Twisted Fate

by Simon Rose

  “It’s not technically breaking in if we have a pass,” Max replied, grinning.

  AS THEY STEPPED back outside, Max suddenly felt dizzy before everything abruptly went black. Then he was on the rug in front of the fireplace at his home. Intense pain filled his head and Kane was standing over him.

  “I know everything,” said Kane, tracing his fingers along the deep, disfiguring scar that snaked down his right cheek and neck. “This is an ever-present reminder of another reality, when I was something else. But you changed all that, didn’t you, you and that damned psychic.”

  Suddenly, Max was standing outside the back door of Jeff’s house with Julia. He shook his head. He hadn’t thought about his terrifying encounter with Kane since it had happened in the summer.

  “Are you okay?” Julia asked, looking concerned. “You zoned out for a minute.”

  Max contemplated telling her what he’d just experienced, but wasn’t sure that he even understood it. He also didn’t want to worry her.

  “Yeah,” he replied, smiling. “Just thinking about everything that’s happened, that’s all.”

  He locked the door and put the house key back under the rock.

  “We need to go to a bus stop a few streets away from here. Mrs. Flynn might be back soon and we don’t want her to see us. My dad might even drive along this street on his way home from work too.”

  THEY HURRIED OUT of the neighbourhood until they reached the vicinity of Queen’s Park cemetery. Max almost shuddered as he recalled how things had all began when he’d touched David Dexter’s gravestone. Fortunately, they didn’t have to wait long at the stop when a bus drove around the corner and came to a halt. They climbed aboard the bus and headed off to the hospital.

  On the journey, Max and Julia exchanged phone numbers and discussed some of the details featured on Jesse’s website.

  “So,” said Max. “We both know what those experiments of Kovac’s were all about and the kinds of people he targeted. Do you know if your mom had any psychic abilities?”

  “No idea,” Julia replied. “I never knew her, but Jesse believed that she did. When she disappeared for a few days she would only have been a teenager. All the other people on the site were adults. Jesse thinks she might have been one of the brightest prospects Kovac found since she was so young when she was taken. What about your mom?”

  “I never knew her either. Obviously, Jesse thinks she must have had some kind of psychic powers, but I have no idea.”

  “What about you?” Julia asked. “Do you think you have any abilities?”

  “No, apart from seeing ghosts sometimes or having those visions and strange dreams.”

  “What about traveling into someone else’s life, like you did with David?”

  Max shook his head.

  “That was because he contacted me and then Deanna helped me to go back into his life too.”

  “Yes, but now you know that your mom must have had some kind of ability. Could you go into a person’s life on your own?” Julia asked. “I mean you’ve seen things through your mom’s eyes, right?”

  “No, I can’t do anything like that. Can you?”

  “My mom might have had some kind of psychic powers but for me it comes and goes. I wouldn’t say that I can read people’s minds but I do sometimes know when they’re genuine or not.”

  “Yes, I’ve noticed that,” said Max, grinning.

  Julia smiled.

  “Maybe she passed something on to me. After all, I apparently got my green eyes from her.”

  “Well,” said Max, “my mom’s voice told me to trust my new friend who had the gift. I guess that could mean you.”

  Julia smiled at him again as the bus slowed then turned into the road that led to the hospital.

  The bus stopped just outside the main hospital entrance, and Max and Julia stepped off onto the sidewalk. The area was busy as other buses arrived and cars entered and exited the nearby parkade. Several taxis were parked along the roadside as drivers waited for their passengers or dropped people off at the entrance doors. An ambulance had also just arrived and the paramedics were easing a patient out of the rear doors on a gurney. A steady stream of people passed through the double sliding doors at the front of the hospital.

  Max’s phone vibrated as he and Julia approached the main entrance. It was a text from his dad.

  Where are you?

  Max quickly sent a message.

  With a friend, eating here. Might be late or sleepover. Will let you know.

  His dad immediately replied.

  Okay have fun.

  “Who was that?” Julia asked.

