I'd adapted too easily to controlling other people's minds. Sure, it was for the right reasons, but it felt wrong. Should I, or anyone, have the right to alter people's thoughts and control them in that way? Yet I'd spent my life spying on people's minds for Rent-A-Kid, and I still used my powers as if mind reading was less invasive than mind control. In a way, it was, but I began to understand why Nurse Susie considered me an abomination. Whether reading minds or controlling minds, we still violated people's privacy and took something from them in the process. Still, we were born this way. We were used and locked up because of these gifts, so it seemed reasonably moral to use our para-powers to escape.
These moral arguments tumbled through me and became my shadow companions, taunting me each time I practiced my powers.
Drake had a similar schedule to mine, but we never met. They didn't let us near anyone else, but I could tell through my mental scans that there were at least three others in the building.
I learned about the video surveillance and the doors with special scanners, which only worked with certain staff ID cards. Dr. Pana, Nurse Susie, and one other presence further away whose thoughts were unusually fuzzy, revealed little. Was that Rebeka or Ana? Why couldn't I lock onto Ana's signature like she said? Where might the others be? Perhaps they had Rebeka on a drug that kept her mind hidden?
I worried about her being here too. I wanted to save us all, but we had to get out and find help before we could assist anyone else. Sort of like the oxygen masks in the airplanes—you have to save yourself first, or everyone dies. Something like that.
Again, pragmatism reared its ugly head.
I worked to cultivate patience and keep my body strong. When in the yard, I walked, did lunges, pushups, sit ups, and running in circles. My muscles burned in new and painful ways, and the heat sent bile rising to my throat regularly. At least they unhooked the IV during this time. It was a relief to be free, in a manner of speaking.
I kept an eye out for Ana or Rebeka, but hadn't seen either of them again.
I didn't think continuing the workouts would hurt the baby, though I only knew about pregnancy what I'd learned from television and biology class. I wasn't a badass or anything, not like Lucy. My mental gifts had demanded that I focus on my studies. I knew some basic moves, but I pretty much sucked at martial arts and hand-to-hand combat. Drake would have to handle that if necessary.
Rent-A-Kid required us to stay in top shape for health and longevity, yet, despite my best efforts, my body grew weaker every day, even as my powers grew stronger. It was as though the baby drained my body to feed my mind.
While outside one afternoon, all my senses kicked into hyper-focus. The chain link fence imprisoning me screeched in a high-pitched whine as the wind blew against it. My body flooded with sweat as the sun beat down. My belly ached, and even the skin on my abdomen burned as if stretched and torn.
The changes were happening so quickly!
My once flat stomach pushed out before my eyes. I half expected a monster to burst through my skin, like that scene in Alien. I doubled over in pain, fighting tears and trying to slow my breath.
'Sam, what's wrong?' Drake could feel my distress.
I sensed his fear and worry. Staying conscious required all my focus, too much for me to talk, even mentally. Especially mentally. I summoned the guard, who ran to my side.
"I feel sick. Need to lie down."
He steadied me with his right hand and led me back to my room.
I dressed in a baggy shirt so no one would notice my new bump. Not because of looks—though the idea of being huge the first time I met Drake in person didn't thrill me—but because I didn't want them to declare me pregnant. I needed to keep my freedom as long as possible.
We clearly needed to step up the plans. I couldn't keep my condition secret much longer.
I ran my hand over our baby, and the hard bump moved slightly. My hunger, which had gone missing recently, returned in full force. I used the much hated bell to summon the nurse.
Susie arrived with her arms crossed and a scowl on her face. "What?" 'I'm so sick of this job and these whiny kids... need to find someplace else to work... this sucks... how can she be so stupid to not know she's pregnant?'
"It's nice to see you too. I got sick during my break outside and—"
"I told you not to exercise."
"Be that as it may, I think it was from hunger. I know dinner isn't for a few hours, but could I get an early snack?"
She glanced at my stomach and looked quickly away. I pretended to be looking somewhere else. My clothes hid the bump. I just needed to keep the staff away from my body.
"I'll bring you something."
"Thank you...."
She left before I finished talking.
Ten minutes later, I had my fill of green Jell-O—hardly real food—and almonds, with a little box of milk. I hated milk, but forced myself to drink it.
I rested after my mini-meal, my body at peace for the moment.
My eyes flew open. Our baby fluttered inside my belly like a butterfly, and a new consciousness swished through my mind. Our baby had linked to me.
"Can you feel this?" I asked Drake.
I tried to feel the sensation mentally, and our baby's mind connected with both of us. The link filled me with profound joy and love, such as I'd never known. I could sense her. I knew her.
Her. Our baby was a girl.
"Drake?"
'I sense her too. I feel it. She's beautiful. Amazing.'
We held this moment in a bubble of time, afraid of bursting it, of facing the realities of our situation.
"What should we name her?"
He laughed. 'I'm sure the name will come to us.'
"Drake, it's time. We can't wait any longer. Are you ready to move as soon as the drugs are out of your system?"
'Yes. But, Sam, be careful. I can't stand the thought of anything happening to you or our baby.'
