Shadows of Jane

by Amy Hale

  “Dearest, speak to me! Open your eyes!”

  Jane blinked. Colt had his arms around her, and George was directly in front of her, trying to get her attention.

  “Are you all right, Alice?” George’s worried tone snapped her to attention.

  She attempted to stand on her own, and Colt kept a hand on her for stability.

  “Yeah, I’m fine. I just…” She looked at Colt. “I had another weird vision.”

  George’s frown deepened. “You’re having visions? Oh, dear, I was afraid this would happen.”

  Colt and Jane both stared at him, their worried expressions begging for an explanation.

  George motioned to the couch. “You should sit down for this.”

  They moved to the couch.

  George took the armchair. “Your gifts are remarkable, so remarkable that you belonged to a secret society called The Curators. They felt it was important to ensure that you and others like you were cared for and appreciated for your unique abilities. They wanted to foster your gifts without exposing you to the evils of the world.”

  He stood and rubbed the back of his neck. Then, he paced a couple of times before continuing, “You can imagine how difficult it was for a little girl with your special talents to attend a regular school without drawing attention to herself. So, we attended classes that taught you self-control. It wasn’t long before you could attend school, make friends, and be like any other child your age. The difference was that you had a secret the other children knew nothing about, and you got very good at hiding it.”

  He walked to where Jane sat and crouched down in front of her. He took her hand. “Something went wrong, Alice. The man in charge decided the society needed to live up to its name. Instead of helping children like you, he started collecting them, keeping them like pieces in a museum. He’d spent years inserting like-minded henchmen into the organization. Those of us who fought back didn’t stand a chance. We were outnumbered. He found a way to kill pretty much everyone who disagreed with his plan. ”

  He sighed. “Your mother and I took you and ran. At the time, there was nothing we could do for the other children, but we could keep you safe—at least, we thought we could.”

  His sad expression made her heart ache for him. She looked at Colt and saw that he was also hurting for the man before them.

  “They broke in one night while we were reading together, and—”

  Jane interrupted, “They stabbed Mother.”

  George looked confused. “Yes, they did. Do you remember? I’d hoped that particular memory wouldn’t return.”

  She nodded. “I remember some of it. I saw it in a vision. You were making silly noises while we read.” She paused to think. “Why were you making silly noises? I thought I was twelve when I was taken?”

  He gave her a sad look. “You were. I was just being obnoxious. You were laughing at your stupid dad.”

  She smiled at the thought, but she wished she could remember more of her mother. In the vision, she seemed to be wonderful.

  George’s expression became grim once again. “These people are still out there. You somehow escaped, but they won’t stop until they find you again. Of all the children, you were their most valued prize. And if they ever catch wind that your powers have expanded…to healing, they’d gladly kill anyone who got in their way of retrieving you.”

  He gave Colt a pointed look.

  Colt frowned. He knew what George was getting at, and he didn’t like it.

  “What are you saying, Dad?”

  “I’m saying that you aren’t safe here. And Colt isn’t safe if he’s with you.”

  She turned to Colt, and he read the fear on her face.

  His anger rose. “Hold on. There has to be a way I can help protect her. I’m not helpless, Mr. Daniels. I’ve kept her safe this far.”

  “I know, Colt, and you’ll never know how much I appreciate that. But this is going to get complicated very quickly. These people are dangerous and capable of deeds you couldn’t even imagine.” He looked at Jane. “For now, the safest course is to come back with me. We have a facility that is serving as a refugee camp of sorts for those with your gifts.”

  She wiped away a tear. “How many others are like me?”

  “Like you? None. So far, you are one of a kind. But there are others with similar gifts—mostly telekinesis. I’ve managed to find a few of the others who escaped over the years, and we are doing our best to help them in a way we couldn’t before. I’ve never forgiven myself for abandoning all those children, but at the time, I saw no other way to ensure your safety. I’m trying to fix that mistake.”

  She looked at Colt. “He’s making sense. Maybe I can help keep the others safe.”

  Colt stood up. “No! There has to be another way!” His panic was building rapidly.

  “But, Colt, I can help!”

  He flexed his fingers and glared at George. “I think you should leave. Jane and I need to talk.”

  George looked at her. “Jane? You’re still using Jane?”

  “I’m sorry. I’m just having a hard time adjusting to Alice. I’ll get there.”

  Colt had to bite his tongue to keep from yelling at both of them. He walked to the front door and opened it.

  George took the hint and made his way to the door. “Think about what I said, please. I’m not exaggerating when I say it’s life or death.”

  He stepped out, and Colt slammed the door behind him.

  YET TO TRUST THE ONE AND LEAVE THE OTHER,

  I’LL LOSE MORE THAN A FRIEND.

  Colt fumed. He knew he had no right to be angry with Jane. She was only trying to protect others, but it frustrated the hell out of him that she couldn’t see the alternatives.

  He walked back to where she stood and stuffed his hands in his pockets. He was afraid if he touched her, he’d drag her into the bedroom and never let her out.

  She looked mad as well. “Colt, you had no right to throw my father out.”

  “The hell I didn’t! It’s my house. When someone comes in and tries to take what’s mine, I fight for it!”

