The Boy Who Read Minds

by Veronica Soliman

  I left her awake this time and walked upstairs. My basement could get rather stuffy sometimes and I needed some fresh air if I was going to continue my research. I would perfect the formula in no time. I planned on presenting it and gaining all the success and wealth so I could quit my job as a professor of ethics.

  I walked toward my kitchen, pouring myself a glass of water. Violet might need water, so I brought her some water and walked back downstairs. She was groggy when I approached her, clearly dehydrated, and her hair was a mess. She smelled really bad.

  She's my daughter. Maybe I should offer her a bath.

  "Violet, I'm sorry. Sweetheart." I said, holding the water to her mouth so she would drink. She quickly drank the water and I considered getting her another cup, but I was too lazy to walk back upstairs.

  "Look, I'm going to get you another cup of water if you call your friend Aaron and tell him where you are." I smiled, "he can come pick you up and you're all set, okay?" I smiled at her as she shook her head. I wondered if she knew the real reason why I wanted him here. Or if she had been awake long enough to realize that I had been doing nothing to her. The only way to make sure she never told anybody about this experience was if I bluffed.

  "N… no dad. He won't come." She said as I felt anger bubbling inside me.

  "And why not?" I asked, tossing the cup aside and slamming my hand on my table, glaring at her. She looked so weak and frail, I could break her in half like a twig.

  "He won't." She muttered as I walked over to her. If I hurt her, she wouldn’t do as I asked; and it was crucial that I had her cooperation.

  "Okay, look Violet. I'm going to cut these zip ties you and let you upstairs to shower. There’s a bathroom down here too, but I’ll let you use the better shower. However, before I do, I want to let you know that if you try to escape, the tracking chip I installed inside you will release the toxin into your bloodstream and you will die in minutes." I said, watching the fear fill her eyes as tears began streaming down her face. "And while you're going upstairs, eat as much food and water as you'd like, you look so pale, sweetheart."

  I was bluffing, although there was no way for her to actually know that. I needed to keep her here to bait the true mind-reader, and I somehow knew that Aaron wouldn’t be able to stay away. I had been training for weeks to keep my mind blank at will. I was almost certain that the boy was in fact the same one that had destroyed my experiment; he had to be. It explained the link between him and my daughter, because nobody could ever truly like her that much.

  She nodded as I walked behind her and cut the zip ties, accidentally cutting her. Oops. "I apologize dear, come with me, I'll show you where the shower is." I quickly led her upstairs, helping her up each time she tripped. "There are clothes in the drawer as well as a towel that I took from Amelia’s house. You can call your friend if you'd like, your phone is in there too."

  With that, I quietly left her alone and walked back downstairs, hoping she wouldn't be stupid enough to leave and have my bluff be proven as what it really was.

  Chapter 57:\ Protector

  Violet

  "Aaron. Leave, please." I tried to say as he stood at the doorway. This was Dooley's plan all along. Aaron was the only person on this planet that had taken the majority of the serum and Dooley was ready to hurt him for it. I didn’t know how my dad had found out about Aaron, but I knew I had to protect him. I wanted Aaron to be safe and alive.

  I could tell something was up the second that Dooley had told me to call Aaron. Not once, but twice. When I’d looked at my phone, it had been fully charged, meaning he really wanted Aaron to show up for whatever reason. However, wouldn't the kidnapper ensure that nobody knew where their victim was? Thus, it only made sense that I was just the bait. He was after Aaron now, considering he kept insisting that I call him.

  I had entered the bathroom, I was thirsty and extremely hungry, but there were more important things on my mind at this moment. I needed to protect Aaron at all costs, I needed to warn him to stay as far away as possible. And in order to ensure that Dooley wasn’t listening in on my conversation, I turned on the faucet and the shower, making sure it was loud enough to drown out my voice from outside. I knew that my father was not tech-savvy, thus I doubted that he’d have been able to bug my phone and listen to my call that way.

  “Violet!” Aaron had answered and a warm comfort filled me. I wished I could see him right now.

