The Complete Lost Children Series

by Krista Street

  “Are those the cities all of you woke up in?” I asked.

  “Yep,” Mica replied.

  I scanned the cards again. Each seemed to have a current picture along with fairly accurate height, weight and eye color. I studied all of the last names again. “Why do these last names seem familiar?”

  “Because they’re in the top eight most common last names in the U.S.” Flint replied. “The other most common last names are Williams and Miller. My guess is your missing ID had one of those names. If you ever had an ID.”

  I thumbed through the cards again. “There are birth dates on these!”

  “Yes,” Di replied. “If those are correct, Flint’s the oldest at twenty-four, followed by me at twenty-three, then Jacinda and the twins—also twenty-three. Mica’s the youngest at twenty-one.”

  “You’re all roughly the same age?”

  “If those ages are correct, yes, we’re all within a few years of one another,” Di replied.

  “So I’m probably around that age too? Maybe early twenties?”

  “You look to be in your twenties,” Jasper said.

  “Yep, no wrinkles yet,” Jet added.

  I’m in my early twenties? Granted I didn’t have proof, but most likely I was around the same age as everyone else. More than anything, I wished I knew why I’d woken outside and not in a condo. What I’d give to have documents like these! At least some identity semblance, even if it was fake, would be comforting.

  “So this new girl is probably around our age too?” I asked.

  “Most likely,” Di replied.

  I dug through the bag again. “Where are the cell phones?”

  “We got rid of them,” Di said. “Cell phones can be tracked. We didn’t want to take the risk.”

  I gaped. “Right.”

  “See?” Jet said. “Can’t be anything good.”

  I felt the blood drain from my face.

  “Okay, we’re done,” Flint said. “This meeting’s over. Everyone up.”

  The tone of his voice surprised me. It was almost protective sounding. His arm was still around me too, and I once again sensed that strange energy coming off him. It felt like heat mixed with power. I shook my head. Weird.

  “Flint’s right,” Di said. “I think we’ve given Lena enough to think about.”

  Flint stood. His arm dropped from around me. “Jet, Jasper and Mica, I need you guys to stand up.”

  He moved away. Within seconds, the furniture sat back in its original location. I stared in stunned disbelief. It was as if a tornado ripped through the room. His movements were so fast he’d actually been a blur. I’d never in my life—well, in the few short months of my known existence—had ever seen someone move so fast.

  “How’d you do that?” I asked.

  Flint shrugged. A lock of chestnut hair fell across his forehead. My pulse quickened.

  “I honestly don’t know,” he replied. “If I don’t keep it in check, I’d probably move that fast all of the time. It hasn’t been easy to adapt to.”

  “Huh,” I managed.

  “Well if we’re all done here, I’m heading up to the house for lunch.” Jet stretched and yawned loudly. “I’m starving.”

  The thought of food made my mouth water. “I’ll join you.” I eyed Flint and wondered what he’d do.

  “Di?” Flint said. “You want to . . .” He didn’t finish his sentence. Instead, he nodded toward the door.

  Di stood. “Yeah.”

  Without another word, the two of them left. A rush of air entered the cabin when the door shut behind them.

  I watched through the window as they took off down the driveway. They walked closely, their heads dipped toward one another. A brief swell of disappointment filled me. Flint hadn’t said goodbye or looked at me since rearranging the furniture. I tried to shrug that feeling off.

  “I know you’re hungry . . .” Jacinda’s comment snapped me back to my surroundings. “But how about you come with me first. You can’t go up to the house wearing that.” Her nose wrinkled as she assessed my clothes.

  “But I wore this last night,” I replied.

  “We’re heading out,” Jet said. “You guys coming?”

  Jacinda shook her head. “Lena and I will be up in a minute. You three go ahead.”

  Mica, Jet and Jasper walked out the door. I watched them enviously. “Can’t we eat first?”

  Jacinda eyed my pants. “This will just take a minute. Follow me.”

  CHAPTER NINE

  I reluctantly followed Jacinda down the hall. Her long blond hair swayed between her shoulder blades. My stomach protested the entire way.