  “Yours? Did you just say yours? I’ve told you before, Colt. I’m not an object to be owned.”

  “Damn it, I know that! That’s not what I meant!”

  “Could have fooled me. The moment it looks like I might choose something other than what you want, you freak out and start throwing a tantrum.”

  He shook his head. “So, I’m a toddler now, am I?”

  “If the shoe fits…”

  “Well, that’s fair, coming from a coward.”

  She moved closer, leaving only a few inches separating them. Her voice pitched to a screech as she yelled, “A coward?”

  “Yes, a coward!” He was now standing nose-to-nose with her. His voice was deadly calm. “When things get hard, you run.”

  “Did you ever think I was doing it for you, Colt? Did that ever cross your mind?”

  “Yeah, I’ve heard that before.”

  “Colt, I already told you. I needed time to sort things out.”

  “Uh-huh. But you left a pretty final-sounding good-bye note. You weren’t planning on coming back.”

  She sighed. “No, you’re right. At that time, I wasn’t going to return. I didn’t know what I know now.”

  He reached for her, placing his hands on her hips. “And this is the same situation. There are other options. You don’t have to go. I’ll keep you safe. I’ll help you win.”

  She fought back tears. “But who will keep you safe? I meant it when I said I loved you, Colt. I could never live with myself if something happened to you, especially if it happened because of me.”

  “I’m not helpless, Jane. I’m not without resources. Dr. Weston has been studying some research on the subject. He might already have found something helpful.”

  She closed her eyes and buried her head into his neck, wanting to change the subject. “Can we sleep on it? I can’t think. It’s just too much to take in.”

  C
olt wanted to settle it now, but he knew pushing her wouldn’t benefit either of them. And he was pretty sure she’d made up her mind the moment George told her others were in danger. “Sure. Let’s get some rest.”

  She pulled back and looked into the kitchen. “We didn’t eat. I’m sure the food is cold by now.”

  He shrugged. “I’ve lost my appetite anyway.” He pulled away and went into the bedroom. He came out with a pillow and blanket. “I’ll sleep in the spare room.”

  She frowned. “Colt, please, don’t do this. There’s no reason to.”

  Colt shook his head. “You needed space before. Now, it’s my turn.” He pushed open the door to the extra bedroom and stepped inside. “Good night…Alice.” Then, he shut the door.

  She stood rooted in place, wishing her powers included changing the past. There were so many things she’d like to fix.

  Jane spent most of her night tossing and turning. It was amazing how quickly one could get used to having someone else in the bed. She’d doze off and dream of losing Colt, only to wake up and reach for him, knowing he wasn’t there. Her dreams ranged from him finding another woman to a faceless group of people killing him in horrible ways. She’d woken up more than once with tears streaming down her face and various objects levitating around her.

  She went through her regular morning routine, hoping to hear Colt stirring somewhere in the house. She needed to make him understand. This wasn’t just about them. It was about so many others who, for whatever reason, were born with unusual abilities. She had to put her dreams aside for a while and focus on helping them. It didn’t mean she could never see him, but it did mean she’d have to leave for a while.

  She’d miss him terribly. Just the thought of being away from him made her chest ache. He was a part of her very soul. But in time, things would get better. They could be together again once this situation was sorted out. She truly believed that.

  She walked into the living room and noticed that Colt was sitting in the armchair, drinking whiskey from the bottle.

  She glanced at her watch. “Colt, it’s not even nine yet. Why are you swigging that stuff so early?”

  He glared at her and took another deliberate drink, as if to spite her. “Who cares what time it is?”

  She looked closer and realized his eyes were bloodshot. “Did you sleep at all last night?”

  He shrugged and then tossed something on the coffee table.

  Her eyes widened when she realized it was a photo of him and his brother as children, and a vibrant-looking young woman was holding them. It was obviously a cherished picture, judging by the beautiful silver frame surrounding it. It didn’t take her but a few seconds to realize that this must be his mother.

  She stepped closer and noticed the similarities in their features. “Is this your mom?”

  He didn’t answer.

  “Are you going to talk to me or just drink yourself to death?”

  He stood up. “What difference does it make?”

  “Colt! Stop this! We need to talk, and you need to be sober, so you’ll understand.”

  He sneered at her. “I understand perfectly well. You’re going to leave to protect others because you’re unselfish that way. You always put others before yourself.” His gaze softened. “It’s one of the things I love about you. It’s also one of the things I hate about you right now.”

  She clasped her hands in front of her and started to twist her fingers.

  He noticed and ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “Just…go. Pack your stuff, and go.”

  Her heart was breaking as she watched this amazing, strong man slowly give up. “Colt, they need me right now.”

  “They need you? What about me? I need you more, damn it!” He threw the whiskey bottle, and it shattered against the wall.

  Jane watched the amber liquid run down the wall, realizing her tears were echoing their movements. “I love you, Colt. I’ll always love you,” she said it so quietly that she wasn’t sure he’d even heard her.

  He picked up the photo of his mother and spent a moment gazing at it. He let out a disbelieving laugh. “She said she loved me, too. Then, she left and never came back.” His eyes rose to meet Jane’s. Tears were building on his lashes as he stared at her. He quickly swiped them away with the back of his hand.

