Misunderstood

by Jay Sherfey

  “Yeah? And you did what, exactly?” Russ eyed his friend suspiciously.

  “I protected her by hiding her abilities from her own mind. I put them away so any future attacks will not affect her.” Jason looked at Russ. “You will have to help her through this.”

  “Like how? I can’t do what you do?” Russ looked shocked and dismayed that his powerful friend could not just wave his hand and clear up the mess.

  “You don’t need to have my abilities.” Jason got up and refilled the glass. He took a long drink. He stared through the opened window at a beautiful, summer afternoon. It calmed him.

  “Teach Patti to meditate for a start,” began Jason, holding the glass. “That will help her. Eventually her talents will leak out from the hiding place. She will pick up people’s thoughts again. It may scare her and, if she tells your parents, frighten your mom and dad into sending her to a hospital or something. You must be there to tell her it is OK. She’s not nuts. Tell her what she is. Keep your parents from overreacting or knowing at all, if possible.” Jason paused for a moment to let this sink in. “Then come and get me.”

  “How long?” Russ accepted that he had a job to do. In a way he felt better; he had a part to play in helping his family.

  “Maybe a year, maybe two. I’m not sure.”

  “But she’s safe now, right?” asked Suzy.

  “Yeah. She’s safe. She’s dead to my kind.” Jason glanced back over his shoulder at Russ. “Your parents will awaken later today but remember nothing of what has happened. Neither will Patti. It will be just another day. You will be the only one in your family who knows.”

  Russ nodded.

  “Jason,” asked Suzy, “what else happened inside Patti’s mind? You said there were hints?”

  “Some…once the attack weakened; then ended. I followed the trail of energy that generated the hammering and traced it to the owner fairly easily. I don’t think he, it was a guy, expected to find someone like me. He didn’t even know I was there.” Jason looked from Suzy to Russ. He remembered more. “I sensed he was older, maybe your dad’s age, Russ. I kept getting images of a large gray building with these pillars lining the walls on the outside. The shield I put up blocked the blows and, I guess, with me in the way, he no longer sensed Patti’s mind’s abilities. He stopped. Probably thought she was dead or something.” Jason shuddered. The man had enjoyed the destruction. “I could have attacked him. He let his guard down. But…There was something… something that held me back.”

  “What? Why not give him what he deserved?” Russ wanted payback for his sister’s suffering.

  “I didn’t want to reveal myself. He could’ve been too powerful for me.” Jason paused. “With the blood comin’ out of me, it was the right thing to do.” Jason returned to the table and picked up the mirror again to make sure the blood stopped. “I bet he is not the only one out there and he must be powerful to reach so far.”

  “How far do you think?” asked Suzy. She scanned Jason for any blood marks elsewhere. She found none.

  “Maybe Philadelphia. Maybe, somewhere else. I don’t know.” Jason sat and let his thoughts drift. His whole body shivered.

  “Jason?” Suzy caught the sudden frightened look on his face. “Something?”

  “This guy had the same feel as Lydia. You know what I’m talkin’ about.” He looked at Suzy who nodded. “He would’ve tried to kill me too, if he knew I was there.” Jason felt very unsure about what he should do next. “I think, I got lucky.” Something gnawed at him.

  “I guess,” said Russ, less upset. He understood and had a plan, “my job is to make sure Patti doesn’t turn out like you.”

  “What?” asked Suzy and Jason at the same time.

  “Ya know, like Jason?” Russ thought he said something wrong. He looked from one to the other. “No memory. Not knowing what he could do. Nutsy. That sort a stuff.”

  Comprehension like a strong tide rose in Jason. He stood, every muscle stiff, and glared at his friend. “That’s it!”

  “Alright, I’m sorry, man.” Russ raised his hands, as if he might have to ward off an attack. “Don’t get all messed up about it. I didn’t mean anything bad.”

  “Bad? It was the worst possible thing!” Jason tossed the small mirror on the table; then leaned forward and stared intently at his friend.

  “I don’t think it was all that bad,” continued Russ. “It was the way you were, man.”

