by Sandra Cox
Jackson throws up his hands. “You found me out. I’ve got a phobia about elevators. Was stuck in one for nine freaking hours once. By the time I got out of there I’d nearly wet my pants. I’ve never been in one since. You don’t think the boss will mind do ya? Want to come with us? You can give me some tips on hooking up with that cute blonde tech that works in the lab.”
Stuart’s hand falls away from his Taser. “I’ve got work to do. I’ll catch you later. And good luck hooking up with the blonde. She thinks she’s better than the rest of us.”
Jackson nods. “Yeah, the cute ones know it. Thanks. See you around.” Whistling, he guides me through a door I never noticed before.
“That was close,” Tyler says in a low voice.
“Yeah, we need to get moving.” In the dim recesses, both he and Tyler slip off the lab coats.
As we start down the stairs, our feet give light thuds against the steel steps. At least, mine and Tyler’s do. Jackson’s make no sound at all. “What was the kid talking about when he said he had a job to do?” he asks, his voice pitched low.
“He’s freeing the dolphins.”
“Dolphins? What the hell goes on in this place anyway? And why did they refer to you as a dolph?”
Tyler interrupts, “Not now, Uncle J.”
Jackson shrugs and picks up the pace. Before we get to the first stairwell, he halts, puts his finger to his lips, and pushes back against the wall. We hide in the shadows. I bite my lips, my palms sweaty. I have to force myself not to shift from foot to foot.
Two female attendants head down the stairs chattering. “I can’t believe you’re making me walk instead of taking the elevator,” one complains. They are so close the scent of perfume wafts over us. I close my eyes, scrunch up my face, and try not to breathe, afraid I’ll sneeze.
“I’ve gained five pounds. I need the stairs.” Their chatter gets fainter. A door opens and closes.
We move forward. Minutes later, we’re at the bottom of the stairwell. Jackson opens the door a crack and looks around. I smell the scent of trees and sea salt. I’m almost giddy. It seems like forever since I smelled the sea.
Jackson motions us forward. A cool breeze blows, ruffling my hair and caressing my skin. I pull air deep into my lungs.
I hear a muffled sound near my feet. Two men are bound. Both have duct tape around their mouths.
Jackson turns to me and Tyler. “Keep low and run.” His voice is a bare whisper of sound. He bends down and starts jogging down a rocky incline.
Small rocks and pebbles go cascading downward as I slip and slide. Nerves have stiffened my limbs. “Be careful,” Jackson whispers.
My night vision kicks in and I’m more stable on my feet. Behind me, Tyler steadies me with a hand on my waist.
We continue our plunge downward. The moon travels behind a cloud. Pines rustle. An owl hoots. The sounds of the sea grow stronger.
There’s a shout from up above. Floodlights go on. My shoulders tighten.
“Come on, we’re almost there.” Jackson steps up the pace. We’re running flat out now, pebbles and rocks cascade down the rocky slope. Water laps against the shore.
“Can you swim?” he asks me.
Tyler snorts. “Like a fish.” He hasn’t said much since he broke in to rescue me.
I see the water and run toward it, kicking off my sandals, and disrobing as I enter the shallows. First my top floats away, next my sweats.
When the water hits my waist I dive, cavorting like the dolphin I partially am. I turn somersaults. The water ripples and splashes around me. I feel a touch on my arm. It’s Jackson. He points ahead and to my right. A boat is drifting. I nod and head toward it, easily outdistancing them.
The freedom of the water is wonderful, euphoric. I wish I could stay in it forever.
A spotlight hits me, reminding me of the situation and the danger we’re still in. Jackson motions that he’s going back. I assume to take care of whoever is responsible for the spotlight. I dive under and swim for the boat.
I reach it, climb the rope ladder hanging over the side, and pull myself up. Water runs off me in rivulets. I push my hair out of my eyes.
Arms circle me. “Oh, Piper,” Holly sobs.
“Holly?” Emotion washes over me and I hug her hard.
“Piper, are you all right?”
“I am now.” My voice is muffled against her shoulder.
