by Amy Hale
She nodded. “Okay.”
Brett moved to Colt and handed him the clipboard.
Wes held up a hand. “Hold up. I think we’re missing one.”
Brett leaned into Colt to see the list. “No, everyone is on the list.”
Wes shook his head. “You forgot Colt.”
Colt snorted. “Not funny, Wes.”
“I’m serious! I don’t know how, but you’ve somehow developed some damn scary strength. Have you hit the punching bag since the other day?” Wes asked.
Colt shook his head.
Wes grinned. “How is your shoulder?”
Colt rotated his shoulder. “It’s fine.”
“Uh huh. And it shouldn’t be. You should be fighting some tremendous soreness. Instead, you healed much faster than any normal person would, Colt. You healed quickly and you beat the hell out of that bag the other day.”
Colt continued to frown at him and Wes rolled his eyes. “Fine. I’ll prove it.”
With lightning speed, Wes picked up a cinder block from near the building then brought it back to Colt. Without warning, he chucked it at Colt’s face. Instinct took over, and Colt swung out, hitting the block with his fist and shattering it into hundreds of tiny pebbles.
Colt stood in disbelief. His knuckles were barely scratched and even those had begun healing before his eyes. He slowly lifted his eyes to meet the smiling faces around him.
“How in the hell …?” Colt muttered.
“Awesome!” Wes grinned. “You just leveled up, dude.”
Colt’s group worked right through lunch. They practiced playing off each other’s skills and were pleasantly surprised to find that in the right circumstances, they could be an even stronger team than before.
Kyler had just taken a break when Colt noticed that he was distracted.
“Is everything okay?” Colt’s concern obvious in his tone.
Kyler nodded. “Cameron is contacting me again. I need to sit this out for a bit and find someplace quiet to focus.”
Colt patted him on the back. “Whatever you need. We’re good here.”
Kyler jogged off toward the building as Colt turned to survey his little group. They had abilities. They had strength. They had determination and heart. The numbers, however, did not add up on their side. He silently prayed that wouldn’t be their downfall.
He still puzzled over his strength and healing abilities. He couldn’t understand how his gifts were even remotely possible. Did something happen when I died? He could only guess that there had been more than one miracle involved when he revived. Or the only miracle was that he’d gained these gifts somehow and they allowed him to heal, even when dying. Whatever the cause, he felt thankful for his current state of health. It would help in the fight. He’d worry about the ramifications later, once Jane and the others were safe.
He thought back to the first message Cameron had sent. Everyone was happy? That hardly meshed with the picture Jane had painted of her past experiences with The Curators. He knew Jeremy would make some changes, but could he have asserted himself so much that they made concessions? Or did they want Jane so bad they were willing to give him anything? He was glad these captives no longer suffered as they had before Professor Russell had died, but his gut told him that this situation was far from healthy. Obviously, being held captive was a big red flag, but Cameron almost made it sound as if they liked being there.
Colt pushed himself to think of any possible reason for such a monumental and universal change. He couldn’t get past the idea of mind control. It could be why Jeremy needed Elana, although he had no idea how The Curators could use her on such a large scale. He worried that they might have to fight more than the leaders to get Jane and Elana back. And what if the kids didn’t want to leave with them? He frowned at the thought. He knew Jane would hate it, but they would have to respect the wishes of anyone who wanted to stay behind. He just hoped it wouldn’t come to that. He looked forward to helping these kids find peace and happiness in their lives. Everyone deserves that, don’t they? His mind shouted Jeremy’s name, and he amended the thought. No, not everyone. Some people deserve to learn their lessons the hard way. Jeremy and his underlings would soon learn that messing with Colt and the people that he loved only ended in pain.
Jane sat in her room and stared at the wall. Despondent and losing hope, she’d spent the last two nights searching every accessible inch of the compound. She hadn’t found the room with Elana or a viable escape route. Cameron had arrived the day before, bringing her hope that he’d somehow had a plan. It’d taken only a few minutes for him to squash that idea under his size-14 boots.
