Hunting Lila

by Sarah Alderson

I heard an intake of breath from Jack.

  Alex stepped back, his eyes on me the whole time. ‘Take care of her,’ he said.

  ‘She’s my sister,’ Jack growled at him. His fists were curled tight at his side.

  Alex glanced at Jack and nodded once. Then he turned around and started jogging back towards the park entrance.

  My legs stumbled forward, automatically trying to follow him, and I felt Jack’s hand on my arm like a clamp.

  ‘No, Lila,’ he said.

  23

  Then I realised there was no hand on my arm. My whole body was frozen. I tried to move my legs, but it was like trying to wade through wet concrete. Nothing happened. I couldn’t even turn my head.

  ‘Don’t move.’ The voice came from behind and shocked the hell out of me. It wasn’t Jack. It was a girl.

  ‘They can’t,’ someone answered. It was a man’s voice and it caused a spasm of shudders to ride up my spine.

  ‘I know – I just like saying it.’ Suki danced in front of me, giggling delightedly like I was an eagerly anticipated birthday present. ‘Hi, Lila,’ she said.

  I opened my mouth to scream but it was as though someone had hit a delete button in my brain. My mind went blank.

  ‘Oh, Demos, don’t do that – it’s no fun. It’s just Lila. Let her talk. Go on, last time I learnt so much. I didn’t even need to read her mind.’

  I heard someone expel a laugh. Demos. He was so close I could feel his breath on the back of my neck. Adrenaline cascaded through my body but just as it reached the part of my brain that controls reflexes it stopped. Like the tap had turned off. I was suddenly so calm I felt like I’d had a bottle of Valium injected straight into my cerebral cortex.

  A thought poked through the fog of my brain. Where was Jack? Was he still behind me? Then I remembered Alex. I tried to swivel my neck to see where he was. He’d been leaving me. I couldn’t remember why, though. Where was he now? Was he safe?

  ‘Ahh, how sweet, she’s looking for Alex. She’s worrying about him.’ Suki skipped into my field of vision again, pouting.

  I frowned at her. How dare she read my thoughts?

  ‘Oh come on, you would too, if you could.’ Suki shrugged at me and cocked her head to one side.

  I noticed she was wearing another pair of unfeasibly high, totally impractical shoes for being up a mountain and a dress that clung so tightly to her body it was a wonder she could move.

  I narrowed my eyes, willing her to go to hell.

  She flinched back, her eyebrows pulling together into one neat line.

  I heard Demos’s footsteps crunching on pine needles before I saw him. He meandered into view, smiling, and stopped dead in front of me. He was wearing a dark suit and a white shirt with an open-neck collar and looked like he was on his way from, or to, a funeral. He studied me for a few long seconds then he laughed a little laugh, as though I’d cracked a joke, and nodded his head.

  My first instinct was to lash out. When my limbs wouldn’t obey I looked around for something, anything, to throw at him. There was nothing. Just trees. I chose the smallest and focused on it, willing it to uproot so I could use it like a battering ram through his skull. I saw the leaves tremble but it stayed firmly gripped by the ground.

  ‘Uh-oh, Demos. She doesn’t like you very much.’

  I brought my eyes back to the two of them. Suki had linked her arm through Demos’s and was leaning into him.

  ‘Hardly a surprise.’ Demos was fixing me with eyes as flat and blue as a November sky. ‘I’m going to let you go, but don’t try anything, Lila. There’s no point. I think you see that now. And besides, Jack’s right behind you. And I know you wouldn’t want anything to happen to him, would you?’

  It felt like being untethered from iron bindings. My limbs were suddenly free, my voice back. I turned my head slowly to see behind me. Jack was on his knees, his hands by his side, frozen like he’d been set in carbon. Though from Jack’s expression, Demos wasn’t cutting off any of his thoughts. His face was a picture of agony.

  I dropped straight to his side, wrapping my arms around him. ‘Stop hurting him!’ I screamed.

  ‘I’m not hurting him,’ Demos said, laughing.

  ‘Then let him go.’

  ‘No, not yet.’

  I looked up at him standing over us and willed him to die. I tried to imagine his head parting company with his body, his limbs detaching from his torso. But nothing happened. My mother’s killer was standing a few metres in front of me, threatening my brother, and I could do nothing about it. A feeling of helplessness started to overwhelm me, then receded, ebbing away as suddenly as it had come.

