by Lilah Boone
“How often do you hear him?”
“It’s sporadic. Some days it’s constant and other times a day or two will go by without a word. It sounds so real Alex, like it’s really him.”
He leaned in and lowered his voice. “Did you really love him Abbs?”
“I don’t think I had a choice in that matter. But I don’t know if love is the right term. It seems too small of a word somehow. But who knows? We only had a few days to get to know each other. We might’ve learned to hate each other eventually if given the chance.” Her smile was sad.
Alex wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulled her head into his chest. “Maybe, but I’m sure it would’ve been fun getting there. You were connected with each other and he was a part of you. I don’t think you’re crazy.”
Abby swallowed the lump in her throat. “I guess I’m just destined to be haunted then.”
He gave her a squeeze. “I’ll make sure no one thinks you’ve lost it. Okay?”
“Okay, but do me a favor? I know you and Jimmy have been doing some bonding since we went under. Don’t mention this to him okay? He probably won’t notice anything weird anyway. If it’s not classic cars or old TV shows he doesn’t really pay attention.”
“Okay. I won’t say anything to him.” He paused, pushed a strand of her hair from his chin. “I promise.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Wednesday, January 9th 2013, 11:27pm
“So what do you think?” Alex leaned against the wall of the bunker, his body propped up next to the bathroom door.
Jim rubbed his sunken eyes with the back of his hand. “Honestly? I think she’s having some sort of meltdown. She doesn’t want to deal with him being gone and her mind is creating an escape from reality. What else could it be?”
Alex nodded his head heavily. “Yeah, I think you’re probably right.”
Alex had given Abby over a week to come to grips with her delusions, but even as he broke his promise to her, she was in her bunk carrying on a conversation with a ghost.
“Maybe it has something to do with her visions,” Alex pondered. “Maybe they have negative effects.”
“Like schizophrenia? I don’t know, but nothing would surprise me at this point.”
Jim didn’t understand. Nothing was logical anymore. He was living in a bomb shelter with one person who could make dried apricots juicy and full of life again and another who could wave one freckled hand and heal deep wounds that would otherwise need sutures. Now his niece was losing her mind. That or she had a direct line to the afterlife. He was suddenly glad he couldn’t see any of the glowing. That would likely send him over the edge.
“What should we do about it?” Alex asked. “We can’t just hold her down and shake some sense into her.”
Jim shook his head, exhausted. “If her mind doesn’t want to believe it there’s not much we can do.”
Alex’s let out a heavy sigh, shoved his hands into his pockets. “I promised her I wouldn’t say anything to you about it, but I don’t want to lose her completely because of all this? There must be some way to shock her back to reality.”
“I don’t think so. Not until we get up top and show her the….” Jim squeezed his eyes shut against the image in his head. “…body.”
Alex nodded then stood up straighter. “I think you should talk to her. You’re the closest thing she’s ever had to a father. She might listen to you and start letting go.”
“I’m not old enough to be her father.” Jim shrugged. “But I guess it’s worth a try.”
The two of them walked the short distance to Abby’s bunk in silence. They listened for a second before disturbing her.
“You think so? That actually makes some sense. They’re Movers not Builders. Huh? Yeah, I’ll try that then.”
Alex tapped his fist lightly on the frame of her bunk. “Abby? Can we talk to you?”
She was quiet for a second, not bothering to open the curtain. “Who’s we?”
“Uh it’s me… Alex. And Jim.”
Abby flipped the curtain open now with a swoosh. “You told him didn’t you?”
Alex looked down at his shoes. “I didn’t know what else to do Abbs. We just want to help you get over it.”
She sighed heavily and stepped out of her bunk. Her eyes scanned the bunks seeing only closed curtains with no lights shining through. With her head she gestured for the three of them to go into the main room.
Abby turned hot eyes on Alex. “Couldn’t keep your mouth shut, could you Alex?”
