The Road to Round Mountain: The Betrayal by

by C. G. Roberts

  Concentrate, that’s what I needed to do, start small. Okay Tv turn off, nothing. I needed to use my anger to do this, but how….., Ah, imagine Dr. Bangor in your face yelling, it worked last time. That could be worth a try, but maybe I can tone down the anger a bit so I don’t blow up another TV. Imagining the Dr. in my room telling me how much money I was going to have to pay the Hospital. It was working, I

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  could feel my face getting flush. TV off. It shut off immediately. TV on. It came back on. TV off. It went off again. Hey this was kind of fun, as I was looking around the room for something else I could try this on the door to my room creaked as it opened just a little.

  A female head popped through the doorway, saw me lying in bed, “Oh, I’m sorry, I forgot that someone was in here, I just saw lights flickering on and off, so I thought I ought to check. Are you the guy that was in the other room with Dr. Bangor”? “That would be me”. She stared at me for just a moment before saying, “You’re the one that got hit by lightning”? “That would be me again, you’re two for two”. “I’m not supposed to be in here, in fact no one is, but I wanted to ask a question if that’s okay”? You already asked me two of them I thought, but what the hell. “Sure, ask me anything you want”. She turned her head to check outside the door, I guess to make sure no one saw her. She turned back towards me, and I noticed that she was rather young to be a nurse, but she offered a smile that immediately warmed my heart. It wasn’t one of those fake smiles you see on TV or from someone just pacifying your existence, as you talk to them. This was a genuine welcoming smile, one that you could trust.

  “Is it true that you can, I don’t know, shoot lightning out of your hands”? A rather odd conversation starter, but I was comfortable with that. “Unfortunately it’s true, but please don’t ask me how, because I haven’t a clue”. She seemed to enjoy that answer as her smile widened even more. “You can come in if you want, just don’t come too close and don’t bring anything electrical in here…..”. “Oh I can’t”, she interrupted. “I wish that I could but I would get in trouble if they knew

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  I was in here. I can’t afford that, I just started working here last week”.

  I didn’t know it at the time, but I was smiling right back at her, as she replied, “You have a nice smile”. “Thanks, so do you. Are you a nurse”? “Yes, just graduated in May, and here I am”. I’m officially enjoying my stay at Columbia Memorial since she poked her head in my room. “I’m Billy Speer”. “The pleasure is mine, I’m Jennifer Harrison”, as she pointed to her name badge. Jennifer Harrison RN, I was beginning to think that I’m an RN-romantic nerd. “Say aren’t you the one who did the graffiti at Dairy Queen”? My Mother would be proud that someone was familiar with my work. “Yeah, but how did you hear about it”? I couldn’t help but stare at her sparkling blue eyes. “My Uncle Ron told me about it, he’s with Astoria Police”. “Really, what’s his name, I know a few of them”? “Well, they call him Detective Hargrove”. Whoops, strike one, “So are you and your Uncle close”? “Oh heavens no, he’s a real ass, thinks everyone is guilty of some-thing”. Okay I can exhale now, but I think I’ll let her find out what happened to him through the grapevine.

  I wasn’t sure what was happening, but I think that my heart just started to melt. “So can you maybe come by again later, you know, if no one is looking I mean”. “I’d like that, but I’ll have to be sneaky about it”. Her smile was accented by long almost bleach blonde hair that was pulled back in a ponytail. I’m guessing she was about 5’5”, but wasn’t quite sure as I was sitting up in bed. She had a fair complexion and the bluest of blue eyes, but you could tell that she’s not just an indoor girl. I’m not sure how I came to that conclusion, but I’m sticking with it. She waved at me on her way out,

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  and I returned the wave, hoping that she would be back soon. What just happened here, I just had a conversation with a girl and didn’t stumble all over my words, and my stomach is not queasy? Whatever it is, I like it.

