Shine: Season One (Shine Season Book 1)

by William Bernhardt

  "Indeed," Camille said, yanking her hair from his grasp.

  "Careful. Don't seem more than your usual paranoid self. We don't want to tip them off that we suspect something is up," Brenna cautioned in her ear.

  Without breaking eye contact, she gestured toward the Shines lined up to either side of her. "Mr. Lochmier, please meet Karen, Dahlia, Daisy, and Veronica."

  He bowed his head, keeping his gaze locked with hers. "Charmed, I'm sure."

  Mrs. Graham called to them from the kitchen. "Everyone, please be seated. Dinner is ready."

  Camille forced herself to turn her back on the man she sensed posed a great danger to her. She led the other Shines to the long dining table and sat at the end with Veronica and Karen on one side and the twins on the other. Mr. Lochmier took the opposite end, his unblinking gaze watching Camille's every move. Forks scraped china as Mrs. Graham served a beautiful chicken piccata dinner that she didn't taste. Camille kept her head down, though she felt each time Percy Lochmier's gaze focused on her.

  The Hamiltons were a kind couple, seemingly oblivious to the tension surrounding them. They shared stories of their daughter, asked about the lives of each woman before the Seattle incident, and generally kept the conversation going. Karen peppered them with questions, while the twins spoke with Annie about school and boys. Camille listened to them all, keeping a close eye on the two men at the table while avoiding Percy Lochmier's unwavering gaze.

  "How long will we be with you before moving on, Mrs. Hamilton?" Karen asked, pulling Camille's attention back to their conversation. "We don't want to be a burden."

  Mrs. Hamilton patted Karen's arm with a kind smile. "You and the twins are no burden, my dear."

  "You won't all be going with the Hamiltons?" Mr. Lochmier interrupted, his gaze locked on Camille.

  Camille widened her eyes. "Come now, Mr. Lochmier. A man like you always knows where his money is going. You don't really expect us to believe that Mr. Graham didn't give you those details already."

  Lochmier smiled, nodding his head. "I'm afraid you've caught me. I was simply trying to keep the conversation going and learn more about you, my dear. You intrigue me."

  Camille clenched her fist under the table. "Me, intriguing? I'm afraid you'll be disappointed to discover that I'm just an average girl on the run, trying her best to keep from becoming a government guinea pig." She wiped sweaty palms on her pants and sat back as Mrs. Graham picked up the nearly full plate she’d set her napkin on.

  "Do you take cream or sugar in your coffee, dear?"

  She nodded. "No coffee for me, but thank you."

  The older woman nodded. "You're all welcome to move to the living room for dessert and coffee."

  Remembering her manners, Camille stood and picked up her water glass. "I can help you clear the table, Mrs. Graham."

  The other woman nodded to Annie, who gazed at Percy Lochmier in blushing admiration as he winked and waved her closer. "Heavens no, dear. Annie and I will take care of this. I'll send her over with coffee for everyone in just a moment. Go on. To the living room with you."

  Lochmier lifted his head at Mrs. Graham's announcement. He leaned in to whisper to Annie, who giggled and turned a pretty shade of pink. He squeezed her shoulder, which made her blush harder. Mrs. Graham called her name and Annie reluctantly pulled away and began gathering dishes. Camille glared at Lochmier, who simply smiled and stood.

  Mr. Hamilton stood up from the table. "Mr. Graham, Mrs. Graham, we thank you for your hospitality, but we need to be going. We have to get up early in the morning and we still have a long drive back to Albuquerque tonight."

  "Sophia and Rachel will be there in the next ten minutes. Jeremy is also ten minutes away," Brenna said in her ear.

  Camille swallowed the knot suddenly forming in her throat as she turned toward Karen and the twins. She thought of them each as hers and she was sad to see them going. She reached out and hugged each woman. "Be careful. Stick together. We'll see each other again someday, God willing."

  The twins stood next to each other in silence and nodded. Karen, tears trailing down her cheeks, clung to Camille. "Thank you for everything. I'd be in some scary rehab facility right now if you hadn't decided to fight back. Please be careful and join us when you can. We'll be lost without you."

