by Lucy Adler
She held up her left hand, turning it so that he could see the grey streak running down the back of her index finger.
“What is that?” he asked.
“I’m not sure. But it happened when the Dark left Jake. Maybe it’s like a burn or something?”
Brett touched it and Daria pulled back without thinking.
“Does it hurt?” he asked.
“It’s just a little sensitive.”
“So you were trying the same thing with Brix, right? What do you think went wrong?”
Daria sighed and looked down at the hospital blankets that covered her.
“I didn’t listen,” she said, shaking her head. Then she sniffed as tears formed in her eyes. “It was literally the first thing Helena taught me!” she continued. “The importance of listening deeply.”
“Do you mean you didn’t hear the gift correctly?”
“No, I heard it. It just wasn’t saying what I wanted to hear. So I ignored it.”
Brett nodded but didn’t respond.
“It was so quiet, so faint,” she said. “Not that I’m blaming it. It was quiet and faint, but it was definitely clear.”
“I think we’ve all been there, Daria. It happens. We get caught up in something that seems so obviously right, like it’s the only logical choice. But the gift sees something deeper, something bigger.”
Brett gave her shoulder a squeeze.
“You’re still learning, Daria.”
“But how many more people - how many more friends - have to suffer while I do?”
“The only way you’ll be able to help them is if you let these moments shape you and grow you. Let them refine you, refine your hearing and your actions. Engaging with the gift is all about getting outside of yourself. But if these tragedies only leave you asking ‘why’ and ‘what if’, then you’ll always be trapped in your own mind.”
Daria looked up as his words resonated within her.
“No one can see all the angles,” he continued. “And no matter how much you learn or achieve, you’ll never be able to answer all the ‘whys’ and ‘what ifs’. There comes a time where you just have to stop. Lay it all down and embrace what’s been given to you. Own it. Be faithful to the gift inside you. And let the chips fall where they may! At least, that’s what Helena would probably tell you if she were here!” he said, finishing with a gentle laugh.
“Thanks, Brett. I know you’re right.”
“But don’t get me wrong,” he added. “I still think we should go after this Reston guy! And try to stop whatever it is the Dark is trying to accomplish through him. We’ll just have to make sure we do it the right way.”
“Agreed!” Daria said with the first hint of a smile.
Now that they were both fully awake, Brett got up and opened the curtains.
“There’s still a lot of snow on the ground,” he said, looking up and down the street below. “We should turn on the news and check the conditions. We might have to hang around here another day.”
A large screen hung on the wall opposite Daria’s bed. She leaned over and grabbed the remote from the nightstand and turned it on. After clicking through a dozen or more channels, they finally found a weather report on VNI, Vanguard News Inc. The screen was split between a man in a parka standing beside a towering snow drift, and a woman in a white dress sitting behind a desk in a newsroom.
“...looks like the storm has well and truly passed.”
“That’s great Jim, thanks for the update.”
“No problem, Tammy.”
“And what about schools? Will students be returning to class tomorrow, or will it be another day of remote learning?”
“It should be business as usual, Tammy. The Transportation Department has informed me that all major arteries will be clear in the next two hours, and that they should have the rest of the town dug out by the end of the day.”
“I’m sure the kids will be happy to hear it, Jim. Thanks again!”
Daria laughed.
“Poor kids. I don’t miss school, not even a little!”
“I wasn’t a fan either,” Brett said. “It’s ironic but it wasn’t until I left that I finally felt like I was actually using my mind!”
Daria was just about to turn off the television when a red banner popped up on the bottom of the screen. And it immediately caught their attention.
Sleeper suspected in recent attacks. Stay tuned for details.
They both turned and looked at each other.
“You don’t think...?” Daria started.
“Let’s see what they say.”
When the anchor was finished with a scandal about water quality issues due to industrial waste, she quickly adopted a more solemn tone and expression.
“It appears as though there has been an act of terror in the otherwise peaceful community of Billings, in the northern jurisdiction of Progress. Last night, two women stormed a hospital in a flurry of violence, injuring several patients and staff members, as well as two guards and two paramedics. The guards are in critical condition. One of the paramedics was able to share some details with local law enforcement. According to his statement, the younger of the two women exhibited a strange power, managing to render him unconscious with a mere touch of her fingers. Furthermore, and perhaps even more disturbing, he noted that the girl’s eyes, quote, ‘glowed like coals in a fire’, end quote. Authorities are investigating and hope to be able to question the guards when they’re released from ICU.”
Daria and Brett exchanged another look. Then the anchor continued.
“Of course, it goes without saying that this sort of unexplained power, coupled with the appearance of an odd discolouration in the eyes, is a hallmark of rogue sleepers.”
Beside the reporter, a slideshow of still images began playing. There were scenes of damaged buildings, rubble in the streets, injured people being placed in ambulances.
There were also pictures of other people in custody, their wrists handcuffed behind their backs, policemen hauling them off in armoured vehicles.
