Djinn

by Laura Catherine

  Was he going to kill me? Would he go back and kill Dad?

  But all I heard was the click of the car door opening.

  "Get in," he said and shoved me onto the seat.

  Mia was already in place on the far side, seatbelt fastened. She looked at her reflection in a hand mirror while trying to fix her damp hair. She was putting extra effort into ignoring me.

  Will was in the driver's seat, hands on the steering wheel, waiting until Pyke slipped into the passenger seat next to him. He started the car and the engine purred, so unlike our Ute, that had spent a lot of its life in auto shops.

  Will's hand flicked a button on the steering wheel and all the doors locked in place. I looked to the handle nearest me, wanting to try push it open, leap from the car and run back for Dad.

  "Don't even think about it," Mia said, reading my mind. She was applying more eyeliner, despite the fact that none of her previous make-up had come off.

  A pile of bloodied tissues sat between us. Mia had tended to the knife wound on her cheek, which brought my thoughts back to when I stabbed Will in the side and it left little more than the scratch on Mia's face.

  "What are you?" I blurted out. "I don't understand what's going on. The things you can do, and Dad …" I paused for moment remembering him blasting Pyke across the yard with his magical wind powers. "What the hell is going on?"

  "Relax," Pyke said, leaning back in his seat, arms behind his head. "Just enjoy the drive."

  "You're kidding, right?" I replied. I seemed to have found my voice again and I was prepared to use it.

  "Do as he says, darling, or I'll shut you up myself," Mia added, her attention clearly elsewhere as she moved her finger, drawing pictures on the fogged up window.

  "Whoever you are, can't you just let me go? I mean whatever my dad did, I'm sure we could work something out."

  Pyke snickered. "Oh, she's adorable and clueless."

  "How about I knee you again and we'll see how adorable I am?" I replied.

  Pyke turned in his seat ready to lean into the back and grab me. "What did you say?"

  "Pyke!" I didn't even see Will's hand leave the steering wheel but it was on Pyke, fast. He gripped his jacket and pushed him back in the seat. "Just ignore her."

  "Ignore me!" I said. "You can't kidnap a person and not tell them why! I deserve to know why you kidnapped me. What do you want?"

  Will sighed, like it was such a chore to babysit me. "We didn't kidnap you."

  I burst into laughter. "That's funny. You guys are hilarious. What do you call it then? An outing? A play date?"

  "We didn't kidnap you," Will repeated, like I didn't just laugh in his face. He turned to me, taking his eyes off the road to give me his full attention. "Kyra, we were rescuing you. You've been missing for sixteen years."

  I stared blankly at Will. He gave me a look of sympathy and turned back to the road.

  "What happened to waiting until we got back?" Pyke asked, in a superior tone.

  "She had to know," Will replied.

  I couldn't move, couldn't blink. He was lying, obviously, was my first thought. As if I'd been missing for sixteen years. No, they were just trying to get in my head and throw me off.

  "I don't believe you," I said, catching Will's eyes in the rear-view mirror. "I don't believe you."

  "It's true," Will said. "That man you've been living with, the one you've been calling Dad. He was the one who kidnapped you."

  "You're lying! I know who my father is!"

  "You shouldn't have told her," Mia said, giving me a sideways glance. "Of course she wouldn't believe us. That Blooder has been filling her head with lies for sixteen years. A few words from you isn't going to change that." She turned to Will. "No matter how charming you may be."

  "Keep it in your pants," Pyke said.

  "Shut up, Pyke," Mia replied and turned back to her drawing on the window. Her finger traced more swirls on the fogged up glass.

  I couldn't understand what their angle was. Why tell me my dad wasn't my dad? Mia was right, I wasn't going to believe it. They must be crazy to think they were rescuing me.

  Everyone was silent as Will drove us to wherever to hell we were going. I had so many questions but I couldn't bring myself to ask them, so I stared out the window for a while thinking about Dad. I wondered if he'd woken up yet to find I was gone. I hoped he was alive.