  Camille squeezed her hands. " Just remember, we're stronger together. The rest of us will join you as soon as we can."

  Mr. Graham passed an envelope to Mr. Hamilton, then stepped back. The three Shines followed the Hamiltons out the front door. Camille used her Shine to hide them from anyone who might be watching, though she was sure to make it so that the Graham's and Percy Lochmier weren't aware of what she was doing. They watched in silence as the Hamiltons’ car pulled out of the drive and disappeared down the street.

  Camille's instinct screamed for her to grab V and run. Instead she turned to Mrs. Graham. "Thank you for a delicious dinner, Mrs. Graham." She turned her attention to Mr. Graham. "Thank you for helping get Shines to safety."

  Annie moved forward and grabbed Camille's hand. "Oh, don't leave yet, Camille. Please. Mom still has a delicious chocolate mousse and coffee inside. You saved my life, brought me back to my parents. I'm not ready for you to go."

  "Don't you dare go back into that house, Cam," Brenna said in her ear.

  She smiled at the younger girl and pulled Annie's skinny arms from around her waist. "I'm sorry, but we have to get back. I'm glad we could help you."

  "I'm sorry you said that, my dear." Mr. Lochmier said behind her. Camille grabbed Veronica's arm as something sharp ripped into her back. Then she knew only pain. The source of her agony dug into her back like two claws, burrowing under her skin as they sent wave after wave of pain through her body. She vaguely realized that the high-pitched screams filling the air weren't hers alone. Every muscle in her body was locked in place as she was dragged into the house. The pain moving through her veins like thick, hot honey stopped after what seemed like forever. Camille found herself on the floor in front of the Grahams’ front door. Slowly, her scattered thoughts settled and her breath stopped wheezing in her lungs.

  "Daddy, stop him." Camille heard Annie screaming somewhere deeper in the house. "She saved my life."

  Mrs. Graham's voice was a murmur too soft for Camille to hear. A door slammed shut, leaving her in eerie silence.

  The silence was broken by the sudden return of the faint buzzing in her ear, then Brenna's voice was there. "Ghandi's teeth, Camille. What the flick is going on? Answer me, damn it."

  She struggled to slow her racing heart as someone grabbed her arm. She tried to yank free, but her brain still felt short-circuited. A dark band was wrapped around her arm, something sharp poked into her skin from the band. She slowly turned her head.

  Percy Lochmier knelt next to her, a smile on his face. "Whatever you're considering doing, my dear, I'd advise you to rethink." He caressed the thin, black band and held up a remote. "This little beauty is a stun band. Should you so much as bat an eye, I'll send electricity through you again." Brenna went quiet in her ear. "Do you understand?"

  Camille glared at him, but nodded.

  He smiled and Camille widened her eyes as his thumb pressed down on the remote. The room filled with her screams as pain exploded from her arm, through the rest of her body like the claws of some great beast ripping into her. She couldn't think. She couldn't breathe. The pain stopped as suddenly as it had started. She sucked in deep breaths, as one by one, her muscles unlocked. Warmth seeped between her legs and she realized she'd lost control of her bodily functions. Her face heated. Tears leaked from her tightly closed eyes. This was much worse than the headband back in Oklahoma. Then she'd known it would only trigger if she moved. This band could hurt her at Lockmier's whim and there was nothing she could do to prevent it, but pray that he wasn't into unnecessary torture.

  "Open your eyes Camille," he commanded softly, his breath warm against her cheek.

  She cracked her wet lashes and star
ed up at him, praying he didn't push the button on the little remote in his hand again. Mr. Graham stood next to Veronica, a remote in his hand.

  "There, that's better," he said.

  He lifted a hand and wiped her tears away with his fingers. "You're lucky, you know. You've intrigued me. That doesn't often happen. Your little friend will fetch me a nice bit of change, but you I plan to keep for myself."

  Veronica jerked next to her and opened her mouth. Mr. Graham pressed the button on his remote. Camille swallowed a sob as her friend's screams filled the room. Veronica's body stiffened, her head arching back. Brenna let out a string of curses in her ear and Camille thanked God that the device seemed only to be affected when she was being stunned. Her breathing slowed. Help was coming, she reminded herself.

