But your grandmother knew that her work would bring about the very end of the world. She destroyed all her records, it is rumored that she had her assistants killed. But she left you alive. Then Lebna was taken, she was killed, your parents. You got lost in the system. You got lost and a new division of the agency began in the years when we all immigrated to the United States. A division I did not even know existed until two years ago. They will stop at nothing to create this new world order. And you are the piece of the puzzle that will initiate it.”
“Then how can we stop them?”
“I don’t know. Not yet. But it will take more than just the two of us.”
“I need to warn Belle,” she said.
He nodded, glanced at her briefly as she closed her eyes. He knew instantly when she ‘left’ him, there was an utter stillness to her, and she barely breathed.
It was six in the morning in Seattle, Belle was in the bathroom, wiping her face with a towel, and she looked bleary eyes, sad. Rain knew she woke the children at six thirty, Marc was already gone for the day, and he had to arrive at work at five.
“Don’t be afraid,” Rain said, standing behind Belle.
Belle, screamed, turning towards Rain before her eyes widened in shock, amazement, concern. “Rain!” She cried, going to pull the woman in her arms before she noticed Rain’s form, it was shadows and whispers. Rain but not Rain. “Am I dreaming,” she said breathlessly staring at her best friend in the bright light of the bathroom before terror began. “God, no, Rain, no you’re not dead, tell me, please.”
“I’m not dead, Belle. I’m not. It is too much to tell you and I need you to listen very carefully. This is not a dream. You must trust me and do as I say. I love you but there are very bad people who are hunting for me. I was experimented on as a babe. My DNA changed. This is not a movie, Belle, this is really happening. Do you understand so far?”
“Yes,” she said.
“The government wants my DNA and they will stop at nothing to get it. And with my DNA they will start a new breed of soldiers to destroy everything we hold dear and love. They are watching you now, Belle. You must take you and the children and get out of here, today and Marc. Do not take your car, Enlai will have a vehicle waiting for you at work. You are to drop the babies off at daycare in a taxi. There take another taxi to work. Do not pack anything, no cell phones, no laptops, no clothes, just food for the baby. When you get to work, call Mark from a pay phone and tell him you will pick him up for lunch. When you pick him up for lunch, pick up the kids and drive south to Utah. Do you understand? Belle, I can’t tell you how important this is. Do not use credit cards, no cells, throw out Mark’s when he gets in the car. You must do this, please, you must not question me. Trust me, friend. I would never hurt you or the babies. You are everything to me. But they will kill you and your family, they will use you as a ransom for me. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” Belle said.
“Leave your cell phone at home. Leave the baby monitors. Call a taxi at the last minute. Call Mark and tell him the car won’t start but for him not to worry. Act as normal as possible. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” Belle said frightened, but resolute.
“I will contact you later. If you need me, if something happens, just call me with your mind, use your mind and just think of me really hard and I will help you, I will be there.”
“Okay.”
“Alright, I have to go, I love you, be careful.”
She opened her eyes back into the early light of morning, Enlai still driving.
“She understands?” He asked.
“Yes.”
“When we arrive in Utah, I will give you the coordinates, but I don’t want her to know until the very last minute. There is more.” Enlai said.
“Enlai, I don’t think I can handle any more,” she said softly.
“You must be strong, you have to fight, not only for yourself but for the baby.” He demanded.
“Okay,” she finally said, staring at the passing scenery outside the car window.
“Your grandmother she experimented on more than your mother, she also experimented on willing subjects.” He said.
“There are more? More like me?” She asked.
“Two more.” He said quietly.
She knew then, she knew then why the connection to Enlai was so strong. “You and Song.”
“Yes, but Lebna does not even know this. My parents kept it secret, my mother I told you was a physicist, when she found out she was pregnant she went to your grandmother, she knew of some of her experiments. She was willing to allow your grandmother to experiment on us. Song and I are twins.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? The government does not know?”
“Very few people know. And no one that we work for. Not Lebna, not John. We have always kept our…powers, hidden. That is why we were able to find you. We aren’t telekinetic like you, but there is a connection between us, whatever your grandmother did on you she did on us, but with different results.” He admitted.
“What are you able to do?” She asked.
“I think it would be better to show you,” he said.
He pulled off into a dirt road, traveling for about ten minutes until they spilled out into a deserted clearing where they both got out of the car. She watched expectantly while Enlai watched her, smiling softly. “It’ll be okay,” he said, his smile widening softly.
“Okay, I think I’m ready,” she said.
