PIERCE

You know, don't you?

AIDEN

What do you mean?

PIERCE

That we weren't regular citizens. You explained about the pharmacy as if we outsiders unfamiliar with what happened, and I overheard your accusations.

AIDEN

I . . .

PIERCE

It's ok, really. With the current state of this world, I'll believe almost anything and most likely not have a negative reaction, so you're safe. Trust me.

AIDEN

I . . . I can read minds.

pierce

Is that so? Well, you might have figured, but I can heal. Alpheus moves through space differently. We're both more complicated, and I suspect that you do more than read minds, but I won't pry. Truthfully, you're not as unique as you think. Less than .1% of the world is alive right now, and all of them have changed.

AIDEN

How do you know this? It wasn't announced.

PIERCE

It's a long story. Change is inevitable. It occurs naturally, and sometimes, like this phenomenon, it is sudden with only soft whispers left in its wake, but if you look at each whisper, listen to their voices, you'll find that the cacophony is extraordinary.