Yet another distortedly repulsive thing my grandfather does. Using Age-pro to keep these kids children forever. I still didn’t know why these farms existed, but seeing this girl in front of me and knowing she was seventy years older than me made me want to throw-up a little.
“I’m… I’m sorry.” That’s all that I could say. The kids had looked like they were in technological comas when we were there, all of them strapped into devices and focused on holo-screens.
But the guilt hit me like a ton of bricks.
I had left hundreds of kids locked in a basement of technology against their will.
I could have done something…
Couldn’t I have?
I just didn’t know. I was so focused on saving my friends at the time, I hadn’t even considered helping the kids.
“Don’t be. If you had been captured, you would have been killed. But you can help now.” The girl managed a small smile. “My name is Elisha Stearne. I was seven when I was taken. I’ve been in the main facility ever since.” Elisha looked around with sudden paranoia as if someone was about to appear in front of us. “He’s coming. I don’t have much time. Turner is monitoring my brain activity. He knows I left...”
“What can I do?” I asked. My guilt made want to do anything I could to help this girl or lady or… gross! I didn’t want to think about it too long.
“You need to help me and some others escape.” Elisha’s eyes were round with fear and determination. “We’re guarded by Turner’s dead army. You can break through your grandfather’s defenses. I need you Chelsan. I have to go.”
“Wait!” I didn’t want her to leave. I felt like I needed more to go on.
Elisha’s beautiful face was contorted with terror. “You only have two days, after that it won’t matter.”
“Why?” I was already getting in panic mode.
“Turner has scheduled my execution for Thursday morning.”
SWOOSH!
Elisha flew out of my sight like a giant vacuum cleaner had sucked her back into the black void she came from.
Chapter One
Tuesday November 30, 2320
I awoke with a start.
What the...?
It took me a moment to stop my heart from racing. After a few deep calming breaths, (something I’d learned how to do in the last couple of months!) I tried to focus on my surroundings.
I was in my new room at Nancy’s house. It was by far the nicest place I’d ever lived. (Although living in a beat-up trailer my whole life, it wasn’t exactly hard to top!) But this room was amazing for more reasons than its esthetic. Nancy’s parents, George and Vianne, had pretty much adopted me when they found out about my mother’s death. And shockingly, they didn’t throw me out when I told them about my powers and that Geoffrey Turner was trying to kill me. They were there through it all, and at this point I couldn’t imagine my life without them. They helped fill the void of losing my mom without trying to replace her.
Aside from being on Turner’s hit list, I was a pretty lucky girl.
I pulled back my fluffy green comforter and slapped my bare feet on the hardwood oak floors. Three windows lined the East wall with a perfect view of Nancy’s neighborhood. We were in an upper middle class suburb of Los Angeles, so the trees and grass were green and vibrant. I could barely see the silos at the end of each block used for watering the greens with recycled water from hover-car fuel cells.
Most importantly, just past the first row of houses and all the way to the side I could see the roof of Ryan’s house. Nancy gave me this room for that very reason. She joked that I could keep an eye on him that way, and then she’d grumble to herself about keeping an eye on Jason, and then she’d be grumpy for at least an hour. (Their “relationship” was complicated and usually ended up with Nancy in a huff.)
Sometimes, Ryan would sit on his roof so we could see each other, then he’d get impatient and sneak through my window. We had only kissed so far, but that alone made my head explode. I never thought I could be so attached to one human being, but Ryan was seriously beyond amazing. I wondered if it was like that for my parents when they fell in love. I knew they didn’t fall in love at first sight since my Feline grandmother informed me that my mother was Dad’s nanny. Granted, Dad was a ninety-five-year-old-eight-year-old, but still, eeww. I can only guess that my mom’s decision to kidnap Dad was after she realized Roberta and Turner were giving their son Age-pro and that she cared for him deeply as a person. Later, after he grew up, they fell in love. At least, I hoped that’s the way it went. I’ll never know since both my parents are gone.
