by A. Kennedy
Mr. Spence laid his glasses on the table and closed his eyes. “I knew you were dating someone, but I didn't know he was the killer the Society has been trying to capture.” He opened his eyes and took a deep breath while studying me. “As you now know, I've kept tabs on you for a long time. I know the friends you've had and the guys you've dated. It might sound like I was being a stalker, but your mom knew what I was doing. And I knew when you started sleeping through classes that something was extremely wrong.”
I shook my head, trying to understand this crazy information being given to me. “Then why the secrecy? Why can't you just tell Ginger what's going on?”
“As your guardian, you are my first priority. I don’t tell others about you or about your powers. Not even Ginger. Ginger is oblivious to the fact that I am your guardian, and it needs to stay that way. My second priority is serving as Ginger's trusted advisor. She wouldn't have let just anyone take you, but she trusted me enough.”
I frowned. “How exactly did you convince her to let me go with you?”
Mr. Spence’s smiled wide, making his cheeks look chubbier than they were. “I told her I would earn your trust and you would tell us all we needed to know.”
I smirked. “And she believed you?”
Mr. Spence arched his eyebrows. “Well, you're here. Aren't you?”
“So how do I know you really aren't on her side?” I leaned forward.
Jason, who had been quietly making breakfast, laughed.
“I'm your guardian.” His voice quivered with emotion. “I'm keeping a promise to my best friend, who was more like a brother. I would never betray you, Windy. Have you heard the saying, keep your friends close and your enemies closer?”
Of course, I'd heard the phrase. I nodded.
His nostrils flared. “Ginger is my enemy.”
“But she's head of the Society. Aren't we supposed to trust her?” I rolled my eyes.
“We are supposed to. But let me ask you this,” it was Mr. Spence’s turn to lean closer to me, “do you?”
Jason and Mr. Spence were watching me, waiting intently for my answer. The Society was the government for Manipulators. Despite my opposing views, talking about Ginger seemed treasonous. Jason walked over with three plates filled with eggs, sausage, and biscuits. My stomach growled like it had in the car, reminding me that I was famished.
“Well?” Jason said as he placed a plate in front of me. He was still waiting for an answer.
“No,” I said quietly, unsure if the answer was correct. All I knew was that my gut told me not to trust her.
Chapter 15
I was snuggled up in a pair of arms that intimately wrapped around my body. We were in a field, lying on a blanket. The breeze was slightly pushing my hair around. I knew I was upset about something, but my giddiness made me forget why I was worried.
“Windy?” Ryan's breath tickled the top of my head.
“Yes?” I nuzzled into Ryan’s chest.
He ran his hand through my hair. “You know we can’t be together.”
“Yes, I’ve been told,” I huffed. “Why? It doesn't make any sense.”
“Because it’s not allowed, and I’m sure you know why. You just haven’t realized it yet.”
“Haven’t realized it?” Even in my dreams, getting a straight answer proved difficult. I didn't even know if I wanted to date Ryan. Yet, there I was, dreaming that I was with him.
“You’ll realize it in time.”
“Ryan, can’t you just tell me? I’m sick of these vague answers I always get.”
“Windy, please don’t be mad,” Ryan pleaded. “Once you realize it, you may be able to do something about it.”
“I can do something about it? You mean there might be a chance we could go on a date and not have the world tell us we can’t?”
“Exactly. I know you can do it, too. You’re the only one capable of changing the tradition.”
“Tradition? Is that what this is about?” I rolled on my back and looked up at Ryan who was leaning over me. He was close enough I could see the deeper blue specks that floated in his eyes. They were moving like currents in the ocean. “A tradition keeps Manipulators apart?”
“Not all Manipulators.” His hand cupped my face. I could feel the warmth radiating off him, and I became acutely aware of how close we were to one another. He leaned down and rubbed his nose against mine. “Windy,” he said breathlessly, “I like your smile. Your laughter. And your eyes.” He studied me as if I were fragile, and he wasn't sure how to hold me without breaking me. “You are amazing.” He let the words roll slowly off his tongue.
