by W. J. May
We all nodded, even Brent. “Let’s go,” he said and turned the alarm off again.
We headed to the gym and ran laps, which eventually turned into a game of tag when Seth slapped Brent on the shoulder as he passed him in a lap. “You’re it!” he shouted.
“No way.” Brent ran straight for me and I dodged, running behind Heidi, who Brent slapped on the shoulder. “You’re it.”
Heidi laughed and turned a sharp turn to run into Seth. “Not anymore,” she said.
We played tag like third graders at recess after having a box of doughnuts. It was perfect. Nothing was wrong with the world when we played. We were just a group of kids from Elliot Lake again, even if we were sprinting faster than most humans would ever do in their life, and for a much longer time. There wasn’t any killer picking us off and there weren’t prices on our head for our blood. And we definitely weren’t fighting anymore.
After several hours, we collapsed in the middle of the gym floor, exhausted and breathing hard. I could hear everyone’s racing heartbeats gradually slow down.
“That was fun,” Heidi said. “We should do that more often.”
Seth smiled. “Yeah,” he said. “Next time I’ll totally win.”
“No one really wins, Seth.” Brent laughed. “It’s tag.”
“Actually everyone wins. Except Seth, because he’s it.” I giggled as he reached out and tapped me on the shoulder.
“Not anymore, Zoe,” he said. “Now you’re it. I win.”
“Whatever you say.”
We all stared up at the ceiling above. It was a high ceiling covered in stadium lights that were, thankfully, turned off. I reached out and touched Brent’s fingers and he grabbed my hand. I turned my head to find him smiling at me.
“Hey, guys, we all see you,” Seth chuckled. “Get a room.”
I flipped over onto my stomach and stuck my tongue out at him. “Where do you and Heidi have yours?”
He growled but quit teasing.
Slowly reality settled back in.
“My mom’s going to shoot me for skipping school,” Heidi moaned.
“My dad’ll have my hide,” Seth sighed.
I sat up. “We’re all going to be okay. One way or another, we’re going to get out of this just fine.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
“Through high transfugal force, the radium in your blood can be separated from your blood cells,” Dad told me. “So theoretically, it’s possible to filter it all out and you’ll be a normal human again.”
I bit my lip, thinking about it. After playing tag earlier that day, I’d headed straight to Dad’s office. I knew I didn’t want my superpower to be separated from me anymore. It was pretty cool listening to conversations whispered down the hall from me and knowing how many people were walking behind me and what the teachers really talked about in the teacher lounge. But I knew it was necessary for me to get rid of it if I ever wanted to live a normal life again. “What do you think I should do?”
“I think you could get rid of it, Zoe-zey,” my dad said. “The existence of the radium halos in your blood is a scientific marvel that was never thought possible before. Having the honor of studying it is like a dream come true to me. But more than anything I want my daughter to be safe, and not hunted down.”
I nodded. “I’m just not sure anymore. I need to tell the others, though. They deserve to know so they can make the decision to get rid of it if they want to. Can I think about this?”
He nodded. “It’s a big decision, Zoe-zey. You need to give it a lot of thought. You already know my opinion. Talk about it with your friends, even Kieran if you have to. But make sure you go with what you want to do, not anyone else. I still don’t know if it’s possible to get the powers back through a blood transfusion or not. Even if I could, though, the amount of radium would be diluted and the powers weak.”
“Okay. We just want the craziness to end. We never asked for any of this.”
He nodded. “I know.”
I moved toward the door.
“Can you tell Eleanor to call in my next appointment?”
“Will do,” I said. “See you tomorrow, okay? Remember, I’m spending the night at Mom’s.”
His eyes dilated slightly at the mention of Mom, but less than usual. He was slowly growing used to being divorced with her, but I knew it still bothered him. “Okay,” he said. “See you tomorrow.”
I headed down the hall.
Eleanor sat flipping through a magazine at her desk. She was holding it far away with a frown on her face as if she had a headache and I briefly wondered if she had gotten new contacts before realizing I didn’t care enough to even ask her. “You can send in the next appointment,” I said.
She nodded and gestured to the mother and son sitting in the waiting room to go in. “Zoe,” she said as I reached the door. “Can you kill that fly on the wall? Near the painting of the lake.”
I looked over at the housefly, grabbed a magazine, rolled it up and hit the fly before it could escape. I looked at Eleanor. She was watching me from her desk, which was at least ten feet away. “How did you see the fly from over there?”
She looked at me like I was an idiot. “It’s been buzzing around for the past half hour. I tried hitting it with this magazine but couldn’t catch it.”
I raised an eyebrow. When did she ever take her face out of a magazine long enough to watch a fly buzzing around the waiting room? “Well, have a good day, Eleanor.”
“You too, Zoe.”
I left, wondering if Dad had talked to his nurse about her people skills and if she had actually listened.
Mom was in the kitchen when I came home. “Hi, sweetie,” she said. “I’m making lasagna for dinner. Why did your father want to see you after school today?”
“Huh?” I asked, paranoid she was testing me about skipping school. Her heart rate showed no sign of hiding anything. “Oh, nothing. I just left something at his house.”
