Lisa helped Ally into one of the sofas.
“I’m just fine, Lisa Brown. Stop fussing over me.”
“You’re back to your old self, all right.” Lisa laughed.
She sat down beside me and took my hand in hers. I couldn’t remember the last time her touch sent shivers down my spine. I missed her. I loved her. All of this made me realize just how much. “What’s going on inside that head of yours? I can’t read your thoughts anymore. I wished away my yearning for you.”
“I thought I was going to die,” I told her. Knowing she didn’t want to long for me anymore made me want to die. Why would she do that?
“I’m happy you’re okay.” She wrapped her fingers around my face. A twinge of pain permeated my body. Was I always going to hurt when she touched me?
“I’m sorry for the way I treated you, Lisa.” I winced with more pain.
“Let’s not talk about that right now.”
“We have to. You’re here with Dr. John—”
“Dr. John?”
“Don’t you see him?”
“No.” Lisa surveyed the room. “Are you a little delirious, maybe?”
“I don’t think so. Who do you see in the room with us?” I sat up, squeezing her hands tight. Tremors coursed through my veins.
“I see you, Ally, and Tobey.”
“Who’s Tobey?”
Lisa pointed to Dr. John. “He’s the one who examined me and brought me back to you when he realized you were getting sick. If Michael and Donna hadn’t gotten to us when they did, you’d be dead, Alex. Dr. John never even showed his face.”
“Your so called ‘Tobey’,” I whispered, “Is Dr. John.”
Lisa’s mouth dropped.
LISA—
Realizations…
I stepped outside, bending over. Tobey was Dr. John. How’d I miss that? All the signs were there. Why else would he be the one everyone went to for a decision. Did my meeting with Dr. John mean my fate? What was he going to do to me?
“Lisa?” Ally touched my shoulder. “Are you okay?”
“No!” I shoved her away. “My heart is broken.”
“Just wait, in about fifty years, this will be a big laugh, ya know?”
I wiped tears from my eyes. “I don’t have fifty years. I don’t even have one year at this rate.” I wrapped my arms around Ally. She sobbed along with me.
“What do I say to you?” She asked. “Lisa, what can I say?”
“Nothing, the truth hurts sometimes.”
“Why is this happening?”
“Tobey or Dr. John, this is his doing.”
“Are you sure it’s him? I’ve a secret to tell you about Anna.”
“Why would you even doubt him? He kills our kind.” I paused. “Wait a minute.” I shook my head. This was all too much to take in. “What secret do you have about Anna?”
“Sometimes, I get these tremors,” Ally whispered in my ear. “Usually they’re very painful and last just a second. Well, today, my tremors went on for almost a minute. I only have these tremors when Anna steals my longevity.”
“Why would she steal from you?”
“I have more longevity than everyone else—except you.”
“How?”
“It’s part of my secret that I need to keep from Alex, you and everyone. Please, understand, Lisa. I can’t tell you of my gravest sin.”
Tears streamed down Ally’s face.
“Is that why your red hair has been stripped?” I asked. “When Anna steals your longevity, you lose more and more red from your hair and now you’ve got none?”
Ally nodded. “I’m afraid so.”
“So Anna and Tobey are wicked?”
Ally frowned, touching my face. “I’m sorry we did this to you. We never thought this would be your fate.”
I couldn’t look at Ally. Somehow, I felt as if she wasn’t the friend I’d grown to love. Sure, she was deceitful, causing problems for me every chance she got but, when I needed her she’d been there. What was different about this time?
I turned my attention to a shifty figure. It was Tobey. He stood a few yards away staring at the chickens.
How could he have lied to me?
“You!” I screamed. Thunder rumbled above us. What was I doing? I needed to stop. Anna said not to use my powers—only my desires. Would I devastate countries with my thoughts? Was it even possible to feel my way to getting what I wanted? What power that would be. Could you imagine that sort of power in the wrong hands? Did it make me grow weaker each time I desired something? While I was wishing Francisco invisible, I grew exhausted.