  Will turned the heater on in the car, and slowly the cabin filled with warm lulling air. I think he did it on purpose, because I could barely keep my eyes open. I tried to fight it, but I was exhausted from all the craziness of the night. My eyelids dropped shut.

  * * *

  I stood in my front yard, the ground soaked. Puddles splashed like rain was falling, but the sky was clear and red as blood. My house was frozen in a block of ice, like a statue on display. I ran to the giant ice cube and pounded my fists against it, trying to break in. I wanted my photo, the one of Mum and me. I couldn't leave without it.

  "There's no time!" I heard Dad's voice echo through the air, but I couldn't see him. "Get to the car."

  I turned to search for Dad, but the next thing I knew I was sitting in the black car with a young Dad driving. His face was bruised and bleeding, but he didn't seem to notice.

  "Dad?" I leaned over from the back seat to help him, but someone pulled me back.

  It was Mia sitting beside me, her make-up running down her face like she'd been crying.

  "You have to sit down," she said.

  "But my dad," I replied.

  The car jerked as Dad swerved. I looked through windscreen and saw we weren't driving on a road at all. We were driving on ice. Dad's hands were moving fast on the wheel, trying to keep us from skidding.

  "Dad!" I screamed. "Let me help you!"

  Mia pulled me back again.

  "You have to sit down," she urged. "It's too dangerous. Don't look."

  I stared at her. "What are you talking about?"

  But she didn't respond. Instead she turned to the window and started drawing dogs on the frosted glass with her fingers.

  Dad's control over the car became worse and worse. I struggled not to slide around. I gripped hold of the passenger seat and swung myself in next to Dad.

  "Dad!" I said. "Dad, please stop the car."

  He didn't say a word and continued to drive recklessly.

  I didn't like being ignored, I never had. I grabbed Dad's shirt and pulled his attention to mine.

  "No!" Mia shouted from the back seat.

  She hugged herself into a ball trying to hide. I turned back to Dad, only to see his eyes were as red as blood. He looked at me differently, not as his daughter.

  "Dad? What's wrong?"

  He looked crazed and out of control. This wasn't my Dad. This wasn't how he acted.

  "Stop the car," I ordered, but Dad only turned back and continued driving. I looked to Mia still huddled in the back seat. "Mia?" I said with caution. "Mia, I need to get out of here."

  She looked up to me with golden eyes. "You shouldn't have looked," she said and proceeded to rock back and forth.

  I realised no one was going to help me so I would have to help myself. I turned back to the front to see Pyke standing in the middle of the road.

  "Look out!" I shouted, but Dad didn't slow down. I grabbed the wheel from him and turned us out of Pyke's path. The car sped off the ice toward a forest. Trees streamed past and I wasn't sure why we didn't hit any of them. I looked around and it was like we were invisible, passing through like a ghost.

  The trees cleared and our house appeared, still frozen solid. The car headed straight for it and there was nothing I could do to avoid it. I closed my eyes as we made contact.

  Chapter Ten

  I woke with an alarming jolt and yelped. Mia shouted in surprise next to me. I gripped hold of my seat belt as my eyes adjusted, trying to work out where I was.

  "What the hell?" Mia said. "Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"

  "Is she okay?" Will asked,
looking back through the rear-view mirror.

  "Is she okay?" Mia repeated with offence. "What about me?"

  "Mia, she's hyperventilating," Will said with the slightest hint of annoyance.

  Mia took my hand in hers and looked me in the eyes. "Calm down," she said, like that would help.

  "I think she's crazy," Pyke remarked, but everyone ignored him.

  "Kyra. It was just a dream. You're safe," Will soothed.

  I realised what Will had said was true. At first, I couldn't be sure what was real, but when I thought about it and all the other crazy things that were going on, I knew it was a dream. Realising that, I was able to calm my breathing to steady ins and outs.

  "Feeling better?" Will asked.

  I nodded, even though I was still completely unsettled. Once I was calm enough Mia released my hand and rested back in her seat.

  "Unbelievable," she muttered under her breath. She seemed to think I was doing it as some sort of attention-seeking stunt.

