by C. L. Stone
Everyone took their phones out at once. Sean was faster. He pressed the green button for Sang and it was ringing in seconds.
“I’ve got her,” Sean said before Sang picked up.
The others lowered their phones and all started hand-signaling to Sean at once. Let me talk to her. What’s she saying? He waved to the others to stop distracting him.
Sean heard a soft click. Sang didn’t say a word. He imagined it probably wasn’t safe to be overheard if she was in the upstairs bathroom.
“Sang,” he said, turning his back on the others to look toward the two-story gray house, picturing exactly where she was, and coming up with a plan. Owen was probably right. Staying there until they were sure they could extract her was for the best. “Don’t say anything. I know you can’t talk.” He paused and took a long breath. “Sweetheart, don’t worry. I’ve got an idea. Ask if it’s okay for you to sleep in your attic room for now. Give yourself some privacy, at least.” He checked in with Owen, who slowly nodded in approval. “Trust me, Pookie,” he continued. “We’ll work this out.”
He wanted to believe this.
Hopefully they weren’t putting her further into danger, and pushing her further away from them.
Diving In
SANG
Dr. Green told me the plan. “First things first, gathering information. Anything you need to be aware of from us, we’ll let you know. We may try a few things, and some may be best if you don’t know they’re coming,” he said over the phone before he hung up.
It wasn’t the first time they’d sprung something on me. I trusted them now, only I hoped they tried it sooner rather than later. Waiting was horrible.
I wished he had told me I didn’t have to stay. It was difficult to find the strength to even want to try.
I resigned myself to doing as he suggested: Take it easy. Rest. We’ll find a plan.
I filled the bath without getting in and moved things around to make noise like I was really washing. I needed time to myself to think, to rest, and figure out what I needed to do next.
My stomach growled. I hadn’t eaten. I was pretty sure the others hadn’t eaten much either. I drank water from the tap. I didn’t want to go downstairs and look for food.
I tied my hair up in a clip and put on the old clothes that didn’t fit, but were bulky. I hid the phone again in my pocket.
I waited.
Hours ago, I had been waiting for an Academy council to decide my fate, whether I would join or not. We were given time to sort out my situation, a task that could possibly take as long as they had while they were on assignment.
While it had been decided I’d join, Carol’s arrival was changing everything I’d thought would happen. My lungs filled with the dense, moist air within the bathroom. My body rested, but my mind was wild with questions and concerns.
Would I ever be out of the trouble my father had started before I was born?
When a half hour had passed, I went with the first step in this plan. Information gathering and securing myself in seclusion in the attic room. I disliked the idea of sharing space with Jimmy or Marie, and I wasn’t sure it would be safe to stay with either of them.
The vacuuming continued, but from the sound of it, she was in the kitchen, running the vacuum over the tiles. I wondered why she wasn’t sweeping instead.
I left the bathroom, standing in the upstairs hallway. I tiptoed to the back stairs. I didn’t want to talk to Jimmy yet. He was nice, but I wanted to focus on my task.
Downstairs, the living room was empty, and the carpet was all perfectly vacuumed. Carol was in the kitchen, running the vacuum over the edges of the tile. I waited until she spotted me. I kept my eyes lowered, hoping Dr. Green was right to talk to her about this.
“Sang?” she asked. “Did you need something?”
I gathered some courage and spoke softly, looking at her nose to avoid looking at her eyes. “Um, I was just thinking. The attic space in my room...”
“Oh, yes, I saw it. What of it?”
That made me uncomfortable. How much of it did she see? “I was just thinking, if you wanted, I could stay in that space. It’ll give Jimmy some room, and each of us a bit more privacy.”
Carol raised an eyebrow. “Privacy? Do you mean Jimmy...did he say anything to you that you feel you need more privacy?”
Since Marie said he’d been snooping, I suspected she thought I’d caught him doing so. I shook my head and waved a hand. “No, no. I know it’s a little odd, but I don’t need much space, and since it’s winter, it’ll be easy to keep the attic warm, at least for now. I’d still have to cross into the bedroom to get out, of course, but it would work for me for a quiet place to sleep and study and keep my clothes. I don’t have many. He can have the closet.”