  ‘He’s not in pain. Well, not physical pain.’ Suki had moved forward, closer to Jack, and I twisted my body to shield him.

  She skipped back a few steps towards Demos. ‘Wow, he’s properly furious. About a lot of things. He can’t believe he led us here. He’s blaming himself.’

  She came forward again, bending down to speak to Jack face to face. ‘Don’t blame yourself, Jack. It’s not your fault. We would have found you anyway. Eventually.’

  ‘No. He didn’t. Sorry.’ She was answering an unspoken question. I saw Jack’s eyes fill like acid was burning them.

  ‘See, here he is.’ Suki moved aside and pointed past Demos.

  I looked up, following her outstretched hand, and saw Alex walking towards us. My heart leapt at the sight of him. At first I thought maybe he was coming back to rescue us and hope rocketed through me. Then I noticed the two men on either side of him and the gun hanging in mid-air, resting against his head as he walked.

  I was on my feet and tearing off towards him before they could stop me, but as I got close to Alex, my feet suddenly jammed into the earth like I’d been lassoed around the ankles. I would have fallen to the ground but my body slammed into thin air like I’d been thrown against a concrete block and I was frozen there, at an acute angle, only a few metres away from Alex’s arms.

  A trickle of blood was running down his cheek and his eyes, locked onto mine, were kaleidoscopic with anger. They had hurt him. Fury filled my head. I saw the gun resting just above his temple and in a heartbeat it was hurtling through the clearing like a boomerang. A split second before it hit the branch I was aiming at, it jolted to a stop, spun around and came bombing back in our direction. I didn’t have time to figure out how. My mind went blank again and I looked back at Alex – how had he got that cut on his cheek?

  The man next to him was holding the gun again – aiming it at Alex’s head but scowling in my direction as though he wished it was pointed at mine. I recognised him. He was one of the men from the file on Jack’s computer. The one who looked like a bulldog. What was his name again?

  ‘Bill, try to keep a grip. You know who we’re dealing with.’ It was Demos. He was at my side.

  Bill, that was it. He was telekinetic, like me.

  ‘Sorry, boss.’ He scowled at me some more.

  The sound of a mobile ringing made me jump. I realised I could move my arms and legs once more.

  ‘Get that, would you?’ Demos said to the man on Alex’s other side, a man in his mid-twenties with longish hair and a rakish look about him. I knew him, too. He was called Ryder. I remembered the list of crimes under his name, as long as War and Peace, and the fact he was a sifter.

  Ryder reached into Alex’s back pocket and pulled out his mobile which was trilling away innocently. He handed it to Demos, who took it and hit the speaker button.

  ‘Hello?’

  Key’s voice echoed around the clearing. ‘Alex, it’s me. Go. You gotta go! They’re on their way. They’re coming for you – at the cable car. They’ve found you.’

  ‘Whoever you are, thank you. But you’re a little late.’ Demos flipped the phone shut. He turned to Alex. ‘So, it looks like we’d better hurry up and do business, then.’

  From behind, I heard Jack’s raised voice. ‘Get your hands off me!’

  I turned around. He was being manhand
led to a standing position by someone. My mind raced through the photos I’d memorised from Jack’s computer. I knew this one. Harvey James. As he came closer I saw he even had a cigarette dangling from his lip like he did in the photo. Jack was walking a few paces ahead and Harvey and Suki were sauntering along behind him. I noticed that Jack was holding his hands up with the palms forward, the international sign for surrender.

  When they reached us, the gun hovering against Jack’s back, right between the shoulder blades, became visible. Harvey was telekinetic too. I wondered if I could get the gun off him.

  ‘Uh-uh. I can’t read minds, Lila, but you’re pretty obvious.’

  I whipped around. Demos was looking at me from under heavy lids, his eyebrows raised in a lazy threat.

  I turned back to Jack. I could see the effort it was taking for him to stand there and not lose control.

  ‘Sorry,’ he said, looking at me, his eyes glistening green.

  I shook my head at him, my eyes filling too. ‘No, it’s not your fault.’

  ‘Take me. Don’t hurt her.’ It was Alex.