  “It wasn’t what you said. It was what someone did to me.” He paused aghast at what must have happened so many years ago. “Maybe she did it to protect me ’cause she wouldn’t be there.”

  “She who, Jason?” asked Russ.

  “I know.” Suzy reached across the table and placed her hand over Jason’s.

  “My mom, Russ. My mom did this to me, so they couldn’t find me. She did what I did to Patti. She… hid me.” Jason stood straight and paced about the kitchen.

  “What d’ ya mean?” asked Russ.

  “The shrink I saw for awhile, Dr. Lipton, sent a letter saying he found her in a psych hospital in New York somewhere. She’s been hurt bad, probably because she took the time to hide me first.” Jason let the feelings sweep over him. “I’ve got to find her and help bring her back.”

  “How will you do that Jason?” Suzy asked.

  “I don’t know. I think I need to talk to Chiang or Downing about it.” Jason nodded and felt better. He had adults to advise him. “They may be able to help me.”

  “Maybe, we better get back,” said Suzy. “We never told anyone where we were going.”

  “Let’s skip the dress and makeup this time.” Jason stood. “And I don’t want to go back to the house just now.” He could not face the chanters or his bleak life in the Dubois house. He needed somewhere open and welcoming. “Let’s go to the library. I want to talk to the ladies there.”

  “Okay,” agreed Suzy, ready to go.

  “Russ, you wanna come along?” Jason saw that his friend was torn. If he could have split himself into two people, he would have done so.

  “I’ll stay,” he finally said. “One of these guys might wake up, and will need to be told everything is fine.”

  “I think you should try and sleep some yourself, if you can.” Jason and Suzy headed for the front door. They stopped on the threshold and looked back. “You goin’ to be okay?”

  “Yeah. Don’t worry ’bout me. I’ll see ya tomorrow.” Russ watched them head down the walkway; then out of sight around the corner.

  “Thanks, Superman,” he whispered.

  Chapter 24

  The walk to the library was a solemn affair, each quiet with their thoughts. With little street traffic the air smelled clean. It was quiet with only the occasional whoosh of a car passing. The sun stood high overhead. No cloud marred the blue plane of the sky. Jason guessed it was near three o’clock.

  “You feeling alright?” asked Suzy. The library was a few blocks away. She looked at him. Jason stared at the sidewalk.

  “Yeah. I’m much better.” He looked up. A determination crept over his features; he understood at last and accepted his fate. He might not be able to solve these problems; he might not survive. Something, however, had to be done.

  “What are you thinking?” Suzy knew something boiled beneath the surface.

  “I hate not knowing.” Jason’s frustration came out as anger. He slowed and looked at her. “Why am I the way I am? Why would someone like me try to kill a kid? How many are there? Are they all dangerous?” He shook his head frustrated and afraid of what almost happened to Patti. “I gotta find out some of this stuff. Guessing may get me killed next time.” Jason stuck his hands in his pockets and walked faster.

  “OK, but remember,” Suzy fell behind a step. “You’re just a kid, like me and Russ. You need help.” She sped up to keep pace and fell into step next to Jason.

  “There’s only one problem with that. I’m not just a kid. Not just a normal kid anyway.” Jason stopped abruptly. Suzy passed; then tur
ned around to face him.

  “You know what this is like?” Jason asked. Suzy shook her head. “You remember the goons that came to the house?” This time she nodded. “What did the dogs or cats roaming the neighborhood care about that little episode?” Jason pulled his hands out of his pockets. He ran one hand through his hair to rustle a resistant thought free. “We could be killed but they wouldn’t care or even register that there might be a problem.”

  “You think people, normal people, are like animals?” Suzy stared at him like he was talking crazy.

  “In a way.” Jason calmed; he explained. “When your memory can be wiped and changed to be anything we want, anything I want, normal people are defenseless like those animals are defenseless against human plans to get rid of them. They have no defense against normal folk’s tools and no thinking ability that would allow them to see it coming.”

  “Where do Chiang and Mr. Downing fit into this?” Suzy turned away and started to walk slowly. Jason followed.