  “Don’t worry,” she called over her shoulder. “I know you’re hungry.”

  We walked into her room. She nodded at a neatly made bed. “Have a seat.”

  I plopped down.

  Jacinda grabbed a very large suitcase from the corner of the room. It was the one that took up so much space in the Suburban. She pulled the gold zipper. The metallic scratch sounded in the room. I eyed the material. It looked like genuine leather. She must have noticed me staring because she smiled.

  “It’s a Louis Vuitton. A gift from Huxley.”

  “Huxley?”

  “The man I was with before I came here.”

  “You had a boyfriend?”

  She shrugged. “I guess you could call him that. We kept each other company for a few weeks, until we arrived in Colorado.”

  I sat farther forward. “How’d you two meet?”

  “At some hotel. We actually met the first night after I woke up. I wandered around my neighborhood that entire first day, trying to recognize something. Anything. When that didn’t happen, I kept walking. I ended up at a hotel, went inside and sat at the bar in the lounge. Huxley came in a few minutes later. He approached and we got to talking, and the rest as they say, was history.”

  “So, did you drive up here with . . . what was his name . . . Huxley?”

  Jacinda snorted delicately. “Drive? No, we flew in his Gulfstream IV.”

  “You flew in a Gulfstream IV?”

  If I was right, that was a private jet that could seat close to twenty people. As soon as I thought that, my mouth fell open. How do I know that? Once again, a random bit of knowledge popped into my head for no reason. It wasn’t the first time it happened.

  Initially, when I woke up, I thought everything in my memory was gone but then things slowly filtered through. Things I’d apparently once known.

  I’d never forget the first time it happened, when I was walking down a street in Rapid City. I passed a used book store, and from the corner of an outside bin, I spotted a paperback of Canterbury Tales. As I continued on, it came to mind that Chaucer was considered the father of English literature. As for where that thought came from, I had no idea.

  After that, more and more things materialized in my foggy brain. Such as the chemical composition of methane was CH4 or that Edvard Munch painted The Scream. Just random bits of information. It was incredibly disconcerting to say the least, and it just happened again. Apparently, I knew a thing or two about private jets.

  “Jacinda, I know what a Gulfstream IV is. How do I know that?”

  Jacinda took out a few clothes from her suitcase and examined them. “I don’t know. We’re all like that. We just know things. Isn’t it weird when it happens? When you’re talking to someone and some detail comes up and just like that.” She snapped her fingers. “A hundred things appear in your brain and you know what they’re talking about?”

  “Yes!” I breathed.

  Jacinda continued to rifle through her clothes. Every now and then, she pulled out a shirt, turned it back and forth and then refolded it back into her suitcase.

  “So, where’s Huxley now?” I asked.

  “I don’t know. I guess he went back to Phoenix. I broke up with him shortly after we landed.” She held up another top. It was frilly and made of shiny material. “What about this one?”

  I made a face.
No doubt it would look great in a photo shoot, but it didn’t seem useful for anything else.

  “This will be a little big on you, but it should work.”

  “Um, it’s nice but I think my T-shirt is better.”

  She eyed my shirt. I could tell from her expression that she didn’t agree. She fumbled through her suitcase again and pulled out a long-sleeved shirt with splashes of color and some logo stitched on the bottom.

  “How about this one?” She threw the shirt at me. “One hundred percent Peruvian cotton, eight hundred thread count.”

  “Hmm.” I fingered the fabric.

  “Well? What do you think?”

  “This might work.”

  I rubbed the incredibly soft cotton between my fingers. The smooth texture reminded me of plush silk. All of the clothes I owned came from Salvation Army. Most of them had holes and were ingrained with dirt.

  “Try it on.”

  “What if I get it dirty?”

  Jacinda shrugged. “Then we’ll wash it.”

  I stood and peeled my shirt off. Jacinda’s top fell below my waist, and the arms were too long, but the fabric felt good against my skin. It was soft, clean, and it didn’t smell.

  “Thanks, Jacinda!” I grinned and pushed the sleeves up.

