by A. Kennedy
“Yes, he is part of a society, clan, whatever you want to call it, that goes around killing people that are considered unnatural.” The word unnatural hung between us. He studied me as if he were looking for clues. Clues to what, I had no idea. “They think unnatural people should never walk the surface of the earth and will do anything to destroy them.”
“Unnatural?”
“I know it’s a hard concept to grasp, but think of Superman as an unnatural. He had the ability to do things humans can’t do. Now, Superman isn’t real, but people are out there who can control elements of the earth. We call them Manipulators. Zac’s job is to destroy them all.”
I tried to not let the news jar me. The man just described people like me. I sat still, my desire to escape stifled. There were more Manipulators, a lot more.
The only other person I’d met that could manipulate the elements was my dad. He mentioned that there were more, but I never met anyone else, at least none that I could recall. Once my dad died, I tried to forget all the things he taught me. Forgetting was easier than living with the pain.
Why would anyone want to kill people like us? We were just as human as they were. The only difference was that we were able to manipulate elements. Why would Zac want to kill all Manipulators? Was he really that evil? As I worked out the new revelations in my head, Doug interrupted them. “And now to answer your question, I’m Doug.” Doug walked to the doorway and stopped. He looked back at me as if he was deciding if he should say something else. His mind made up, he walked back to the bed and cut the ropes on my wrists.
As I sat up on the bed and analyzed the damage I did, I couldn’t help but wonder why these people tied me up in the first place. I was no longer in my dress. Instead, I had on a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt that was a little bit too big for me. Did they think I was like Zac and would possibly kill them? Couldn’t they tell I was scared out of my mind when I heard Zac kill that man? I could never kill someone, even if I were trying to protect myself. How could I fall for a man that could kill someone else and not have a second thought about it? What if I had time to tell Zac the truth about me? Would I still be here right now? Just the thought scared me. Doug saved my life. However, he didn't mention where I was.
The air was pumping throughout the room. I felt like I was on the beach. The only thing missing was the rushing waves and the salty taste in the wind. I realized I was the cause of the air. I looked down at my hands. My emotions guided the molecules, which caused the wind to be choppy. I closed my eyes and calmed myself. The wind brought back happy memories when my family and I would go to the beach. My dad, my mom, me—my mom—she must be a worried sick. I was supposed to be at her house this morning bright and early to help her clean out her garage. How long would it be before she filed a missing person report?
The door to the room opened, and a woman walked in. She was skinny and a little taller than me. She had the same copper hair and the same blue eyes as Doug. “Glad to see you’re alive. I made you a grilled cheese and some soup. I hope you like it.” She smiled and I could see the tear stains that lined her cheeks.
“Thank you,” was all I managed to say. I didn’t even get a chance to ask her name before she was out the door. I looked down at the food. My stomach growled, but I couldn’t bring myself to eat. All I wanted to do was get out of there. I struggled with the ropes that secured my feet. It took a while, but the knots started to loosen and once I had them off, I bounced off the bed. I found a pair of shoes next to the dresser that were a half-size too big. They would have to do.
I tiptoed to the door and listened for any noises. My main concern was to know whether someone was coming down the hall or not. After several minutes of hearing only voices coming from somewhere far from the other side of the house, I headed toward the window. Looking down after I opened the window, I started to second-guess my decision. I was up higher than I expected. I took a deep breath and pushed my feet through the window so that I sat on the sill. With a moment of hesitation, I heard the door creak open. The woman walked back in and started yelling for Doug, giving me all the incentive I needed to jump. Before I knew it, I was on the ground and running for the woods.
Chapter 4
All I could hear was my heavy breathing and my racing heart. Trees and bushes surrounded me. I tried to ignore the limbs and briars that tore at my arms and the low branches that threatened to knock me out. I found myself running in another direction when I came to areas where the growth was too thick for me to squeeze through. Unseen critters scampered away as I trudged too close. As I ran, I prayed that I didn't meet an animal that would consider me part of its diet.