  “That’s the hard part. They are among the cats and dogs. I hate that, but they can be manipulated as easily as anyone else. Unless…” Jason caught up with Suzy who finished his thought.

  “You are there to defend them.” She suddenly felt the enormity of the power at Jason’s disposal and the weight of his responsibility. He nodded.

  “There’s Patti, Patti’s mom, that guy who tried to kill Patti,” said Jason, “and you.”

  “Ha! Not me, Jason.” Suzy smiled, happy he included her. She wanted to belong but feared the notion that she might not be entirely human.

  Jason grabbed her arm. They stopped, face to face. “I can’t read you. That’s important. I don’t know why, but I am sure it is.” He looked deeply into her eyes. “You are one of us.”

  “I don’t wanta be one of anything but just people…good people.” Suzy did not smile this time and felt even more frightened.

  “Yeah, I know.” Jason shrugged and nodded. “You get used to it.” He took her hand and pulled her along up the steps of the library. “Let’s just try and find out a few things first. OK?”

  “OK,” she choked, afraid of where this might lead.

  As they entered the library, Mrs. Tremont manned the front counter. Jason saw Mrs. Deloro walk off somewhere.

  “Well, well, Jason Sutter. Back again so soon?” Mrs. Tremont smiled. “Surprisingly, I may actually have something new for you.” Jason dropped Suzy’s hand, embarrassed.

  “That…that would be great, Mrs. Tremont, but I need something else. Something you and Mrs. Deloro may be able to provide.” Jason glanced around the area, trying to remember where he had seen what he needed. Mrs. Tremont waited patiently. Jason snapped his fingers and headed into one of the reading rooms off the lobby.

  “Well, my dear, you are Suzy, if I am not mistaken?” asked Mary Tremont.

  “Yes ma’am.” Suzy looked surprised.

  “Your name came up a few times in our discussions with young, Mr. Sutter.” Mrs. Tremont leaned over the counter. She raised her hand to her mouth as if she did not want to be overheard. “You gave our Jason a good head start with your teaching. I think you could be an excellent teacher, if you want to be.” Suzy blushed and grinned, ear-to-ear. No adult had ever told her she was good at anything.

  “Thank you.” She looked down at the floor, not knowing what to say.

  “Here,” said Jason, returning. He laid a number of comic books on the counter.

  “Hmm. Interesting. And you want me to do what with these?” inquired Mary.

  “Let’s say one of these guys,” Jason pointed to the Green Lantern, “wanted to find others like himself where would he start to look?” Louise Deloro came from the back room and joined the discussion.

  “What do you think, Lou?” Mary faced her sister and raised an eyebrow. “Should we?”

  “Yes, I believe we need to.” Louise turned from her sister to Jason. “I believe young man the question is more, ‘How do you find people like yourself?’”.

  Jason and Suzy stood before the counter stunned.

  “Don’t be so surprised,” said Mary, as though it should be obvious. “We puzzled together some of your abilities, and Mr. Downing and Professor Chin confirmed them. Your reading prowess alone signaled you were different.”

  “And…they are on there way here now to join us.” Louise gathered up the comic books and set them aside. “Let’s get comfortable in the staff room. We all need to talk. Don’t you think?”

  Jason did not think much at that very moment. He and Suzy followed the ladies into the back and sat, waiting for Mr. Downing and Professor Chin.

  “I should call Frank and let him know that Suzy and I are here.” Jason squirmed in his seat. He was itching for action, to get moving, and figure things out.

  “I took care of that,” said Louise. “Frank knows you are here.” She and Mary pushed two more chairs into the circle around the table. “We guessed the crowd at your house had you fenced in. I knew you’d sneak out.”

  “Is it so…” Jason feared many people might have figured him out.

  “Obvious.” Mary finished his sentence. “No. We have inside information, so to speak. We observed you closely, Mr. Sutter. Only the four of us know, young man.”

  It did not take long before Mr. Downing and Professor Chin joined them. With the front door locked and tea and cookies spread out on the table, all focus turned to Jason. He described everything he could remember about the attack on Patti.

