I hesitated. The last time I’d gone with Olivia, Aaron had found me in Maddox’s room. And look how well that had worked out.
“He won’t find us,” she said, her gaze solemn.
Startled, I was silent for a moment. She’d read my mind when I’d had my wall up.
“Come on.” She raced past me and was in the hall before I’d even decided to follow. With a sigh, I knew I had no alternative. I rushed after her just in time to see her disappear around a corner. “Olivia!” I whispered furiously, trying to follow her dark shadow down a narrow back set of stairs. “How can you read my mind when I had the wall up?”
“I’ve always been able to,” she whispered back. “No one can block their thoughts from me.”
I caught up with her on the first floor. “I don’t understand.”
“What’s there to understand?” Olivia cracked open a door I’d never been through, peeked inside, and finding the area empty she darted down a hall.
I made sure no one was there, and followed after her. I had no idea where we were as I’d never been to this part of the house before. Just ahead I could see her, a dark shadow, pull open another door and dart down another set of stairs. We were headed into the basement, although at the opposite end of where Maddox was being held.
I paused for one moment, my heart hammering madly. Did I want to start this all over again? Hell, yes. I rushed down those narrow steps, delving into the darkness.
“I don’t understand.” I reached out, pressing my hands to the stone walls on each side for balance. Olivia paused at the bottom, a dark shadow waiting for me. “If you can read anyone’s thoughts, why didn’t they use you to read Maddox?”
“Because he has something different blocking his thoughts, something man-made.” She continued down a narrow hall, pausing outside a thick, steel door. Not completely like Maddox’s cell. This door had a window. I stood on tiptoe and peeked through the glass, but whatever was on the other side was concealed with darkness.
“Move.” Olivia nudged me aside with a pointy elbow and then punched in a code at yet another keypad. Vaguely I was aware that whatever was in there must have been important. There was a click as the door unlocked. Such a soft sound, yet my pulse hammered madly. Quietly, she pushed the door wide.
“Where are we?” I whispered. Narrow windows lined the tops of the walls, too high to see out of, but allowing moonlight to filter into a long, large room.
But Olivia didn’t answer and for one long moment, we just stood there. Maybe she was waiting for my eyes to adjust, maybe she wasn’t sure how to explain, or maybe she regretted her actions. Whatever her deal, it was too late. Shadows morphed into objects. Objects became small beds lined along the perimeter of the room. And little forms huddled on the beds were obviously children. Small children under blankets, children fast asleep. The soft sound of deep, even breathing was the only noise in the dorm…or orphanage…whatever it was.
Olivia started forward and so I followed, my shoes thumping eerily against the linoleum. “Who are they?” I demanded in a harsh whisper.
“Children with powers,” Olivia whispered back. “Children like us.”
I froze. I could have sworn for one brief moment my heart stopped beating. Shock held me immobile. Children like us. I didn’t know what I’d been expecting, but it hadn’t been this. There were at least twenty kids in this room, Olivia and I not included.
My little tour guide continued down the aisle. I hurried after her, frantic to understand. “Olivia, explain!”
“That girl there.” She pointed to the first bed on the right like a flight attendant pointing out exits. “She can cause people to feel pain. Real, horrible, physical pain.”
My stomach clenched.
“And that boy,” She pointed toward the left, indicating a small bundle of a child who couldn’t be more than six. “He can make you think you see things that aren’t really there.”
She pointed toward another girl, her long blonde hair glimmering under the light of the moon. “Her—”
“Okay,” I whispered furiously and latched onto her arm, forcing her to pause in the middle of the room. “Enough. I get it.” But I didn’t get it. I didn’t understand anything and frankly I was tired of being the stupid one in class. How could these children be here without me knowing? Shouldn’t I have heard yelling? Laughter? Something! And then I remembered…. I pressed my hands to my stomach, the room fading, the world fading.
Crying. All those times I’d heard that eerie sound at night, those times Aaron had brushed off my questions by saying it was merely the wind. Crying. Frightened, little children kept under lock and key.
