Root

by LeeAnn McLennan

  A shudder of dread went through me. What happened in here when they weren’t bringing teenagers out of a coma? Uncle Alex seemed as nonplussed as I did by the room, but Ben’s parents just looked around and sighed as if they’d seen this kind of room before today. Mrs. Hallowfield held her arms crossed in front and Mr. Hallowfield laid one hand gently on the back of her neck.

  Mary Russet indicated with an impatient wave that we should sit in the lowest row of the stadium seats. The top rows were lost in the spotlights illuminating the “theatre” area.

  Mary Russet stood in front of us as if about to deliver a lecture. Instead of speaking though, she glanced an order at the gray-haired man who’d followed us into the lab. He went to speak to the man and two women dressed in scrubs huddled around a computer in one section of the room. Wanting to know who was bringing Ben out of a coma, I focused on each person’s name tag. The man was Murray, one woman was Carter and the other was Harrington. I hoped they knew what they were doing.

  After a moment of discussion, where Murray kept pointing to the computer screen, Dr. Nolan looked back at us and nodded.

  Mary Russet turned to us, an expression of loathing on her face. “Dr. Nolan says they’re bringing in the prisoner now.” Her gaze flickered to mine while she emphasized the words, ‘“the prisoner.”

  I sat up straighter – I didn’t really care if she was poking at me – I was about to see Ben for the first time in months.

  Chapter 18

  I held my breath, angling my head for a better view when the double doors swung open. I forced myself to let out my breath quietly. It wouldn’t do to pass out before I saw Ben.

  Two guards entered first, holding strange-looking, blocky guns and glaring around the room as if one of us was lying in wait to grab Ben and run off with him. They stopped a few feet inside the room and faced the doors. The guns surprised me. What was the point, since most bullets couldn’t hurt supernormals?

  Mr. Hallowfield muttered, “They brought the lasers. They must be so scared.” His voice was full of bitter sarcasm. Mary Russet gave him a quelling stare.

  Lange had told me about laser guns a few months ago. They were capable of cutting through anything. A laser gun could cut flesh and bone as if they were paper. It would certainly stop a supernormal. I looked at the guns in the guards’ hands with repugnance. Why didn’t they--the Council, Six, this Russet person, all of them--understand that Ben wasn’t dangerous? After all, he was in prison because he’d helped us and they were waking him up because he was still helping us.

  The guards came to attention and I tensed, watching the door with a stomach-churning mix of eagerness and apprehension.

  A white, bulbous object nosed open the doors. As the long, cylindrical object drifted slowly into the lab, I saw it was a large, enclosed stretcher. I shivered – it looked like a coffin. Two men bracketed the stretcher as it floated along with no obvious means of propulsion. Suddenly it clicked in my head when I realized each tech held one hand a few inches from the stretcher. They were telekinetics like Aunt Kate. It was apparent each man had the strength to lift heavier objects than Aunt Kate’s limit of five pounds.

  A giggle on the edge of hysteria threatened to escape my lips when I realized the scene reminded me of Han Solo frozen in carbonite floating onto Boba Fett’s ship near the end of The Empire Strikes Back.

  But instead of Han Solo’s face and hands molded into the carbonite, the smoothly curving top of the enclosed stretcher had a glass window. My heart gave a little jump when I saw Ben’s still face inside. I looked away, flushing as if someone had caught me in an illicit act. On second thought, it was illicit to have feelings for a mind reader, especially one who used his powers.

  Two more guards, who were also scanning the room and the stretcher with equal intensity, shadowed the techs. The men halted the stretcher’s movement in the middle of the lab, which was starting to feel like a stage. The medics clustered around, fiddling and fussing with equipment. Harrington handed Dr. Nolan a tablet and they both bent over it, muttering about whatever they saw.

  The guards took up positions at what would have been the four corners of the room if the round room had corners.

  Now that the stretcher was closer, I could see more of Ben’s face through the small window. His skin and lips were pallid, and multicolored wires mingled with his black hair, giving him an absurdly festive appearance, as if he’d just come back from Jamaica with braids in his hair.