I didn’t know how long I had been running. My chest tightened and it became a chore to inhale and exhale. I had an advantage of getting a head start out the window, but if I didn’t do something quickly, they would catch up to me. I knew I couldn’t keep running. I had run more than I ever had in my life. Slowing down my pace, I started to look for somewhere to hide and found hollowed out tree. The space was just big enough for me to fit. Studying the rotted core of the trunk, I cringed. I knew there had to be bugs that made their home in the tree, bugs that might possibly crawl on me. I climbed in the trunk and began to control my breathing. I closed my eyes tightly and concentrated on the world around me.
As my breathing became normal again, I heard someone coming closer to the tree. I didn’t dare move, scared that whoever was near would hear the slightest movement. I tried to breath slower. The crunch of leaves became louder and I knew my time was almost up. I opened my eyes ready to see who was about to find me. I took a low, steady deep breath. A whitetail deer who didn't seem to notice me was about five feet from the trunk, grazing on the berries that filled a bush. This was the closest I had ever been to a wild animal. Not realizing it, I began to relax. While she ate, she was almost mute. The only noise came from her pulling the berries from the bush.
The deer's ears perked back and she tilted her head to the side. My heart started to beat faster. Did she notice me? I didn’t know how. I hadn’t moved. I jumped when I heard what spooked the deer. Someone was screaming my name. The deer dashed away. Then I heard someone talk as if they were a few feet from me.
“Well, she couldn’t ha' gone fa',” an unfamiliar man said with a deep Australian accent.
Then I heard a reply that I did know, “No, I think she is close.” The voice belonged to Doug.
“How can ya tell?” the Australian voice replied breathlessly. “She could ha' gone a million different ways, mate.”
“I think she is like us,” Doug huffed out.
“Ay?”
“I think she has the power to manipulate the wind.” Doug paused before continuing. “The feeling of the air is different around her. Every time I walked into the room it felt like the air was on or a window was open, but neither were.” He sighed, “I know you didn't see her, but she looks like Darren.”
I covered my mouth and hoped that they didn't hear my gasp of surprise. Darren was my dad’s name.
“Let’s find her then, mate. If she is Darren’s daughter, she needs protecting more than ever.”
Protecting from who? Protection from these crazy people discussing my powers or from Zac? As I heard the leaves and branches crunch under their feet, I released the breath I didn't know I was holding. The noise disappeared from my ears, and I closed my eyes. I felt a tear fall down my cheek, but I brushed it away. I didn't have time to cry. I only had time to survive.
Unintentionally, I dozed off waiting for the chance to leave my shelter. After I awoke, I crawled out of the tree trunk and brushed off the dirt that found its way into my lap. Too bad I couldn’t brush away the damp smell that clung to me from the decaying wood. The sun was starting to descend. I held my hand up to the horizon like my dad had taught me years ago. I counted the fingers between the sun and the horizon—four. That meant I had about an hour before the sun would set. My next obstacle was getting out of the woods before the coyotes found me.
First, I needed to figure out where I was. Being lost in the woods was one thing, but being oblivious to my location heightened my anxiety. The only thing I could think of was to walk in a straight path, and maybe I would run into a road that would be familiar to me. With my luck, I would be the person who thought they were walking straight but actually walked in circles. Running out of time to come up with a better idea, I started on my unwelcome adventure.
As I walked, I studied the ground and thought about what I would be doing if I weren’t here. I’d be helping my mom. My heart swelled with pain. I hoped she was all right. Then I would go home and study for finals in my lonely apartment.
“I wonder what Professor Spence would say if he found out I was kidnapped,” I said aloud to no one.
I laughed. Maybe he would analyze me differently if he knew I started talking to trees. Watching my hands swing by my side as I walked, I noticed my left hand and stopped walking. If I weren’t here, would I have a ring on my finger? Chills ran over my body as my answer.
