EVO Nation: EVO Nation Series: Book One (science fiction/ urban fantasy)

by K. J. Chapman

  “Stop watching me sleep,” he says, smiling, not opening his eyes.

  I push myself up on my elbows. “Never,” I say into his shoulder.

  “Can I tell you that I love you again?” I whisper. His skin is warm as I brush my fingers across his chest.

  He encloses my hand in his, raises it to his mouth and kisses it. “You can,” he says, opening his eyes.

  Those eyes, they look straight into me. He sees all and everything in one glance.

  “I love you,” I say, kissing him. “I love you- I love you.”

  “Is that our thing now? I love you – I love you – I love you too,” he says, pushing my hair back off my shoulder like he always does. “Your hair looks like flames in the sunlight.”

  I lie down beside him, so our heads are on the same pillow. His fingers idly stroke my stomach, and I trace the veins in his neck with my index finger.

  “I’ve missed you,” I say, quietly.

  He buries his face into my hair and inhales deeply.

  I giggle. “Are you sniffing my hair?”

  “Yep,” he says, smiling. “I don’t want to forget anything about you again, even the smell of your hair.”

  “I wish we could stay here like this forever. I don’t want to get up and deal with all the crap out there.” I push myself to sitting, hanging my legs over the edge of the bed.

  “I will take you away from here right now, if that’s what you want?” he says, sliding up behind me, kissing my shoulder.

  His fingers run the length of my spine and wrap around the back of my neck. My neck feels as frail as a sparrow’s leg inside his big hand and in a strange way it’s comforting. I know these hands would do anything to protect me.

  “I can’t leave my—”

  “I know,” he interrupts. “I’m just putting it out there.”

  “It’s enough just to have you back,” I say.

  He tugs my hair lightly, so my head tilts back, and kisses me again. I find my pants and slide them back on.

  “They can’t know I’ve remembered,” he says.

  “I know. Gabe will have Yvette manipulate you again if he thinks you’re loyal to me,” I say, pulling his t-shirt back over my head. “That man really doesn’t like me.”

  “What?” Adam bolts to a sitting position, his eyes wild and wide.

  “I was just agreeing with what you said. They can’t know you’ve remembered.”

  “Teddie, I didn’t say that. I thought it.”

  A searing fire burns through my mind again. ‘Not safe.’ It is clear and rings like an echo in my head. I fall sideways, knocking Adam’s photos off the shelf. ‘All wrong.’

  Adam flies out of the bed and grabs me, his eyes filled with panic. I see his lips move, and hear him shout Wheeler’s name, but the two seem detached.

  In the corner of my eye the door bursts open. Wheeler and Emiko stand rooted to the spot. I’m in Adam’s arms on the floor, my body twitching wildly.

  “Get Maggie!” Adam shouts.

  My tunnel vision closes on his face until I’m in darkness.

  CHAPTER THIRTY NINE

  Adams warm fingers stroke my cheek, and his lips brush against my knuckles. I open my eyes and smile at his beautiful, serious face. I wait for him to smile back, but he calls to Maggie instead.

  She barges him out of the way. “Teddie, you’ve had a seizure,” she says as she times my pulse with her watch.

  Adam climbs around the other side of the bed. He’s now wearing a pair of shorts, but nothing else. “Don’t ever do that to me again,” he says, stroking my forehead.

  I sit up on my elbows and see Golding, Yana, Haydn, Wheeler, and Emiko at the foot of the bed. “Hey,” I say. My voice sounds sleepy.

  “Do you remember what happened before you collapsed? Maggie asks.

  I know from Adam’s face that he’s already told them.

  “I heard Adam’s thoughts, and then I think I heard a voice. It happened last night at the meeting too. I got a nose bleed. What is happening to me?” I ask.

  Maggie shakes her head and removes the cuff. “I think you have dual ability- Telepathic Telekin,” she says. “You’ve probably been picking up on someone else’s thoughts.”

  A strange wave of silence falls over the room. Not even the sound of a breath escaping taints the nothingness.

  I sit up a little straighter. “No, I can’t be. I’ve never had this before. I’ve only ever had telekinetic episo—”

  “What is it?” Adam asks.

