The Secret

by A. Taylor, Taryn

  “Get the book, Lanie!” Rob called.

  Nicholi turned and flung his body toward the book.

  I grabbed it.

  I tried to make Nicholi fly through the air.

  It still didn’t work.

  Nicholi kicked Rob away from him and stood, moving behind the hypnotized group.

  Rob glowered at him. “If you knew I was here, why didn’t you just say so?”

  Nicholi eyed the book in my hands. “I was pretty sure, but I had to be one-hundred percent before I started the real action. Couldn’t have you interfere during the important part.”

  Rob stopped moving and crossed his arms.

  Nicholi copied him. “We can do this all day. But if you don’t let me get to work, Jake will die. Time’s ticking. That’s the thing—if you want to bring Jake back, we have a time table.”

  Rob glared at him. “Liar.”

  Nicholi matched his glare. “Are you so sure?”

  Seething hatred flared Rob’s nostrils.

  I stepped next to Rob. “I can’t lose Jake.”

  Rob turned to me. “You believe him?”

  I looked at Nicholi, then turned to Rob and felt a lump of emotion in my throat. “I don’t have a choice.”

  Nicholi took advantage of our acquiescence and moved back inside the circle. He took the book out of my hands. “After I have Molly back, I’ll tell you what you need to do. You don’t even need a spell for it.” His eyes softened. “I will have what I want, and I promised Ruth I’d bring him back. I will do that. And it will all be over.”

  I nodded. “Okay, let’s do this.”

  “No.” Rob touched my arm. “No, Lanie.”

  I moved to the center of the circle next to Nicholi. I had to get Jake back. And this all had to end. “Yes.”

  Nicholi opened the book. “I am going to give you your powers back, Lanie. But just remember, he will die for sure if you don’t help me.”

  I paused and glared at Nicholi. “I get it.”

  He closed his eyes and mumbled something I didn’t understand.

  Electricity surged through me. I realized I hadn’t felt right—not quite like myself—since he’d messed with my powers earlier.

  “I’m going to gather the powers from the rest of them, and then give you the orb.”

  I nodded.

  He held the book open with one hand and the orb with the other, lifting it into the air. He started speaking in a language I did not understand. The wind surged around us. He kept talking and I saw each of my friends fall to the ground.

  “No!”

  Nicholi moved to me. “They’re fine. They’re not hurt. Hold this. Their powers are in it now.”

  I held the orb in my hand and knew there was no looking back.

  Nicholi moved to the fire and I noticed the melted mixture in a small, Dutch oven-looking pot. He looked up at me. “Put the orb in here, Lanie, when I tell you. It holds the coins. This is the conductor.”

  I looked down. The coins he’d worked so hard to acquire—the coins he’d killed for. I moved in front of the pot.

  Nicholi started spewing more words out that I didn’t understand. The air rushed by me and flung my hair into the air—my whole body shook. I closed my eyes and braced myself against it.

  “Now, Lanie!”

  I opened my eyes and dropped the orb inside the molten mixture.

  “Draw her in your mind, Lanie. Now!”

  I closed my eyes and pictured Molly in my mind.

  Throbbing pain surged through me and ripped inside of my chest. “Ahh!”

  “Lanie!”

  I heard Rob yelling my name, but I couldn’t do anything. All I could do was try to keep the pushing, plying of every cell of my body from bursting out of me. It was like being in a tornado and feeling your body try to hold itself together.

  Then it stopped.

  I fell to the ground.

  The fire was gone and the blackness of the cave surrounded me.

  “Lanie.”

  I tried to move but I couldn’t budge any part of my body.

  Then the fire lit and I saw them. I saw Nicholi standing next to the fire. The girl from the photograph lay on the ground at his feet. But she was…older.

  I’d never seen happiness—true happiness on Nicholi’s face—until now.

  He put his hand on her shoulder. “Molly—is that you? You’ve come back to me. You’re here.”

  The girl sat up and reached out into the air. The dagger that lay on the ground in front of Mr. Drake flew to her hand. Her red eyes burned against the shadows of the cave’s walls.

  Nicholi’s eyes widened with shock as Molly plunged the dagger into his heart.

  Her face contorted into rage. “How does death feel, Daddy?”

  Episode 31: Sacrifice

  The way she looked at me gave me the kind of chill I’d only experienced when I’d feared for my life at The Foundation. Her eyes a dark, velvet-stained red that told me she wasn’t a creature from this world. Her whole essence lit the room in a horror movie kind of fluorescent light. She wore a long, white dress that was eerily beautiful.

  She stared back at Nicholi. “Mommy wanted me to send you home.”

  I didn’t move. I didn’t breathe. I wondered if I was in some kind of nightmare that I wouldn’t be able to wake up from.

  Molly turned around and suddenly looked confused and afraid. She moved toward me. Her black hair flowed around her like she had a permanent fan blowing on her. A smile transformed her entire face into something picturesque and happy…except for her eyes…they stayed red.

  She looked down at me. “Thank you, Lanie.”

  Every ounce of self-preservation inside of me went into overdrive. I held my breath. What was she?