  I had a flash of memory – Ben grinning at me, bangs hanging over one green eye, challenging me to spar with him in the Brighthall’s warehouse. I trembled, hating this room, the sight of Ben’s mobile prison, and the fact that I was here to ensure Ben’s cooperation. I wanted to be back in the warehouse, training with my cousins and Ben. Yes, I even wanted Emma there. Preferably Emma, my best friend from childhood, not Emma, my adversary.

  The medics continued to swarm around the stretcher, murmuring to each other. Harrington and Murray kept shooting the Brighthalls and Hallowfields annoyed looks, but Carter ignored us.

  I leaned over to Uncle Alex. “Have they ever brought someone out of a coma? I mean, has a mind reader ever been released?”

  “No,” he watched the activity, “but there have only been a few mind readers who were actually incarcerated.”

  “But what happened to the others?” I asked, and then felt stupid as it dawned on me– they chose death instead of imprisonment. I shook my head when Uncle Alex opened his mouth to explain. He squeezed my hand with understanding.

  Mrs. Hallowfield gave a little gasp, gaping at the doors where two men and two women, wearing dark suits banded with purple and white trim, entered the room. They scanned the room, and then stepped aside to let a tiny African-American woman enter. Everyone stood up hastily. I followed their lead while wondering who this woman was to inspire such attention.

  For my benefit, Uncle Alex said softly, “Council Leader Wilma Jones,” while Mary Russet rushed to greet her breathlessly. Dr. Nolan even smiled for the first time since I’d met him.

  What was the head of the Council doing here? I understood the awakening of a mind reader was a significant occasion, but wasn’t it a risk letting the leader of North American supernormals be in the same room as someone who could read minds? Especially a mind reader who’d managed to send visions, even through the damping field around Ley Prison while in a coma.

  Council Leader Jones regarded Ben’s mobile prison for a moment before turning to face us. She smiled at my uncle. “Hello Alex.”

  Uncle Alex smiled back. “Wilma, it’s good to see you.” They embraced. “Are you staying?” He asked with a quizzical frown. He obviously had the same concerns I had about the Council Leader being in the same room as Ben.

  Six came right out and voiced our unspoken concerns. “Council Leader, with respect. Are you sure it’s a good idea to be here? The damping field doesn’t seem to stop Benjamin Hallowfield from using his abilities.”

  “I’m not staying for long, but I wanted to meet Olivia Brighthall.” She looked directly at me, her gray eyes meeting mine inquisitively.

  I felt a jolt of surprise when she extended a hand to shake. “Oh, um, hello ma’am.” I resisted the urge to wipe my hand on my pants before shaking hers.

  “Olivia, I know this is an uncomfortable experience for you,” Council Leader Jones said, squeezing my hand gently before releasing it, “but please know we appreciate your assistance.” Sympathy darkened her eyes. “I knew and respected your mother. In fact, she saved my life once. I’m so sorry she’s not here to see what a strong young woman you’ve become.”

  I flushed, looking down at my shoes. How was I supposed to respond? Mary Russet cleared her throat meaningfully. I managed to say, “Thank you, ma’am,” in the most stilted, formal voice ever to come out of my mouth.

  One of the suited men stepped up and touched her shoulder and she nodded. “I must go. All high-ranking individuals are leaving the building.” She glanced at the ceiling
. “This room, in fact most of the research facility, isn’t covered by the damping field so the staff can use their powers when necessary. However, even though we can all shield, we can’t risk being here when Dr. Nolan brings Benjamin Hallowfield out of the coma. Right now, his container is encased in the damping alloy, but once he is awakened…” She shook her head. “We don’t know what to expect when he wakes up.” She frowned at the stretcher. “He’s proven to be unpredictable in several ways so far.”

  “Are…” I cleared my throat. “Are you going to let him leave?” I rushed to finish before any of the frowning adults could stop me. “He can help find Emma. He wants to help. I’m sure of it.”

  Council Leader Jones said, “It’s risky to allow a mind reader of his strength out in the world. His loyalties may be to us now, but if that changes…” She gave me a significant look indicating the hell that would happen if Ben went rogue.