Was my longing to come back home what made Tobey comply? Did I no longer desire for Alex’s touch or hear his or anyone’s thoughts because I wished it away? Could I do that?
“Don’t attack Dr. John,” Ally said. “He may not look like much, but he’s pretty powerful.”
“I think I can handle him.” I stepped over a box of journals. Were they from Amie? I didn’t have time to ask Ally about them. I didn’t really care. Tobey was my only concern at this point. He tried to charm me into turning against Alex. “Tobey!”
His eyes set on mine. They softened as I neared. “I’m sorry for lying to you.”
“You’re an evil jerk.” I shoved him. He grabbed my arms. “No, don’t touch me.”
“Stop it, Lisa.”
I struggled in his embrace. “Let me go, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you.”
“No, calm down. I said I was sorry. I’m so sorry, okay?” He kissed me on the forehead. I shook, sobbing against his shirt. How did he have such power over me? “Listen, Dr. John is just a fictional guy I made up to scare newbies like you into being good while we checked your health.”
“You were going to kill Francisco.”
“He’s an evil guy. Someone has to keep order.”
“No.” I tried to break free. He just held me closer. “Let go! You’re the resistance leader.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The Epochalites, the guardians—C I N. Alex is their keeper and you’re the resistance leader who fights them.”
Tobey laughed. “Have you finally lost it? What’s an Epochalite?”
“They’re like Pig. If you touch them they take away your longevity.”
“That’s a joke, right?”
“No, it’s not. They’ve got a secret door to their lair.”
“Where’s this lair, then?”
“It’s in the bathroom at the school.”
“Maybe you should lie down for a little while.” Tobey led me to Alex’s porch. “Sit here. I’m going to find Charles and Kimi. Wait for me.”
“I hate you, Tobey.” I sat, grabbing a loose journal.
He nodded. “I know you do.”
AMIE’S JOURNAL ENTRIES
December 14, 1936
I’ve fallen in love—finally! Alex doesn’t understand the needs I have. He’s easy to manipulate and that makes him worth the boredom but—I’ve found my soul mate. He’s perfect in every way. I’ve decided to force Ally to link us together. She’ll hate the idea but, hey, who cares, right? Dr. John had the nerve to tell me I’d be of no use to him if I linked. Good.
Arthur K. Barthelme. What a name! His mind is like mine. It’s fantastic. We’ll bring down this hierarchy. C I N will not rule over me any longer. I’ve figured out their secrets. The first command I’ll give is to banish Ally from our group. She can live with that wicked creep, Dr. John. I thought he was perfect. He fed me line after line. The flowers were a nice touch and the way he peered into my eyes—it made my heart flutter.
December 15, 1936
Celeste told me she hates me, and also says I’ll be the death of her. What is she talking about?
December 16, 1936
I spoke with Arthur today! His deep eyes danced when they saw me. I couldn’t control my excitement. I told him I loved him and wanted to keep him forever. He grinned, telling me I was nuts. Little does he know, I meant every w
ord.
December 17, 1936
Ally refuses to link me to Arthur. She says there’s no reason for me to link yet. I haven’t finished transforming. She doesn’t understand what it’s like to be in love. I need Arthur. If I have to threaten her with the fact that I know her secret, then I will. She’ll do it then.
January 3, 1936
Celeste bullied me today. She’s gone from being a nuisance to a serious problem. She’s going to wish she never spoke to me today. I’ve got the perfect punishment for her.
February 19, 1936
Ally cried when I threatened her; she said I was a traitorous person and that she wished I never entered her life. I used to love Ally. She was fun and devious. Now she’s soft, just like Alex. If he knew what Ally did, he’d banish her for sure. That’s how I intend to get rid of her. Celeste and Ally will be eliminated from my world. Arthur and I will take over. Alex can stay. He dotes on me. I guess I’ll always have a soft spot for him.
March 10, 1936
I know the greatest secret of all. Desire; it’s the most powerful thing we have as fulgurites. Alex says I’m not a fulgurite—but a future epochalite. Why would he say such vile things?
