by Amy Hale
Her parting words had been, “There. Let’s see how pretty they think you look with bruises and swelling.”
Jane realized that a part of her was still Alice. That part feared these people with an intensity that she couldn’t comprehend.
Each prisoner in the complex had a specialized diet, and it was strictly forbidden to share food for any reason. She’d realized that they were drugging the food according to who would and wouldn’t be in the experiments that week. Those who wouldn’t be participating would get higher doses to keep their abilities more subdued. Even the Centerpieces were unable to use their powers against the organization, thanks to careful planning and calculating by Professor Russell.
Jane had spent that final two weeks only eating minimal amounts to get by. She’d hidden the rest of her meals to make it appear that she’d eaten well. Then, she’d dumped it later when no one was looking. Her powers had slowly returned, bit by bit. She’d realized the shots she’d been given during her punishments were merely drugs to keep her powers on a leash.
The day she’d run, she still hadn’t regained all her abilities, but by flashing a little leg and smiling at them, she’d managed to slip by the two guards keeping the main gate closed. She’d lured them into a dark corner, using the very attributes that Julia was so insanely obsessed with. Once she’d gotten them out of sight of the cameras, she’d used her gifts to render them unconscious. She had felt horrified by the thought of using her powers to hurt anyone. But as they’d stood, facing her, she’d levitated various large rocks nearby, and ironically, she’d done what she had to do.
Now, here Jane was, back in the clutches of the most evil people she’d ever known. She’d been so lost in her own head that she didn’t even recognize Professor Russell when he claimed to be her father. Her stomach recoiled as she remembered him touching her in a fatherly manner and pretending to care for her. The way he’d begun to look at her in the year or two before she escaped gave her the creeps. And now that she had intimate knowledge of what that look might mean, she was determined he’d never get the chance to try to act on any of the repugnant thoughts he might be having.
With that, an image of Colt flashed in her mind. She should have listened to him. She hoped that he’d forgive her stubbornness someday. She might never see him or anyone else she cared about ever again. But one thing she knew for sure was, if she went down, she would take the whole damn bunch with her.
Her indignation for the injustices served by this group of malicious, power-hungry criminals began to build, and this time, she could feel it. As her anger compounded, she could almost feel her blood boiling. It was as if she had a fever, and her system was burning off any lasting effects of the drugs she’d ingested through the water. She concentrated on keeping that anger within, letting it work on the slivered remains of her drowsiness.
She heard Professor Russell’s excited voice.
“You won’t believe it. Wait until you see what she can do now. It’s as if her weeks of freedom unleashed something we never knew existed. She can heal! She can stop the rain and control the breeze!”
Julia whined, “But, Andy, she’s a pain in the ass. Do we really need her? We were better off without her!”
“Julia, she is integral to the future of this organization. We need her more than anyone else here. Imagine being able to control those gifts. Imagine what we could accomplish!”
Jane heard the van door open, so she held her breath and stilled her heartbeat as much as possible. She felt Professor Russell’s hand grasp her calf, and she willed herself not to react.
“Alice. Alice, wake up! You’re finally back home, where you belong, dearest.”
She didn’t move.
“Hell. Dennis! How much did you put in that bottle anyway? She’s out cold!”
Dennis sounded nervous as he said, “Sorry, sir, but I wanted to be sure she would be properly contained. With the rumors and the stuff she told you she could do, I just had to know that she wouldn’t be an issue.”
“Well, you’ve succeeded. She’ll have to be carried in. See to it.”
Jane heard Professor Russell and Julia talking as they walked away while Dennis carefully reached in the back. He put his arms around her and pulled her limp body from the seat. She continued her pretense of being unconscious, while she planned her next move.
MY RAGE IS LOOSED,
AND THOSE WHO’VE WRONGED US WILL BE PUT IN THEIR PLACE.
Colt and Dr. Weston had driven as far as the dirt road would allow while still keeping them out of sight from the deceptively small compound laid out before them. Colt had a knife encased in his boot, and he’d tucked a 9mm Glock in the waistband of his jeans. He didn’t know what kind of trouble he’d run into, but he was as prepared as he would ever be.
Dr. Weston placed a hand on Colt’s shoulder. “Be careful. These people might be capable of anything.”
Colt, in a moment of impulse, pulled the older man into a quick hug. “Take care, Doc. Remember, if I’m not back within an hour, get the hell out of here.”
Dr. Weston nodded. “I will.”
Colt carefully made his way to the tall fence surrounding the property and watched as two men walked the fence line. He climbed a tree and precariously perched himself on a thick limb close to the gate. Once the guards were out of sight, he launched himself over the gate, narrowly missing the iron protruding from the top. He landed with a thud and quickly got up and moving before someone could come to check out any possible noises they might have heard.
He cautiously approached the building, staying hidden as much as possible. He admitted that, on the outside, it looked much like a small office building with a bay door for something as seemingly innocuous as paper or supply deliveries. But he suspected the reality was much more problematic. He saw the bay door open, so he ducked down behind a pile of large rocks and watched.
A van matching the description Peter had given him pulled up next to the door. Colt had to restrain his need to run in, his gun blazing, and get her out. But at this point, he didn’t even know if she was still in there.
