Perfection

by J. L. Spelbring

Micah barely stumbled. He grabbed Rein by the back of the neck and hurled him across the room, sending him into the boxes of supplies.

  Cans fell on Rein. He covered his head with his arms.

  “Hurry,” Detective Petersen ordered the guards. She turned her attention to Rein.

  Rein rolled over to his knees and attempted to stand, but a boot to the ribs knocked him back down. A current ripped through his muscles, leaving him helpless.

  The last thing he saw was Detective Petersen’s grin.

  34

  Ellyssa squatted on her haunches and slid the last box through the hole leading to the well-hidden evacuation cave. If someone searched the passageway, it would appear to dead-end, but further inspection would reveal two walls overlapping, and another tunnel leading to a drop-off into a natural cavern, a level below, hidden by an optical illusion.

  “This is the last of it,” Ellyssa said as two hands appeared and grabbed hold. The box disappeared.

  “Don’t forget Tyler’s group,” said Melody, the owner of the hands. The thirty-year-old woman had beautiful hazel eyes, offset by mocha-colored skin.

  “After we move Jason, I will check on them.” Ellyssa rose, dusting off her hands.

  Thanks to the council, who ordered drills on a regular basis, organizing the community had been easier than Ellyssa had thought possible. Within two days, all of the Renegades had their personal items moved and most of the supplies stored away, excluding the generator, which had been disassembled earlier in the morning and was ready to move out.

  Ellyssa adjusted the 12-gauge on her shoulder and picked up the flashlight. White light poured into the tunnel as she emerged from between the two walls. She moved further down and turned around. The light reflected off the mineral deposits, creating the perception of a solid wall. The illusion should easily mislead any investigators.

  The cavern where they’d be hiding was far from paradise. Dampness pervaded the cool air, and water dripped incessantly. The accommodations were cramped. Worse than the dankness and overcrowding was that there was no way to gather or prepare food. All they had left were a few cans of peaches and some bread Bertha had made from dandelion flour.

  Hopefully, Rein and Woody would be back soon with more provisions.

  Still, even with the supplies, they couldn’t stay there for long.

  Ellyssa pushed the thought from her head as she entered the makeshift hospital. “Are you ready to move Jason?” she asked Mathew.

  Grabbing his bag, the doctor circled, giving the room one more glance. His freshly cut hair revealed more grey than black. “Seems everything’s in order.”

  “How’s he doing?”

  “The infection is getting worse. If I can’t get the fever under control…” He shrugged. “He needs penicillin, not aspirin, and fresh bandages. I hope Rein gets back soon.”

  Ellyssa’s sentiments exactly. She dropped her gaze.

  “Hey. It’ll be okay.”

  “I hope so.”

  Standing in front of Ellyssa, Mathew placed both of his hands on her shoulders. He hunkered down where he could look into her eyes. “Rein and Woody will be fine.”

  Forcing a grin that felt wrong on her face, Ellyssa nodded.

  “We have things to do here.”

  “I know.”

  Mathew shoved an old, ripped sheet into the back of his belt. “Let’s go,” he said, the sheet sashaying behind him.

  Ellyssa led them down the main hall. The swishing sheet whispered as it erased their footprints.

  “Is everyone in the cavern?” asked Mathew.

  “Most everyone. Except Tyler, Marissa, Peter, Ashley, and Caleb,” she recited the names. “They’re erasing signs that we here, too. I doubt they look as humorous, though.”

  “Ha, ha. Thanks.”

  “Looks like you are wearing a misplaced cape.”

  “Would you prefer to do the honors?”

  “No, thank you.”

  “Then, I’d be quiet, if I were you.”

  Ellyssa enjoyed the exchange of banter with Mathew. To speak about mundane happenings, to joke and laugh, to communicate without training or sparring. At one time, the thought of doing such things had never crossed her mind. Ellyssa really loved her new home. She just wished Rein was with her.

  On their way to Jason, the sound of shoes smacking hard against the ground bounced down along the walls. Ellyssa stilled, as did Mathew. No one was assigned to outdoor duty. No one should be coming from that direction. The frantic steps slapped louder as they drew closer.

