by Lucy Rains
I stared at the machines, trying to decide which flavor I wanted. I was lucky all six flavors were actually available. Green lights visible above all the flavors, the machines spinning away in a mindless hum, mixing the delicious sugar water concoction. Blue raspberry, lemonade, pina colada, sour apple, cola, and cotton candy.
My attention was suddenly and completely pulled away from my choices though, when the deep fibers of my chest began to hum gently. The pressure was back with force, firm and warm.
No, I mentally cringed. Not again.
My right hand again went to my chest, the vibrations light against fingertips. The hum was soft, flooding through my torso. What is happening to me?
I knew I did not possess an average female human body. I had experienced many changes a few years ago. But I thought I was done with the unexpected surprises.
I was pulled to the present when a large male figure walked up to my side.
“Do you know what you’re getting?” A deep voice asked gently.
I jumped at the sound, and turned to look up into an attractive masculine face. Blue eyes looked down at me with rapt attention that made my mind blank. His dirty blonde locks were pulled back into a ponytail, and his sweet thin lips were in a crooked smile. He studied my face, searching my eyes, my mouth, my hair, while I tried to find my voice. His presence was dominating. The build of his body was powerful. Thick, strong, and sensual.
Sensual? I mentally slapped myself. Never before had I felt an attraction to any guy. Men were dangerous.
I took a step back to put some space between us and cleared my throat. This guy’s presence was twisting my emotions around like a Slurpee machine.
“Still thinking,” I answered softly, pulling my gaze away and angling my body away from him, hoping to give the subtle hint that I didn’t want any interaction.
My chest was vibrating more intensely, but the stranger next to me was pulling my focus away from it. He was excited, curious. How did I know that? I snuck a sideways peek to find him still staring at me with that small grin. My breath quickened and I was contemplating leaving.
Before I could do or say anything else, the Slurpee cup I was holding disappeared from my hand.
“Hey!” I choked, watching him walk up to the machines in front of me. “What are you…”
The stranger began filling up the cup with Lemonade, and then moved over to the Cotton Candy dispenser. I stared, my tongue suddenly stuck to the roof of my mouth. Who was this guy?
Taking advantage of him having his back to me, I let my eyes skim over his body. Despite being large, he moved with a fluid grace that held my gaze against my will. No tattoos, a few small scars on the back of his neck and arms, tanned skinned with clear muscle lines running up his arms.
I mentally snapped at myself again. Dangerous.
He topped the cup with a clear lid and straw and even wiped it down with a napkin. When he held it out for me I could only look at the cup in front of me, and then up to his blue eyes. I raised an eyebrow.
“It’s my favorite mix. Try it,” he encouraged.
I hesitated for a second and then gently took the cup from his hand. As I put the straw to my lips, he gave me one more sly smile and then walked past me. The icee sludge slid down my throat and I let out an involuntary groan of pleasure. It was amazing.
I turned to see where the stranger went and watched as he slipped out the store’s glass entry doors.
I took a few more sips, contemplating what had just happened. The image of those blue eyes burned into my memory. His kindness to me was unsettling. I convinced myself that he was probably a total flirt or just overly friendly. My chest still hummed, softer now.
Ready to move on and put the encounter behind me, I walked up to Rob to pay for my drink, only to be told that it had already been covered. Rob gave a low chuckle at my bewildered expression and went back to his sudoku book. I turned my head and scowled at the glass entry doors.
As I pushed out the doors to head to my car, I hardly noticed the tattooed long hair guy who I had seen earlier, brush past me and into the gas station. Instead, I noticed his friends were huddled on the other side of Bronco, out of view, much quieter now.
Suspicious whispers sounded in my sensitive ears. I was almost to my car when a sharp shriek sounded from one of them. I narrowed my eyes and saw the start of orange flames on the pavement next to the Bronco, dancing around their feet. My body stopped, tensing in alarm. The people around the Bronco started yelling and making frantic movements.
“Fire!” someone shouted. A woman’s scream sounded, and another man, parked on the opposite side of me, screamed at the young adults incoherently.
Before I could decide what to do to help, the sharp sound of gunfire sounded behind me within the corner store, and the woman let out another scream, louder this time. My heart hammered at the sound and I gasped. Rob.
I spun to look through the glass doors, and saw the long haired jerk holding a gun at Rob, who was holding his shoulder, his hand covered in blood. The other hand was scurrying around the cash register. Rage rolled through me, and I took a step to walk back inside when I heard the Bronco’s engine flare loudly. The driver laid heavily on the horn. The scene clicked in my mind. Divert attention, create chaos.
Thankfully, the man that had been yelling a few moments earlier whipped out a fire extinguisher from his truck and raced over to the flames that were licking down the pavement. The woman, who was clutching her chest, her back pressed to her driver’s door, watched in horror, urging the man to hurry.
I turned my attention back to Rob, who was now leaning over, blood dripping onto the counter, and caught sight of Mr. Long Hair racing out the glass doors, hurrying to the side alley of the old building. A man in a baseball cap stood beside Rob on a cell phone, talking while waving his hands. I figured he had called the police and set my focus on the retreating figure, who was holding a small black bag in one hand.
