Melody took me by the arm over to one of the other women.
“Here you go, April. She’s all yours.”
“Do whatever she tells you,” she hissed as she went off to look around my room.
April handed me a hair tie and I threw my hair on top of my head before she told me to do it. She sat me down in what looked like a basic black folding chair and told me not to move. I sat nervously, my eyes a little watery and my stomach ready to regurgitate the fine meal I’d had earlier. The room was quiet except for the one loud, quick hum I heard before two prongs sprang out of the air and stopped a hair before my eyes. I was so terrified I was temporarily paralyzed, not knowing if that was my own doing or not. Flinching was not an option. The prongs emitted a green light that was beamed into both of my eyes. It scanned them, probably thousands of times, as the beams kept bouncing up and down. When the lights went out, a group of silver spheres encircled my head. As they slowly floated in formation, they expanded, joined together and completely enclosed my head in a hazy bubble. It felt like my head was stuck in a wind tunnel and my thoughts were being sucked out of my brain. It was only a matter of seconds before I started hearing the strange machine’s findings being tallied with beeps and ticks. I didn’t notice when it happened, but my wrists and ankles were bound to the chair by rays of light.
“Are we ready?” Melody called from the other side of the room.
“She’s ready,” April answered. Now that the light was out of my eyes, I got a good look at her. She looked nothing like she sounded. April was small with beautiful blonde hair that framed her blue eyes. Even in the black suit, she looked like an angel.
Melody marched quickly across the room until she stood above me with a long, silver cylinder filled with an orange gooey substance. If Chace hadn’t warned me, I would have lost my mind, or at least panicked an awful lot. She opened the cylinder and threw its contents on my chest. The goo ran all over my cat suit and I could feel a tingle everywhere it touched. Melody went back to going through my things.
“Don’t look so alarmed, phyter,” I heard someone say. It was the third woman, who was so quiet I had almost forgotten she was in the room.
“I’m Hope,” she said in a tone that was completely out of place. She was actually nice. Her hair was a beautiful shade of auburn and her curls spilled down her back. She had porcelain skin with pouty lips and big eyes. I started to wonder if any of the gifted ones were ugly. So far, these women were gorgeous!
“They’re micro-bots. Just like the name implies, they’re microscopic robots that attach themselves to the special suit you’re wearing. They’re collecting and analyzing data about you—your DNA mostly. Anything we do to you has been done to every gifted one, including us. Nothing will hurt, alter or hinder you or your gifts. Trust me.”
Little did she know, she was asking for the world in that request. I found it hard to trust anyone anymore, let alone some strange women who came barreling into my bedroom in the middle of the night. But oddly enough, I did trust her.
“I knew you were coming sooner or later,” I said sheepishly. “But what’s with all the attitude? Aren’t we on the same side?” I asked hesitantly.
“We are on the same side. Some of the welcoming committee, that would be Melody, feels that they are sharpening your skills and heightening your awareness by being tough. It’s not always a gift to be gifted and it can be brutal at times. Every situation is different, but for the most part, no one has time for pleasantries. Not everyone will be nice to you. You’ll have to learn to look past that and be able to complete your task, regardless of what anyone else does.”
Hope took a shiny black cylinder out of her knapsack and held it up to my chest. The micro-bots lined up like little soldiers and streamlined themselves into the canister. She sealed it and tossed it back in her bag.
“Why are you so nice? Not that I’m complaining.”
“Because I think it’s unnecessary to be harsh on the phyters. They toughen up soon enough. Most of them had the luxury of being trained by their parents and were groomed for this their whole lives. They know what to expect, anyway. You, on the other hand, were a bit unfortunate and didn’t take the path most often traveled. If anything, they should’ve gone easier on you.”
I could hear Melody and April looking through my things, snapping pictures and collecting samples. I was not looking forward to cleaning up that mess.
“It hasn’t been that bad really. After the smoke from the bombshell of learning I was gifted cleared, I was doing okay with it. Of course, I had a lot of help from Chace. By the way, do you know him?”
Hope stopped packing up and knelt down beside the chair to which I was still strapped. She glanced over at Melody and April, who were still quite busy with their part of the mission.
“Lexi. Lexi Blane. Right?” she asked.
“Yes,” I said, surprised that someone called me something other than phyter.
“I’ve heard your name around the Commission a lot these last few months. You were the one who was stuck between worlds, yes?”
“I was in a coma.”
“That doesn’t happen very often, you know. Most of the time it’s a lot simpler than that. Gifted ones give birth to gifted ones. They train them, introduce them to the other world, and guide them through the whole process. Most of the phyters then go to work for the Commission to keep the world safe from the defectors of the other world. Then the cycle starts all over again. It’s a plain vanilla process really. Being a gifted one in a coma means you went to the other world. Did you meet any trouble there?”
“No. No I didn’t. I didn’t even know I was there. I thought I was still here with my parents, but they died in the accident and stayed in that world.” My voice cracked at the mention of my parents.
“That’s what’s supposed to happen, Lexi. I’m sure you’ve heard this all from Chace. Together, we should be the perfect fusion of two worlds. The continuity of human existence would be guaranteed if it weren’t for the defectors.”