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  10

  “I’m concerned somewhAt about my partners with this task”, Agent Boling said while moving her cell phone to her right hand. The lobby of Columbia Memorial wasn’t that big, but privacy was not an issue since the lobby was currently empty. “I’m more than confident in your abilities Agent Boling. You can charm the spots of f of a leopard, if the situation called for it”. “I appreciate your support Director, but with the addition Of Agent Marrick, and his abilities greatly enhance that Dinosaur Landers chance of success”. A moment of silence brief before

  the Director replied, “You know…..Agent Marrick is so far ahead of everyone else in this age of technology that he can be frightening at times, I will have to agree, but being partnered with Agent Landers will slow his progress I’m sure. Keep tabs on Marrick, but more importantly, get to work on Speer. Am I clear Agent Boling”? She hung her head in frustration. “Crystal, Director”.

  “One more thing, make sure I get the coordinates for when you mislead those two on a wild goose chase, when they think that they’re going to pick up our boy Speer. I’ll need those to make sure they are disposed of properly”. I’m really not comfortable with people I’ve worked with getting killed, they have no idea what are plans are, and they won’t find out. I have Speer’s complete trust, I’m the only friend he has, that is until we turn him over for testing. Do you actually think

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  he has a chance to survive the testing, no one else has”? “Your concern is touching, but irrelevant, remember, with this find, we retire mutli millionaire’s, and if your little patient does not survive, it’s of little concern to me and you as well. I’ll be in touch Agent Boling”. The director quickly ended the call, leaving Agent Boling shaking her head and muttering as she left the lobby for the elevators. “Killing Billy will teach them nothing”, as she pressed the elevator button.

  As Wendy stepped in the elevator, she was unaware that her conversation had been compromised. Jennifer Harrison stepped around the fake evergreen bush just to the left of the elevator. The bush hid a small alcove that consisted of one

  chair, an end table, and of course the fake evergreen. This had been Jennifer’s favorite spot to take her break and hide from the masses. Jennifer stood by the elevator for a moment. The smile she wore coming down here faded quickly.

  Frank had just finished with his numerous phone calls. Don had just finished hacking into the Hospitals database. “Say Frank, why do you think Wendy likes me, and not you”, he asked sarcastically? Frank turned to give Don his patented death stare. Don quickly tried to hide himself from Frank using the computer monitor. “If Wendy likes you, she will use you, trust me.

  What did you find out about the late Dr. Bangor”? Don’s attention focused on the computer screen again. “Looks like the Doctor’s wife of 30 years died 6 months ago, lung cancer, and he has been seeing a therapist for the past 5 months. 2 months ago during his annual checkup he was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s”. “Was he on any medication”, Frank replied? Don scrolled down the

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  screen, “Bingo, Zoloft”. Frank actually had a bit of a grin, upon hearing that news. “I seem to have heard that Zoloft, has some side effects. One of which is”? As if on cue, Don answered, “suicidal tendencies”.

  Frank actually smiled, if only for a second. “You know that now this can be ruled a suicide and our patient will be in the clear, and how in the hell did you get that information so fast, I’m still waiting to get a call back from our analyst’s at Quantico”? “They may be good at what they do, but I’m better, that’s why they teamed me up with you on this”, Don replied with renewed confidence.

  Frank sighed in disgust; he hated anyone tooting their own horn, unless it was him. “Are we going to be able to get any audio from his room”? Don tapped away on his keyboard before looking up. “Won’t be necessary, since I tapped into the Hospitals database, I also have control of their video, and
so I can bring up any camera you desire”. Frank nodded as if impressed, “remind me not to piss you off”. Don smiled and returned to his keyboard.

  After Jennifer’s departure I resumed my attempts with the TV. I couldn’t seem to quit smiling. Trying to regain my focus, I stared at the TV. TV off, it went off on the first try,

  TV on, it blinked back on, this was getting easy. Nothing else in the room was plugged in to experiment on, except for the room lights. It was worth a try, focusing on the overhead lights, Lights off, instant darkness, cool. Lights on, and they did. I felt like a kid in a candy store, wanting to try a little bit of everything.

