“The phone. Give me the phone!”
“I don’t have my phone—you took it, remember? I thought I was talking to my brother. I must have been dreaming.”
Will tore the sheet off the bed, leaving Bethany exposed in just the T-shirt she’d slept in. He locked his hands around her wrists and pulled her up to face him. “You better not have gotten the phone.”
Tears rose to Bethany’s eyes. “I don’t have a phone! I must have been talking in my—”
“Leave her alone!” Karen rushed past Will, picked up the sheet and threw it over Bethany’s legs, then turned to face him. “What do you think you’re doing? Let go of her.”
Will released Bethany and stepped back. “She was talking to someone. I thought she might have gotten the phone.”
Karen dragged her fingers through her hair, pulling it back from her forehead. “How the hell could she get the phone when she’s been chained to the freaking bed the whole time? God, you scared the crap out of her. Look at her!”
Bethany had pressed her face against her knees and was crying into the balled up sheet. Will went to say something, then stopped. He thought for a moment, then pointed to the door. “We need to talk.”
In the kitchen, Will kept his voice low. “Listen, I know you mean well, but there’s too much bonding going on here. Do you understand me?”
“I’m only trying to be—”
Will slammed his hand onto the counter. “Don’t be! It’s too dangerous. Too risky. Do you still want to get out of the country and start a new life?”
Karen nodded. “Yes.”
“Then think of this as business. Look at me.”
Will waited for Karen’s eyes to meet his.
“That’s all this is. Business. We hacked into their lives and they’ll pay to make us go away again. It’s as simple as that. Don’t mess things up by playing big sister or some shit. Okay?”
Karen wiped her eyes. “I was just trying to be kind.”
“I know. I get that. Now, can you go get her drugs? I need to go into town for a few things.”
Karen went to the cupboard and took out a bottle of pills.
“Are you going to be okay? I’ll be back in an hour.”
“Yeah, I’ll be fine,” Karen said. “Sorry. You’re right. I messed up.”
“Business,” Will said. “That’s all this is.”
~~~
It took everything I had to wait while Will drove down the mountain. But if I had any chance to make something happen, I needed to be sure we weren’t alone on some isolated road. As he drove, I thought about Martha’s words. Bear in mind, it can do the same kind of damage to people you don’t know or love. Damage. That’s what I needed to cause right now. Some sort of damage. Maybe I could make him crash the car, get him noticed somehow. Something, anything to bring attention to what was going on.
I waited until he was in town and looked to be sure other people were nearby. Then I perched forward from the back seat. “You’re going to pay for this! All of it, do you hear me?”
Maybe it was a coincidence but Will frowned. I couldn’t tell if he’d heard me but I took that frown as a sign of confusion and tried again. “Listen to me, you twisted creep! You’re going to pay for all of this!”
Will winced that time, like suddenly he had a headache. He was definitely hearing me, I could tell, even while he told himself it had to be his imagination. I tried to think of a way to get through, something that might strike home and convince him I was truly there next to him. Suddenly, I had an idea.
“Richard trusted you! How can you do this to him?”
Will shook his head violently and the van swerved.
“He treated you like a son, didn’t he? Do you hear me, Will? I’m talking to you!”
Will stomped on the brakes and the van lurched. He drove at a crawl, his eyes bugging as he looked around. “What the hell am I hearing?”
“You’re hearing me, cockroach! And you’ll keep hearing me. You’re not going to believe how much you’re about to keep hearing me!”
Will hit the gas, still looking around to find me even as the van surged forward. “This is nuts! Not happening. No way this is happening!”
A car honked as Will blew through a red light. A man steered his truck to get out of the way, almost crashing into a mother driving a car full of children. The van kept gaining speed, bumping off a curb as Will turned onto the town’s main street. A lady on the sidewalk jumped back and stared. Only then did I realize the mistake I was making—the people around us had nothing to do with any of this. What if I caused one of them to get hurt? How would I feel if that truck had rammed into the car full of kids? I tried to think but didn’t know how to stop what I’d started.