He smiled again, closed his eyes briefly, winked at her and then took off in the air, flying above her as her eyes widened in shock, awe, as he levitated above her, smiling, looking like a young boy with his first toy. “I don’t have your mind powers,” he said. “But I am able to do this,” he pulled her into his arms and up they flew for hundreds of feet while she screamed in shock, awe, freedom as they whipped through the air going hundreds of miles an hour. She let herself go, trusting Enlai that life was not as she had imagined that she was living in a dream and she would never be able to awaken.
They flew for hours it seemed, even though she knew it wasn’t, the freedom was exhilarating, a smile upon her face, as she held onto to Enlai before finally he turned around and they flew back to the car, this time more slowly until he settled her gently upon the ground.
“Enlai,” she said, wrapping her arms around his waist, listening to the thud of his heart beat beneath her ear. “Enlai, that was wonderful,” she said.
“You aren’t alone,” he said, holding her tightly. “But from all that I know it is only the three of us. But that means you are not alone.”
“What of Song? What are his powers?” She asked as he escorted her back to the car.
He didn’t answer until he settled inside. “We both are excessively strong but he has some type of shield that can cover him and all those that he touches to protect. The ability to heal others. He can fly. We are all quite resistant to sickness and disease. I don’t recall either one of us ever being sick.”
“Our baby, what do you think they will be like?” She asked expectantly. They were different their child would be exceedingly so, she knew it.
“I don’t know, Rain, we can’t predict the future or what the child will become. Our ultimate goal is to keep you and her safe.”
“Her?”
He smiled. “When I heard the voice in my head, it wasn’t yours, but it was definitely female, like a small girl, already.”
“Oh,” she said.
“I’m sorry, I should not have told you,” he said.
“No,” she whispered, a smile playing upon her full lips. “I’m glad. I mean I just want it to be healthy. But, it’s a girl…a baby.” She said.
He held her hands, driving smoothly on the highway towards Utah. “We had to find you, Rain,” Enlai admitted. “You are the last piece of the puzzle.”
But somehow she knew she wasn’t. When she had searched that night after leaving Enlai in London there had been a touch, someone else out there. S
he didn’t know who and for some reason she wanted to keep that to herself for now.
They stopped only once to refill the car before they entered Salt Lake City, driving through the city until they reached a northern suburb turning into an upper middle class neighborhood.
“I was expecting some ranch out in the middle of the desert somewhere,” Rain said, watching as they passed public schools, stores, shopping malls.
“I know,” he said. “If anything happens the government would have a lot of explaining to do as why two nicely married, suburban middle classed couple were killed. The more people the better.”
He turned into a large, well-manicured but non-descript suburban house with a station wagon and a gray Toyota sedan; it neatly matched the rest of the residences. Enlai parked behind the sedan and pulled out their duffle bags while Rain waited.
“Who are they?” Rain asked as they walked towards the front door.
“Friends,” he said. “They are safe,” Enlai said. “Do not worry. You need to relax, eaten and fatten up for the coming baby,” he said, holding her hand in his free one.
“Okay,” she said.
He knocked on the door, pulling off his sunglasses and waited for the door to open. A small, petite Asian female opened the door, smiling. “Enlai!” She said, pulling him into her arms and hugging him a brief shot of jealousy shot through Rain that she quickly tamped down. She didn’t realize how quickly she thought of Enlai as hers.
Enlai smiled, hugged the small woman before pulling away. “Taka, it’s good to see you,” he said.
“You to,” the woman said before turning towards Rain. “And this is Rain,” she said and enveloped the taller woman in her arms and Rain felt warmth, comfort surround her, the woman’s touch was peaceful.
“Hello,” Rain said, smiling back.
“Please, I’m Taka, come in you two,” she said pulling them inside and showing where Enlai could place the duffle bags. “How long are you staying, Enlai?” She asked as they walked deeper into the house. It was light, airy, stylishly decorated as they passed through a foyer a sitting room on the left and an office with French doors. They were then led down an open, airy hallway and to large granite covered kitchen with a family room attached, a roaring fire in the ten foot wide fireplace. “It’s a chill in the air, isn’t it?” Taka said. “Tea? Coffee? Water?” She asked.
“Coffee,” Enlai said. “Rain?”
“Water please,” she said.
“Do, sit, get in front of the fire, you two must be exhausted, Levi will be down soon,” she said, escorting them to a buttery soft deep chocolate sectional couch in front of the fireplace. Enlai settled down, stretching his long legs and pulling Rain close to him, he laid his head back on the couch his eyes closing, looking peaceful.
“It’s safe here,” he said, his eyes still closed. “Relax. I trust them just as much as I trust Song…and you. We are safe.”
