The Courage Within (Riley Bennett)

by Andy Coltart

‘No, sir,’ replied Agent Davis, ‘but it is unusual for three people to all go missing at the same time from the same place and then all show up at the same time three days later.’

  ‘True,’ said Casey’s mum, ‘but it’s equally unusual for three kids to all be struck by lightning on the same day at the same time. There’s bound to be side effects to that.’

  ‘It’s possible,’ said Agent Kennedy. ‘I guess the scan results will tell us that.’

  Mrs Bennett asked, ‘Are you going to see our children’s scans? I thought medical information was private.’

  ‘It is,’ said Agent Kennedy, ‘we would need your consent.’ The three teenagers sat terrified the brain scans could show they had no memory loss and then the FBI would be on their case. Then Mr Manning spoke up.

  ‘Well I for one am not happy with strangers looking at my son’s medical information. Unless there is significant reason. Your job was to find the children and here they are, so I’ll be saying no to any further enquiries.’

  Alex sighed with relief, but the girls sat waiting to see what their mums would say.

  Mrs Bennett looked at Mrs Johnson, who nodded.

  ‘It’s the same for us, I’m afraid. We will have to leave this here unless we feel there is a major concern,’ said Mrs Bennett.

  Riley and Casey breathed a quiet sigh of relief. Casey took hold of Riley’s hand under the table and gave it a squeeze. Riley squeezed back as if replying to a secret message. The agents thanked the parents for their time and got up to leave. Mr Vandenberg returned to the room and asked everyone to head back to the Neurology outpatients to meet with Doctor Wu.

  Everyone got up and headed back to the lift.

  Riley said, ‘Thanks for standing up for us in there, Mom.’

  ‘Of course, sweetheart. Not everything that happens in this world is a crime. Hopefully you three will remember in time but if you don’t you need to know your parents are still here for you.’

  The others nodded. Riley, Casey and Alex all found themselves walking arm in arm with their parents. It felt good to know they were loved.

  As they all arrived back in the Neurology outpatients they were greeted by Doctor Wu.

  ‘Hello everyone,’ he said, ‘please follow me.’ They all followed him as he led them to a large conference room.

  ‘I hope you don’t mind, but I’d like to share my findings from the three scans with you all as one group. I recognise medical information is private but the crossover for these three is significant.’

  The parents seemed fine with the idea. They’d come to know each other through this experience and seemed to recognise there was a connection between the three teenagers that needed to be explored. As for Riley, Casey and Alex they were all for sticking together through this, just as they had done all week long.

  Everyone sat down and a nurse handed round some glasses and a jug of water.

  ‘Okay,’ said Doctor Wu, ‘let’s begin.’ He started to describe the things they all had in common in their brain patterns and then went to the individual differences.

  ‘So,’ he said, ‘as you will see, each child has experienced an electrical surge through their body, which by all definition should have killed them. However, their brains seem to have absorbed that electricity preventing it from stopping the heart. I think this is why they were unconscious for several days,’ he said. ‘It was like a circuit cut out and needed time to reconnect before they could switch back on.’ ‘But what about now, doctor, and what about the memory loss?’ said Mrs Bennett.

  Riley, Casey and Alex sat up a little in their chairs, worried that the next words from Doctor Wu would incriminate them in some way.

  ‘It looks as if the electrical energy is still there, however, it doesn’t appear to be causing any harm. Don’t forget, we’ve been able to compare this scan with the others we did the day they arrived here.’

  ‘So they should be able to remember the last three days then,’ said Casey’s mum. Here it was, the next words would either save them or land them back in front of the FBI! ‘Well,’ said Doctor Wu, ‘that’s the difficult bit. The electrical energy isn’t causing physical harm but we can’t tell if it’s affecting their memory.’

  ‘I see,’ said Casey’s mum, not sounding entirely convinced.

  Riley found herself holding hands with Casey on one side and Alex on the other. It was as if relief was flowing from one person to the next and back again.

  ‘So this doesn’t explain why Alex can’t see properly but the girls can,’ said Mr Manning.

