by Kelli Kimble
Maybe, he said. He shrugged as he said it.
You sound like you don’t care whether you see them or not.
I do. I just . . . don’t want to get my hopes up. He paused, then asked, Are you sure you didn’t know you could do that? The fire thing?
No. I just imagined it, and it happened, I said.
Remind me never to make you angry. Even though it sounded like he was making a joke, I could tell he wasn’t.
Are you scared of me?
He hesitated. No. Maybe.
People began to move in and out of the security gate, forcing the guards to put aside their distractions and do their jobs. Only a few came out, but a lot more people seemed to come out of nowhere and flock inside.
We stayed where we were and watched for any sign of our families, either going in or out. Elton said his brother worked during the day, but I thought it likely our parents would work at night. They had, after all, been considered unsavory individuals until recently.
It wasn’t until more people started coming out of the gates when Elton spotted his brother. Weasel! Elton said. He stood up and waved his arms madly. Over here. Here!
I searched through the crowd. Weasel was easy to spot once I found him; he was a taller and heavier version of Elton. He pushed through the crowd and grabbed Elton into his arms, whapping his hands on his back. They were laughing and smiling, and Weasel pulled back to study Elton. His eyes widened at the change in Elton’s physique. He pinched Elton’s stomach, and Elton slapped his hand away, like he was annoyed. But, he still kept an arm around Weasel as he turned him towards me.
Weasel, this is my friend, Nimisila, he introduced us. Nim, this is my older brother, Forago. But, you can call him Weasel. Everyone does.
Weasel shook my hand. A pleasure to meet you, Nimisila. Any friend of my brother’s is all right by me.
His hand was rough, and his grip was firm. I wondered how he’d developed such callouses on his palms. It’s nice to meet you, as well, I said.
Can we come home with you? Elton said. We’ve nowhere to go.
Of course, he said. So long as you agree to tell me what’s happened to you.
It’s a long story, Elton said.
I’ve got nothing but time. Weasel clamped one arm around my shoulders, and the other arm around Elton’s, then turned us in the direction of his home and started walking. I felt safe—if only for a moment. It was nice to feel that way.
◆◆◆
Weasel’s house was small but tidy. It was brick on the outside, with a window flanking each side of the front door, and a small dormer in the roof above the door. Flowers were bursting out of a pot on the front step, and the door had a traditional, deer-antler totem to welcome prosperity and good health.
Weasel opened the door and led us inside. We were in the living area, where two large chairs sat on either side of a fireplace. There was no second floor, but the ceiling vaulted up to the dormer, letting natural light into the space and giving it a large feeling, even though it was small. On the opposite wall, there were two doors, side by side: One obviously led to the kitchen, and the other most likely led to his bedroom.
Come in, come in. Have a seat, he said. Are you hungry? I’m going to make dinner.
I nodded, too busy taking in my surroundings to answer. I sat in the chair that was offered, but Elton followed him into the kitchen, and I listened to them bustling around. They didn’t speak out loud—even though I was sure that was how Weasel was used to communicating with Elton. It made me wonder if they were talking about me, and heat flushed my cheeks. What could they be saying?
But, no. They were brothers. Surely, they were talking about what had befallen their parents. Maybe Weasel knew. Maybe he didn’t realize they weren’t around; they’d likely tried to distance themselves so that he could have a chance at getting a better job.
I sat, wrestling with my thoughts. The aroma of baking bread, or maybe biscuits, greeted me, and I slumped further into the chair, trying to absorb the beauty of it. But, then a prickle of discomfort chilled my spine. I glanced out the window and saw people walking by on the street. My gaze darted back as I registered what was unusual: The person standing at the end of the front walk, who wasn’t moving.
The man in the grey kimono.
Elton, I said. It was just a whisper—though it didn’t need to be, since nobody but Elton could hear me. But, some habits were hard to break. Elton, I said again, more urgently this time.
He came back into the room, wiping his hands on a towel. What?