Then a feeling came over me, a peaceful feeling even though it didn’t seem possible. For some reason, I imagined Martha nearby. Somehow, I knew what to do. I leaned forward again and whispered into Will’s ear, so softly that I barely heard myself.
You’re just tired. It’s all in your mind.
Will seemed to relax a little and the van started to slow. “Just tired, that’s all,” he said. “Totally my imagination.”
I tried that approach again, barely a whisper—like I was somehow pushing a thought his way.
You don’t want to cause an accident. Be careful.
Will slowed the van to where he was driving normally, taking deep breaths to calm down. A moment later, he pulled into a grocery store parking lot and killed the engine. He pressed his hands over his eyes. “What the hell just happened?” he whispered.
Someone knocked on the window and Will jumped. He turned to see a cop looking in at him. I couldn’t believe my luck. A cop! Something was going to happen—I totally knew it. Finally, all of this was going to end.
“Are you all right, sir? Can you roll down your window?”
Will took another breath, then rolled his window down. “Good morning, officer.”
The cop stared at Will. “I saw you come around the corner. Do you realize you went up onto the curb?”
Will nodded. “I know. Really sorry about that. I have a migraine.”
“Should you be driving?”
Will exhaled and rubbed his forehead. “It kind of spiked on me for a moment. I think I’m okay now. I was going to get some stuff, but maybe I’ll do it later.”
The cop thought for a moment. He looked inside the van. “Okay, sure. I noticed you coming into town a few times. Are you maybe renting the Baker property?”
My heart was pounding fast. The cop had noticed Will and he knew where they were staying. Maybe he’d already been suspicious for some reason. Now, I’d caused this to happen. My plan had actually worked!
Will hesitated, just for a second. “Yes, me and my girlfriend.”
“Big property, lots of privacy up there,” the cop said.
“It’s really nice,” Will said. “We’re enjoying it.”
“Glad to hear that.” The cop took another look at Will, then said, “Have a nice day.” He turned and walked away.
I sat there freaking out. That was it? No way! I jumped out of the van and chased after him. “He’s lying! They kidnapped my sister!”
The cop took another step, then stopped. He turned slowly and looked back at the van.
Will smiled. “Everything okay, officer? I’m sure I’m fine now.”
I stood there between the two of them, looking back and forth. “I need your help! Please! He’s lying!”
The cop glanced in my direction, his eyes landing right on me. He’d heard me—I totally knew he’d heard me! Then he turned back to Will. “Just be sure to drive carefully.”
“Won’t happen again,” Will said. He rolled his window up and drove slowly out of the parking lot.
~~~
I sat next to Bethany for the rest of the day. As the hours passed, I kept thinking about how close I might have been to rescuing her. I couldn’t believe I’d missed an opportunity like that. As Will had driven back through to
wn I’d almost started screaming at his brain again. I’d wanted to so badly it hurt. At the same time, I’d thought about that truck and the car full of kids. I’d forced myself to stay calm, telling myself to wait for the next chance, that another would come.
As far as I was concerned, the fight was nowhere near over. I also knew it was no longer a matter of me just getting through to my family. Will had definitely heard me and I was pretty sure the cop had too. Maybe it was just a matter of how I spoke and how to get through. I wasn’t sure about anything else, but I knew one thing. It seemed strange to think of it that way, but I had to go home.
11
Jamie’s Got Skills
I’d only been back in my room a few minutes before someone knocked on the door. I opened it to see Jamie and Nikki staring back at me.
“We sensed that you came back,” Jamie said. “Are you okay?”
I wasn’t quite sure what to think. They sensed me coming back?
Nikki took advantage of my confusion, of course. “Think about it. When was the last time you took a shower?”
The fact was I hadn’t felt much like getting wet since my failed attempt at drinking the James River. So, yeah, showering hadn’t once occurred to me. I went to sniff my armpit but Nikki rolled her eyes.
“River Rat, I’m kidding. We sensed your presence. Don’t worry about it. How’s Bethany doing?”