The negotiation seemed simple. Her son got the bigger bedroom, while I got a small space. To me, it seemed reasonable.
Carol tilted her head, the fluffy hairstyle floating around her face. “You’re such an odd child. Why would you want to sleep in an attic?”
Why would she want to live here in another woman’s house with two girls who weren’t hers? “It’s cozy,” I said. “Once my things get back from camp, I can use my cot and sleeping bag. You can save money and not have to purchase another bed.” I wasn’t sure what angle to suggest, so I was willing to suggest anything.
If I was in the attic, I wouldn’t have Jimmy looking over my shoulder if I used my phone, or even a laptop, to communicate with the boys anytime I wanted. One of them could sneak in on occasion, if needed. It made me nervous to think Luke or someone would climb up, as Carol would probably not hesitate to call the police on them.
Carol studied me with a tilted head, shaking it. She wasn’t totally convinced.
Her hesitation made me wonder if maybe it wasn’t such a good idea. Had she not seen the carpet and how it now resembled more of a small room than an actual attic area?
The doorbell rang.
My heart pounded. Someone was dropping off my stuff from camp. I had been hoping she’d say yes to this before that happened.
“I’ll get it, dear,” Carol called out in a sweetened tone. “Don’t worry about a thing.” She eyeballed me quizzically but then urged me to get out of her way while she went for the door.
No word from my father in response. Where was he hiding out?
He must be terrified of Carol finding out the truth about me.
I followed Carol to the door. She fiddled with the door locks, trying to unstick one of them.
Jimmy appeared at the top of the stairs. I wondered if Marie could hear this. The front doorbell wasn’t commonly heard in our house.
I held my breath, my heart beating wildly. This was such a risky move. Memories of my stepmother came to me, and I thought how it would never work with her. I had no idea who Carol was or how to act around her, and I felt we were pushing it on day one.
Carol finally opened the door and peered out. She was standing in the way, and I only barely caught a glimpse of one of the guys. “Hello. Can I help you?”
“I’m sorry to interrupt, ma’am,” Dr. Green’s voice floated to me. My breath shortened. I wanted to see him desperately, and peeked around Carol just to see his shoulder and arm. “I was just delivering Sang’s camping supplies. Her friend called to tell me they needed a ride and they had her gear. Did Sang get sick? She’s back early.”
“Who are you?”
“I’m Sean. Sang and I are...friends at school.”
I grimaced at hearing him. He wasn’t lying, but I wondered why he was saying this. Was it too awkward for a teacher to be delivering a student’s camping gear?
Carol finally opened the door more, looking back at me with a suspicious eye. “Sang, do you know who this is?”
I nodded enthusiastically. I admired Dr. Green, with his bright smile, his light green eyes, and the tousle of sandy-colored curly hair. I liked that he wore a green sweater and jeans, something casual and cozy. His hair had been brushed back, t
he curls smoothed out, and some crossed in front of his eyes sloppily. Was he trying to appear a little younger?
He carried an overloaded black duffle bag, the zipper bulging a bit, not quite closing. I hadn’t brought that much with me to camp, and I suspected the guys had stuffed in more items I’d need here. “Yes,” I said. “That’s Dr.—I mean, that’s Sean Green.”
Carol raised an eyebrow. “What?”
Sean laughed a little awkwardly. “She likes to tease me since she knows I want to be a doctor.”
“Really?” Carol said, seeming to brighten a bit with interest.
He nodded. “I’m on an early graduation track. This is my last year.” He motioned to Victor’s BMW that was parked out in the driveway. “I’ve got her cot and sleeping bag and one more bag in my car,” he said. “I can bring it all in if you’d like.”
Carol puckered her lips a little and then smirked with an odd, curious look. “Of course. Actually, could you do me a favor and help Sang bring it up to her room?” She looked at me. “Put it all in the attic room, where it belongs.”
