“Um…I don’t know.” She swirled her cup of hot tea. “I’d feel bad leaving Grandfather here all by himself, you know? If Grandmother were here, I wouldn’t feel so guilty, but she went to China with my parents. He doesn’t speak any English, and if he needed help or something, I don’t know what he’d do.”
“Liliana, he lives in Chinatown. I’m sure he’ll manage, just fine. It’s not like there’s no one around for him to talk to.”
“I know…You’re right. I just feel guilty leaving him alone.”
“Well, don’t. If he and your grandma are anything like my grandparents, I’m sure that he would welcome the opportunity to be alone and have a little bit of freedom for a while.
“And besides,” Aimee went on, “you don’t really like riding the city bus to school every day, do you?”
“Definitely not!” Liliana agreed. “The bus is one downside to staying here.”
“Will you at least think about it?”
“I will.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.” She looked out the window again and spotted the two cats on the neighbor’s balcony. A fat, black cat sat next to its food bowl and delicately licked a paw. The other, a skinny tabby, jumped onto the railing. Its tail swished frantically back and forth as it watched the small birds flitter about on the power line. Liliana held her breath, anxious for the cat’s safety. The railing wasn’t wide, and the alley was a far drop from the third-floor balcony.
Just then, one of the birds caught sight of the feline and flew away. Startled by the bird’s hasty escape, the rest of the flock took off as well, some flying in confused circles. There was a loud thump as one of the birds hit the glass door and bounced to the hard balcony. Liliana watched, breath held in anticipation, to see if the sparrow would fly away, but it lay motionless.
“I have to go,” she told Aimee. “I’ll see you at school, okay?”
Her friend sighed. “All right…Think about it, okay?”
“I will. See you in a bit.”
She forcefully urged the old sliding glass door open and was assaulted by the cold February breeze. For once, the Seattle sky was clear; not a cloud was in sight, and the sun winked down between the rooftops. Still, the temperature was near freezing, and the damp breeze that blew in from the bay sent chills down her bare arms.
She gazed down at the motionless bird. Unsure if it was dead or simply stunned, she didn’t want to stand out in the cold trying to figure it out. Regardless if it was alive or dead, she couldn’t leave it on the balcony. She looked around for something to pick it up with and grabbed a kitchen towel, from a nearby counter.
Her toes curled when she stepped, barefoot, onto the frozen balcony. Quickly but gently, she scooped the bird into the towel and leapt inside. With the towel-enwrapped bird held against her chest, she struggled one handed to shut the rickety glass door.
She sat at the kitchen table and carefully opened the towel, wary of the chance that the bird might fly up at her. It didn’t, however, and as she laid the towel in her lap, the sparrow remained motionless. She observed it carefully for any sign of life and thought that she detected movement in its chest. Delicately, she touched a finger to the top of its head and gently stroked its back. After a few moments, its eyes opened. Startled, it stuck out a wing as though to fly. Liliana reacted quickly and cupped a hand over its back to hold it in place. She noticed that, while one wing fluttered in its will to fly, the other remained crooked at its side.
Poor thing. It has a broken wing, Liliana thought. She frowned when she realized that it had stopped its attempt at escape and now lay still in her lap, breathing heavily. With one hand cupped over its back, she continued to gently stroke its head.
Her grandfather, known around the Chinese community as a healer, was well practiced in the art of ancient Chinese medicine. If he were home, he would have known exactly what to do with the poor creature, but he had stepped out to the morning marketplace.
She looked down at the bird and frowned again. It had been over a year since she had used her healing ability. Well, it’s certainly worth a try, she thought. Gingerly, she fingered the broken wing, cupped it between the palms of her hands, and closed her eyes. Heat radiated from the spot that was broken. As she concentrated, heat and energy began to radiate from her own hands, and her energy began to overtake the heat that radiated from the broken wing. In her mind she saw the bones heal and fuse together, and then she imagined the bird taking flight in freedom.