“Any changes?” Jamie asked.
For a moment, I’d wondered if they might try avoiding the issue or even act like none of it had happened. But they definitely seemed worried.
“Pretty much the same,” I said.
“Damn,” Jamie said. “Dude, I’m really sorry.”
“Me too,” Nikki said. “I really wish there was something we could do.”
“That’s why I came back,” I said. “Listen, I have news. I think I found a way to hack into Will’s brain. Feel like getting involved?”
~~~
When we got back to the cabin, the sun had already set. Will sat at the kitchen table with a half empty bottle of whiskey in front of him while Karen stood next to the refrigerator, her back pressed against the counter. From the tense look on their faces, I got the feeling they weren’t exactly having a great time together.
“I keep going over it,” Will said, “He definitely said he’d noticed me coming and going.”
“Yeah, I know. You told me,” Karen said. “But maybe it’s no big deal. It’s a really small town. Did you maybe forget to factor that into your plan?”
Will raised his glass and took a gulp. “No! Sure, it’s a small town but people rent places in these mountains all through the summer. Besides, Charlottesville is a pretty big city and it’s just down the road. Lots of people come through here.”
“Did something else happen? You’re acting really weird. What’s the issue?”
I turned to Jamie and Nikki. “Me. I’m totally the issue. I freaked him out. Does he kind of look like a cockroach to you?”
“You know, he really does,” Jamie said. “All skittery and nervous.”
“Shut up, you two,” Nikki said. “I’m trying to listen.”
Will poured more whiskey into his glass. “It was just the way that cop stared at me. And then when he was leaving, he turned back again like he was thinking something was up.”
Karen lit a cigarette. “Okay, you’ve got me worried now. Maybe we should get the hell out of here and leave her. That way we can still—”
“Still what? Spend the rest of our lives sitting in some cubicle? Wait tables? Screw that, we’re good. I’m just going over things to be sure.”
Karen looked at the bottle of whiskey. “You’ve been going over things for hours. Maybe it’s time to stop.”
Will stared at the bottle. “Okay, you’re right. What time is it?”
“After nine.”
“Go ahead and dose her.”
Karen went and got the pills. “This is a lot we’re giving her. You know that, right? She also keeps saying she’s having trouble breathing.”
“Just give it to her. Like I care if she has allergies or some crap.”
“Okay, that’s it!” I said. “No more!” I walked toward the Will.
“Hang on,” Jamie said.
“Jamie’s right,” Nikki said. “Think about what they’re doing.”
I stood there, my hands balled into fists. But Jamie and Nikki were right. What if I got them all freaked out and they messed up with the drugs they were giving Bethany?
After a moment, Jamie said, “I just thought of something. What if you try the thing you were talking about? Like when you were in the van with the cockroach.”
I nodded and took a breath, forcing myself to calm down. I went over to Karen and used the same technique—barely a whisper, pushing a thought into her mind.
You already gave Bethany drugs tonight. Just a while ago. Remember?
Karen glanced up at the ceiling. “Didn’t we already sedate her tonight?”
“Right there,” Jamie said. “I think you just nailed it.”
Will set his glass down on the table. “No way. We never dose her before—”
I was already at his ear. You did tonight. When you gave her dinner.
Will frowned. “Hang on, maybe we did. Yeah, I think so. Why did we do that? We need to stick to the routine from now on.”
“Okay, sure.” Karen yawned. “I think I’m starting to fade. I couldn’t sleep last night.”
“Why don’t you hit it? I’ll be right behind you.”
After Karen left the room, we hovered at the ceiling while Will sat there thinking and drinking. He filled his glass two more times and we were afraid he might go for round three when he finally started to nod off. Finally, he got up from the table and stumbled down the hall.
“Looks like our man’s a drinker,” Jamie said.
“Great, a drunk cockroach,” Nikki said. “What could be nicer?”
It wasn’t easy but we made ourselves wait until we were sure Will and Karen were totally asleep before going to Bethany. She was laying in bed with her eyes open.
