“You busted in, I need to practice
harder on my blocking.”
“Beth, I’m going to tell you
something I’m sure you won’t like. Justin is not to be trusted. He will usher
you to prison. You will end up taking his fall if you don’t distance yourself
from him. That was your future at Cave Falls. It’s different now.”
“Different, how?” Her eyes lit up.
“You’ll be on a type of committee,
one which seeks out and annihilates evil amongst the clans. No prison.”
“I broke up with Justin. He’s a
jerk.”
“I agree. I’m glad you realized
it.”
“Why did you save him when you
could have saved the others?”
“Justin is part of the trio and
must be present when the diamond is presented to the Death Clan. If he’s absent
… well, he simply cannot be absent. The others were already gone and I couldn’t
help them.”
“What will happen tomorrow?”
“What do you mean?”
“Is the meeting going to go wrong?”
“Define ‘wrong’.”
She stared at me with question in
her eyes.
“Things will go as they need to go,
as nature intends them to go,” I reassured her.
“Chris is watching you from the
lot. He cares for you, tremendously.”
“I’m aware.”
“Of course you would be; you can
read his mind. Is it cool to be able to read others minds?”
“Not too long ago I thought it
would be really cool to read minds, especially a guy’s mind. Not anymore. I
always thought it would be awesome to predict the future; no, it’s not. The
only phenomenal thing I can do is heal others. I truly treasure being able to
save lives. I only wish I would have been able to save our friends.”
A silence fell between us for a few
seconds.
“Does your future hold anything
with Chris?”
“I can’t view my own future,”
which
was a lie; I visualized my future through others’ futures.
“When the two of you saved each
others’ lives on the river bank, I cried at the passion of it. I became
confused when he pushed you aside afterward. What happened?”
“I don’t know for sure.”
“He’s still watching you. I don’t
mean, like, from the parking lot. I mean from his room. He asks us to watch you
and report. He calls you on the phone because apparently you can’t read his
mind through the phone lines. He keeps tabs on you just like he is doing now. He
loves you.”
“He loves the fact I possess all
the powers. I’m handy to keep around; at arm’s length at least.” I tried to
jest. Beth didn’t know about the crazy future vision Chris clung to.
“Whatever, girl, we see it
differently and I’m pretty sure you do too.”
I thought to myself that what they
were drawn to was my drug-induced self. The diamond I carried in my pocket gave
me those powers, made me seem more mature than I was, but it was a lie. I’m a
fraud, a swindler whom they follow as if I have all the knowledge and
solutions. In fact I do, but only because of a magical stone.
I looked down at Chris and entered
his mind immediately almost as if he opened the door and let me in. I felt his
amazement that I’d gained entry yet again, however he continued to remain in my
eyesight when he could have walked away.
At the forefront of his mind was
his shame for being a hypocrite. He was dying on the bank of the river and he
was well aware of the fact a doctor wouldn’t have been able to save him. It
truly was nature’s way for him to die, but he panicked. He didn’t want to die
and he didn’t want to lose me. So, he pleaded with me to help him. Once I had,
his guilt set in because he fully comprehended he’d encouraged me to go against
nature. Now, I ventured down the evil path because of him. He felt responsible
for the heart-attack guy and my ‘torturing’ of Justin. Misusing my healing
powers was his fault, or at least he thought that way.
I experienced his personal dilemma
dealing with the age difference between us, mainly my young age which had him
tied up in knots. Apparently I was older in his vision and essentially he
understood that now was not the time for “us.”
Some of his own personal demons
continued to haunt him including dishonor, discouragement and deception. He was
ashamed the others persisted in letting him win even though he wasn’t the
fastest. He couldn’t figure out how to relinquish his position without Justin
rising to the top position and revealing Chris’s sensitive information; the
damaging info which put all of us at risk. I decided not to peek, even though I
could.
