by Krysta Scott
He ground his teeth. How had Nikki found the way into Parker’s mind so easily? She hadn’t been anywhere near Parker’s personal possessions. Just as the question formed, he saw the teddy bear in her arms, covered with patches of missing fur on the arms and legs. It was the same stuffed animal she retrieved from the man’s house a couple days ago.
Obviously, he had misread the entire scene. He’d let her prance out of there with Parker’s teddy bear without question. Too distracted by her attractive ass. Chalk one up for Nikki. He had to tighten up his game. Now she was grilling his client, gaining access to all sorts of confidential information. Then Parker’s words permeated like a sharp slap to the face.
Help me. Make them stop.
****
The ground shuddered, and Garrett found himself propelled alongside Nikki down the monstrous consciousness of an abuser. He remained hidden from her sight but the atmosphere shifted immeasurably. It was brighter, clearer, although still gray and dingy. Had Nikki adjusted things yet again? But then he heard a new thought.
What will become of my boy now?
Lars Hanover. How had they gotten into his mind? The teddy bear didn’t look old enough to belong to Lars before it belonged to Parker. Even if it was, his signature would be too weak after having given it to Lori. A tingling sensation raced from his toes to his head, matching the rapid beat of his heart. Rock hard dread settled in the pit of his stomach. Parker brought them here as a deliberate act.
He was no longer an isolate. Oh, Nikki, what have you done?
****
Nikki stood on the precipice of a significant event. Electrified tension sizzled the air. All she needed was the identity of the mind Parker had sent her into. Show me.
In an instant, she landed at a park. The soft gust of springtime warmed her skin. Clovers dotted the green grass. Parker and his father were in the middle of a baseball diamond tossing a ball back and forth. Peace and calm descended over her as she watched the two of them.
“I can throw this really far.” A young Parker—age four?—flung the ball back into Lars’s gloved hand.
“That’s a strong pitch, son,” Lars chuckled as he tossed the ball back. A proud Papa dreaming about Parker being a pitcher on a major league team. Or a coach for a prominent college. All options were open for Parker at this young age. Even if he never obtained these goals, Lars would be gratified. His son was excited about everything new, unafraid of anything. Pride surged through him.
The image blurred. Inky fingers spread across the happy memory, fracturing it into a patchwork of doubt and despair. Nikki plummeted into a chasm below, unable to bear the weight of the hopelessness. Fear the pair would never find their way back into the sun. As Parker grew older Lars’ pride migrated to fear. His son was strong but too obstinate to get his way. Lars’ vision for his prodigy’s future crumbled into dust as Parker veered from his early teachings.
His studies within the Guild were failing. He challenged everything. So sure he knew best. So certain he was right. The scene changed again. Parker, being led out of school by Lars, his tight grip on Parker’s shoulder.
“Owwwww, Dad. Let go of me.” Parker struggled against the pain. His ten-year-old scrawny body no match for Lars’ solid build.
“I’ve told you before, you can’t do that to your classmates,” Lars growled through clenched teeth.
“Awe, it was only a joke.” Parker waved off the rebuff cocking his head with a half-smile.
“No, it wasn’t.” Lars yanked his son the rest of the way to the car. Parker had been messing with his classmates for over a week using an ability others didn’t have. Try as he might to hide it, Parker continually stuck his foot deep into trouble, honing those forbidden skills. He couldn’t help it. Lars had to stop it. Nikki read the desperation in the older man’s face.
“They wouldn’t leave me alone,” he whined.
Lars looked about helplessly. Where had he gone wrong? Had Carolyn coddled him too much? No. The boy had been born defective. That’s why he was picked on at school. Why he couldn’t conform to Guild instruction.
Lars hadn’t had those childhood problems. Carolyn either, as far as he knew. There was no reason Parker should. Unless he was flawed in his own right. Surely, they’d done their best for him.