"I will."
I hoped.
Chapter 20 – Sam
Our plan should have been simple. In theory.
Reality didn't agree.
Nurse Susie came into my room with dinner at the expected time.
"Is the doctor here tonight? Will he be checking on me?" I prayed for "no."
"He's gone for the night. He'll check on you tomorrow."
I didn't have long, but that removed a major complication at least.
I linked to her mind. 'So sick of my life... where else could I go... money helps... never get this kind of pay as nurse somewhere else... do people think I'm pretty?... she's really pretty... boys must love her... it's not fair... she gets it all... but I guess not since she's trapped here and doesn't even know it... stupid girl... I thought these paranormals were supposed to be smart?... six hours left on my shift and already I'm exhausted... what do I need to do?... that boy needs a change in IV... I'll do that after this....'
Perfect!
I implanted a thread into her thoughts—a command, really. "I'm not feeling good. I'll leave my keys and badge on the dresser. I won't remember leaving them. I feel so sick, and I'll be stuck in my bathroom for ten minutes. I won't remember being sick. I'll keep the door closed and not respond to anything for ten minutes."
I put the full force of my will behind this instruction.
"I'm not feeling well." Nurse Susie dropped her keys and badge on my dresser and darted to the bathroom, locking the door behind her. She'd left my bedroom door unlocked.
I pulled my IV out, grabbed her keys and badge, and slipped into the hall, heart pounding so loud I thought for sure everyone could hear it. Her thoughts, and my brief moments outside, revealed that there weren't many people in this building.
I pulled images from Susie's memory to find the room with the medical supplies.
Cameras monitored the halls and rooms. I had no idea if my powers would work like this, but I scanned everyone I could find within a fifty-foot radius.
Susie... sick in my bathroom. Drak
e... anxious for me to finish. Dr. Pana... reviewing paperwork—oh crap. She said he was gone for the night. What was I going to do?
I had to move forward. We were out of time and Drake needed me.
Focus! I scanned more minds, found the one I needed—the security guard who controlled the cameras—and linked with him.
'Bored... need a cigarette break... don't really need to be here... nothing ever happens... wonder if I should call that babe from the bar last night... she was hot... should wait... make her wonder....'
I planted some commands. "I'm bored. I need a break. I'm going to go smoke a cigarette. At least ten minutes. I'll take my time. Nothing ever happens here. Better switch off the recorder before I leave and forget I did it. Blame it on a power surge."
When I knew he'd left, I squeezed through a crack in my door and made for the closet that held the IV bags. I stumbled, dizzy, perhaps from so much use of my powers, or maybe the pregnancy, or nerves. The concentration required to focus on so many minds made the simple act of walking difficult, but this was our last chance.
"I'm here. I'm switching the labels now."
'Be careful, Sam. Please.' His voice thickened with desperation.
I shook and jumped at every perceived noise, but at least I walked around freely. Must follow the plan. Be proactive. These assholes had Drake chained up like a dog. What would that do to someone like him? Someone so strong?
I used Susie's keys to open the closet, and found the IV bags. Drake's drugs, which looked just like the saline, were labeled with his name. I switched the labels with the saline bags and then switched the bags, disposing of his meds so no one would grab one by mistake. Now he should just get saline, and his system would be cleansed of whatever concoction they'd run through him.
I headed back toward my room, trying to avoid anyone else, and did a mental check on the doctor, Nurse Susie, and the guard. All were still in place, just as planned.
'Sam, you okay? Did it work?' Drake's voice quivered.
"Yeah, no problems. Just staying focused until I get back to my room."
I rounded the corner to my room, and—
Crap! He must have just left his office.
***
"What are you doing out of your room, Sam?" The doctor tried to stay in control, but the edge in his voice and his bright red face betrayed him.
Bile rose in my throat, but I swallowed and tried to cover my fear with concern. "Nurse Susie is sick in my bathroom. I don't know what's wrong with her, so I came looking for you."
Years of role-playing had made me a convincing liar, but that wouldn't help if he used my powers against me. I filled my mind with the reality of a sick nurse.
When his slimy mental fingers crawled over me, he heard what I wanted him to hear.
With the keys and badge hidden in my jeans pocket, I led him to my room. I linked with Susie on the way, amending my orders so she would remember being sick after all, but would not remember leaving her keys and badge. I would have to find a way of getting them back to her.
She still occupied the bathroom when we walked into my room.
I gave the doctor a knowing look. "Let me check on her first. She might not be decent." I headed for the bathroom before he could object, and mentally told her to unlock the door.
Once in the bathroom, I put her keys and badge in her pocket, and "told" her to forget that I did, and that she was feeling better and should explain to the doctor.
We walked out of the bathroom together. The doctor stood with his arms folded, a frown on his face.
"I'm sorry, doctor. I think it was something I ate for lunch. I'm feeling much better now."
And she looked better, though still a bit pale.
"You can never leave the patients unattended like this." He looked at me with renewed suspicion, and turned back to her. "It puts everyone at risk."
"Where is your IV?" he asked me.