I took long lunges to follow him, pausing at the corner of the store, my mind racing with my next actions. How much exposure was I willing to risk? I glanced at the cameras mounted around the pumps and front doors, knowing I had to be careful.
The Bronco’s tires squealed, smoke billowing as it sped towards the parking lot exit. Apparently the guy was planning to meet up with his gang at a different location.
I looked back towards him, he was getting closer to disappearing around back of the building and I knew my window of opportunity was quickly closing. I had to throw my drink and wallet to the side as I dropped into a low squat. Ducking around the corner out of sight, I raised a palm towards the retreating figure. I let out two bolts of energy, directed at the lower half of his body. Not waiting to see what happened, I turned towards the Bronco, leaning out around the corner. I lowered farther to the ground, lessening my own physical visibility. The man and woman at the gas pump had their backs to me, watching the Bronco. I let out 3 more large bursts of energy. The impact of my power slammed into the rear tires of the vehicle, making it spin and ultimately connect with a lamp post. The sound of it’s engine disappeared while smoke and dust billowed up from the crash site.
Sirens sounded in the distance.
I looked back at the guy I had taken down and saw him trying to stand up. I brought my palm up again and let out another energy pulse. He went down to the ground with a furious shout. I straightened, picking up my wallet from the ground, and decided against trying to salvage my turned over slurpee. I brushed my clothes down and strode over to his prostate figure. The stench of his body filling my nose as I got closer. One of his elbows was covered in blood, red streaks marked the sidewalk around him. His dark stringy hair was covering most of his face.
He propped himself on an elbow and looked up at me. “What the hell?!” He glared.
Ignoring his question, I reached down and grabbed the black bag that had fallen a few few feet away from him. He swore at me again, his red face grimacing in pain. Chipped, dirty nails wrapped around my wri
st as he grabbed me. His mouth twisted into a menacing sneer, “You stupid bi-”.
I twisted my forearm out of his grasp, cracking his wrist in the process. Before he could holler in pain I followed with a sharp jab to his temple, and he fell back to the ground without a sound.
The sirens were getting closer. I grabbed the bag of cash lightly, on the very tips of the plastic edge, careful to avoid putting any full fingerprints on the bag, and dropped it by the corner of the building. As I sprinted to my car, I could hear the Bronco trying to turn the engine over with no success.
I avoided eye contact with the man holding the fire extinguisher. Not looking around, I jumped into my car, pushed the starter button, and sped out of the parking lot.
CHAPTER 2
In the five minutes it took to drive home, I willed my heart to calm down and my breathing to slow. I needed to pull myself into a state of appearing at complete ease before arriving. The scenes replayed through my mind, the shouts, the blood, the money, the abilities I had used in public. Did I do the right thing? Will Rob be ok? Was I going to be able to keep this away from my mother? Legally I knew I should have stayed behind to give statements and eye witness accounts to the authorities. But that would have involved too much fabrication. Too many lies.
I took an even slower deep breath and turned inward to feel my energy. There were still prickles of static in my palms from the energy I had released. Had it been necessary? Yes, I told myself firmly. Rob had needed my help and I did the right thing.
For the past 3 years I had felt that my ability to send energy out of my body was a curse I had been damned with. An ability I didn’t want. Another trait of my body that set me apart. Which lead to a life of isolation and anxiety. Nevertheless, I was extremely cautious where and when I used it. I'd been lucky so far, no one knew about it nor any of my other abilities.
It had taken many months to learn how to control it. Many hours alone in the woods practicing to wield it to my will. It was crucial to be able to maintain complete control over it. I had learned that through the incident.
I carefully coasted up to our gated entry and dialed in the code that would open the large iron gates that allowed entry into our driveway. They opened slowly, letting me enter the prison I called home.
I parked in the garage, next to my mother’s black Audi SUV. When I turned off my car, I closed my eyes and let out a huge sigh of relief that she wasn’t home. She was attending an infertility conference in Dallas. Something about biomolecular mechanisms and issues of damaged sperm. I didn’t care for the what or why, only the where and when.
As I sat in the car with my eyes closed, the blue eyed stranger and leather jacket guy filled my mind. I was intrigued with their presence. I shook my head, why was I thinking about them? They were complete strangers that I would never see again.
A soft knock sounded on my window and I jumped in my seat. Charles stood outside my window, with his standard black apron wrapped around his waist and his hands covered in dark soil. His silver hair was combed back away from his forehead, and his clear blue eyes were full of concern.
I smiled casually, grabbing my bag and opening my car door. He spoke before I could greet him. “Are you unwell, Miss Jade?”
I cleared my throat and shook my head, “No Charles, of course not.” I hooked my bag over my shoulder and looked at his hands. Glad for the distraction, “Are you gardening? I thought the flower beds were all finished?”
He searched my face for a moment, making me wonder if I had accidentally gotten blood on me without realizing it. I shifted my stance and wiped a hand over my head, smoothing back any stray hairs.
Charles smiled pleasantly before turning away from me. “I’m afraid the weeds are starting to take over the begonia’s on the east wall.”