  “Dreams. I’ve been having crazy dreams. Mostly about you,” I say. “I think I shared your memories when you were being manipulated on Tuesday and the dreams you had about... us.” My face flushes, knowing everyone is listening.

  Isaac rushes into the room. He freezes in the door way for a moment, before kneeling beside Maggie at my bedside. “What’s wrong with her? Golding said she had a fit?” He takes my hand, giving it a squeeze. Everyone is silent. Isaac looks from one face to another. “What’s going on?”

  “She has dual ability,” says Maggie.

  Isaac shoots to his feet, his hand tearing from my own as if my skin burns him.

  “Telepathic Telekin. I think her use of telepathy caused the seizure,” says Maggie. “It’ll be best if you don’t use it again, Teddie.”

  “She did it without realising,” says Adam.

  Isaac’s attention turns to Adam. He looks around the room and to the t-shirt I’m wearing. His eyes come to rest on Adam’s bare chest. “Have you remembered?” Isaac asks him. There’s an edge to his words, and I know that he isn’t happy about me spending the night here.

  I feel a weight in my mind, only this time it’s steady. I concentrate on Adam. “Don’t tell him,” I think as loudly as I can.

  “Remembered what?” Adam says.

  Isaac studies him for a moment, and then his face relaxes. “Never mind,” he says. “This doesn’t leave this room. Gabe’s expecting me any minute. Are you sure you’re alright?”

  I nod. “Have you decided on when you’re going to break Tess out?” I ask. Of course we already know, but I want to see if Isaac will elaborate.

  Isaac shakes his head. “Nothing has been set in stone, Sweetheart. We’re still working on the strategy.” He edges for the door, apparently desperate to get away. “I’m expected in the office. Remember not one word.” He ruffles Golding’s hair and hurries out of the door.

  “Either Uncle Isaac is lying or Jude is and I’m guessing it’s the latter,” whispers Golding, once Isaac has gone. “Why would he do that? And why did you lie to Uncle Isaac?” Golding asks Adam. “You should have told him you remembered... thanks to me.” He preens, rubbing his nails on his jumper in mock smugness.

  “Teddie told me not to,” he said. He taps his finger to his head.

  “The less Isaac knows the better. He already has to worry about me and this dual ability thing now. Can you not see how on edge he is about Tess? He has to work closely with Gabe and I don’t want to put him at risk. And if Gabe finds out about Adam they might manipulate him again.” I shudder at the thought.

  “That still doesn’t explain why Jude lied,” says Wheeler.

  An ominous feeling settles in my stomach like a lead weight. I have actually started trusting Jude, even though I will not say it out loud to them. If he has lied, he has betrayed me. The thought affects me more than I think it should. Jude has done nothing to prove himself trustworthy to me.

  “I’ll find out for sure,” I say, getting to my feet. “First, I need clothes.”

  Golding throws a fresh bundle of clothing at me. “We’re coming too,” he insists.

  ***

  Wheeler, Adam, me, and Golding are in one car, and Emiko follows behind with Yana, Haydn, and Maggie. We drive up a narrow road carved into the cliff top. A gate looms in front of us, separating us from the vast house behind. Wheeler rolls down the window and presses the buzzer.

  “Jude it’s us. Open up,” I say, leaning over Wheeler as Jud
e’s sleepy voice speaks.

  The intercom buzzes and the gate slowly opens. The whole front of the building is floor to ceiling windows. Wheeler pulls up beside Jude’s car in the courtyard.

  Jude flies out the door, buttoning up his shirt as he moves. “Why have you come here?” he snaps. “Jesus, Teddie. What if you’ve been seen?”

  Emiko pulls her car up behind Wheeler’s. Jude’s anger only deepens when he sees everyone with us.

  “They know everything,” I say.

  “Are you bloody stupid or just insane?” He points a finger in my face, but I just swat it away.

  “Nothing like an Uncle’s love,” snorts Golding.

  Jude’s attention flashes to him. “Your Gabe’s boy,” he says, accusingly.

  “No, I’m Tess’ boy,” Golding corrects.

  Jude’s face softens slightly. “Why are you here?” he asks me again.

