‘Damn,’ I said. ‘We’ll have to meet later.’
Dylan made a face. ‘Okay.’ She paused. ‘Recess. The art department. See ya.’
And she was gone. I hurried to my own class, my head spinning with what had just happened. Dylan was actually being friendly for once!
I forgot about her in maths. Nico was there, completely ignoring me, which made me miserable again. I couldn’t concentrate on anything Mr Rogerson said. Luckily, he didn’t notice. He had his hands full controlling his hair – he wore a hairpiece on top and every now and then Nico moved it a fraction by telekinesis so it looked as if it had slipped slightly. Another time I would have laughed. Right now, it was all I could do not to cry.
Then it was English, with Ed, where I actually fell asleep on my desk while we were supposed to be doing a test. After that, break.
Ed and I had just left our classroom when Dylan materialised in front of us.
‘Let’s go. And Ed should come too,’ she said imperiously. ‘He’s good at analysing stuff. See you in five.’ She swept off.
I glanced at Ed. ‘You up for that?’
‘Er . . . sure,’ he nodded, blinking nervously. ‘Where are we going?’
‘Art department,’ I said, walking off.
The room was empty when we got there. Ed and I made our way through to the techy bit – full of work tables with blowtorches and bits of engineering equipment. Dylan was waiting by the sink. I shut the door through to the main art room. The distant sounds of voices and footsteps faded away.
‘Okay then, Little Miss Grungy Sweats . . .’ Dylan grinned. ‘Let’s go.’
I stared at her.
‘Bring it on,’ she urged. ‘Have a vision.’
I took a deep breath and took the blond troll doll out of my pocket. I clutched it in my hand and tried to picture my brother. The lanky blond hair framing that crooked, gaptoothed smile.
I turned my face towards the strip light in the ceiling and focused on imagining the sweet, heavy smell that always accompanied my visions. Trying to forget that Ed and Dylan were watching, I started blinking.
Dark corridors. Running. On and on. I glance beside me. Dylan is there. Running too. I’m scared . . . I’m looking for something . . .
I snapped out of it. Dylan was peering at me, her eyes sparkling.
‘Wow, that is neat,’ she said. ‘Your eyes go all glassy, it’s real freaky. What did you see?’
‘Nothing . . . some corridors. You were there.’ God, Nico had seen me like this, several times. Did I really look like a freak?
Dylan nodded. ‘Okay, so you can bring on the visions. But you need to be able to see more . . . to control what and when you see stuff. Why don’t you try telling yourself to see into a particular place – or a time, like . . . like this afternoon maybe . . .’
‘Er . . . it doesn’t work like that. I mean, I don’t have any control over what comes up. It’s like I’m just watching it – like a film playing in my head.’
I glanced at Ed, blushing, hoping he would understand.
He looked at me, avoiding meeting my eyes as usual. ‘Do you really want to control your visions more?’ he said. ‘Wouldn’t you rather just not have them at all?’
I stared back at him. ‘Of course. But as I do have them, I have to use them if . . . when . . . it can help people.’
Ed fell silent. Dylan prodded him. ‘Freakin’ hell, Chino Boy, ask her some helpful questions, will you?’
‘Okay.’ Ed frowned. ‘I was . . . er . . . I was wondering . . .’
Dylan rolled her eyes impatiently. ‘Go on.’
‘Are you always in the visions?’ Ed asked. ‘I mean, can you see stuff that happens when you’re not around, or are you always there when it’s happening?’
‘I’ve never really thought about it,’ I said, ‘but I guess I am always there. I mean all the visions I’ve had – from the little flashes to the big sequences – they’ve been of people and places and events that I went on to see in real life within a few days.’
Ed nodded. Dylan’s eyes glittered.
‘That’s sooo amazing,’ she said.
‘What I really want a chance to find out,’ I said, ‘is whether I can change the future once I’ve seen it.’
‘Of course you can’t,’ Ed said.
We both stared at him. His face reddened. ‘I just don’t see how that could be possible. I know I said all that stuff about alternate realities to Geri, but it’s not actually logical. If you’ve seen something is going to happen, how can it not happen?’
