by E. J. Mara
“Hey, come on. I am your friend. I am.” I touch her arm and she flinches.
That, right there, is worse than a punch to the gut.
I retract my hand. “Sorry.” Looking down at my hands, I take a moment to collect my thoughts. Even though she’s dead wrong about the Esther-thing, I don’t want her to walk away from this conversation angry with me.
Sighing, I turn to her and address the side of her head since she’s refusing to look at me. “Karen, I’m sorry. And I am on your side. Even though I just acted like a complete jerk, I promise, I couldn’t be more on your side.”
Finally turning to me, she searches my eyes, the anger in hers diminishing.
Relief washes over me. “In fact,” I continue, “there’s something I want to tell you.” My nerves taking over, I grip the steering wheel.
“What?”
“I’ve been thinking about what happened in the cornfield the other night, um, about what I saw.” I take a deep breath. “And I think your dad -”
A thud sounds on my Jeep’s roof.
I look up as Karen gasps. “I think something just fell on top of us.” Her words are drowned out by what sounds like running footsteps above our heads. They dart from the back of the roof towards the windshield.
“What is that?” Karen unfastens her seatbelt and grabs the door handle.
The underside of a black boot appears on the windshield and horrified, I grab Karen’s hand. “Wait, Karen! Don’t open the door.”
A second boot appears and stomps against the glass so hard that it fissures, leaving a long crack in my windshield. At this, both feet dart away and their owner, a shadowy silhouette, jumps into the air before vanishing into the darkness.
My heart pounds …Unseen. That was Unseen! What if he heard me?
Stricken, I peer into the dark skies ahead, searching for some other sign of him.
Did he hear me on the verge of telling Karen the truth about his identity and show up to stop me? Does that mean he’s been tracking me?
“Nathaniel, look!” Karen grabs my arm and points to the gas station at our left.
Directly above the building, a bright light shines in the night sky. In the gas station below, a man is hurled through the front door, glass shattering everywhere.
My fear of Karen’s dad pounding me to a bloody pulp fades as the man lands on the cement with a thud. Unseen’s victim is a burly guy in a flannel jacket and ski mask that covers his face. A thief. He struggles to his feet as the light in the sky above the gas station diminishes. In the distance, police sirens scream their approach.
So, Unseen isn’t here because of me, he showed up to stop that.
Only slightly relieved, I accelerate through the red light and mumble, “We’re getting out of here.”
“Wait, stop.” Karen tightens her grip on my arm. “Stop the car!”
I hit the brakes. “What’s wrong?”
“Up there,” she says, awe in her voice, “on top of the bank.”
My pulse racing, I squint into the darkness and follow Karen’s direction to Peake First National’s roof, where the silhouette of what appears to be a woman stands on the ledge.
I shiver, an ice cold bucket of fear dumped over me. What is this?! It’s like we’re running into one disaster after another!
“She’s going to jump.” I put the Jeep in park and start for my door, but Karen grabs my elbow.
“No. Don’t you get it?” Her words rushed in excitement, she grins, “That’s Unseen. I think …I think she’s a “she”.”
“That’s impossible.” I say, peering up at the shadowy figure in question. It’s definitely a woman, but there’s no way she’s Unseen.
“It’s not impossible.” Karen’s tone is as definite as ever, “We’re seeing Unseen and she’s obviously a woman.”
“That’s not Unseen, trust me.” I retort, opening my door.
The woman leaps, jumping off the ledge in one swift motion. I bolt from my Jeep, my gaze not straying from the falling woman. I run as fast as I can, but there’s no way I’ll get to her in time …please God, please let one of the nearby tree branches break her fall… My prayer comes to an abrupt halt as the woman disappears midair. I stop running and blink into the darkness. Where’d she go? Behind me, the Jeep’s passenger door slams shut.
“Did you see that? She disappeared,” Karen shouts as she runs towards me. “That had to be Unseen!”
Confused, I scan the area where the lady should have fallen, but there’s just grass, trees, and an empty sidewalk. She really disappeared. I turn to Karen who, her eyes as wide as saucers, is grinning more than I’ve seen in a very long time. Speechless, I turn back to the bank and make sure the woman isn’t there …somewhere.
