by Al K. Line
"I guess."
The car remained silent, apart from the sounds of snoring from the back seat until we found a service station and Vicky slowed then wiggled around the bendy roads that led to the parking area.
"That way, go that way," I shouted.
"Where, where?" Vicky screamed, panicked, as she continued to head into the parking area for buses and trucks.
"Over there, through that tiny gap." I pointed at the narrow road that led to the main car park close to the service station. Vicky swerved, a car honked behind us, and she shot forward, changed up a gear, then slammed on the brakes and skidded to a stop between two cars, lining up perfectly.
"Smooth," I congratulated.
"Ta." Vicky beamed.
"Don't know why every service station in the country makes it so hard to find the right way to get into the damn place. It's like they want to confuse sleepy drivers." I pondered this mystery for a moment, then turned to the back and asked, "Everyone awake?"
"How could we not be?" asked Steve, rubbing at his head where he'd slammed into the window.
"You are so cool, Vicky," said Sunshine, staring in awe.
"Aw, thanks, sweetie." Vicky turned to me and said, "See?"
"See what?"
"That I'm cool."
"She's twelve, she doesn't know what cool is."
"What, and old men are a better judge of what's cool?" asked Sunshine with a giggle.
"Let's just get out, I need a bathroom break, and fast."
"He's always grumpy when he wakes up. And the rest of the time too," whispered Vicky as she winked at Sunshine. The girl giggled, then I ran for the bathroom.
I don't know what it was about getting older and how water ran through my system. It's like I didn't absorb any liquids inside my body or something, and that I actually produced more than went in. Such are the problems of downtrodden wizards throughout the ages, but I seemed to be singled out for punishment in every way imaginable.
After I took care of business and had a good wash then had my hands half blown off by a new hand dryer capable of flaying skin, I sauntered out into the main area where people milled about looking dazed, unkempt, or stressed. Everyone was drinking coffee, munching on fast food, or playing on the gambling machines. Why do people feel the sudden urge to waste their money on these machines when they never play them anywhere else? It's weird. I also really wanted to have a go, but resisted as I had an addictive personality and my one overriding addiction was enough to handle as it was. Yeah, addicted to being awesome. That, and magic.
"Right, let's get something overpriced and utterly devoid of nutritional value to eat, then we can have a chat," I said brightly. "My treat."
"What is this place?" asked Sunshine, staring around in utter wonder, eyes wide, smiling brightly, trying to take everything in. Her nose twitched, her eyes darted this way and that, and she looked either ready to burst into tears or song.
We stared at each other, realizing how out of our depth we were. This was not a normal child, she wasn't from this world, she knew next to nothing about it. We had to tread carefully, be mindful, or it would definitely go horribly wrong in the most spectacular of ways.
"Remember what I said," warned Vicky.
"Yeah, I will," I replied, for once admitting that Vicky was right. Hey, everyone has to be at least once in their life.
Dirty Tables
Disgruntled, I handed over more money than was possibly fair to a dude as enthusiastic about serving as I was about paying. The food looked even less keen, so limp because it was embarrassed by the label "consumable."
"Apparently," I said in a conspiratorial tone to Sunshine, "some people actually go to these places on purpose, and enjoy the food."
"I know. Awesome, right?"
"Um, you do know I was being sarcastic, don't you?" I asked, dejected.
"Haha, got you, Uncle Arthur."
"Damn, you sure did, kid. And I'm Uncle already? That's neat."
"Neat? Haha, who says neat?"
"Why, you cheeky little... For someone who doesn't know much about the world, you seem to know a lot about how kids talk."
"Duh, there is the internet. Just because I don't go places, doesn't mean I don't talk to loads of other kids."
"You should watch out," I warned. "I bet ninety percent of the young people you think you're talking to are actually perverted men sitting in their mum's basement holding on to their, um, ah..."
"Their willies? Oh, I know all about that. Mum warned me about men, so did Dad, and I know what they do. But don't worry, I never did anything rude, and anyway, I couldn't exactly go meet them, could I?"