‘Because it’s just one version of the future – one possibility . . .’ I said.
‘Do you really think that?’ Ed asked.
I looked at the glass-fronted cupboards of the design and technology room. They were full of implements – saws, welding irons, pliers. Everything you needed to make real, tangible stuff. Nothing that helped with what went on inside people’s heads.
Especially mine.
‘I don’t know.’ I looked at them and, suddenly, tears filled my eyes. ‘I just don’t know.’
Ed made a sympathetic face.
Dylan clapped her hands. ‘Never mind that, do another vision. See what happens. This time tell yourself you’re going to see what happens when we walk out of this room. Like . . . like who we’re going to see first . . .’
Oh God. It was hard enough just bringing on another vision. There was certainly no way I could control what I saw. As soon as the flashing lights started for real, I was there, in those same corridors again. I tried to detach, to tell myself I didn’t want these pictures.
But my brain obviously wasn’t listening.
‘It’s no good,’ I complained as the vision ended. ‘Just more corridors. I don’t even know where they are – it’s all too dark and hazy.’
The bell went for the end of break. My eyes filled with tears again. I was tired. I couldn’t control my visions. And my next lesson was history – where I would definitely see Nico again and have to deal with him looking at me like I was a piece of slime.
‘Okay, so the visions aren’t getting us anywhere, but we’re still going to find your brother and stop the Rainbow bomb,’ Dylan insisted. ‘We just have to work out another way of doing it. Let’s meet next recess.’ She picked up her bag and swung it over her shoulder. As she made for the door, Ed touched my hand. To my surprise he was looking right at me. Right into my eyes.
With a whoosh, he was inside my head. You know what you said about having to use your abilities if or when it could help people?
I thought my answer – yes.
Well, I’ve got an idea . . . how about I mind-read Foster and find out where he’s both keeping Lex and planning to set off the Rainbow bomb?
Ed broke the link between us, looking away towards the door where Dylan was standing, glancing over her shoulder at us.
‘What are you doing?’ she said. ‘What’s going on?’
I stared at Ed’s red face. Was he really prepared to do that?
‘But that means using your powers,’ I stammered. ‘Which Foster knows about . . . it would be dangerous just getting close to him . . .’
‘What would?’ Dylan demanded from the door.
Then Ed met my eyes again.
If I could do it, it would save everyone that the Rainbow bomb would kill.
But you could be hurt . . . The thought forced its way to the front of my mind.
And you’d care?
Of course I would, Ed – I love you . . . like a brother.
There was a long pause while Ed gazed into my eyes. He was still inside my head, but I could sense his mind resting, not probing mine.
Waiting. Until . . . Then it would all be worth it, whatever happens. He tore his gaze away.
I sat down on the edge of the tech table, my heart pounding.
‘What was that about?’ Dylan was walking towards us, her hands on her hips.
‘Ed had an idea . . .’ I mumbled.
‘It’s
more than an idea,’ Ed said, his face breaking into a grim smile. ‘It’s a plan, but it’ll need all three of us for it to work.’
18: Finding Foster
I took a deep breath and dialled the number for Foster’s company. It was lunch break now – a brilliantly sunny afternoon. Ed, Dylan and I were sitting outside by the trees where I’d called Lex after that first vision on Monday. I felt like I’d lived a million lifetimes since then.
I lifted my hand to shield my face from the glare as I waited for the receptionist at Fostergames to answer. Dylan was leaning against a tree next to me, her long hair hidden under a blue cap. Ed tapped his fingers nervously on the grass beside him.
I hadn’t seen Nico since the maths lesson where he’d completely ignored me.
A woman answered. ‘Fostergames Limited. How may I help you?’
‘I’d like to speak to Damian Foster’ PA, please,’ I said, as firmly as I could.
Dylan had coached me beforehand on the importance of sounding confident. I didn’t really like her bossing me around on that any more than I had over my visions, but I knew she was right.
‘Hold the line.’
The phone rang again.
‘Fostergames Limited. Anita speaking.’ The speaker sounded fraught.
‘Hi.’