I crouched next to her. “Bethany,” I said, “can you hear me?”
Bethany’s eyes shifted back and forth but otherwise she didn’t move.
“She’s still groggy from the stuff they gave her earlier,” Nikki said. “Try again.”
I raised my voice a little. “Bethany, can you hear me? I stopped them from drugging you tonight.”
That got through. Bethany looked right at me. “Henry?” She spoke softly, probably thinking about what happened when she’d been heard talking to me that morning.
I leaned in closer. “Yes, I’m right here.”
“Henry, you can’t be here,” she whispered. “You’re—”
“Total B, it’s me. Seriously, I’m right next to you. You believe I’m here, right?”
A couple moments passed before Bethany whispered, “I don’t know. I thought I heard you this morning too. Maybe they put me on some other kind of drug. Maybe I’m just going insane. I can’t tell.”
“She doesn’t know what to think,” Nikki said. “She’s happy to hear your voice but doesn’t really believe you’re here.”
Bethany settled back in bed and closed her eyes. She rolled onto her side and whispered, “Henry, you couldn’t possibly be here. But it was nice to think you might have been.”
I jumped to my feet. “Bethany, no! Don’t go to sleep!”
Suddenly, I felt Jamie’s hand on my shoulder. “Tell her to open her eyes.”
“Why?”
“Just tell her.”
“Bethany, open your eyes. Can you do that for me?”
At first, I thought she was going to ignore me, but then Bethany opened her eyes. I watched them widen, not knowing what she was seeing. “Henry, who is that? I can see someone here in the room!”
I felt it around me in that moment, an electrical charge that seemed to be buzzing right next to me. I turned to see Jamie surrounded in a glo
wing orb of light.
“Tell me what you see,” I said.
“Some kid with a mohawk! Who is that?”
I felt a grin spread across my face. “That’s Jamie,” I said. “No doubt about it. You’re definitely seeing Jamie.”
~~~
Once I was sure she could hear me, I told Bethany what was going on—about who Will was and the ransom plan, as well as what we knew about Karen. I told her how Jamie and Nikki had also been trying to help her. She listened, nodding and whispering questions. After that, it took a while for her to calm down enough to finally go to sleep. Who could blame her? As far as she knew, she’d just seen a ghost and spent more time talking to another. But eventually she allowed herself to rest.
Then Jamie, Nikki and I met in the living room.
Nikki stared at Jamie. “So, you were lying to me? Why?”
Despite Nikki seeming completely pissed off, Jamie kept a big smile on his face. “I didn’t lie, I promise.”
“Okay, what was that? You’re an Emerger? Did I like just hallucinate that whole deal or what?”
Jamie shrugged. “No, that was for real. I just wasn’t exactly sure I could do that until now.”
Nikki folded her arms across her chest. “So, you’re telling me you never did that before? Seriously?”
“Basically,” Jamie said. “I mean, back when I was around my family I figured the last thing they needed was me popping up in front of them. Not after my brain exploded. Think about what I would have looked like to them.”
“But you wouldn’t have looked like that, right?” I said. “You’d look like you do now.”
“I had no way of knowing that. See, I kind of freaked out and hung around for a while after my funeral. Martha eventually had to come and coax me back to the other side. Sort of embarrassing, really.”
Nikki rolled her eyes. “Whatever. That was like twenty-five years ago. But you had the feeling you might have been able to Emerge like that, right?”
“Well, I kind of wondered,” Jamie said. “The thing is, there was just this one time right after I died. Come to think of it, that was the very same day Martha talked me into giving up and coming back with her. Anyway, nobody was home at my old house and I saw some guy wandering around in our back yard. I thought he was like a burglar or something, so I kind of ran at him. I’m not really sure what I was thinking but the guy stared right at me, went totally pale, then completely freaked. The next thing I knew, he blasted out of our yard like he had a Doberman on his ass. Poor guy, as it turned out he was just some dude from the power company reading the meters behind our house.”
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