“Now my dad will have to believe in Unseen,” Karen says as she heads back to the Jeep. “Come on, let’s leave before the Police get here. They’ll want official witness statements and that’ll take all night.”
Dazed, I follow her to the Jeep. If that woman was Unseen, then what happened to Karen’s dad in the cornfield last night?
The ominous feeling from earlier returning to settle down on me, I start the Jeep and glance at Karen.
Mom was right. There’s something strange about Karen’s parents; they were hiding a secret and that secret had nothing to do with Dr. Lyles being Unseen. He’s something else completely.
I tossed and turned all night, not only because of our Unseen sighting, but because of what Nathaniel said when he got mad. I’ve seen him annoyed, but never angry. And definitely never angry at with me…
“You’re so busy criticizing everyone that you don’t even see them …”
His words resounding in my head, I tighten the belt of my robe and take another bite of Frosted Flakes. Yes, what I did to Esther was awful, but I didn’t do it because I was jealous of her, and I’m definitely not a snob. Esther’s the snob. The girl treats Tessa and me like we don’t even exist.
But ...whatever. Like Ms. Greenich said, I don’t have to stay bitter and angry, I can decide how to feel. And right now, I want to feel like a girl who’s enjoying her Frosted freaking Flakes and pleased with herself for catching a glimpse of her town’s vigilante.
Reaching across the table and grabbing today’s newspaper, I take another bite of cereal and read the front page.
UNSEEN NABS GAS STATION ROBBERS!
I grin and drop my spoon into my cereal. Milk splatters onto the table as I shout, “Hey Dad!” I start to bolt from my seat, ready to pull him from his workroom. But I pause, recalling that he’s bringing Tessa to school.
Dang it! I still haven’t had a chance to tell him what we saw last night. And I really want to because maybe hearing about our Unseen sighting will pull at least a hint of a smile out of him.
“This is so cool,” I murmur, picking up the newspaper and reading the article.
It details the account Nathaniel and I saw firsthand, explaining that two ski mask-wearing men, who’ve apparently taken to robbing gas stations all over North Alabama, tried to do the same at Peake’s Gas last night. But according to the small gas station’s cashier, the two thieves were stopped when, “…a bright light shone in the sky. And then one of the robbers fell backwards, passing out for no reason whatsoever. The other man was thrown through the front door and out onto the sidewalk. It was like someone pushed him, but I didn’t see anyone there. Then the light went away and I put two and two together and realized I’d been saved by Unseen.”
“Geez Louise,” I whisper, unable to dismiss my ridiculous grin. Setting the article aside, I glance at our front door, hoping Dad comes back soon. I can’t wait to tell him about this!
Our phone rings and I glance down at our Caller ID box. It’s Julia, calling from her cellular telephone, because yes, she is a huge fancy pants when it comes to tech gadgets. I think most rich people are, it’s a status thing. The more tech toys you have, the higher up on the totem pole you are.
“Hey, Jules!” I exclaim, unable to keep the enthusiasm out
of my voice.
“Oh, my God, Karen, I’ve been dying to talk to you and I just couldn’t take it anymore!” Julia screeches, sounding even more excited than I am.
I laugh. “Me too!”
“Really?” she says with genuine surprise. “Okay. You go first. What’s up, chica?”
I lean against the counter, my gaze returning to the newspaper on our kitchen table. “You’re never going to believe what me and Nathaniel saw.” I pause, my thoughts darting to something I almost forgot about.
Nathaniel and Julia are back together …that’s probably what she wants to tell me. A jolt of pain disrupting my stomach, I wince.
Yesterday afternoon Ms. Davidson brought me to the doctor and he told me I have an ulcer, which he gave me some medicine for. In addition to that, Ms. Davidson was kind enough to give me a few liters of cabbage juice. She says it’s a home remedy that used to help her husband’s ulcers. It’s been helping, but at the moment, my pain seems to have temporarily returned.
“Oh, yeah!” Julia exclaims, the screech factor in her voice making me flinch. “You guys saw Unseen. Nathaniel told me. That’s so crazy! And he said she’s a girl. I never would have thought Unseen was a girl. That’s so cool, Karen!”