I glanced at Dylan. She was staring at me, her green eyes glittering. Ed was still tapping his fingers on the grass beside him.
‘Could I speak to Damian Foster, please,’ I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
‘He’s not in the office. I’m his PA.’ She hesitated. ‘Actually it’s all a bit chaotic here . . .’
I nodded. Geri had told us that the police had gone back to Foster’s offices as soon as his broadcast was streamed on the internet. This time they were openly requisitioning computers and interrogating the workforce for clues. There was a warrant out for Foster’s arrest too.
I blew out my breath. ‘Okay,’ I said. ‘Well, if you speak to him, please tell him I called.’
‘Er . . . what’s your name? What’s it about?’ I could hear the frown in the PA’s voice.
‘Tell him it’s Ketty from Medusa.’
A pause, then the line went dead.
I put my phone down.
‘What happened?’ Dylan sat forward. ‘Is he calling back?’
‘I don’t—’ My phone rang. I stared at it. Number withheld.
‘Hello?’
‘What the hell are you doing calling my office number?’ Foster sounded irate. ‘The police are monitoring all calls in, trying to work out where I am. May I remind you that it’s not in your best interests to help them find me, Ketty. Any moves on me, and your brother’s dead.’
My heart raced. ‘Is Lex okay?’
‘Yes. What do you want?’
‘You said you’d let Lex go once I told the lie about where the Rainbow bomb was.’
‘No. I said I’d let him go once I’d got what I want. I’ll release him as soon as my brother’s released. Until then, all you have to do is keep quiet.’
I hesitated. Now I was actually talking to Foster our whole plan seemed ultra complicated. Maybe I should do what Foster said. At least it was clear-cut. Except . . . Foster had changed the deal before. He could change it again. I had absolutely no guarantee he was ever going to let Lex go. And he’d made it quite clear I couldn’t trust him an inch.
I took a deep breath.
‘What if I tell you all about Medusa? What if I tell you everything Geri Paterson, the head of the Medusa Project, is planning? She’s the one who first worked out you were hacking into the MoD database . . . who sent us to the car park where the others found the flash drive with the Gayton Hospital schematic.’
‘And why would that interest me?’
‘Because Geri Paterson is the link between us and the government,’ I said, trying to keep my voice even. ‘She knows everything the government security agents are planning – how they’re hoping to trap you and find the Rainbow bomb . . .’
‘How do you know so much about what’s going on inside Ms Paterson’s head?’ Foster’s voice was suddenly calm and cold.
I glanced at Ed. He had stopped tapping his fingers on the grass and was staring, intently, at the ground. He felt my gaze and looked up, not quite meeting my eyes.
‘My . . . er . . . it’s my friend. In Medusa. He can read people’s minds,’ I explained. ‘He’s seen everything that Geri Paterson knows – and more.’
A pause. ‘Is this the same boy you were with at the Rufus Stone?’
‘No, that’s Nico. His ability is telekinesis. We all have the same gene but it turned out differently in each of us,’ I went on. ‘Ed’s prepared to tell you what he’s seen – Geri Paterson’s thoughts – in order to help me . . . in order to get Lex back.’ I hesitated, my heart now pounding. ‘Will you . . . do we have a deal?’
A few long seconds ticked by. The sun blazed down. Dylan and Ed sat, intent, beside me. A fly buzzed past.
And then Foster spoke. ‘Yes, we have a deal. We’ll meet this evening. There’s a funfair at Hampstead Heath tonight. That should provide enough cover. Bring your friend . . . Ed. Only Ed. Seven p.m. Dodgems. And don’t even think about double-crossing me. I won’t be bringing Lex – but if you give me the information you’re promising, I’ll take you to him.’
He rang off. I turned to the others.
‘It’s done.’
Ed nodded, his forehead creased with worry lines.
I felt a stab of guilt at what he was offering to do. ‘Are you sure about this, Ed?’
‘Course he is.’ Dylan jumped to her feet. ‘Come on. We’ve got to work out how we’re going to get away once Ed breaks the link with Foster.’
Ed nodded. ‘We’ll have to move fast. Once I let go of the connection he’ll be able to move and speak and—’
‘It’ll be fine,’ Dylan insisted. ‘Won’t it, Ketty?’
