Union

by John Darryl Winston

  Ay, but not yet to die.

  His eyes popped open, and hope rushed in, but it was as if he had her by a thin line that could break at any time.

  He closed his eyes and continued. Yes, presently. Therefore confess thee freely of thy sin; for to deny each article with oath cannot remove nor choke the strong conception that I do groan withal. Thou art to die.

  Then Lord have mercy on me! D’s ricochet was loud and clear.

  I say, amen. Naz breathed a sigh of relief.

  Harvis walked in.

  “I found her.” Naz jumped off the bed, grabbing Harvis by his shoulders.

  “You found her? Where? Let’s go.”

  “It’s not that simple. I found her mind, not her body?”

  “Well, what do you have to do next?”

  “Find a way to get her to tell me where she is, maybe give us some clues.”

  “Can’t you just ask her where she is?”

  “Doesn’t work that way. First off, she doesn’t know I’ve found her. Like I said before, any thought I send her, she’ll see them as her own. I’ll show you. Give me a question to ask her.”

  “I don’t know. Ask her … where are you?”

  Naz closed his eyes and sent the thought. “She thought, why me?”

  “Try this. Who kidnapped you?”

  Naz closed his eyes. “No response.”

  “Does that mean she doesn’t know?”

  “No. It means she’s not gonna answer her own questions. But wait, I got something else to show you. You’re gonna love this.”

  “OK, Show me.” Harvis scratched his head.

  “I just did.”

  “You did?”

  “Yup. You wanna see it again?”

  “Quit playin’.”

  “I’m not playin’. This is big, Wordsmith. Here it comes again. You ready?”

  Harvis scratched his head again and then crossed his arms. “I’m waiting.”

  “You missed it again. Why do you keep scratching your head? You got dandruff or something?”

  “Did I scratch my head?”

  “You did, but not because I controlled your arm, but because I put the thought in your head, a suggestion.”

  “That is wicked. Do it again.” Harvis sat back in his chair.

  Nothing happened.

  “I sent the same message to you, but you resisted because you knew it wasn’t your thought, but guess what? A second later you sat back in your chair.”

  “That was you?”

  Naz nodded.

  “Oh man. This is too much.” Harvis gave a rare laugh. “Wait … do you think you may have suggested to Soul that he could dunk last year, and that’s why he was able to do it?”

  “Maybe. I’m not sure. But now you see how every thought D receives, she sees as her own, so I have to send something she knows couldn’t have come from her to get her to send back the right clues.”

  “So quit playin’ and get back to work.”

  Naz smirked, closed his eyes, and continued.

  Another thirty minutes passed as Naz tried everything that came to mind. Harvis was getting impatient if that was even possible. Naz could feel D’s despair, and his hope was waning once more.

  “How’d you find her … find her mind in the first place?” interrupted Harvis.

  “We were taking turns reciting lines to Othello.”

  “Shakespeare?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Well, why don’t you go back to that?”

  “Because she knows all the lines to Othello, mine and hers … well, Desdemona’s.”

  Harvis shrugged.

  “But…”

  “But what?” asked Harvis.

  “You’re a genius, Wordsmith.”

  “That would be you.”

  “She’s a fan of Shakespeare.”

  “And…”

  “She should recognize anything written by Shakespeare, even if she’s never read it.”

  “OK.”

  “She’s never read Richard the III … pull it up on your phone.”

  Harvis pulled Richard III up on his phone.

  “Let me see it. It’s better that I memorize some of it so I know it’s in my thoughts, and I’m not just reading it.”

  “If you say so.” Harvis handed Naz his phone.

  Naz read one of the passages over and over again.

  “I’m ready.” Naz retook his position on his bed. Yea, Richard, when I know; for I protest. As yet I do not: but, as I can learn, he hearkens after prophecies and dreams. He recited it again in his mind several times and waited.

  “Well,” Harvis said impatiently.

  “Wait,” said Naz.

  That’s when he heard his name—Naz?