The tone made it sound like she was confirming it was okay if I stayed in that space.
At least I hoped.
Sean passed me the bag. It was pretty heavy, but I managed to hoist it onto my back. Carol held open the door to supervise while I started up the stairs.
“Hang on,” Jimmy said, running down the stairs with heavy thuds at every step. He reached for my bag and took it from me. “Let me get this one.”
“Show Jimmy where to put it, Sang,” Carol said.
I glanced once at Dr. Green. He seemed okay with this and waited a minute before heading back outside to get the rest from the car.
I took the stairs and climbed up behind Jimmy, nervous about being away from Carol and Dr. Green.
“What’s in here?” Jimmy asked and stopped at the top step to drop the bag onto the floor. “Did you bring an entire library?” He slid the pack toward the bedroom door with his foot.
I opened the door all the way, and he kick-shoved the bag inside. I grimaced. “Easy,” I said.
“Sorry. It felt like books. I should have asked...” He picked the bag up again to slide it over a bit. “Do we need to split up the closet?”
“I asked Carol if I can sleep in the attic space,” I said, feeling odd to have asked her about where to sleep in what was my old room. I motioned to the smaller door off to the side.
Jimmy looked over at the door and then gingerly foot-shoved the pack in that direction. “You sure?” he asked. “I could sleep in there if you’re nervous about sharing a room. But I swear, I wouldn’t hurt you or anything. I know you don’t know me...”
“It’s okay,” I said. “I kind of like it.” It wasn’t as good as sleeping at Nathan’s, but if I had to stay here for now, the attic was the best spot in the house.
I opened the attic door, and Jimmy slid the bag just inside.
As he did, there were low voices downstairs from Dr. Green and Carol. They spoke quietly for a few minutes, then there were footsteps on the stairs.
They appeared in the door, with Dr. Green holding the folded cot and a sleeping bag, along with my book bag, also filled almost to bursting.
Dr. Green took an almost too obvious look around the room, and I realized he was pretending he hadn’t been in here before. “I like the pink,” he said and showed me a grin. “It suits you.”
“I think it’s horrible,” Jimmy said with a smirk and then looked to his mom. “Maybe I should switch with Marie. Her room has beige carpet.”
She’d hate that, but would she be better than Jimmy? I wasn’t sure it mattered at this point. I blushed and motioned to the attic space. “Thanks for bringing my things,” I said to Dr. Green.
He winked at me and carried my stuff to the attic, kneeling to place it just inside the door.
“I was just asking your friend if he’d like to join us for dinner Saturday night,” Carol said, with an odd glow in her eyes and a curl to her lips. “Don’t you think that’d be nice, Sang?”
I nodded enthusiastically, filling with hope. This was so odd to me. I thought for sure after her speech downstairs that she’d be very strict.
In my old life, inviting someone over, especially to share a meal, would never have been allowed. It was odd to me.
Carol’s small smile didn’t waver, but her eyes darkened. “Let’s remember to speak when spoken to.”
I stood up straight, sucked in a quick breath. “Yes,” I said simply, and then my voice cracked at the end and I didn’t know what else to say.
Carol made a come-along gesture with her hand to Dr. Green. “Thank you for helping us. Come back at six thirty on Saturday. We eat at seven.”
She walked Dr. Green to the door, and I wasn’t sure I was supposed to follow, but I left the room when Jimmy went to the stairs to watch Dr. Green leave.
I didn’t want him to leave. Despite having won a small battle, I was still stuck here.
And how long would it be before Carol discovered the truth, and she did something drastic?
What plans did she have for me?
Small Spaces
When Dr. Green was gone, Carol called up the stairs. “Sang, I want all of your things put away, and I want that attic space up to my standards of clean before you go to sleep tonight.” She pulled a cell phone from her pocket and pushed the button for it to light up her face. “We have dinner at seven. I need to get started. Jimmy, when you’re done with the bedroom, come help me. We’ll set up a proper chore rotation tomorrow.”
