The Mind Readers, Book 1

by Lori Brighton

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  “What are you doing?”

  I didn’t bother to look up from my suitcase; I knew Lewis’s voice well by now. I’d woken this morning to find Caroline gone and perhaps it would be easier this way. I didn’t want her to see me leave. After all, I couldn’t exactly take her with me, could I?

  Lewis was angry, and a little surprised. The sun was up, had been for a few hours and my outlook had changed. With the brilliant rays of the sun, I felt stronger, more sure of what I had to do. But I still feared that if I actually looked Lewis in the eyes, I’d completely fold. “I’m packing.”

  “For what?”

  “Aren’t you the one who said I should leave?” Finally, I looked up at him.

  The light coming in from the windows highlighted his brown hair, making it shimmer. He was paler than normal, dark circles under his blue eyes. He’d slept about as well as I had. My gaze dropped to his lips. For a moment my heart lurched, remembering the few kisses we’d shared. But there would be no more. I forced myself to look away.

  “Cameron,” his voice was soft. “I didn’t mean it.”

  I refused to answer, but continued to shove some sweaters into the suitcase that lay open on the floor. I still hadn’t found my cell and was beginning to worry. How would I get a hold of Grandma once I’d reached the mainland? I had only ten bucks.

  “Stop,” he insisted, dropping beside me. He latched onto my wrists and held my arms tight, forcing me to pause. Only a foot separated the space between us. I couldn’t move as I stared into those brilliant blue eyes. His face was tense, his lower lip quivering. And for one brief moment my heart expanded, warming with an emotion I didn’t dare explore. “I don’t want you to leave.”

  “Why?” I asked, dropping my gaze to his neck, staring at the pulse that beat furiously fast. “Because you can’t use my powers if I leave?”

  “No.” He released my hands and pulled my packed clothing from the suitcase, tossing it to the bed with frantic movements. “Because I…” He paused, swallowing hard. “I don’t want you to go.”

  I felt the stinging sensation of tears. How I wanted to be with him. The thought of leaving Lewis left me aching and cold. And he wanted me. I could see that now. Not because of my powers, but because he actually cared.

  “Come with me,” I whispered, more like pleaded.

  “What do you mean?”

  He knew what I was asking. “When I leave, come home with me.” I grabbed his hands. His fingers were cold. “You can live with me and Grandma. Or, you’re eighteen, you can get an apartment.”

  He pulled away. “I can’t.”

  I wasn’t surprised, but it still hurt. “Why?”

  “Because…” He stood and paced to the windows. With every step further away from me, my heart broke a little more. He would come up with any excuse not to leave. “Because we have a job to do.”

  It was just as I’d thought. Lewis would always pick his supposed mission over me. “What job?” I snapped, surging to my feet and feeling dizzy with anger, pain, and lack of sleep.

  He spun around to face me. “Protect us! People like us, people like you.”

  “Protect us from what? Because so far the only threat I’ve seen is some pathetic guy chained up in the basement.”

  “And do you have any idea what that pathetic guy would be capable of doing if he were released?” His hands fisted at his sides, his anger palpable. “My God, how can you not understand? They killed your father! They killed my parents!”

  My heart ached. Literally ached when I looked at his beautiful face full of frustration and pain. When I’d first met Lewis I’d envied his freedom, but he was no freer than I was. Less so, maybe. “And so what, you’ll kidnap little children and force them to do your bidding like some pathetic evil villain in a cartoon movie?”

  He stiffened, as if I’d slapped him. “What are you talking about?”

  I threw my arms wide, pointing toward the door. “I know, Lewis. I know about the kids. I know they all have special powers. I know Aaron took them from their parents in order to use them.”

  He looked away. “You don’t know anything.”

  If I was wrong, why was he avoiding eye contact? “Did he take you from your uncle without the man’s consent? Is that what happened?”

  He pressed his palm to his heart, his face growing tense with emotion. “He saved me. My uncle had no clue what my mother and father could do. He hadn’t a clue what I was capable of. I was a freak to him. When Aaron arrived, I was more than willing to go.”

  It didn’t make sense. There had to be more to the story than he was letting on. “And your uncle just let you go?”

  He didn’t respond, but he didn’t need to. I knew the answer. Olivia had been right all along. Aaron and Lewis didn’t care about me. Aaron had taken Lewis and Lewis seemed to think it was fine. His silence was further proof that our morals didn’t mesh.

  “What did Aaron do to him?”

  Lewis shrugged, his eyes growing hard. “It was for his own good.”

  I stepped closer to the guy I still loved. “What did he do?” I demanded, my anger and fear mounting.

  He was silent for one long moment, as if weighing whether to admit the truth to me or not. “He erased his memory.”

  “Oh my God.” I collapsed onto the edge of my bed. I felt sick. Afraid. Confused. “And that’s what he’s done to these children, isn’t it? To their parents?”