“He kept them quiet. He didn’t want you to know right away. He was afraid you’d think it was weird.” Olivia took that strand of hair between her lips and watched me as she chewed, waiting for my response.
He thought it would be weird? It was beyond weird. It was creepy. Deep breath in, deep breath out. I tried to calm my racing heart. “How did they get here? Did their parents die? Were their parents murdered?”
“No,” she said, shaking her head.
“Then how?” I swiped my damp hands on my sweats. “Did their parents send them here to learn how to use their powers? Is this like a school of some sort?”
She shook her head again.
Frustrated, I resisted the urge to yell at her. “Olivia,” I snapped, my voice harsh. I glanced around, to make sure they still slept. None of them stirred; they were like little statues. “How did they get here?”
She lowered the lock of hair from her mouth, her large dark eyes looking directly at me. “He took them.”
Chapter 17
I was trembling when I made my way back to my room. An icy chill had settled deep within my bones and I couldn’t seem to get warm. Olivia was nuts, right? Surely Aaron hadn’t taken innocent children from their beds. Stolen them from their families. Olivia had made it up, just as she’d made up other things. I jerked open my top dresser drawer and pushed aside my socks and underwear.
Where had I left my cell phone?
Maybe I should ask Lewis about the children. No, I should demand the truth, not ask. But would he tell me? Frustrated, I grabbed my purse off the nightstand and emptied the contents onto my bed. Chapstick, wallet, gum. No phone. .
I paused, in the middle of the room, and took a deep breath in, out, like Aaron had taught me. Thoughts of the man made me sick. I wrapped my arms around my belly and sank onto the edge of the bed. I didn’t want to be in a place where I didn’t know who was good and who was bad. I wanted to be home. So maybe I wasn’t going to buy her a mug with World’s Best Grandma anytime soon, but at least at home I’d never felt so confused, so scared.
Grandma might have been wrong in keeping the truth from me, but I knew without a doubt she had my best interest at heart. With Aaron, even with Lewis, I had a feeling they’d give me up in an instant if it would help the mission. They were determined and no one would stop them or get in their way, certainly not me.
I sniffed as a tear slipped down my cheek.
I had to call Grandma and hopefully she would answer. She could pick me up at the ferry dock on the mainland. Somehow I’d leave here, whether I snuck out, which I’d prefer as the coward in me couldn’t face Lewis and Aaron, or if I had to, demand that they take me to the harbor.
I was going home.
I pulled open my bedroom door and made my way into the hall. It was almost dawn. Grandma would still be sleeping but hopefully she’d answer. When I moved by Lewis’s room, I made sure my mental wall was up. I forced myself not to pause, not even to think about him. I’d die if he heard my thoughts and woke up. I couldn’t face him, not now. If I saw him, I might not have the courage to leave.
The house was still and dark and silent. No crying this morning. I couldn’t help but think of those children downstairs, locked away like animals. Did their parents miss them? Were they afraid? Some were so young. And I thought about myself, when I was five and I?
??d been dropped off at Grandma’s, a person I hadn’t even met until that day. How afraid I’d been. How terrified. It wasn’t right; these children were here without their families. Yet, what could I do?
The kitchen was empty. No Olivia having her late night snack. I reached for the phone, slid down the wall, sitting on the floor, my back against the cold wall. With trembling fingers I dialed Grandma’s number.
Nothing happened. No dialing tone, no beep, nothing.
I hung up and tried again.
Nothing.
A floor board creaked. My heart slammed against my ribcage. Fear fought with panic. Gripping the phone to my chest, I fell to my knees and crawled behind the island counter in the middle of the kitchen. Crouching low, I leaned against the counter and held my breath.
Soft footsteps thudded through the room…closer….closer.
“Cameron?”
Aaron’s voice jolted through me. I surged to my feet and bit back my scream. He stood against the island, his arms folded over his chest. How long had he been there? I couldn’t read his face in the darkness and didn’t know if he was angry.