Now he had to repair the snake pit nipping at his heels before the Guild sanctioned them for Parker’s impurities. The dreams Lars had of Parker being a popular athlete spread three sheets to the wind.
Parker wasn’t interested in any of that anyhow. All he wanted was to make other kids obey him. When he wasn’t exploring mind control, he was off talking to himself. Parker was a weird kid. The kind of weird that kids zone in on and tease mercilessly. What had happened to his sweet boy?
Nikki observed the scene, taking in Lars’ poisonous thoughts. Parker was a boy not a conniving monster. Lars’ faulty reasoning needed modification. So Parker hadn’t lived up to his father’s plans for him, what of it? Lars either refused or wasn’t capable of seeing his son as an individual with wants and needs of his own. Too disappointed to see Parker wasn’t interested in sports. He failed to grasp what Parker truly craved. His parent’s approval.
If Nikki could give him that, perhaps Parker wouldn’t be so interested in controlling his peers. She could fix that.
Embrace who Parker is. Encourage him.
She began the intricate work of weaving a new beginning for father and son. He doesn’t need to be number one. Let him discover who he is on his own.
Be proud of him. Don’t be afraid.
Nikki continued to work, her fingers moving fast, interweaving new memories. Happier ones. Now Parker’s future had a chance.
****
Garrett tensed in the shadows, watching Nikki work Lars’ mind. What the hell was she doing? Glimmering silver threads of memory, she weaved and reworked, into a different pattern. Sparks flew while her hands sifted deftly through each one as intricately as a weaving loom. The complex design was far superior to any he had ever witnessed. What would’ve taken him a decade to decipher she did in a matter of seconds.
He attempted to peer into the design, pick out the memories she altered, but to no avail. What she was doing was incomprehensible. A chill settled into the pit of his stomach. He had never seen anyone pull the threads of memory past the last forty-eight hours of their lives. And yet her weaving went deeper into the most inner sanctum of Lars’ consciousness. How many years he couldn’t tell.
Her fingers braided the tendrils so fast, he had trouble following her progress. He should intervene, but how, when what she did went beyond his skills? Dread curled from his gut, taking a strangle hold on his throat. He massaged his neck. What she changed could not be undone. Not by him. Not by anyone.
He had to stop her. The consequences would be devastating not only to the human race, but especially his kind. If she continued in this vein, history would be rewritten. Her less than subtle activities would lead to the Guild’s discovery. The consequences would land them, like the dark days of the past, where they would be used and manipulated by humans. Or worse, those who feared their power would hunt them down, destroy them. Reminiscent of the Salem witch hunts.
The Guild had very good reasons for restraining the powers of their members. Just because one could venture into the past to change events didn’t mean one should. Nikki needed warning before it was too late. Her best intentions were harmful and ill-advised. Unfortunately, getting her to listen was a whole different ballgame. He wasn’t sure how long he could stall the Guild, but time was running out.
****
Parker woke with a start. His heart hammered in his chest like it was in a horse race. But it felt good. As if he was in charge again. Able to get anything he wanted. He was twelve again bending the weaklings to his will. Enamoring the strong to agree with him. Big man on campus.
But that was when he was able to manipulate minds. Mold them to his liking. A thing he hadn’t been able to do since his parents stripped
him of his abilities. But something was different. A crackle. A charge. Inhaling deeply, he expanded his mind. It was more of a stretch because he no longer expected to reach out. He did so out of habit. Hoping sheer willpower would restore his abilities. All efforts thus far had been stripped, failed.
Until now.
A small release of barriers clanked as he gained access to places he hadn’t been since childhood. Swallowing a shout of triumph, Parker pushed further. The footprints in his mind, soft and light, his movements swift and smooth. Paralyzed by this unexpected gift of freedom, he was unsure of his next move. If the walls that blocked his abilities had crumbled, he should be able to use…it was too much to hope. He brought his trembling hand to his lips. What he needed was someone to experiment on. A way to find out how much had been unlocked. Right now, his mind felt like a vacuum that held infinite possibilities. But could he bend minds to his will like before? He blew a gust of breath through his fingers. Had he finally been released from the hell that had become his life?