  “I got the impression,” Jason concentrated. He strove to recall every detail, “that the old guy knew exactly what to do. He had done this before. But…he didn’t know about me.”

  “So how many of you are there?” asked Mr. Downing. He sat on the edge of his seat, excited to learn about these others. “So far as you can tell.”

  “Well, there’s me, Patti, Patti’s and Russ’s mom to some degree. Then this other guy.” Jason paused and looked at Suzy. She nodded. “And Suzy. I can’t read her without her allowing it. That means something but we don’t know what.”

  “And this other guy is associated with a building with columns?” asked Chiang. “Perhaps it is a museum or a library.”

  “No, my friend, I think not.” Mr. Downing sat back, crossed his legs, and brought the tips of his fingers together. “We must think in terms of power. A court or financial institution of some sort makes more sense. It would be easy money for someone with Jason’s abilities.”

  “Yes, Jason’s abilities.” Chiang leaned forward. He considered his words carefully. “I think we need to be honest with you, Jason. We are concerned with those abilities. You have done some good, much good in fact, but…”

  “There is an old saying,” followed Louise Deloro, “absolute power, corrupts absolutely.”

  All eyes focused on Jason to gauge his reaction.

  “You think I might …” Jason could not finish his thought. The shock overwhelmed him. Betrayed by the people he trusted, by the people he needed. He could not speak; he could not breathe. It was like losing another family. They did not know him at all.

  “No!” Chiang shouted, got up, and knelt in front of Jason. He looked him in the eye. “No! We know your caliber. But even the most saintly of those among us, in an effort to do great good, often go astray thinking an end justifies the means. And Jason,” Chiang took a deep breath, “you have great power at your disposal. There are very few who could stand against you.”

  “How could I,” began Jason who swallowed his urge to cry. His eyes searched the faces of each adult. He made a decision. In the blink of an eye he captured the details of every mind in the room except Suzy’s. A great sigh flowed from him. Jason relaxed pleasantly surprised. “They care about me.”

  “We apologize, Jason. Our fear got the better of us,” said Mr. Downing. He rose and came over to give Jason a firm grip on this shoulder. “We adults sometimes in haste to control our fear overreact. We forgot that you have been through a great deal of unpleasantness. You deserve
better from us. I apologize.”

  “I want you with me, not against me,” said Jason. These were no dumb animals but normal people, powerful in their own right. He would gladly sacrifice himself to defend these good people.

  Mary and Louise looked at him sympathetically; their eyes welled with tears.

  “Don’t worry,” he choked. “I’m goin’ to be okay now.” He could not find the words to tell them what their thoughts, their feelings meant to him. Jason cleared his throat and changed the subject. “Mrs. Deloro, you said something about finding others like me?”

  “Well,” she said, “let’s start by using first names. Call me Louise.”

  “Mary,” followed her sister.

  “Kyle,” said Mr. Downing and he returned to his chair.

  “Call me what you have always called me.” Chiang smiled.

  “You said that the attack was an attempt to kill,” said Kyle Downing. “Tell us more about your sense of it.”

  Jason sat forward, his body still sore. “The blows I absorbed were meant to kill. Why?”

  “It sounds,” interjected Chiang, “like there may have been a war or an uprising of some sort with a clear winner.” He sighed. “A brutal, crush all threats winner.”

  “So, it would be like,” Jason thought for a second, “the Nazi regime in Germany winning World War II. Look at what they did in occupied countries.”

  “Exactly,” said Kyle.

  “So these people are killing the …” Jason looked to the Kyle and Chiang to finish his question.

  “The resistance,” said Chiang. “At such times the losing side will run to safety or hide in plain site. The men and women on the losing side survive but live in fear of betrayal.”

  “You have experienced this?” Jason looked one to the other of the older men.

  “The French resistance during the war,” said Kyle who had been in England at the time.

  “I have friends who did not make the crossing to Formosa when our battle with Mao Tse Tung was lost.” Chiang rested his head back in the chair. He stared at the ceiling, seeing the faces of long lost friends. “They still live in hiding.”