  “Just my dad. I told him I’m with a friend, which is technically true. I just didn’t tell him exactly where I am.”

  “I should probably text my mom at some point,” said Julia. “She might be home from work by now. What time is it?”

  “5.45. Go ahead.”

  “No, it’s fine. I’ll wait until we’re done here.”

  Max nodded as they entered the hospital.

  Chapter Twelve

  The Hospital

  INSIDE THE BUSY hospital lobby staff members, patients, and visitors walked back and forth. People sat in the waiting area chatting, reading magazines, or simply focused on their phones. Beside the gift shop, the business office window was closed for the day. A woman was seated at the admitting desk talking to a couple of security guards. However, Max knew that they couldn’t ask her where the Records department was located and risk arousing suspicion. They’d just have to find it on their own. Max studied the directional signs pointing toward the many different medical departments and other areas of the huge hospital but couldn’t see a sign for the Records department.

  “Let’s check over there,” Julia suggested.

  They walked over to a map of the hospital displayed on the wall beside the coffee shop.

  “There it is,” said Julia, pointing at the map. “We go toward the X-ray department and it’s next to Psychiatry. Come on.”

  She began walking down the corridor.

  “How do you know it’s this way?” Max asked, when he caught up with her.

  “This is where I used to see Dr. Hammond.”

  “I always went to his office,” said Max.

  “Yeah, so did we but sometimes we came here. I’m surprised I remember where it was.”

  At an intersection at the end of the hallway, there were a number of directional signs. One pointed to the Records department, which was in a restricted area of the hospital. They waited until the hallway was empty and were about to head toward the department when a security guard came around the corner. Max nudged Julia with his elbow and they both stood still. Max pulled out his phone and pretended to be composing a text until the security guard had passed.

  “Okay,” he said. “Let’s go, before someone else comes this way.”

  They hurried along the short hallway and then turned a corner to reach the entrance to the Records department. The office was shrouded in darkness and there was a card scanner attached to the wall beside the glass door.

  “How long do you think we have?” asked Julia.

  “I don’t know but we have to be as quick as we can. They’re bound to know the pass has been used but I’m hoping no one will think about it tomorrow, since Jeff’s mom is away, and then it’s the weekend and this office will probably be closed for a couple of days.”

  Max slid the card along the scanner, waited until it displayed a small green light then opened the door. They stepped inside and Julia closed the door behind them. The darkened Records department looked like a typical office, with a number of desks equipped with computer terminals, along with lots of large filing cabinets.

  “What do you think they keep in there?” said Julia. “I thought everything was digital these days.”

  “They sometimes take time to transfer all the records to the computers so they keep paper ones for a while,” Max replied. “Some of the older ones might not be digital yet,
but hopefully all the ones we’re looking for will be on the computer. Let’s go over there.”

  They went across to a desk that couldn’t be viewed from the department’s main door. They sat down and Julia turned on the computer, typing in the password that was written on the plastic card. She quickly accessed the main database, while Max took his laptop out of his backpack. He activated the computer and quickly linked to the SecretConspiracyXpose site.

  “So how many people are we looking for again?” asked Julia, as she slipped the card into her pocket.

  “There are thirty-three names in the section about Kovac’s operation, including our moms,” Max replied.

  “Okay, who’s first?”

  They painstakingly went through the list of names on the website, comparing the information to the official records. On each occasion the details on the website matched those in the hospital computer’s file.

  “Okay, next is Robert James Wallace,” said Max, as they neared the end of the list. “That’s the guy I saw attacked by Kane at the waterfront.”

  Julia pulled up the official record for Wallace. They compared it to what was listed on Jesse’s website and the details were identical.

  “Next try my mom, Marina Garrison.”

  Julia and Max quickly read the record, which matched what appeared on the website.

  “I just need to check my mom,” said Julia.

  She brought up the entry for April Taylor and Max found the corresponding record on Jesse’s website. Julia’s mom had only been twenty-one when she’d died. Her picture showed a young woman with short, light brown hair and green eyes. Max immediately noticed the resemblance to Julia. When comparing the website and the official record, everything was correct, including the cause and time of April Taylor’s death.