“I…I missed my Grandma and wanted to call her.” True enough.
“Why?” He moved around the island counter, coming closer to me. I had to resist the urge to dart behind the barrier. “She’s done nothing for you.”
The moonlight coming in through the windows hit his face. He’d changed from sweats and t-shirt and was wearing gray slacks and a button up black shirt, his hair combed neatly into place as if nothing had happened last night. As if he was up this early every morning, dressed, ready to take on the world, ready to steal more children.
“I wouldn’t say nothing.” I certainly saw the irony in the fact that I was suddenly defending Grandma. “She’s kept me safe all this time. Besides, she’s family. My only family.”
He rested perfectly manicured hands on the countertop. “We’re your family, Cameron.”
More irony. How I’d pathetically dreamt of Aaron being my dad and now…now I didn’t even want him as a friend.
I felt the slightest push inside my head. So slight that before I wouldn’t have noticed it. My insides froze. He was trying to read my mind. Testing the barrier to see if I’d put up that wall. I forced my lips to lift, my face to remain passive.
“I know you’re my family,” I lied. “But…” I shrugged with a nonchalance I sure as heck didn’t feel. “I’ve lived with her most of my life. It’s normal to miss her, isn’t it?”
I waited for his answer, waited to see if he’d buy my logic, prayed he would.
He smiled and still I wasn’t sure if I should be nervous or relieved. “I understand.”
Relief. Definitely relief. “But, umm, anyway, the phone doesn’t seem to be working.” I replaced the phone, hoping he didn’t notice the way my hand trembled. “And I can’t find my cell.”
“Hmm,” he glanced briefly at the phone, then back to me. “Well, the winds must have done damage somewhere on the island. Besides, it’s late and you’ve been busy tonight.” He smiled. It seemed genuine. I didn’t buy his friendliness in the least. “I know about your visit to the dorm. Olivia told me.”
That didn’t make sense. Why would Olivia tell him when it would make her guilty? Unless she’d twisted the facts. “Sorry,” I muttered, watching him closely. “I thought I’d seen a little girl when I’d first arrived.”
He placed his arm around my shoulders, his golden hair silver in the moonlight. My entire body went cold. As he led me out of the kitchen, I had to resist the urge to shrug him off. “I try to help as many children as I can. It’s impossible to turn them away when they have nowhere to go.”
I nodded, all the while wondering if he was lying. Or was Olivia the liar? Someone wasn’t telling the truth. I didn’t question him further; it would only make me look suspicious. My goal at the moment was to get as far away from him as possible.
We strolled into the main foyer. He’d turned on the lights and it added a soft glow to the area. “I’m sure,” he continued, giving my shoulders a little squeeze, “your grandmother would appreciate you waiting until the sun rises to call her.”
I forced myself to smile. “Yeah, sure.”
“And of course if you don’t find your cell, we’ll get you another one.”
Of course he would. Why didn’t I buy that in the least? We paused at the bottom of the steps. “Okay, thanks.”
He was smiling, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Good night, Cameron.”
I could feel his gaze burning into my back as I made my way up the stairs. I didn’t dare look over my shoulder, but kept my gaze straight ahead, even as my heart hammered madly in my chest.
Three things I knew for sure. One, I could no longer trust Aaron. Two, I wasn’t any safer here than I’d been at home. Three, I knew, without a doubt, Aaron had lied about the phone lines being down.
********
“What are you doing?”
I didn’t bother to look up from my suitcase, I knew Lewis’s voice well by now. He was angry, and a little surprised. The sun was up, had been for a few hours and my outlook had changed. With the brilliant rays of the sun, I felt stronger, more sure of what I had to do. But I still feared that if I actually looked Lewis in the eyes, I’d completely fold. “I’m packing.”
“For what?”
“Aren’t you the one who said I should leave?” Finally, I looked up at him.
