Hunted

by Sophie McKenzie

  ‘The most precious expression of our love.’

  Of course. It all fell into place.

  It was unbelievable, but deep in my heart I knew it was true . . .

  I turned to Ed and Ketty. ‘We did get the answer,’ I said, wiping my eyes. ‘I don’t have a memory of it, but that’s probably because I was unconscious when he did it.’

  ‘Did what?’ Ketty said, her forehead creased with a frown.

  ‘It’s the Medusa code,’ I said. ‘My dad didn’t leave it for me somewhere. He left it in me.’

  Ed shook his head. ‘I don’t get it,’ he said. ‘What d’you mean?’

  ‘He implanted it,’ I said. ‘It’s not just “with” me. It’s literally somewhere inside my body.’

  13: A discovery

  I stared at Ketty, sitting on the bed opposite. She wrinkled her nose.

  ‘Are you sure the code is inside you?’ she said. ‘It doesn’t sound very likely.’

  ‘I think Dylan’s right.’ Ed paced across the room. ‘It fits with everything we know about William Fox. He was very secretive about his work. He left all his notes with his brother – I thought it was strange that he’d made a copy . . .’

  ‘But implanting scientific data in a baby?’ Ketty said. ‘That’s really weird.’

  ‘Not to my dad,’ I said. ‘He was a doctor, remember? He’d already implanted us with the Medusa gene.’

  ‘How would he have stored the information?’ Ketty said.

  I shrugged. ‘Some kind of microchip under the skin, maybe? They do that with pets.’

  ‘And when they tag criminals, I think,’ Ed said.

  ‘How do we work out where in your body it is?’ Ketty said.

  ‘There must be a scar,’ I said, examining my arms.

  ‘Yeah, but it would be really tiny now,’ Ed said. ‘I mean you were only a baby when he did it, so—’

  ‘Help me look.’ I tore off my top and twisted round so they could examine my back.

  Ketty pored over every centimetre of my skin while I took off my jeans and checked over my legs and Ed stood, blushing and trying not to look, in the corner.

  ‘It’s no good.’ Ketty sat back after a few minutes. ‘There’s nothing obvious. It’s hard to tell what’s a real scar from, say, an old scratch or a chickenpox mark or a freckle.’

  ‘It would show up on a scan,’ Ed said.

  ‘You mean like one of those body-scan machines?’ I said.

  ‘I think so,’ Ed said. ‘Anyway, it’s our best bet.’

  ‘But those machines are in hospitals,’ Ketty said with a sigh. ‘I don’t see how we can get access to one . . . unless we tell Geri about it?’

  ‘No,’ I said. ‘Not yet.’

  I knew in my heart that, eventually, Geri would have to know, but I needed time to adjust to the idea that there was a piece of technology hidden under my skin before I let anyone start poking around trying to find it.

  ‘I don’t want Geri taking over,’ I said, trying to explain.

  Ed nodded. Again I marvelled at how much he’d changed. He used to be Geri’s number one fan – a major suck-up in fact. But since Luz died and Geri hadn’t cared about going after the man responsible, I guess he’d realised that the people in charge of the world don’t always help the people who most need it. And he’d certainly got a lot less bothered about doing what authority figures told him.

  ‘Okay,’ Ketty said, ‘so what do we do?’

  ‘There’s another option,’ I explained. ‘Harry, the boy who rescued me from the Hub . . . he warned me about Milton and McKenna. His dad was a friend of my dad. We could go to him.’

  ‘How do you know you can trust him?’ Ed asked.

  ‘Harry’s dad has always known my dad left a copy of the Medusa code with me and he’s never come after me. I’m sure he would help. Harry gave me his . . . their number.’

  As I spoke, I blushed, thinking of that moment when Harry had pressed his number into my hand and the relief I’d felt that I’d have a chance to see him again.

  Ketty and Ed didn’t seem to notice.

  Ed just nodded. ‘Call him.’

  I made the call, waking a very sleepy-sounding Harry.

  ‘Hey, Red?’ I could hear the grin in his voice as he recognised mine.

  ‘Hey yourself.’ I explained everything that had happened since I last saw him. I felt a little self-conscious, what with Ketty and Ed being in the room, but once Harry had fully woken up, he sounded all businesslike, which made it easier to work out a plan.

