by Dee J. Stone
Stealth shuffles closer to me and wraps her arm around my shoulder. “I’ll be fine.”
I don’t say anything. It’s not that I think she can’t handle it—I know she can. I just don’t want it to be her.
“How long do you think until they contact me?” she asks.
“Are you nervous?”
She shrugs, but I see how stiff her shoulders are. I pull her to my chest and rest my chin on her head. “I wish it wasn’t you going.”
She looks up at me. “I’m ready to do this. I want to do this.”
“I know you do. I just…” I can’t bear her getting hurt or killed.
She kisses my cheek. “Ray, I’ll feel a whole lot better knowing you’re not worrying about me. Please don’t.”
“I can’t promise that.”
She grabs the front of my T-shirt and draws me close. “Try to. I can’t have your worrying on my head when I’m with the Blades. I need to be cool, confident, and without any emotion. Okay?”
She’s right. I’ll do it for her. I’ll force my brain to believe she’ll be okay. “I’ll try.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
“Wake up, sleepyhead.”
I open my eyes and find Stealth standing over me. I peer at the clock. It’s past eleven. “Did you sleep well?” she asks.
I nod. I did. Better than I have in days.
“I have a surprise for you,” she says. “So get dressed.”
“Surprise?”
“Yep.” She plants a small kiss on my lips and leaves my room.
After searching for a clean pair of jeans and a T-shirt from my drawers, I enter the bathroom. Take a quick shower because I don’t want to keep her waiting. The shine in her eyes makes me curious. Surprises from Stealth? I have no clue what she has planned, but I’m a bit excited
Once I exit the bathroom, Stealth is sitting on my bed. She stands up and motions for me to come closer. I do, and she takes my hand. “This is going to be fun. Trust me.”
We mist away, flying through the tunnel.
After my molecules form together, I look around. Snow surrounds us, and when I look further out I see many mountains, also covered in a sheet of white. Strong winds blow at me. We’re on a high elevation, too far up from people.
I turn to her. “Where are we?”
Jackets appear in Stealth’s hand. She hands one to me. “I had them invisible.” We put them on. “We’re in Australia.”
I blink at her. “I knew you were fast, but not that fast.”
She takes my hand, and we inch closer to the edge of the mountain. We peer down at the greenery covered by the snow. I’m not afraid of heights, and Stealth doesn’t seem to be, either. She turns to me. “Pretty, isn’t it?”
“It is. I’ve never seen anything like this.”
“Me either, until a few months ago, before I joined the League. I used to come here because I liked being alone.” Letting go of my hand, she steps a few feet back and sits down. “Used to sleep in this snow.”
I join her on the ground. “Tell me more about your past.”
She digs her gloved finger in the snow, creating a smiley face. “My parents have always been thieves. Stealing from everyone and selling the objects. Everyone—poor, rich, sick, healthy. Those who deserved it, those who didn’t. They didn’t care.” She doesn’t look at me. “I found out I had invisibility when I was eight. That’s when a light bulb turned on in their heads and they decided to use me to do their dirty work. I used to believe that the only reason I have this power was to help them.”
She shakes the ice off her hands, then digs them further in the snow. “I wanted to run away, but I was too scared. There were many times when I was out stealing that I wanted to flee. But my parents were the only people I had, that I knew. In their twisted way, they still took care of me. I was terrified to be on my own. But one day, when they forced me to rob from an elderly woman on her deathbed, I decided I was done. I wasn’t scared anymore. I ran. Just ran. I ended up on this mountain and stayed here for a while. But I didn’t want to freeze to death, so I misted back to New York and went to one of those shelters. Then I heard these two kids talking about something extraordinary the Keepers of Justice did and I got curious. I never heard of you guys before then. I did some research and here I am.”
I turn to her. “You’re a strong person.”
She shrugs. “I know my parents are still searching for me, but I don’t care. I’m free and no one can make me go back. No one.”
Her story amazes me. Not only because it’s similar to mine. She’s very courageous.