PRESENT
Who is the real traitor?
What was this? I slapped the book shut. Amie was a horrible person. What was this secret Ally kept? Desire; Amie learned about it, too. Had Anna killed Amie? Was that what happened?
“Lisa,” Anna whispered. I turned around. What was she doing behind Alex’s house? Was she hiding? “Did you tell Tobey to organize a prom yet?”
“How’d you get here?”
“Francisco helped me escape.”
“Tobey is Dr. John! Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I thought you knew. He has a double personality. He was being Tobey with you.”
“He says Dr. John is a fictitious person he made up to keep order.” I struggled with my response. If Dr. John wasn’t real then why did Amie’s journals speak of him as if he were a real person?
“We have the guardians for order. He’s a resistance leader.”
“And yet, these guardians didn’t come looking for me—to analyze me for safety. You’re the one who invited Frank. I think you wanted me to lose control. Why would you teach me how to control myself and then throw in Frank? What are you up to, Anna? Don’t act all innocent with me. You’re a viper.”
“I never misled you. I’ve been honest from the beginning. Dr. John is the only one who’s lied.”
“Get away from me, you psycho.”
“Ask Tobey to make a prom. It’s vital that you do.”
“Give me one good reason why I should.”
Anna stood, hands on her hips. “I need you to have a prom. I want everyone here, at C I N, together.”
“That’s not good enough. Get out of here before someone sees you’ve escaped.”
“Fine, make me out to be the bad guy. I don’t want to do this, Lisa.”
“Do what?” I turned around, following the Native onto the porch. “What do you think you’re going to do?”
Anna kicked the door in. It fell flat. “I’m using the only leverage I have.” Her arms rose. Wind pushed me forward. A translucent film rose from the ground in the shape of a ball. Alex ran down the hall, stopping abruptly.
“What are you doing here, Anna?” He asked. “You’re not making what I think your making, right?”
“I’m sorry Alex. It’s nothing personal. You know I have a soft spot for you. But that Oneida you gave me is very uncooperative.”
“Are you going to use that on me?” He recoiled, struggling to lift his feet. “You gotta stop this, Anna. Lisa is not the Oneida. I didn’t create her for you, I made her for me!”
“Alex!” I screamed. My body blew backward. I slammed into the wall, pictures crashed around me. “What are you doing, you psycho?”
Anna’s dark hair rose. The bubble grew large, sucking Alex and her inside it. I raced forward. Diamond fragments protruded from the sides. I skidded to a stop, inches from them.
“If you get Tobey or Dr. John, whomever he is today, to throw a prom, I’ll release Alex.” Anna decided. “Until then, you can forget it. If you don’t hurry, I’ll suck the life right out of him and he’ll be nothing more than a hollow rock of fulgurite.”
“She doesn’t love me anymore, Anna.” Alex knelt before her. “Lisa’s not going to do what you ask.” He turned to me. “Don’t do what Anna asks. Let me die, do you hear? You’re powerful enough to keep the others alive. If you have the prom, everyone will die.”
“How would they die?” I struggled to stand. “How would a prom kill everyone?”
“You’re a contradiction, Alex.” Anna sighed. “The boy who can’t be touched, loves to touch anyway—causing his demise, first Amie, now this thing. Your new girlfriend doesn’t listen. She’s been nothing but problems for me. She couldn’t even free Francisco. I had to do it myself and then steal even more longevity from Ally.”
“Let him out of there!” I screamed. I wanted to break through the barrier. Could I? Kimi had used some sort of sonic blast to knock me off my feet. How had she done that?
“Don’t try to shatter my enclosure. The diamonds will rip you a part. You don’t have magical healing powers, dear. I know that sounds insane with the way our cells reproduce.”
“Let Alex out. You have no right to take his longevity from him.”
“I gave it to him, and if I choose, I’ll take back.”
“Why?”
“If you want me to let him go, all you have to do is get Tobey to have a prom celebration.”