She steps back and looks at me. “You’re in your underwear. You’re beautiful, but I knew beneath the geek attire you would be. And your voice is different than it normally is.”
“Just don’t come on to me,” I tease. She gives a shaky laugh. I turn to the water and watch the shore. The light goes out. Minutes crawl by. Finally, Jackson, followed by Tyler, slithers over the side. Water splashes us as they stand up.
After she’s sure her brother and uncle are all right, she turns to me and demands, “What happened? Who kidnapped you and why?”
Before I can reply, Tyler interrupts, “No questions, Hol.”
My heart warms. Not only is he not demanding an explanation, he’s bending over backward to help me keep my secret.
“Take her downstairs and get her some dry clothes. And remember, Hol. No questions. She’s been through enough.”
“Come with me.” She tugs gently on my arm.
We go below deck. I look around the well-appointed cabin. “Whose cruiser?”
“Not sure. Jackson borrowed it from the dock. I brought some extra clothes for you.” She hugs me again. “I’m so glad you’re all right. We’ve been worried sick about you.”
She hands me a pair of thin sweats and a T-shirt. I pull them on and giggle. Holly is considerably shorter and bustier than I am. The pants are short and the top loose.
The lulling motion of the boat soothes me. I inhale the tang of salt air and yawn. I sit down on the berth. “If you don’t mind, Hol, I think I’ll rest for a minute.” Emotionally, I’m exhausted. I lie down. The pillow has a musty scent but I don’t care.
Holly throws a brown cover over me. It smells of fish. I don’t mind that, either. I wonder if Joel has succeeded in freeing the dolphins and if so, what’s happened to him.
“Sure.” Her voice comes from a long way off. I have no inkling how much time passes but the next thing I’m aware of is being lifted in hard arms and held against cool, smooth material that’s slightly damp.
“I’ll get the SUV.” The voice sounds like Jackson’s. I’m too tired to open my eyes. I drift back to sleep.
I must be dreaming because I hear Gramps say, “You found her.” His voice is shaky. “I owe you. Anything you want.”
In the dream someone says, “You can’t give me what I want.”
I roll over. I feel the feather light touch of lips on my forehead before once again I’m asleep.
Chapter 31
The rough cry of a seagull wakes me. Interesting, I don’t remember hearing gulls at the clinic. I stretch. My heel finds a tiny crevice. I frown. My bed at the clinic has a perfect mattress whereas my mattress at home…
I sit straight up and look around. “I’m home!” The smells of pancakes, warm syrup, and coffee draw me. “Gramps!” I scream and race for the kitchen.
Holding a spatula, a white apron wrapped around his middle, he turns and holds out his arms. Tears are in his eyes. “My girl.” I bury my head in his thin chest. I don’t remember Gramps being this skinny. The scent of Old Spice blends with the kitchen aromas.
“I was afraid I’d never see you again.” His voice is husky. His arms tremble. “What happened? Where were you?”
Just thinking of where I was has my muscles tightening. I draw back and rub my head. A headache is brewing. “At the experimental labs. If you don’t mind, I don’t want to talk about it right now.” I rub my clammy hands on my sweats.
“All right. Sit. Sit. I fixed you pancakes. Let me pour you coffee.”
“I’ll get the coffee.”
I reach into the cabinet, pull out two thick white mugs, and fill them full of the dark steaming brew. The aromatic moisture rises from the coffee and tickles my nostrils.
“I don’t think you’re supposed to have pancakes.”
He heaves a sigh. “I’m having oatmeal.”
“Let me help.”
“Get out the syrup then.”
I dig in the fridge and pull out the syrup. Gramps sets a stack of golden brown pancakes with butter melting in the center in front of me.
“Eat it while it’s hot. I’ll get my oatmeal.”
I take a mouthful and sigh with bliss. I’m home.
He tosses his apron on the counter, scoops up his oatmeal, adds milk, and sits down. I lay down my fork and look at him. “I’m sorry I added to your stress. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, and it’s not your fault, dear girl. I don’t want to push you, but can you tell me anything? Are you in danger? Do I need to get you out of here?”
“I don’t know.” Suddenly, it all comes tumbling out. I tell him about Joel, Amy and my dolphins. And the ghastly doctor.