I walked for about thirty minutes before I heard what sounded like water rushing over rocks. The sound was like music to my ears. If I could get to the river, I could at least follow it up or downstream. I continued to walk toward the sound, hoping to find the body of water soon. I found a drop-off that stopped me in my tracks. I stomped my foot and wanted to scream. Time was slipping from me, and I needed to climb down an embankment that was four times my height. I looked out across the valley. The ground was lined with ferns and a few trees and then I found it. The river.
I started to descend the embankment by holding onto tree roots sticking out of the side of the dirt wall and finding holes in the numerous rocks and boulders that would hold my feet and hands. My arms and legs began to shake from overexertion. I looked down and noticed that I was halfway there. My foot slipped causing my other foot to lose control and fly out from under me. My hands tightened around the root I was clinging to, and a scream caught in my throat. I took a deep breath and managed to place my feet into a secure spot. I continued to descend at a slower pace. I didn’t dare look down for a second time. I couldn’t afford to lose control again. Finally, my foot hit solid ground. I looked up, laughing. The embankment didn’t look as tall from below. I looked down at my hands. They were covered with scratches and scrapes with some wounds oozing blood. Despite my circumstances, I found a new wave of energy. I ran to the river. The rushing water gave me a sense of hope and a reason to continue. I stopped and took a deep breath, allowing the smell of the river to fill my lungs. I decided to walk upstream, more like an intuition, and I hoped that my gut feeling was right.
I walked until I heard what sounded like cars going over a bridge. Then I ran. I was relieved when I saw the huge cement posts that held the pavement above the river. Going up the side of the bridge was a well-beaten path that led to the roadway. Once I was at the top of the path, I looked up and down the road that would hopefully take me somewhere safe. However, with the curvy road and looming trees, I realized that I was still nowhere.
Chapter 5
I prayed for a sign of human life in either direction. Two walls of trees lining the road were the only scene that greeted my restless eyes. No houses, no driveways, not even the sound of vehicles. I was exhausted, mentally and physically. Leaning down to catch my breath, I felt the tears begin to build up. I sneered at the desolate highway in front of me. I clenched and unclenched my fists. I truly didn’t know which way to go. I began walking in one direction, hoping that I would find civilization soon. Left foot, right foot, left foot, right. As my legs began to shake, I watched as each foot landed on the pavement to make sure that it would stay and not slip out from under me.
I didn’t know how long I’d been walking on the road. What was left of my daylight was slipping from me. The trees made everything darker, and shadows started creeping closer as the crickets began to sing. I walked on, afraid to stop. Afraid that whatever lurked in the woods watched and waited for me to finally give up.
My stomach started to rumble; I could feel it, but a rusty old blue Chevrolet truck coming up the road drowned out the growl. I started waving my hands, hoping the truck would stop and help me. I didn't care about the danger I was putting myself in. If I continued to walk in the dark, I was in just as much trouble, if not more. Who knew what kind of animals were in the woods waiting to devour a helpless, wandering human? Relief coursed through my body when the truck started to slow down and rolled to a stop.
“Howdy ma’am, need a ride?” The driver said. He had a southern drawl that seemed to calm my nerves. Looking into the truck, I thought he seemed trustworthy, but Zac did too at first. There was just enough light to see the gentleman's crooked grin and his dark hair. I couldn't speak. I just continued to look at the stranger.
“Well?” he said. He must have thought I was crazy. Why else would some random woman walk on a deserted road at almost dark? “Ma’am, you okay? Do we need to get you to a hospital or something?”
“Hospital? Ummm, no, no hospital. Uh, but help …” The words trailed off. I didn't know exactly what to say. The fear strangled me, and I managed to squeak out, “Please. I don’t think I can go home.” The words slipped from my mouth.
The stranger must have found my statement amusing because his grin grew wider. “Well hop on in, and if it’s all right with you, we’ll go back to my house and figure out where to go from there.”