  Molly looked around the cave and then lifted her arms into the air. A sudden pull of air sucked everything around it into her like a vacuum. The fire went out.

  And she was gone.

  And there was nothing, but the burnt stench of smoke and death.

  I wanted to…I didn’t know what I wanted. It had all gone wrong. Everything had been wrong for so long. I gripped the moist dirt in my fingers and released a growl. Jake. Now I would lose him, too.

  “Please tell me that demon chick isn’t coming back.”

  Reed. Relief coursed through me.

  “Are you okay, Lanie?” Rob’s panicked voice called out into the darkness.

  “Yes—but Jake.”

  “Daddy?” Tim’s childlike voice sounded through the air.

  “Tim. Tim—come here.”

  Shuffling noises and then the click of a flashlight. Mr. Drake stood, holding a small pocket flashlight. He gathered Tim into his arms, making “shh” noises. “It’s okay, son. You’re okay.”

  “Daddy?” It came out as a sob.

  Mr. Drake pulled him to his chest. “The bad man is dead, son. You saw him die.”

  “Was that a ghost, Daddy?”

  My chest pounded and I sat up. That was a good question.

  “Let’s not worry about that, okay. You’re safe now, that’s all that matters. Let’s get you home to mommy.”

  I stood. “Wait. Mr. Drake. What do we do? How do we save Jake?”

  Marsha, Reed, Karen, Sam, and Rob all stood and looked around.

  Marsha moved to stand over Nicholi and spat down at him. “Justice—the daughter he brought back kills him—he deserved it.”

  Mr. Drake’s face turned sad. “All I can tell you is that the mark acts as a conductor for all of you. He needed the coins from the original seven—but I think you all can use your powers together—like Nicholi said.”

  I was on hyperdrive. I couldn’t think. Everything was happening
too fast.

  Karen looked at Nicholi and then tapped the side of her head. “I’m pulling information from everyone right now. I’m working on the problem. Hmm—yes.” She nodded her head and I was reminded of some kind of robot processing information. “Yes. I think linking up will work.” Her eyes grew sad. “Jake discovered the link had power from his mom’s journals just before we came here. He was planning on using it against Nicholi.”

  Sam moved next to me and he looked down at Jake with concern. “Let’s try it.”

  Tim’s wails increased in volume.

  “I have to go.” Mr. Drake’s voice cracked. “Sheila will be beside herself. If I don’t get home soon, she’ll call the police.”

  Rob put up his hand. “Wait—do we need you to do this? Do we need Tim?”

  Mr. Drake shook his head. “Tim hasn’t manifested powers…yet. And I don’t have a mark—or a coin—so I’m of no use.” He started toward the cave entrance and turned back, throwing the flashlight at Reed. “Good luck.”

  I looked over at Ruth. She still lay crumpled in a heap. Sam’s eyes followed and we both moved next to her. “Are you alright, Ruth?”

  A whimper escaped her. “My son. He killed my son.”

  I bent down and saw her face soaked with tears and dirt. I wrapped my arms around her shoulders. “We’re trying to save him, Ruth. Do you know anything? Do you know what Nicholi was going to do?”

  She sat up and let out another whimper. Her blue eyes met mine. “He kept telling me he would save him. Even though I was trapped by him, by his mind control, he kept telling me that it was our choices in this life that kept the ones we love the most alive—or sent them to their death.”

  Her body shook and I pulled her closer. “I’m sorry, Ruth. I’m sorry he did this to you.”

  She wiped her face and pulled away from me. Her eyes blinked profusely. “We have to try. If there’s a chance we can save my son, we have to try.” She stood.

  I heard voices by the cave entrance and turned to see Sheriff Boyle holding Mr. Drake’s arm. He had another officer with him and they all moved toward us.

  I couldn’t believe this was happening—not now.

  Sheriff Boyle looked slowly around the cave. “What in tarnation has been going on?” He pointed to Nicholi and Jake. “Two people dead?” His eyes found Rob and he sneered at him. “I knew you were trouble. You and your whole posse here.”

  Ruth fell back to the ground and cried out.

  Sheriff Boyle went to Ruth’s side. “Are you alright?” He looked up at me. “What is going on?”

  Ruth looked at Sheriff Boyle and then her eyes flashed red. She stared into the Sheriff’s eyes. “You will take your men and go. You will not remember any of this. You will not want to pursue any of these people here today. Do you understand?”

  I couldn’t believe it. She could mind control?

  Sheriff Boyle blinked and then nodded.

  The other officer stepped next to the Sheriff and frowned. “Hey, what are you doing to him?”

  Ruth focused on him. “You will not remember any of this. You will go with Sheriff Boyle and not pursue any of the people here. Now, go.”

  Another kind of fear washed over me. The red in her eyes shined brilliantly as she turned back to me.

  The officers quickly made their way out of the cave without a word.

  Mr. Drake wore a defeated look. “I’m sorry, Ruth. I have to go.”

  Ruth glared at Mr. Drake. “You were never much help anyway, Phillip. Go on.”

  The way Ruth seemed so self-possessed all of a sudden made me worry.

  Ruth made a circling gesture with her hand. “Gather around. I cannot save him…but you kids can.”