  Wish I had the remote though; I really wasn’t in the mood for news. I thought about that for a moment, and came

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  to the conclusion that I don’t need a remote. This may take a bit of doing but if it meant I didn’t have to watch the news, it would be worth the effort. By not having cable or satellite at our house, I had most of the local channels committed to memory. Okay this news is channel 2, and this time of day I would normally watch Criminal Minds on channel 22. I set my focus on the TV, and not the news, to see if this would work. TV channel 22, nothing, let’s try another approach, TV

  turn to channel 22, nothing again. Trying to focus and remembering to use anger as a focus point, I tried again. TV turn to channel 22 now! There we go; Agent Morgan is playing his way for information from Penelope Garcia, the BAU’s Tech analyst. I’m not sure what sexual tension is, but this could be related. Their playful banter is always entertaining.

  This is much better, cheeseburgers for lunch with Danny, met a pretty young Nurse named Jennifer, and now Criminal Minds. The only thing missing from the equation was my Grand theft auto game.

  This new bit of abilities that I have is as scary as it is exciting. I don’t know how long it will last, but I just have to remember to keep these gloves on at all times, so not to shock someone or even worse, fry them beyond recognition. I started wondering why the Government was interested, not so much in me as a person, but what they thought I would help them achieve. My biggest accomplishment to date was passing the written test for my drivers’ permit, so I didn’t exactly set the bar very high.

  It’s confusing enough being seventeen and it’s like I can feel my emotions running hot and cold, with all that has happened. I was feeling good about meeting Jennifer, great

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  actually, and then my thoughts would wander to my parents. Making the TV do what I want was cool, felt good about that, then I would think about being stuck in the old housing addition at the even older Coast Guard base for the next six weeks. Let’s face it, I’m riding a rollercoaster of emotions, with Mr. Bi-polar at the switch.

  My headache was returning with a vengeance, the throbbing was starting to get painful. I would call for a nurse, but this bed has nothing hooked up to it. Time to revert to the old standards, I hollered “nurse, nurse, I need something for my headache, hello, anybody home”? Two nurses popped their heads through the door, one of them saying, “We’re not supposed to be in here, but we heard you holler, what is it you need”? Before I could answer, Nurse Mattie came storming through the door. “I’ve got this ladies, thanks so much”.

  Nurse Mattie approached my bed as she was putting on her gloves. “Mercy that was quite loud Billy Speer, so you need something for a headache”? “It’s not head exploding level yet, but yeah something would be great”. She made her way over to the sink and opened the over- head cabinets and brought down a bottle of something. Taking the cap off of it, as she came back over to my bed, “hold your hand out”. I did as instructed, and received to pills, capsules actually. “So what are these”? “Hospital issue ibuprofen, 800 milligrams, so it should help for a while”. I looked around for some water or something, and as if she could read my mind, she pulled a can of Dr. Pepper out of her smock pocket……my hero.

  Nurse Mattie smiled as she watched me pop down the pills, with the assistance of Dr. Pepper. Her smile widened as she was listening to Criminal Minds playing in the

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  background. Turning towards the TV, it looked as if she was pleased or proud, I’m not sure which, but she was definitely happy with my little achievement.

  “Criminal Minds huh, checking up on us FBI folk”, she said sarcastically. “It’s my favorite show, because it has a lot of gore”. “Fair enough….., when you got the TV to come on, was it on this channel”? “No, it was on the news, I hate the news”. She stared at me for a moment with a bit of a grin. “So, you like TV gore, but not real gore”. Real gore was my parents being burned to death after the lightning struck the tree, and then fell on the house, so I guess I would not be a fan of real gore.