  I drew in a breath and turned back towards him. No way was he giving himself up for me. Not that I thought any of us was going to have a chance to walk away from this. It was bad. Demos and his people had formed a rough circle around the three of us and at the edges, by the trees, I spotted a couple of others. There was no way we were getting out of this one.

  ‘While I appreciate the offer, I don’t want you. I want her. I know what you two will do for her. But don’t worry, I’m not planning on hurting her. Unless, of course, you mess up. So I guess you’d better not mess up.’

  ‘You want us to swop Lila for Alicia?’ Alex said.

  ‘Very good, Alex. Never underestimate you – that’s what I’ve learnt over the years.’

  ‘No need to swear.’

  We all looked at Suki. Alex shot her a look that was colder than liquid nitrogen.

  Demos leant a little down towards her and said quietly, ‘He didn’t, Suki.’

  She looked at Demos. ‘Oh, sorry.’ She turned to Alex. ‘Sometimes I can’t tell what’s internal and what’s not. But still, no need to swear.’

  Demos carried on. He took a pace so he was standing between Jack and Alex, like a football coach prepping his team at half-time. ‘So, at least I don’t need to spell it out. You boys head on back to the base. I’m sure between you you can figure out a way of breaking and entering. I’m confident in you both and it’s amazing how something like this can force the mind to focus.’

  He wandered to my side and put an arm around my back. It was meant to be proprietary. I felt my spine arch away from his touch and saw Jack start to bubble with rage, the tendons in his neck beginning to bulge. Alex raised his arm a fraction to hold Jack back.

  Demos seemed to be enjoying the effect he was having. ‘Bring back Alicia and you get your sister back alive. I don’t care how you do it. It’s a good deal, I think.’

  I let my eyes track from Alex to Jack. They were both looking at me. Both of them trying to convey to me that I shouldn’t worry, that everything would be just fine. I gave them a washed-out smile, trying to convince them that I believed them. The trickle of blood on Alex’s cheek had dried to a crust and a reddish bruise was swelling his cheekbone.

  Jack turned his head to look at Alex and Alex dragged his eyes off me and looked over at Jack. I saw the silent communication happening between them. The nod of their heads. They didn’t need to be like Suki, they knew each other so well. Plus Jack had his unpoker face on. I could see they were agreeing to do whatever Demos wanted, and my stomach knotted itself in fear. Heading back to the base and trying to break someone out sounded like suicide.

  Alex turned to Demos. Took a step towards him. I noticed the gun still hovering at his back but Demos didn’t try to stop him. He stood his ground, his eyes watchful.

  ‘If we do what you say – if we get Alicia – you’ll give us Lila. Do you swear it?’

  Demos nodded. ‘I’m a man of my word, Alex. You should know that.’

  Jack took a step now too, the gun nudging his head. I saw a smile curl on Ryder’s lip. ‘I swear to God if you try anything . . .’

  ‘Save it, Jack. If anyone’s going to try anything, we both know it’ll be you. You’re impulsive – like your sister. Like your mother was, too.’ It was said almost with affection.

  My body recoiled like a snake had reared up and bitten me. Jack’s reaction was the complete opposite. He darted forward so fast that his hand made contact with Demos’s throat, his fingers closing around the soft flesh before Demos even had time to react.

  In the next instant Alex and I lunged for the gun at Jack’s head. Alex’s hand knocked it out of the way and I spun it up into the tree branches and out of the clearing.

  I heard a grunt from Bill and watched as Ryder smacked his elbow hard into Alex’s ribs. Alex folded over, hugging his body, and I let out a yell that mingled with Suki’s screams. But then there was silence all around.

  Harvey stepped forward with the other gun in his hand and brought it to rest against the base of Jack’s skull. My heart stopped in my throat.

  Demos stepped back from Jack’s outstretched and frozen hand, his fingers massaging the red bruises rising on his neck. Alex stood up straight, nursing his ribs, but with a confused frown on his face. His eyes tracked straight to me. I wasn’t frozen. I could still think.

  ‘Are you OK?’ he mouthed.

  All I could do was nod. Then he looked over at Jack and I saw the question in his eyes and the flash of anger that came in its wake.