She raised an eyebrow. “That was a pretty long visit in the middle of his work day for something that you supposedly left at his house.”
“He’s my dad,” I said. “We talk from time to time.”
“He used to be my husband,” she muttered. “And he always kicked me out of his office whenever I stopped by, no matter what the reason was. Zoe, is there anything at all wrong?”
“No, Mom,” I said. “Nothing’s wrong. Believe me.”
“Are you sure?” she said. “Ever since you and your friends got trapped in the mine, you have been acting strange and getting into more and more trouble. Now, after Rylee’s death, I’m…” She closed her eyes. “I’m scared I’m losing you, Zoe. You’ve changed and I’m not sure it’s for the better.”
I got up and kissed her cheek. “Nothing’s changed, believe me. It’s still me.”
That part wasn’t all a lie. I was still me. I was just a different me.
She looked at me skeptically. “Are Seth and Heidi dating now?”
I grinned. Take it from her to smoothly change the subject. “I think they really do like each other.” My grin turned into a smile. I wasn’t going to get caught for playing hooky. The school had miraculously let it slide. “He did break into a jewelry store to save her, after all, and Heidi has been spending a lot of time getting Seth over Rylee’s death.”
Mom shuddered. “I still can’t believe he risked his life like that. Please promise me you’ll never do that for anyone, not even for me or for your dad. The last thing I need to worry about is your safety. Understand?”
She had no idea. It was probably better that way. I crossed my fingers behind my back. “I promise. I won’t do anything risky like that at all.” Unless someone I love is in trouble. Then everyone needs to get out of my way. “How much longer until dinner is ready?”
“It won’t be for another half hour. Why don’t you go get started on your homework and I’ll call you in when it’s ready, okay?”
“Okay.” I felt heat burn on my cheeks. What home
work?
“And don’t watch the news while you do it.”
I rolled my eyes. “It helps me focus. You think I’m actually interested in the new policies involving fishing limits in the lake?”
She looked at me sourly. “On second thought, you might learn something from the news. Like how the policies will impact the economy and the environment, and how that actually makes some of your classes useful despite what you think.”
I grinned. “Gotcha! I’ll pay very close attention to that, then.” I knew exactly what to say to get my way with things like that. Even if I really didn’t give a damn about the policies. It was other news that I was more concerned with. News that was guaranteed to be playing tonight because it was so big in the quiet town of Elliot Lake.
I got out my textbooks and notebooks and spread them out on the living room floor like I was actually studying before turning on the TV.
“...Kieran’s trial will be held later this week,” the news reporter was saying. “After speaking with national officials, it has been decided that because of the nature of the crime, Kieran will remain in United States custody for the time being. DA officials have released that there is a possibility of a deal being in the works for Kieran because of his age and extenuating circumstances, but they have refused to give specifics. In other news…”
I tuned it out, thinking about what the reporter said. A deal? Why? Yes, he had been acting in self-defence, but he had also run from the police and had stolen police files. What type of deal would they give him? Unless they hoped he would be helpful in finding Rylee’s killer. He did know about the location of the car, and the pictures of the crime scene as well as the key from the car would have been found in his motel room. The death of a young girl would definitely have higher priority than an old drunk who was killed in self-defence.
I felt hope welling up inside of me and I crushed it back down. Talk of a deal didn’t mean he had immunity or even that he could stay in the States. Hell, he hadn’t even taken the deal as far as I knew. But there was at least a chance of a lighter sentence. Maybe even some of the more minor charges would be dropped. That made me happy.
I needed to tell Kieran there was a way to get rid of the powers. I wasn’t sure if he wanted that or not, but he deserved to know. He was going to get hunted like the rest of us if he was ever discovered. And if he ended up in jail, what were the chances that he wouldn’t ever bleed in front of a criminal, or the prison doctor didn’t know about the urban legend?
I doubted Kieran could take visits and even if he could, my parents would not let me visit the jail, even if it is just to talk to Kieran. Not even my Dad would be okay with that. But I’m sure if I got a message to his lawyer, then he would be able to pass it on to Kieran.
A quick Google search got me the name of the public defense attorney that was managing Kieran’s case. I got the address of his office building and decided to make a stop by there tomorrow with a letter he could pass on to Kieran.
Chapter Twenty-Five
I smoothed down my blouse nervously. I didn’t know what the rules were for meeting the defense attorney of your soon to be ex-boyfriend, although I doubted I would actually get an audience with the lawyer himself. Weren’t they always busy? I figured I would have more luck if I looked presentable, so I dressed in my good white blouse and gray slacks.
“You sure you don’t want me to go in with you?” Brent asked. “Just for moral support?” He was riding shotgun so he could watch the car while I was inside, and provide backup if trouble started.
This was the kind of life we were living now. “I’m just dropping off the letter.” I looked down at the envelope in my hands. More than anything, I was wondering if the lawyer would open it and read it, or someone else would before Kieran saw it. Most likely he didn’t know what radium halos were. Even if he did, he was bound by law to keep it confidential, right? I couldn’t convince myself to trust anyone anymore. Public defense attorneys didn’t make that much money. That didn’t make him crooked, but I couldn’t help but wonder.