  D! “I have her.” Naz opened his eyes and looked at Harvis.

  “Where is she?” asked Harvis.

  “Give me a sec.” Where are you?

  I don’t know. I’m blindfolded. I’m sorry about that day, about leaving you that way. I just didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want you to see me like that.

  Forget about that for now. I’m going to find you. Tell me everything you can.

  I don’t know. He doesn’t talk, so I don’t know his voice.

  What about where you are?

  There’s water here. I can hear it, smell it.

  You’re near water … like a river or lake?

  Maybe. But I can hear echoes. When I scream for help, but now I’m gagged, too.

  Then you’re inside.

  Yes, but I don’t know where? I’m scared.

  I know you are, but we’re on our way. You said you can smell the water … like chlorine?

  Maybe … chemicals … I don’t know. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to leave you that day. I just didn’t know what to think. I was afraid for you to see me—

  Forget about that now; I’m coming to get you.

  Hurry.

  “Naz.” Harvis shook Naz.

  “Huh.”

  “Where is she?”

  “She’s around water … echoes … inside, though.” Naz jumped off the bed.

  “Water? A swimming pool?”

  “Yes,” said Naz, orienting himself.

  “Union’s swimming pool … has to be,” said Harvis.

  “Union? Why Union?”

  “I’m telling you it’s somebody that works there.”

  “Who?”

  “I don’t know. Think! Who’s got a beef with you there?”

  Naz pulled the letter out of his back pocket. “Maybe you’re not so smart after all.” He put his head down. “Hold up … that perv security guard, Clature.”

  “What about him?”

  “When he caught me eavesdropping on John and D, he said something about me thinking I was so smart … and, and he has a picture on his bulletin board of me and D.”

  “Picture? Why didn’t you tell anybody?”

  “I didn’t think anything of it at the time. He has pictures of other students, too, mostly girls. Teachers have pictures of students all the time.” Naz grimaced.

  “But of the girls, Naz, and he’s not a teacher … but it makes sense. The pool’s been closed down since swim season ended. They don’t use that room for anything else except storing stuff that won’t fit in the gym. It’d be the perfect place to hide her, especially for a pervert security guard with access to the building, at least until next winter.”

  “Access to the building?” Naz bristled. “He put that note in our locker. He has all the combinations. If he puts his hands on her—”

  “He won’t. Remember he’s trying to get at you, not her.”

  “But why me? It still doesn’t make sense.” Naz got up and headed for the door. “We have to go get her … now! It’s been almost a week!”

  “Wait … no cops?”

  “No cops.”

  “Then we need a plan,” said Harvis.

  “I’ve never even seen the pool at Union before,” said Naz.

  “We’ll figure it
out on the way,” said Harvis.

  “Tell Soul to meet us across the street from the school.” Naz made a clicking sound as he walked by, and Tone landed on his shoulder.

  Harvis looked at Tone and then Naz.

  “Recon,” said Naz.

  “What about Ham?”

  “Him, too. Tell ’em to wear their basketball gear? You got your shorts on under that stuff?”

  Harvis nodded. “Always. I suppose you’re gonna tell me why on the way.”

  As they walked, it didn’t take long for Naz to explain that they could use basketball as a diversion while he somehow snuck in the Natatorium and got D out—if she was there. The rest of the plan was up to Harvis and his gadgets.

  “Spit it out,” said Naz.

  “What?”

  “You’re holding something back.”

  “You and your powers,” said Harvis.

  “Come on; we made a deal.”

  “It’s not crucial to the mission, and I don’t want you to get distracted.”

  “I can always just read your mind,” Naz warned.

  “You would, wouldn’t you? Fine. I found something else when you were at Wintersal, something small. Darla had a tattoo.”

  “I know. I saw it. D had already told me about it, the yin and yang on her wrist.”

  “No. There was another one on her other wrist. I saw it just before you left when she reached out to hug you. I captured a still of it.” He pulled out his phone, found the picture, and showed it to Naz.

  Naz took the phone, stopped walking and studied the picture. It was another tattoo of a familiar name.