“You mean there’s a chance that the defectors could eliminate the human race?” I asked.
“We aren’t exactly sure what they’re after. We think it’s complete control of the two worlds, which we’ll never let happen. There is some speculation that they want to destroy our world altogether because they don’t agree with the universal laws. They’re a group of extremists that can’t accept the way we interfere with fate.”
“And Chace?” I asked, reminding her that she hadn’t answered me.
“Oh, Chace.” She drew in a big breath and sighed. Her voice became almost a whisper.
“I know Chace. We all do. He’s a very high-ranking official among the gifted ones. Knowing him, his humility guided him in the direction of not telling you yet. He doesn’t like being considered superior, although we all are trained to treat him that way. Chace is extremely powerful. He’s the most powerful gifted one we know. I’m not talking only a little more powerful, he’s on a level all his own. Gifted ones can only master up to ten gifts. The rest that were never perfected eventually disappear and never resurface. The only documented case of having more than ten gifts is Chace. It is still unknown just how many he has perfected. He seems to be able to tap into gifts that never disappeared and perfect them at will. No one has any idea how he got that way.”
I knew exactly how he got that way. I guessed his creation was only made public to a select few, so I didn’t share the knowledge.
“I think part of the reason Melody was extra mean to you was because she knows you’re his student and you’re a threat to her. She’s pretty powerful and was furious that she was assigned to this job of acclimating the phyters. She wanted to be a peacekeeper and bounce to the other world to fix all the problems we had with them. A gifted one on the Commission, who was able to track intentions, saw that she was only after obtaining fame, glory and power. It was too dangerous to give her a role that would put her in such a position. So they put some precautions in plac
e to prevent her from doing anything stupid. These suits were designed for that purpose, among others. They have many functions and the Commission knows where we are and what we are doing while wearing them. I’m sure Melody’s probably afraid a phyter, that being you, will get the role she desperately wants just because they know someone with clout. Even though clout would have nothing to do with it.”
“Did she treat all of his students the same way?” I asked.
“No. You’re his only student. Most gifted ones are mentored by their parents. The ones who don’t have parents, or whose parents’ gifts never surfaced, are mentored by a gifted one selected by the Commission. One gifted one to one phyter. There’s something else, though. I shouldn’t be telling you this—” she stopped.
“No! Please! I swear I would never say anything if you don’t want me to. Please! I have weeks to learn what everyone else has had years to,” I begged.
“I know that, Lexi. I feel a special connection to you. I’ve never felt a connection with any phyter and I’ve met plenty. It’s probably because I came about the same way you did. My mother died after I was born and my father shortly after. I was practically raised by the Commission. I see so much of myself in you,” she said softly.
“I’m sorry,” I offered genuinely. Hope continued.
“I have an ability that taps into certain emotions. Love being one of them. Melody has always loved Chace so she’s jealous of any woman he gives the slightest bit of attention to. He’s well aware of it, but the feelings were never returned. She always thought that it was because two gifted ones can’t marry. My guess is that was an excuse to spare her feelings. She has been after Chace for years to overturn the marriage rule. He’s probably the only one who could do that. She could never admit to herself that he just didn’t love her. He had his life’s love picked out a long time ago. It’s always been you. He has never wavered.”
I started to tremble. I didn’t know if Chace was aware of all that Hope knew. I was terrified that I was responsible for complicating his life and that of the gifted world. I seized the opportunity to interrogate Hope more. It was obvious she liked Chace and I knew, after this encounter, she liked me too.
“Does Chace know you have that ability?”
“Yeah! Not much gets past him,” she giggled. “I think Chace knows lots of things he doesn’t talk about. He also knows there are certain things gifted ones keep to themselves. There is no rule that says our lives have to be open books. We’re all on a need to know basis, including him, but he has ways of getting what he needs. I would never do anything to jeopardize him. My allegiance has always been with Chace. I know the ring over there came from him. You love him in the same way he does you, but you also have given your heart to someone else. For some reason, I can’t read anything further into that part. I do know that you’re in a very dark place when it comes to your heart.”
“You’re right, you know,” I said. “I’m in love with two people, but something is missing with each of them. I can feel it, but I can’t figure it out. You can help! You can see the emotional rollercoaster I’ve been on,” I pleaded.
“Lexi, I can’t. I can only read emotions. I can’t force them. You can’t either. This is not a contradiction of gifts or power, but it’s a contradiction of love and emotion. You’re not the only person ever to be in a love triangle. You’ll find your way. You’re strong and smart and I know you’ll make the right decision for yourself. Just give it time.”
She started flipping switches and waving her hand through the beams of light that floated in the air. Hope cleared her throat and spoke to me like it was all business.
“We’ll be taking you to the Commission now. All of your data will be read, they will ask for a show of your abilities, and they will walk you around the facility. You will be given all information, codes and instructions, as they deem necessary for you to have. You’ll carry on your life as usual until you are called upon. The Commission doesn’t babysit the gifted ones. They trust that you will behave appropriately when in the general population. As you’ll learn, you’re not to tell anyone of your abilities, the other world or the Commission. It could mean the end of both worlds.”