Dark giddiness engulfed him. To walk amongst the dreams of others. Not just walk—trod and stamp them out. Just as his parents had squashed his ambitions. They would pay for the agony he’d endured as an isolate.
All he had to do was sleep to test the waters. Damn, he didn’t have any of his parent’s personal items in his room. There was no need before. No matter, he would forage around downstairs for exactly the right item. Then he’d show them. He’d show them all.
****
Nikki rushed to work the next morning, expecting to see Garrett perched on her desk a mercenary gleam in his eyes. He wasn’t there. She frowned at the empty space. It was almost disappointing. No one to spar with or justify her actions to. Really, she had to pull herself together. Despite the fluttering in her stomach every time he was near, she had to get used to the notion he wouldn’t be in her life forever. Pain squeezed her heart. She ignored it. There were more important things to worry about than the emptiness left by Garrett’s absence.
She slid into her chair and focused her attention on her work. A manila envelope lay in the center of her desk, her name scrawled carelessly across the front. At first glance, it appeared from a parent in one of her other cases who neglected to include a return address. She tore through the crease with a letter opener.
A newspaper clipping slipped out. She snapped it up curious to discover which parent had been arrested or committed some other inane activity. Something that merited an article to solidify their stupidity in writing.
Fire Ransacks Home—Three Dead
She dropped heavily into her chair. She wanted to look away, but couldn’t. The article had nothing to do with any of the people in her cases. It was regarding her family.
The few paragraphs didn’t contain any information she was unaware of, but drew the embers of the past into the raging inferno of the present. Inside the tiny print was her own obituary.
Family of Three Perished In House Fire
No Survivors
The body of three-year-old Nikki Summers was never recovered, but presumed consumed by the blaze.
Remnants of Nikki’s former life tickled the edge of her consciousness. Long ago forgotten. Now threadbare. Pain sprang from every frayed edge with each recollection. The smell of smoke: Thick. Suffocating. Bitter. Tall flames blazing out of control. Crackling. Spitting. Consuming. Her lungs tightened. She coughed.
This wasn’t history. This happened—to her. Something concrete and real. She slammed her fist down on her desk, crumpling the paper. There were more important things to concentrate on than her tortured childhood.
Nikki riffled through the paperwork stacked on her desk, attempting to find something…anything to shake her mind of the obituary. But nothing worked. Words jumbled into senseless phrases. Guilt gnawed a hole in her gut. Her attention fixated on the envelope. Finally, unable to resist, she lifted the envelope and turned it over. There was no indication of the sender. Her grandfather? Unlikely. He had all too readily imparted the information when they’d met at the diner.
Garrett? Doubtful. He was much more prone to delivering his messages in person. Physically. No, this package came from someone who wished to remain subtle. A person connected to the Guild determined to let her know that he or she possessed information about her.
She massaged her temples. It was a threat, clear and simple. There was no other reason for such secrecy. Her phone buzzed, bringing her back to the present. She picked up the receiver.
“Nikki, Parker Hanover called and said he’d be a little late for his appointment this morning.” It was Misty, her receptionist.
“Who?” she asked.
“Parker Hanover, your next appointment.”
She froze, then said slowly. “Right, I haven’t had my morning caffeine yet.”
She checked her docket, heart thumping with excitement. A quick glance revealed Parker’s name in the nine o’clock slot scrawled in her handwriting. Something significant changed. Patience, she schooled herself, until the intercom buzzed. “He’s ready.”
“Great.”
Nikki walked quickly to the front slowing her steps when she reached the waiting area.
“Mr. Hanover, follow me please?”
Parker smiled as he set down a magazine and got to his feet.
“How are you doing today?” Nikki asked, leading the away to her office, fully aware that the man who beat his wife in another time frame lumbered behind her.