  Spinning on her heel, Ellyssa stepped in front of Mathew, pinning him against the wall. She chambered a round and aimed into the darkness. Before the possible intruder reached them, she lowered her mental wall, reaching with psychic tendrils. Mathew’s adrenaline-induced thoughts interfered with her probing.

  “Clear your mind,” she whispered.

  Panicky images flickered wildly. Ellyssa doubled her effort to filter him out. Her eyes squeezed together as she drifted forward, searching for the unknown.

  The steps drew nearer, images and emotions bombarding her, quickly overshadowing any interference from the doctor.

  Fear. Desperation. Supplies. A strange place. Blurry faces. A long stream of thoughts, running together, overpowered by hysterical terror.

  She recognized Woody right away; afraid someone might be following, she kept her weapon aimed into the dark passageway. She left his screaming mind and reached for Rein’s.

  A void.

  She pointed her flashlight into the inky blackness. Woody burst out of the shadows as if materializing out of nowhere.

  His hand brushed against the wall while he ran. His usually kempt hair shone with sweat and was plastered against his head. His clothes were ragged, torn, and dirty. His eyes drew her attention. Their grey was clouded with alarm, wild and frantic. He ran toward them, but showed no signs of stopping, as if he didn’t realize they were there. As if his only concern was escape.

  “Woody,” she said hesitantly. She held her hand toward him. “Woody.”

  His eyes raked over her and, impossibly, widened even more. Recognition flitted through him as he skidded to a stop. His breath ragged and his chest heaving, he placed his hands on his knees.

  “Ellyssa,” he panted, head down. “Rein. The community.”

  Dread filled her. Her worst fear, borne from the depths of her nightmares, took life. “What about Rein?”

  Still leaning over, he nodded.

  “Do they have him?”

  “Yes,” Woody panted.

  “No.” Gasping, Ellyssa stumbled back. In one single moment, her future turned bleak. Dizziness and nausea swept through her, like a windstorm, churning in her head and midsection. Holding a hand over her stomach, she forced the overwhelming reactions to retreat.

  No time for panic.

  Ellyssa thought the words, obeyed them, and replaced the sensation with the one emotion she had never been denied—mounting anger. She snatched Woody by the collar and yanked him close, until their noses almost touched.

  “Where is he?”

  “Ellyssa!” Mathew exclaimed, snatching her wrist. “What are you doing?”

  She jerked her arm free.

  The doctor stepped back, hands in front of him. “It’s not his fault.”

  In an instant, a wave of misery washed away the anger, as Ellyssa looked into Woody’s eyes. Emotional upheaval. Her inability to cope was incapacitating her logical thought process. She released him. “I’m sorry,” she said, her voice breaking. “I just…” She covered her face and fought back the tears.

  The next thing she knew, familiar arms wrapped around her and pulled her close. “I’m so sorry, Ellyssa,” Woody said.

  Ellyssa wanted to tell him that it wasn’t his fault, but she couldn’t. If she opened her mouth, sobs would burst forth. She buried her face in his chest.

  “Is he dead?” she muttered, afraid of the answer.

  “I don’t know.”

  A
flame of hope lit in Ellyssa’s heart. Fueled by determination, she stepped back and looked at Woody. His look of pain and suffering shamed her.

  “I’m sorry, Woody. I should have never treated you that way.”

  His breath still jagged and irregular, his grey eyes lingered on hers. “I understand. Believe me, I do.”

  She took his hand. “I need you to tell me everything.”

  Shaking his head, Woody straightened his shirt, the simple act appearing to calm him. “We don’t have time. They’re coming,” he said. “They’re coming. I ran… Following…” He flapped his hands around.

  Ellyssa tried to grasp his fleeing thoughts, but his emotions and the flood of adrenaline rendered her gift useless. “Woody, I’ve never asked this before, but may I read you?”

  Confusion mounted and added to the panic. “What?”

  “Your thoughts are too frantic for me to understand.”

  He looked from her to Mathew.

  The doctor gave him a nod. “I’ll explain later. Let her do it.”

  Bewildered, Woody glanced back at Ellyssa.

  “Please.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “I know. You will, though. I need you to calm down and focus.”