We sit in silence for a few seconds, until Stealth elbows me in the ribs. “We’re even now. You told me about your past and I told you about mine.” She stares into my eyes. “I feel even closer to you.”
I lift her hand from the snow and sandwich it between mine. “Me, too.”
She bends forward and kisses me quickly on my lips. She then lies down in the snow and spreads her arms and legs out. Sweeps them up and down, making a snow angel.
I lie next to her. The cold snow on my back soothes me, loosens me up. Shutting my eyes, I lift my arms and legs, creating my own snow angel.
“I never did this as a kid,” she says.
“I have, when I was very young.” Before I learned I had x-ray vision. When my life was enjoyable.
“I can do this for hours.” She shifts onto her elbow and looks down at me. “I’m glad you’re here with me.”
“Me, too.”
I sit up and move closer to her. Wrap an arm around her shoulder and gently push her to my chest.
As we snuggle together, something dawns on me. Snow in the summer, making snow angels.
This was Glen’s vision.
He wasn’t talking crazy—his vision was real and accurate. He must have known I’d meet a girl, since our last discussion revolved around girls. I wish he were here. I’d like to apologize for thinking him crazy for inventing such a ridiculous vision.
Stealth pulls off, looking up at me. “What?”
My arms have loosened from around her. They’re clenched into fists at my sides, trembling. Stealth follows my gaze and rests her hand on mine. “What’s wrong?”
I contemplate talking to her about Glen. She didn’t know him well, because he died shortly after she arrived. I don’t want to ruin this moment. Raising my arms, I enclose her in them, lowering my face into her hair and breathing in her sweet scent. She turns her head and our lips connect. Slow at first. My hands dance across her back and hers tangle through my hair. As the kiss grows more intense, my body heating up, I unzip my jacket and throw it on the snow. Stealth does the same, and I slip my hands into the back of her shirt. Her body is on fire, too.
I fall on the ground and pull her to me, our lips still glued together. I’m groaning, she’s moaning, and my hands are exploring. They run over bumps on her back.
I lower my hands and sit up, causing her to fall off me. Breathing heavily, she gives me a confused look.
“Your back,” I say, trying to catch my breath. I reach for the hem of her shirt and lift it a bit. Scars line her lower back. Lifting the shirt a bit more, I see that they stop at the center. At first I think they’re from burns, but as I examine them closely, it looks like someone scratched her, hard enough to scar. They’re thin and not deep, which would explain why I’ve never felt them before. I’ve always touched her back over her shirt, not under.
Stealth scrambles away from me. Turns her head and hugs her knees, rocking back and forth. I shift over to her and tuck some hair that fell in her face behind her ear. I’m bursting with questions, but I know not to pressure her. She’ll tell me if and when she’s ready.
We sit in silence. Stealth buries her face in her knees, but doesn’t cry. Shoulders don’t quake. I stare out, at the white snow, the greenery peeking out underneath. It’s peaceful here. I know why Stealth loves this place.
“They beat me.” Her voice is muffled. I bring my fingers to her chin an
d slowly lift her head. Her face isn’t filled with sadness, but anger. Burning anger. “My dad especially. When I overslept, when I messed up, when I didn’t get them what they wanted. When I failed.” She clenches her jaw and narrows her eyes at the area around us.
I stroke her cheek with the back of my fingers. “Don’t let the memories consume you. Don’t let what they did put you in a bad place. You’ve accomplished so much. Don’t go there.”
Don’t be like me.
She doesn’t respond as her mind seems to go back in time. A second later, she shakes her head and gives me a small smile. “You’re right. I shouldn’t let them win.”
“I’m sorry I brought this out.”
She shakes her head and moves her finger to my mouth. Draws another invisible “X.” As she drops her hand, I catch it and lock my fingers through hers. “I think it’s about time I knew what that means.”
She laughs. “Just an X, because you’re X-Ray. I thought it’d be cute.”
“It is. I like it.”
