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England, I’d heard that the army had re-built Hadrian’s Wall when the Fracture began. Some of that lay in England and not Scotland. Or had they built a new border? I chewed on my sandwich. The Compound was small, I knew that much, and as far as I could work out there wasn’t a gate on the other side, leading further into Scotland. So who in Scotland were they keeping out of the Compound? Or were they trying to keep us in?
    “Who are you?”
    The voice, a boy’s voice, jolted me out of my thoughts and I jumped. When I turned around, I saw a scruffy haired, dark-eyed boy with his arms folded across his chest. His nostrils flared. His eyes examined me like I was a puzzle to work out.
    “Salt and Rosemary. You’re a very thoughtful girl.” He waggled his finger at me and inhaled again. “Ugh. Undertones of fermented chillis. You’re a very angry girl.” He wafted his hands under his nose, taking in more deep breaths. “Roses. You’re in love. Cut grass. You’re honest. Pepper. You’re confused––”
    “What the hell are you doing?” I snapped.
    The boy laughed. “I’m scenting your personality.”
    I cringed. “You’re mentally deranged.”
    He folded his arms again and rocked back on his heels in amusement. “You think I’ve never heard that one before?” His eyes narrowed, fixing on me with ferocity. “You never answered my question and since we’ve already established that you are honest I think you should tell me who you are before I summon the gang.”
    “You have a gang?” I raised an eyebrow. His tone was beginning to annoy me, and I felt my finger twitch in anticipation.
    “Phew!” The boy clutched at his nose. “You really do have a temper. Moulding chillis.” He shook his head in wonder. “It’s the most disgusting smell, and you reek of it.”
    Embarrassed, I sniffed my arm-pit, realising that I hadn’t showered in days. The boy erupted into a fit of scornful laughter.
    “You can’t smell it, you idiot. Don’t you understand what I’m saying?” He moved towards me. “I. Can. Smell. Your. Emotions.”
    “If you come even an inch closer to me I’ll throw you across that field.” I felt blood rise to my cheeks.
    He snorted. “What can an itty-bitty girl like––”
    The boy never got a chance to finish before the searing power erupted through my mind and I lifted the boy off the ground, dangling him six feet above the ground. He screamed and shrieked and it was my time to laugh.
    “What are you doing, you nutter? Put me down! What the hell are you…? Whoaaa… help! A crazy girl is chucking me around… ahhhh!”
    I laughed and threw him from side to side like a ball. Using my power had never been this easy. I thought about throwing him across the field, picking out a few painful looking thorn bushes…
    “Mina! Put him down this instance.”
    I gasped and dropped the boy to the ground. I knew that voice. It was the voice I’d heard a thousand, a million times – before bed, at breakfast, in the kitchen, in the garden, on the swings, in the shops… everywhere. It was my dad.

7
    As the boy clambered to his feet, I froze to the spot. Dad walked towards me. He had emerged from a barn to the right that I hadn’t even noticed. Without realising I’d walked towards the barn Ali told me about, as though my feet had led me here on their own.
    “Your power has grown,” he said in awe. “I never imagined…” he trailed off. His back was straight and tense. He approached me in the same manner someone would approach a cornered animal. “It’s so good to see you. Minnie––”
    “Don’t call me that.” My voice cracked and I cleared my throat.
    “She’s really angry, Prof,” the boy said. “And I’d be careful seeing as we’ve already seen her go Hulk.”
    My eyes narrowed at the comic book reference. What had my dad been teaching them? Most of that stuff had been banned by the Ministry years ago for belittling genetic mutations.
    “Mina, I’m so sorry.”