“I hate you.”
“Good, I’m counting on it.” Anna smiled. I studied her through the diamond enclosure. She was tall and held her head high with her long strands of hair falling down her back. There wasn’t a single stone left on her skin.
“You’re gaining your strength back.”
“Have my prom.”
“What’s the big deal about a prom?”
“I want to have a prom.”
“Whatever you do, don’t listen to her!” Alex shouted.
Anna smacked him, sending him to his knees. “You’re getting out of hand yourself. When did you become such a fighter?”
“I’m not your little puppy anymore, Anna. I’ve changed,” Alex told her. “You’re going to lose this time. Lisa’s stronger than you think.”
“I’ve seen what she can do,” Anna replied, narrowing her eyes at me. “She’ll give me my prom or say goodbye to her boyfriend.”
“He’s not my boyfriend anymore.”
“No, I guess, he’s mine, now.”
Sparks escaped my fingertips.
“I dare you.” Anna laughed. “I must say, you picked a spitfire. She’s much more annoying than the last beginning.”
“How many beginnings have you killed, Anna?”
She set her face on me. “That’s none of your concern.”
“Tell me how many.”
“Give me my prom!” Her voice ricocheted off the walls, stinging my ear drums. I doubled over, holding my ears.
I stood straight, serious. She wasn’t going to intimidate me. “How many others have there been?”
Anna smirked. She flicked her hair, pointing at me. “You’ll be the first Oneida.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
She groaned, tightening her fists. “Leave me alone.”
“Answer me and I will leave right away. You must tell the truth. That’s your weakness, isn’t it? Alex feels pain, Ally feels nothing, you can’t lie…”
“Shut up!”
“No, I’m right. Tell me how many. I won’t ask you anymore questions. I’ll even try to get you your silly prom, too.”
“I don’t want to tell you.”
“Do you want your prom or not?”
“Alex will die.”
“He doesn’t want me to give you a prom. It’s his dying wish. Why would I go against him? Even if I give you yo
ur prom there’s no guarantee that you’ll let him go, or even me, for that matter.”
Anna paced. “I don’t like you.”
“At least we agree on something.”
“Stop talking.”
“How many others like us have you killed?”
Anna frowned. “I’m not proud. It was out of my desire to survive. Do you understand?”
“You’re a survivalist.” I rolled my eyes. “Just answer the question already.”
“Twenty.”
There weren’t any words left to speak. Who killed twenty people? Anna was a monster. My legs shook and I forced myself to grab the door knob. “Alex, I’m going to try everything I can to save you.”
“She’s using me to heal herself,” he said. “I’m as good as gone.”
A lump stuck in my throat. “Don’t say that.”
“I know I said you were annoying, but Lisa, everybody gets on each other’s nerves sometimes. I don’t want space from you. I never did. I was just afraid you’d learn too much and get scared.”
“You mean like Amie?”
“Listen, about Amie.”
“You said you never loved anyone the way you loved me before. Why’d you lie to me?”
“All I want to do right now is hold you,” Alex said.
I turned my back to him. “I’m going to get you out. But once you’re free, we’re going to go our separate ways.”
“Why?”
“You don’t love me. I’m just here to pass the time for you. Do you know how horrible that feels?”
“That’s not true.”
“Before I wished away being able to feel other’s thoughts, I heard you admit you’d made a mistake changing me. I know what I heard.”
“Oh, Lisa,” Alex murmured. “I’m a jerk, okay. My thoughts aren’t always nice. But I didn’t mean it the way you took it. I swear. I meant I didn’t want you to change into this, what you’re becoming because I knew Anna and Dr. John would come for you. I’ve seen what they do to other ‘beginnings’.”
“Who cares about Anna and Dr. John?” I snapped. “You wanted me at first. I was like, your first crush in a long time. But the infatuation for you is over.” Tears poured down my cheeks. “I’m in love with you, Alex. Why can’t you just love me back?”
The C I N Series Bundled Page 31