  When Veronica once again relaxed and began sucking in deep breaths of air, Lochmier returned his gaze to Camille's face.

  "There will be no talking, ladies."

  Two towels were sitting beside her and Camille knew Mrs. Graham had placed them there. The older woman betrayed her experience with the stun belts by her actions. She would see this family taken down for what they'd done, she swore to herself. Lochmier took one of the towels and spread it on the floor beside Camille. Then he picked her up, placed her onto the towel, and wrapped it around her waist. Safe from being soiled, he gathered Camille into his arms and pulled her tight against his chest. She turned her head away when he tried to rest his chin on her head.

  He chuckled. "Your strength only intrigues me more. I find myself wondering if you'll break quickly." He looked down at Veronica. "You'll have to walk, my dear. I'm afraid dear Mr. Graham isn't strong enough to bear your substantial weight."

  Mr. Graham reached down and helped Veronica struggle to her feet. He refused to meet either of their eyes. "Let's go."

  He led a stumbling Veronica through the guest closet into the hidden room. He opened a door Camille hadn't been through that opened to a set of stairs lit by recessed floor lights. Lochmier followed, carrying Camille. At the bottom, Mr. Graham flipped a switch lighting a long hallway lined with doors. He opened one of the doors revealing a small room big enough for a twin bed. Half dragging, half carrying Veronica, Mr. Graham labored to lay her on the bed. He adjusted something on her armband.

  "Useful tools, these stun bands. They can be controlled via remote or movement with the flip of a switch. If your friend here so much as lifts a finger, the device will go off immediately, incapacitating her." He backed up with Camille as Mr. Graham exited the room. "I'd be very still, my dear."

  Veronica turned her head to meet Camille's gaze, activating the band. Her head flew back and her body became stiff as her screams once again filled the air. Camille clenched her fists as Mr. Graham shut the door, silencing the screams. Expecting to be left in one of the other rooms, Camille jerked in surprise when Lochmier turned and made his way back up the stairs with Camille in his arms.

  He looked down at her with a knowing smile. " My associate will be here shortly to retrieve your friend. You and I shall leave now."

  Brenna's voice sounded from the device in her ear. "Rachel and Sophia are eight minutes out, Cam. Jeremy is about the same. You'll have to stall him."

  Camille's mind raced. It'd only been two minutes since they'd watched the Hamiltons leave? It felt like a lifetime had passed.

  "I can walk." She lifted her head to meet his surprised gaze. "Put me down."

  He cocked his head to the side as if considering her request, then shook his head. "No. I'm enjoying having you in my arms. Your personality blazes from your eyes, blinding one to how small you are. I'm enjoying the reminder." He pulled her in tighter against his chest and rested his cheek against her head and he walked with her up the stairs. "So much fire inside such a tiny package. You remind me of a firecracker."

  Camille pulled her head from beneath his cheek, eliciting another chuckle. Mr. Graham opened the door leading from the hidden room to the guest room. She waited until Lochmier ducked into the closet with her, then used her power to make herself invisible. He'd still be able to feel her, but she was hoping that not being able to see her would distract him for the moment she needed to knock the remote from his grasp. She held her breath as he straightened and looked down. He froze one foot in the air and she swung her elbow, connecting with his throat. The other hand she curled into a fist and swung at his nose. He turned his head just enough so that her fist connected with his mouth. Currents of pain flowed through her body from the armband. Her muscles locked as she clenched her jaw and fought the urge to scream. She fell from Lochmier's arms and hit the ground, pushing any air trapped in her lungs out. The back of her head hit something hard. Stars bloomed behind her eyes. The electricity stopped after what seemed like forever but her head continued to throb. Nausea churned in her stomach.

  She pried her eyes open to see Lochmier leaning over her, a white handkerchief pressed to his lip. She was disappointed to see that only a small amount of blood stained the pristine fabric. He adjusted her armband. She turned her head to see what he did and currents of electricity coursed through her again. She clenched her jaw and eyes shut. When the currents stopped, she turned her head and threw up, triggering the currents once again.