  "Aaron, please listen. I don't have much time. If you figure out my location, do not come here. It's a trap. He's after you. Please listen to me and stay far away." I had warned him.

  "Violet! I don't want you getting hurt! Where are you anyway? Are you okay?" He asked, but his voice sounded a bit too confident when he’d asked where I was. It made me wonder If he already knew.

  "Aaron I can't tell you where I am because I don't even know where I am. I've been locked in a basement for three days. I'll be out of here soon though, don't worry about me. I'll escape on my own. I’ll be fine, I promise. Just do not come here. He’s setting you up. Don't come here." I had warned him, hoping the message would come across clearly enough.

  "Violet," Aaron scoffed, "I can protect myself, where are you?" He asked again. I missed his voice, his calm, deep voice made me feel safe as he continued to speak. I considered telling him that I was at my father’s house— it was a pretty vague location after all. But I immediately thought against it. I didn't want to put him in danger. He was safer where he was, and I knew my own father wouldn't kill me. At least I hoped. "Violet," he said, and I hadn't realized he had still been talking.

  "I have to go Aaron." I said, hanging up and walking into the shower.

  I quickly showered, looking at all the bruises on both my arms. There were a few on my neck and a cut on my thigh. I was numb to the pain. I searched around the bathroom and wondered if I could fit through the bathroom window. Dooley's house only had one floor, but I didn't want to risk my life if he had actually installed a tracking device on me. I had been in and out of consciousness for God knows how long— I wouldn’t doubt if he had.

  "Dad?" I asked, walking around the living room. He wasn't there. I walked downstairs to the basement. He wasn't there either.

  Good; he'd left which only gave me a couple minutes at most to get someone to help me. I rushed upstairs to his living room, keeping my eye on the door as I pulled out my phone and dialed 911, the emergency line.

  "Nine-one-one, what's your emergency?" A man picked up the phone immediately.

  "I've been kidnapped. My dad knocked me out at his lab and has been trying to experiment on me. He's kept me in his basement for three days; he just left right now please help me. His name is Dr. Robert Dooley. He works at Rosemond University as a professor and a researcher. Please send help; he isn't here right now but could be back here at any moment; and I am so scared." My lip was quivering as I walked to the kitchen and drank a bottle of water. I was extremely thirsty.

  "What's the address?"

  "I don't know where he took me. He knocked me out and the next thing I knew I was in a basement tied to a table while he took blood samples from me. He's crazy!" I said as I saw the doorknob move, "please hurry, he's here.” I said. My eyes widened, watching the doorknob twist slowly as my heart felt like it could just jump out of my chest and run away.

  "Ma'am, please stay on the line while we try to locate your location." The man said as the door opened, and Dr. Dooley walked in. I immediately ended the call, hoping they had enough time to locate me. I quickly deleted 911 from my recently called in case he decided to take my phone away and check.

  "Were you just on the phone?"

  "Yes." I responded. I was far from afraid as he approached me; I was mortified. I hoped the police would be here soon. I knew I needed paramedics for my injuries, but I was okay, at least for now.

  "Well, help should get here soon then?" He smirked at me as I felt like my jaw was going to drop. I wondered if he’d somehow heard my phone call. "Relax, I know
my own daughter wouldn't betray me like that. Besides, I trust you called your friend Aaron to help. You know he's welcome here anytime."

  “Yes.” I gulped as Dooley eyed me suspiciously.

  “Are you hungry, sweetheart?” Dooley asked as I shut my eyes. It had taken me so long to realize that my father was not a nice man. He was only kind when he needed something from me. I nodded as he walked to the kitchen. A few minutes later, a knock arrived at the front door, startling me.

  Please be the police. I stood in the living room, feeling like my heart could stop at any second as Dooley walked over to the door and unlocked it.

  Aaron. No! You fool!

  My mind raced a million miles an hour as I stared into his silver eyes. He had completely ignored my warning and now he had put himself in a dangerous situation.