I nodded, but inside my guts were tied up in knots. All this would be so much easier if Nico was with us. He could make sure we got away okay. Ed stood up and held out his hand to help me up.
‘Don’t worry, Ketty,’ he said as we followed Dylan back to the school building. ‘I’ll find out where Lex and the bomb are. Then all we’ll have to do is phone Geri and tell her you’ve seen both things in another vision.’
I nodded. It sounded simple. But my guts were still knotted and my throat felt tight. I knew just how dangerous Foster was. If anything went wrong, all three of us could easily end up dead.
I spent the rest of the day feeling just as bad. I could barely follow what the teachers were saying in any of my lessons, on top of which Nico was acting like I didn’t exist, picking seats as far away from me as possible in every class we had together that afternoon.
By 4 p.m. I was completely exhausted. Ed made me go upstairs and lie down in my dorm. I didn’t think I’d sleep but I did. Dylan had to wake me up in the end.
‘Uncle Fergus has called us for another of those real ridiculous “trust” training sessions at seven tomorrow morning,’ she said as I splashed some water on my face. ‘Apparently this time we’re going to stand in a circle with our eyes closed and catch each person in turn as they fall backwards.’ She made a face. ‘You know, I don’t have much time for Geri, but at least she’s got a grip on the real world!’
I didn’t say anything. I didn’t like to diss Mr Fox but I had to admit Dylan had a point when it came to the training we were being given. It was all very well for Nico – his telekinesis gave him a ready-made weapon. But Dylan could only protect herself if she saw a physical threat coming – while Ed and I needed all the help we could get, both in attack and defence skills.
‘I wish we’d had more training too,’ I said, pulling on my trainers. I still felt tired, but my body felt weirdly strung out too – tense and tight. What I really needed was a run to wind down. Not that there was any chance of that right now.
‘You and Ed’ll be awesome,’ Dylan said, wandering over
to her own bed. The area around it was the messiest in the dorm, if not the whole school. Dylan was constantly getting detention for not tidying up. Not that she seemed to care. ‘I’m going to stand real close. Foster doesn’t know what I look like. If he tries anything I’ll be able to get there fast and . . . Hey, Ketty . . .’ She pulled a pale blue jacket from the cupboard by her bed. ‘Why don’t you try this on?’
‘Me?’ I stared at the jacket. It was smart, fitted into the waist and slightly cropped, like most of Dylan’s tops. ‘Wear that?’
‘Sure.’ Dylan flicked her hair over her shoulder and held the jacket out towards me. ‘You’d look real good in more tailored clothes . . . better than you do in those old sweats anyway.’
I frowned. ‘I like comfortable clothes,’ I said, feeling indignant. What was Dylan doing? We were on the verge of a major and secret mission, risking our own lives to save my brother’s – and she was offering me fashion advice.
‘Yeah, I kinda got that you like dressing like a bum.’ Dylan laughed. ‘But you’d look awesome in something like this.’
‘Don’t you think the whole point of this evening is that we don’t stand out too much?’ I said, trying to get as much ice in my voice as possible. Jesus, I got enough of that kind of interfering crap from my mum whenever she saw me.
‘Whatever.’ Unperturbed, Dylan dropped the jacket on her bed. ‘Come on. Ed’s waiting downstairs.’
It took us nearly an hour to get to Hampstead Heath. On the way, I tried to summon a vision of the next couple of hours, but all I kept seeing were those same, dark corridors from before. In the end I gave up and focused on what I was going to have to do once we met Foster at the dodgems – introduce Ed and let him hook into Foster’s mind.
The rest of the plan was simple. Once Ed had the information on Lex and the bomb he would break the connection. My job was to get him and myself away, fast. Dylan would do the rest – drawing Foster’s fire while we got to safety and called Geri. I was sure that, whatever else Geri did, she would at least make sure Lex was rescued.
The streets around Hampstead Heath were busy with people heading for the funfair. Dylan strode ahead, turning every head as she passed in her jeans and cropped green jumper.
The Hostage Page 12