I thought about Elisha. So similar to my father. He was almost a hundred when Mom rescued him, now it was my turn to do the same for this poor girl. Or woman. Now I knew how my mom felt. What a horrible feeling talking to a child who was decades older than yourself. It really messed with my brain.
TAP. TAP. TAP.
I turned to see Ryan’s wonderfully silly grin outside my window. I hurried over and opened it. Being two stories up, I knew he was most likely in a precarious position and the last thing I wanted was my boyfriend to go SPLAT on Nancy’s lawn.
“Hey,” he said with that lopsided smile that always made my heart squeeze in torture.
Ryan crawled inside the room with the grace of a cat. He pulled me into his arms as soon as his feet hit the floor and kissed me with such intensity it made my knees buckle.
Gulp. Oh boy.
You’d think I’d be able to calm down in his presence by now, but every time Ryan even looked at me my brain fluttered. Which wasn’t hard to do considering how utterly gorgeous he was. His short sandy-blonde hair was mussed up in a perfectly saucy kind of way, and his giant brown eyes sparkled when he looked at me. Ryan’s face was angular and chiseled like a master sculpture had created his masterpiece and it came to life in the form of my boyfriend.
Why did he like me again?
Uugggh!
I pulled away with a smile, but stayed enclosed in his arms. “Good morning to you, too.”
Ryan kissed my forehead. “You ready for school?”
“You know, George and Vianne would probably prefer you come through the front door once in a while.” I looked up at him and smiled.
His face suddenly turned serious and he cupped my face with his hands. “What is it? Something’s wrong.”
Wow.
I couldn’t hide anything from him.
“I had a visitation this morning. In my brain.” I was still reeling at the fact that Ryan could tell that I was upset even when I had momentarily forgotten what I was upset about. (He had that effect on me.)
His face turned white and he pulled me in closer. “Was it one or both of your grandparents?”
“Neither.” I rested my head on his chest and found that if I just stood in that exact spot everything seemed better. “Look, I think I should tell the gang about this. It’s big.”
I felt his head nod and then his lips kissing the top of my head.
I didn’t know how I was going to bring up the topic of I.Q. Farms with Ryan alone, so I figured it would be better to tell everyone at once. I had never seen Ryan as upset as he was when he saw the Farm in Gramps’s headquarters. That was my fault. I brought him there. I didn’t want to see him in that kind of pain ever again, but if I was going to help Elisha I’d have to. Ryan would deal. I just didn’t want him to have to deal quite yet.
“Well, maybe I can keep your mind off of whatever it is,” Ryan said as he kissed me passionately.
Sigh.
Ryan led me to my bed since I tended to lose all control of my knees when we kissed. Everything intensified in a matter of seconds as we lay down together. I could feel the strength of his hands pulling me in closer.
Dizzy, party of one.
The more we kissed the more I wanted more. (More being the operative word, here.)
Yes, please.
“Oh, sorry.” Bill’s voice interrupted us like a guillotine.
I pull
ed away from Ryan to look up and see Bill. He looked devastated and horrified all rolled up into one giant ball of guilt for me.
“Bill, uh, hi,” I managed to get out. Could I sound any lamer?
“I… I… sorry…” Bill just kind of stood there awkwardly. Being six-feet tall, with his blue eyes and messy brown hair, he looked particularly adorable today, except for the hurt radiating from his face. Bill was my other best friend. Besides Nancy, Bill was the only other person who didn’t treat me like a leper at school before all this craziness happened to me. His parents were the richest humans alive, pretty much, which gave him the social leeway to hang out with anyone he wanted. It wasn’t until I started dating Ryan when I realized Bill had feelings for me. It was hard at first with the typical male territorial ape crap. I had hoped that, after everything Bill and Ryan went through together to save the world from my Gramps, they had come to an understanding, but seeing Bill’s face and the dirty look he had just given Ryan, I could tell there were still some fences to be mended.
“I’ll see you guys downstairs.” Bill was practically sprinting his way down the hallway.
“I’ll go get him,” I said as I stood up to go after him.
Ryan drew me back onto the bed and kissed me. “Bill can wait.”
