Oppression (23 page)

22.

THE CLOCK BEGAN ticking, and I stepped into the empty hallway without paying attention to my surroundings. I watched the floor as I made my way to the elevator and caught sight of a familiar pair of shiny black cowboy boots that didn’t belong in this place.

“You’re too easy to find.” Before I had time to look up, Ryder threw me across the hallway like a ragdoll. I smacked hard against the surface of the wall. Pain shot through my back, but I could still move. I scrambled to my feet and tried to make a run for it.

“I don’t think so,” he said, stopping me in my tracks. It was false hope to think I could escape so easily.

He walked casually up to my immovable form and tipped me over like a sleeping cow, letting me fall flat against the linoleum floor. It knocked the wind out of me. I couldn’t breathe.

“Is it true?”

Where was everyone? How was this entire place empty? I pleaded desperately for someone to appear as Ryder straddled his legs over me, sitting on my stomach. What little breathing power I’d managed to regain from the fall was diminished by the weight of his body.
Please someone
, I thought silently,
come into the hallway.

As if he had read my mind, the Human Evasion professor opened the door to his classroom. He poked his tiny blond head out, and looked directly at me. I could see the shock in his face, and tried with all my might to speak with my eyes—
save me
, but after one look at Ryder, he shut the door, and the lock snapped behind him.

Keeping me restrained beneath his body, Ryder released me from his hold. As soon as I could move, I struggled, but that was all I could do. I opened my mouth and tried to scream, but somehow he still had control of my ability to speak, and nothing came out. I threw myself around violently, trying to wriggle my way from under him. I should have expected the thick fist to knock my head sideways, but the blow was quick and hard. I didn’t see it coming, and the side of my face smacked against the floor.

“Now stop that,” he said, as though talking to a child. “I asked you a question. Is it true? Do we have a little prophecy princess on our hands?”

I stared straight at him, trying to mask my fear with hate. He didn’t really expect me to answer that did he? I opened my mouth to see if I could scream, “Hel—”

His heavy hand came down over my jaw before I could finish the word, and yet again, I found myself frozen still.

“You know, I did a little research,” he said, as if talking to himself. His full weight continued to crush me as he leaned over and looked into my eyes. “I couldn’t find another healer. Turns out
you
are the only one. I never actually believed the prophecy, but . . .” he shrugged his heavy shoulders up and down casually, “maybe I was wrong. Problem is I’ve never actually seen you heal anyone. I wanted to see for myself.” His smile was frightening, and I knew if I was physically able, I would be shaking.

I flinched internally at the sound of his switchblade. He let it glisten in front of me before he touched the metal to my right cheek, and slid the sharp edge of his knife across my face. My body remained still, but I was thrashing inside, screaming, pleading.

I felt both tears and blood drip down the surface of my skin and could only watch as he wrapped his own hand around the blade, gripping it tight enough to cut his palm. Then with unnecessary force, he slapped his bloody open fist to my cheek, taking pleasure in half suffocating me with his fingers.

When the cuts healed, Ryder laughed to himself wearing an evil grin. “And here I thought the Nickels were trying to pull one over on us, but you’re the real deal, sweetheart.”

I felt the air fill my lungs to capacity as he stood and began to walk in circles around me.

“I’m really resisting the urge to kill you right now,” he said with a sneer, “but I know Christoph has plans for you and your little human friends. You may think you’re safe, but it’s only a matter of time before you get what’s coming. He has his reasons for keeping you alive until he gets what he wants. And when he’s done with you . . .” He turned my head with his foot and stared down at me with bloodlust in his eyes. “You’re mine.”

The tip of his boot smacked against my ribcage, rolling me onto my belly and leaving my face smashed against the floor.

“In the meantime, don’t cross me. I can find ways to get to you. Accidents do happen.”

He left me there, belly down on the scuffed and dirty tile as he walked away, his boots clicking, whistling a cheery tune. Even after I could move, I lay there quietly sobbing to myself over more than just the physical pain. The fear, the looming uncertainty of the future, the consequences of my actions, my existence, all of it poured out of me in the form of uncontrollable tears.

