearest seat and pulled her legs up tightly against her stomach. She felt as though her guts had tied themselves in knots, then formed a burning ball inside her middle.

He’s gone; I’ve got rid of him.

So why am I still so afraid?

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