by C. C. Lynch
“This is a really awkward and embarrassing question that I’ve already asked you but I am going to ask you again.” I looked away so I could not see his reaction. “When I was having visions of Draxe I felt really strongly about him, like I would wake up feeling safe and loved and when I saw him in person I was absolutely in lust. Those feelings started to disappear then they were completely gone once the vision happened. I think Draxe is an amazing person, but I have no romantic feelings for him whatsoever now. Do you have any relatable experiences?”
He was silent for so long that I had to glance up just to see if he was still there. He remained silent even longer and I felt like I needed to further explain myself.
“I have a theory that I had seen Draxe’s face for so long that it was familiar, I saw it from childhood into teens and it just turned from someone familiar and safe to someone that I was almost obsessed with because I wanted to know who he was and why I was seeing him all the time. As I started to know him there was no chemistry and then the vision happened and I looked at his face and I felt everything I had for so long but because I was relieved that I was alive and that it had finally happened. I didn’t have to worry about waiting for the vision to happen anymore.”
Vlaine tucked his hands into his pockets and leaned against the wall. “I think our situations are a little different.”
I nodded, “I’m probably just a weird anomaly once again, mixed with the emotions of a teenage girl.”
Vlaine leaned in towards me. My breath hitched as he closed the space between us. “I wanted to protect you in the vision and that hasn’t changed but I didn’t start falling for you until after I met you.”
The air in my lungs escaped and I was frozen, just like earlier when he had his arms around me. Was he being serious? I must have heard him wrong.
“What?” I searched his eyes for integrity.
He leaned closer, his forehead was touching mine. “I’m falling for you, Abrielle.”
I searched for something to say but I had nothing. My back was against the wall and there he was leaning into me. For a few seconds nothing else existed, it was just Vlaine and me. He had to know I felt the same; there was no way he hadn’t read it at that point.
I fought for words, the right words to tell him how I felt. “Vlaine,” I breathed, “I…”
“Vlaine?” a voice called from down the hall. The breath I had been holding exhaled all at once. Vlaine pulled away and looked down the hall.
“Jay! I was about to go down there.” Vlaine motioned for me to follow him. We met the man in the middle of the hall and they gave each other a handshake with a pat on the back. “Abrielle, this is my brother Jackson. Hagan sent some security measures to help out with the Jeremiah predicament.”
Jackson was in his late twenties and looked like a perfectly even mix of Draxe, Osiris, and Susan. He had Susan’s ruddy hair, his father’s facial features, and Draxe’s frat boy stance.
“The replicator,” he did a slight bow like I was royalty, “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Oh,” I glanced nervously at Vlaine, “good things, I hope.”
I hoped he knew more about me than the fact that some ill-reputed men attacked a school because of my gifts.
“The tank gets updates when its prospects do something impressive like turn invisible or heal little squirrels.”
I blushed, “I’m glad the tank can appreciate the lives of little fuzzy rodents.”
Jackson slapped Vlaine on the back and told him they needed help setting up the perimeter.
“Nice to meet you,” I nodded before I let them get to work.
24
Liz was just getting out of the shower and I jumped onto my bed and threw my sweatshirt on the floor. “You’re taking a shower in the middle of the day?”
“I needed to warm up.” She slipped on sweatpants and a sweatshirt.
It was below freezing outside but I hadn’t paid much attention to the temperature since that morning.
I fell to my back and stared up at the ceiling. “Vlaine told me he’s falling for me,” I put my hands over my face and let out an excited squeal. “Can you believe it? I don’t even know why he would like me.”
Liz tittered exuberantly and sat next to me. “What did you say?”
“I didn’t say anything. At first I was silent because he took my breath away. How corny is that? Now I know what they mean. And then I was about to say something but his brother Jackson had impeccable timing.”
“Jay’s here?” Her eyes lit up and she started combing her hair with her hand quickly. “You’re going to tell him you feel the same, right? I mean he put his heart out there on the line for you so you had better do the same.”