She opened her eyes and slowly released the wing. Unsure of how the bird would react, she took hold of the towel, prepared to cover it if it should panic. The last thing she wanted was for the bird to take flight in the apartment and reinjure itself. It remained motionless on her lap, but it was clearly more relaxed and at ease. Its breathing had slowed and it had stopped trembling.
A rustle of keys at the door caught her attention, and a moment later, her grandfather entered. His arms overflowed with brown paper packages of all shapes and sizes. When he set them on the table, Liliana’s nose told her that, along with the vendors he visited for herbs and plants, he had also visited the fish market.
He peered over her shoulder. “What do you have here, my granddaughter?”
She responded in his native language. “It flew into the window. Its wing was broken, but I think I might have healed it. I was going to let it rest for a minute and then see if it’s okay.”
She carried the sparrow to the balcony and her grandfather followed to open the door. After she set it outside, they stood together in the doorway to watch. It sat for a moment and twisted its head sideways to look up at her. Then it stood, took flight, and landed on the power line. Two other sparrows flew in and landed beside it. The birds remained on the line for a few moments, and then Liliana and her grandfather watched as they flew away in unison.
As they continued to look out the window, he put an arm around her shoulders. “You know, my dear child, our culture holds value and symbolism behind birds. They are seen as messengers.”
Liliana looked up at her grandfather, who stood just a few inches taller than her own height of five foot one. “You think the bird was sent as a messenger?”
He looked down at his granddaughter. “I would not take this event lightly. Why do you think this bird came to you? It was not a coincidence. You have given this bird a second chance at life. Remember what I have always said. What you put out into the world will come back to you. This bird could represent a life-changing event. Stay aware and good things will come your way.”
Liliana smiled. She had been born in America and loved the American culture and all that it had to offer, but she also valued her Chinese culture and always took heed to what her grandfather had to say. Good things will come your way, he had said. She repeated his words to herself, as she headed out the door for school, and wondered at their meaning. When she stepped out to the sidewalk, the damp wind chilled her to the bone. She tightened her coat and headed to the corner to wait for the bus, optimistic and open to the day that awaited her.
*****
Liliana and Aimee shared their last class of the day, English Writing, and after the final bell, they made their way downstairs. With hats and gloves donned, they were immediately assaulted by the frigid wind when they exited the double doors and stood atop the concrete steps of the old brick building. The day had become slightly overcast, and there was no doubt that the temperature had dropped to below freezing.
“Hey, I see my mom parked down there,” Aimee said. “Do you want a ride home?”
“No, that’s okay. It’s out of the way. I don’t want to inconvenience her. I’ll walk down with you though.”
When her mother saw their approach, she got out of the car and walked around to the sidewalk to give Liliana a hug. “Hi, Liliana. Did Aimee tell you that you’re welcome to stay with us, while your parents are gone?”
“She did. Thanks for the offer. I told her that I’d talk with my grandfather about it, when
I get home. I’ll give you guys a call tonight and let you know what he says.”
“Great! We’re having spaghetti tonight, so if you’re interested, we’d love to have you! I’d be happy to stop by and pick you up.”
“Thanks so much, I really appreciate the offer.” Her mom got back in the car and Liliana turned to Aimee. “I’ll give you call in a little bit.”
Her friend opened the car door and climbed in. “Okay. Ask him right when you get home, all right? See ya!” She waved and then closed the door against the cold.
Liliana waved goodbye and then turned to head for the bus stop. She stopped when a car, parked across the street, caught her attention. Just as she looked over, two guys stepped out of the vehicle. They closed their doors and seemed to stare directly at her.
At first she thought that it was her imagination. She didn’t know them; they must have been waiting for another student, so she continued on. She had only walked a few feet, however, when she stopped again. She felt as though their eyes followed her every move, as though their energy reached out to her. She casually glanced over her shoulder, and sure enough, they continued to watch her.
For a moment, she wondered if she should be scared, but then she noticed their auras. The taller of the two had an aura that glowed brilliant turquoise with a slight rim of purple; he had only good intentions. The guy who stood on the passenger's side of the car was surrounded by blue with slight tinges of yellow; he was confident and at peace.
