by S W Vaughn
Ace looked on, wide-eyed and pale. “Is he gonna be all right?"
"I think so,” Megan said. “He...” She jerked back. Evan's body convulsed once and stilled.
"Megan?” Grace whispered. “What happened?"
Megan slumped and leaned away from him. Branches crackled beneath her. “Don't know,” she murmured. “Think he's better, but I'm so tired..."
At once, Evan scrambled up from the ground, his eyes wild and unfocused. “Get away! G ... Grace? How...” He sagged to his knees, cradling his stomach with one arm. “The bear. It's gone?"
"Yes,” Grace replied.
"Ace and David. They're out here.” Evan clenched his teeth and stood again.
"We're okay,” Ace stammered. “David's back at the house. We tried to ... We got help."
"Thanks.” Evan managed a smile. “Gonna sit now."
He thumped to the ground. Ace approached and sat in front of him. “Don't thank me. We would've been goners without you."
"You're welcome. Can we go now?"
"Good idea.” Grace bent to help him up. “Can you walk?"
"Think so. Maybe a little help..."
Grace smiled. “You can lean on me. Just don't die, okay?"
"I won't,” Evan whispered. “Thanks.” He looked down at Megan. “Thought the bear ripped my stomach open. Did I remember wrong?"
Megan blushed and nodded. Ace helped her stand, and Evan gave her a grateful smile.
"Okay."
The woods seemed brighter as they made their way out.
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Chapter 23
Michael closed the door on the small infirmary where Evan lay hooked to half a dozen drips and machines. Grace stood with Megan and Ace in the hall, holding back a flood of fresh anger. If they weren't all drugged, none of this would have happened. They could have worked together to prevent it.
"You do understand that you aren't allowed in the woods any more, right?” Michael spoke to them all, but looked at Ace.
Ace bowed his head. “I'm sorry, Michael. We were just..."
"It's all right. You didn't do anything wrong.” Michael moved forward and squeezed his shoulder. “I just don't want something like this to happen again. Okay?"
Ace nodded miserably.
"Cheer up. He's going to be fine. In fact, I'm surprised he's in such good shape, considering.” This time, Megan received the weight of his gaze.
"What?” Megan managed to look nonchalant.
"Nothing.” Michael sighed. “I have some things I need to take care of. Are you guys going to be all right?"
Grace gave him a cool stare. “We'll be fine."
"Good. I need to speak with you later, Grace."
"About what?"
"Later.” Michael walked past them, and called over his shoulder. “If you want to head to the library, I've had Dorinne make some lemonade for you. The others are there."
Megan led the way to the library. Inside, a folding card table held two frosted pitchers of lemonade, an assortment of cookies and stacks of plates and glasses. Dawn and David sat on a sofa. David's hair was damp and tousled as though he'd taken a shower, and he'd changed into clean clothes. Bailey stood beside a bookshelf, wearing a blank expression.
David jumped up and rushed Ace when they entered. “Is Evan okay? What took you guys so long? Are you hurt? Did you see the bear again?"
"Whoa!” Ace laughed. “Evan's all right. I'm fine. We didn't see the bear, and Megan is really slow."
"Me?” Megan shoved him lightly and grinned. “Only because I had to wait for someone who kept tripping over his own feet."
"Good. Now I can get something to eat.” David wandered to the table, selected a plate and began piling cookies on it. “Want some, Dawn?"
"No, thanks."
"More for me.” He added two more and resumed his seat.
Dawn's features resembled Bailey's—drained and vacant. Grace assumed they'd been worried about Evan. She watched Ace load up a plate. When he finished, she poured a glass of lemonade. “Anybody else?"
"I'll take one.” Megan accepted the glass with a trembling hand. “Think I'd better sit down.” She dropped next to Dawn and exhaled slowly. Healing Evan must have exhausted her.
"Do you think they'll make him go now?” Dawn whispered.
Megan's brow furrowed. “Who? Go where?"
"Evan's almost eighteen.” Bailey drifted to the table. She picked up a cookie, stared at it, and put it back down. “He's supposed to ship out to the government soon."