  Reed stepped beside her and gave her a look like she was the walking dead. He swallowed hard. “I’m not going to pretend like your little trick didn’t just totally freak me out.”

  Ruth turned to him and shrugged. “While I was under Nicholi’s control, I learned a few things.”

  I was hesitant to completely trust her. Something didn’t feel right. “Do you know what Nicholi planned to do to get Jake back?”

  The others stepped into the circle around Ruth.

  “You just need the link.”

  Karen’s face looked determined. “What about the blood and true love? Sacrifice? What about that?”

  Ruth’s face softened. “I don’t know. All I know is that one of the things Nicholi feared was having you all discover that if you used the link, you could funnel your powers. You are unstoppable…together.” She nodded at Marsha. “You have the power of healing. You will be the focus.”

  Rob hesitated and his voice was apologetic as his eyes met mine. “I don’t have a mark. I can’t be useful to you all.”

  Ruth gave Rob a stern look. “Nicholi also worried that you would discover your true destiny.”

  Rob looked at her blankly.

  Ruth went to Nicholi and stood over him for a moment. A tear moved down her face and I was surprised to see her kiss her fingers and then place them on his forehead. She picked up the leather bound book and went to Rob and placed it into his hands. “You have a talent for codes and languages.”

  Rob pushed his glasses back onto his face nervously. “What do you mean?”

  I could feel it. Ruth knew something she wasn’t telling us.

  She smiled at Rob, a sad sort of smile a parent gives to a child when they discover something that changes their innocence. “Nicholi was your father, Rob.”

  I felt myself lose balance and Sam supported me under the shoulders.

  Another tear went down her cheek. “There’s so much that happened back then. So much that I can’t tell you…not yet. But—you do have a gift of languages, and it’s not because of your computer. Thomas and Nicholi and your mother kept that secret between them. I didn’t even know you were his until…well, until this past year.” She looked away and stared down at Jake.

  No one spoke.

  Rob stared at the book in his hands and I could see him trying to understand everything. “That’s why he never gave me the mark. My powers weren’t meant to be combined.”

  Ruth nodded. “Use the book to fix things. Okay?”

  Rob looked at her with a million questions in his eyes.

  Ruth nodded to all of us. “We must begin. Put your thumb on the person’s mark next to you.” She looked at Marsha. “Put one hand on the other person’s mark and the other on Jake’s wound.”

  We did as we were told, sitting in a tight formation beside Jake. Warm chills hummed through me. It was like this was what we were meant for. This moment.

  I saw Marsha’s eyes widen. “I haven’t used my powers in a long time.”

  Ruth smiled and I saw more of Jake in her. “It’s okay. I’ll guide you all. I promise.”

  A tingling energy surged through the air and I felt a warm rush of goose bumps form over my skin.

  Marsha looked up at me, her face suddenly surprised and happy. “I think we can do it. I feel it.”

  The idea that we might really be using our powers for something good…overwhelmed me.

  Reed pressed his thumb to my mark. “Jake has to come back.”

  Ruth’s face turned sad. “He was always such a good son. He didn’t deserve any of this.”

  Marsha’s whole body began to tremble and a growl of pain escaped her lips.

  Another warm wave of energy swept through the air like a crackling burst of electricity. My whole body surged to life and I could feel Marsha’s healing power working. I could feel the energy inside of me being drawn out and funneled to Marsha.

  The wind picked up around us and I looked at the other’s faces. Reed was smiling like a child. Marsha was focusing. Karen gazed at Rob, who was outside the circ
le. Sam…his eyes stared into mine with a pain and a love I couldn’t describe.

  I stared down at Jake and my heart surged. He would come back. He would come back and…we had Ruth to guide us now. We could focus on letting go of all of this and live normal lives. And everything would be alright. Everything would finally be over.

  Ruth moved away from the circle. She shouted at us. “Keep going! It’s working!”

  Marsha let out a long, slow “Ahh,” like the very depths of her was pushing energy into Jake. “Something’s wrong. I don’t think it’s going to work.”

  Ruth moved back to the circle. She held the large, gold coin my mom had given to me in her hand…and the dagger.

  Ruth put the coin into my lap. “Don’t ever use it. If you do, it will take Jake back.”

  It was one of those moments that I knew something was going to happen—but it happened too fast to try to stop it. It happened before I could think about what, exactly, was going on.

  Ruth looked at Karen. “You were right, Karen. Everything demands a sacrifice…and, believe me…I love him.”

  And before we could stop her…she plunged the dagger into her heart.

  Episode 32: Whispers

  - Two Weeks Later -

  Jake

  The school halls looked the same as they had before; an inordinately thick amount of wax shined the floors, the hallways smelled of faded Pine Sol and a mixture of cologne and women’s body scents, and an assortment of posters dotted the painted blue cement walls. For all intents and purposes—it was the same. Everything was the same.

  Except me.

  I listened as the second bell sounded and I watched the students scatter to their classes. It reminded me of ants rushing away before another attack on an ant hill. I saw Reed coming down the hall, twitching his head back and forth in a searching pattern. He was looking for me.