This story idea focuses on a young man (teenager? young adult?) who discovers that he has nascent psychic powers. Perhaps he begins overhearing other’s thoughts and at first thinks they are things people actually said leading to embarrassing situations. He’s a loner, an outsider, and this only exacerbates the problem.
He discovers a ring of psychics that communicate with each other. At first he’s intrigued, excited to find others like himself. But as he gets to know them better he discovers they use their powers to manipulate others. To control popular opinion. They appear to work for some secret government organization, and prey upon the weak minded enhancing notions of fear in our terrorism-crazed times (perhaps the story can be a bit of a statement about that in general). He rejects this and is shut out by the other collected minds.
Another gets in touch with him during this. The protagonist is wary now and reluctant to establish contact with this new psychic. He learns though that he is representing a group of weaker psychics who have been shunned by the circle. The boy realizes he must make a difference and together with this outcast group they must overthrow the main circle. Lots of potential for interesting dreamscape type settings in people’s minds, as well as even travel to hunt down the other psychics in person.