Dawn plucked idly at the hem of her shirt. “I don't want him to go. I miss Kaden, too. They didn't even let him say goodbye."
"Quit being such a sop, kid.” Bailey's features hardened. “We're all headed that way. If you ask me, it's better than being out there."
Megan put an arm around Dawn and glared at Bailey. “Maybe for some of us."
"Does anyone know if Evan wants to leave?” Grace put her drink down. Her hands clenched with the effort to refrain from shouting. “I don't know whether it's for the best, but I think it's wrong to force us into this."
"Evan doesn't mind. Kaden didn't either. He was excited.” Ace reddened and stared at his plate. “I'm not. Excited, I mean. I wanted to be ... well, not a soldier."
"Soldier?” Grace echoed.
"We're not joining the Army, dope.” Bailey crossed her arms and backed up a step. “It's the CIA. Or the FBI. Or something."
"I thought we were gonna be secret agents,” David said.
"So nobody knows what really happens.” Grace shook her head. “Don't you see? This is wrong. We shouldn't have to be sent off to who-knows-where just because we're different."
Dawn shrank back into the couch. “I don't want to be a secret agent. And I don't want to leave David. He's all I have left."
"You won't have to."
"Oh, really?” Bailey sneered at Grace. “What are you going to do about it? You think Michael's just going to say forget it, you can all stay here forever?"
That's what you want him to say, isn't it? Grace suppressed a smirk. Despite Bailey's cynical remarks, the girl didn't want to leave any more than the rest of them. “I don't know exactly what I'm going to do yet,” she said. “Michael said he wanted to talk to me tonight, and I'll definitely bring it up then. For now, I need to see Evan."
"I'll go with you.” Megan gave Dawn a brief squeeze and stood. “Maybe I can translate."
Grace cast her a puzzled look, but an instant later remembered Megan could still read thoughts. Evan might be just as disparaging as Bailey—say one thing, mean another. She nodded.
Bailey rolled her eyes. “Good luck. You're gonna need it."
* * * *
Grace and Megan returned to the infirmary, hoping for a little privacy. The nurse guarding Evan, however, took exception to their plan. Grace recognized her as the woman who handed out injections. She thought she'd heard Lou call her Vera.
"He's sleeping.” Vera planted herself in the doorway and attempted to block their view. “You can visit with him tomorrow."
Grace glanced past the irate nurse. On the far side of the room, Evan sat propped in a bed by a window, staring outside. “No, he isn't,” Grace said. “We have to see him. It's important."
Evan's head turned slowly. “Vera? What's going on?"
"He needs rest.” Vera spoke firmly and began to shut the door.
Grace wedged a foot inside. “We need to talk to him now."
With a sigh, Vera relented and stood back. “Fine. But you can only stay for a few minutes. You'll wear him out."
"Thank you."
Vera returned to her desk, grumbling and shaking her head. If she weren't so furious with the so-called people in charge here, Grace would have laughed.
"Grace. Megan.” Evan offered a weak smile. “Thanks for coming after me."
"Any time.” Grace returned the smile in what she hoped was a reassuring way. He looked worse now than he had when they'd brought him back.
A monstrous bruise had swallowed half his face. The bear must have swatted him. His eyes looked different, too. At first Grace thought they were bright with exhaustion or fever. A closer look revealed they were almost glowing.
Evan caught her staring and turned toward the window again. “You guys should go,” he whispered. “Vera was just getting a shot ready."
Grace frowned. “Can't it wait a few minutes? We wanted to...” She glanced at Vera. The nurse glowered, tapping a finger on the edge of her desk. “Damn,” Grace murmured. “She's not going to go away, is she?"
Evan closed his eyes. “I can take care of that."
"You can?"
He cleared his throat. “Vera. Go start a load of laundry."
His voice sounded strange—deep and hollow, louder than usual. Vera jumped from the chair as though she'd sat on a tack and hustled from the room without a word.
"That'll keep her busy for a few minutes.” Evan cast his eyes down. “So, what's up?"
"Er. How did you do that?"