  Demos was frowning at Jack now. His brow so heavy it looked like it might cave in at any moment. ‘Trying to prove my point, Jack?’ he asked. Then he turned to Bill and Harvey. ‘This is a seventeen-year-old girl,’ he said, nodding his head in my direction. ‘Can you, or can you not, handle a seventeen-year-old girl?’

  They looked sheepish.

  ‘I told you she was strong,’ Suki piped up from behind Demos.

  ‘Maybe she could give those two some lessons.’ He turned back to them. ‘Watch her please.’

  Then he turned on me. ‘Lila, please rein in your talents. Or I will have to stop you from thinking. And I really don’t want to have to do that.’

  There was a pause and I realised he was waiting for me to respond. I nodded at him through clenched teeth.

  ‘So where was I? I believe I was telling Jack not to try anything. That fell on deaf ears, didn’t it, Jack?’ He pushed his face into Jack’s frozen one. ‘So I’ll say it again, to be clear. Do. Not. Try. Anything. Don’t even think about bringing the Unit into this. It won’t end well.’

  I remembered Alex’s words along the same lines. It was as though he had prophesied this.

  Then I heard a clicking noise and saw Harvey cocking the gun against Jack’s head. I struggled to keep my panic and rage under control, terrified that I’d knock the gun again and it would go off accidentally and shoot Jack’s brains out.

  ‘Move the gun, Harvey, it’s freaking her out.’ It was Suki.

  Harvey scowled at her but did as he was told, pulling it back but keeping it trained on Jack’s back. I felt my panic ebb a notch and wondered if it was because of that or whether Demos had had a hand in it. He hadn’t let Jack go, though, his body still forming an awkward statue in front of us, his face strangely peaceful-looking.

  Demos turned to Suki. ‘What’s he thinking?’ He was indicating Alex. God, I had longed for that ability only a few hours ago – it was so ironic. ‘Is he going to bring us Alicia? Or is he planning on bringing the Unit?’

  Suki paused, listening in silence to Alex’s thoughts. I could see Alex’s brow furrow at the violation. ‘No. From what I can tell, he won’t do anything that might put Lila in danger.’ She paused. ‘Well, any more danger. He doesn’t know how they’ll get back onto the base, though. Yet. Or how they’ll break Alicia out. The security is heavy. I . . .’ She shook her head. ‘He’s . . .’
>
  I could see her frowning and then her eyes grew wide. She stretched up and whispered something in Demos’s ear. He cricked his head to listen, his eyebrows raised in interest, and then flicked me a glance.

  He turned back to Alex. ‘That’s interesting, Alex. Thanks for the information.’

  I wondered what on earth Suki had heard Alex saying. He didn’t look annoyed at her. On the contrary, he gave an almost imperceptible nod.

  ‘Amber!’ Demos was calling to a figure at the edge of the clearing.

  She lifted her head at the name and walked towards us fast. All I could see was a haze of red hair blazing in the afternoon sunshine and a pair of statuesque legs clad in tight black leather. She created much the same impact as Rachel did on a group, and a hush descended.

  ‘Amber, what do you sense – is he telling the truth?’ Demos asked when she got near.

  She turned towards Alex, who met her gaze coolly. She smiled at him as though they were old friends. ‘Hey, Alex, are you telling the truth?’

  I watched as Alex’s brow furrowed at the question. What was she, a human lie detector?

  ‘Yes,’ he answered firmly.

  Amber stood there for five long seconds, her eyes tracing Alex’s body and a smile fluttering on her lips. I shuffled uneasily. I knew a look like that when I saw one. I coughed under my breath and she broke out of her private reverie.

  ‘Yes, he’s telling the truth,’ she said to Demos. ‘That was amazing.’

  What was amazing? What had she been doing to him with her mind? I looked at him in horror but Alex seemed as confused as I was. Amber walked to Ryder’s side and slipped her arm over his shoulder, whispering in his ear. He glanced up at Alex and over at me.

  ‘Good. I don’t like liars,’ Demos said. ‘And as regards getting onto the base and into the building, you’re a resourceful guy, Alex. I’m sure you’ll figure something out. And don’t worry – we’ll take good care of her.’

  A sly smile slashed Suki’s face in half. ‘He says he’ll kill you if you don’t.’

  ‘I’d like to see him try,’ said a voice.

  ‘Quite,’ said Demos. ‘Right, Jack, can you hear me?’