Chills ran down my spine. I took a deep breath, smelling the freshly cut grass and the flowers that grew nearby. I closed my eyes. This moment, I wanted to remember. I felt Ryan move his hand off my cheek. I opened my eyes and he was gone.
I sat up in bed replaying the dream. I covered my face with my hands. Why was I attracted to Ryan? I shouldn’t be attracted to anyone. Then again, maybe I was attracted for all the wrong reasons. Maybe his presence gave me comfort, and comfort was what I needed in order to get through this agonizing phase of being a prisoner and having to train.
Yesterday, after we ate breakfast with Jason, Mr. Spence brought me back to Ginger. She didn’t have time to see me, so I was placed back in the holding cell. While I was alone and sitting in the quiet, I tried to practice clearing my mind. With every attempt, I found something new to fill it. I spent the rest of my day looking out the window or lying on the bed. The only interaction I had with anyone was when food was brought to me. Even then, they didn't talk. They just dropped the tray off and left.
A knock on the door told me that it was time to have my meeting with Ginger and Mr. Spence. Before I could say anything, the door opened. Mr. Spence walked in, looking uneasy.
“Are you ready?” he asked, eyeing me with pity.
“Let me get into some different clothes, and I’ll be down.”
He shook his head. “Sorry. I’ve been informed to make sure you are by my side the entire walk.”
My heart sank with frustration. I painted on a fake smile, “Okay. I’ll be ready in five.”
“I’ll be waiting outside.” The corner of his mouth turned slightly into a somber smirk before he walked out.
When I stepped into the hallway, Mr. Spence was waiting, but not alone. He had two other guards with him, which made me skittish. In a single-file line, a guard walked in front of me, and Mr. Spence walked behind. We passed through winding halls that took us to the ballroom, and through another set of doors that led to another hall. It was lined with portraits of people I didn't know. Each picture had a particular sculpture in the background of the painting; the sculptures looked like animals. At the end of the long hall was a highly secured door.
The guard slid a key card through a reader and stated his name. The voice recorder replied, “Voice recognized. Access approved.”
I gaped at the room we entered. It was as big as plane hangar that could hold a 757 jet. To my left, there were TVs and computer screens that covered the entire wall, while another wall held knobs and gadgets. In the opposite direction, the room looked fit to perform surgery. There were two beds in the surgical area and one looked to be occupied. Run, my gut told me. My feet kept moving. Deep down, I knew the empty bed was for me.
Our footsteps echoed off the concrete floor while we made our way across. As we got closer, I noticed a door on the other side of the laboratory area open. Ginger walked in, decked out in a dress and high heels. Her outfit resembled the one from the meeting the other night. However, this time she adorned the dress with a lab coat. “So glad you could make it, Windy,” she said with a devious grin. Her heels clicked as she made her way to the empty bed. “Why don’t you come on over and hop up here in this bed. We have a lot to do.”
A lot to do? I was speechless and scared. Before I knew it, Mr. Spence guided me by the arm to the bed. The closer we got to the bed, the more the person lying in the first b
ed looked familiar. I didn’t fully recognize her until I got to the bed I was supposed to lay in.
Tears sprang to my eyes, and it felt like a vise had tightened around my throat. “Momma?”
There was no response from my mom. Mr. Spence's grip on my arm tightened. I tried to pull away, but his grip was strong. I looked at him, hoping my face revealed as much agony as I felt. He ignored my gaze, which made my heart sink into my stomach. He told me he was on my side.
“Hop on up, Windy,” Ginger said. “This should be fun.”
How could she do something so cruel? My mom was the only family I had. I took a deep breath to control the pain of betrayal. I looked Ginger in the eyes. She seemed pleased to see my fury.
Through clenched teeth, I asked, “What have you done to my mom?”
The wind started whipping around me and was becoming fiercer the more I thought about what was possibly wrong with my mom—knocked out, drugged, dead.
Ginger spoke in a harsh tone that took me by surprise, “Stop the wind or I pull the plug on your mom. And I will make sure you have the same fate as her.”
