Oblivion

by Adrianne Lemke

  It took less time than I anticipated. I was prepared to wait all night, but she turned to face me only about half an hour later.

  “Your brother is coming. I contacted him and told him where we are.”

  I leaned forward and stared at her. “Why didn’t you tell me you were going to do that?”

  “I wasn’t sure if you were ready to let me. Also, I couldn’t be sure I would be able to get through to him. Initially, I simply wanted to figure out if Oblivion and your brother were one and the same.”

  I waited a moment. “He is the one who wiped my memories,” I stated. “My brother stole my past.”

  She nodded quietly, allowing the fact to sink in.

  A pressure in my head made me wince. “Someone is trying to get in again. Can you tell…?”

  “It’s the Puppet Master again. Push hard against your wall, Jason. Don’t let him in, or he will discover everything you want to hide from him.”

  “But he’s not invincible,” I grated out. “He didn’t know about my memory loss. The Doctor and the Boss were clueless.” We were both silent for a few moments, and I pushed at my mental wall until the Puppet Master finally stopped his attempt.

  Once the attack was over, Lena nodded thoughtfully and continued the conversation. “That is true. For now. If he manages unblocked access he could figure it out. And you can be sure he’ll inform his dogs about it also.”

  “Pleasant thought.”

  “Not really,” she disagreed with a wry smile. “It actually scares me that they’ll figure out you’re vulnerable.”

  “Not really,” I echoed with a smile.

  To prove my point I concentrated and collected every bit of dirt in our hideaway and pushed it together. It formed a hard pellet that I sent through the door.

  Lena sat up and whistled at the hole that pierced the hard wooden door. “Okay, so you aren’t fully vulnerable.”

  “My lack of memories does give me a disadvantage, but I can work around it.”

  “I think you may be right,” she agreed.

  I found myself looking around the room awkwardly before finally asking, “When is he coming?”

  “He should be here soon. I warned him that you both are in danger. I’m not sure where he was, but I don’t think it was far.”

  Pushing my awareness around us, I could tell there were some people moving around outside. “Someone is here. Did you tell them how to get in?”

  “No. I told them I would meet them outside and lead the way if they followed my rules.”

  “What rules?”

  “Don’t worry about it. It’s nothing hard,” she evaded.

  When I rose to follow her, she waved me off.

  “I want you to wait here. If anything is off, I want to make sure you stay safe.”

  Taken aback, I stared at her silently.

  She met my eyes for a moment before turning away and leaving the room.

  “Why do you care so much?” I asked the empty room quietly. Did this girl have something to do with my past? Nothing she’d said so far pointed in that direction. What was it that made her risk herself for me?

  It took significant effort, but I managed to not follow her out. Instead, I focused on her footsteps outside as she met up with our visitors, and again had to push against the Puppet Master’s relentless attempts to break into my mind.

  What drew him to me? Sure I have abilities, as does Lena, and apparently my brother, but what drove this man to have his lapdogs capture us?

  At my curiosity, the wall seemed to weaken and I felt him gain access to my surface thoughts before I could push him away again. The constant struggle caused a headache, and by the time Lena came back in I was holding my head in my hands.

  “Jason! What happened?” She asked.

  She rushed to my side and put her fingers on my face, searching my likely pain-filled eyes for an answer.

  “Headache,” I muttered. “He won’t leave me alone.”

  Her eyes filled with sympathy, and she moved aside. “I think I brought someone who can help.”

  A teenage boy followed her into the room, though with less speed than Lena. It was almost like he wasn’t sure if he wanted to come in.

  “Jase?” the kid’s voice sounded hopeful, but his face fell when I made no move to join him.

  “Lena, it hurts,” I said, meeting her eyes and ignoring the newcomer. “Help me?”

  “I’ll do what I can,” she promised.

  “How can I help?” the boy asked quietly. He sounded defeated, and for that I was sorry. Seeing him didn’t spark anything more in me than slight disappointment that I didn’t recognize him.