  Jacinda stared at me, her mouth open. “You really have been starving, haven’t you?”

  I felt my cheeks heat. I wondered how much of my skeletal frame she’d seen.

  She gave me a sympathetic look. “You poor thing, but don’t worry, that’ll all change now. You’re not alone and homeless anymore. You don’t need to hitchhike or go hungry again.”

  Her soft words and encouraging smile caused a warm feeling in me.

  She appraised my lower half. “Now, what are we going to do about your pants . . .”

  JACINDA AND I finally walked up to the main house half an hour later. I was ready to bang Jacinda’s suitcase over her head I was so hungry, but she insisted I be “presentable” before I left the cabin.

  Consequently, my now clean hair was pulled up into a stylish ponytail. I also wore clean clothes from head to toe. We’d settled on a pair of jean shorts that practically fell off me since they were so big, but Jacinda decided it was the best she could do.

  My shoes were another story. I wore a pair of her too-big slip-ons that kept falling off. I asked her why I couldn’t wear my worn sneakers. Her response had been to pick them up and throw them in the garbage.

  Jacinda sighed heavily as I walked beside her. I could tell from her disapproving glances every time I hiked the shorts up or tripped over the too-big shoes that she didn’t approve.

  “We’re going shopping after lunch,” she said. “You need your own clothes.”

  “But I don’t have any money.” I held up a hand to shade my face in the bright sun. I could practically feel my pale skin burning.

  She rolled her eyes. “Weren’t you listening when we told you about us? Money isn’t an issue.”

  “But it’s not mine.”

  “Yes it is. You’re one of us. Therefore, you’re entitled to the pile.”

  I didn’t bother arguing. We were almost to the porch, and scents from lunch drifted outside. I lifted my nose and let the scent lead the way.

  When we entered the dining hall, music strummed through the speakers. Several tables in the dining area were occupied with other guests. The entire scene was quaint and pleasant. I spotted Mica, Jet and Jasper at a table in the corner. Mica smiled and waved us over.

  Jet smirked when we approached. “You’re looking as good as Jacinda.”

  My cheeks heated as I pulled up the shorts again. “Thanks.”

  “You’ve got to try this food. It’s amazing!” Mica spooned a huge bite of some kind of berry pie and vanilla ice cream to her mouth.

  I watched Mica eat. My mouth salivated.

  Jet rolled his eyes. “Good one, Mica. Torment the starving girl.”

  Mica’s brown eyes widened. “Sorry,” she said through a mouthful of food. “Buffet’s over there.” She pointed to the corner. “Help yourself!”

  I made a beeline for the buffet and almost cried in happiness when I saw the selection. A large stack of tortillas and taco shells, bowls of taco meat, cheddar cheese, diced tomatoes, lettuce and olives. Cups of sour cream, guacamole and salsa sat at the end. I piled four tacos on my plate. Jacinda only took one.

  When we joined the others, Jasper raised an eyebrow at my heaping meal. “Looks like you’ve met your match, Mica.”

  I didn’t care how much teasing the twins gave me. Similar to the previous night, all I saw was the food in front of me. When I finished, I slowly realized everyone was staring.

  “What?” I asked.

  “There’s sour cream all over your cheek,” Jacinda whispered.

  A flush crept up my neck. I hastily wiped my mouth.

  Mica grinned and dabbed some guacamole on Jasper’s nose. “Should I lick it off?” she asked.

  Jasper grabbed a napkin but a smile tugged at his lips.

  “Or I could?” Jet leaned over with his tongue out. Jasper smacked him.

  Jacinda snorted delicately as I muffled a laugh.

  “Mica will eat anything,” Jet said as Jasper cleaned his face. “Next time, leave the sour cream. She’ll probably scrape it off with a tortilla chip or two.”

  Mica slugged him playfully in the shoulder. “Okay, who wants dessert? I’m thinking of having a second helping.”

  “See what I mean?” Jet said dryly.

  I smiled again and joined Mica at the dessert table.

  THIRTY MINUTES LATER, I was so stuffed, movement seemed impossible. I groaned in pain. Jet and Jasper laughed while Jacinda clucked her tongue.