The sun was quickly setting, and it was going to be a challenge to keep everything and everyone in view.
A tall woman emerged from the now open door and put her hands on her hips. Her body language indicated she was impatient and maybe annoyed. When the van doors opened, he saw two men he didn’t recognize and the man who pretended to be Jane’s father. Jane didn’t climb out behind them, and Colt once again had to fight the urge to rush in and find her.
Colt was far enough away that he couldn’t clearly hear the conversation between the woman and the fake Mr. Daniels, but he knew women well enough to tell she was not happy.
She pointed at the van. He gestured to it as well. Then, she crossed her arms and appeared to pout. Fake Mr. Daniels turned around and reached into the van. Whatever he was doing, it wasn’t working out like he’d planned, so he yelled at someone named Dennis. The larger man came forward, spoke for a moment, and then reached into the van himself.
Colt gripped the rock in front of him as he saw Dennis pull back with an unconscious Jane in his arms.
Slipping closer to them, he flattened his back against the wall and pulled out his gun. He didn’t know how many more were inside, but he had enough rounds to kill every damn one of them standing there, if necessary.
He heard the woman gasp in outrage.
“What has happened to her? She’s…she’s—”
Professor Russell smiled. “She’s blossomed, Julia.”
Julia growled her displeasure. “She’s not a flower, Andy. She’s a weapon. It would serve you well to remember that.”
Dennis looked concerned. “Uh, Professor? I don’t think she’s breathing.”
Professor Russell pushed past Julia and grabbed Jane’s wrist. He couldn’t find a pulse. “You moron! You gave her too much! You might have killed her!”
Julia cackled and gave the limp girl a disgusted look. “Thank God.”
Dennis gingerly placed her body on the dirt-packed drive and stepped back.
Colt prepared to spring into action.
As Professor Russell leaned over her, her eyes shot open. He recoiled, quickly noting that her irises were almost the color of her hair.
She pushed her arms out in front of her, throwing the three people standing before her back against the building. She stood, staring at them. Her hair ruffled as the wind began to whip into a frenzy, picking up dirt as it gathered around her.
Colt could hear shouts coming from inside the building, but the dust had kicked up so bad that he could barely see anything past Jane. He took that moment to bolt toward her, calling her name.
Jane turned her head toward him, and with one hand, she held him in place. Quickly realizing it was Colt, she released her grasp and the intensity in her eyes softened.
Colt reached her side, gun in hand, and smiled at her.
She raised her hands once more, and dust became a solid wall, floating in place. She grabbed Colt’s hand and slowly started backing away from the building. She knew that wouldn’t hold Professor Russell and his men off for long. They’d worked far too hard to find her, and they wouldn’t let her slip away again without a fight.
As if on cue, shots rang out, and bullets pierced through the barrier she’d erected in front of them. She could hear yelling on the other side and assumed Professor Russell was again trying to convince his cohorts she was valuable to them only if she was alive. More shots were fired, and she pulled Colt to her, tightly wrapping her arms around him.
When she was sure the rain of bullets was over, she again grabbed his hand, and they bolted for the gate.
Colt frantically ran through the various ways to get it open, knowing that it would be mere moments before Professor Russell and his men caught up, wall or no wall.
Jane already had it covered. As they neared the gate, she pushed her right hand forward and flicked her middle and ring finger inward. In that instant, the large iron gate flew off its hinges as if it were as light as a feather.
Colt smiled as they both took off into a full sprint. God, I love her!
They reached Dr. Weston’s car, and he already had the engine running. They jumped in the backseat, and he pulled away as quickly as he could, leaving a cloud of dust behind him. They drove for several minutes before they heard gunshots.
Jane turned to Dr. Weston and instructed him to keep driving. Then, she turned in her seat and peered out the back window. Just as she was about to once again display her abilities, a bullet hit a rear tire, and Dr. Weston lost control of the car. He struggled to keep the vehicle on the road, but it ended up pitching into a steep ditch before coming to an abrupt stop.
Colt checked on Jane, and upon seeing she was fine, he moved to Dr. Weston next. He was okay but badly shaken.
Jane kicked out the side window and started to climb out. “You guys stay put. I’ve got this.”
Colt shook his head. “Not happening, beautiful. I’m coming with you.”
She glared at him but then continued to make her way out of the car and onto the road with Colt directly behind her. She stood in the middle of the dirt pathway, looking at the oncoming van.
It stopped short of reaching them, and Professor Russell stepped out with his hands in the air.
She looked at Colt once more. “Please, get back to the car. Protect Dr. Weston.”
Her expression and the determination in her eyes told him all he needed to know.
Colt moved closer and pulled her to him for a quick kiss. Then, he nodded and started walking backward. “You got this, sweetheart. Give ’em hell.”
He ran back to the car and helped Dr. Weston maneuver out of the tilted vehicle. Then, they both watched as Jane continued to stare down Professor Russell.
“Turn around and leave, Professor Russell! It’s the only way you’ll walk away alive.” Her voice was menacing.
“Ah, dearest. Let’s discuss this like rational adults, shall we?”