  Lewis stood his ground, didn’t dare step any closer. It was as if a wall had been suddenly built between us. He knew I wouldn’t understand. “He had to. They weren’t safe with their parents.”

  Tears burned my eyes. I was sad because I knew Lewis didn’t understand, perhaps he never would. “He stole these children and erased any memory from their parent’s minds that they’d ever existed?”

  Lewis didn’t respond, but he didn’t need to. How could he not see what he did was wrong?

  I swiped angrily at the tears seeping from my eyes. Lewis might not ever understand my position, but he sure as hell could explain the facts. “How did he do it?”

  Lewis shrugged, strolling across the room. To anyone else his walk would seem at ease, but I knew his steps were too controlled. “Everyone has their own special ability, unique to them. His is the ability to erase memories.”

  Just as I’d thought, he’d erased any memory of these children. “And yours? What is your ability?”

  He paused for a moment, his square jaw clenched as he weighed his next words carefully. “As you know, I…I can move objects, small objects.” But there was more, I could tell he was holding something back.

  “What else Lewis?” I demanded.

  His jaw clenched, those sharp eyes coming to rest on me. “I can influence people’s emotions.”

  For one moment I was confused as my mind turned his words over and over, attempting to make sense. Emotions. All the feelings I’d had for Lewis came rushing back in a wave of nausea. The instant affection. The silly jealousy. “Did you…to me…”

  He was silent, but I read the truth in his beautiful blue eyes.

  Panic clawed its way up into my throat. My heart slammed wildly against my chest. I wanted to hit him. I wanted to grab him by the shirt and demand he take the words back. “Lewis, did you make me think I was in love with you?”

  He closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. “Cameron…”

  “Tell me!” I demanded, standing.

  He opened his eyes and looked directly at me. “Only at first.”

  “Oh my God.” I moved across the room, the furthest away from him I could get. I felt trapped, an animal in a cage. Nowhere to go. So much for our love being true and pure.

  “I’m not now, Cameron.” Lewis came toward me. “Only those first couple days. You thought I was the murderer, I needed you to like me, to trust me.”

  He paused in front of me, his gaze pleading. He started to reach for me, but apparently realized it was too soon and dropped
his arms to his side. “Please, believe me. I haven’t influenced you in weeks. What you feel…what I feel…it’s real.”

  At that moment the only feeling I had was hate. Pure hatred because he’d made me doubt my love for him. It all made sense now…. why I’d had barely any misgivings about leaving town with a boy I’d just met. Grandma had been right, something had been off. I leaned back against the wall, my hands fisted.

  “It’s how you got me to go with you. I should have known, I did know…something wasn’t normal. That pull you had over me.”

  “Cameron,” he said, reaching out for me.

  “What is my ability? Why does Aaron want me here?”

  “He’s always wanted you here, partly because he feels responsible for you. You’re like a daughter to him.”

  I snorted in disgust.

  “It’s true.”

  “Why am I here?” I demanded again.

  He sighed and raked back his hair. “You have more power than any of us, Cameron.” He paced in front of me, as if he couldn’t stand still, as if he wasn’t sure what to do. “Your ability to break into people’s thoughts is amazing.”

  “Olivia can read thoughts.”

  “Only from normal people, like us. But that chip in that man’s head stopped her cold. You busted through it like it was nothing. We’re not even sure what you’re capable of. It’s why it’s so important for you to practice, to learn. I think you’d be amazed at what you could accomplish.”

  “You mean what I could accomplish for you and your little secret club.”

  He glared at me, obviously frustrated. “We’re only trying to protect—”

  “Bull!” I tilted my chin high, staring directly into his angry eyes. Lewis wouldn’t frighten me. I was sick of being afraid. “I’m going home.”

  He didn’t respond, remaining stubbornly silent. I wanted to scream, to stomp my foot like a child. I needed to have my wits about me, but I couldn’t think when he was so close, his scent so warm and wonderful. And in the back of my mind I realized that this could very well be the last time we spoke. But my emotions and anger wouldn’t let me care.

  “I’m going home, even if I have to walk or swim.”

  He raked his hair back, his hand trembling. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

  I pushed him aside and grabbed the pink sweater Grandma had gotten me last year for Christmas. My hands shook as I tossed the clothing back into my suitcase. “Where’s my cell phone? Aaron took it, didn’t he?”

  “Think long and hard about what you’re doing Cameron.”

  I froze, looking up at Lewis. “Are you threatening me?”

  He looked oddly sad. “No, only warning you.”

  I ignored the tingling fear working its way up my spine. “Save your warning. I don’t need you. I don’t need anyone. I’m leaving.”

  He strolled to the door, his steps slow, controlled. At the hall he paused and looked back, a sympathetic gleam in his eyes. “I’m sorry, Cameron, but there’s only one way you’re leaving, and that’s if you let Aaron erase your memories.”