"No, guess not. I wonder if it's too late to send George to a boat for a few years?"
"Who's George?"
"Oh, she's my daughter. You'll love her, she's totally awesome, just like me. She's got crazy red hair, never lets anyone tell her what to do, say, or think, and always wears really nice clothes. She's perfect, as is to be expected, because I'm her dad."
"Can I meet her then?" asked Sunshine, turning serious. She held my gaze and I saw the hope, that I would give her an honest answer, not fob her off.
"I promise you will meet her, that you can settle in the snug and play video games, all night if you want, and you can meet my wife, Penelope, and see my awesome kitchen. It's got a drawer just for tea towels, and I've got this special cutlery tray that lets you—"
"Who cares about kitchens?"
"What!? Such sacrilege. Wait until you see mine, then you'll understand. The tap is a thing of beauty. Mine's on this long hose that means you can pull it out and er, um, spray water about in the sink and over the dishes and stuff. Um, you have to see it to truly appreciate it. Trust me, it's great."
"Okay, Uncle Arthur, if you say so."
Vicky and Steve smiled at me, nodded their approval at my interactions with Sunshine. Perhaps my earlier judgment had been too harsh. She seemed like a nice kid, had a good head on her shoulders, and might possibly even make it in this crazy world. I hoped so. She deserved the chance more than most, after the life she'd led. I just hoped that Steve was up to the task and we could protect her until we figured out what to do.
We sat at a dirty table, just like all the rest, so I went up to the serving counter and asked for a damp cloth to wipe it down. The kid stared at me like I hadn't spoken.
"You do know what a cloth is, don't you?"
"Yeah, sure."
"And you understand the concept of damp, as in moist, not dripping with water? Damp."
"Yeah, man, I get it."
"But you haven't."
"What?"
"Got it."
He stared at me blankly.
"Let's try this again," I said. "Can I have a damp cloth please, to wipe down the dirty table so I can eat without being even more grossed out than I am already?"
"That's our job, to clean the tables."
"Oh, okay," I beamed. "Be my guest. It's that one over there." I pointed at the table.
"Um, but I'm busy here."
I leaned forward until I could see the whites of his pimples. Quietly, I said, "Give me a fucking cloth in the next three seconds or I will—"
He dashed off then returned with a cloth. It was dry. "Try again."
He yelped a little as I leaned further forward then returned again with a cloth and waited as I took it.
"Thank you."
I didn't blame him, he was young, didn't want to be here, but it was his job and he was getting paid. Either do it properly so you have the right to moan, or let someone else earn the money.
I wiped the table then returned the cloth to the counter. He took it from me with a smile and a, "Thank you, Sir."
"You are most welcome."
Back at the table, I unwrapped my food and ate in silence like the others. It was all gone in a few minutes and we were good to go. Except we weren't. As Steve made to stand I said, "Wait, we need to talk."
"Now?" he asked.
"Stev
e, I love you, and you're a great friend, but you have a habit of not looking ahead. Yes, now. This is important. What are you planning to do?"
Steve sat, and looked dejected. "Not sure. Go home I guess. Make up a room for you, eh, kiddo?" Steve winked at Sunshine and nudged her in the ribs.
"Yeah, great."
"No, not great," said Vicky. "You can't do that. Is it safe? If anyone comes looking, any shifters, those who know you're her father, that's the first place they'll look."
"Yeah, guess so. What then?"
"I have a plan, a very temporary one," I warned. "But it doesn't solve the problem. Sunshine, is it okay if we ask you a few questions about your abilities? Just us, nobody else needs to know. Okay, maybe the wife and daughter, but nobody else. And let's do this outside, just to be safe."
"Sure, you can ask. But no funny business," she warned.
"Um, sure. I don't know what you mean, but no funny business."
"Cool."
We headed outside but I had to run back in for a pee. Curse this strange affliction. Maybe I needed to see a doctor.