“Is it possible that the peace we’ve enjoyed for more than twenty years has finally come to an end? Are the Government and the Guild prepared for what could be a new wave of violence?”
The slideshow continued with a scene of patients lying in hospital beds, each hooked up to the same type of equipment, with a similar IV running to each of their arms.
“Hospitals like the Astor have limited capacity. What will happen if more sleepers are discovered?”
Then the images ceased and the camera centred on the news anchor for one final, somber question.
“And what will happen if they refuse to be treated for their affliction?”
By now, Daria could feel her heart beating in her chest.
“But those are lies!” she said to Brett, pointing at the screen in earnest.
“Of course they are.”
“Yeah, Brix probably hurt those people. But she’s not a sleeper. And why would they say ‘stormed a hospital’? Like we attacked this place or something. That’s so twisted.”
“It’s all about the story, and getting people to react to it,” Brett said as he stood up and went back to the window. They were on the fifth floor and he was trying to see what was happening down on the street.
“Are there police here?” Daria asked.
“I don’t see any cars.”
“Well, we should get out of here as soon as we can, don’t you think?”
“Yeah, definitely.”
Just then, as Daria was shuffling out of the tall hospital bed, Theresa entered the room, quickly shutting the door behind her.
“I just started my shift. What the heck happened last night?” she asked in a loud whisper. Her face and body language were all urgency. “And where are Lena and Brianna?”
Daria just looked at Brett.
Uhh, I think I’ll let him handle this one! Where do you even start?!
“I know you and Helena are close,” he said to Theresa
. “You have to trust me when I say that she isn’t responsible for this. Brix took her as a hostage.”
“So the girl did this? She almost killed those guards, you know.”
“She doesn’t know what she’s doing. She’s not herself.”
“Then who is she?” Theresa replied skeptically.
“Someone, or something, is controlling her. Helena told me about the black cloud you discovered on the brain scan.”
“But Lena said the girl wasn’t one of you. How’d she do this, then?”
“Whatever that is, it’s giving her powers that look like ours.”
“She’s like an evil sleeper,” Daria whispered to herself.
“Did you see the news?” Theresa asked. “It’s not good.”
They both nodded.
“It won’t take much to make people afraid of you again, the way they used to be...”
As she was speaking, the door to the room began to open.
“Uh, Dr. Kingston?” a voice asked.
“Yes? What is it?”
An orderly poked his head through the doorway.
“There are some men here to see you. They say they’re Guild representatives. They want to talk about last night. They’re asking for your husb - uh, Dr. Kingston, too.”
“Where are they now?”
“At the nurses’ desk on Level Four.”
“Thank you, Kevin. Tell them I’ll be down in two or three minutes.”
The door closed again and Theresa finished her warning.
“You guys need to lie low and stay out at the settlement. Try not to venture into town if you don’t have to, and definitely don’t visit the Advanced Cities. Not until this whole thing blows over.”
“How long do you think that’ll be?” Daria asked, even though she knew Theresa couldn’t give her a firm answer.
“Well, that’ll depend on your friend. If she stays out of trouble, people will probably forget in a couple of weeks. It’ll just be a fluke. Of course...”
“This could only be the beginning,” Brett said, picking up her train of thought. He paced across the room and stopped in front of the window, folding his arms with a sigh.
“Maybe this was part of his plan all along,” Daria said, thinking out loud.
“Whose plan?” Theresa asked.
“Helena’s ex-husband. Dr. Charl-”
“Charles Reston?”
“You know him?”
Theresa shook her head, rolled her eyes, and laughed.
“Sort of. A little, but enough!”
“He basically kidnapped me and turned me into a science experiment.”
“I’m not surprised.” Then she glanced down at her watch. “I have to meet these Guild reps. It’s not a good idea to keep them waiting. You guys better get out of here - quietly.”
“Thank you,” Daria said, reaching out her hand. Theresa shook it and they exchanged anxious smiles.
“Be careful,” the doctor replied. “And if you find Lena, please let me know she’s safe.”
“Will do,” Brett said as he turned to say goodbye. “And you be careful, too.”
Theresa didn’t say anything, only giving him a quick thumbs up as she slipped out of the room and left them alone again.
“So, it looks like all that ‘battle’ stuff you were talking about just got real, huh?” Daria said, raising both eyebrows.
“Yeah, looks like it!” Brett replied with an uncomfortable laugh.
The hospital wasn’t massive but it was big enough, with enough patients and staff passing here and there, so that no one thought twice about them exiting the building.
And it wasn’t long before they were back in their truck, headed south to the park, and home to the settlement.
28
Month: 4 | Day: 17 | Year: 60
NEVER TOO LATE
“Jake!”
“Dash!”
They met each other halfway between the fireplace and the front door of the house.
“I’m so glad you’re alright!” Daria said, squeezing him as tightly as she could.
“Thanks to you,” he said, lifting her off her feet with his hug.
“I’m sorry I had to run off so fast. It’s just that we needed to --”
“It’s fine, don’t worry about it. They filled me in.”
He gestured back towards the couch, where Max, Aury, and Phillip were waiting to greet her.