The light coming in from the windows highlighted his brown hair, making it shimmer. He was paler than normal, dark circles under his blue eyes. He’d slept about as well as I had. My gaze dropped to his lips. For a moment my heart lurched, remembering the few kisses we’d shared. But there would be no more. I forced myself to look away.
“Cameron,” his voice was soft. “I didn’t mean it.”
I refused to answer, but continued to shove some sweaters into the suitcase that lay open on the floor. I still hadn’t found my cell and was beginning to worry. How would I get a hold of Grandma once I’d reached the mainland? I had only ten bucks.
“Stop,” he insisted, dropping beside me. He latched onto my wrists and held my arms tight, forcing me to pause. Only a foot separated the space between us. I couldn’t move as I stared into those brilliant blue eyes. His face was tense, his lower lip quivering. And for one brief moment my heart expanded, warming with an emotion I didn’t dare explore. “I don’t want you to leave.”
“Why?” I asked, dropping my gaze to his neck, staring at the pulse that beat furiously fast. “Because you can’t use my powers if I leave?”
“No.” He released my hands and pulled my packed clothing from the suitcase, tossing it to the bed with frantic movements. “Because I…” He paused, swallowing hard. “I don’t want you to go.”
I felt the stinging sensation of tears. How I wanted to be with him. The thought of leaving Lewis left me aching and cold. And he wanted me. I could see that now. Not because of my powers, but because he actually cared.
“Come with me,” I whispered, more like pleaded.
He shook his head and looked away like the coward he was. “What do you mean?”
He knew what I was asking. “When I leave, come home with me.” I grabbed his hands. His fingers were cold. “You can live with me and Grandma. Or, you’re eighteen, you can get an apartment.”
He pulled away. “I can’t.”
I wasn’t surprised, but it still hurt. “Why?”
“Because…” He stood and paced to the windows. With every step further away from me, my heart broke a little more. He would come up with any excuse not to leave. “Because we have a job to do.”
It was just as I’d thought. Lewis would always pick his supposed mission over me. “What job?” I snapped, surging to my feet and feeling dizzy with anger and pain.
He spun around to face me. “Protect us! People like us, people like you.”
“Protect us from what? Because so far the only threat I’ve seen is some pathetic guy cha
ined up in the basement.”
“And do you have any idea what that pathetic guy would be capable of doing if he were released?” His hands fisted at his sides, his anger palpable. “My God, how can you not understand? They killed your father! They killed my parents!”
My heart ached. Literally ached when I looked at his gorgeous face full of frustration and pain. When I’d first met Lewis I’d envied his freedom, but he was no freer than I was. Less so, maybe. “And so what, you’ll kidnap little children and force them to do your bidding like some pathetic evil villain in a cartoon movie?”
He stiffened, as if I’d slapped him. “What are you talking about?”
I threw my arms wide, pointing toward the door. “I know, Lewis. I know about the kids. I know they all have special powers. I know Aaron took them from their parents in order to use them.”
He looked away. “You don’t know anything.”
If I was wrong, why was he avoiding eye contact? “Did he take you from your uncle without the man’s consent? Is that what happened?”
He pressed his left palm to his heart, his face growing tense with emotion. “He saved me. My uncle had no clue what my mother and father could do. He hadn’t a clue what I was capable of. I was a freak to him. When Aaron arrived, I was more than willing to go.”
It didn’t make sense. There had to be more to the story than he was letting on. “And your uncle just let you go?”
He didn’t respond, but he didn’t need to. I knew the answer. Olivia had been right all along. Aaron and Lewis didn’t care about me. Aaron had taken Lewis and Lewis seemed to think it was fine. His silence was further proof that our morals didn’t mesh.
“What did Aaron do to him?”
Lewis shrugged, his eyes growing hard. “It was for his own good.”
I stepped closer to the guy I still loved. “What did he do?” I demanded, my anger and fear mounting.
He was silent for one long moment, as if weighing whether to admit the truth to me or not. “He erased his memory.”