  “You affect emotions. Make him stronger… more confident,” Lena urged. “Do it quickly or the Puppet Master will break in.

  Jason, you have to let him help you, okay? Try not to block him.” She nudged me gently, and waited for a response.

  My eyes watered from the pain and I nodded, a sharp jolt going through my head at the motion.

  “I’m so sorry, Jason.” The kid’s eyes were full of tears as he spoke. He knelt in front of me, but didn’t touch. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. Big brother, I will fix this. I promise.”

  THIRTY

  Jeremiah

  My thoughts swirled through my mind as I paced the house. While I could understand the reasoning behind the choice to leave me here, I also had a bad feeling they would need me there.

  They were about to approach a highly volatile man with dangerous abilities and tell him they were his friends and family. There was no proof to back them up, and Jason would be unlikely to listen to them without evidence.

  Not to mention that both Jason and Sam were being hunted by an unknown person who had abilities strong enough to match myself and Sam. Considering what the two of us had been able to do to Jason, it stood to reason he would be vulnerable to this person as well.

  I paused in my constant roaming as a thought entered my mind; at this moment I am the only person Jason knows. This is what I wanted when we first met. Even just before he regained consciousness in that facility it had crossed my mind to attempt to take him and work with him. Would such a thing be possible now?

  Would I be able to go through with it now? After watching him for the last two years, could I take him from his family and use him as an unwilling partner-in-crime?

  Part of me still wanted to. I could feel it; the Kindred portion of my mind rearing its head and demanding the Tracker to be like him.

  “I’m not that person any longer.” My voice seemed loud as it broke the silence of the house. “He is my friend, and I am going to help him.”

  Kindred withered. Pushed away; for now, at least. It was becoming easier to force it back, and Jeremiah continued to grow stronger.

  How could I consider taking him from his family? I knew what it felt like to have loved ones ripped away. And to lose all memory of them. It was an awful feeling, and had left me torn in two.

  “You could do whatever you want, if you work for me,” The Mastermind was certainly making the rounds tonight. He’d gone after Sam and Jason, now it was my turn.

  “And how would that benefit me?” I responded. “Working on my own, I am free to do as I please. Why should I join someone who seems to desire control over those of us with powers?”

  There was a pause, and I closed off my mind to the intruder, leaving only the surface thoughts open.

  “You can help to train your friend… the Tracker? I believe that’s what your other self calls him. And the other… Oblivion? You can do to him all of what your subconscious wants for harming your only friend.”

  My other self? Had this person managed to contact my caged beast?

  “I have zero desire to help you harm my friends. No part of me will help you cage them,” I insisted strongly.

  The voice’s laughter rang through my head. “No part? I beg to differ. Kindred feels rather strongly about protecting the Tracker, and is feeling… homicidal, I believe is the term. He w
ants nothing more than to tear out Oblivion’s throat and watch him drown in his own blood. Come now, Jeremiah,” he spoke my name in a mocking tone, “do you truly believe you can be better than you were as Kindred? He is you, and you are him.”

  Despite myself I felt doubts about my current path.

  “They can never trust you,” the man continued. He almost sounded sad. “They will never see you as anything other than a killer.”

  I’d had enough. The only voice in my mind should be my own. The Mastermind’s intrusion infuriated me. I pushed with all my might against the powerful intruder who meant to release my inner beast. “You’re wrong, and I will prove it. Now GET OUT!”

  THIRTY-ONE

  Sam

  My joy at seeing my brother was dampened by a couple factors; the first being the total lack of recognition on his face as I walked in. It was one thing to know he wouldn’t, and another to actually see the blank look directed at me. It felt like a punch in the gut, and my guilt almost overwhelmed me.

  Another was his apparent trust in the girl he’d met less than a day ago. Jason was never one to trust easily, and it often seemed like he didn’t even trust me. How had this girl broken through his walls so easily? I hoped to discover her secret at some point.