  “Next time, slow down. Your body isn’t used to all of this food,” she said.

  “You gonna be okay?” Mica asked as she polished off her second bowl of ice cream.

  Jet clapped me on the back. “You’ll survive.” He turned to his brother. “I heard they’re having a trail ride for the guests this afternoon, and those ladies over there.” He nodded toward a group of four women seated at another table. “I overheard them say they’re going.”

  Mica laughed. “Are you already over that girl you took on a few dates last week?”

  Jet shrugged. “She left, remember? Her Colorado trip had come to an end. It’s time to move on.”

  “Didn’t she cry when she kissed you goodbye?” Mica replied.

  “She may have shed a few tears.” Jet smiled devilishly.

  Mica laughed.

  “So you want to go?” Jet asked Jasper.

  Before Jasper could respond, Mica said, “I’ll go! And I promise not to interfere when you’re making your moves on the ladies.”

  Jasper chuckled, his eyes twinkling when he glanced at Mica. “Jacinda? Lena? You want to come too?” he asked.

  I was about to stand when Jacinda shook her head. “We’re going into town to buy Lena clothes. Has anyone seen Di or Flint? We’ll need a ride.”

  “I haven’t seen them since the grand revelation,” Jet replied, making air quotes around the words. He eyed one of the four women when she stood. She was a cute blonde with curvy hips. “So are you two coming or not?” Jet asked. His eyes stayed on the blonde.

  “No,” Jacinda said sweetly.

  I sighed in exasperation. “Riding horses would be more fun than shopping.”

  Jacinda merely raised an eyebrow and appraised my bare feet under the table. I hadn’t bothered trying to keep her shoes on while we ate.

  “You can ride horses later,” she said gently yet firmly.

  “All right.” Jet stood and then smiled when he and the blonde made eye contact.

  “See you later,” Jasper called. Before I could argue, the three left. Mica’s excited chatter trailed through the dining hall.

  I sighed in disappointment but knew Jacinda was right. I couldn’t go horseback riding in flats that kept falling off. “Okay, let’s get this shopping tri
p over with.”

  She grinned. “Perfect. Now, we just need to find Di or Flint.”

  Hearing Flint’s name made my stomach flip. “Why do we need to find them?”

  “I don’t drive. Do you?”

  For a moment, I just sat there. Could I drive? “Um, I have no idea.”

  Jacinda pursed her lips. The glossy sheen from her lipstick—that amazingly didn’t seem to wear off despite eating—reminded me of raspberries. “We should find one of them. Just to be safe. Come on.”

  My stomach felt like a jumbled mess when we stood. I wasn’t sure if that was from overeating or at the thought of seeing Flint again. Regardless, I followed Jacinda as we left the main house. On the gravel drive, I kept tripping and almost fell because of the blasted shoes.

  I finally gave up. Pulling the flats off, I ambled down the drive in bare feet. Jacinda clucked in disapproval, but I didn’t care. Even though the gravel hurt my soles, I was still ready to throw the damned shoes in the pasture.

  IT WASN’T HARD to find Di and Flint. Both were in our cabin. They jumped up from the couch when we walked through the door, as if we’d caught them doing something. My stomach sank as a new thought occurred to me. Were Di and Flint together?

  I didn’t get a chance to think about it since Di asked what our plans were. Jacinda gave a pointed look at my bare feet. Di merely assessed my dirty toes with a heavy sigh, while Flint’s lips twitched up in a smile. It vanished when he caught me watching him.

  “She needs clothes,” Jacinda said. “Can one of you drive us to Little Raven?”

  Flint stepped forward. “I’ll take you.”

  Jacinda smiled sweetly. “I’ll get my purse.”

  Without Jacinda in the room, silence fell. Being so near Flint did funny things to my heart rate. He didn’t seem to notice. Instead, he and Di were doing that subtle communication again. Di raised an eyebrow, and Flint nodded slightly at which she made a motion toward her wrist. I had no idea what we’d walked in on, but I felt acutely aware of it in that moment.