  "Aaron. Leave, please." I tried to say as he stood at the doorway. This was Dooley's plan all along. I could practically feel the smug look on his face as he stared at Aaron. I was speechless at the sight of his disheveled hair and tears began streaming out of my eyes.

  "Welcome to my house, Aaron. You must be here for Violet. Can I get you a drink?"

  Don't take it. I thought, trying my hardest to direct it at Aaron as a thought entered my mind. Knowing Dr. Dooley, he’d probably poisoned it.

  "Sure! I'd love a drink." Aaron responded as my eyes widened.

  No. No, this can’t be happening. I didn’t know what I could do. I didn’t know if Aaron had heard me. A repulsive smile spread across my father’s face; it made me want to gag him. He must've believed that Aaron had taken the bait. Dooley must have been high on drugs or something because he certainly was acting strange. I watched Aaron step into Dooley’s home as my heart sunk.

  "Would you like some of my famous apple cider too, Violet?" Dooley asked me while Aaron and I followed him to the kitchen.

  Aaron, please leave. Please. Don’t drink anything from him. I tried to communicate with him, but I didn’t think he could hear me until a second later when Aaron’s lip turned upwards and he smirked— yes, smirked, at me.

  Relax, I got this. The police are outside surrounding the house, they escorted me here from the precinct. You're safe. Relief flooded through me as I gazed up at him. He looked at me with a warmth swirling in his eyes.

  My heart was racing as Aaron reached for my hand momentarily before letting go. I was overjoyed at seeing him, blessed that he’d come to rescue me with a backup plan ready to go. I wanted to hug and kiss him and tell him how much I missed him.

  "Yes." I said, following Aaron's lead.

  He said I can't leave the house. He put a tracker in me that is supposed to release a poison that’ll kill me if I try to leave. I thought as Aaron glanced at me.

  "So, Dr. Dooley, what have you been up to recently. I heard that you haven't been to your classes in a couple weeks." Aaron said, “You know, it’s also a little strange that half of your students all got sick at the same time.” Aaron mentioned as I sat beside him.

  "Oh, nothing, I've just been busy. Flu season has been making its rounds, I suppose." My dad responded, nonchalant as he poured the ‘apple cider’ into cups.

  "Have you gotten into any new technology? I heard the Ford lab is working to develop a tracker that you can put on people like a shock collar, so they can't go anywhere." Aaron said, making conversation as Dooley handed us each a cup of his 'apple cider.'

  "No, I haven't heard of that," Dooley said, watching us eagerly. We weren't stupid; clearly, he had put something in our drinks.

  "Yeah, dad, didn't you say you put one of those in me." I asked, picking the cup up, just to watch the anticipation on Dooley's face and then placing it back on the table. His reaction was rather comical. I felt safe now that Aaron was here, protected and like I could conquer the world.

  He lied. He didn't put anything in you. Aaron sent to me as I put my hand under the kitchen island to reach for his. I felt safe.

  Aaron, on the count of three, let’s toss our drinks at him and make a run for the door. I thought, hoping he’d her me.

  We can’t. He's booby trapped his house. Spill your drink and hide on the floor. Just go with it— and stay down. Aaron responded as I picked up the drink and watched Dooley eye it carefully. I accidentally poured some on the table and dropped the glass cup on the floor.

  "Oh my gosh dad! I'm so sorry. I can pick that up." I said, quickly getting under the table and sitting beside the glass.

  Now what? I asked, sitting under the kitchen island, looking at Aaron’s shoes as he stood up.

  Cover your eyes.

  "You know, Doctor Dooley, I've always been intrigued by your research. Can you show me some of it?" Aaron asked as Dooley's feet shifted under the table. I sat still and silent as they spoke. And suddenly, the table was floating as was Dooley. I stood up to see that Aaron had tossed him across the room, ensuring he’d slammed him the door.

  From over six feet away, Aaron had lifted Dooley up again and slammed him into the door. I watched in shock as the world spun around me. The front door was knocked to the ground as sirens roared in the distance.