I'd forgotten all about it. "I had to take it off to get help. I tried ringing the bell, but no one came, and I was worried."
I sat on my bed as Susie reattached the IV.
"Everything is fine, Doctor," she said. "I'm sorry she bothered you with this. It was just a bad food reaction."
I'd probably gotten her in trouble, but I had a hard time feeling too bad about it. To avoid suspicion, I linked to the guard, told him to get back to his station and get the cameras up.
Mind control had become second nature to me. So much for ethics. No wonder Susie hated me so much. I might hate me too, one day.
***
The doctor and Susie left the room. I sighed and fell back on the bed. Not my bed. Once upon a time, Rent-A-Kid had been home to me—dysfunctional as hell, but still home. Dreams of New York had gotten me through the rough patches. Now I had only myself, someone who'd let everyone take advantage of her for eighteen years. What good was I to my baby?
'You have me,' the comforting voice in my head whispered.
Yes, Drake and I were in this together. We hadn't met in person, yet I felt as if we'd been friends since childhood, just waiting to see each other again after a short time apart. When you're linked to someone in such an intimate way, it's impossible not to develop that strong bond. Or kill each other! Add to that a baby and... we couldn't turn back.
'Nurse Susie is here to change my IV.'
We both stopped breathing, waiting to see if she noticed the switch—the make-or-break moment in our plan. At least, the first such hurdle we'd have to clear.
How would we get out? Where were we? Where would we go? Who would help us? Who would believe us? Too many questions. No matter. I wasn't going to die here, unless it was while fighting for our freedom.
'She's done. She didn't seem to notice anything different.'
"Do you notice anything different?" Was it too early to hope?
'Not in my powers, but this doesn't burn me inside like the drugs did. It feels cooling and cleansing. My mouth doesn't feel stuffed with cotton balls anymore.'
I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and held it for a few seconds before releasing it in a slow sigh.
"So now we wait."
Chapter 21 – Sam
I'd never expected to play hero, and didn't really want the role. Several other paranormals would have been better at this than me. Not for the first time, I wished for another path, a normal life in New York. My wishes were made on dead stars, it appeared.
I stretched my body and raised my arms to the sun during my daily exercise routine. My reinvigorated appetite had made my body stronger. Still, my pasty skin and flaccid muscles did not approve of me. I did my best with the time and body I had.
Three days had passed since we'd made the switch. Drake still didn't have his powers back, and I couldn't fathom another possible way to escape. We would both need access to our full powers. Already it seemed an impossible feat.
I finished stretching and went into a push-up/sit-up/strength-training routine, pushing myself not to give up. Superhuman body parts might not have been part of my special powers, but I would use what I did have to maximum effect.
"Drake, how do you think they find us?" I sweated through my t-shirt in the hot sun.
'I don't know. I've been trying to figure that out myself. They didn't find me for a long time, which seems odd. Maybe because I moved so often.'
"You were a secret ninja!" I joked. Not very funny. "What if they have a seer, someone who finds us with a third eye kind of thing? How do we escape someone who can do that?"
'I don't know.'
"I've been thinking. We both use mental powers to manipulate the mind. What if we could figure out a way to join our powers, strengthen our ability to control those frequencies, and link with whoever tries to find us? Link with them and mislead them?"
The idea had been building in my mind for a while.
'That's a brilliant idea, Sam. And it just might work. We should try it here, see if we can link to people farther away. Maybe we can start with your friends. You couldn't
link to them alone, but maybe together we could. That will give us a sense of our power and range.'
"I'm not going to start controlling my friends." I felt bad enough doing it to anyone. I was not about to start adding people I loved to this.
'Of course not. We'll only practice that skill if they let us, and only with things they approve. Agreed? Whichever twin we practice on, the other can tell us if it worked.'
Would this harm them? I didn't know. Let them make the choice on their own. We had to know what we could do.
"Okay, but if they're uncomfortable with it, that's it. No pressure!"
'Should we try now?'
My guard stood by the hospital door, not really watching me, but obviously there because of me. Impossibly high electric fences surrounded the area. What did he think I would do out here by myself? Sprout wings and fly away?
I sat on the bench by the empty basketball court... an ironic venue given they only allowed us out here alone.
I rested my elbows on my knees. To anyone observing, I would look as if I were cooling down from my work out.
"Ok, I'm ready."
It's not as though we had an instruction manual for this, so we both just linked and imagined our minds as one. The sensation frightened me. My mind and thoughts expanded to include his, and I felt his do the same. It wasn't like the one-way link I normally made, nor was it like the mind-talk link we had going.
We immersed ourselves in each other—mentally naked, vulnerable, scared. After a lifetime of hiding who I really was from almost everyone, to stand before anyone completely raw made me jittery. So be it. We had to save ourselves.
I waited for the judgment, the pulling away, the fear.
Instead, I found a kindred spirit. He too expected judgment and feared the loss of our intimacy when I saw his true self.
But I'd dreamed his memories for so long that the little boy he had been transposed over the man he had become—and I saw all of his true and complete self.
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