Unexpected Answers
With the weather still freakily mild, I nonetheless put my battered leather jacket back on and checked I looked as awesome as usual. Not too bad, apart from the hair. I splashed more water on my face then left the bathroom and met the others outside.
They were sitting at a picnic bench on a lawned area; nobody else was around.
"Okay, where to start?" I mused. "Sunshine, do you know that you can affect the emotions of others?"
"Sure."
"And can you do it on purpose, or does it just happen when you are feeling extra emotional yourself?"
"If someone is very close, like next to me, then I can pretty much make them feel any way I want. But mostly it's just if I get upset, or angry, or want everyone to start telling the truth, that kind of thing. It sort of spreads, I guess. Dunno. Mum always tried to make me control myself, not get upset or cross, said I had to learn to think about other people. But it was usually just the people on the boat, or some stupid farm somewhere, not like I could do it to people miles away or anything."
We all exchanged a look. "You sure, honey?" asked Steve.
"Course. Mum would have said."
"Maybe," I mused. "If she even knew. Or maybe there's something else going on too."
"Like what?" asked Vicky.
"No idea."
"So you've never been told about your influence spreading very far?" I asked, trying not to make it sound like an interrogation.
"Nope."
"Do you know how it works?"
"Something to do with being a shifter." Sunshine shrugged her shoulders. "Dad has it too, Mum did, everyone does. Everyone who can shift, anyway."
"But that's pheromones, isn't it?" asked Vicky. "Shifters and their animal magnetism. It's the smell, the musk, they use it to draw people in, but they can't control it, and it certainly doesn't make people change their emotions. At least, er," Vicky blushed but continued, "not in the ways we're talking about."
"Mum did explain it, and she told me not to tell you, sorry Dad, but she said it went beyond the usual shifter scent. It's the same but different. I think it was down to mine being more concentrated, that I... er... well, I guess it's in the sweat, the molecules that escape into the air. She said mine were so concentrated, because everything about me is so heightened, that it doesn't take much for it to have an effect."
"I bet that's it," I said, nodding sagely as it began to make sense. "Sunshine feels something, wants something, and she lets that emotion out in numerous subtle ways. Those magical molecules get spread about, taken by the wind, distributed all over, and if they're powerful enough emotions, and maybe if the wind is blowing in the right direction, they stay grouped together, travel far and wide, and can hit even remote locations and affect people there."
"That's pretty cool," said Steve, smiling at Sunshine.
"It is," I agreed.
"No, it isn't," wailed Sunshine, face contorted, cheeks red, tears falling. "I'm a freak! I don't want to do all this weird stuff. I want to be normal. I want to go to school and not stress out that if I feel anything, get upset or angry, or anything, that I'll make everyone hate me."
Vicky scowled at me and Steve and shifted close to hug the child. Sunshine snuggled in tight and buried her head in Vicky's jumper as her body shook while she cried for a life she could never live.
The waves of her emotion hit, as I guess they had been all along, but this time there was nothing subtle about any of it. I jumped to my feet, Steve too, and we ran off with our hands over our mouths before we told Sunshine the truth about everything we were thinking. Guess Steve had plenty on his mind he'd rather she not hear, same as me, because boy was he running fast.
The power faded as we turned the corner around the side of the building, until I could force it down, control myself. Steve was waiting for me, looking worried.
"I was about to ruin our relationship for good," he said. "I love her but I was gonna tell her some truths that would make her hate me for always."
"No, she wouldn't. Poor kid must be used to it from her mum. I bet she's heard all sorts of horrible things. Everyone thinks badly of everyone now and then, it's human nature, so I'm sure she'd forgive you."
"Not nice for a kid to hear nasty things from their parents though, is it?"
"No, it isn't. Sometimes the truth is the last thing you should tell a child that's getting on your nerves. They're young, they can't help what they do. They're wired different."