“You have no idea how happy I am to see you guys!” she said as she and Jake joined them by the fire.
“So how’d it all go?” Max asked.
“How’s Brix?” Aury added. “We’ve been worried about the four of you.”
“She’s definitely not fine!” Daria said, cutting straight to the point without sugar-coating it. “The Dark has infected her, or something. She even has a spot in her brain, like we do. Only, it’s black instead of purple.”
“Whoa,” Max replied softly.
“And she has powers, too.”
“Like what sort of powers?” Aury asked.
“Some of it seems like ours, but then different at the same time. Sorry, that doesn’t exactly help! But we’re not really sure, to be honest.”
“Speaking of ‘we’, where are Brett and Helena?” Jake asked.
“Brett’s at his house. He’s fine. Helena... well, Brix sort of took her.”
“Took her where?”
Daria shrugged her shoulders.
“Wait a minute,” Max interrupted, shaking his head in confusion. “How did she take her? Weren’t you guys together? Wasn’t that the point of going as a group?”
“It’s kind of complicated,” Daria replied. “But it seems like Helena let Brix take her. Like, maybe the gift was leading her to go.”
Aury looked offended at the thought.
“That makes no sense,” she said, scrunching up her nose and twisting her mouth. “Why would the gift put her in danger?”
“It wasn’t my idea. Brett saw it unfold. The Dark knocked me out and he was the only one still watching. I guess she told him not to fight, just to make sure I got back here safely.”
They were all silent for a while, trying to process what Daria was telling them.
“Helena understands the gift better than any of us,” Jake finally said. “If she told Brett not to fight, then it was for a reason. We need to trust her. We need to trust the gift.”
All of them seemed to find comfort in his words. Except for Aury.
“I just don’t get it,” she said. “Isn’t the gift supposed to keep us safe? To protect us?”
“I’m not sure that’s always going to look the way we expect it to,” Jake replied.
“Then why do we rescue people from the Institute, or extract sleepers from the Cities? If you’re right, then maybe the gift wants them to stay there.”
Aury was usually fairly animated, only in a cheerful way. But she was clearly frustrated now.
“Easy, kiddo,” Max said calmly. He was sitting in the chair at the far end of the couch. He leaned forward and touched her hand. “We’re all trying to figure this out. Don’t get upset.”
She flopped back against the couch and sighed, a frown still heavy on her face.
“I’m sorry, Aury,” Jake said. “I didn’t mean that we’re not concerned for Helena, or that we won’t try to get her back.”
“But what if the gift doesn’t want us to get her back?” she whispered. “And who will the Dark take next?”
They were quiet again, and for longer this time. Most of them stared into the fireplace, trying to make sense out of the situation. This time, it was Daria who broke the silence.
“Jake is proof that the Dark can be beaten. That it’s never too late.”
“What do you mean?” Phillip asked. He had been listening intently the entire time.
“The gift led me to release him, to set him free from the Dark, even after it had overcome him. Don’t you see what that means?”
“Maybe?” Aury replied.
“It’s power isn’t final,” Daria said with a solemn look. “The Dark had ‘won’ that fight already. Jake was knocked out, unconscious. And had been for days. But I - or, rather, the gift was able set him free. To reverse the Dark.”
“‘Reverse the Dark’,” Aury repeated. Then she started to smile. “I like that!”
“So let’s just be patient and do our best to find Helena,” Phillip said.
“And let’s not forget about Julia, either,” Jake added.
“Exactly,” Daria replied with a nod.
Max gave the arm of his chair a slap and then pushed himself up with a groan. His legs were better but still healing.
“Well, I don’t know about you guys,” he said, “but I think this calls for some huckleberry pie!”
“What?” Daria laughed. “You just happen to have some on hand, do you?”
“Of course, skin! What do you think, I’ve just been `avin’ a Bo-peep by the fire, waitin’ for you lot to get back? Pfft!”
“Ah, there it is,” she laughed again. “I’ve missed that!”
“Oh, that reminds me!” Phillip said. “I figured out ‘rhythms’!”
“And all on his own, too!” Aury added teasingly, giving him a nudge with her elbow.
“Rhythm and blues, shoes,” he declared proudly.
“Nice!” Daria replied. Then she called out to Max, who was already in the kitchen getting some plates and forks. “You’re gonna have to try harder, Maxy boy!”
“Uh-oh,” he called back. “Looks like I’m in Barney now - and all on me Jack Jones!”
Daria and Phillip looked at each other.
Neither of them had a clue.
But they definitely weren’t going to let him win.
____________________________
“Hey, you headed for bed?”
Daria was just about to enter her room when Jake’s voice called out to her from down the hall.
“Yup. I’m totally drained,” she said turning around to meet his warm smile and gentle gaze. “I don’t even think I’d have any adrenaline left if I needed it!”
As she stared into his eyes, she was suddenly transported to their old school. She imagined herself standing in front of her locker on one of those many mornings when he used to come by, first thing, just to see how she was doing.