  “It looks like they died in the same year,” said Max. “My mom in the summer and yours the following winter. We really need to go now.”

  He closed Jesse’s website, shut down the laptop, and put it back in his backpack.

  “One more thing, said Julia. “I need to check out my birth certificate.”

  “Okay, but don’t be too long.”

  While she accessed the file, Max went over to where he could keep an eye on the corridor through the glass door. He could hear Julia operating the keyboard and mouse behind him as he watched for any sign of the security guard.

  “Oh, my god,” Julia gasped.

  “What is it?” asked Max, turning to face her.

  “Nothing,” Julia replied, quickly logging out. “Let’s go.”

  She stood up quickly, almost knocking the chair over.

  “What’s wrong?” said Max.

  “Nothing,” she snapped. “Let’s get out of here.”

  THEY HURRIED OVER to the office door, carefully opening it to peer out into the corridor.

  “It’s clear,” said Max.

  They stepped outside and were about to walk back to the main hallway when the security guard emerged from a nearby office.

  “Hey!” he called.

  Julia looked as if she was about to run but Max grabbed her arm as the guard approached them.

  “What are you kids doing here? Are you lost? This area of the hospital isn’t open to the public.”

  “Sorry,” Max replied. “We didn’t know. We got lost.”

  “Well, it’s a big place,” said the guard. “What are you looking for?”

  “Diagnostic imaging,” Max replied, thinking quickly as he remembered one of the signs he’d seen near the main entrance.

  “It’s not too far,” said the guard. “Go back to the main hallway and you’ll see the sign. Is your friend okay?”

  Max glanced at Julia, who looked very upset.

  “Yes,” said Max. “She’s just, er, worried about her mom. We’re here to visit her. She’s very sick.”

  The security guard smiled as he turned and walked down the hallway. Max and Julia hurried off in the opposite direction, back toward the hospital lobby, and didn’t stop until they were outside the main entrance.

  “Are you sure you’re okay?” asked Max, as they waited at the bus stop.

  “I’m fine,” Julia insisted. “I just need to get away from this place.”

  “Do you have the pass?”

  “I threw it in the garbage.”

  “What for?” said Max, in alarm. “We need to take that back to Jeff’s house.”

  “I’m sorry, okay,” Julia replied, sounding irritated. “I panicked, all right. I wasn’t thinking.”

  “Why did you do that?” said Max, then paused. “Never mind, we can’t go back and grab it now. Let’s just hope no one finds it, that’s all.”

  HE WAS TOO angry to talk to Julia any further while they waited for the bus, and they undertook much of the journey in chilly silence. When they stepped off the bus at the stop just outside the cemetery entrance, Max felt dizzy and sat down on the bench. As the bus pulled away, everything went black again. Max was in a playground filled with yellow and blue play equipment and was standing on a platform a few feet above the ground. A young boy with pale, piercing blue eyes and blonde hair was smiling at him as Max felt an incredible level of pain in his head. The feeling became unbearable and Max fell from the platform onto the gravel below.

  He returned to reality with a start. Beside him on the bench, Julia looked very shaken.

  “What the heck was that?” she said, trying to catch her breath.

  “What did you see?” Max asked.

  “A boy in a playground. It was yellow and blue and the boy fell onto the gravel. That’s all I saw. What does it mean?”

  “I don’t know,” said Max. “For me it could be another of my mom’s memories, but I’m not sure why you’d have the same experience. Maybe it’s because of everything that’s happened or maybe you’re linking to my thoughts somehow.”

  “Maybe,” said Julia, still looking decidedly uneasy.

  “I know it’s unsettling. Believe me, I’ll never get used to these random visions.”

  Max paused before continuing.

  “So it looks like all the records match and Jesse’s really onto something. And it looks like both our moms might have been murdered.”

  “That’s not all,” said Julia. “I know now who my real father was.”

  “You found the record?”

  “Yes, his name was Kane, Max. Andreas Kane.”