  The real Mia hated me with a passion, and maybe Pyke did too. He hadn't looked at me in a long while, though he seemed to not like anyone. What did I care? What Pyke had tried to do to Dad …

  Will was different, though. Sure, he had leadership, so the others had to listen to him, but he was kind, at least to me. I didn't trust him, or any of them, actually, but at least I knew how Mia and Pyke felt about me. I just wasn't sure if Will was pretending or not. Was he just following orders, or did he actually care?

  I rested back and stared a hole into the back of Will's seat. He'd kept driving all through the night, even as I slept, it seemed, as I saw the sun rise over the hilltops. The scenery had changed dramatically. My old town had been surrounded by trees and forests, but now we were somewhere with a lot of countryside and hills. It was too open for my liking. I wanted closed off areas with places to hide.

  We passed field after field, cow after cow. I could feel myself wanting to drift off again, if it wasn't for my overwhelming urge to pee.

  "I need to go to the bathroom," I said, breaking the hours of silence.

  Mia glanced at me, raising an eyebrow.

  "There's a gas station a few kilometres ahead. We'll stop there and you can go," Will replied.

  "You know that's the oldest trick in the book, right?" Mia said. "First they need to pee, then they plan some stupid way to make a break for it."

  I hadn't even thought of that. It actually sounded like a good idea to me, though now Mia had mentioned it, it probably wouldn't work.

  "She's not going try anything," Will replied. He glanced at me through the mirror. "Right?"

  "Sure," I said. "Where would I go anyway?" I turned my attention back to watching farm animals fly by.

  * * *

  Will pulled into a gas station about half an hour later. It was clearly just a place to stop between towns, with only one gas pump. There was a small store, too, probably with some seriously overpriced food.

  "Pyke, you fill up the car," Will said, once he'd parked the car next to the pump.

  "Me? Seriously?" Pyke pointed to himself, like there was another Pyke Will could be confusing him with.

  "You can drive the rest of the way," Will persuaded.

  "Wow, thanks boss," Pyke said sarcastically, but exited the car and headed for the pump.

  "Mia, you can pick up some snacks and water." Will leaned into the back seat and handed her a handful of money.

  "What about you?" Mia's eyes glanced to me.

  "I'll be fine. Just get something good, I'm starving."

  Mia smiled as she took the money and bounded from the car. Will waited until Mia was inside the shop and Pyke was leaning against the side of the car, pumping gas. He turned his gaze on me, sending a shiver down my spine.

  "I'm going to take you to the bathroom," he said, in a voice that was both soothing and authoritative. "I don't want you trying anything. Just do what you have to and then we'll get back in the car."

  This guy kidnapped you, Kyra.

  He is not soothing.

  "I make no promises," I warned and hopped out of the car. I'd meant it to sound threatening but Will only smiled, like it was all a big joke.

  Stepping out, I had to stretch my legs at bit before I could go anywhere. They ached from hours spent in a car, plus the fight from last night. Judging from the sun's position in the sky, I figured it to be about midmorning.

  I glanced at Pyke, who leaned casually against the side of the car. His attention was focused on the numbers spinning up on the gas meter. Another car pulled in beside us and Pyke gave them a quick glance. A woman stepped out of the small red hatchback and ran into the service station. She was in such a hurry, she left the car running. I heard the click of Will's car door closing and turned to face him.

  He was beautiful. I mean, I'd seen hot guys in movies, and even a few at some of the schools over the years, but Will was stunning. I hadn't had the chance to check him out properly since we'd met. He'd been drenched in rain and hidden in darkness a lot of the time, but now the sun was beaming down on his face, lighting up his spiky, golden hair in a blaze of glory. His eyes, though they matched mine, seemed somehow completely different, like they saw everything. He wore plain jeans and a white shirt and, though they were stained with mud and blood, he pulled it off. He shrugged on a leather jacket, which seemed to be a trademark for these people. His olive tan rivalled my own and with clearly defined muscle tone, it was easy to see how beautiful and dangerous Will was.