Jim spoke up in defense. “It’s not his fault Abby. I asked him if he knew how you were doing and I pulled it out of him.” Jim gave Alex a sideways glance which told him to play along. “We just want to help.”
“How? Did you guys recently get degrees in psychology that I don’t know about? And what’s the point anyway? I’m not hurting anyone. In fact, Kyle is helping me figure out what ability the guys might have.”
She stopped and looked passed them, obviously listening to something they couldn’t hear.
“What’s the voice saying now Abby?” Jim leaned towards her, put his face in her line of sight.
“He’s telling me I shouldn’t be mad at Alex. That he’s grateful I have people around me who care.”
Jim raised his eyebrows. “Well you should listen to him. Ghost, delusion, or whatever that’s good advice.”
Abby plopped down at one of the tables and rested her head in her hand. “Yeah. I’ve been realizing lately that insane people are full of great advice.” She sighed. “Look, I’m okay. Stop worrying. I know that’s going to be hard considering I’ve turned into someone you would avoid on the street, but I’m also someone who has had visions of the future, who glows from the inside out. Whatever I am doesn’t come with an instruction manual. I’m sure there’s some reason that I can now communicate with the dead or at the very least my own seriously insightful subconscious.”
Jim nodded but Alex didn’t look convinced. “Just don’t go catatonic on me okay?”
Abby managed a chuckle. “I’ll do my best Alex.”
* * *
The next morning Abby was ready to continue cracking the code of the Yellow Gleamers. After her discussion with herself/Kyle the night before, she had some theories and was eager to try them out.
She finished up a small breakfast of Evie’s resurrected fruit before stepping to the doorway of the sleeping area. “Hey guys, meeting in the main room. I’d like everyone, but I especially need to see the Yellow guys.”
Everyone gathered around in the living area, looking tired. Even the two hounds looked annoyed as they plopped down onto the floor to get more rest.
Abby began. “I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what you guys can do.” She gestured to the men shining yellow against the back wall. “I think I’ve come up with a possibility.”
David rolled his eyes with an exaggerated movement of his head. “Been talking to your ghost again?”
Alex popped out from the doorway then, glaring at David to let the other man know he’d heard the comment.
Abby ignored the exchange and turned to Jake. “Why don’t you go first?”
Jake walked into the center of the room, turned to wink at Hannah. The red head’s cheeks darkened with a blush. He seemed to swagger even in sweatpants and a ragged tee shirt.
“Okay, I’m all yours. What am I supposed to do?” Jake asked.
Abby glanced around the room, her eyes settling on a row of unopened water bottles on the counter. “Try to pick one of those bottles up with your mind.”
Jake laughed, uneasy. “Right. Seriously, what do you want me to do?”
Abby’s face was straight. “I want you to move the water bottle with your mind.”
“How exactly am I supposed to do that though?”
She looked up for a second in thought. “Um… try some visualization. That seemed to work with the girls. And try to think of the ability as an instinct. If you are telekinetic, some part of you already k
nows how to move the bottle.”
Jake puffed out his cheeks, turned towards the bottle. “Well, here goes.”
He focused on the bottle with intensity, squinting his eyes and holding his breath. Nothing happened. Jake exhaled, relaxed. “I don’t know if I’m telewhatever- you-said. I tried but it didn’t budge an inch.”
Abby put her hand on his shoulder, very aware of the other eyes on her. “Try again but stay relaxed this time. Pushing like that is just going to pop a blood vessel in your eye.”
Jake brought a hand up to one eye, made a face. “Okay. That’s disturbing.”
“Maybe you’re wrong,” David said.
Alex popped out again. “Seriously dude, you need to shut up. I’ve had about enough.”
Abby held up her hand for quiet. “David, if you have something better to do please feel free to return to your bunk.”
There were no more complaints and Abby turned back to Jake with a nod. “Try again. You can do this. Just breathe normally and imagine your hand is physically lifting the bottle from the counter.”