She nodded, listening to Taka in the kitchen, the smell of fragrant coffee filling the air, dishes clinking before she came around towards Rain and Enlai, holding a Chinese serving tray that held a porcelain coffee pot, water bottle, gourmet cookies, fruit and cheeses. The small appetizers looked absolutely delectable especially since Rain had sustained off fast food for the past week.
“Taka, thank you so much,” she said as Enlai opened his eyes, smiling at the food Taka set out before them on the leather ottoman.
“You are welcome, we don’t get that many guests and so when we do, I pull out the full works. You will have enough of me serving you, Rain, but I should have been born in another century, I love formal dinners, teas.” She admitted as she poured a glass of water for Rain and a coffee for Enlai.
“Black?” She asked Enlai.
“No, two sugars and cream please,” he said. “I need some extra energy.”
“Of course,” she said and gave him his coffee when they heard a door open and then footsteps.
A smile beamed across Taka’s face as she stood, meeting the footsteps as Rain turned, a tall, handsome blonde male entering, looking athletic, handsome in plain black slacks and a white business shirt. Taka hugged him, as he gave the petite woman a gentle kiss. “Hey babe,” he said, before looking up, feeling eyes on him.
“Enlai,” Levi said, smiling broadly as Enlai stood his own smile wide as Taka backed away while the two men shook hands.
“It’s good to see you again, Levi,” Enlai said, the men were the same height, the same athletic build, quiet strength.
“And who is this? Rain?” Levi asked and Rain stood, nodding and Levi politely shook her hand before escorting everyone back to their seats.
“It is nice to meet you,” Rain said and Levi returned the sentiment as they settled back down and Taka served her husband a coffee and then gave each person cookies, cheeses and fruits on a small, porcelain serving plate with a cloth napkin.
“Let’s get to business,” Levi said as they spoke about the Christmas season, the weather, the upcoming year.
“I have to leave tomorrow, Levi can you get rid of the rental?” Enlai said.
“Of course, when will you return?” Levi said.
“Soon, there is still some unfinished business in London, there was a ‘witness’ that we invented for the agency.”
“They brought it?”
“Yes. Dayton.”
Levi smiled. “Good, ol, Dayton, what character is he playing now?”
“Janitors son, he’ll return to the states in a couple of weeks. The most important thing is the safety of Rain,” Enlai said.
It was Taka’s turn to nod. “With our lives, Enlai, you know this.” She said.
Rain shook her head. “You can’t, I can’t ask for you to do this.”
“You aren’t asking. This is what we want to do. Enlai is our friend as is Song. We have each other backs through thick and thin, life and death.” Levi said.
“Thank you,” Rain said, feeling over whelmed by their generosity.
“You are welcome,” Taka said, smiling gently. “It will be alright, Rain, okay.” Taka said and Rain nodded.
“Song and I will return in one week and from there we can make plans. We are going to have to find a permanent safe house,” Enlai said.
“We will help.”
The three spoke for long moments more Rain intently listening before Taka escorted her upstairs when she could no longer stop her yawns.
As they walked up the stairs, there were three pictures upon the walls of a baby boy and girl, with golden brown hair and slanted eyes.
“Are these your children, they are so beautiful,” Rain said, stopping behind Taka to admire the chubby babies. They were a perfect replica of their parents with Taka’s eyes and dimples and lips but their fathers’ hair, mouth and nose. They looked adorable and happy, gumming sweetly at the camera.
Taka paused, staring at a picture; she touched it reverently, before her eyes closed in pain. “They are our children, Rain, but they died. I was experimented on while I was pregnant. In the same manner that your grandmother experimented on you. Levi worked for the agency, they betrayed him. The experiments, the babies, they were twins and only lived three months. They had a congenital heart defect, it was an abnormality the scientists injected them with. The agency killed my babies and sterilized me. It was Enlai and Song who helped get us out, help us escape. That is why we owe him so much that is why it is an easy thing to give our lives for his and those he loves. We will protect you with our lives and the child you carry.”
“Taka,” she said, the pain of the woman before her resonating within her own spirit. “Taka I’m so sorry,” she said, catching the smaller woman’s hand in hers as Taka smiled briefly, patting Rain’s hand before starting back up the stairs.
“I should take them down, it has been almost two years but I cannot, they are still my babies,” she said.
“I understand,” Rain said following the woman.
Taka led Rain into a large, airy bedroom tastefully down in cherry
woods and elegant grays and blues. She showed her the bathroom, the closet before she opened another door that held nothing and what Rain presumed was a small door to the attic.
“Here, Rain,” Taka said, she pressed an invisible button to the right of the door. “Did you see where I pressed?”
Rain shook her head and Taka lifted Rain’s hand pressing it against a barely perceptible small round bump in the wall. “Here, feel that?” She asked.
The Beginning Of Rain In December Page 10