She moves closer to me and climbs onto my lap. Gazes into my eyes. “What’s your name?”
“What?”
“Your real name. It’s not Ray.”
She’s right—it’s not. When I ran away from home, I left that part of my life behind, including my true identity. I became X-Ray. Street-living, drugged-thieving bastard.
If I were to tell her, it would be the first time saying my name after so many years.
Something shifts inside me. I want to tell her, to be even closer to her. As hard as this is, I want her to know the real me.
“Jericho.”
She smiles. “I like it.”
I did, too. Up to a certain point in my life.
“I’m Ella,” she says.
“Pretty.”
She lays her back against my chest. “Too much of a pretty name for me.”
I smooth my hand down her hair. “You are beautiful.”
She snorts, then gets to her feet. “I want to do something fun.” She clutches the corner of my shirt, trying to heave me up, but I’m too heavy and she crashes down on top of me. We laugh.
Stealth jumps up and reaches for me again. “Attempt number two.” She yanks my hand a little and I stand up. For a few seconds we face each other, neither of us saying a word. Then Stealth vanishes in a pool of mist. It magnifies until it’s the size of a humongous cloud. I watch it approach me and surround me, like I’m in a tornado. Except, I’m not getting sucked in. The cloud moves faster and faster, flying into different directions due to the wind. I feel like I’m standing in a burning, smoky building without the fire. I can’t see a thing, only fog.
I hear soft laughter, sounding like an echo. Stealth must be going a thousand miles a second. Her laughter is all around me.
The wind is so strong it causes me to float in the air. A hand grabs mine and I’m spinning around. Faster and faster until I start to get dizzy.
The smoke lessens and I’m slowly lowered to the ground. Once it disappears, Stealth falls to her knees. “Phew,” she pants. She looks up at me. “Wasn’t that cool?”
“It was.”
She smiles and grabs my arm. Pulls it down so I’m lying next to her in the snow. Her gaze moves to my lips. Bringing my head closer to her, I place my hand on her chin and my mouth to hers. Our lips part and come together, and our breathing accelerates as though we’ve been underwater for days. A soft moan escapes her lips and I hold on because I don’t want it to end.
After what feels like hours, Stealth pulls off. “How does it make you feel?”
I look at her.
“Us kissing,” she says. “What do you feel?”
“I don’t know.”
She spreads her hand on my heart. It’s beating rapidly. “I really like you.” Her eyes flick to my face for half a second before shifting to the snow. “Sorry, I’m not good at expressing myself.”
I touch her hand that’s on my chest. “Neither am I.”
She sighs and uses her legs to push herself a little back. She wraps her arms around herself. “You’re the first guy I’ve kissed.”
I don’t say anything as I stare at her.
“It’s hard to…know what I’m doing. Like…I don’t know if you like me the way I like you.” Biting her lip, she brings her hesitant and doubtful eyes to mine.
“I do.” A lot.
Stealth shuffles closer and rests her head on my shoulder. “I have one more thing to show you.”
She takes my hand. “Look at yourself.” I do as she says and see the right side of my body is invisible. It doesn’t feel any different, like the invisibility watches didn’t. But this is better than a watch. Feels more real. I laugh and bend to her ear. “You’re amazing.”
Her cheeks redden a bit. “You are. To go through what you went through and be a good guy—”
I shake my head.
“You are a good guy, Jericho. You just don’t see it.”
I want to believe her, but I don’t. Instead, I focus on the sound of my name—my real one—on her tongue. It warms me. Feels right, as though we’re sharing something special and real. I don’t want her to call me Ray again.
“I wish we could stay out here forever,” she says. “But I’m freezing.”
“We should head back home. And you should probably check your phone. We can’t miss a text from the Blades.”
She nods reluctantly. “We should do this again.”
“I’d like to.”
Smiling, she takes my hand and we mist away.
Chapter Twenty-Four
There’s no text from the Blades.