He sucked in a breath, exhaled slowly and focused again on the bottle. It immediately started to shake.
The others looked on, letting out hushed gasps as the bottle began to tremble more noticeably.
Abby stood behind Jake, leaned towards his ear with a whisper. “Good Jake. Now lift it.”
His eyes narrowed and he lifted his hand from his side to aim it at the bottle. With a flick of his wrist he lifted it a foot from the counter with ease.
“Hold it as long as you can Jake.” Abby motioned towards David and Sam. “Join him. Lift the other bottles.”
Sam jumped up eagerly. David muttered an objection under his breath but Abby could see the hunger for power in his expression. She half expected him to lick his lips. David and Sam stood next to Jake and mimicked him. Before Abby could deliver more encouragement three bottles of water were floating around the room.
Sam laughed, waving his hand back and forth as his bottle flipped in circles. “This is so cool.”
“See you’re Movers,” Abby said with satisfaction. Kyle had been right. No she had been right, she corrected.
Even David was smiling as the three of them began to play, testing their new found abilities while the rest of the group watched with interest.
Abby let out a laugh. “Okay boys. Have fun but be careful not to wipe yourselves out.”
She turned to Evie where the darker woman sat watching the show. Abby took a handful of dried beans from her pocket and placed them on the table. “Do you think you could make one of these grow?”
Evie cocked her head. “I don’t know but I can try.”
“Yeah, give it a shot. Try doing it with your power alone first though. No water or anything.”
Evie nodded and Abby returned to her bunk. She could hear the sounds of the Movers tossing water bottles around the room as she pulled a blanket over her lap and brought her journal out from under her pillow. She was recording notes about the Movers when Alex pushed her curtain aside.
“Hello Alex. Don’t you knock?”
He shrugged. “I’ve seen everything you got anyway.”
She sent him a look, noticing his grim expression. “What is it?”
“I’m not sure you should’ve given David such a strong power.”
She pushed her glasses up on her nose. “I didn’t give him anything. I just made him aware of it.”
“Well I’m hoping that wasn’t a bad idea. That guy’s already got issues. He skulks around here like he’s royalty or something.”
“I’m sure it’s fine. He’s got a bad attitude but he’s not evil. He’ll warm up eventually.”
“Or he’ll smother us all with our own pillows while we sleep.”
Abby chuckled quietly. “You’re being dramatic again.”
He huffed, stole a quick glance towards the doorway. “Yeah, maybe. But if you come up with some way to charge me up with some super juice, preferably with something cool like laser eyes, let me know so we have some way to defend ourselves from suffocation.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
Sunday, January 13rd 2013, 7:26pm
Painting wasn’t something Abby usually did to relax. At least not since it had become her career. But the moment Evie showed her the bean sprouts she had grown with nothing but her glowing, green will, Abby was instantly inspired.
She was currently filling the last of the stack of wood panels Kyle had included in her painting gift box. The easel he had made for her fit nicely in the space between the bunks, but Abby stayed in the back of the sleeping area where the four beds on either side of her were being used for storage. She had been painting a lot over the last few days and didn’t want to get in anyone’s way while she worked.
True to Kyle’s innate knowledge, he had made sure there were at least half a dozen shades of green among the paint tubes. Abby was grateful not to have to do much mixing. She only had a stray piece of cardboard for a palette. And green was pretty much all she needed to compose Evie’s pet sprouts onto the surface of the wood.
Kyle’s voice hadn’t appeared in Abby’s head for days and she was starting to think her hallucinations were over. She frowned as she pulled a tube of white from her pocket, screwed the cap off, and dipped her brush inside. Silently she wished his voice hadn’t left her so soon. She missed hearing his now familiar timbre reverberating through her head and she wasn’t ready to forget it, to forget him. His disembodied voice was all she had left of him.