“It’s going to be fine,” Brent said. “You know you need to get that letter to Kieran. He has as much thinking to do about it as the rest of us, even if it would be harder for him to get the treatment than us.”
I nodded as I stared at the old brick building that was set in downtown Elliot Lake. The courthouse was connected to the building as well. “Okay. I’m going to go in. Keep an eye out, and if you see anything suspicious, drive to our second location and text me.”
“Will do.”
I got out and went into the building. The office building was ancient and the layout of the interior had been changed a thousand times over, but never all of it at the same time, creating a maze of hallways and the guarantee of getting lost if your destination wasn’t right inside the door. Even following the maps on the wall, it took me half an hour to find the defense attorney’s modest office, leaving me feeling slightly stupid and probably looking a little worse for wear.
Mr. Stephen Strayer was a middle-aged man with a haggard face and premature silver hair. He had gone to a state university to get his law degree and did only okay on the bar exam, which made it next to impossible for him to get a job at a decent law firm. Instead he became a public defense attorney for a wage that probably barely covered his bills and student loan payments.
I shook my head. I’d made all these assumptions based on what? His diploma?
There wasn’t even a secretary to field appointments. I found him in the small office looking over a file. I knocked on the side of the door. “Excuse me, Mr. Strayer?”
He looked up and blinked. “Yes? Do I know you?”
“No, but are you representing Kieran?”
He sat up and surveyed me with some more interest. “I am. Are you a friend of his?”
“Yes,” I said. “I was wondering if you could get a letter to him.”
“Of course.” He stood and walked around his desk. “You understand he won’t be able to keep the letter of course, but I can arrange a meeting with him and let him read it.”
I nodded. “That’ll have to do.” I handed him the letter and turned to go, but then paused and turned back. “This is rude, but you’re not going to look inside, right?”
“I do my best not to invade my client’s privacy,” he said, the envelope securely in his hands. “If I have to look at it, I’ll keep it completely confidential. However, for my own peace of mind, can I ask—” His face reddened and he rubbed his eyes. “It’s not pictures, right? Please tell me it’s not pictures of…” He trailed off and I blushed.
“No! Nothing like that!” My voice rose an octave. “It’s personal stuff, but not like that or anything about why he’s in jail.” I was babbling, thrown off about the picture thing.
Mr. Strayer held up his hands. “I just had to make sure. You would be surprised at the contents of some of the messages I’ve been asked to pass along.”
“Well, I can assure you it’s just a letter. And totally innocuous, okay?”
He nodded. “If that’s all, then have a good day.”
“How is he doing?”
“Kieran?” He scratched his head, as if trying to remember. “He’s all right. They had to put him in a single cell. He was threatening to hurt his inmate.” He shook his head. “The boy is quite the puzzle.”
“He’s been through a lot.” I swallowed, not wanting to say too much. “Is he allowed visitors?”
“Not at the moment. Give it a few days and check back with me, Miss… I’m sorry, I don’t know your name.”
“Zoe Landers.”
He smiled. “I’ll pass on your message, Miss Landers.”
“Thanks.” I turned to go, thankful I hadn’t heard my phone vibrate and thankful that Mr. Strayer’s body language, his heart rate and everything showed him to be a decently honest guy. He hadn’t lied when he said he wouldn’t read it, and his heart had jumped nervously when he mentioned the photos. For once, something was going in th
e right direction.
“Stay in touch, Miss Landers. That boy needs all the help he can get.”
I nodded, not sure how to respond. I left and walked out of the building to find the car gone just as my phone buzzed.
Gray car came by. I’m trying to find it. Walk home by the back roads and keep listening. Be careful. Brent.
I sighed and pocketed my phone. It was a forty-five minute walk home or a twenty minute jog. It wouldn’t be that bad if I was going with someone or I didn’t have to look out constantly for possible attackers. But as it was right now, it was only bearable. I just hoped Brent followed his own advice and was careful himself.
I didn’t worry about ruining my nice clothes as I started jogging down a back road behind the office building. A twenty minute run would barely make me break a sweat, especially on an overcast day like today. I did worry that it would look weird for someone in dressy clothes to be running. However, I didn’t want to be vulnerable and on my own more than necessary.
I opened myself up to the world around me, taking in all of the sounds from the thunderous roar of the traffic on the road to the scratching sound of a nearby mouse scavenging scraps from a dumpster. Taking in the sounds around me like this no longer gave me a headache, which I was grateful for. As I jogged, I focused on trying to learn as much as I could from that around me. I might not be able to hear malicious intent, but after practicing I might be able to know when something was suspicious.
I got back to my mom’s safely and I sent Brent a quick text to say I was home and going to lie down. My head was killing me.
It took a bit to fall asleep and when I finally did, it felt like I’d only slept a moment before my mom poked her head into my room. “Zoe?”
“Yeah?” I mumbled, trying to figure out what time it was by the darkness outside. I’d slept longer than I thought.
“You all right?”
“I’m fine.” I sat up and rubbed my eyes. I heard another person breathing and an increased heart rate.