“What day is it?” I ask around a mouthful of pancakes.
“Tuesday.”
“I better get to school. What did you tell them?”
“That you had a virus.”
“Good idea.” I nod.
He stirs his oatmeal. It dribbles from his spoon as he lifts it. “Tyler’s idea. He promised me he’d get you back and he did. He’s a good young man, Piper. Trustworthy.”
I swallow a lump in my throat. “I know, Gramps. The best.”
“Why don’t you stay home today? Get your sea-legs back.”
“Now that’s an offer I don’t hear every day,” I joke, then sigh. “I better go. I don’t want to cause anymore speculation.” I push the chair back, drop a kiss on Gramps’ lean cheek, and go get ready.
An hour later, I stride through the halls of Rosemont in my nerdy attire. Funny, how things that had seemed earthshakingly important before mean squat now. So what if I’m not popular or a beauty queen? There are a lot worse places to be than Rosemont High. Outside of my school world, there are soulless monstrosities.
I shiver. I’m trying hard not to think of insane scientists, not to remember. The lab cost me my innocence. I’ve met the monsters in the closets.
I look for Tyler but don’t see him.
“Hey, Piper, hope you’re feeling better, heard you had the flu.” One of Holly’s friends calls as I walk into English.
“I am thanks. It was nasty stuff.” I keep my voice at the same low pitch I normally use but smile and nod.
I scoot in next to Holly.
“How are you?” She leans toward me.
“I’m fine.” I smile.
Class begins. I’m afraid Miss Sweeney might faint when I voluntarily answer a question on Romeo and Juliet. She recovers quickly and smiles her approval.
When the bell rings, several people stop me in the hall and ask how I’m feeling. They drift away as Fahrenbacher swaggers up.
“Hello, Edgar.”
“Piper.” He dips his chin at me. “Are you feeling better?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Want to go out Friday?”
Holly gasps. I poke her in the ribs. “Sorry, I’ve got plans. Why don’t you ask Sophia? I think she likes you.” I’ve seen her throw glances his way.
“Yeah? Maybe, I will.” He throws out his chest and saunters away. I watch him disappear down the hall. I’m beginning to think it’s my attitude that needs adjustment, not the other kids’. Though I’m afraid Fahrenbacher will always be doing his version of ‘kick the dog’ with some poor hapless being.
“Boy, when you come out of your shell, you do it in a big way. Now if we could get rid of the shell.” Holly throws a disparaging look at my nondescript attire.
“No can do, Hol.”
“I understand, hush, hush,” she whispers.
Holly may not understand exactly what’s going on, but the kidnapping has made her aware how necessary my disguise is.
The day passes quickly. I keep expecting Tyler to talk to me but he keeps his distance.
The next few days are much the same. I’m more comfortable around my classmates. Holly sticks to me like glue while Tyler stays away. It’s a puzzle.
Before I know it, the weekend’s here. I miss Tyler. My heart aches. As much as I’ve fought against being with him, now the idea of losing him is unbearable.
I spend a quiet Saturday with Gramps. We both enjoy it. When evening approaches he shoos me out, knowing I’m longing for the water.
As the sun drifts westward, I hurry to the ocean. Instead of diving, I walk down. I want to squish wet sand between my toes, breathe in salty air, and watch the violent crimsons and purples of sunset.
I stand on the edge of the beach. The water plays over my feet, the soft air caresses my skin. I’m free. For a moment, I close my eyes, at peace.
“Piper.”
I whirl around. My stomach flutters and my knees grow weak. My insides do a little dance of joy. “Tyler. My hero. I’ve been wanting a chance to thank you for rescuing me.”
I wait for him to come to me, put his arms around me and kiss me till there’s no strength left in my body. But he just stands there, fidgeting.
My heart clenches. He doesn’t want me anymore. I won’t make it difficult for him. I owe him too much. I clear my throat and straighten my shoulders. “What is it?”
“The lab is closed.”
“Excuse me?”
“Jackson went back. The lab is closed.”