  ‘True,’ said Doctor Wu. ‘Now I did say some things were the same and some were different. We thought Alex’s sight problem was caused by the optic nerve not speaking to the brain. His eyes themselves are healthy. We now think the optic nerve is fine and this extra electrical energy is blocking the signal.’

  ‘So why aren’t the girls affected?’ asked Mr Manning. Doctor Wu went on, ‘It could be a number of reasons, we aren’t entirely sure. It could be anything from they’re girls and he’s a boy so they have different genes. Or, their half of the lightning bolt hit them together whereas Alex got the full force of his half.’

  ‘So will Alex be able to see again?’ asked his father. ‘It’s my belief that if this electrical energy fades over time, his sight should recover,’ said Doctor Wu.

  ‘But my sight has been getting worse,’ said Alex.

  ‘That brings me to my next point,’ said Doctor Wu. ‘The electrical energy levels in all their brains has increased this last week. We have no explanation for this and the only visible effect is Alex’s sight.’

  ‘What about the girls?’ said Casey’s mum.

  ‘Just an increased electrical charge, in Casey that is,’ said Doctor Wu, ‘but Riley is different. It’s as if the electrical charge is moving round and round in her head. She doesn’t seem affected but it’s a noticeable difference.’

  Everyone just sat in silence, taking it all in.

  ‘What’s next then?’ asked Mr Manning.

  ‘Well,’ said Doctor Wu, ‘we will want to monitor them regularly, but there’s no need to keep them in hospital. I’d suggest they have a rest this weekend and perhaps go back to school next week. Familiar routines will help with recovery. Any major changes, let me know straight away.’

  ‘Thank you, doctor,’ said Riley’s mum as she stood up to leave. Doctor Wu stood and said goodbye to everyone.

  ‘Mum,’ said Riley, before they left the room, ‘can Alex and Casey come round this weekend?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ Mrs Bennett replied, ‘their parents may want them to rest.’

  ‘Yes, we do,’ said Mrs Johnson, ‘but I think it may help them to spend time together as they’ve all been through this with each other. Show me another teenager who’ll understand what they’re going through!’

  ‘True,’ said Alex’s father. ‘I’m happy for them to come to mine. It may be easier for Alex to be in familiar surroundings with his sight problems.’ The others agreed and said they’d bring the girls over the following day, midmorning.

  Chapter 17

  On and Off Again

  Later that day Riley was at home with her mum and brother and sister. They were all sat together, squashed up on the sofa. Everyone had decided they wanted to sit with Riley so she found herself next to her mum and buried under the twins.

  ‘I can’t see the television with you two on top of me!’ said Riley.

  ‘Yes, come on you two, give her some space,’ added their mum. The twins moaned and slid down Riley and the sofa onto the floor. They turned around leaning their backs on the sofa to watch the film.

  ‘What are we watching, Mum?’ asked Riley.

  ‘Oh, one of the Harry Potters I think, the twins have chosen it,’ her mum replied.

  Great, thought Riley to herself, a film with a kid who has an invisibility cloak! She smiled to herself.

  Mr Manning had taken Alex out for dinner. They had a favourite curry restaurant near their home. Alex was f
rustrated at not being able to see the menu, but as his father pointed out he knew everything on it anyway!

  ‘I am worried about coping with college like this,’ he said to his father.

  ‘I know, son, but don’t trouble yourself about that just yet. Let’s deal with one thing at a time and now that’s choosing rice or a naan bread.’

  ‘Let’s get both,’ said Alex smiling.

  ‘That’s the spirit, son,’ said his father.

  Casey was surprised, no shocked was a better word, when her mum offered to buy takeaway pizza for tea. They never got takeaway food as her dad didn’t earn much and he was always going on about how overpriced they were. Casey jumped at the chance and they decided to sit in the park and enjoy the unusually warm evening to eat their pizza.

  ‘The light is starting to go,’ said Mrs Johnson. ‘We’ll have to head back home soon.’

  ‘Okay, Mum,’ said Casey as she stuffed the last slice of pepperoni pizza into her mouth.

  ‘Right, kids, it’s time for bed,’ said Mrs Bennett as the Harry Potter film finished.

  ‘Does that mean Riley too?’ said Beth.

  ‘She can get changed but she’s older than you so she can stay up later,’ said their mum.