I couldn’t calm myself. I took a deep breath, readying myself for a battle. The wind started to blow papers around and knock equipment over. I saw Ginger nod and then I felt a prick in my back, just above my butt. My body went immediately numb as I tried to turn to see who stabbed me. Feeling sluggish, I watched the tiled floor draw near. My body screamed for me to catch myself, but I couldn't. I ended up face down on the floor. I could hear scuffling behind me and feel the pressure of hands grabbing hold of me.
“There, there. Everything will be just fine now,” Ginger said as the distance wedged itself between the floor and me.
Placed on the empty bed lying on my back, I looked up at the high ceiling and stared into the fluorescent lights.
“I bet you’re wondering what I’m doing?” Ginger spoke with amusement. “What’s that? Oh, you poor thing, unable to talk. Well, I will go ahead and tell you. I don’t believe your mother is your real mom. You manipulate better than most people who trained all their lives. Even though you seem to fake it pretty well. So, being as talented as you are, my only thought is that you must have two manipulation types coursing through you.”
I wanted to look at Ginger as she talked, but my head was immobile. Judging by the pressure in my arm, someone was doing something to it.
“Yes, my dear,” Ginger continued, elated, “we are doing a blood test to make sure you and your mother’s DNA match, and just in case, I want to make sure your DNA matches with that of your father’s. Surprise, surprise, we still have his DNA running around here. He was good; maybe even the best Wind Manipulator we’ve had in 50 years or so, but you surpass him by at least tenfold.”
Ginger wasn’t making any sense. Everything she said made my head throb. Why would she not believe my parents were really my parents? Furthermore, what did she mean by two manipulations? I am a Manipulator of wind and wind only.
“I’ll be back,” I heard Ginger state, and I could hear her high heels as she walked away.
Mr. Spence came to look me in the eyes. He looked tense, his eyes glazed with moisture. “I’m sorry,” he mouthed and walked away.
Ginger was coming back. I could hear her heels again. She spoke to Mr. Spence, “I want you to take Windy out again as soon as she has recovered from the anesthesia.”
“Yes ma’am,” Mr. Spence said, sternly. “What about Suzie?” I could barely make out the tremors in his voice as he spoke.
Ginger simply replied, “Let her go back to the condo as long as her DNA matches.”
“And if it doesn’t?” Mr. Spence asked.
“We will have a trial.”
There was a pause, and I wish I could see what Ginger’s facial features looked like. I didn’t like them discussing my mom. Especially with her and me, right here, helpless, unable to defend ourselves.
“Take Windy back to her room,” Ginger demanded the guards.
One of the guards lifted me from the bed with an arm under my neck and another arm under my knees. He didn't look down. I watched as he strained to walk up the stairs, tension showing in his jaw line. I hated that that was the only thing I could look at.
Before I knew it, I was back in my room. “I'm sorry she did that,” the guard said as he laid me down. He shook his head, pity in his eyes. “She shouldn't have been allowed to do that.”
I went to reply, but I was still unable to talk.
Chapter 16
I was lying in my bed and looking up at the ceiling. I tried to sleep, but whatever Ginger drugged me with left me sleepless.
A knock sounded on my door. I expected Mr. Spence. The betrayer had already been in several times to check on me. He didn't say anything. He would look at me, pat me on the arm and walk out. I willed myself to move. Finally, I felt progress. My leg moved slightly. I heard footsteps enter the room and was shocked to see Boa. He bent down and gave me a hug. The embrace was odd due to my immobility.
“Hi, Windy.” He paused, waiting to see if I would respond. “Still aren’t able to talk, are ya? I’m sorry about that. Ginger can be a real bitch sometimes. Honestly, I can’t wait to see the look on Ginger’s face when she gets the results.” He laughed. “Mr. Spence told me everything. At first, I wanted to march over here and strangle the witch. It wouldn’t have done any good. She always gets her way, and she’ll soon realize how wrong she is.”
I wanted to tell him he had no idea.