I stood up again. “I’m sorry, but he’s Bill, and he’s hurt.”
Ryan rubbed his hand over his face in frustration. “He’s got to get over it.”
I sat next to Ryan on the bed and placed my hand on his leg. “He will, we just have to give him some time, and some understanding.” I eyed him knowingly.
Ryan kissed my cheek. “There’s a limit to how understanding I can be. The guy hasn’t let up.”
“I know, but let me handle it,” I said with as much conviction as possible.
Ryan leaned in and kissed me until I couldn’t see straight.
“Seriously?” Nancy’s voice interrupted our moment from the doorway.
We both turned to see her with her hands on her hips, rolling her eyes at us. Nancy looked perfectly coifed and gorgeous. Even with a casual tank and jeans she looked like a super model. She was physically the complete opposite of me. Nancy had long blonde locks and giant blue eyes while I had shoulder length chestnut brown hair and boring grey eyes.
“Hey, Nancy.” Ryan pulled away from me, (lame) and gently grabbed my hand (better). I guess Bill could wait a little while longer.
“Hey, yourself. It’s called the front door, genius boy.” Nancy walked over to the window and shut it.
“I’m an impatient guy, what can I tell you.” Ryan grinned at Nancy.
Nancy shook her head. “Honestly, we should build a staircase for you.” Nancy put her hands on her hips again. “Bill looks like he saw his puppy die. I’m assuming he walked in on you two?”
I nodded and she shook her head. “Well, the sooner he gets over this the better.” Then she raised her eyebrow with curiosity. “What? You have that look. Is something else wrong?”
Really? I guess I was destined to never win a hand of poker.
Ryan squeezed my hand tighter. “Assemble the gang. Chelsan says it’s a biggie.”
Nancy gave me a quick hug. “I thought we were done with all the torment and torture.”
“You guys are. This is all me. And I just need advice, not help.” I wanted to make it clear right away that I was in no way going to involve them in whatever this turned out to be. After everything I dragged them through a couple of months ago, I couldn’t bear putting them in danger again. (And breaking out ninety-eight-year-old children from an I.Q. Farm wasn’t exactly safe.)
Nancy rolled her eyes again and turned to Ryan. “Could you smack some sense into her, please?” She turned to me, “Chelsan, when are you going to get it through your thick head that we’re always going to help, so just forget about all the arguments and rationalizations you’ve probably intricately designed in that brain of yours and get over it.” Her eyes widened in a sudden thought, “I better call Jason to get his butt over here.” Nancy looked down at her outfit. “I can’t wear this, I look horrible!” And she was out the door and out of sight.
“She’s right, you know. You can’t talk us out of it. We’re going to help you whether you like it or not.” Ryan leaned down and kissed me with an agonizing tenderness that made me wobbly. “You sure you don’t want to talk about it now?”
“Yeah. You go downstairs, let me get dressed,” I said and squeezed Ryan’s hand reassuringly. “I’ll tell you guys everything and then you can decide if you really want to get involved. Don’t make any decisions until you hear what I have to say.” I still wasn’t convinced my friends should have anything to do with Elisha, especially Ryan. I.Q. Farms may hit a little too close to home for him and I didn’t want him to have to put himself through more torture for some kid he didn’t know.
Ryan just shook his head and smiled. “You’re crazy you know that?” He kissed my forehead. “I’d do anything for you.”
My heart practically flew out of my chest at the sincerity of Ryan’s words. “Me too,” was all I could utter.
“I love you.” Ryan brushed his hand against my cheek and gave me his crooked smile.
“I love you, too,” I said, smiling back and punched his arm affectionately. “Now go, I have to get dressed for school. And Ryan?”
“Yes?” he answered affectionately.
“Be nice to Bill,” I said as delicately as possible.
Ryan sighed and then nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”
He walked toward the door then turned with a sly grin just as he was about to leave. “You sure I couldn’t stay? I promise not to look.”
I laughed and threw a pillow at him. It hit him square in the chest with a loud thump. “Yeah, right, perv.”