“Yeah.” I clutch my stomach.
“So, are you ready to hear my news?” Julia asks in a sing-song voice.
Despite my stomach and jealousy, the happiness in Julia’s tone stops me from inventing an excuse to decline this conversation. I close my eyes. “Yeah, Jules.”
“So, I would’ve told you yesterday, but we completely missed each other with …um, everything that went on with you and Esther. But anyway, it’s the best news ever.” Julia sighs dramatically. “Guess whose back together? Me and Nate! Ack!!! Can you believe it?” She laughs and continues, “When he brought me home from your house the other night, we talked for a while and then we kissed! It was the sweetest, softest kiss. Oh, my God! And then we talked about how much we missed each other and we’re all like, “Let’s take it slow, but…”
As Julia goes on, I begin to feel dead, like my heart has stopped. I’m sure it hasn’t really, but that’s how I feel. Opening my eyes, I stare at the oak cabinets on the other side of our kitchen, my mind blank, my heart silent, and my breath halted.
Julia, on the other hand, is as animated as ever. “…so we’re definitely back on,” she exclaims, “isn’t that great? Now you won’t have to be caught in the middle of me and Nate’s drama, am I right?” She laughs, but I can’t even speak.
“Karen?”
I take a deep breath and try to ignore the burning that’s resurfaced in my stomach. “Yeah. Sorry about that, I accidently muted the phone. Jules, that’s so great. I’m happy for you.” The lie slips from my lips as easily as the truth, and Julia goes on to talk about some things that I really wish I didn’t have to listen to.
The more she talks about the way they kissed, the more I realize how right Nathaniel was. I am jealous. Not of Esther Reams, but of all “The Esther’s”, the pretty, rich girls with normal families, normal personalities, and normal lives. They’re the ones who “The Nathaniel’s” fall for. And can you blame The Nathaniel’s? Who wouldn’t choose the fun, happy girl over the moody chick who seethes with so much jealousy that you can practically smell it emanating from her pores? I can’t be mad at Nathaniel for choosing Julia.
“ …I’m going to miss you today. Sucks you got suspended. But, um, speaking of that, like, what exactly happened with Esther?” Julia stammers. “There are some crazy rumors going around. Of course I don’t believe them, but, I was kind of wondering.”
I look down at Mom’s ring, my emotions as clouded as the opaque stone. It’s funny how even though our feelings are what make us who we are, they’re the most difficult thing in the world to understand. Like, I wouldn’t have realized I was jealous until Nathaniel pointed it out. And now …now, I don’t even know what I’m feeling. It’s not just jealousy, it’s this rawness that’s making me numb.
“Karen? Are you there?”
“Yeah, sorry. The thing with Esther was a misunderstanding. I thought she was trying to hurt Tessa, and it was just a stupid mistake.”
“Oh,” Julia replies, her voice soft, “I get it. Well, look, Nate’s right here and he’s saying he needs to talk to me, so I guess I’ll see you later. Bye, chica.”
“Bye, Jules.” I set the phone in its cradle and stare down at it. I don’t even know how to… be right now. All I know is that I feel like crap.
Our front door creaks opens and our entire house shakes under Dad’s footsteps. He slams the door shut and I slide off of the counter to peek around the corner. As Dad’s face comes into view my concern about my own feelings fade. He’s as pale as he was the night we found Mom. His dark salt-and-pepper hair full of sweat and flattened against his head, he scowls so much that a series of lines mar every inch of his forehead.
“Dad? What’s wrong?”
Looking past me as if I haven’t said a word, he lifts a trembling hand to wipe the perspiration from his forehead, marches to his workroom, and slams the door behind him.
I hear him shouting, but I can’t quite make out his words. He must be on the phone. Though most of what he’s saying is garbled, I hear, “Leave my family alone,” quite clearly.
Confused, I hug myself and stare down the hallway. Could this have something to do with those Buicks that have been following us? Between seeing Unseen and dealing with my feelings for Nathaniel, I kind of forgot about them.