I looked for his intentions. I got
the message loud and clear he would distance himself from me for my good. At
least he figured it was for my own good. He needed to fix certain things in his
life and find his own happiness before trying to make anyone else happy. He
wanted me to experience my youth and he understood I wouldn’t be able to do
that if he was in my life. He desperately clung to his vision, believing one
day we would meet again.
I wished with my entire being to
speak to his mind and to tell him to move on with his life. I don’t hold any
power, especially healing, and his vision was wrong, but I didn’t know how to
insert my thoughts into his head.
His future began to flood in. I
witnessed a specific event, the location and the exact date. This particular
point in his future would happen in just a couple of months and as I pressed
deeper, the connection to his mind broke, pulling me back to the present. He
had walked into the building and out of sight.
The fact Chris had a future
solidified in my mind the diamond delivery would be successful. For some
reason, that brought tears to my eyes.
Beth still sat next to me, “So,
what’s going on?”
I had to let my throat relax before
I could speak. “I don’t understand a lot of what I’ve just seen. I’ll need to
contemplate on it a little while.”
“Do you want me to kick his ass?”
I laughed, “No, I just can’t figure
out why he feels the way he does.”
“Well, if you ever need some advice
or experienced female help, just come and find me.” She smiled and I smiled
back at her.
“Beth, you are a good friend. I’m
glad we’ve reached this level.”
“Me too.”
“Promise that you won’t be upset
with me after the exchange.”
“What does that mean?”
“I only hope you will still be my
friend afterward.”
“Girl, you’re not making any
sense.”
“I suppose I’m not,” I smiled at
her again.
She got up and left me on the roof.
I thought about what I’d seen in Chris’s mind and that after the diamond exchange
I would be dead. Chris’s intentions to distance himself after the delivery were
for naught. He would be sad, no doubt, but with time he’d recover.
Somehow that didn’t comfort me.
Later when I came in off the roof,
Mrs. Winter sat down with me and had a private chat.
“Well, Calli, I’m impressed with
everything you’ve accomplished this far.”
I didn’t suspect Mrs. Winter had
any hand in the diamond plot. She simply played a pawn in Maetha’s plan. “You
heard about my many powers from Chris?”
“Yes. I must say, I wondered about
your ability as a Runner when I first picked you up. I realized you weren’t as
fast as the others, but I couldn’t tell you that. I’m not sure if you paid
attention, but the Shadow Demons didn’t tear your shirt the same way they
shredded mine.”
“I noticed.”
“After what happened with your
heart monitor, I certainly wondered about you.”
“Wait, what about the heart
monitor?”
“Runners and all other people with
abilities have quiet heart beats; you do not. You have a human’s heartbeat. Yet
you aren’t human. When did your additional powers first emerge?”
“At Cave Falls. I read minds for
the first time and viewed future events. Oh, and I realized I had Hunter’s senses
and can see the Shadow Demons.”
“You are the first one, Calli, to
possess all senses. Even wizards and witches don’t have all the abilities. They
can cast spells which give them the temporary effects, but permanent effects? No.
You are the only one to ever have all the abilities.”
“Well, now you’re just embarrassing
me.”
Permanent effects, ha, as if.
Mine would be gone soon enough.
“You are young, Calli. Perhaps
that’s why nature gave them to you; because of your age and inability to
understand what you’ve got.”
“I have a lot of questions.”
“I’ll answer as many as I can for
you. Others will need to be directed to the other clans. I would like to ask
you a question first though; what will be the outcome of the delivery
tomorrow?”
“Success, in the terms of the
diamond doing what Harold Bates figured would happen. Some will die, the
hostages will be freed and the Death Clan’s progression will be halted. What I
don’t understand is why the clearing was chosen to be the location for the
delivery.”
“Because you told Chris the
clearing was the one from your vision.”
“No, that’s not what I mean. I
foresaw the delivery happening a few days ago even before I ever located the
clearing. I thought we were heading up to the Death Clan’s caves to do the
transaction; somewhere in Canada.”
“Originally, yes, the caves of the
Death Clan were where you were headed, that is, until you found the clearing. It
is a perfect location for all clans to meet in, near a town, but far enough
away to be secluded.”