I pointed at the window, and he went to look. He didn’t pull the sheer curtains back so that he wouldn’t be seen.
We’re going to have to kill him, I said.
Elton flicked a look back towards the kitchen and shook his head when he met my eyes. We can’t do that. Not with Weasel here. We could ruin things for him. He’s got a real life now.
We may have already ruined it for him, just by going to the plant to see him, I said. He knows us. He can identify us. We’ll never be safe, as long as he’s alive.
Weasel came out of the kitchen. Dinner’s ready, he said. Then, he pulled up short. “What’s going on?” he said, this time out loud.
Shh, keep your voice down, Elton said. Maybe he doesn’t know we’re alive. Maybe he’s just here to ask Weasel if he’s seen us.
Who’s here to ask me if I’ve seen you? Weasel went to the window in front of me and flicked the curtains aside. I crushed myself against the back of the chair to keep out of sight. Weasel looked up and down the street. I don’t see anyone, he said. It’s just people on their way home from work.
There’s nobody standing out there? Nobody wearing grey? I asked.
Weasel shrugged and let the curtain fall back into place. Nope. Just people on the street. Are you ready to eat?
My stomach growled, and he laughed. His laugh wasn’t like the other telepaths; he had natural laughter from a lifetime of communicating with Elton. I couldn’t help but smile when I heard it.
Maybe you imagined it, Nim, Elton said. I saw someone standing there, but I couldn’t see for sure who it was. Maybe your eyes are playing tricks on you.
I followed them into the kitchen. It was small, but there was enough room for a table in the corner. It was set with three plates packed full of food. Tears welled in my eyes when I saw it, and my hand flew up to cover my mouth. I choked back a sob.
Elton patted me on the shoulder. Nobody is ever going to starve you again, Nim. You’ll never be hungry.
I nodded, embarrassed by my reaction. Weasel either didn’t notice or pretended not to, and I was grateful for that. We sat down to eat, and we told Weasel about what happened to us—though neither one of us mentioned we could do things beyond speaking telepathically. Weasel listened, asking a question here and there. He didn’t seem surprised, just curious.
Finally, Elton couldn’t stand it any longer. Where’s Mom and Dad? They told me they’d been given jobs in the plant. Nim’s parents, too. Where are they?
They aren’t at home? asked Weasel.
Elton’s eyes flicked to mine. Maybe we should have gone to our houses, he said to me.
Have you been home to see them? I asked Weasel. Lately?
Not exactly, he said, looking sideways across the room. I followed his gaze, but he didn’t seem to be looking at anything.
What’s that mean? Elton asked.
It means we had a bit of a fight, is all. I haven’t spoken to them in a while.
Weasel, Elton whined. You haven’t seen Mom and Dad in over a year?
Maybe two, Weasel said. His face flushed pink.
After dinner, you have to go and look for them. They didn’t come to the power plant? Elton asked.
Not that I know of,” Weasel said. You know, after I started at the plant, they didn’t want me coming around. They were afraid their circumstances would hurt my career.
It’s a little too late for an explanation now, Elton said. Don’t you mean they were afraid m
y circumstances would hurt your career? Being the brother of someone like me must have had some kind of a stigma.
Weasel let his fork clatter to his plate as he pushed to a standing position. Don’t you ever say that. Ever. You’re my brother, and I love you. I could care less how you talk to me. You know that. He was shaking, and I reached out to touch his arm.
“It’s okay,” I said, out loud. “It’s okay. We’re not different, not anymore.”
But, we are, Elton said. His eyebrows knit together, and he frowned. If anyone figures out we don’t need an implant to communicate, it’s all over. We’ll never have normal lives.
When did I ever say I wanted to be normal? I asked. I just didn’t want to be starving all the time, is all.
Elton’s face relaxed, and he put a hand over mine. We’re okay, Nim. We’ll find our parents, and we can settle down and be regular people.