  Nurse Mattie could tell by the look on my face that my mind was elsewhere. “I’m sorry, but after you said that, I started thinking about my parents”. She came closer to the bed,” no Billy I’m sorry, that just slipped out”. I raised my head to meet her eyes, “So what happened with my parents”? Nurse Mattie just looked into my eyes for a moment and said, “They’re going to have to be cremated Billy, and I’ll be in touch with the funeral parlor for details and time of the service”. Upon hearing that it now seemed official that I’ll never see my parents again. Even though I knew they were dead, it didn’t seem real until she told me that…………damn.

  My head was actually starting to feel better, even after only a few moments of silence. I could tell she didn’t want to push the issue. “I understand my light show in the ER made You Tube, is that right”? Nurse Mattie gave me a sur-prised look, “That is correct, how did you find out about it”? “Sheriff Pasco told me that his son saw it and told him about

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  it, then I guess he watched it too”. “I see, well I actually do want you to watch it, but the problem is that I just can’t bring my phone in for you to see it, you understand”. Boy did I ever, “but the TV’s on and not crackling or smoking or anything”. She gave me a little look, and then glanced over at the TV. “That TV is about what, 10-12 feet away from you”? I nodded my head in agreement. She started to leave the room but looked back at me, “I’ll be right back Billy Speer”.

  Nurse Mattie was gone less than a minute coming back into my room carrying a laptop, but making sure she followed the wall farthest away from me. She grabbed the mobile tray for my bed and put it directly underneath where the TV was mounted on the wall. She started typing something on the keyboard. Finished with that task she came back over to my bed. “Can you see the screen well enough”? I gave her a nod of approval. “Just give it a second to load, and try to keep your emotions in check, this is not a video that I would recommend for casual viewing”.

  The video was kind of hard to follow, whoever was taking this was shaking the phone or camera. It started out with the emt people them wheeling me into the ER. My eyes felt huge, as if they would pop out of my head. The electricity that was coming out of my hands, feet, every part of my body, was chasing all of the medical staff running for cover. I guess the one nurse that tried to take my pulse, was the one, which burned her hand, although it didn’t look anywhere near as bad as Dr. Bangor made it out to be. The nurse touched my wrist for maybe a Nanosecond before pulling her hand away. Others were trying to cover me with some sort of sheet or blanket, but it started smoking and they had to pull it off.

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  With all this commotion going on the bolts of electricity continued to flow out of me. I was reminded of the elec-

  tricity going through the Frankenstein monster, except what was coming out of me was ten times worse, if not more. The video stopped and I looked over at Nurse Mattie. “Pay close attention to what happens next”.

  Nurse Mattie hit the play button again, and I was confuse as to what I saw. After being hit by lightning, I though
t I was out for two days, unconscious like a vegetable, but there I was thrashing about the table in the ER like a fish out of water, I don’t get it. But then with her gloved hand, she gently tapped on my shoulder, “look”. What happened next was bizarre to say the least. There was one nurse trying to keep my left arm down by my side by wrapping her hand in a towel of some sort. An orderly tried to do the same with my right arm, but my arm came up away from my body, and the orderly went flying across the room, landing on some equipment that I’m sure would no longer be in good working order.

  Nurse Mattie stopped the video again, “did you see that”? “Yeah, that guy went flying across the room”. “Well yes, but he had some help”. She re-winded the video just a bit, and hit play again, only this time at a slower speed. Here comes the orderly getting ready to hold my right arm down, and then, holy crap, I thought that some electricity had shot him across the room, but there was none. It looked like I swooped my arm in a fashion as if to say get away from me, and then he went flying across the room, except I didn’t touch him, honest to god I didn’t touch him.

  Nurse Mattie stopped the tape, which was fine because I don’t think I could stomach much more of it. “I can tell

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  by the expression on your face that you saw what I did”. Still in a state of disbelief all I could do was nod, great now I’m a bobble head. “You see Billy Speer, the electricity flying around the room is not what sent him flying, and you in an unconscious state did that”. “Your unconscious mind