  I stood up, turning to look at Aaron whose eyes had turned an electric blue and dead set on Dr. Dooley. His hands were moving things that were not within arm’s length. He looked like Matilda.

  He actually did it. He must've been the reason we had floated all those weeks ago. It was a new upgrade or something— a sign that his mind-reading abilities were expanding. He hadn’t known how to use it back when the video of us floating emerged. But now, he was a master of his craft. I watched with admiration as officers approached the house, grabbing an angry Robert Dooley as Aaron turned to face me. I was in shock. It had all happened so quickly, and my eyes had been shut for most of it.

  "You have a new power!? When were you going to tell me?" I exclaimed as he wrapped his arms around me and picked me up. He held me close as I ignored the pain from my injuries. I needed this hug.

  "I thought you were dead, Vy," he whispered, pulling back so we were face to face, "I… I didn't know what to do. Violet, I…" he began, but I shut my eyes and leaned into his hug. He was so tall, so warm, so caring. He was the complete opposite of the person I had initially thought he was a couple months ago.

  I watched as Dooley was handcuffed. He shouted at the police officers, screaming at the top of his lungs. "What is wrong with you people?? I am a world-renowned scientist! You cannot arrest me."

  "Dr. Robert Dooley, you are under arrest for the kidnap of Violet Veowsalot. We have reason to believe that you have been performing illegal and unprecedented research under the institution of which you work. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law." Aaron and I watched them arrest him, stuffing him into the back of their car.

  "I didn't do anything! All my subjects were volunteers! It was their choice!" He shouted, turning to glare at me as I looked away. He wasn't worth the time of day: an absentee father and a literal psycho. Good riddance. I rolled my eyes as they dragged him away, still holding onto Aaron like he was my lifeline.

  "Aaron, thank you so much." I whispered as he continued to hold me, letting my tears roam freely.

  "They're going to have a field day when they see what he’d put in our apple cider." Aaron said, setting me back on my feet.

  "Wait till they find what's in the basement." I joked, smiling at Aaron through my chapped lips. He reached for my hand and looked at the bruises on my arm.

  "Hey, you’re safe now.” He lifted my knuckles to his lips and kissed my hand, “I don't know what I would've done without you."

  "Don't get all mushy on me," I laughed as tears streamed down my cheeks. I hadn't had time to process what had happened, but I knew, with Aaron by my side, I could handle anything. We walked outside as Dooley continued to yell at the police. The sun was shining bright and Dooley's darkness was stuffed into the vehicle. I looked up at Aaron who was staring right back at me.

  And
I knew everything would be alright.

  [ THE END. ]

  Afterword

  I’m not sure how this story turned out the way it did; initially, it had started as just a short story about how cool it would be to be able to read minds. I had no intention of publishing this story two years ago, but the immense support and love was more than enough to get me wanting to enhance it. And I suppose, here we are now; it’s published!

  I started writing “The Boy Who Read Minds” in 2018; I don’t remember if there was any inspiration behind it aside from me thinking it would be cool to write a story about a mind reader. And once the pandemic hit and the stay-at-home orders took place, I was sent home from campus; I focused a lot more of my attention on completing this story. The very, very first draft is available under the same title under my Wattpad account (@veronicasoli). It is very different from this one and far less cohesive, in my totally biased opinion.

  Regarding the multiple POVs: I received multiple questions about why I didn’t just write the story in third person, why I had decided to confuse everybody by writing every single character and their mom’s point of view. The reason behind this stylistic choice is because I wanted every voice to be heard— regardless of how awful, wonderful, crazy, scary etc. For example, Violet adored Stacy and their friendship, but as you learned on a personal level, Stacy was a total snake. It wasn’t that I couldn’t have written it in third person, I simply wanted you to realize the extent of Stacy’s hatred toward Violet via her very unique point of view; a more personal view, I suppose. Therefore, you’d be able to have your totally unbiased judgements that didn’t come from another character’s description of someone or a third person narrator telling you that Stacy was awful. It was also the reason why some POVs were different than others— people recall events differently, some events could be significant to one character, but insignificant to another.