Ryan put his hands up in surrender. He quickly grabbed the pillow off the floor and flung it at me.
I ducked and the pillow landed on the floor. “Nice try.”
Ryan laughed and shut the door.
Why did I have to have some astral mumbo jumbo ruin everything? Maybe when I sat everyone down and told them about it they’d all agree it was a bad dream and I should ignore it completely.
Yeah, right.
I quickly threw on a fitted T, jeans and my Chucks and headed out the darkly stained oak door.
I hurried across the terracotta tiling of the hallway and barely glanced at the Spanish yellow walls I had grown so used to over the last two months. It had really become home to me. Brushing past the other five oak doors that made up Nancy’s second floor, I wondered if Bill was okay.
I walked down the wrought iron staircase and glanced out the window as I made my way to the bottom floor. I could see Bill’s hover-car parked in Nancy’s landing zone. Poor guy, he probably came by early so he could see me before Ryan did. I didn’t know how much clearer I could be with Bill. I pretty much told him there was no way it was going to happen, but he still looked at me in that way… maybe it really was a good thing Bill walked in on Ryan and I, he wouldn’t be able to be in denial anymore.
Walking past the living room, I made my way toward the kitchen and heard Bill and Ryan talking. I stopped at the door to listen. They weren’t arguing, which was good, but they didn’t sound all that cordial either. I wasn’t ready to walk in yet. Forget the whole Bill and Ryan thing, I knew I was going to have to talk about this Elisha girl and I.Q. Farms and, frankly, I didn’t want to.
“Whatever it is, she looked pretty spooked.” I could hear the worry dripping from Ryan’s voice.
“Yeah, you looked like you were really concerned about her well-being.” Bill’s sarcasm was pretty obvious.
“Bill, shut it.” I could visualize Nancy rolling her eyes. “And you, calm down.” She must have been talking to Ryan.
“Well, don’t push her. Let her tell us when she’s ready,” Vianne scolded everyone in the kitchen. She really was such a mom.
“She can’t tell us anyway, Jason isn’t here.” Leave it to Nancy to bring every
conversation back to Jason. I smiled in spite of myself. That girl was really hooked.
“She so likes me.”
I whirled around to see Jason standing behind me with his signature roguish smile. He was looking pretty gorgeous, I must say, with his messy black hair and bright green eyes. Even his crooked nose looked extra easy on the eyes today. No wonder he was an International heartthrob reporter. He used to be the guy I had a crush on to keep my mind off of Ryan. I had no clue that Ryan actually liked me so I needed to focus on someone so I wouldn’t become obsessed with a lost cause. And seeing Jason there in front of me I was suddenly filled with a giant balloon of emotion for my friends who had become my family. I threw my arms around him and gave him a giant hug.
“Hi, Jason,” I mumbled into his chest.
Jason hugged me back. “Well this is a nice welcome. It must be bad.” Jason pulled away and looked me in the eyes. “Yup, definitely bad. You look freaked.”
Seriously. Open book.
“Come on. I’ll tell you in the kitchen.” I grabbed Jason’s hand and opened the door.
All eyes turned to us as we entered the room.
Ryan immediately took my hand away from Jason and held it possessively. (It always made my heart skip a beat when he did that.)
Bill tried to ignore Ryan’s territorial hand grab and waved a hello to me with an awkward nod. I hated that I made him feel horrible all the time by being with Ryan. I wished I knew some girl I could hook him up with. Nancy was hopelessly in love with Jason and I really didn’t know any other girls, least of all anyone that was worthy of Bill. He deserved the best and I just wish I could find her for him.
Vianne came over and kissed my cheek. “Sit down, dear, I made you breakfast.”
I sometimes had to remind myself that Vianne, George and Jason were all over a hundred-years-old since everyone in the room looked eighteen thanks to Age-pro.
Vianne was ridiculously cute. She had a short blonde bob that was always flawlessly in place and big blue eyes like her daughter’s. At least four inches shorter than Nancy, Vianne was a petite woman with a slender figure.
The Riser Saga Page 34