Since the day she had solved the mystery of the Movers Kyle hadn’t spoken to her. Maybe there was no need for him to speak, she thought. Maybe there was nothing more to discover about the Gleamers. Though Abby was sure there was more to uncover about her own abilities. There had to be something more besides the occasional vision and gut instinct. If there wasn’t, David’s insinuation of her being useless might be correct after all.
She was stopping to wipe her brush on her shirt when she suddenly had the urge to add a brown shadow to a bean leaf that was hiding from the light source. She wasn’t using a still life reference, but in her mind she knew where the light was. She fished through her pockets to pull out the tube, but it was empty.
“Hmm, all out of umber,” she muttered. “Guess I’ll have to improvise” A shade of red came out of her pocket next and she squeezed a bead of it onto her makeshift pallet. Her brush picked up a darker shade of green and swirled it into the red. As the two colors mixed a muddy, earth-like color started to appear. Suddenly, Abby was struck with a giant light bulb of an epiphany.
With paint mixing all the colors of the spectrum together created something close to black. But that was not the case with light.
Abby jogged into the main room to see Alex and Evie chatting at one table and Jake, Sam, and Hanna at the other. She didn’t care enough about David to wonder where he was and Jimmy was most likely snoozing with his dogs. Days and nights didn’t exist in a bomb shelter so people slept when it suited them.
Alex looked up as she slid across the linoleum in her socks. “What’s up Abbs? You goin’ somewhere?”
“Alex.” She excitedly pointed two fingers in his direction. “Just the man I was looking to see. Do me a favor?”
“Um sure. You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m great.” She went to a cupboard and pulled out the knife they used for Hanna’s healing practice. “I need you to slice something open for me.”
His eyes widened. “What for? Hanna’s doing great with the healing thing.” Alex looked close to whining as he glanced to Hanna. “Right?”
Hanna had been listening. “Yeah, I’ve got it down now. No problems.”
“It’s not for Hanna’s benefit,” Abby said. “It’s for mine.”
Alex stood up from his seat. “You’re going to heal me? Since when can you do that?”
Abby grinned awkwardly. “Well I’m not exactly sure that I can yet. But I have a gut feeling about it.”
Again Alex’s face to
ok on a pout. “Can’t someone else play guinea pig for you then? I’m already covered in scars.”
Abby rolled her eyes towards the ceiling. “Don’t be a baby Alex.”
Alex held up his finger toward her. “Wait, did your… inner voice tell you to do this?”
“No, that’s over. I haven’t heard anything in days.” She waved a hand to dismiss the subject quickly.
“I’ll do it,” Hanna spoke up. “Everyone else has cut themselves for me.”
Sam and Jake observed quietly from their seats, leaning onto their elbows to get a better look. Abby shook her head. “No, I’m not sure you can heal yourself yet. If someone else is cut, and I can’t heal it, at least you’re still there to fix it.”
Hanna only nodded while Alex moaned audibly. “Fine. I’ll do it then,” he said. “But stand by Hanna. Just in case I need you to come to the rescue.” Alex took the knife from Abby with a huff then stood in thought for a moment.
Abby poked him. “What are you waiting for?”
“I’m trying to figure out which part of my body to injure this time.” He cringed. “My arms are starting to look like I was a troubled teen who went through a secret cutter phase.”
“Join the club.” Abby held out her arms to show off her own disfigurement. “One more won’t make much difference. Now get on with it. This is important.”
Alex pulled his sleeve up over his shoulder, heaved a sigh, and sliced the blade across the flesh of his bicep. His face registered the pain immediately. “Damn it! That never stops hurting.”
Abby held his elbow with her left hand and hovered over the wound with her right. “Okay, let’s see if this works.”
Using the visualization techniques she’d taught the others, she watched as her light grew out from her hand. Abby knew everyone but Alex could see it too. She imagined the wound healing, saw the skin fuse back together in her mind.
She struggled, pushing the energy from her hand with all her strength. It was taking too long.