  Jason moaned in pain and brought me back to the third damper; the Puppet Master was making him absolutely miserable.

  “Jase, I’m going to have to access your mind, but I’ll be as unobtrusive as I can. You just need a little more strength on your side to keep this guy out.”

  Lena held Jason’s arm and stared intently into his narrowed eyes. I got the feeling there was something going on I wasn’t aware of, and waited for my brother to give permission.

  “Do it,” Lena said, tearing her gaze from my brother for only a moment before continuing the intense stare-down. “I’m helping how I can, but it’s limited.”

  “Ok.”

  I sat next to him, closed my eyes, and allowed my mind to open a path into Jason’s. A gasp escaped when I felt the sheer effort Jason was exuding in his attempt to prevent the Mastermind from taking over.

  He was weakening, so I pushed his determination to a higher level. “You have to win this, big brother,” I muttered. “I need you.”

  I could tell Lena was also connected to Jason, and I monitored her as I probed into Jason’s feelings.

  “There’s something here.” My eyes snapped open. “There is a broken place in his mind.”

  “It’s where his memories are,” Lena informed me. “He can’t access them. Maybe if he gets them back, he can fight the Puppet Master more effectively.”

  Despite myself, I discovered I liked this girl. She was genuine in her desire to help Jason, even if I didn’t understand her reason.

  “I can try, but I don’t know how it happened to begin with.”

  Pushing back into Jason’s mind, I could sense his discomfort, and manipulated the levels as much as I could.

  It took longer than I would have liked, but with Lena’s presence lending strength, and my manipulation of Jason’s determination, comfort levels, and mental strength, we managed to beat back the Mastermind.

  The three of us leaned against the wall wearily.

  “Someone’s coming,” Jason informed us. His body tensed, but he lacked the energy to stand.

  “It’s Hannah,” I said. “She was only going to wait so long.”

  Lena scowled. “I told her not to come in until one of us went to get her.”

  Jason cringed against the wall, “She’s here.”

  THIRTY-TWO

  Jason

  The girl who ran into the room a moment later was beautiful. It was enough for some of my trepidation to seep away and allow me to gaze at her in wonder.

  “Jason!” she cried.

  The kid from earlier stood and blocked her when she tried to run to me. He spoke in low tones. “Relax, Hannah. He doesn’t know you right now, remember?”

  Her face fell, the happy and innocent expression melting into a look of utter sadness.

  Sad? For me? “Do I…? Am I supposed to know you?” I questioned warily.

  If a heart could shatter, I was sure my comment had done so to this girl. Tears rolled down her face, and she dropped to her knees in front of me.

  “We’re good friends, Jason,” she assured me. Her voice sounded much calmer than she looked.

  I moved my hand toward her face, but paused before I touched her. “I’m sorry I don’t remember you. And you,” I added, indicating the boy who was apparently my brother. “Thanks for your help. I don’t think Lena and I had the strength to push him out ourselves.”

  “That’s not entirely true,” the kid argued. “You had all of what you needed. All I did was push what you needed to the forefront of your mind.”

  “Riiight,” I said, drawing out the word. “Sounds… simple enough.”

  He laughed, and I found myself smiling with him.

  “Maybe not simple,” he agreed, “but it wasn’t the hardest thing I’ve done so far.”

  “You should get some sleep,” Lena insisted. “I think at this point the Puppet Master is unlikely to try his luck against you again.”

  I sighed. “Yeah, that’s what I thought when I closed my eyes after you went out to let Sam in. I don’t know if I can risk sleep right now, Lena.”

  “Come with us,” Hannah offered. “Lena can come too. If Sam, Lena, and Jeremiah work together I’m sure they can keep this guy out of your mind so you can get some sleep.”

  Everything she said after ‘Jeremiah’ seemed to blur in a haze of anger and fear. “You’re with him?” I asked. “How… how could you? You seem too… innocent to be anywhere near that man!”