  Placing her hands on the sides of his head, Ellyssa exhaled, releasing every bit of her own emotions and tension. Woody’s thoughts flipped wildly for a moment; but as he relaxed, the images cleared and became readable.

  Woody running, dodging branches, bracken, and bushes. In his flight, he got tangled in thistle. Stairs leading towards light. An old farmhouse, leveled by years of neglect. Rein, still alive, with a nameless guard holding an electroshock weapon. A man, beaten and bloodied, slumped in a chair. Broken figurines. Unwelcome company.

  She gasped, dropping her hands. “Micah.”

  “Who?” asked Mathew.

  Woody’s brow knitted. “Yes. That’s the name of the blond boy. He said he was your brother?”

  “Yes, I have brothers…and a sister,” Ellyssa said. “I’m sorry. There’s a lot you don’t know about me. The female who…tortured that male in the chair, is Detective Angela Petersen, the head of the Kripo unit from The Center. She is dangerous. I saw her mind.”

  “You. Saw. Her. Mind?” asked Woody, emphasizing each word.

  “Yes. Like I did yours, just now. I’ll explain everything to you, but not now.” Ellyssa paced in a small circle, hands behind her back. She stopped in front of Mathew. “Go get Tyler’s group and hide. I will join you soon.”

  Woody grabbed her elbow. “Where’re you going?”

  She pulled his hand away, holding it tight within hers. Her fear for the community, for her friends, had wakened her soldiering instincts, but keeping her emotions in check was hard.

  “To the entrance,” she replied.

  “Why?”

  “Reconnaissance.”

  “Are you crazy? If you read my mind, you saw what she is capable of,” Woody said, his voice fluctuating between disbelief and determination. “It’s not safe.”

  “I have to go,” she said. “I will meet you at the evacuation point.”

  “But…”

  “I promise nothing will happen to me. I will be fine.” Ellyssa leveled her eyes with his. “This is what I am trained to do.”

  “What about Jason?” Mathew asked.

  She squeezed Woody’s fingers. “Meet me in his room, instead.”

  “When?”

  “I do not know. Wait for me. I will be there.” Ellyssa faced Mathew. “Get the others to safety.”

  Reluctantly, Woody released her hand as the doctor pulled him away. “Come on. We need to hurry.”

  “Be careful,” Woody said, his gaze lingering on her before he turned and walked toward Jason’s room.

  Those two simple words touched Ellyssa. She blinked, keeping a tear at bay. “I promise.”

  “I expect you to keep it.” Mathew’s voice floated from the darkness.

  Ellyssa stood still for a moment, listening to their padding feet before she took off toward the hospital, the beam of her flashlight bouncing across the blackened walls. As she passed the room that had held the beginnings of her new life, her old life came to the forefront. Emotions squelched, shoes barely touching the floor, she moved silently, like a predator, to the entrance.

  The access remained well-hidden. Sunlight oozed between the rocks that had been meticulously placed years ago. Light burned her eyes as she peeked through a gap. All seemed calm. Trees and long grass swayed in the wind, birds chirped, and the soft hum of insects punctuated the day. But off in the distance, right where the grass met the rocks leading to their hideout, vegetation and grass lay flattened, where Woody had trampled through the clearing.

  There was no doubt in her mind that they would find their camp.

  35

  Perched for hours, unmoving, her breath controlled, Ellyssa watched the tree line listening for any indication of the detective. The cool snap of a twig. The soft whisper of clothing brushing branches. The rustling of leaves.

  Deep down, she wanted to run into the forest and find Rein. Ellyssa knew such an impulsive act would put everyone at risk. Her soldier’s instincts told her to wait, for her own protection, for the community’s, and for Rein’s. She needed an indication of how many, and who, before she acted.

  Detective Petersen would definitely be leading the search party, but Ellyssa wondered if Micah was with her. Would Father allow the possibility of his being injured? It wasn’t a secret that the Renegades were armed; Rein and Woody had had weapons when the detective captured them, but the detective would be blind to the number of people and the number of arms they would face.

  Neither Rein nor Woody would ever conceive betraying their family.