  Roffio

  Naz handed the phone back to Harvis. It didn’t take him long to process the implications. Roffio had been one of Cory’s twenty students. He had been one of Pauling’s clients. He was barely listening to D that day, but he heard her words loud and clear now—she (Darla) had a boyfriend that was the same (as her). My parents thought he was in a gang. The “he” was Roffio, leader of the Incubus Apostles, the gang responsible for Meri’s murder.

  “No!” Naz paced back and forth. “If anybody’s responsible, he is. He was there that day, before and after Ham got stabbed. He was at the train station the day I trapped Roffio and two of his gang members in the maze. He was probably even there at the burning church house. He’s always been there pulling the strings.”

  “Who?” asked Harvis.

  “Pauling. You were right all along. It’s been one big show, but that still doesn’t explain Meri. Why did she die?”

  “Maybe … because she had to.”

  “What? What do you mean? Why would you say that?

  “Don’t get me wrong.” Harvis put his palms out in defense. “Meri’s death was a tragic accident, but look at how you’ve changed since she died … what you’ve learned about yourself and what you’ve done … who you’re becoming.”

  Naz finally looked up at Harvis. “Let’s go. We wouldn’t want to disappoint them.” He started out down the street again.

  On the rest of the way to Union, Naz kept a stream of encouraging thoughts going to D while Harvis downloaded everything he could about the security doors at Union and its locking system. Fears had a key to the Natatorium where the swimming pool was located, but there was no way Soul, or anybody else for that matter, was getting their hands on it after what happened at Lincoln last school year. Ham had stolen Fears’ key and made a copy, which ultimately led to Artie’s murder. Fears kept his keys tethered to him at all times. There was even a rumor he slept with them.

  But they didn’t need keys. Harvis had a different idea. If Naz could see the locking mechanism, he could use M-cubed to defeat it. He sent the pictures and diagrams of the locking system, inside and out, to Naz.

  “Study these.” Harvis continued tapping away on his phone. “Ham and Soul have been in there a few times moving equipment and conditioning with Fears, but these will help, too.”

  “What?” Naz looked at the pictures Harvis had sent him.

  “A blueprint of where the pool is.”

  There were four exits to the Natatorium: one spectator, one from the men’s locker room, one from the women’s locker room, and one leading directly to the outside.

  It was dark by the time they met up with Soul and Ham across the street from Union. They all exchanged man-hugs. Before Soul got to Naz, he saw Tone and jumped back. Tone started laughing. Soul is a chicken. Soul is a chicken.

  “Yeah, OK. Whatever. After this is over, we’re gonna settle this once and for all.” Soul pointed at Tone.

  Tone continued laughing.

  “Look,” Naz started, “before we go any further … this is something me and the Wordsmith have to do, but I can’t—”

  “Cut all that noise. We’re wasting time,” said Soul.

  “Yeah, D’s in trouble. What’s the plan?” Ham bounced up and down on his toes and pounded his fist into his palm repeatedly.

  “All right,” said Naz. “What’s the plan, Wordsmith?”

  “Give me your phones.” Harvis looked at Ham and Soul. “Did you download the apps?”

  They both nodded. Ham handed Harvis his phone. Harvis tapped on the screen and then did the same with Soul’s.

  “You have your earphones? Put ’em in. You’ve both been in the Natatorium—”

  “What’s that?” asked Soul.

  “Where the pool is. I just sent you both a blueprint of it.”

  “Naz is going to get us in the front door.”

  “How? Why the front door?” asked Soul. “Why not the door to the pool from the outside?”

  “Because it’s too obvious,” said Harvis. “If D is in there, whoever has her won’t be expecting us, but they’ll have their eyes on that exit. We’re just four teenage boys, and we’re not that smart, right? We’re just sneaking into Union after hours to play some ball.”

  “That’s genius,” said Ham, shaking Harvis’ hand.