“Yeah, they sent some people here from the tank to help out with security and Jay is one of them. I’ll tell Vlaine how I feel when I see him next.” I sat up and laughed unbelievingly. “Me? I still cannot believe he likes me.”
“Abrielle,” Liz’s face was kind and serious, “you’re the nicest person to ever step onto Glaston grounds and you’re absolutely gorgeous. Why else do you think I was worried that Draxe was going to fall for you?”
I hugged her tightly, “thank you for being so sweet.” And for being a girlfriend when I needed one, I thought.
“This is no time for sentiments. We have our first final in three days so let’s start studying. Your boyfriend will be here soon and you can give him doe eyes and tell him how you’re madly in love with him, but until then we need to make sure we nail that physics exam.”
“It could be your boyfriend that stays here tonight too,” I mumbled.
She giggled and pulled out her study cards. Getting hurt and staying away from classes had distracted me more than I thought because I was struggling to keep up with her practice physics questions.
Draxe came into the room and I asked if he could take over studying with Liz so I could study for the other classes I had. Liz glared at me as if I had given her secret away, but I made myself busy so he would not suspect anything.
I kept staring at my phone while I was studying hoping to get a phone call or message from Vlaine. Impatience won and I picked up my phone to start texting Vlaine that I felt the same but just before I began typing my phone started to ring.
“Hey Steph,” I answered then left the dorm so I would not disturb Liz.
“Hey Abrielle, so I just swung by Nicholas’s house. His mom said that she hasn’t seen him since last night. He wasn’t in his room. What time did you say he called you?”
It was not rare for Nicholas to spend nights out without letting his mother know, but Steph was usually with him when it happened.
“He called somewhere between 5 and 6. Is he still dating Molly? Maybe they went on a romantic journey to a motel or something.”
She was silent for a few moments, “no he broke up with Molly the day after that time I saw you at the diner and he hasn’t really been dating anyone since.” Her voice trailed off as she was talking.
“Are you worried?” I was pacing around the foyer of the residence hall.
“Kind of,” she sighed. “Speaking of dating, how are you and your very own James Dean?”
“James Dean?” My stomach dropped.
“Yeah,” Steph let out a longing sigh, “that handsome, perfectly messy hair, bad boy exterior, but you know he’s actually a softie on the inside.”
“Can we call him something else, like another icon that didn’t die at a young age.”
“Does Marlon Brando sound better?”
“Yes,” I laughed, “he’s pretty amazing, isn’t he?”
“I love you and all Abrielle, but I’m breaking the girl code if you two ever break up.”
“That’s fair,” I laughed, “but I have to study for finals because they’re next week. Let me know the second you hear from Nicholas.”
We hung up then a voice close to my ear whispered, “Who’s amazing?” I dropped my phone in surprise and turned to see Vlaine.
“Jeez, Vlaine, you’ll give a girl a heart attack sneaking up like that.” He was smirking like he was trying to keep a secret but was about to lose his restraint. “Nicholas is missing and it sounds like no one has seen him since yesterday.”
“That’s strange, he usually runs everything by you and Steph. Didn’t you get like thirteen text messages from him the other day?” Vlaine actually looked concerned.
“Yeah, we’re usually the first ones to know everything, sometimes even before he does.” I tucked the phone in my pocket then crossed my arms. “I never told you about the text messages.” I gasped, “You have been reading me!”
His expression was innocent, “I have no idea what you mean. I do that for educational purposes only.”
It was my turn to give him a devilish grin, “then you know I feel the same way about you.” It was his turn to be speechless. “I have to go study. I’ll see you later,” I smiled and flipped my hair like I saw Steph do so many times and left before the realization that I admitted my feelings for Vlaine could sink in.
