Christian
Christian looked up at the house he'd come to, wanting more than anything to be inside.
He paid the taxi driver and stepped out of the cab, before making his way up the driveway.
A man was watching from the window.
"He's coming," he informed those with him, and moved to the front door.
As soon as Christian knocked, he opened it.
"Welcome," he smiled.
Christian nodded in reply, and stepped in.
"Basement?"
"They're waiting for you."
Christian glanced at the man, before making his way towards the staircase, and opening a small door beneath it. Below him was another set of stairs, leading down into the basement. Without waiting, he began down them.
A red bulb illuminated the small area, showing simply a chair in the centre of the room, with nine men standing in a circle around it. One of them turned to him.
"Christian," he smiled in greeting.
"Manning," he nodded in reply.
"Take a seat and we'll get started."
Christian obliged, hesitating only as one of the men – not knowing which one – dusted his shirt on the way. He sat and rested his arms on the arms of the chair, before closing his eyes.
The man from the door and Manning both rejoined the circle, and the telepaths began working on the shield. Each was creating their own shield, layering one of top of the other. This way, had there not already been a shield in place, even they would never be able to intrude on Christian's mind without the other nine.
Christian waited until they were done, and opened his eyes as he heard movement. Manning was moving toward him, holding a pendant.
Stepping up to him, Manning slipped the long chain over Christian's head. The pendant was a black spider, approximately three inches long, with a large red stone in its back.
As soon as the pendant sat in place, Christian was forced to close his eyes again as information began to swamp his mind.
He hung his head and frowned in concentration, beginning to put it all together.