  “But listen,” said Harvis, grabbing Soul and Ham by the front of their shirts. “This could be dangerous, and we’re responsible for you.” He looked at Naz. “So don’t do anything unless we tell you to. Got it?”

  Soul and Ham nodded.

  “Act like you’re listening to music, but you’ll be listening to me or Naz at all times. Testing, testing … can y’all hear me through your earphones?” asked Harvis.

  They all nodded.

  “Give Ham the ball, Soul. He looks more natural with it.” Naz adjusted his headset.

  Ham reached for the ball.

  Soul pulled it out of reach. “How you figure?”

  “Just give it to him.” Naz was distracted, trying to keep thoughts of Pauling out of his mind and still communicating with D at the same time. “We have to hurry. She’s weak. I think she’s gonna faint or something.”

  “How do you know?” Soul handed Ham the ball.

  “He just does.” Ham dribbled the ball. “Let’s get this over with.”

  “I’m all for that. Let’s go.” Harvis led them across the street.

  Naz made a clicking sound, Tone flew up, and Soul flinched.

  They walked right up to the massive front doors.

  “Now what?” asked Soul.

  “Showtime.” Naz flexed, and there was a loud click. “Open it.”

  Soul opened the unlocked door. “OK.” Soul nodded.

  Tone flew in down the hallway, Soul ducked, and they all walked in the half-lit building.

  “This place is huge with nobody in it,” said Ham.

  “Straight to the gym,” said Harvis. “If he’s here, he’s watching, but he can’t hear us, no way. Keep acting like you’re listening to music.”

  “She’s here! And … there is someone else besides D and us,” said Naz.

  “Then he’s here. Can you pinpoint ’im?”

  “No, but he’s here, and he knows we’re here, too. He can see us.”

  “Good. Then let’s give ’im a good show before we take ’im down,” said Harvis. “There ar
e cameras in every hallway, two in the gym and four in the Natatorium. He has eyes, but not ears, and we know what he’s thinking. He can’t know we’re here for him, not yet.” Harvis looked at Naz undoubtedly for confirmation.

  Naz nodded.

  “How do we know all this. I don’t see anything on my screen except the pool blueprint you sent.” Soul spied his phone.

  “Naz has a different app,” said Harvis.

  Ham bobbed his head up and down and Soul, attempting to moonwalk, almost fell. The boys gave a half phony laugh.

  “That was perfect,” said Harvis.

  When they got to the gym, Naz flexed again and unlocked the door. Ham cut on the gym lights, and they all shot around casually as if they were listening to music.

  “Remember nobody moves until Naz says so.” Harvis shot the ball. “Phase one, Naz.” Harvis caught a return pass from Ham with one hand. “Go unlock all the locker rooms and Natatorium doors, but don’t go in. We do this together, and we win, just like the AI game, right? Naz, in that hallway, if you see someone, don’t hesitate. It could mean your life or theirs.”

  But this isn’t a game—Naz nodded and left the gym—I’m almost there, D. Hold on.

  Naz summoned D’s captor’s thoughts in hopes of locking down his location—why is he in the hallway? Where is he going? Oh, how I hate ’im. It’s perfect they’re here. When they find D’s body in that pool and all the clues I put in his locker. They’ll think he did it. They’ll know he did it. She broke up with him, and he was mad about it, obsessed with her. That’s what everybody will say, and the way she dies, they’ll think he’s demented. “He knew I’d come, and now he plans to kill her. We have to hurry!”

  “We’re ready when you are.” Harvis passed the ball to Ham.

  Naz knew as he got closer to the Natatorium, D’s captor would become more suspicious. If only he knew something about Clature, he could make the guard show himself and surrender by mere suggestion. He only knew he was a coward—and a psychotic pervert.

  D must’ve passed out. He couldn’t read her thoughts anymore. Naz continued summoning her captor’s thoughts. Why’s he coming this way? Has he figured it out?

  As Naz passed the Natatorium spectator doors, he looked at them and flexed—click. He walked a little further to avert the captor’s suspicions and realized he was right across from the security office.