  ‘My dad’s in London right now,’ Harry said. ‘I’ll call him. We can come to wherever you are.’

  ‘No,’ I said, imagining the battle we’d have with Geri if Harry and his dad turned up at the cottage. ‘I’ll come to you. I’ll get the first train to London. I’ll be able to meet you in the morning.’

  ‘Okay.’ Harry hesitated. ‘Let me know what train you’re on . . . I’ll come to Euston for when you arrive.’

  I hung up and explained the situation to the others.

  ‘Will you cover for me again?’ I asked Ketty.

  ‘No need,’ she said. ‘I’m coming with you. Nico, too.’

  ‘And me,’ Ed added.

  ‘But Geri will know what’s going on if we all disappear,’ I said.

  ‘We’ll leave a message,’ Ed said, lowering his voice. ‘We’ll say it was a new mission.’

  ‘She won’t believe that,’ I said.

  ‘It doesn’t matter,’ Ketty said. ‘By the time she finds out we’re not here, we’ll be well away and—’

  ‘. . . We can keep saying that it was a mission,’ Ed added. ‘There won’t be anything she can do, even if she doesn’t believe us.’

  ‘But . . .’ I stared at them. ‘But this is my thing.’

  ‘We want to help,’ Ketty said simply.

  ‘Anyway, what happens to the Medusa code affects all of us,’ Ed said.

  ‘Okay,’ I agreed reluctantly.

  ‘The only problem is money,’ Ketty said.

  ‘That’s not a problem,’ I said. ‘I get masses from my aunt and uncle and there hasn’t exactly been much to spend it on recently.’

  We talked in low voices for a little longer, making more plans. Ed checked train times on his laptop and we decided to call a cab to get us to the station in time for the first train after 6 a.m. That would give us time for a few hours’ sleep, but enable us to leave the cottage before the others woke up.

  In the end I couldn’t sleep. I was too stressed wondering about the code and where it was – and thinking about seeing Harry again.

  We left the cottage without a hitch, Nico pulling back the bolts and clicking open the locks with silent ease. I fell asleep at last on the train, waking just before we arrived in London. Ed was snoring in the corner opposite me, Ketty and Nico chatting in low voices.

  I was about to see Harry.

  I rushed to the disgusting train toilet to check my makeup. I was wearing jeans, boots and a leather jacket with a soft blue cap pulled over my hair. I’d thought the cap suited me – I got it from a thrift store ages ago – but now I was looking at myself in the mirror I had second thoughts. I took it off and shoved it in my backpack along with Mom’s mother-of-pearl box. I’d had to bring that – and its contents – with me. I was sure if I left them in the cottage, Geri would go through them.

  As we got off the train, my stomach fluttered.

  ‘So what does this guy, Harry, look like?’ Nico asked, peering towards the ticket barriers.

  I shrugged. Harry’s face flashed in front of my eyes.

  ‘Can’t remember really,’ I lied.

  Ed shot me a swift look, but said nothing.

  ‘I saw us meeting him in a vision just now,’ Ketty said. ‘He looks cool.’

  My palms were sweating as we came out past the barrier. It was nearly 9 a.m. and the station was busy, but I saw Harry immediately.

  He did look cool. Simply dressed, in jeans and a really stylish jacket
. He smiled as he saw me. My stomach cartwheeled. I glanced at the others, checking they hadn’t noticed my reaction, then back to Harry. He had followed my gaze and was now staring open-mouthed as he realised I was with three other people.

  I bit my lip. In all the rush to get here I hadn’t thought to warn him I’d be bringing the others.

  Seconds later we were standing face to face. He was just like I’d remembered, all high cheekbones and wide, startlingly blue eyes.

  ‘Hi,’ I said.

  ‘Hi.’ Harry’s face broke into a huge grin. ‘I come to meet you and you bring the welcome committee . . . How’re you doing?’

  I shrugged, smiling back. ‘Fine till I saw you.’

  Harry laughed. I introduced the others, watching Harry’s eyes widen as he realised he was in the presence of all four people with the Medusa gene. ‘It’s amazing to meet you,’ he said. ‘Dad’s at his hotel. He’s got a suite. We’ll be able to get some breakfast there.’

  ‘Great, I’m starving,’ Nico said. He set off for the underground with Harry. The rest of us followed.

  As we walked down to the tube, Ed’s cell phone rang. He glanced at it. ‘It’s Geri again,’ he said.