Her thoughts spun out of control, and she closed her eyes to try to calm them. Instead, she started to see the swirls in all muted, dark colors. Despair began to win, and she hated it. Doubt crept in slowly, taking over her will to fight. She found herself questioning things she once thought to be true. At times, she wondered who she really was. Am I Alice or Jane? This was a question that had plagued her for the past hour. She had no idea why it was even a question. Shouldn’t she know that? Her head was becoming a jumbled mess.
A tap on her door broke her from her somber thoughts. She frowned. Various people had been knocking on her door all day pleading for her to come and join them at meals or during activities.
“I’m not hungry. Go away,” she barked in irritation. Why won’t they just leave me alone! Her temper rose.
A sweet, muffled voice came from the other side of the door. “Jane? Honey, it’s me, Karen.”
Jane released a breath and got up to open her door. She welcomed Karen in with a motion from her hand.
Karen shut the door behind her and sat in the rocker next to Jane’s bed.
Jane moved back to her spot on the mattress. “What can I do for you?”
Karen took a deep breath. “I need to talk to you, but it has to be between us.”
Jane lifted her eyes to Karen’s. “Okay.” Her interest piqued, but she struggled to find her enthusiasm.
“Jane, the night you came in you mentioned a name. Colt Henderson. How do you know Colt?”
Jane’s forehead wrinkled as she concentrated on the question. “He’s my boyfriend, I think.” Damn these fuzzy thoughts!
Karen smiled. “I’m thrilled to hear that. Do you know what happened to him?”
Jane shook her head. “I don’t know all the details. He was … shot.”
Determined, she reached over and took Jane’s hand in hers. “I need you to think for me. Please. It’s important. Is he alive?” Tears filled Karen’s eyes as she asked the question.
Jane studied her for a moment. Karen’s calming touch helped her focus. “Oh my.” She leaned forward and touched Karen’s face, studying her features. “You know Colt. You … you look like him, a bit.”
Karen smiled and a tear ran down her cheek. “I do. That’s because he’s my son. He and Brett were my world once. When I heard you mention his name, and that Jeremy might have killed him, it almost destroyed me.” She squeezed Jane’s hand. “I need to know if he’s okay. Do you know?”
Jane nodded. “Yes, I heard Cameron mention he’d run into Colt before he came here. We never saw Cameron after we left the house in Kentucky. There’s no way he’d know about this place unless Colt had told him. He has to be okay.”
Karen let another tear slide down her face as she sat back in the chair. Her shoulders sagged with consolation that her oldest was still among the living.
Jane leaned forward and grabbed Karen’s hand again. “I need to hold your hand while we talk. I don’t know what’s happening to me, but I can’t think clearly right now. Only when you touch me do I feel lucid.”
Karen clasped her other hand over Jane’s. “I’ll hold on to you as long as you need me to. It’s probably my ability to change emotions helping your head clear. I can calm most people for a short time.”
Jane smiled at Karen. “How did you end up here? Colt has no idea where you are or where you’v
e been most of his life.”
The smile slipped from Karen’s face. “I’m not happy that I left them behind, but I had to. It was the only way to keep them all safe.” She shifted her weight forward in the chair to look directly into Jane’s face. “I was born with this ability. It wasn’t strong enough that I even noticed it, until I was about seven and my parents had told me no when I asked for a pair of skates. Like most kids, I was upset. I pouted and glared at them. I wished in my head that they’d change their minds.”
Jane listened in fascination. “And? Did they?”
Karen chuckled. “Yes, they did. Within seconds. It wasn’t until after we’d bought the skates that they wondered why they’d went against their own reasoning. I quickly learned how to wish my will on them, foolishly believing I had a fairy godmother or a genie somewhere granting me my every whim. Then one day I lost my temper over something at school and suddenly everyone in the school room was angry. It was crazy. They were screaming and crying—even the teacher. It was terrifying. I decided to tell my parents about my secret wishes that seemed to come true.”