“I understand,” I said. The light beams around my hands and feet disappeared. I was ready. It was official. I was one of them, on my way to my formal initiation into this very exclusive group. I wasn’t scared. I was relieved.
“Oh, and what is this, phyter? It looks like someone’s in love? Could it be you?” Melody taunted from across the room. She put my ring on her finger.
“Let me save you the trouble of finding out the hard way. You are not a normal woman and you never will be. You can’t marry another gifted one and you can’t tell a norm you’re gifted. Now something tells me you don’t have the ability to hide your secret life from your would-be-husband. A phyter has never been married and I doubt you will be the record breaker. You have years of this life ahead of you before you are even allowed to consider settling down with a norm. They’ll never let you risk everyone for your own selfishness,” she spewed.
Melody charged at me from the other side of the room. I didn’t blink. She couldn’t hurt me and there was nothing to fear. I knew she was bitter and just trying to scare me. Her nose nearly touched mine and she hissed in my face. “Don’t think you’ll change it, either. These rules have been around for centuries. You’re low man on the totem pole. Nothing you say matters. Accept your fate and get rid of lover boy before you start getting yourself into trouble. I’ll keep this for now. You won’t be needing it for a few years,” she growled. She extended her arm and fanned out her hand, admiring my sparkly ring on her finger.
“No, you won’t!” I screamed at her. “I don’t give a shit who you are or who you think you are! You have no right to take anything from me! You’re just a snot with a bad attitude. Give it to me before I start some serious trouble.”
“Oh, will you look at that, girls? Little Lexi thinks she can start trouble for me! What are you going to do, phyter? Cry to the Commission? Go ahead! They’ll know you’re spineless and you’ll get stripped of your gifts. We don’t work well with those who scare easily. I’ll win. I always do.”
“Not this time! And I wouldn’t shed a tear for you, but I will tell Chace,” I fired back. “If he knew what you were
doing to me, he’d be all over it. Now, you want to take that chance, almighty Queen Bitch?” I yelled confidently, with my shoulders back and my chest puffed out.
“I have news for you, little girl. Chace doesn’t scare me. I told you there was no special treatment for being his student. I guess he doesn’t know everything he should about you, now does he? You know, like, about your boyfriend and this lovely ring? I’ll fill him in for you. Maybe Chace is not as great as everyone thought?”
I lunged at her. Hope wedged herself between us. “Enough, Melody,” she said. “You’re getting carried away. Give her the ring back. This is not making her tougher. It’s making you happy. I won’t let you do this.” Melody stared her down, but Hope didn’t falter. Instead, she glanced at the black suit she wore, indicating that the Commission would know what was going on.
Amazingly, Melody backed off. She ripped the ring off her finger and threw it at my feet. I quickly picked it up and put it back in its box. The hum of silence that followed was deafening until Hope broke it.
“Let’s go. Lexi, you’ll have to keep the suit on, but there’s nothing else you need to take.”
“What about my aunt?”
“Oh, grow up and stop being such a baby!” Melody spat. No one acknowledged her sarcasm.
“It’s all taken care of. Every aspect of our missions are planned out with great precision. We rarely make mistakes,” April encouraged. She wasn’t as nice as Hope, but I could tell she was warming up to me. Probably because I lashed back at Melody she figured I was tough enough.
As we all moved toward the door, I peered in the direction of my dresser. My ring was safe and sound. I could only
hope that I would be.
Chapter 18
The Test I Couldn’t Fail
Our arrival at the Commission was a welcome event for me. I was so intrigued by all I had learned and I wanted to see it all for myself. Melody and the girls led me to an elevator located in the corner of the east wing of the UN building. Inside, each of them placed their eye at the inconspicuous beam of light in the doorframe. I thought it was the usual safety beam that stopped the elevator doors from closing when something was in its path. I guessed everyone thought that. Melody jerked her head, motioning me to do the same. I obliged and the beam scanned my eye. I was a bona fide member of the secret posse.
The doors opened and we walked through a long hallway lined with beautiful artwork and sculptures. There were doors on either side, but we headed straight for the double one in the center, at the end of the hall. Once again, our eyes were scanned. The guards at the door took everything from us so we entered with only our black suits on.
“Lexi Blane. It’s so good to see you—finally. We thought you would have been here months ago, but we understand you hit some rough terrain,” the man said. He sat in the middle of nine other people in a balcony high above me. They were perched up so high I could barely make out their faces. Now I knew what a gladiator felt like.
“I’m sure you have many questions and most, if not all of them, will be answered at the end of this meeting. First, we would like to welcome you. You’re among friends and we’re all very happy to have you join us. Please, think of us as your extended family. We do. I’m the director of the American Commission, Peter Russell. Anything you need throughout your entire life, you will be given, except in the instance of law breaking. Your journey has been difficult and if there is anything we can do to ease your troubles, just ask. In time, you will find that your new existence is quite extraordinary. Your gifts are just that. Gifts. You must use them wisely and not feel plagued by them. So again, welcome, Lexi Blane. Welcome to your world.”
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