  "Oh please," Mia groaned breaking my gaze. She was standing a few metres away, hands full of chip packets and water bottles. She glared at me, staring daggers, but Will didn't seem to notice. His gaze was locked on me.

  "The toilet's this way." Will pointed around the side of the gas station.

  He led the way and I followed on behind. Mia bumped my shoulder as I passed by and it was then I noticed it. Mia had the same golden eyes as me, too. Just like in the dream I'd had. How come I hadn't seen it before? I could have sworn Mia's eyes were brown and Pyke's were … my gaze moved to Pyke as I thought of him. He turned his head in response and shone me a pearly smile, lighting up his golden eyes.

  "Your eyes …" I said, my head flicking between them.

  "I think we blew her mind," Pyke said.

  "Maybe you should have left the contacts in," Will suggested.

  "No way," Mia replied, throwing food into the back seat. "Those things itch like crazy. She can just deal."

  Will manoeuvred my body away from the others and toward the toilets. I snapped from my surprise and walked on my own, though I didn't understand why we all had the same coloured eyes.

  We headed around the corner of the service station where a small portable toilet sat.

  "After you." Will gestured with a smile.

  He held the door open for me and I stepped inside. Any thoughts of escape left me. There was only one way out and Will was guarding it. Plus, where would I go? We were miles away from anywhere I recognised, but I couldn't do anything.

  I didn't want to admit it, but a part of me didn't want to escape because I wanted to know who these people were, and why Dad had been running from them. I'd wanted to know the answers to those questions my whole life, and my curiosity seemed to have finally taken over.

  But I had to try … for Dad. I had to somehow get past Will, get into the service station and ask for help. The clerk could call the police.

  What could the police do against people with superpowers?

  I tried to ignore that thought. If I couldn't call the police, then what? The red hatchback flashed in my mind. The woman had left the car running as she darted inside.

  The idea formed in my mind. Take out Will, get in the red hatchback and drive back to Dad. It was my only chance of escape from these people.

  How do I get past Will?

  I'd stabbed him and it barely left a mark. How on earth was I going to get past him? I didn't have any weapons, but I did know how to fight, and I had the element of surprise,
if I played my cards right.

  I finished my business and took a deep breath before stepping out of the toilet. Will leaned against the side of the gas station, watching me as I closed the toilet door.

  "No escape attempt?" he said, one eyebrow raised.

  "I thought about it, but I don't think Mia would like it if I punched your pretty face," I replied.

  "I don't think she would," he said. "And I think I'd be a little pissed, too."

  That made me smile, which annoyed me. I didn't want Will to make me smile. Images of my dad flashed in my mind and my smile faded.

  "You're angry at me," he noticed.

  "No," I lied.

  I tried to walk ahead, but he stayed close by, a step behind. He was giving me space, which annoyed me more. It was hard to hate him when he was being so nice.

  "I don't want to talk about it," I said, pulling my jacket around my body.

  "When we get home and you understand everything, then maybe you will forgive me."

  "Unlikely," I said, stopping just behind the corner of the service station. I put my head in my hands and put on my best fake crying attempt.

  "Kyra," Will said, his voice thick with concern.

  I felt him step closer, warmth from his body radiating against my back. This was my chance. He was letting his guard down. Will placed a hand on my shoulder and I made my move. I grabbed his hand and, in one fluid motion, stepped behind him and twisted his arm behind his back. A swift kick to the back of his leg had Will on his knees.

  "Kyra. Stop," he said calmly, like I wasn't hurting him at all.

  "I won't go," I said and kicked him to the ground.

  I knew it wouldn't stop him, only slow him down. That's all I needed, enough time to reach the car. I ran to the edge of the service station and spotted the car. There was no time to think, Will was already getting to his feet.

  I bolted for the red hatchback of freedom, slamming into the side window.

  "What the hell?"

  Pyke stood at the entrance to the service station, wallet in hand, having just paid for the petrol.

  "Pyke, stop her," Will called. Pyke lunged grabbing my jacket and pulling me backwards.