They aren’t going to get better jobs all of a sudden, Elton, I argued. They don’t have any useful skills. Who would take on our parents, after what they’ve been doing for the past 15 years?
Let’s not get lost in details, Weasel said. First, we have to find them. All four of them.
◆◆◆
When dinner was finished, and we’d cleaned up, we walked with Weasel to Elton’s old house. The walk was long, and by the time we arrived, the sun was setting. There were lights on in the house, and Elton brightened as we approached. He started to go around to the back door, the same way he’d always entered the house. But, Weasel stopped him. We don’t want to surprise them, he said. Let’s just knock on the front door.
Elton shrugged, and we went to the front door. I could hear a baby crying. Elton was a big brother! I looked at him and smiled. It was the first genuine smile I’d had in I-don’t-know-how-long.
Weasel knocked on the door, and I saw the curtain twitch in the window beside the door shortly afterwards. Then, the door opened.
A woman was standing there with a crying baby on her hip. She was swaying back and forth in a vain attempt to calm the baby, but it wasn’t working. Yes? she asked.
I glanced at Elton. His face was wrinkled up in confusion, and just past him, Weasel was making the same face. They were definitely related. Hello, Ma’am. My name is Weasel, and this is my brother, Elton. Our family used to live here. We’re looking for them. Do you know where they are?
She backed from the door and turned towards the house. She was calling for someone, and I took a step backwards off the porch. Fear was starting to rise from my stomach, and it left an acrid taste in my mouth.
She turned back to us. I didn’t know the previous people, she said. Maybe my husband did. Wait here. She resettled the wailing baby again and shut the door. In my mind’s eye, I followed her inside, floating above her. She moved from the living area, then down a hallway to a bedroom. She opened the door to a darkened room. There was the faint outline of someone in the bed, and they jerked up when the baby’s cries flooded the room.
Nim? Nim! Someone was shaking me by my shoulders, and my head snapped backwards and forwards once, then twice, and I bit my tongue. The metallic taste of the injury chased the fear taste away.
What? I asked, blinking.
Elton was staring at me, his hands on my shoulders. He dropped them to his sides as he realized I’d discovered another ability. Nothing, he said.
It’s not nothing,” Weasel said. You seemed like you were somewhere else just then, like you were just the shell of a person. What happened?
I met Elton’s eyes and swallowed. I followed her, I said. Into the house. I wanted to make sure she wasn’t lying about what she was doing.
I don’t get it, Weasel replied. You didn’t go anywhere. You weren’t following her.
She followed her with her mind, Weas, Elton said. She has abilities beyond nonverbal communication.
Weasel’s eyes widened. You saw inside the house?
Yes, I replied, and I don’t think she’s lying. Your parents aren’t there. Just a man who was sleeping, until she went into the bedroom, and the baby woke him.
The door jerked open, and a grumpy man peered out at us. I don’t know what you kids are selling, but we don’t want any, and I doubt the people who used to live here would, either.
I’m sorry we woke you, Weasel said, slipping a sidelong glance at me. We’re not selling anything. We’re looking for our parents.
The man’s expression softened somewhat. Oh. It’s all right. But, your parents aren’t here. It’s just me, her, and the baby. Moved here right after she was born. The baby’s wails reached a new height. The man cringed. If you’ll excuse me, I think my wife needs some help. He nodded once and closed the door before we could say anything else.
Weasel turned to me. You knew he was sleeping.
I told you, I replied. I saw her go into the room where he was asleep. She went down the hall and opened a door on the right. The bedroom.
His eyes narrowed, and he turned to Elton. What about you? Can you do anything more?
Yeah, Elton said, shrugging. I’m stronger. Physically, I mean.
Can we check my parents’ house? I asked, tugging at Weasel’s sleeve. Maybe they’re still there.
Why didn’t you tell me you could do more? he asked.
We thought it best to stay hidden, I said. The fewer people who know we’re different, the better.