  When the agony finally stopped, Lochmier knelt beside her and caressed her cheek. "You're going to regret this last desperate effort to break free, my dear little firecracker. This I can promise you. I'm going to leave the band to be triggered by movement. When I pick you up, it's going to go off. It'll continue until I set you in the car. Every time the car jostles you, it'll go off. I want you to think about this decision of yours each time that occurs."

  Camille held herself as still as possible. From experience she knew it wouldn't react to breathing, but only larger movements. He stood up, his hand holding the cloth to his nose.

  He glanced up at Mr. Graham. "Ask your wife to get me a wet cloth. I'd like to clean up before we're on our way."

  Camille prayed that the others would arrive soon.

  16

  Camille lay frozen on the Grahams’ guest bedroom floor as Lochmier wiped the blood from his mouth. She thanked God for her father's insistence that she learn how to defend herself. Lochmier's face wasn't nearly so handsome with a swollen lip and missing front tooth. Her hand throbbed. It was worth it. She just wished she'd been more successful.

  "The ability to become invisible will come in very handy, my little firecracker. You've just become even more intriguing, if you can believe it. Breaking you just became my number one priority. When I think of the conversations I'll be privy to, thanks to your ability." He smiled at her and she struggled to suppress a shudder. "You'll be my secret weapon." He laid the wet cloth on the bed and moved over to kneel next to her. "Others will offer me untold amounts of money for my secret weapon, but I'll just smile and refuse." He leaned down and kissed her nose, his eyes locked with hers. "You're mine. I'll never let anyone take you from me."

  Camille closed her eyes. She'd kill herself before she'd allow anyone to own her. He slid his arms under her and the band exploded into life, sending currents of electricity through her. She clenched her jaw against the pain, refusing to let him hear her cry out again. The currents arced through her much longer than they had any other time. She grew light-headed from lack of air. Her lungs burned. Her muscles felt as though they'd snap loose from her bones. When the pain stopped, she lay in the back of Lochmier's car as he bent over her. She couldn't stop the tears leaking from the corners of her eyes as she glared at him. He wiped her tears and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Shh, don't cry. We'll be home soon." He pushed her hair away from her face and smiled as if she were someone precious to him. Nausea churned in her stomach again. This man was delusional. Did he really think she'd ever quit trying to get away from him? He closed the door. Too soon, he slid into the driver's seat and started the car.

  The heavy weight of hopelessness pressed down on her. The lack of buzzing in her ear told her Brenna wasn't eve
n with her anymore. Lochmier had positioned her so that he could look back at her head where it lay on the backseat behind the front passenger seat. She was so short that she lay stretched out across the backseat with no problem. She looked at her legs, then back at Lochmier's head. She couldn't just let this happen without a fight. Inhaling, she clenched her jaw and pulled her knees to her chest, locking her arms around them as the armband activated and sent electricity through her. She used every ounce of remaining strength to hold her knees to her chest, despite the electricity attempting to force them back where they'd been. The currents stopped.

  She gulped in deep lungfuls of air and waited for her muscles to stop spasming. She'd only have one chance at this. Camille watched him and waited. He turned a corner, then turned his head to look back at her. Camille clenched her jaw, waited until his eyes met hers, then she kicked with every bit of strength she had in her. Her boots hit his already damaged face and he cried out. The car swerved as he slammed on the brakes, then it started to fishtail. Lochmier yanked the wheel and the car slid sideways and lifted up on two wheels, jerking Camille toward the window. The armband sent electricity arcing through her again. Her mind lost in a haze, Camille struggled against the never-ending current.

  When the pain stopped, she lay in a pile of shattered glass on the back floorboard of the car. Her side burned, as if something had pierced it. Glass cut into her back and she could feel something wet dripping down her face. Lochmier was nowhere to be seen. Camille remained perfectly still, wondering if the man had been thrown from the car. Sirens grew louder in the distance. She had to get out of here. She lifted her arm to pull herself up and remembered the band just as electricity coursed through her again.

  17

  Camille opened her eyes when arms pulled her from the car. A police officer held her against his chest, his badge pressing into her cheek. She struggled to slow her heaving chest, thankful he'd known to turn off the band.