Neither posed a threat; and yet, what else could explain why they continued to watch her? She started to walk away, but curiosity got the better of her, and she wandered back to the front of the school. Again, their eyes followed her every move.
She turned when someone from behind called out to her. Cat was at the bottom of the stairs, waving to get her attention.
“Hey, Liliana!” she called out. “Are you going to the game Friday night?”
“I haven’t decided yet. I’m staying with my grandfather for a few weeks while my parents are away, and I don’t really want to ride the bus at night. I might go if I can get a ride with Aimee.”
“Oh, okay. Well, if you decide to go, Joey and I are going out for pizza after the game. You’re welcome to join us.”
“Thanks! I’ll keep that in mind. I should know by tomorrow. I’ll let you know in the morning.”
Cat grinned. “All right. Have a good evening!”
“You too. See ya!”
Cat turned for the student parking lot and then Liliana remembered the two guys across the street. She looked over to see if they were still there.
They weren’t.
They were walking across the street, straight toward her.
Liliana froze—not from fright, but from curiosity. Whatever these guys wanted, they didn’t intend to harm her; of this she was certain. As they got closer, their positive energy radiated out to her.
Time seemed to slow as she waited on the sidewalk. They stopped about two feet from her and smiled.
The shorter of the two caught her attention, first. I’m so glad that we finally found you, she heard him think.
Really? Cuz I don’t have a clue who you are, Liliana thought, in return.
The shock on his face was obvious; he hadn’t expected to hear her silent reply. Liliana was just as shocked when she realized that he too could hear her thoughts.
You can hear me, he thought.
Yeah, and you can hear me. That’s a first. She was more perplexed than ever.
They continued to stare at each other. He appeared to be about her age. Thin but muscular, he had dazzling green eyes and dimples. Knowing that he could hear her thoughts, Liliana tried her best to mask them as she thought, Wow! He’s cute! She hoped that she had succeeded but wasn’t sure. She thought that she detected a slight smile, but it quickly disappeared.
It was his companion who spoke first. He wore glasses and appeared to be Hispanic or Native American. She thought that he was probably a couple of years older than the other guy, but not by much.
“You’re Liliana?”
She was hesitant to reply. “Uh…yeah…Do I know you?”
“No. I’m Eddie. This is Tyler.” He indicated the guy beside him, who smiled when he was introduced. “We’ve traveled a long way to find you. Can we talk?”
CHAPTER 6: SEATTLE
Tyler understood Liliana’s desire to meet in public; after all, she didn’t know them, and a restaurant would provide a sense of security. Few words were exchanged during the short drive to the restaurant, by the marina. While she sat in front and provided directions for Eddie, Tyler sat in the back and eyed her with curiosity.
He hadn’t known what to expect. He certainly hadn’t anticipated the instant attraction. Easily nine or ten inches shorter than he was, she had striking features, fascinating eyes that twinkled, lush, full lips, and long, silky, jet-black hair.
She liked him, too. Even though she had attempted to block her thoughts, he had heard enough to know that she thought he was cute. He would, of course, have to resist the mutual attraction, at least for now; any flirtations might impede the search, and he couldn’t afford any setbacks. He needed to maintain focus and keep his mind clear of distractions.
He hadn’t heard from Toby since they had arrived to Seattle, and he tried not to worry. Now that they had located Liliana, they would need to move quickly to locate the next person on the list, and he still didn’t know who that was.
In the meantime, he and Eddie would need to convince Liliana to join them on their unpredictable and perilous mission. He had remained silent, during the drive, as he contemplated various scenarios. She could laugh at them; he certainly wouldn’t blame her. Their story did sound absurd. Worse yet, she could call the police and report that they had tried to abduct her. Guilt teased the edge of his conscience. He didn’t want to bring her into this dangerous journey but knew that, in the end, there wasn’t a choice. If she didn’t go with them, she faced certain abduction, by the same people who had taken his brother.
