Read Online The Superpower Project by Paul Bristow - Free Book Online Page A

work she appeared to be doing on this project, which was probably going to make next parents’ night even more awkward than usual.
    She met Cam at the corner of his road and they set off for Crowfell Hospital, number three on Gran’s map. Crowfell was almost two hundred years old, and had previously been a poorhouse, an asylum and a prisoner-of-war camp – so ‘abandoned hospital’ was actually one of its nicer uses.
    As it was out in the middle of a valley, away from the main roads, they wouldn’t have to worry about getting caught trespassing. Of course, that also meant that if they were attacked by a killer sculpture, no one would hear them screaming. Well, maybe not – Cam could scream pretty loud, although he insisted on calling it a roar. A really high-pitched roar.
    As they approached the fence, Cam looked like he might roar at any second. “So, what treats do you think we’ll find in the creepy old abandoned hospital?” he asked.
    â€œGerms. Or zombies,” suggested Megan.
    â€œReally? I was hoping for either nothing or a big box of money.”
    â€œAre you scared of the hospital, Cam?” asked TJ.
    â€œI’m scared of all hospitals… my mum’s a nurse.”
    Rusted, razor-tipped wire fencing looped all the way around the hospital’s grounds. The hospital itself stood dark and empty a little further down the hill and into the valley.
    â€œLooks really jaggy,” said Megan, touching the wire.
    â€œI can cut it,” said TJ, producing a little blowtorch from the tip of one of his fingers and slicing a hole big enough for them to crouch through.
    â€œHah!” said Cam. “That’s actually the coolest thing I’ve seen you do so far. You got any other apps?”
    TJ’s eyes beamed brightly, startling Megan and Cam. He turned and they illuminated the muddy slope that was the only way down towards the hospital. “Full beam,” he said.
    â€œI did bring a torch,” said Cam.
    â€œDoes it have full beam?” asked TJ.
    â€œWell, the batteries are running a bit low…”
    â€œHmm. Mine is full beam.”
    The three of them sludged slowly down to the crumbling turrets and boarded-up windows of Crowfell. Its huge wooden front door had been barred with steel beams.
    â€œThat will certainly keep most people out,” said Megan.
    â€œOr keep things in,” suggested Cam.
    â€œTJ, will you be able to move these?” asked Megan.
    The robot stepped forward and hauled out the metal bars. The old door creaked open, and TJ’s lights revealed a dusty entrance hall and ornate staircase.
    â€œDo you think the lights will still be working?” asked Cam.
    â€œI think we’ll be lucky if the floors are still working,” said Megan.
    â€œAfter you, Cameron,” said TJ, bowing in a slightly sarcastic way.
    â€œNo actually, it’s ladies before gentlemen,” smiled Megan, even though she didn’t really mean it. It just seemed like the easiest way to avoid another argument. She stepped in first and held her breath.
    Unlike the tunnels or the warehouse, the silence here seemed still – as if time had broken and stopped. An empty desk blocked their way forward, a dusty old leather chair behind it. TJ and Cam shuffled in behind Megan and they all stood at the desk as if someone was going to sign them in.
    â€œWhere should we go first?” asked Cam with unconvincing enthusiasm.
    Megan sighed. “I thought it might be obvious when we got here.”
    TJ had been staring all around the cavernous building, his eye-lights shining into every corner. “I know this place,” he said. “I have been here before. Upstairs first.”
    â€œWhy? What’s upstairs?” asked Megan.
    â€œAnswers perhaps.” TJ stepped onto the stairs, which instantly gave way, leaving both his feet wedged inside the staircase.
    Cameron sniggered. “You must be too heavy TJ.