  She’d rung each of us in turn, every fifteen minutes, from about 7 a.m. onwards.

  As Ed switched his phone off, Ketty leaned closer to me.

  ‘Harry’s fit,’ she whispered.

  I shrugged. ‘Is he?’

  Ketty giggled. ‘Don’t give me that,’ she said. ‘I can see the way you’re looking at him. And how he looks at you.’

  I glanced at her. ‘What d’you mean?’

  ‘He likes you,’ she said. ‘Trust me.’

  ‘Whatever.’ I was determined not to let on that it mattered, but I could hardly stop myself from smiling and my step was light as we got on the tube.

  Straight away, Harry made his way over to where I was standing. I caught Ketty’s eye across the carriage.

  She winked.

  I looked away. I’d seen how loved-up she and Nico were together. No way did I want to be anything like that.

  ‘It’s good to see you, Red.’ His eyes pierced through me. ‘I kinda missed you.’

  ‘Kinda?’ I said.

  ‘Thought about you a lot actually,’ he went on. ‘How rude you are . . . what a show off . . .’

  I glanced at him; his eyes were twinkling. I opened my mouth to say something rude back. I don’t know what exactly . . . maybe something sarcastic about how pleased I was that putting me down helped him big himself up.

  But I didn’t say that. I didn’t say anything at all for a moment, then my mouth opened and, in a tiny, vulnerable voice I’d never heard myself use before, I said: ‘It’s good to have someone to trust.’

  Harry blinked. His face coloured and he looked away.

  Oh no.

  I’d totally given myself away with all that horrible vulnerability. Where had that even come from?

  Straight away I laughed. A high, fake giggle. ‘I’m only kidding,’ I said.

  At that moment, we arrived at our stop. Harry led everyone off the train and outside. He didn’t look at me again, but kept his head down, a frown now furrowed across his brow.

  What had I done?

  Harry walked fast down a couple of streets. At last we arrived at his dad’s hotel. Still not talking, he led us towards the elevator. The others walked inside, but Harry took my arm and held me back.

  ‘This one’s a bit crowded,’ he said, even though there was plenty of room. ‘Why don’t you guys go on ahead. Eighth floor.’

  The look of astonishment on Nico, Ketty and Ed’s faces was priceless. Then the door shut and Harry pressed for another elevator.

  ‘What did you do that for?’ I said, shaking my arm loose from his grip.

  ‘Wanted a private word.’

  Another elevator arrived. We walked inside. Harry pressed the button for the eighth floor, then fixed me with his blue eyes. ‘Just so you know . . . I really like you, Dylan,’ he said. He took a step closer. ‘A lot.’

  We stared at each other as the elevator soared eight floors. For a second I thought Harry was going to lean his face right next to mine, but all of a sudden the doors opened. He stepped smartly out of the elevator.

  The others were waiting.

  ‘This way,’ Harry said. ‘Come on.’

  As we followed him down the corridor, Ed hung back, drawing me towards him. ‘Something’s not right,’ he said. ‘Harry seems preoccupied. I’ve asked Ketty to see what’s going to happen with Harry’s dad, but she says all she can see is us waiting in the room. She says he’s just awkward cos he likes you. Is that true?’

  I turned to him. ‘I don’t know,’ I said honestly. I hope so.

  I didn’t say the last three words, but I could see the look of understanding in Ed’s eyes. And he wasn’t even mind-reading me.

  Jeez, my feelings were literally written on my face. Did that mean Harry could see them, too?

  We arrived outside the room and Harry unlocked it with a card key.

  Inside the furniture was smart and modern – all light stripes and pale wood and low lighting.

  ‘Dad’ll be here in a minute,’ Harry said. He turned to Nico. ‘Hey, my dad’s got an amazing book on telekinesis next door.’ He pointed to one of the bedrooms that led off from the suite. ‘D’you want to see?’

  ‘Sure.’ Nico roused himself from the couch where he’d been sitting.

  It was obvious to me he had no interest in the book. Reading isn’t exactly high on Nico’s list of priorities, but he clearly didn’t want to seem rude. He followed Harry through the door. They disappeared from sight.

  Seconds later there was a dull thud, like the sound of someone dropping a book or a shoe on the floor. Ketty and Ed glanced at each other.

  ‘Nico?’ I called. ‘Harry?’