I slip back into the kitchen, pick up the phone, and glance at our Caller ID box to see who Dad’s talking to, but it says “Restricted Number.”
“…saw one of their cars at my little girl’s school,” Dad says, distress staining his every word, “and my oldest is starting to notice them. Tell Jayne I don’t have the serum! Tell her to leave us alone!”
My heart pounding, I grip the phone and turn to the kitchen window where morning sunlight streams through our curtains. Absently watching the golden rays, I try and wrap my head around what Dad’s saying. First of all, who’s Jayne? And what “serum” is Dad talking about?
“Dr. Lyles,” a whispered female voice replies, “you shouldn’t call me here, it’s not safe. I’ll contact you later, from a secure line. Understood?”
“Claire, I can’t deal with this,” Dad hisses, “I ran their experiments, I did what they wanted, and now I’m done! Tell Jayne to stay away from my family. Tell her I’m never going back to I.T.I.S. I’m through with them!”
“Dr. Lyles, you know I can’t do that,” the woman he’s called “Claire” whispers. “She’d kill-”
There’s a click and Claire says, “Dr. Lyles? Dr. Lyles?”
Dad must have hung up on her. My hands shake as I set the phone back in its cradle. Those black cars …they were following us. I was right. And what’s I.T.I.S.? It sounds vaguely familiar ... The door to Dad’s workroom flies open and his footsteps sound on the floor. I dart away from the phone and peer around the corner.
Dad heads to the front door, shouting, “I’ll be back. Don’t open the door for anyone.” With that, he shuts the door behind him, his keys clattering while he takes a moment to lock the top and bottom locks. That in itself is odd, Dad never remembers to lock the front door.
I glance down the hallway, eyeing Dad’s workroom as his words ring in my ears, “…I ran their experiments, I did what they wanted ...I’m never going back to I.T.I.S.”
I.T.I.S.- that sounds so familiar. I think Mom may have mentioned it once or twice when she was delusional. But what is it? Could it have something to do with the cars that have been following us? My thoughts swarming and colliding, I look down at Mom’s ring. What if Mom’s “delusions” weren’t exactly delusions?
I head to Dad’s workroom, determined to find answers.
EVER SINCE TESSA and I were little, we were told to keep away from Dad’s workroom. I’ve never understood why Mom and Dad were so strict about that, but now the
rule makes sense. If Dad’s connection to I.T.I.S. is supposed to be confidential and the information surrounding this big secret is kept in here, then no wonder we were shooed away.
I approach the door, take a deep breath, and turn the knob. It’s locked. But, that’s okay. When you have a little sister who’s prone to throwing tantrums and locking herself in her room, you become a pro at prying open a locked door.
Hurrying to the bathroom, I open the drawer where I keep me and Tessa’s hair supplies, and grab a bobby pin. In less than three minutes, I’ve used the pin to open the door to Dad’s workroom. Slipping into the “bat cave”, I look around.
Well …it’s more messy office than bat cave. Much like my room, there are random piles of clothes on the floor, but there are also stacks of thick textbooks and cardboard boxes scattered about. A small rusty metal file cabinet occupies the room’s right-hand corner and a large wooden office desk sits in front of the window.
“Hm, I wonder who I take after.” I mutter as I step over a pile of balled up papers that, upon closer inspection, appear to be bills.
Mom and Tessa are definitely the neat-freaks in our family. My father and I, on the other hand, are the same when it comes to mess; we thrive in it.
Passing three cardboard boxes that have been stacked on top of each other, I approach the large oak desk. Among the numerous outdated day planners and random pieces of papers strewn across its top is a large framed picture of our family. The four of us stand shoulder to shoulder, smiling as we pose on the front lawn of our church. I don’t want to pick up the picture, because picking up old family photos and examining them is an invitation to sentimental sadness. Even so, I find myself grabbing the picture and studying all four of our faces.
We looked so different back then; for one, we looked happy. I think Tessa was ten and I was twelve when this was taken. Her hair was wild, coming out of the cute little bow Mom had tried to tie it back with.
Mom …my God, Tessa looks exactly like her; they have the same golden hair and blue eyes.