  “But –”

  Uncle Alex put a hand on my arm. “Olivia, we need to let Wilma leave.”

  I gritted my teeth as Council Leader Jones went out the double doors, preceded and followed by her bodyguards.

  Mary Russet said to Six, “I must go with them. You’re in charge.”

  Six nodded and watched the room impassively, eyes dilated. After speaking to Council Leader Jones, she’d gone quiet and I realized her pupils were completely black. Usually when she was in commune mode, there was at least a ring of blue left, but not now. I wondered why.

  Uncle Alex also watched Six, with a small frown. He saw my quizzical glance and gave me a small shrug.

  We continued to wait while watching the technicians do mysterious things to Ben’s stretcher. Mrs. Hallowfield sat perfectly still, never taking her eyes off her son’s prison.

  I jiggled my leg impatiently, even though now I knew we weren’t just waiting for the technicians to finish whatever tasks they were doing, but also for people with important information in their minds to leave. I gazed at the stretcher, trying to imagine Ben as a rogue mind reader. He’d always had mixed feelings about his ability. Envisioning Ben as a bad person was impossible. Even the reason he was here was for saving people, including Emma, who actually was evil. Now that I knew more about his ability, I knew he could have easily killed my cousin instead of neutralizing her.

  Finally, Murray looked up from his monitor and said, “Okay, all clear.” The tension in the room doubled as everyone realized it was time to wake up Ben.

  Ben’s mother gripped her hands together, seemingly unaware of the tears running down her cheeks. She reached for Mr. Hallowfield’s hand and they clung together. I swallowed and turned away, feeling like I was intruding on a private moment.

  I focused on Ben’s stretcher, wondering why it was blurry until I realized there were tears in my eyes as well. I blinked rapidly as Dr. Nolan pressed a series of buttons on the side of the stretcher. A click resounded through the unnaturally quiet room and the lid of the stretcher opened with a pneumatic hiss.

  Ben was stretched out along the length of the inside, his long, lanky limbs so still that I had a flash of fear that he was dead. He looked so vulnerable in the green hospital gown that my heart tightened in my chest. Wires snaked all around his body, attached to his arms and ankles where I could see them. Other wires disappeared under his hospital gown, probably monitoring his heartbeat and other vital functions. Metal restraints around his wrists and ankles kept him in place.

  Carter touched one of Ben’s hands, checking the monitor attached to his finger. He let Ben’s hand drop and I winced at the sound of Ben’s wrist hitting the container.

  I’d expected Ben to be thinner, more wasted-looking. He was definitely pale from lack of sun, and he was slimmer, but he didn’t look sick or weak.

  “Why does he look so good?” I asked.

  Uncle Alex gave a surprised laugh.

  “I mean,” I said, with an embarrassed glare at everyone, “he doesn’t look like he’s been in a coma. Shouldn’t he be really ill-looking or something?” I flapped my hand in Ben’s direction, finding it difficult to explain my confusion.

  Uncle Alex took pity on me. “Remember our powerful healing abilities? Even though Ben is in a coma, his healing abilities keep his body from getting too frail.”

  Dr. Nolan looked at the stretcher’s many connections and grimaced. “It’s a battle to keep him under, in fact. His body keeps trying to fight off the drugs keeping him in a coma, so he’s monitored 24/7. It’s quite the balancing act.” He looked directly at me for the first time before announcing, “We’re waking him up now.”

  All conversation ceased as everyone focused on Ben’s stretcher. The guards stepped closer, hefted their laser guns, and aimed them at the stretcher. My breath seemed to catch in my chest, and fear for Ben made me tremble.

  Dr. Nolan spun a dial, pressed some buttons and pulled a few levers before he stepped back to watch the monitor intently.

  For a moment, nothing changed. Ben was as still as he’d been since they brought him into the room, since he’d been in the coma.

  Then Ben’s leg jerked at the same time a monitor made a loud beeping noise. The guards took a synchronized step forward, guns ready. I wasn’t the only one who jumped to my feet. I started towards the stretcher, followed by Mrs. Hallowfield, but Dr. Nolan held up a hand to stop us.