When I finally pulled myself together and gained full control of my body, I made my way to the bathroom. I couldn’t let William see me like this. Both Ryder’s blood and my own were smeared all over the right side of my face, and in the dim florescent light, it looked like the scene of a horror movie. I turned on the cold water and rinsed my skin clean, avoiding looking myself in the eye. I knew it would only make me cry.
Be stronger
, I told myself.
Don’t let him win. Don’t let him tear you down
.

Once the blood was off of my hands and face, I rinsed it out of my hair. I used the hand dryer to dry the wet strands and combed the front part over my cheeks, trying to hide the fresh pink skin that was flushed and new.

“I know,” I heard William exclaim with excitement as I made my way through the parking garage. Sam and Nics were leaning up against William’s Honda as he talked exuberantly with his hands. “I’ve never made two people fall in love with each other before.”

“Who says you did?” Nics said with a guilty grin.

“I do,” William answered. “Come on, Sam. Are you going to let her deny it?”

“No way.” He shook his head. “I’m staying out of this.”

William threw his hands in the air. “You do realize there were about thirty witnesses, don’t you?”

“I’m telling you, it didn’t work,” Nics insisted.

“All right. Let’s try it again then.”

“No,” Sam and Nics responded in unison.

“He did manage to keep you from fighting,” I said, trying to put on a happy face. William slid his arm around my waist, and I jerked as his hand grazed my bruised ribs. “That’s got to count for something.”

The four of us agreed to meet at Cearno’s where the plan was to have Rachel and Paul weigh in.

“You okay?” William asked once we were in the car.

I flipped down the sun visor and looked in the mirror for blood on my face. “Yeah, why?”

He looked at me suspiciously. “Just wondering. What did Ms. Stanzic have to say? What did you need to ask her anyway?”

“Oh,” I stammered, not ready for the question. I thought about making something up, but maybe this was the perfect time to broach the subject. “Since the Evasion test, I’ve been thinking about healing a lot, and I just wanted to talk to her about what would happen if I were ever forced to heal a human.”

William’s eyes went immediately serious. “You can’t.” His voice spiked. “You know they’d kill you.”

“Well, technically I’m flagged,” I began to argue.

“Even so, and they’d just kill the human afterwards.”

“What if The Council didn’t know?” My voice was quiet, hopeful.

“I can’t even believe you’re thinking about this. Are you nuts? You are. You’re nuts—”

“You don’t know what it was like,” I interrupted. “I could have healed that little girl.”

“They would have killed her anyway.”

“Yeah, well what if Anna or Chloe needed help? What then? Would you just expect me to sit back and do nothing?”

He stayed focused on the road, unable to answer my question. Neither of us spoke, and it felt like an eternity of silence.

“Do they?” William asked without looking at me. “Need help?”

“I said
what if
,” I answered, hoping to protect him from my burden. “I’m just having a hard time with this, okay?” I couldn’t ask him to help me. Not only would it put him at risk with The Council, but it could backfire. What if he tried to stop me or got in my way, thinking he had to protect me? I felt so hopeless.

“All right,” he accepted as he reached for my hand.

I let my head lean back against the seat and watched the city pass through the window of the car, wanting the conversation to be over.

“So, what do you think?” William asked, changing the subject. “Did I make Sam and Nics fall in love or what?”

I smiled through my worry, thanking him for letting it go. “Definitely.”

“It’s a pretty hard skill to develop,” he said proudly.

“You might have had some help, though. I think they are secretly in love already.”

He nodded in agreement. “I was afraid of that.”

Talking to him pushed everything out of my mind, even thoughts of Ryder. The pain in my ribs didn’t seem as bad when we were laughing, and he looked so happy it rubbed off on me.
We
were so happy. The thought of it ending made my throat sting.

“Elyse.” He looked at me genuinely once he’d parked the car in front of Cearno’s. “I love you,” he said. “You know, I’ve been waiting for you my whole life.” His eyes softened as he looked at me. “I don’t know, sometimes I feel like every moment before you was wasted. Now that you’re here, even though things seem bad, and we have the prophecy hanging over our heads, at least we have each other.” He pressed our warm palms tighter together.