Boa chuckled softly as if I responded. “Your face muscles must be starting to feel again. I swear I could see a grin on your face. Anyway, I’m here to inform you that you’re going to be my date for tomorrow’s dinner.m”
Tomorrow’s dinner? I had yet to hear anything about a dinner.
“It’s going to be awesome. My sister Kate will be there too, and I think Mr. Spence is trying to talk Ginger into letting you go shopping with her tomorrow morning for a gown.”
This must be a fancy dinner if I had to have a gown. The only other time I had ever worn a gown was to my senior prom.
Boa laughed to himself. “You remember when we were little and I was attacked by those bees. What was it, three or four? Anyways, we ran to your house to get an adult. Then you insisted to go with me to the hospital, despite what our parents said.” He paused as if waiting for a response. Without hearing anything he continued. “They gave me some medicine that practically numbed my whole body. I couldn’t talk or move.” He chuckled at the memory. “Well, I guess this is how you felt waiting for me to get better.
“You talked and talked. After you ran out of things to say, you started telling me stories. Remember?”
Boa’s face lit up. “You’re starting to grin …”
“You ...” I went to reply but my speech sounded more slurred than I expected, and I couldn’t finish the sentence.
He outright laughed. “I give you five minutes and I bet you’ll be up and we can head to the beach house. I’m going to go find Mr. Spence.”
Boa ran out of the room. Each passing moment, I tried moving as many muscles as I could. The beach house sounded delightful. I was even looking forward to seeing Jason. He was a whole lot better than Ginger, and even though he might be egoistical, I was starting to warm up to him.
By the time Boa came back with Mr. Spence, I was sitting up in my bed. It took all the strength I had to get in that position. While I was alone, I tried talking to myself, but the words continued to come out garbled.
“Windy,” Mr. Spence said, “I’m glad to see you're finally coming around. I think they gave you a higher dose than you needed.”
“Humph,” was all I managed to get out. I still couldn’t believe Ginger did that. Not only to me but to my mom as well.
“And, Windy,” Mr. Spence said. “I know you have a lot of questions and I’m probably not someone you want to see right now, but as soon as we get out of here, I’ll fill you in. Okay?”
I wasn’t concerned where his allegiance was
at that moment. My concern was for my mom. “Howww’shh myy moummm?” They laughed, embarrassing me.
“She’s doing decent. She is already back at the beach house. I think she was upset with what Ginger did as well, but agreeing with Ginger is better than the alternative.”
I nodded, hurt that I couldn't do anything to help my mom.
“You think you can stand?” Boa asked, trying to hold back his laughter.
I shrugged my shoulders as best as I could. I tried lifting my legs; they moved more than they had a few moments ago. Slowly, I scooted to the edge of the bed.
Both Boa and Mr. Spence came to my sides and helped me to stand. I wobbled a little as they tried to steady me.
“Whoa there, sunshine.” Boa laughed. His grip stiffened, trying to make sure I wasn't going to fall.
Once I steadied myself, Boa and Mr. Spence's grips began to loosen.
“How do you feel? Can you stand on your own?” Mr. Spence asked.
My legs felt secure enough underneath me. I nodded, not trusting myself to talk clearly.
“You should be good by the time we get to the beach,” Boa said, confidently. “And be ready for some training. I’ve heard Jason has been getting some pointers from other trainers.”
Oh, this should be good. Maybe someone will have “Eye of the Tiger” playing in the background while I train. I couldn’t help but smile at my own thought.
“What’s so funny?” Boa asked.
I shrugged my shoulders and my smile deepened.
When we pulled up to the beach house, Mr. Spence and Boa helped me get out of the car.
“You got her?” Mr. Spence asked.
Boa had one hand around my waist to keep me steady. “I do,” he replied. Turning to look at me, he asked, “Can you walk on your own?”
“I think so,” I said, finally able to talk again.
Boa released his grip from my waist. I felt almost in control of my own body again. My legs wobbled but not enough that I couldn’t stand on my own. Staying close, Boa walked with me to the back of the house. I kicked my shoes off when we got to the sand. I looked out at the ocean. It had been a long time since I'd played in the crashing waves, and I yearned to play in them again.