“That sounds ridiculously impossible.”
“It does, but then we can do a lot of impossible things, so anything is possible if you ask me.”
“I guess it does make a weird kind of sense,” she said. She smiled. “It would explain how I ended up here. I’ll have to talk to Alex and see what he has to say.”
Dylan paused to stare around the garden and changed the subject. “I can’t believe there’s still so much snow on the ground out here.”
Scarlett laughed. “I can. It’s freezing!”
“Let’s have a little sit down,” he suggested. And with a wave of his hand, he’d created an ice bench.
“Wow! You’re getting good at that.”
They both perched on it.
“Brrrrr!” she yelped, jumping up.
“Not very practical is it?” Dylan laughed as he leapt to his feet.
He grabbed Scarlett close and put his arms around her.
“How’s about we just have a little dance instead?”
As he waltzed her around the garden, singing White Christmas badly, she couldn’t stop laughing.
“It’s not Christmas till the end of the month,” she joked as she gave him a playful punch. She got so carried away having fun for a change, she didn’t even notice he’d hovered them both a foot off the ground. “We’re walking in the air…” she sang amidst a fit of laughter.
“Funny!” Dylan said.
She rested her head on his shoulder. Scarlett was so thankful for the chance to steal a special moment with Dylan. Today had been tough and with the revelations about Goulden’s slave workhouses and super soldiers, it didn’t look like things were going to get easier any time soon, so she allowed herself to relax while she could.
“You OK?” he asked.
“Yes,” she smiled. “Right now, everything is perfect. Let’s enjoy this and worry about saving the world tomorrow.”
“I couldn’t agree more.”
Epilogue
One week later
“Can you tell us how many people have found jobs through the workhouse scheme, Prime Minister?”
Adam Goulden straightened his tie and looked the journalist in the eye. The thirty-something brunette in the smart skirt-suit was just one of dozens of reporters who had turned up for his press conference today.
“So far, we have helped more than 200,000 people to find rewarding work. Many of these people had not worked for decades and are delighted to be given this excellent opportunity to turn their lives around.”
“And these people live at the workhouses?”
“Yes, that’s correct. We have put a roof over the head of every single person involved in this scheme. The government also provides them with nutritious food, leisure facilities and the chance to be a valuable part of their community.”
Several people in the audience nodded with approval.
“Prime Minister, may I ask how much the scheme is costing the taxpayer?” a fair-haired reporter stood near the front of the pack said.
“Not one penny,” he replied while shooting her his most charming smile. “We have four workhouses at the moment and each one makes a profit. The Holdforth Workhouse I mentioned earlier has made £1million in 12 months by providing green energy. When you consider that we’re vastly reducing the benefits and housing bill, you’ll see that this is actually saving the taxpayer millions of pounds. It’s great news for the economy and confirmation that growing the scheme to open more workhouses is an excellent idea.”
The room burst into rapturous applause and Goulden nodded his head slightly as if to thank his audience for their appreciation.
“But what about…” a young blonde at the back started to say.
“No more questions,” the Prime Minister’s press officer, Sallie Sanders, said sternly. “There will be a press pack with all the answers you need available at the exit as you leave. Thank you all very much for attending today.”
She smiled dutifully at the crowd as she ushered Prime Minister Adam Goulden out of the press conference and into a waiting Jaguar car that was stationed outside the building.
“Good afternoon, Charlie,” Goulden said as he slid into the luxurious, leather back seat.
“Afternoon, Prime Minister,” replied Charlie Walker, who was the leader’s Chief of Staff.
“The fact you’re waiting here for me either means good news or bad news. Which is it?”
“Oh, it’s good news, sir. Very good news.”
“They’ve found the girl?”
“Yes. Mallory Arterton was apprehended an hour ago. I’m afraid we lost five men during the operation though.”
Goulden arched an eyebrow. “How?”
“She convinced them to turn their guns on themselves, sir. They suddenly lost the will to live.”
“Impressive!” Goulden said with glee. “That girl is going to be a very useful addition to my team.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And what about the others?”
“Great news there too, sir. The scientists at the new laboratory have made a breakthrough with the girl who turns kinetic energy into solid blasts of light. She can now control her power with amazing precision and has the ability to shatter solid stone and metal in a flash.”
“Excellent.” Goulden rubbed his hands together joyfully. “And the boy?”
“As you hoped, he’s now controlling and manipulating fire as well as creating it from thin air. He will prove to be very formidable.”
“And it’s real fire?”
“Yes.”
“With the ability to burn buildings, destroy bridges and melt huge swathes of ice?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Oh, this is just too brilliant. I’d like to see that Dylan boy try to show off his ice and water skills when he comes up against this one.” He laughed manically at the thought of it. “Together with the bomb-maker, Ethan, and my strong man, Harvey, these teenagers will form an incredibly powerful team of Super Soldiers. They’ll be unstoppable.”
Charlie nodded. “It’s fantastic news, sir. Just what you have always wanted.”
“Yes, it is, isn’t it? No one will dare challenge me now – and those annoying teenagers will never trouble me again. They don’t stand a chance against me.”
“You’re very right there sir,” Charlie said as he smiled sycophantically. “In fact, I think you finally have the power to get rid of them once and for all.”
To be continued...
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