“Did they believe you?” asked Jane.
“No, not at first. But then I gave them a demonstration and they couldn’t deny that something odd was happening. My dad had some connections in the medical community, so he made some discreet inquiries. That’s when we found The Curators.”
She looked around the room. “It was very much like this when they introduced me to the program. We didn’t live at the institute, but we did attend school there. It had been nice. I wasn’t the odd kid anymore, and I didn’t have to be scared of my gifts. I graduated from the program and went on with my life. I learned to adapt and contain my gifts, only using them when helpful, like soothing a crying baby.” She sighed heavily. “I’d fallen in love with Randy and we had two beautiful boys. I can’t tell you how relieved I was when it seemed they were normal. I didn’t want them to struggle with the gifts as I did.”
She shook her head and closed her eyes for a moment before looking at Jane once more. “Then one day Professor Russell comes in and changes everything. Children are taken and parents are disappearing. Randy was at work and I’d taken Colt to the park. Brett was sleeping in my arms when I was approached by the professor. He explained that he had a job for me in the institute. I tried to decline, but he wouldn’t accept no for an answer. When it was all said and done, I had to choose between going peacefully or the organization hurting my family. I couldn’t risk it, knowing what they were capable of under Professor Russell’s guidance.”
Jane wiped a tear from her own cheek. She didn’t know if the sadness came from her own heart or if she picked up on Karen’s anguish. She guessed it might be a little of both. “You poor woman. I can only imagine how hard it had to be to leave your husband and boys behind.”
Karen sniffled and moved one of her hands from Jane’s to pull a tissue from a box near the bed. “It was sheer hell. But I had to keep them safe. I didn’t want The Curators anywhere near my boys.”
Jane nodded solemnly. “I would have done the same thing.” She leaned in close and gave Karen a kiss on her cheek. “You are a good mother. Don’t ever think differently.”
Karen gave her a wobbly smile. “Thank you, sweet girl. I hope you are right. Colt was blessed to have you in his life.”
Jane pulled her close for a hug and prayed she and Karen could both find a way to be in his life once again.
When dinner was announced over the loud speaker, Jane mustered the courage to leave her room and eat. Her head was still fuzzy, especially since Karen had left her room. She struggled to remember their conversation, but only bits and pieces would emerge. What did return didn’t make any sense to her.
She sat her plate down on the table and scanned the room, looking for a friendly face. Any face. She needed someone to ground her to reality. Her eyes locked on Katy’s, and she smiled in the hopes that Katy would join her. Katy’s apprehensive expression said more than any words could. She refused to hold eye contact with Jane for long. Jane wondered she she’d done to offend the only friend she could easily remember.
Jane spent several minutes pushing the food around on her plate and feeling particularly lonely when Jeremy sat beside her. She turned her face to him and he smiled at her. His face swam before her eyes and she closed them to stop the double vision. When she opened them again, he had a hand on her arm.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“I don’t know. I feel odd.” She put one hand to her head and rubbed her temple.
“You’re worn out. You’ve been through a lot and you need rest. Finish eating and I’ll walk you to your room.”
She took a couple of bites and put down her fork. “I don’t want any more.”
“If you’re sure,” he said kindly.
“Yes. I’d like to go back to my room now, please.”
Jeremy helped her to her feet, leaving her plate there to be cleaned up by someone else. He looped his arm through hers, and she leaned on him for support. He smiled as they strolled down the halls together arm in arm in silence.
Once they’d reached her room, he opened her door and guided her inside, helping her sit on the bed. “Jane, do you know what we are doing here?”
She looked up at him. “No.”
He sat next to her on the bed. “You’re helping us improve our skills. You’re here to lead these wonderfully gifted children into a promising future.”