He stepped off the porch, and I took the lead, moving us in the direction of my neighborhood. I’m your brother, he said to Elton. You can trust me.
They’re not above torture and murder, Weas. If anyone thinks you know something . . . I’d hate to think of what they’d do to you. He glanced at me.
There’s more, isn’t there? Weasel asked. You can do more.
I nodded.
But, you aren’t going to tell me what else you can do?
I shook my head. What I can do . . . it’s more than they could’ve dreamed of.
You said you killed them all, Weasel said. Destroyed their lab, and all that. You think someone is still looking for you?
We hope not, Elton said. But, we’ll never be sure.
◆◆◆
My house was still empty. The yard was even more overgrown than it had been when I lived there, and the front porch had come unhinged from the house. It gave the house a drunken expression I didn’t like. We went around back, more out of curiosity than anything else. I knew they weren’t going to suddenly appear. But, I got that prickly feeling again, and I turned to see someone in the shadows of the shed.
The man in the grey kimono.
I rushed at him, not really sure what else to do. What do you want? I demanded.
He held up his hands in a placating gesture.
I took another step towards him and felt resistance. Was he keeping me away?
So, you did escape, he said. I tried to tell them you’d grown too strong, and they were pushing you beyond what they could control.
I felt Elton move beside me. Could his strength break through whatever was keeping me away from the man?
We just want to be left alone, I said.
Relax, he said. I haven’t even told you what I want yet.
If you want anything at all, it’s too much, Elton said. Our families are gone. You kept us locked up like animals and tortured us. You made us into something else without our permission.
I only want to confirm what I already suspect, the man replied. I just want to know what you’re able to do.
I reached out to the shed behind him with my mind and willed it to fall in his direction. It was a rickety structure, but it was not ready to fall down. Even though it didn’t collapse, he jumped out of the way, and he was closer to me than he was before. I didn’t like it.
I took a step towards him, and again, I felt the resistance.
It wasn’t him. It was me.
I felt it fully now; there was something dangerous about being physically close to him. I took several steps back, pushing Elton and Weasel back with my arms.
So, you can sense the danger, eh? His lips curled back from his teeth in a tight smile. You’re right to step away. I know you’re dangerous. But, you didn’t know I was, did you? He slipped a hand inside his kimono sleeve and withdrew a small device. You think you stopped all this, and your idiot teacher and her sister were the source. But, they weren’t. You did me a favor by getting rid of them, though. They were getting sloppy, and their sense of humane treatment was deplorable. People were noticing something was wrong. They missed the whole point by targeting people like you.
I bristled at his insinuation, but he was right. If Mrs. Darit had been more careful with her selections, nobody would have noticed a few down-on-their luck families and their implant-less kids had disappeared. My attention shifted to the device. What was it? What did he plan to do with it?
This is my insurance, he said. Don’t worry. I can’t read your thoughts. I don’t have any abilities like you do. But, your thoughts are plain on your face, Nimisila. You have so much to learn. You and Elton both. I want to help you learn. Won’t you come with me?
How stupid do you think we are? Elton said.
Stupid enough to bite the hand that feeds you, he said. “What makes you think you’ll get anywhere in life now? You’ve nowhere to live. You don’t have parents. You can’t go back to your school. Without any of those things, you won’t get a job. You’ll end up lower than you already were, living in that shanty area outside of town. You know it, right? Where you visited with the woman? You saw what it was like there. You want to go back there? That’s where you’ll be if you don’t come with me.
Fear sliced through me. He knew we’d been to the shanty village. He’d been watching us, despite his little henchmen’s inability to catch us.
Don’t think you can go living in a treehouse, either, he added. You can’t hide from me.
They won’t live in a treehouse, Weasel said. They’ll live with me, and I’ll take care of them.
I don’t want to hurt them, he said to Weasel. It would be stupid for me to hurt them. But, there’s nothing to protect you in all this. So, if I were you, I’d be careful what I offered, big brother.