“I need food,” I blurted out. Tears threatened to flow. I could feel them at the corners of my eyes waiting to fall. I took a deep breath. I started when the guy leaned over toward the passenger door. He must have seen the fear written all over my face.
“I'm just gonna open the door for ya, ma'am.” He said in a low voice, as if he were talking to a lost kitten. “It's ok. I promise I won't hurt ya.” I heard the click of the latch release, and he pushed the door open. He held his hand out for me to grab. I took his hand, praying that I didn’t just give myself a death sentence.
He didn’t say much on the ride to his house, which was only ten minutes up the road. I did learn that his name was Ryan, and I was somewhere in Dawsonville, Georgia, which is thirty miles north of where I thought I was. As we pulled up to his house, my nerves became worse, causing my stomach to twist in knots. We were in the middle of nowhere, and it took us at least two minutes to get down his driveway from the road. The fumes from the old truck made me want to gag. I didn’t care how nice this stranger seemed; I had seen horror movies that reminded me of this situation.
Ryan stopped the truck in front of a small log cabin. Despite my growing anxiety, I wanted to smile. The cabin reminded me of when my family would go camping in the mountains. We never stayed in the cabins but passed them to find a spot for the tent.
“This is my little piece of heaven,” he said as he jumped out of the truck.
I pushed the heavy door open to see Ryan there holding out his hand. I accepted his help only long enough to get out of the vehicle. As soon as my feet hit the ground, I let go. Even though my entire body was shaking, I was determined to walk on my own. I wanted to be strong and make sure this man knew that I was not someone to play with. I kept telling myself that I was ready to fight at any moment. However, with each step, my legs shook more and more violently.
“It’s … it’s nice,” I said as I tripped up the stairs. Way to go, I thought to myself. With the weakness and fatigue still present, I became almost immobile. A strong arm came up under my knees and another arm up under my neck. Ryan carried me the rest of the way. He opened the door with ease, and I could tell we were in a living room. He laid me down on the couch and covered me up with a light blanket. I inhaled deeply and could smell hints of garlic from something cooking. The smell reminded me of home. My eyes closed as I heard Ryan talking to someone else. I couldn’t make out what they were saying, and within moments I really didn’t care as I drifted off into oblivion.
Chapter 6
“Windy, do you know why we come to the beach multiple ti
mes every year, and I try to teach you more than ever how to use your powers here rather than at home?”
“Umm, because here at the beach we have the wind already blowing around and no one will realize what we are doing when we change the pattern.”
“Well, that is one way of looking at it, Windy,” my dad smiled approvingly. “But here is where our powers are stronger, and it’s easier for us to use them here. Here, we can show others like us how powerful we are, and that we are still part of the Society.” He wrapped his arm around me as we looked out over the ocean. “Do you know how many can control the wind?”
I shrugged, and answered hesitantly, “Two, me and you?”
“Haha, so you haven’t met Jason and his mom yet?”
I crinkled up my nose. “Who’s Jason?” I was hoping there would be another girl Manipulator.
“My princess, as far as the Society knows, there are only four people who can control the wind. That would be you, Jason, his mom, Abbey, and me. There are few like us, and that makes us special. The Society wishes to keep us only if we show that we can be loyal to them. That is why we come to the beach, and that is why we must show them our powers and that we are loyal patrons.”
“Who needs the stupid Society anyway? We live without them just fine.”
“Windy! I never want to hear you question the Society again. We need them as they need us.” He squeezed my shoulder and pulled me closer to him. “You and I, and others like us, would be dead without them. Windy, are you listening? Windy ...”
I sat up, relieved that I woke up from my dream. That memory, a memory I tried my best to forget, was one of the few times I became overly frustrated with my dad's views on the Society for Manipulators. There were others out there. Others like me. They would gather in Tybee at a location unknown to me. The Society was more of a joke in my opinion. It reminded me of a government for people who had powers.