“On it,” Jimmy said, and he flashed a smile at me before he thundered down. He was so loud. He might have been almost my size, but he was made of iron. “I just need the vacuum.”
“At this rate, we’re going to need two,” Carol said. “And we need to get those boxes in the door tonight.”
Didn’t we have two now that she’d moved here? Or had she not brought hers? I listened as they moved through the house. The air tasted familiar to me as I was used to the space, but the house felt alive, more than any other time I’d ever been there.
It felt like Kota’s house when his mother and sister, and maybe even Nathan and a few other guys, were around.
Like a normal house, it was filled with sounds. Carol and Jimmy’s voices. The music Jimmy left running quietly. Marie shuffling around behind her door. My father, from the sound of it, was in his bedroom. It all blended together.
I tightened my lips and felt a surge of confusion inside me.
If only I was normal, this might not be so bad. All I could think of was that every second that passed with me standing at the top of the stairs, I was further away from the life I wanted.
My thoughts ended up on Lillian and her team. Somewhere out there in the world, Lily was with several husbands in a house hidden in the woods. They managed to stay together, in a house all to themselves, without having to skirt around anyone or ask permission.
Jealousy wedged through my heart. I wanted that life so much right now.
Every step we took toward what Lily had meant I’d never be normal. I couldn’t picture something normal when it came to the Academy or the guys.
I’d used to want to be normal, so it was strange to feel it around me, to sense it within my grasp, and to be repulsed by the idea.
I heard the slightest of movements from my room, and for a second, I was worried somehow Marie had snuck past me.
I listened, feeling vibrations and a change of air pressure.
And then nothing.
No. Marie wouldn’t move so silently.
I smiled to myself. I wondered which one of the guys had snuck up here, most likely through the window.
Normal wasn’t meant for me.
I started back to my room, trying to step lightly, and then remembered I didn’t need to sneak around like I used to, at least not now. I walked a little heavier to make my footsteps noticeable if any of them were paying attention.
I caught the smell of
fruit and sweet soap, and the scent threw me off as I realized it was exactly how I smelled at the moment.
Like the bath I’d taken at Victor’s house.
I went to the attic space and peered into the darkness. “Gabriel?” I whispered.
A hand reached out and pulled me in. The door shut behind me.
He hovered over me in the dark, moving me quietly around all the stuff stored just inside the door. I ended up on my butt, sitting up a little, propped up on my elbows.
His nose touched mine.
“Hi,” Gabriel whispered. “How’d you know it was me?”
“I could smell you,” I said.
He made a sniggering noise. “What? Are you saying I stink?”
“You smell like me. We took the same bath, remember?”
“Oh yeah.” He leaned into me and then a glow appeared from his phone, lighting up his face. He was clean, although unshaven, the coarse hairs around his chin and jawline creating shadows, making his face look more lean and defined.
He shined the light in my eyes for a second and then looked at the supplies. “First things on the list: we need light, heat, and I need to mask the sound.” He reached up to the padding along the roof interior. “Good thing we soundproofed this place before, but the door looks warped a bit, probably from the weather change. We need to be careful to make sure it’s securely closed.”
I rubbed my chin, unsure about this. He spoke like he was going to be staying up here. That seemed like we were asking for problems. “Should we put in a lock?”
“If she allows it,” Gabriel said. “Actually, let’s put one in and pretend it was always there. I get the feeling she’ll check the room at some point, so...”
There were heavy thuds on the stairs.
“Jimmy,” I whispered. Exactly what I was worried about. Someone was bound to notice if the guys were around. Jimmy and Carol weren’t going to be easy to manipulate like my heavily medicated stepmother.
I didn’t want to indicate I had a cell phone, so I didn’t want to use the light. Gabriel handed me his keys, which had a mini flashlight, and then sunk far back into the room, to the platform that had a beanbag chair, part of the wall jutting out to hide the extra space back there. He slipped behind the wall.