I followed him out of the garage and towards the flower beds he was working in. The colorful manicured flowers lined the front of the house and wrapped around the wall that Charles was walking towards. A large blue sphere with water trickling out of it sat at the edge of the house, providing a tranquil sound of water. I never spent much time outside. But when Charles worked out here, I tried to join him, though he usually wouldn’t let me help. He insisted my mother would not approve.
He knelt back down on the soft ground next to a pile of stringy vines and dirt clumps that laid on the grass. I knelt down next to him, dropping my bag on the grass.
“Miss Jade I must protest-”
“Oh Charles stop it, she’s not even home to see me.” I scooted up to the cement landscape edging and began gently pushing aside flowers to look for any offensive weeds. “Besides, I’m already dirty from track and need to shower anyways.”
He sighed and leaned forward next to me. “Miss Jade, you know that someone is always watching.”
My heart sank at his comment. I had an idea of the security planted around the house, but I was never sure of its extent. I leaned back on my heels, watching Charles push his fingers into the dirt to extract a particularly gnarly weed. I didn’t want him to get in trouble, so it was probably best I didn’t push it.
“You’re a bit late today. Are you sure everything is alright?” His voice was soft, fatherly.
“Yes, everything is fine.” I assured him. “The gas station was busier than normal and there were maintenance issues with the pump.” The lie slipped out easily and I smiled at him.
Charles had always shown me respect and concern. It was as close to genuine love as I had ever experienced. I knew he was on my side, even if he did have to carry out her orders. He had been working for our home since I was 8 and tolerated the endless demands and berating from my mother. The only thing I could think was that she was paying him well. Really well.
There wasn’t much at home I could do that would break any rules. I didn’t own a phone, security cameras were placed in the main rooms, my laptop was only to be used in the living room, my internet searches were monitored and I never had friends over. But if I ever wanted to get away with something, Charles was on my side. I knew he had thrown away a few slushie cups for me that I had forgotten in my car. Or when I wanted to wear mascara to school. I knew he noticed everything, but this would never be mentioned to my mother. And I always looked forward to the French chocolate treats he slipped under my pillow.
My mother said my father had died when I was little. After countless attempts for information, she refused to say anything more on the subject and I always made a point to avoid her wrath. With Charles in my life, I didn’t feel like I was missing much. He provided a masculine presence and showed me respect and compassion that felt as close to love as I could imagine.
“What’s for dinner? Something awesome, I hope.”
“Miss Parker requested a seafood entree for you this evening,”
Yuck. Of all days to have fish?
I wrinkled my nose, “Aw Charles, I thought you cared about me.”
He glanced over his shoulder and smiled, “Miss Jade, you know I care a great deal about you. However, Miss Parker pays my bills and therefore, her word is law.”
“How about I pay your bills?” I joked.
“You can't afford my bills, dear.”
I sat for a moment longer, relaxing in the setting sun, before Charles spoke again. “Miss Parker is awaiting your phone call,” he reminded me, while adding a weed to the pile next to him.
I stifled a pained groan and grabbed my bag off the ground. “Okay. I’ll go take care of that. See you inside.”
After depositing my bags onto the foyer entry bench, I crossed the gleaming granite floor to my bedroom. I caught sight of myself in the crystal framed mirror hanging in the hallway. I stopped for a moment, taking a step back to look at myself. My large green eyes were dilated wide, and I knew I was still coming down from the gas station. My full lips were dry again. I left the mirror in search of more chapstick.
I knew I was stalling. It was time to make my daily call. When my mother was out of town, I was required to do daily check ins.
When she was home, rather than talking to her I usually made a point of busying myself with something less painful like homework. Or cleaning my toilet.
Mother answered after the first ring, “Jade?”
“Hello mother,” I greeted.
“It's a good thing you didn't call any later I'm about to head to dinner. What took you so long? Did you go somewhere after practice?”
I swallowed, “No mother, the gas station was busy and I had to wait for a pump. Then I was talking outside with Charles when I got home.”
“You leave Charles alone to his duties, he’ll only go slower if you’re around.”
Before I could catch myself I responded with what came to mind. “It’s nice to have someone to talk to.”
Mother was silent for a moment. “Do not talk back to me, Jade.”
I swallowed, knowing there was only one thing I was allowed to say next. “Sorry mother.”
“Hm. And how was practice? Have you improved your times yet?”
“They're holding about the same.”
“Your season is almost over, you don't have much time left.”
“I know, but there’s always college,” I said with a positive tone.
“You need to focus on the present. We don’t even know if you will do track in college.”
I bristled at her words. Why wouldn’t I do track in college? Was she going to control my activities then too? Knowing that I would only be prolonging the tense conversation, I decided against asking. “
Do you think you can make it to my next meet?”
She didn’t hesitate. “I don't think so.”
“Okay,” I responded, unfazed.
Mother paused a moment before asking her next question, “How are you feeling?”
I scoffed away from the phone and rolled my eyes. “I’m feeling fine. Same as usual.”
She wasn’t asking about my overall health. Only about my ‘female’ health. She seemed to be very concerned about my lack of monthly visits, even though the Obstetrician had assured her I was fine.