  ‘That’s not fair,’ said Max and Beth.

  ‘Yeah it is,’ said Riley, getting up, ‘come on you two, up we go.’

  The three of them went to get in their pyjamas. Riley helped the twins get washed and do their teeth and then she tucked them up in bed. Their mum came up to say goodnight. ‘I think I’m gonna stay in my room for a bit,’ said Riley. ‘That’s fine dear, I’ll see you in the morning,’ said her mum.

  Riley went along the landing and into her room, she did her usual nose dive onto the bed and then rolled over and sat up. She felt a real sense of peace. Everything had worked out okay. She’d made some friends, they weren’t in trouble for going missing, they’d kept the invisibility a secret and no one died from the lightning strike. Not bad for one week, she thought to herself. She started thinking about the electrical energy in her brain and how the doctor had said it was spinning round and round.

  She jumped to her feet, her bare toes sinking into the rug. She looked down at her bare legs and saw the lightning scar below her pyjama shorts. Spinning she thought and without realising it she’d started to turn around and around on the rug. Still thinking of the spinning electrical energy she was now turning faster and faster, her arms stretched out for balance until suddenly ‘ouch,’ she said clutching her head. The brain burn was happening again. She stopped spinning and fell onto the bed with the pain. Fortunately it didn’t last long. She sat up looking down the bed at her bare legs and feet and then her hands. ‘Oh no!’ she said, ‘I’m shimmering, that means I’m invisible again!’

  She sat there for a moment in a blind panic, not knowing what to do. She was on her own this time Casey and Alex weren’t there, ‘Think, Riley, think,’ she said to herself. Then jumping to her feet she left her room and quietly made her way downstairs. Going into the lounge she could see her mum still watching the television. She walked round in front of her blocking her view. Her mum didn’t react and just carried on watching the television. Well, that confirms it, thought Riley as she left the lounge and made her way to her room.

  Once there, she turned on her computer to see if the others were around for a chat. It only took a few minutes for all three of them to be online.

  ‘Put your cameras on,’ said Riley. Suddenly pictures of the others appeared on her screen.

  ‘Hi, how’s things going?’ asked Casey.

  ‘Not great,’ replied Riley.

  ‘Why, what’s happened,’ said Alex.

  ‘I’m invisible again,’ said Riley.

  ‘No way,’ said Casey, sounding shocked.

  ‘How?’ asked Alex.

  ‘You’ll laugh when I tell you,’ said Riley.

  ‘We won’t,’ the others both replied.

  Riley explained about the spinning around and the brain burn and how she’d gone downstairs to her mum and not been noticed.

  ‘Oh no!’ said Casey.

  ‘I wonder if that would work for us,’ said Alex.

  ‘I don’t know,’ said Riley.

  ‘Let’s try,’ said Casey.

  Riley watched as her two friends, leaving their computer cameras on, stood up and started to spin around on the spot. She had to try hard not to laugh at them, but this was a serious experiment. After a few minutes both Casey and Alex had fallen over with dizziness but neither had experienced a brain burn.

  ‘I wonder if it’s something to do with this spinning electrical energy Doctor Wu told us about in my head,’ said Riley.

  ‘Maybe,’ said Casey sitting back at her computer.

  ‘Have you tried spinning again to see if you reappear?’ said Alex.

  ‘No, I haven’t,’ said Riley.

  ‘That’s pure genius, Alex,’ said Casey sounding very excited. ‘Go on, Riley, give it a go.’

  ‘Okay,’ she said getting up from the computer and standing in the middle of her room.

  Riley started to spin around and around, faster and faster she went until her arms were out helping her balance. Then suddenly, ‘ouch,’ she said, clutching her head and falling onto the bed again.

  ‘Are you okay?’ said Casey.

  ‘Give her a minute,’ said Alex. Riley sat up.

  ‘Hey Riley, are you okay,’ said Casey again.

  Riley stood up and walked back to her computer. As she did she looked at her hands and legs – they weren’t shimmering anymore.

  ‘How you feeling?’ asked Alex as she sat down.

  ‘I feel okay guys, thanks for asking. Can you stay online for a minute, I just wanna check something out.’

  ‘Yeah, we’ll be here,’ said Casey.