“Sure. Should I drug you first, as you did me? Or would you prefer I lock you in a room and starve you for days? Maybe we could play one of your many games.”
Professor Russell looked nervous.
“I think I rather like that idea. Let’s play one of your games. We could reenact the game you forced Jeremy and Sandra to play—over and over and over.” Her sneer showed her teeth.
He could visibly see her fury mounting by the look on her face. “Please, think about this. We are trying to help people. Our purpose is to build an invincible army that could put an end to all wars. We could stop hunger and famine! We could rule the earth in peace! We could help the human race become more civilized.”
She released a harsh laugh. “No, it’s not about furthering the human race. You have no interest in that. You’d prefer to enslave them instead.”
At that moment, she heard the whiz of a tranquilizer gun somewhere from her left.
Jane turned toward the sound, and with a look, she stopped the dart in its tracks. It fell to the ground, landing just beside her. She stepped sideways, crushing it under her foot.
She glanced up and smiled. “Nice try, Professor Russell. It’s a shame it didn’t work.” She glanced at Dennis, noticing the weapon and tranquilizers in his hand. “It’s so very like you to have someone else do your dirty work.”
Dennis dropped his weapon and stepped back into the trees, fearing for his life. Once he was out of sight, she heard him running away.
Professor Russell cleared his throat. “My, how you’ve changed in such a short time, dearest.”
“Don’t ever call me dearest again.”
“So sorry. My mistake.” He took a couple of steps forward.
“Don’t move, Professor Russell! I’m not kidding!”
Professor Russell smiled. “It’s just you and me now. Why can’t we work this out?”
Her eyes flashed. “I’ll never work with the likes of you ever again.”
He shook his head. “No, you’ve got it all wrong. The only way to change this situation is for you to kill me. That’s not who you are. You simply don’t have it in you, Alice.”
She smiled at him, and her hatred for him and all he stood for practically radiated off of her.
“Too bad for you I’m not Alice anymore.”
She spread her hands out to her sides, palms forward, and lifted her face to the sky. The sun seemed to maneuver itself simply to shine on her alone. The wind began to pick up, and dark clouds started rolling in behind her. Lightning cracked across the sky, bringing with it an intense rumbling that shook the earth.
She looked at him and whispered, “I am Jane.”
Though it was a whisper, her voice carried on the wind and reached Professor Russell as if it were a shout. He started backing up, true fear evident on his face for the first time.
She pulled her arms inward, and the trees seemed to reach for Professor Russell, trying to grab him. He ran then, his panic causing him to stumble.
She walked toward the van, and as she pushed forward, the sky above her rotated and twisted.
Dr. Weston and Colt observed from their place near the car, experiencing the event, but they were not in any obvious danger. She had it contained to focus solely on her target.
Colt watched in astonishment.
Dr. Weston’s mouth was hanging open. He looked at Colt with eyes so wide that they appeared to barely stay in their sockets. “What the hell?”
Colt held in an inappropriate laugh as he witnessed the always proper doctor losing his decorum. He turned his face to the wind and smiled. “You said it, Doc. She’s damn amazing.”
Jane inclined her head forward, and the funnel cloud above her moved to the van, tossing it out of her way. It continued moving forward, clearing a path for her.
Professor Ru
ssell attempted to run, but as he heard the thunderous noise behind him, he turned. His vision was filled with the image of an angry young woman with fire-red hair surrounding her like a halo. The storm around her was at her command, and she was sending it after him. The funnel spat out the van and then continued in his direction like a heat-seeking missile.
As the darkness surrounded him, Professor Russell looked at Jane one last time. He gazed at the face that once was full of love and compassion for all, and he realized that she would now be his undoing.
NO LONGER DO I RUN FROM SHADOWS. WHEN THEY CALL HER NAME,
I SCREAM BACK, “I AM JANE!”
Jane stood in the middle of the road, watching the wind and rain sweeping away all that had corrupted her existence.
She hadn’t seen what happened to Professor Russell, but she didn’t believe there was any way he could have survived the cascade of fury she’d just thrown his way. It had been building for years, and today, she’d found the strength to take a stand and face her fears. She fully expected that, in a few days, the news would be full of stories about the freak storm that had carried his body miles away.
Her heart was pounding so loudly that it seemed to drown out any other noises surrounding her. She briefly thought about those still left at the compound. She wondered if Sandra and Jeremy were still there. Her heart ached as she ran down a list of names and faces she’d left behind so many weeks ago.
Jane turned to see Colt and Dr. Weston approaching.
Colt smiled at her, but it was quickly replaced by a frown. “Jane? Are you okay?”
She nodded slowly, but she felt herself fading into blackness. Colt wrapped his arms around her and noted the blood running from her ears. She was also starting to bleed from her nose.
“Doc! We need to get her to the hospital now!”
Dr. Weston moved toward his car but instantly turned back. “Colt, we don’t have a vehicle anymore.”
Colt let out a string of obscenities, and then he picked her up and carried her to the side of the road. He sat down in a soft patch of grass, holding her in his lap. “Jane, sweetheart, open your eyes. Look at me.”