  Max was astonished.

  “What? Are you sure?”

  “It was on the computer. I’m his daughter.”

  “But it might not be the same person,” Max argued. “I don’t even know what his first name was.”

  “It has to be him, Max. Just look at all the connections. And it would explain my powers, or at least the beginnings of them if my mom was a promising subject and he was my dad. You said yourself that he was the most powerful of all.”

  “But as far as I know he had no knowledge of who he was after I saw him at the waterfront,” said Max. “And he had amnesia for years until he tried to kill me.”

  “And what if he tries to kill you again?” Julia demanded. “Or me?”

  “But he probably doesn’t even know he has a child,” replied Max. “And besides, Deanna said that he wouldn’t remember anything after she defeated him at David’s house. He’s no threat to anyone.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “No, but—”

  “Look, Max,” said Julia, interrupting him. “I’m really scared. For some reason, people connected to Kovac’s operation have started taking an interest in me, like those guys who were at the school. Then I find out this guy’s my father. And now I’m getting other people’s memories in my head. Am I going crazy?”

  “I’m sure we can work this out and—”

  “I’m sorry, Max,” said Julia. “I can’t do this anymore.”

  She turned and ran down the street.

  “Julia, wait!”

  Max gave chase but by the time he reached the street corner Julia was nowher
e in sight.

  MAX HAD NO choice but to head home. He knew that Julia had the keys to some of the houses her mother was selling but Max had no idea where Julia might have gone. On his way home, he sent her a couple of texts but he didn’t really expect Julia to reply.

  It was almost nine o’clock when Max got home. His dad’s truck was missing, so once he’d stepped inside, Max sent his dad a quick text to let him know where he was.

  At home now decided not to stay.

  Max went into the kitchen and opened the fridge. He grabbed a can of pop and opened it. The phone vibrated in his pocket as Max took a drink. His dad had sent him a text.

  OK just out with friends. See you later if you’re still up.

  Max sent a reply as he headed upstairs to his room.

  OK

  Max set his backpack down on the carpet beside the dresser. He took out his laptop and placed it on the desk. He contemplated checking out the website again and even contacting Jesse, but was surprised at how tired he was. With a yawn, Max got undressed and climbed into bed. He knew he hadn’t received any incoming calls, yet still checked his phone to see if he’d somehow missed any texts from Julia, but there was nothing. He was still thinking about everything that had happened that day, wondering where Julia might be and if she was safe but soon fell asleep.

  MAX FELT HIMSELF being roughly carried by two people. He was outside and it was freezing. He could barely open his eyes but it appeared to be dusk. The ground was covered in snow and the surrounding trees and bushes were blanketed in white. The people carrying him reached the edge of the woods and placed him on the bitterly cold ground.

  “Is she awake?” said a man’s voice.

  “I don’t think so,” another replied.

  “Let’s get out of here.”

  Max heard the crunching of the men’s footsteps in the snow as they hurried away from the scene. Then the woods were deathly quiet until the silence was broken by the sound of a vehicle starting up then driving away.

  MAX WOKE UP in his room. It was daylight and the sun was shining brightly outside but even in his bed he was shivering. To his horror, he thought that he knew whose life he might have been witnessing. Julia’s mom had died of exposure in a remote area on a freezing winter’s night. It was exactly what Max had just experienced. And although he hadn’t seen the faces of the men who’d been in his dream, he was convinced they were Connor and Drake. How could he have seen something like that through her eyes? He understood his link to his mother had allowed him to share her most vivid and indeed traumatic experiences but why would he be connected to someone that wasn’t related to him? Max acknowledged once again that he hadn’t been related to David either, but that was different. David’s ghost had contacted him for the specific purpose of changing his fate. Yet Julia’s mom wasn’t doing that. Max had simply tuned in to the last moments of her life. And then there was the incident that he’d experienced at the same time as Julia when they got off the bus at the cemetery. Could he somehow be linked to her memories now? Was the playground scene somehow connected to Julia or her mother?