  No reply.

  I stood up.

  ‘Wait.’ Ketty’s eyes glazed.

  I knew that look – she was trying to see into the next few minutes. Ed and I watched her intently. Seconds later she shook herself, focusing on the room. And us.

  ‘No.’ Her face paled. ‘We have to leave. Now.’

  ‘You can’t.’ Harry was standing in the bedroom door. ‘You haven’t met my dad yet.’

  ‘What’s he doing to Nico?’ Ketty shrieked.

  ‘Who?’ I stared at her bewildered, then back to Harry. ‘What’s going on?’

  Harry glanced at me, his eyes defiant. ‘I had to do this,’ he said.

  ‘Do what?’ I said.

  ‘What his father asked him, of course.’ A familiar figure appeared in the doorway beside Harry. A man I knew only too well.

  I stared from him, back to Harry, unable to believe my eyes.

  Beside me Ed gasped. Ketty moaned.

  ‘This is your dad?’ I said to Harry. ‘Him?’

  ‘Now, Dylan, is that any way to speak to your godfather?’

  And Jack Linden stepped into the room.

  14: The scan

  Jack Linden was Harry’s father? For a second, I couldn’t accept it was true. But even as I reeled from the shock, I could see the similarity in their high cheekbones, wide, blue eyes and dark hair.

  Jack stood, taking us all in. He looked just as I remembered him – right down to the smart designer suit, crisp white shirt and the Ray-Ban shades in his hand.

  I stared at Harry. He was avoiding my eyes, keeping his gaze on Jack.

  ‘Take Ketty into the room with Nico,’ Jack ordered, putting on his sunglasses.

  Harry grabbed Ketty’s arm and took her next door. I watched him leave, feeling numb.

  ‘Are you really Harry’s dad?’ I said, my throat dry.

  Jack smiled – that wolfish grin I remembered so well from earlier in the year. ‘Yes, Dylan. Not that I’ve spent a lot of time with him. But that’s all about to change. It’s like with the Romans.’

  ‘What?’ I stared at him.

  ‘Roman soldiers would ofte
n leave their boys with the mothers, then call for them once they reached a certain age . . . to train them to be men.’

  ‘What are you talking about?’

  ‘What are you doing with Nico and Ketty?’ Ed stood beside me, his fists clenched.

  ‘They’ve both been drugged, so that Nico can’t perform any telekinesis and Ketty won’t be able to prefigure what’s going to happen in the future.’ Jack smiled. ‘You see how well I know and understand your gifts?’ He tapped his sunglasses. ‘Yours included, Ed. And don’t think you can scare me with the remote mind-reading either. I know that you can only read minds at a distance when you’re connecting to other people with the Medusa gene. Otherwise, it has to be face to face.’

  I glanced at Ed, my mouth falling open. Was that true? One look at Ed’s expression suggested it was. Why hadn’t Ed said anything?

  Harry reappeared from the bedroom. ‘Nico and Ketty are both unconscious,’ he said.

  ‘Good.’ Jack moved closer to his son, speaking in a low voice so I couldn’t catch the words.

  I glanced at Ed, inviting him to mind-read me.

  With a whoosh he was inside my head.

  We have to stop them, I thought-spoke instantly.

  How? Ed sounded frantic. He’s completely on top of everything we can do.

  Is that true that you can’t mind-read people at a distance unless they have the Medusa gene? I asked.

  Yes, I think so. I’ve tried loads of times and apart from my sister, Amy, it hasn’t worked with anyone, but she and I are related so—

  Why didn’t you tell me? I thought-spoke angrily.

  You never asked. Look, I’m going to try contacting Amy again now. I did it a second ago, but she was asleep and I couldn’t wake her.

  Ed broke the connection.

  I turned to face Jack. Never mind remote mind-reading. How could I use my force field to help us get away?

  Jack was watching Ed curiously. Harry vanished into the bathroom and shut the door.

  ‘What about me and Ed?’ I said. ‘What are you going to do with us?’

  ‘Nothing. That is . . .’ Jack drew a gun from his jacket. ‘I won’t hurt you if you keep still and stay quiet. Can you manage that, Ed?’

  Ed nodded. I stared at the gun. My heart sank. I knew that I could withstand a bullet from a gun – but what about the others? I couldn’t leave them at Jack’s mercy.