  No, the risk proved too great. Micah would not be included.

  Relieved, Ellyssa sighed. If her brother had accompanied the search party, she would have had to fight, which would’ve exposed her newfound family. For survival purposes, it was best for the community to stay under the radar and remain hidden.

  A soft hum carried on the wind; disembodied words joined together into a long, hushed murmur. Ellyssa calmed herself, bringing forth everything she’d learned. Her muscles twitched in preparation.

  Forty-five meters away, five people filed out of the trees, one after another. Three women, with hair tied back into buns, and two men, with hair cropped short. All sported dark green camouflage with tan boots. Not the traditional uniform of the area police, but one necessary for blending in to the woods.

  The five walked as if trying to be quiet, their postures slightly hunched, but their clothes scraped along plants and their boots padded on the ground. One female leaned over and whispered to a comrade. Ellyssa couldn’t hear what she said, but once again, the hum reached her.

  Their lack of training had to be driving the detective mad.

  As if her ears burned at that thought, Detective Petersen materialized from behind a bush. She walked with a detectable, but quieter, tread than her comrades. Her short hair was slicked back and held in place with an elastic band. Her face held a scowl as she glared at the first five.

  After her, a male appeared. He was tall and lean, his features angular. Ellyssa recognized him from Woody’s memories. The detective had addressed him as Captain Jones.

  Seven?

  Their search party had to consist of more, maybe at a camp, or searching elsewhere.

  The detective motioned for the others to circle around her. Hushed voices carried on the breeze. Angela pointed to the crushed grass, then toward the tree line on the opposite side. Afterward, in one team of two and one of three, the party split to cover the expanse, leaving Detective Petersen and the captain alone.

  Slightly confused at these actions, Ellyssa watched as the detective spoke to the captain. She bent down and touched a blade of grass, then lifted her head and looked straight at the rocky overhang where the mineshaft lay hidden.

  Ellyssa stilled, her brea
th nonexistent, as Angela’s cold stare pinned her in place. Even though it was impossible, Ellyssa couldn’t help but wonder if the detective could see her.

  In a matter of minutes, their haven would be found.

  Time to go.

  Her heart smooth and steady, her pulse light and unhurried, Ellyssa backed away down the tunnel. No padding, no sounds of movement as her pace quickened. When she rounded the second corner, she flipped on her flashlight and hurried to Jason’s room, where Woody waited. He leaned against the stone frame of the entrance with his eyes closed.

  “Woody.” Ellyssa touched his shoulder, then quickly covered his mouth, cutting off his squeal of surprise. “It is me,” she whispered in his ear. “Understand?”

  Wide-eyed, he nodded. She let go of him.

  “I didn’t even hear you.”

  “Yes, I know.” She nodded. “We need to move. They’re in the field.”

  Together, they walked into the room where Jason lay on a pad. His cot had already been moved to the evacuation cavern.

  Under the yellow beam of the flashlight, Jason looked worse than the last time Ellyssa had seen him. His body was thin, skeletal, underneath the flimsy green blanket that was pulled up to his chin. His pasty face emphasized the dark circles around his sunken eyes, and his skin stretched tight over his skull. The blanket rose and fell as he gasped and his breath rattled in his lungs.

  “We need to hurry,” Ellyssa said, moving to Jason’s side and grabbing the corners of the pad. “On the count of three,” she said. “One, two…”

  “Wait.”

  She looked at Woody, but he just shook his head and glanced down at Jason. The sickly male looked at Ellyssa, his eyes clouded and unfocused.

  “Wait,” Jason repeated, the word barely above a whisper. His tongue flicked out and licked his cracked lips.

  “Jason, we have to go.”

  “No.” Jason paused for a long time. His unfocused eyes jerked from side to side, and his tongue tried desperately to ease his dry lips. “Sorry,” he mumbled.

  Jason’s apology meant nothing to Ellyssa. She looked away. “We do not have time for this.”

  Grasping Ellyssa’s hand, Jason squeezed, his fingers barely applying any pressure. He was burning up, his fever out of control, and his touch made her skin crawl. She still despised him. He was very lucky her thought processes had changed. “I want you to know how sorry I am.”