“I am?” she asked. She thought her own voice sounded like it came from someone else.
“You are. And you are doing a marvelous job of it. You remember that, don’t you? You’ve helped them develop their skills.”
Memories flashed through Jane’s mind of her hands on grass, flowers sprouting beneath her fingers. Sitting in a gym with her hands enclosed in Katy’s. Jeremy making the announcement about the training being her idea. There was something else there too, but she couldn’t quite see it. A building with people outside. She couldn’t see their faces, and the harder she tried to remember, the more their faces seemed to disappear.
She was tired and all this concentrating made her head hurt. “Yes, I think I remember.”
“Good,” said Jeremy. “Get a little rest. We’re going to have another meeting tonight. I’ll come get you when it’s time.”
She yawned and nodded as she closed her eyes. Jeremy stood and leaned over her, kissing her forehead. “I’m very, very happy that you’re finally with us,” he whispered.
She heard him as he slipped quietly from the room and closed the door behind him. His faint whistles could be made out has he traveled down the hall.
When Jeremy entered with Jane on his arm later in the evening, the room had already filled with students. Gregory stood on the stage and looked up when they passed through the doors. He rolled his eyes, but dutifully got the attention of everyone in the room. “Settle down, everyone, it’s about time to start.” He motioned toward Jeremy and Jane walking down the middle aisle to the small stage.
Jeremy guided her up the steps and to the front. He smiled at them all and released her arm. She let it drop to her side and gave a tentative smile to the many faces staring back at her.
“Tonight, we will discuss our plans for the future.” Jeremy beamed. “Let me ask you a question. Who are you?”
The children all answered in unison. “We are the gifted.”
“Exactly!” He pointed a finger at them. “And why are you here?”
Hands went up all over the room. Jeremy pointed to a young man with dark hair and a flawless dark complexion. He spoke with an accent that Jane had never heard before.
“We are here to learn, grow, and conquer. The world is ours to better for the good of all.” The boy smiled as he recited what sounded like a motto of sorts.
Jeremy nodded again. “Very good, Max!” He gestured to Jane. “This lovely lady is going to help us achieve that. She’s smart, extremely gifted, and has the spirit of a warrior.” He turned to her. “
Do you care for these children?” he asked.
She scanned the room. Her heart said yes. She loved every face before her. She felt responsible for them. She nodded. “I do.”
He smiled again. “And do you want what’s best for them? Do you want them to be safe, healthy, and happy?”
She grinned. “Of course I do.”
His triumphant smile spread across his face as he clasped her hand and pulled her closer to him. “Jane is just what we need. She’s our perfect mother.”
The room erupted in applause and squeals of delight. She heard a couple of younger voices laugh and mention how great it was to have a mother again. A mother? I’m like their mother? She couldn’t find a reason that it wouldn’t be true.
Jeremy led her down the steps and invited all the children to come and hug her. They crowded her and she gleefully accepted their love. Have I always been like a mother to them? She searched her memories. She saw them in a playroom, hiding behind her when they were scared. She remembered tending to their injuries in secret when the leaders wouldn’t give them aid. Yes, she had always been their mother in one sense or another.
She was a little unsure how things had changed from the horrible leaders to Jeremy’s kind guidance, but as he’d said earlier in the day, she’d been through a lot lately. It would come back to her eventually. She’d just have to be patient and let him fill in the blanks as they went.
Colt sat in the library impatiently waiting for Kyler to return and reveal what he’d learned from Cameron’s latest communication. His nerves were on edge and he felt as if he would explode if they didn’t make a move soon.
The library door opened and Kyler stepped inside, a grim expression chiseled in his features. Colt stood and approached him, his heart in his throat with each step.
Kyler stuck his hands in the front pockets of his jeans. “Cameron said something weird is happening. He said Jane isn’t acting like herself. She appears to be cooperating with Jeremy. He can’t give us more info on her outside of that.”