  ‘Great,’ said Riley, ‘I’ll be back soon.’

  Riley jumped up from her computer and went downstairs.

  ‘Hey Mom, can I have some milk,’ she said as she entered the lounge. Her mum turned round on the sofa and said, ‘Of course Riley, everything okay?’

  ‘Yeah Mom, it’s great, thanks,’ she replied. Riley got some milk and went back to her room.

  ‘Hey guys,’ she said as she sat down, ‘I’m visible again. I’ve just spoken to my mom!’

  ‘Wow, that’s so cool,’ said Casey.

  ‘You know what this means, don’t you?’ said Alex.

  ‘What’s that?’ asked Riley.

  ‘You have the power to control your invisibility!’

  ‘Oh my God, you’re right,’ said Riley.

  ‘Don’t forget we are meeting up tomorrow,’ said Casey. ‘We can talk about what this means for you.’

  ‘We can also talk about whether there’s a way for you guys to do the same,’ said Riley.

  ‘Sounds like a plan,’ said Alex, ‘and on that note I’m gonna say goodnight.’

  ‘Okay, goodnight,’ said the girls as Alex’s image disappeared from their screens.

  ‘Think I’m going to get some sleep too,’ said Riley.

  ‘Okay,’ said Casey. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow.’

  ‘Looking forward to it,’ said Riley.

  ‘Me too,’ said Casey. ‘Goodnight.’ Riley turned off her computer and drank her milk. She then turned off her light and climbed into bed, sliding down under the covers she closed her eyes and was soon fast asleep.

  The following morning Riley woke early. She went downstairs and made herself a coffee and turned on the news. It was nice to not get a mention on that, she thought to herself. She was troubled by the number of crimes being reported. The news always seemed to be about such bad stuff. She thought it would be nice, just once, for the news to be about good things that were happening.

  Once she’d had her coffee, she went for a shower and then got dressed. She noticed the lightning scar on her leg as she pulled up her jeans. It seemed to be healing but was clearly never going to completely disappear. She wondered how Alex and C
asey’s scars were doing. It was strange that they all had the same scar in the same place.

  ‘Morning Riley,’ said her mum and she came downstairs for the second time. Her mum was now up sorting breakfast for everyone. The twins were playing a board game in the lounge.

  ‘Morning, Mom,’ she said, ‘what’s for breakfast?’

  ‘Eggs on toast or cereal, take your pick,’ said her mum.

  ‘Eggs please,’ said Riley. She just fancied something hot to eat.

  ‘Can we have eggs too?’ said the twins coming into the kitchen.

  ‘Of course,’ said their mum, sit at the island it won’t be long.’

  After breakfast Casey went upstairs to get dressed. It seemed to take her ages to decide what to wear. She never usually had this kind of dilemma. Choosing special outfits was something other girls spent time doing, not Casey; she had better things to do with her time. That was normally the case, but not today.

  ‘Are you ready to go?’ said Mrs Bennett.

  ‘Yes,’ replied Riley.

  ‘Okay, let’s get the twins in the car as I’ll take them to tumble class after I’ve dropped you off,’ said her mum.

  Riley, Beth and Max all went to the car, while their mum locked up the house. Riley made sure seat belts were on properly.

  ‘Now, let me just find Alex’s address,’ said Mrs Bennett.

  ‘No need,’ said Riley, without thinking, ‘I know the way.’ She realised immediately what she’d said and her heart almost stopped!

  ‘How do you know the way to a house you’ve never been to?’ said her mum, suspiciously.

  Thinking fast, Riley replied, ‘Oh, he showed me on Google Maps last night.’

  Her mum looked at her trying to assess whether that was true. Riley just kept quiet.

  ‘Okay,’ said Mrs Bennett. ‘I have the details here as well now so we shouldn’t get lost.’ Riley’s heart started to beat again. That was close, she thought to herself.

  Alex had slept in that morning and although he was up and dressed when the doorbell went he was still eating his breakfast. Mr Manning opened the door to find Casey and her mum standing there.

  ‘Good morning,’ he said. ‘Do come in.’ Mrs Johnson couldn’t quite believe her eyes, the house was incredible.