“But not the planned destination?”
“There wasn’t a planned
destination. That’s part of the mystery behind this whole ordeal. Remember when
I told you our Seer couldn’t ascertain the future because it was foggy? It is
still foggy to all Seers, well, except you. And yet therein lays the beauty;
because you handpicked the clearing we can be assured the site is safe and not
sabotaged.”
“You’re telling me I envisioned a
location I would eventually handpick? That’s deep.”
“What’s deep is that you hold all
these powers for a reason that none of us will ever fathom, Calli.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that. Are
we going to have a memorial or candlelight vigil for the dead?”
“We will gather tonight and
remember our friends. Tomorrow this will all be behind us.”
She was more right than she would
ever know. Tomorrow, life as I knew it would end. I would die with everyone
thinking I was at least a Runner; not just a mere human.
After a tear filled memorial for
our friends, a phone call came for me.
“Ms. Courtnae, my name is Charles
Rhondell and I am Head Reader in my clan. I have obtained information you might
be interested in concerning the safety of your team.”
I replied calmly, “Then you should
be speaking with Chris, the fastest.”
“No, you are who I need to speak
with, Ms. Courtnae.”
My eyes scanned the room looking
for Justin, “Me? I’m the weakest. What about Justin?”
Of all the selfish,
arrogant, mindless … Justin had to have alerted the Readers of my multiple
abilities.
“I will only share this information
with you, Ms. Courtnae.”
“Let me guess, you’ve hired more
Hunters.”
If Justin didn’t have to be at the delivery I’d…ugh.
“What makes you think we’ve ever
hired Hunters?”
“One told me … right before the
Shadows got him.”
“You mean you read his mind, don’t
you?”
“Interpret it how you wish.”
“I’m told you can walk amongst the
Demons. If this is true, then you should come to my motel so I can give you
this information.”
“Tell me now, over the phone.”
“I don’t trust the line. Anyone can
tap these days.”
“Alright, I’ll meet you in the
lobby in a few minutes.”
“Oh, and Calli, leave the diamond.”
“What?” My breath practically flew
out of my chest.
He knows! Somehow he knows I carry the real diamond.
But
how? Maetha said the stone would be protected as long as I kept it in the
pouch, which I had.
“Leave the diamond, Calli. My
purpose in calling you is not to get a hold of the stone. If the Hunters
weren’t able capture it, we certainly don’t have a chance either, however, you
are not the only one who can walk amongst the Demons. Don’t give anyone the opportunity
to swoop in and take the magical stone. Not when it’s so close to accomplishing
its mission. I simply want to share with you the information that has come into
my possession concerning the safety of your team.”
“Look for me in a few minutes.”
Relief swept over me as I ended the
phone call. He assumed because I possess multiple powers and am the first ever
to do so, I must be the leader now; therefore, I would be the most likely to be
carrying the diamond.
I went in search of Justin and
found him in Chris’s room. I stormed over, grabbed him by his jacket front and shoved
him up against the wall, “Why did you tell?”
“Tell what?”
I pushed him harder, “My abilities!
You told them didn’t you?”
“They would’ve found out soon
enough, I don’t know why you are all upset.”
I let go of him. “Why would I be
upset? Sheez, Justin, you were the one with the Hunter’s bulls-eye on your
head; Hunters the Mind Readers sent. Now you sidle up with them and give away
vital information? Do you think Michael and Jessica would be upset about your
blabbing? Our room received the poisoned food on the assumption you had the
diamond.” I turned to leave the room, but before exiting I said, “If I only had
half a brain I’d have twice as much as you!
You
are the muck, Justin!”
Chris stopped me, “Where are you
going?”
“I’m on my way to meet with the
leaders of the Mind Readers, thanks to him.”
“They might be dangerous,” Chris
had genuine concern
“No more than I.”
I walked the few blocks to the
motel and thought about Chris and the fact that someone other than my parents,
and cheek-squeezing Grandma, loved me and is concerned about my safety.