“Closed?” Joel and Amy are gone. My heart tightens. I bite my lip. They’re the only two people I know who are like me. The only two that truly understand what I am.
“There’s no one there. I’m sorry. I know how much Joel meant to you.”
That pulls me off the dark path I’m traveling. I look at him intently. Is this the problem? Joel?
“I’ve got to believe Joel and Amy are all right.” My stomach knots and my heart contracts. “They’re too valuable to let anything happen to.” It’s true. Dr. Stranger will protect them at all costs. Somehow, I will find them again.
“I don’t understand.” He holds up a hand before I can say anything, “You don’t need to explain.”
I take a step towards him. “You deserve explanations. It’s time and past.” I take a deep breath. “Do you still care about me, Tyler?”
“Care is a tepid word for how I feel about you.” His eyes spark, go dark. “You’ve no idea. I care,” he emphasizes the word, “enough not to come between you and Joel.”
I hold out my hands. Reluctantly, he takes them. I give his warm fingers a small squeeze, trying to make him understand what I’m about to say. “Of course, I care about Joel. Like calls to like. It’s a pull that’s hard to ignore. But I love you, Tyler. Probably more than is healthy for either of us.”
He goes absolutely white before warm color comes surging back. He reaches out, pulls me to him, and kisses me hard, his breath hot on my face, in my mouth. My senses dance at the taste of peppermint on his tongue, the scent of salt on his skin.
Finally, he grasps my shoulders and pushes me away. He continues to hold me up or I’ll fall. “I love you so much I could explode with the need of it. I don’t understand what you’re talking about between you and Joel, but I don’t need to, as long as you love me.”
I take his hand. “Come into the water with me, there’s something I want to show you.”
We dive in and splash around like puppies. I go under several times then as the sun goes completely under the water, I chuff.
Tyler stares at me. “What did you just do? I don’t understand.”
I paddle in the water in front of him. “I’m a mutant. I have dolphin DNA. The lab that captured me…” My voice hitches but I continue, “Was planning on using me to make more little mutants.”
“You’re a
mutant?”
“That’s right.” I can’t get a read on his reaction.
He looks away. Tension builds. A seagull flaps his wings overhead and squawks. The harsh sound accentuates my discomfort. Did I make a mistake telling him?
I must have. He’s not saying anything. My throat clogs. It’s a good thing we’re in the water. The tears welling in my eyes won’t be noticeable. I turn toward shore.
His voice stops me. “And Joel is a mutant, too?”
I push air from my lungs and flip around. “Yeah, first generation, not second generation like me. Now you know my deep dark secret. If you’ve changed your mind about the love thing, I understand.” My gaze doesn’t meet his. If he rejects me, I’ll die. I tap the water with my fingers, making small frothy geysers.
Silence stretches between us, broken only by the occasional slap of a wave and the answering call of another gull. Finally, he says, “So I’ll be the only guy at Rosemont whose girlfriend is a mutant?”
I raise my head and catch the laughter in his eyes. “Yeah.” I nod. “Looks like.”
“I guess it’s time my folks get to know you and Mr. Dunn. Maybe we should have that picnic we’ve been talking about.”
Before I can respond, something bumps against my leg. I dive down and come face to face with a dolphin, a dolphin with a scar on her head.
Bubbles explode from my mouth and I throw my arms around her, chattering underwater, “Oh, my little beauty. Joel kept his word. You’re free.”
The three of us play in the water a long time. Finally, when the gray waves sparkle from the reflection of stars, we head back to shore. The dolphin follows till we hit the shallows then veers off.
Streaming water, Tyler and I wade to the beach. The dolphin brings back memories of the lab. Memories I’d just as soon forget. I take a deep breath. Nothing can happen to me here. I’m home and I’m safe. I have Tyler, Gramps, Holly, friends at Rosemont and somewhere Joel and Amy. Everything’s going to be okay. Yeah, I’ll have to continue with my nerd disguise but I can live with that. And dealing with Fahrenbacher…well that’s pretty small potatoes after being a lab rat.
Echoing my thoughts, Tyler says, “Wait till Holly gets a load of you.” He pauses. “Or aren’t you going to tell her?”