Stealth and I materialize in my room. Something is wrong. I feel it instantly. Piercing the walls and floors, I see the conference room is empty and everyone is gathered in the hospital waiting room. Samson and Cindy are in one of the rooms, huddled over a bed. Looking through their bodies, I make out Kale lying there. His eyes are shut as though he’s dead or sleeping heavily.
My heart lurches. I leap for the door, but Stealth grabs my arm.
“It’s Kale,” I tell her. “He’s in the hospital.”
With her at my heels, I rush into an elevator and take it to the hospital. I shove the doors open, and everyone in the waiting room stops what they’re doing and stare at me. Most are crying. Some are shaking.
Walking through the crowd, we make our way into Kale’s room. Barge in, causing Samson and Cindy to whirl around.
“What’s wrong with him?” I demand as I stare at Kale.
“Ray.” Samson’s eyes are filled with grief. Cindy looks like she’s trying to compose herself when really all she wants to do is break down. Stealth takes my hand and squeezes.
“It’s his telepathy,” Samson says. “Because it’s not natural, it’s destroying his brain.”
“What does that mean?” I ask, still staring at Kale, wanting to do something but being completely incapable. He’s just lying there, in a deep sleep. His hands are clasped over his stomach as he breathes softly.
Samson’s gaze flashes to Kale before he looks at me. “When Lindsay was near explosion four months ago, she emitted her energy onto Kale, giving him an ability. It’s slowly eating away at his brain.”
Is that why he was having those headaches? He seemed fine after that, so I assumed he was okay. I clench my fists. Why didn’t he say anything? Why didn’t I pay more attention? Was I too distracted with the Nightmares and Stealth? Dammit. Dammit!
“Is he dying?” I ask, my voice deadpan.
They don’t answer.
“Is he?” I ask again. Cindy walks over and reaches out to hug me, but I step back. “Is he?” I shout so loud it bounces off the walls.
I’m in her arms. She pats my back, murmuring words I don’t hear, or choose not to.
“He exerted himself on your…mission,” Samson says, choking up. “Which took up energy and power and it accelerated the deterioration. I’m afraid he doesn’t have much time.”
It’s my fault he’s
dying. It was my idea to go after the Nightmares. My idea to use his telepathy. I didn’t protect him. Just like I didn’t protect Stretch.
“Do something. Save him,” I say.
He shakes his head, his expression the saddest I’ve ever seen. Cindy shifts in her spot. Covers her face with her hands. Her shoulders quake.
I ram my fist into the wall. “There has to be something you can do. Healer. Why can’t she fix him?”
Samson starts to shake his head again.
“She has healing abilities. She can help.”
He’s still shaking his head as he walks over to me.
I back up. “I refuse to…refuse to…”
Samson pulls me into an embrace. “There’s not much we can do.”
“You’re giving up.”
He lets go and stares into my eyes. His are glassy. “I’ll never give up on my son.” He points toward the door. “Go lie down. It’s not healthy for you to be in here.”
“I’m not leaving.”
He doesn’t say anything as he takes his wife in his arms. “Why didn’t we realize this?” she asks. “Why didn’t I?”
“He hid it from us. I’ll do whatever I can to save him. Call experts. Telepaths.”
“Telepaths won’t help, Sam,” she says.
“We need to try.”
Cindy turns to the bed and grips Kale’s hand. The tears she’s been trying so desperately to hold back spill down her cheeks. Samson runs his hands through his hair. Mutters under his breath.
It’s time for me to leave.
Outside, everyone is talking. The place is in chaos. People are asking questions, inventing their own solutions to help. Lindsay is on a couch, her face buried in her hands. I can’t stand any of it. I need to get out of here.
As I’m on my way to the elevator, Stealth grabs my arm and spins me around. Hugs me close. I force my hands to hug her back, even though I can’t move a muscle.
When the elevator doors open, Stealth guides us inside. She doesn’t say a word as we’re folded in each other’s arms. I appreciate this. Can’t talk even if I wanted to.
Once we reach my floor, she leads us to my room and shuts the door. Sits us down on my bed.