  “I need to ask you something and it might sound weird as you’ve already told us the answer, but just go with me on this.” I close my eyes and allow the centred sensation of the telepathy to come to the forefront of my mind. “When are they going to get Tess?” I ask.

  Thoughts and images flash through his mind in a split second; the image of me answering gruff guy back, the CCTV footage of Tess, and Gabe’s scowling face- nothing substantial to help me.

  Jude screws up his eyes and shakes his head clear. “They fly out tomorrow- Saturday. What is this?”

  When I open my eyes Adam is staring at me. “Well?” he asks.

  “I can’t tell. He was thinking the same thing that he said, but he would be – wouldn’t he? I don’t know how this works?”

  Jude grabs my wrist, pulling me toward him. “We’re you in my head?” His voice raises an octave. “Please say no.”

  Chewing my lip, I raise my eyebrows. “Maybe just a little bit.”

  He turns his head up to the sky and sighs. “You are a pain in my ass, Princess,” he says. “Who else knows?”

  “These guys and Isaac,” I say.

  “Why were you trying to read me anyway?”

  Golding steps forward. “Uncle Isaac said that they haven’t settled on a date to rescue my Mum and you say it’s happening tomorrow.”

  “And you’re trying to find out if I’m bull shitting you,” Jude says, smiling. “Well, I’m not. Gabe told me yesterday morning that they’re flying out tomorrow.”

  “And we’re supposed to just believe you,” Maggie spits. Her hands are clenched so tight that her knuckles have turned white.

  Jude tilts his head at her. “I don’t give two flying shits what you believe,” he says.

  I search his eyes for a sign of truth. I tune into his thoughts again and feel his frustration- his anger at me- at all of us.

  He shakes his head violently. “Oi! At least warn me before you’re going to do that. Actually, I’d prefer you asked first.”

  “It’s pointless anyway. I have no idea what I’m doing.” I’m frustrated and mad at myself.

  Adam slides his hands around my waist, but pulls away when he remembers Jude is stood right there. I slip myself back into his embrace. It’s not like he couldn’t tell something was going on between us last night on the beach.

  “We may as well tell him,” I say, turning back to Jude. “Adam has remembered everything. Golding influenced him.”

  Jude looks at Golding impressed. “You are your mother’s son,” he says. “But you two need to keep a lid on this,” Jude says to us, sharply.

  “We know,” I sigh. “But that’s the least of our worries. Why has this telepathy shown up now and I can’t even use the bloody thing to my advantage?”

  Adam kisses my forehead. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. You only just discovered telepathy this morning.”

  His lips curl down briefly and I want to know what he’s thinking. I touch my hands to his face and instantly see myself twitching on the floor. I rush toward myself, lifting my jerking body onto my lap, although, it’s not actually my lap. It’s Adam’s thighs and Adam’s hands holding me. I let go of his face, gasping for breath.

  “That was freakishly amazing,” I pant.

  “For you maybe. Thank you for making me relive that so vividly,” he says, sarcastically. “I agree with Jude- ask first.”

  I laugh. “It’s easier to read you when I touch you.”

  Jude steps up to me, and taking my hands, places my finger tips on his temples. I inhale and sink into his thoughts. Gabe’s smiling face plunges into my mind’s eye. Jude holds out his hand and shakes Gabe’s.

  “You wanted to see me?” Jude’s voice echoes in my mind.

  Gabe smiles. “They fly out on Saturday.”

  “They? You don’t want me to go”

  “I’m not sending my best man. I need you here to hold the fort with me. Besides, Isaac picked his own crew. I don’t reckon he likes you much.”

  The memory jumps like a broken DVD, and then I’m looking at a blonde woman. She smiles one of those smiles that spread from the lips, to the cheeks, and into the eyes. There is a playful look in her face, and she reaches out, placing her fingers on Jude’s face. Her cheeks puff out from a slow exhale of breath and she closes her eyes. I recognise her with her eyes closed and her brow furrowed. It’s Tess.

  The memory blurs as I open my eyes, gripping Jude’s elbows for support until I adjust to reality. “He’s telling the truth,” I say, without looking away from him.