We turned at the commotion and realized that several customers had congregated around the side of the building where the sun was coming up in the east. Men were throwing punches, women were pulling hair, everyone was shouting, name-calling was disturbing with its viciousness, and the language was blue.
"Damn but this is gonna be complicated. How do we get her to control this?" asked Steve.
"She needs a specialist. Someone who can teach her how to control not how she feels but what she emanates. It's all about getting a handle on your body, telling it who's boss and making it do what you want. It's a mental thing, believe it or not. Mind over body."
"And you know someone?" Steve had hope in his eyes. Poor guy was out of his league by a long way.
"Sure I do. I'm a wizard, I know a guy for everything that ails you."
"Awesome. Then let's go tell her, that'll put a smile on her face and maybe stop this lot tearing each other to bits."
We took another look at the fighting strangers then I said, "Good idea."
We headed back to the girls, hoping Vicky had managed to calm Sunshine down already, as tears and me, and Steve too, made it hard to think straight.
As the picnic bench came into view, Vicky screamed before someone dragged a hood over each girl's head. Then they were hoisted over two burly guys' shoulders before being dumped in a van angled across the cut grass. The side doors slammed shut, the men jumped in the back and closed the rear doors from the inside as the van chewed up the manicured lawn and bumped down onto the road and sped away with tires squealing.
"They found us," I said as we ran for our car.
"Who?"
"No idea, but I'm guessing it's the shifters from the boat."
"Yeah, you're right. I think I recognized one of them actually."
I rolled my eyes; Steve really was a simple kind of guy. I liked him a lot, but he was slow bordering on glacial at times.
The chase was on. I was amazed it had taken so long.
That Itchy Feeling
There are times when magic almost overtakes me, when my body trembles, my insides churn, my muscles spasm, and my will gathers focus to direct the inner turmoil whether I like it or not.
As I sped down the motorway with the sun glowing orange and proud behind me, washing out the road in fiery glory, I was all a quiver with pent-up frustration, rising anger, juices flowing from the strange manipulations forced upon me by Sunshine. It was all I could
do to stop myself whipping out Wand who was babbling excitedly in my pocket and start blasting out the window like I was in a movie and shooting the bad guys in the most inappropriate of places.
But I didn't, because it would have been stupid, as what's the point trying to blast, shoot, or disrupt in any way the momentum of several tons of metal hurtling down a road with other vehicles when half the people inside said vehicle are the ones you want to protect? Not a lot.
Instead, I put my foot down and kept pace with them, wondering what to do, only knowing that for now we couldn't lose them or we might never get them back.
"Those motherfuckers," growled Steve, looking ready to shift.
"Stay with me, buddy. Last thing I need is you going wild in the car with me."
"Don't worry, I got it under control." Steve grunted, clenched his teeth as he forced his body to remain human. "It's the others from the boat, the ones they set adrift. I know it is. They've come to get Sunshine and lock her up again. I won't have it, I will not let that happen again."
"Yeah, I guess it's them. But listen," I said, unsure how best to put this, "are you certain this is for the best? You looking after her? You saw what she did to that guy in her room, and look what happened to her mum. Can you handle her?"
"That was an accident. She didn't do it, didn't want her hurt."
"I know, but she's young, wild, and very dangerous. She isn't like us, Steve, she's unique and it's going to always be dangerous, people wanting what she has, wanting her. Can you protect her, ensure she's safe?"
"Course I can! I'm her dad."
I nodded, left it at that. There was nothing more to say. What could I say? That even citizens with none of our skills often managed to safeguard their children better than our kind did? That everyone thinks they can keep their kids safe but bad stuff happens and when you lived how we did then they get exposed to all kinds of nasties as it's part of the life?
Secretly, we all know we're kidding ourselves thinking we will always be safe and our loved ones likewise. That life is a gamble, much of it outside our control, and all we can do is our best. So why shouldn't Steve do just that? Try his hardest? Was it better to lock Sunshine away and never give her the chance to become a rounded human being? Wasn't that asking for even more trouble down the line?