  His expression hardened. “Don’t waste any time worrying about me. I’ll be fine. Go save the world. I was wrong. I don’t need you.” He tossed the photo of his mom in the unused fireplace and walked past her, being careful not to touch her.

  “Colt, please hear me out.”

  He opened the front door and kept going until he was on his motorcycle. He pulled out, his back tire squealing as he drove away. He couldn’t get away from her and her damn emotional entanglements fast enough.

  That afternoon, Jane packed her meager belongings in the backpack and carried them to her favorite park bench. She sat alone with her thoughts, wondering if she was making the right decision.

  Her eyes were puffy and red from all the crying she’d done the last several hours. Colt’s direct cut had hurt, but she knew he had just been reacting to his fear of being abandoned again. She didn’t know how, but she hoped she could eventually make him see that she was nothing like his mother. She truly did love him, and someday, she’d find a way to prove it.

  As she watched children playing on the slide, she recognized a familiar face.

  He approached cautiously. “Hi. I don’t know if you know who I am, but—”

  She warily eyed him. “Yeah, I know who you are. Peter Grant, right? The guy on the news.”

  He nodded but looked afraid to come any closer. “Would you mind if we talked for a few minutes?”

  She shrugged. “Why not? Have a seat.” She moved her backpack, so he could sit next to her.

  He perched himself on the edge of the bench, looking ready to bolt at any moment. “I’ve heard a lot about you. I know how rumors can get out of hand. I just wanted to possibly interview you, maybe get your side of things.”

  She raised her eyes to his. “Now really isn’t a good time, Mr. Grant.”

  He took notice of her red-rimmed eyes. “Are you okay?”

  She shook her head. “No, I’m not, but someday, I will be.” She inhaled a deep breath. “As for your story, I’m sure you know that Jerry has had it in for my boy—” She stopped herself short. “For Colt for some time. And Jerry beats women. So, please excuse me if I refuse to give credence to any of the ridiculous rumors circulating about Colt or me.” She sniffled and dabbed her eyes with the tissue she’d been clutching for the past half an hour.

  “I’m truly sorry that Jerry has been causing you so much heartache, ma’am.”

  She glanced at the reporter and thought she saw sincerity in his eyes, but she was no longer sure she could trust her instincts.

  “May I ask about Max and the incident in the bar? He told me what happened.”

  She pressed her lips together in a frustrated line. “Not much to tell. The town drunk attacked me in a restroom. I defended myself. Colt stepped in and helped me get away.”

  “So, that’s all there was to it? He tells a much different story.”

  She let out an unladylike snort. “I’m sure he does. He’s lucky that I don’t prosecute for attempted rape. He’s not about to tell the truth when he’s the guilty party.” She gave Peter a look that indicated she was done with the conversation. “Don’t you have better things to report about, Mr. Grant? Like city corruption or domestic abuse? If you really want a story, go talk to Lisa Thompson about getting beaten by Jerry on a regular basis. Now, there’s a problem people need to be aware of.”

  Peter had the decency to actually look ashamed. “I apologize for intruding, ma’am. I wish you well.”

  He stood and walked away, passing George as he left. Her dad gave Peter a strange look and then joined her on the bench.

  “What was all that about?”

  Jane shook her head. “Nothing important.” She g
rabbed her backpack. “Are we ready to go?”

  George took her hand in his. “You’re doing the right thing, you know. I’ve seen how you look at Colt. If he’s involved, he could get hurt. I know you’d feel guilty about that for the rest of your life. In time, things will work out for you both, but for now, we must do what we must do.”

  She tilted her head at him, nodding slowly. She repeated the phrase in her head, We must do what we must do.

  It must be something he’d said often when she was a child because it seemed to ring a bell.

  She stood.

  George took her backpack. “This is everything?”

  She nodded. “I haven’t really had time to put down roots yet.”

  He gave her a slight hug. “That’s for the best, I’m sure.”

  He placed his hand on the middle of her back and guided her to the parking area. When they neared a van he had pointed out to her, she noticed two men standing near it. She looked at George with a worried expression.

  He smiled at her. “Alice, I’d like you to meet my friends Dennis and Robert. They came in case we run into any trouble along the way.”

  They both smiled at her.

  She felt a familiarity regarding the two men. “Have we met before?”

  They looked at each other and then to George.

  He laughed. “Remember, boys? She’s lost her memory of the past.” He turned to her. “They worked with me for years, dearest. You practically grew up with them.”

  She felt silly. “Oh, so sorry. I hope to eventually remember everyone.”

  Dennis waved it off as nothing. “Don’t let it bother you. We are just glad to have found you alive and well. It was quite a scare when you went missing.”

  She nodded. “I’m sure it was, especially since I was so young.”

  Dennis and Robert nodded in agreement.

  Robert opened the back door of a small blue minivan. “We’ve taken the liberty of placing some comforts for you near the backseat. We thought you might want to rest or would like some snacks for the trip.”

  “Thank you. That was very kind.” She climbed in and made herself comfortable in the back, buckling in and leaning against a large feather pillow.