  His eyes betray him. He knows that I have seen that memory and he shakes his head in a silent request for me not to mention it.

  “So, the question we should be asking is, why is Gabe lying to Isaac?” Haydn says.

  I still haven’t taken my eyes off of Jude. What had I seen in Tess’ eyes? It was more than friendship; I know that much. Jude loved her- loves her still. I felt his heart. He loves her, and yet, he knows he has to kill her- poor, brave man. He’s no longer a monster to me.

  Another agonising pain flares behind my eyes. ‘Too late,’ cries a female voice. She sounds desperate, frustrated. It’s not my thoughts I’m hearing. Someone is talking to me.

  “What is too late?” I scream through the pain.

  Adam catches me before I hit the floor.

  A warm wet feeling seeps over my top lip and the voice creeps back into my mind ‘He is certain, now.’

  The pain subsides instantly and I can taste the metallic tang of blood on my lips. Adam cradles me on his lap like before, wiping at my bloodied nose with his shirt.

  “I’m okay,” I say. I feel like Mike Tyson has planted a fist in my face, but I force myself up.

  “You are not doing that again,” he scolds.

  “That wasn’t me,” I say. “Someone is talking to me.”

  ***

  We follow Jude into the house. Floating stairs lead up to an open landing. There isn’t any balustrade and it makes me dizzy just looking up at the drop.

  Jude basks in the awe on our faces, and then opens another door. We pile into his kitchen. It’s bigger than any kitchen I’ve seen. The red cupboards are shined to see your face in them and the black slate work surfaces are clutter free and pristine. Jude has money, that’s for sure.

  He throws a cloth on the island in the middle of the kitchen and paces the length of the room. Adam picks it up and holds it to my nose.

  “What did I tell you? No one can know,” Jude says, half laughing at me. “So, what do you do? You bring the world and his neighbour to my doorstep.”

  “We can trust them.”

  “No, you can trust them, but it’ll have to be enough for now.” He surveys the others with a sour look on his face. “I don’t need to tell you all that this information can be dangerous if it falls into the wrong hands. If Gabe’s going to this much trouble to get a Dual- EVO out of Facility One, God knows what he’ll do if he knows there’s one right under his nose. If you want to keep your friend safe, you keep these shut.” He jabs a finger at his own mouth.

  “We’d never betray T
eddie,” says Yana. Her little voice is the sweetest sound to me.

  “And we’ve also got to think of Isaac,” says Maggie. She won’t look at Jude as she speaks. “He’s got to go in to Facility One with a level head.”

  “Agreed,” I say.

  A niggling ache ebbs behind my temples. ‘Not safe!’ the female voice screams. It sounds like such an effort for her to get the words out.

  I grasp the counter, but remain focussed and in control. “Not safe? What do you mean?” I ask out loud. Adam looks at me like I’ve gone mad. “Who are you? Why are you doing this to me?” There is no answer.

  “It has got to be a Telepath,” says Jude. “I think they’re stretching you. I’ve heard of it before. A powerful Telepath can bring along the strength of a weaker Telepath’s ability. That’s the reason for the nose bleeds. It can be dangerous.”

  “Well, they need to stop,” Adam snaps. He takes my head in his hands and shouts into my forehead. “Do you hear me? Get out of her head. You’re going to kill her.”

  I smile at his severe face. “I think she’s trying to help me somehow. It’s taking a lot for her to communicate with me.”

  “So, it’s a female?” asks Jude.

  My mind aches again, but it is becoming easier. ‘TESS!’ the voice screams. I clasp my hands to my ears in a vain attempt to drown out the screams.

  “What is it?” he asks.

  I gasp. “It’s Tess. Tess is talking to me.”

  CHAPTER FORTY

  I wait patiently at the bar for Seth to serve me. I don’t feel safe being back at the complex in case I have another funny turn, but the meeting is about to take place with all the members involved in the rescue mission and we need in on the information. Even Jude isn’t included in this meeting, and he has an angry scowl etched on his face from being shunted.

  Adam and Wheeler chat to Jude and one of the men from the meeting last night. There are some put out faces of men who have not been included in Isaac’s rescue crew, but most seem relieved.