"It's my ability. One of them, anyway."
Grace recalled the forest, the damage left in the bear's wake as though it had fled from Evan in fear. “Is that how you got rid of the bear?"
"I had to. It wouldn't stop coming. I just got to the point where I can use it with the suppression, like Michael.” Evan looked up, and his gaze settled on Megan. “I think you knocked the drugs out of my system. You did heal me, didn't you?"
Megan nodded. “You would have died."
"I know.” Evan sighed. “I'm grateful, believe me. But I want the drugs. I don't want to be able to do that automatically."
"Why?” Grace asked. “I mean, that's an amazing gift."
Evan laughed bitterly. “Gift. I've never thought of it like that. For me, it's a curse."
"Sometimes I feel that way too. Still, I don't think covering it with drugs is the best way to deal with it."
"I do. I want it gone.” Anger laced his words. “The first time I found out I could do this...” He trailed off and stared at Grace. “I keep telling you things I've never told anyone before. Do you have a forced confession ability or something?"
Grace chuckled. “No. But I'll say I do, if it makes you feel better."
"What do you have?"
"We're talking about you."
"Oh. Right.” Evan grimaced. “I was thirteen. Living on the streets—had been for three years. I told you about my mother."
"Yes. I remember,” Grace said. Megan sent her a questioning glance, but she shook her head. She'd explain later.
"Anyway. I don't remember exactly why, but I was furious at the world. And miserable. I wanted to die. I climbed up to the highway and sat on the guardrail, trying to decide which car I was going to jump in front of. And somebody pulled over.” Evan stopped abruptly, swallowed hard. He didn't continue.
"Are you okay?” Grace asked.
Evan blinked a few times. “Yeah. So, this guy got out of the car. Kinda tall, clean-looking, probably around thirty or so. He came over and asked if I was okay, said he could give me a lift somewhere or lend me his phone if I needed to call someone...” Evan's breath hitched and his voice dropped to a guttural octave. “I screamed at him. Told him to get away from me. He turned and ran onto the highway. A truck hit him."
"Evan...” Grace moved closer to the bed and laid a hand on his shoulder.
He looked at it, but didn't seem to notice. “He was just being nice, trying to help. And I killed him."
"But it was an accident! You didn't know. You were just a kid..."
"I'm still just a kid, Grace.” Evan shuddered. His eyes closed again. “I don't want this power. I'm not responsible enough for it."
Grace gave him a sad smile. “It takes a responsible person to admit they're not responsible."
"Huh?"
"What I mean is, I think you're smarter than you give yourself credit for."
"She's right.” Megan grinned at him. “Trust me. I can read your mind."
"Great. So even if I manage to duck her coercion, you'll know what I'm thinking."
"'Fraid so."
Evan sagged back against the inclined bed. One corner of his mouth turned up. “All right, I know you two didn't come here to ask if I've ever killed anyone. What did you want?"
"Bailey said you're turning eighteen soon. We wanted to know if you really want to leave for ... wherever they send us."
"I don't know.” Evan smirked. “Always thought I'd make a pretty good drill sergeant."
An image formed in Grace's mind: Evan in a uniform—that coincidentally looked damned fine on him—barking orders to rows of camouflage-clad soldiers, who dropped and performed perfect, synchronous push-ups with bewilderment stamped on their features. She blurted laughter and clapped a hand to her mouth.
"What's so funny?"
"Nothing. Really.” Grace drew a calming breath. “Seriously, do you want to leave?"
"Well ... no. But I didn't think we had a choice."
"That's about to change.” I hope. “Okay. I'm going to talk to Michael about it, but I don't know how far I'll get. Can I ask you to do something, Evan?"
"You can ask. But if it involves heavy lifting, forget it."
"No, nothing like that. I want you to stay off the drug—at least for a few days. I think you'll feel a lot better, and I believe you can control your abilities."
Evan frowned. “I guess I could convince Vera she's already given it to me and dodge the shots for a while. But what if there's another ... accident?” He blinked, plucked at the sheet. “When I talk, people die. I can't let that happen again."
