Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun by Tolá Okogwu

Author:Tolá Okogwu
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Published: 2022-06-14T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY

My face heats, and without a word, I stalk out of the canteen. Hurrying through the hallways, I reach my room and the door opens immediately.

What did I just do? I’m not going to make any new friends at this rate. Though I wouldn’t want Ẹni and her lot anyway. I pace across the room, imagining all the things they must be saying about me.

“You didn’t have to do that, you know,” says Adanna out of nowhere, and I jump.

I spin around to find her in the doorway, a strange expression on her face.

“It’s cool,” I say, shuffling from one foot to the other. “They weren’t being very nice.” I pause as she enters the room. “Are they always like that?”

“Let me guess… they were saying stuff about me being a Rogue?” I nod and Adanna sighs. “Ẹni and her friends don’t like me. Dr. Dòyìnbó says I should ignore them.” Seeing my curious expression, she continues. “Dr. Dòyìnbó’s been helping me. I have an interest in genetics and he lets me use his personal library.”

Well, that explains all the books. I swear they’ve doubled since I arrived.

“Yeah, I noticed,” I say with a grin.

Adanna stares at me for a moment, as if she’s trying to decide if I’m making fun of her.

“Everyone takes our powers for granted, but I need to know more,” she finally replies. “Since we’re going to be Protectors, shouldn’t we understand Ike? Like, why does using it make us feel so bad? It’s why I’ve been researching my genetic profile. I’m trying to understand us better, and maybe even find a permanent cure for the headaches and nausea.”

Adanna moves to her desk. I open my mouth to ask her why I’ve been feeling worse lately, but I’m distracted by a bigger question that has been burning for weeks.

“Just ask already,” says Adanna, her eyes locked on the glass screen. “Your curiosity sounds awful.”

Her words startle me and I frown. She’s always making strange comments like this.

“Why did you help me with my Ike that first time?” I finally say. “I mean, I’m proper grateful, but I still don’t understand why.”

She swivels away from the screen, turning to face me. “Dr. Dòyìnbó is a great head teacher, but his methods can be a bit traditional. He uses the same technique with all the new students and usually it’s fine, as they’re younger. But with you, something felt off. Your fear was as loud as a batá drum.”

I blink in confusion. That’s the second time she’s mentioned hearing my emotions. “What are you talking about?”

Adanna looks at me strangely. “You must know what my Ike is by now?”

I nod. “I know one of them. You’re a technopath.”

“I’m also a synesthetic empath,” she replies. “I can smell and hear people’s emotions, and yours are especially strong.”

“I knew it,” I gasp. “I knew you could read minds.” Then a horrible thought occurs to me. Is she reading mine right now?

“I don’t read minds, Onyeka.” Adanna’s voice is dry. “I sense feelings.

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