“I’m tired. Didn’t sleep well last night.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. Please come in and have a seat.” She skirted the desk and sank into her cushioned chair. He took his place in the facing chair, eyes downcast. He chewed on his nails.
“Parker,” she began gently. “Do you know what my role is in this case?”
“You’re here for Lori.”
“That’s right. I’m here to protect her best interests. I know that most parents come in with an idea of what is best for their kids. I want to warn you that I might not always agree with you.”
“You’re here for Lori and that’s good enough for me.” He gazed out the window, rubbing his hand on his pants leg. He looked so normal sitting there nervously awaiting the outcome. Not at all like the monster from before. Things had changed so drastically, she wasn’t exactly sure where the case sat at this point.
“Do you have an attorney?” How she kept her voice from shaking amazed her.
“Yes, Garrett Nightshade. I’m probably not supposed to speak to you without him present.”
She let out a breath. So that hadn’t changed. She shuffled quickly through the file. The paperwork indicated Parker represented himself at the temporary hearing and when the judge dismissed the case. Garrett was hired after Mrs. Hanover refiled for the divorce, just like she remembered. Still, Parker hadn’t been so willing to speak with her before. Something Nikki did last night must have altered his behavior. She was deeply curious to find out what else had changed in the lives of the Hanovers.
“It’s perfectly fine that your counsel is not here. As a Guardian Ad Litem, I have the authority to speak to you without your attorney. However, if you would be more comfortable having your attorney here, we can reschedule.”
“No, I would prefer to get this over with if you know what I mean.”
“Very well. How long have you and Mrs. Hanover been married?”
“Well,” he looked to the ceiling for answers. “Lori is eight. So nine or ten years.”
Like most fathers, he wasn’t clear on the exact date of the marriage. She bit back a grin, relaxing slightly. But that wasn’t the event of the biggest impact. “How…uh…long have you been separated?’
“Six weeks.”
On the dot. Nikki hid her amusement schooling her features into an unreadable expression. “What happened that caused you to separate.”
“I couldn’t handle all her cheating.”
Cheating? “How did you know she was cheating on you?”
“I saw
her talking to this guy after work when I picked her up. She denied everything, but I could tell there was something going on. Then the Sunday before I left, he called.”
So, Parker was still the jealous type and could be set off with very little data. Those two events, without more, wouldn’t raise her suspicion but if one was looking for something then it was most likely to be found. That was the problem with these cases, everyone found meaning in the smallest circumstances and blew them up into a volcano. She blew out a breath. But right now, she would play along.
“What did she say about the call?”
He waved his arm in a dunking motion. “Some bullshit about him giving her a ride to work.” He looked at her then, his expression chagrined. “Pardon my swearing, ma’am.”
“Of course,” she murmured. When one observed a person in their own habitat one learned who they were. The people who came to her office were generally on their best behavior, which made it difficult to gauge the exact issues. The more at ease Nikki could make them, the better the interview revealed the true individual. “So you discovered her cheating? Then what?”
“We got into a big fight about me spanking my kid. She threatened to keep me away from Lori. Guess she made good on that threat,” he spat, “because she accused me of abusing her in court.”
Parker was raising the oldest smoke screen there was. The accusation was made to keep the child away from him. At least it wasn’t a black eye anymore. What Parker didn’t know was she’d already seen his true nature. There had been changes but bruises from a spanking was just as serious. “So you deny hurting Lori.”
Parker nodded soberly. He lifted three fingers in the scouts’ honor sign. “Honest to God. I was just disciplining her. That’s not abuse, it’s letting her know I love her.”
Why you slippery little devil. He looked so sincere, if she hadn’t already been involved in this situation, she might have believed him. Might have, but she knew him for the liar he was. “Did anyone accompany you for me to talk to?” She had to ask though she’d known the reception area was vacant. Parents sometimes brought others to assist in validating their worthiness. Apparently, Parker didn’t have that kind of support system. No neighbor, counselor or grandparent accompanied him.