Liliana and Eddie made small talk as they walked from the parking lot to the restaurant. Tyler followed close behind, acutely aware of the hollow thuds of his footsteps, on the wood plank walkway. He took advantage of his final moments, alone, to rehearse what he would say.
The restaurant, which sat high on a cliff and overlooked the water, boasted several tables on an outside patio. Given the cold, wintry day, however, they headed inside. The damp, frigid wind zipped off of the lapping waves and whipped around their coats. Having grown up in the desert, Tyler had never been near the ocean, and he took a deep breath of the salty seaweed air. He found the scent to be pleasant and invigorating in an odd sort of way, and he made a mental note that one day he would like to return. He hoped that Toby would be with him.
*****
“You’ve got to be kidding,” Liliana said after Tyler and Eddie had explained why they had flown over a thousand miles to find her. “It’s a joke, right? Did Aimee put you up to this?” She took a sip of hot chocolate and looked seriously from Eddie to Tyler.
Tyler noticed that she looked slightly over his head when she spoke. She squinted in concentration, furled her eyebrows, and frowned. Then she shook her head. “You’re not kidding. I can see that. If this was a joke, your colors would be…” She paused and shook her head again. “But they’re not. Your colors are pure. I don’t get it.” She examined the space over his head once again. “You’re for real, aren’t you?”
Tyler nodded. “Um, yeah…Yep, we are.” He glanced at Eddie, who nodded, as well. “This is about as real as it gets,” he continued. “You mentioned our colors. What colors are you talking about?”
Before she could reply, Eddie smiled and nodded his head in understanding. “You see auras, don’t you?”
“Yeah. Can you see them, too?”
Eddie shook his head. “No, I can’t. I’ve read about auras though. You can see them, huh? That’s cool.”
“Cool? Yeah, I guess so.
The older I get, the more I’m beginning to appreciate it.”
“So, what does that mean? You can see if I’m lying or not, just by looking at my aura?”
“Well, yeah. For the most part, I can. It’s taken some practice to learn about what I see, but I’ve observed auras basically my whole life, so I’ve had some time to figure it all out.”
“And you can hear other people’s thoughts, too,” Tyler said. “So really, you can always know if someone is lying.”
“Yeah, auras are definitely truer, though. People can try to mask their thoughts, but no one can fake an aura. Auras show what a person is truly about.”
“So, you’ll come with us then?” Tyler felt a wave of relief. Maybe it wouldn’t be so hard to convince her, after all. She had to see that their intentions were true.
She didn’t answer immediately and turned to look out of the large picture window next to their table. Tyler looked at the view beyond and waited with patience as a few sailboats passed by in the harbor. He watched a group of seagulls swoop out of the sky and dive into the cold, murky water below. Finally, she turned back to them.
“I believe you. As odd as your story is, I do believe you. I just don’t see why you need me. Why don’t you just call the police or the FBI and let them know about your brother? Let them find him for you. I mean, really, as much as I feel for you and would like to help, we’re just teenagers. What can we possibly do?”
“The people who took Toby are smart,” Tyler said. “They know what they’re doing, and they’ve covered all of the bases. As far as the police are concerned, Toby’s just another runaway. Even if we did explain that he’s been kidnapped, they wouldn’t believe us. We don’t have proof.”
“Okay, so I get that. But why do you need me? I understand that my name is on this list, but I don’t know where your brother is. I may have a few unique abilities, but I’m not psychic by any means. I wouldn’t have a clue how to find him.” She looked at him with wide, unblinking eyes, as though daring him to convince her.
Tyler glanced at Eddie, who shrugged and gave him a look that said, I don’t know what I’m doing here either.
Tyler took a deep breath and met Liliana’s gaze. “We don’t know how we’re going to find Toby either. I know that’s not what you want to hear, but it’s the truth. Right now, we’re just trying to stay one step ahead of the people who have him, because the truth is, they’re after us, too. The people who took Toby also want us—all of us. It won’t be long before they track us down, and when they do, we won’t be any better off than Toby is, right now.
Indigo Incite Page 4