"It won't happen. I know you can handle it.” Grace squeezed his shoulder. The brief contact sent heat spreading through her and she had to let go quickly. “Will you try?"
"Okay.” His voice faltered a bit, then steadied. “Do you really think you can keep him from sending me away?"
"Yes.” She spoke with more conviction than she felt. Still, Grace resolved to do everything she could to stop Michael—no matter what he did to her.
The infirmary door opened. Vera swooped in, looking flushed and confused. “I'm sorry, but you girls have to leave now. Evan needs his rest.” She stopped, shook her head. “I don't know what came over me. I just had to wash a load of sheets, right that second..."
The three of them looked at each other and smiled.
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Chapter 24
Evening tumbled into night, with no sign of Michael.
Grace wandered the first floor. She glanced at the grandfather clock, startled to realize it was after ten. Maybe Michael's “later” meant tomorrow. Or next week.
Too bad. Grace decided now was later enough.
She knew he and Kendra stayed in the old camp by the greenhouse. She'd have to head that way and hope he'd lifted the ridiculous shoot-to-kill order Lou had warned her about. She doubted Lou would actually shoot her ... but Kyle might. Apparently, the man held a grudge for a long time. She hadn't cut him that badly, though. And it was self-defense.
A flashlight would help. Or a candle, if she had to resort to that. They didn't have streetlights in the mountains, and even if there were light in the camp or the greenhouse, it wouldn't reach far enough to let her see the ground. Grace headed for the kitchen hoping to find something useful.
Light spilled from the kitchen doorway. Grace entered cautiously. The refrigerator door stood open, a pair of sock-clad feet visible beneath it. “Dorinne?” Grace said.
Megan leaned out from behind the door and smiled. “Hi, Grace. Did you get hungry too?"
Grace laughed. “No.” She moved to the first drawer she spotted and opened it. Potholders and dishtowels lay stacked neatly inside. “Hey, Megan. Happen to know where there's a flashlight around here?"
"Why do you need a flashlight?” Megan closed the refrigerator. She held a can of soda in one hand and a wrapped brick of sharp cheddar cheese in the other. “I need crackers.” She headed for the cabinets.
"I'm going to see Michael."
Megan whirled. “Are you crazy? It's pitch black out there. And Evan just got attacked by a bear, remember?"
"The bear's long gone. This can't wait. Who knows when he'll decide to send Evan away? Or me? I passed eighteen a long time ago, you know."
"Oh, man.” Megan slumped. “I keep forgetting that. Guess it's because I don't want to think about it.” She set the cheese and soda on the counter. “Can't you wait until morning, at least? I mean, what if you get hurt?"
"I thought about waiting, but it's better to do it now. He won't be expecting me."
"Yeah. But I still don't want you to go out there.” Megan crossed the room and stopped in front of her. “I was going to hold off. Didn't want anyone getting too suspicious. But...” The girl threw her arms around Grace and whispered, “Don't move."
Curious warmth spread through Grace's body. She could feel the blood flowing in her veins, the light Megan directed into her flushing the darkness of the drug. Her nerves tingled and hummed with sensation. Color and texture built to a shimmering crescendo and acute awareness of the world around her returned.
Can you hear me?
Grace smiled. Yes.
Good. Megan sagged back and stumbled over to a stool chair near the counter. She sat with a grunt. “Never done two in one day before."
"Are you all right?"
"Yeah.” Megan lifted her head. “I've been practicing. Apparently, the more you use it, the easier it gets. Got something else for you.” She thrust a hand in her pocket and extracted a contact lens case. “Would you believe I've been carrying these around for a week? Ever since we got here."
"Thank you. For everything.” Grace approached her, accepted the case.
Megan grinned. “Don't thank me yet. They're blue. He's going to notice eventually.” There's so much I want to tell you...
Can you start with why the drug doesn't work on you any more? Grace settled the case on the counter and inserted the lenses. At least she hadn't forgotten how.
Lawrence ... my stepfather. He hasn't been giving it to me. Just a placebo.
I take it you're getting along now.
Yes. He really was trying to protect me. He hates them.