I lay on my stomach trying to study but thoughts about exploding targets, worrying about the school getting attacked, and Vlaine revealing his feelings for me kept my mind preoccupied. I fell asleep on top of my study material and woke up a little past midnight. Liz was sleeping peacefully and Draxe was lying on his back tossing a stress ball in the air and catching it.
“Hey Draxe,” I whispered trying not to wake Liz.
“What’s up Abrielle?” Draxe stopped tossing the ball and turned towards me.
“Do you think those students are alive?”
He responded without hesitation, “absolutely. There is no reason for him to take people if he was just going to kill them.”
“So do you think they’re okay or getting tortured?”
“I think thoughts like that are the worst ones to have when you’re falling asleep. Something happened that was beyond your control and it wasn’t your fault. For all we know they could have ran when the attack happened and they’re all at pizza hut thinking they just got out of final exams.”
“We have really strong telepaths here and they can find people if they needed to. I know you guys are hiding stuff from me. I just wonder if I should just let them capture me so maybe I can try to help those people out.”
Draxe sat up and leaned forward, “Abrielle, I know you want to help them but keeping you away from Jeremiah is the best thing that we can do to help everyone. What do you think he’s going to do to you if he gets you? In the world of replication you’re a baby and he’ll hang you up like a calf.”
“Ew, that was graphic,” I shook my head, repulsed. “I know there’s not much I can do, but I wish I could do something.”
“Just keep practicing and do your best to stay safe. We have guards here now for some extra security measures plus me or Vlaine will be around you at all times of the day. Maybe we can change that vision of yours.” He walked over to the side of my bed and sat down next to me. “What’s the best memory of your life?”
I smiled thinking of our fake camping weekend, the memories Steph and I had through our years of sleepovers, adventures with Nicholas, summers by the lake with Steph’s family, the serenity of brushing Cinnamon, the feeling I felt every time I sat with Vlaine for my skill class and put my hands in his.
“I must have one hundred favorite memories, Draxe.”
“Pick one of them,” he pulled my blanket on me, “and know that whoever shares that memory with you smiles every time they reminisce on that moment because you made it as special for them as they made it for you.” He tucked my phone under my pillow and smiled, “and before you say anything don’t give me any credit for that pep talk. My sister would put me to bed after my mom passed away saying that, only replace ‘someone’ with ‘mom.’ So which one are you going to choose?”
“I’m going to think about something that happened earlier today.” I replayed Vlaine telling me that he was falling for me.
“Good. Sweet dreams, Abrielle.” He patted my knee quickly and went back to his cot.
“Draxe?” I spoke softly “is there any way you can get a recent picture of my dad?”
“Yeah, I’ll get one for you,” he promised.
“Goodnight, Draxe,” I whispered appreciatively.
“Grab my hand,” Liz shouted holding her hand out. I knew this vision all too well. We would head towards the rear exit, both of us invisible and Jeremiah would come through the door as we were about to escape. As the vision played through I tried to blast Jeremiah, I tried to fight back but it was to no avail. I could not change the vision while I was having it, only watch in horror while explosions shook the building and peers screamed as chaos ensued.
“No, no, no!” I sat up in bed. “I can’t change it,” I cried, tears were streaming down my face. Someone was rubbing my arm gently, but I could not see through the blur of tears. I wiped my face and saw Vlaine was by my side. Liz was sitting up in her bed watching me with a sympathetic expression. “Liz,” I shook my head crying, “I tried to alter it but I couldn’t.”
“Abrielle, it was a vision not a lucid dream, “she pouted, “nor was it real life. There is nothing you can do until it happens except to try and learn from it.”
I nodded in agreement. “You’re going to grab my hand so we can both be invisible and we’re going to run to the back of the residence hall to try and escape but Jeremiah is going to walk through the door we try to escape through. Maybe if we go against the wall instead of through the door first or try for a different exit.”
“We’ll figure that out later hun, but right now I’m going to go back to sleep. Try and do the same. We’re going to need you to be well rested.” Liz pouted sympathetically then turned on her side to fall back asleep.