  “Easy, Jason,” Sam spoke up. “Jeremiah wants to help you.”

  “He’s a killer. If you are involved with him, then… I… what kind of person am I?”

  “The best kind,” Hannah said. “The kind who fights for those he loves, and does whatever he has to do to keep them safe. The kind who forgives his friends for teaming up with a person perceived as an enemy, in order to find him and bring him home.”

  “You’re my big brother,” Sam said simply. “I would team up with Satan himself if it meant getting you back.”

  I frowned. “I’m not sure that’s too far off what you’ve done, kid.”

  “If we’ve teamed up with the Devil, it’s because there was no other option to bring you home. And if it makes you feel better, he has genuinely changed.”

  “He can’t have too much,” I argued. “He killed several guards in his escape, and never hesitated while doing it.”

  Sam looked down, his hands twisting in his lap. “I’m not sure if he had much of a choice. He needed to get out so he could tell us where you were. They wouldn’t have let him go. You know that, right?”

  “I waited until there was a time to escape with no interference,” I argued. “He could have bided his time and gotten out without the deaths.”

  Lena nodded, adding, “He’s right, Sam. They wouldn’t have harmed him before the initial testing process. And not necessarily even after, if he cooperated. The only reason they threatened Jason was because they assumed his blow up was an intentional attempt to escape.”

  Sam stared at me. “You used your powers there? I wasn’t sure if you’d remember how.”

  “I didn’t… not initially. It took a little while to determine that the vibrations I was feeling all around me were either footsteps or heartbeats, but once I felt some of those heartbeats stop…” I paused, not sure how much to share.

  “You lost control of a power you couldn’t remember,” Sam finished. “You don’t need to feel guilty about it. They knew about your powers, or you wouldn’t have been there.”

  I stared at the younger boy in wonder. My captivity seemed unimportant next to finding out the truth of my family. “You’re really my brother?” I found myself asking.

  He nodded, and a sad smile formed on his face. “Yeah, Jase, I
am. It has been a while since we’ve been together and not imprisoned in some way.”

  My eyebrows furrowed and I stared up at him. “What do you mean? How long have I been there?”

  “It wasn’t you missing, at first. You were working on a kidnapping and murder case with the police. At some point, the guy felt your footsteps and he decided I was going to be his next victim. He took me and then ignored me, for the most part.”

  “How did he…?”

  “He had the same powers as you,” Sam interrupted. “The guy was a sociopath, but I was eventually able to overload his emotions. Unfortunately, it wasn’t until after he had taken you away, and it caused him to crash.”

  “So the soreness and bruising…”

  “Some caused by the crash; some by the guy attacking you. You both caused some injury to each other. It will make more sense once I’m able to search your mind, and figure out how to return your memories.”

  “We shouldn’t even attempt that until the Puppet Master is out of the picture,” Lena argued. “There’s no way you can meddle to that extent without Jason opening his walls.”

  I looked to Sam again, wondering how he would respond.

  “You’re right,” he answered after a moment. “I hate it… I want my brother back.”

  His voice cracked, and he looked away, tears glistening in his eyes.

  “I’m right here. I know who you are now, Sam. I can forgive the mistake. I’m sure I’ve made my fair share of them.”

  He nodded quickly. “I know. Ok, Lena’s right, Jason. You need to get some sleep. We’ll take you back to our house and you can rest. We’ll watch out for you.”

  I opened my mouth, and looked to Lena uncertainly. When I saw her nod in encouragement I turned back toward Sam.

  “Okay. We’ll come.”

  “Jeremiah is there,” Sam reminded me. “But I promise you—he will not hurt any of us. He is here to help.”

  “The day we accept the Devil’s help, is the day we ourselves become devils,” I muttered angrily. “Fine. I’ll come, despite the man. If he does anything else I don’t like, I will not allow it to continue.”