  Ben’s eyes snapped opened and he stared blankly at the ceiling, his face still and mouth slack. For a moment, I was afraid his time spent unconscious had damaged him, then awareness flooded into his face, animating his features. He jolted up, but the restraints around his wrists stopped him from standing up. He froze, scanning the room frantically, turning his head this way and that as if searching for something or someone. When he saw his parents, he halted and stared for a moment before looking away almost guiltily.

  His gaze landed on me and he yanked at the wrist restraints, clanking the chains attached to the stretcher. His disoriented expression changed to an urgent one. “Olivia! You have to stop Emma! She’s going to destroy everything!”

  Chapter 19

  Murray and Carter rushed to hold Ben back when he strained towards me, desperate to impart suppressed information. His eyes were so wide I could see the whites all around his pupils.

  I ran to the stretcher, reaching for Ben’s hand with mine, which he fumbled for before gripping it tightly. I assured him, “I know about Emma, and I told everyone. It’s okay.”

  He just stared at me, perplexed, breathing hard as if he’d run a marathon.

  Murray pushed Ben back on the bed and he collapsed, his hand slipping from mine. I started to protest, but Uncle Alex stepped to my side. “Hold on, Olivia.”

  Murray snapped a strap over Ben’s chest while Carter repeated the process on Ben’s legs. Ben turned his head to stare at me without blinking. He didn’t seem to notice the additional restraints – instead he looked confused by what I’d told him.

  When the technicians were satisfied they’d restrained Ben, they stepped back. Dr. Nolan gestured to Ben’s parents with a “come on” wave. While Uncle Alex pulled me to one side, Mrs. Hallowfield rushed to the bed and bent over to kiss Ben’s forehead. Ben shifted his gaze from me to his mother. Mr. Hallowfield was slower to follow, hesitating when he got to Ben’s side. Finally, he picked up Ben’s limp hand and gripped it tightly. The Hallowfields held the artificially cozy scene for a few moments before Ben twisted away to stare at me again.

  “Olivia, you have to stop Emma,” Ben repeated, his eyes dark with distress.

  “How?” I asked. His intensity was creeping me out.

  “She’s with some really bad people.” He swallowed as his voice cracked. “They broke out. They’re hurting people. Salt Lake City, they blew up, killed a bunch of people…” He trailed off, drained.

  “Hey.” I got up and went over to his bed, taking his other hand. “I know. You told me. Well, you didn’t tell me exactly.” I was shaking with shock. Didn’t he know he was sending me visions?

  Ben’s b
row furrowed. “What?” He blinked at me. “What are you talking about?”

  “The visions? You know. The ones you sent me? While you were out?” That sounded like he’d just run around the corner for a latte. Geez. “I mean, while you were…” I waved at the stretcher. “You sent me visions of what you saw Emma doing. Like you wanted me to know so I could stop her. At least, that’s what everyone thinks you did.”

  The last words came out in a whisper. My stomach deflated over the hollow pit inside while Ben stared at me without understanding. Ben didn’t know he’d been sending me visions. Everyone’s assumptions were wrong. My hopes felt lame. He wasn’t sending me visions and he wasn’t pining for me while in a coma.

  Ben shook his head but didn’t speak. Mrs. Hallowfield put a protective hand on his chest. “Olivia, I think you’re upsetting Ben.”

  I gaped at her but stepped back on unsteady legs, blinking rapidly to hold back tears. I dropped down next to Uncle Alex, head dizzy and face flushed. My happy little daydream of Ben leaping up and embracing me, desperate for my touch after months apart, faded away like the end of a trashy romance novel. I was sure everyone knew what I’d expected and I was so embarrassed. I dropped my head to stare at the floor. I should have realized when I couldn’t communicate with Ben that sending me the visions wasn’t a conscious decision on his part. If he really was the one sending the visions to me.

  Uncle Alex put his hand over mine and gave it a gentle squeeze. “It’ll be okay. Do you want to leave?”