Vlaine was by my side rubbing my hand. “So this is what I’ve been missing the past few days?”
“Sorry, I can’t really help it.” I hated the way I felt after I had the vision.
“I know,” he wiped a few stray tears with his thumb, “try to get some sleep. I’ll be right here.”
I nodded and pushed myself to the far side of the twin bed against the wall so he could take a seat on the mattress instead of balancing against it while kneeling on the floor. Instead of sitting he lay down by my side and folded his hands beneath his head and stared up at the pink star on the ceiling.
“Goodnight Abbs,” he whispered and wriggled into a comfortable position.
“Goodnight, Vlaine.”
I woke up with Vlaine’s arm under my head and my ankle over his. Slowly I moved my leg off his and tried to get off the bed without waking him. Draxe was sleeping on the cot and on my desk was a picture of my father. I held it delicately in my hand, like it could disappear at any moment if I was not careful.
My dad had auburn hair like me, crystal blue eyes, and laugh lines. I got all my facial features from him, except my eyes were a swirl of my mother’s green eyes and his blue ones. Vlaine was right, looking at the picture of my father was much more emotional than I expected. I tried to push the resentment for my fatherless childhood that Valdor and Aldershaw Academy had a hand in creating. I put the photograph back on the desk and tried to swallow the feelings threatening to surface, the feelings that I had spent my entire life locking away in a place deep inside my heart.
The hot shower water soothed muscles that I did not even know were sore. I let myself cry. I let the emotions I had buried come to the surface and wash down the drain. I would allow myself enough time to feel angry, hurt, and betrayed but just long enough to get it out of my system without letting self pity take over.
There were no more tears. You exploded a freaking target with someone else’s power, Abrielle, I told myself. You have two friends and a mother that loves you and took care of you so get your ass up and put on some mascara so you can’t cry again without looking like a raccoon and get ready to change that vision when it happens in real life.
I nodded at my own pep talk an
d stood up. I would get ready and not let any new information about my father make a hole in my chest where I never allowed one to be before finding out why he wasn’t there when I was growing up.
I decided to go to the kitchen to grab coffee and breakfast for Liz, Vlaine, Draxe, and myself. It was strange walking out of my dorm and seeing a man posted at the top of the stairs and another at the bottom. Jackson was standing by the entrance of the residence hall.
“Good morning Jay,” I smiled as I slipped my hands into my glittery aqua gloves.
“Hey Abrielle, where are you off to?”
“I’m going to grab some coffee and bagels for the scurry up in 217.”
“Scurry? Oh, like a pack of squirrels! I got you.” He laughed and nodded his head approvingly of my joke. “Do you want some company?”
“Sure, I’ll take a hand or two.”
He called out for the guy at the bottom of the stairs to take his place at the door while he helped me in the kitchen. Another guy was stationed inside the kitchen and I poured some coffee for each of the guys we had walked by including Jay. The men gave me a quick nod to say hello and thank you for retrieving coffee for them. I wondered if they knew that I was part of the reason they had to be wasting time standing around Glaston Academy just waiting for some psychopath to attack the school. I was sure they were well aware of who I was and my influence on their current assignment, but I hoped they did not blame me in any sort of way.
Liz was awake when I got back to the room. Vlaine and Draxe were sleeping until their older brother whistled a strange siren sound. Both boys jumped out of bed like they had just been mustered. Jay laughed and said something to the effect of “I’ve still got it,” and went back downstairs to his post.
“Militant family?” I chuckled as I passed out the beverages. Vlaine and Draxe gave each other a knowing glance and settled back down but offered no explanation. I sat on the bed next to Vlaine and crossed my legs beneath me.
“What exactly is the plan after finals? Do I go back home and pretend that there is no boogie monster trying to steal me from my bed or are these guards going to follow me home?”