The tears that I had been hoping to save for when I was alone started before I’d given them the go ahead. Part of me was happy to hear him speak of me as I often thought of him, but another part knew it was exactly what I shouldn’t hear.

“Why are you crying?” he asked, his face visibly feeling my pain.

Any other time I would have felt so elated by his words, but instead they tore at my heart. Why now? Why when I faced such sacrifice did he have to unload his feelings on me in such a way that made me need him? Everything seemed so uncertain, so unfair, all but one thing. We were destined, fated, meant to be.

“I feel the same way,” I said quietly.

He mistook my tears for happiness and kissed my cheeks with a smile as they rolled down my face. Having him close felt good, like comfort and home, but each gentle kiss reminded me of what I’d be losing if I healed Anna. His lips moved to my mouth, still wet with tears. I gave into it, though I knew it would mean more pain later. I couldn’t face the cold truth in this moment. It was too hard to bear.

With the remnants of William’s kiss fresh in my mind, I was desperate for a solution, one that didn’t put anyone at risk or require I give up my life. There had to be another answer—chemotherapy, alternative medicine, another opinion, something. I needed a miracle.

23.

“JUST SPEND THANKSGIVING with us, Elyse. You are being ridiculous,” William groaned. “It isn’t safe.”

I sighed and threw myself onto the couch. “William, I want to see her. She invited me. What, should I just say no I don’t want to?”

“Yes,” he answered easily.

“She’s my best friend. I
do
want to see her.”

“It’s not about that. It’s dangerous. You saw what happened to Sam, and Ryder wasn’t exactly easy on you either.”

I hadn’t told William about the hallway incident, or the fact that The Council officially knew I was the one who was supposed to fulfill the prophecy, and I was glad I didn’t. I couldn’t imagine what sort of a fight he would put up if he knew.

“Well, if not now, when?” I pleaded my case as he paced around my living room. “We’re both flagged.”

“Elyse, that doesn’t make you invincible. What about the Evasion test? You almost died. Clearly the man has ways of getting to you.”

“I already talked to Kara. Ryder is at a bar every Thanksgiving. He’ll be passed out.”

He gripped the back of his neck, trying to control his anger. “You don’t know that for sure.”

“It’s worth the risk to me.” I looked up at him from my spot on the couch, willing him to understand.

“Well, it’s not to me. At least let me come with you.”

I shook my head, giving myself time to come up with an excuse. What was I supposed to say? He couldn’t see her sick. “No. I don’t want to get you involved. Besides, you should be with your own family.”

He combed his fingers through his hair. “You’re being unreasonable.”

“Don’t worry. It’ll be fine.”

“Don’t tell me not to worry,” he said exasperated. “I’m the one who had to watch you nearly beaten to death, who thought I might not make it in time when you were bleeding out on that street corner. How can I not worry?”

“Well, you can’t tell me I can never see her again. I won’t accept that.”

He sat down next to me, taking my hands in his. “I’m not saying that,” he said in a soft voice. “I’m just saying you should wait a while, and go when . . .”

“When, William?”

His brow wrinkled with worry. “I don’t know.”

“I’m not going to just push her out of my life. She’s my only family.”

He stood, walking toward the window, purposely avoiding eye contact.

“What if it’s for the best?” He turned back to look at me.

I couldn’t believe he said that. “I’m going,” I said with force.

“Fine,” he said through tight lips, and he walked out my front door, slamming it behind him.

***

I proceeded hesitantly, unsure of my decision to come, but as soon as I saw Chloe’s face light up, I knew I’d made the right choice. The smell of a baking turkey spilled out of the house as she opened the door.

“Chlo bug,” I beamed, as she threw her arms around me.

“Finally,” she joked. “I’ve been waiting all day.”

“Well, are you going to invite her in?” Anna laughed from the living room. I hadn’t noticed until she spoke that she was lying in a bed made up on the couch.

My attention moved immediately to her as I walked through the door. “How are you? Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” she lied. “Chloe here won’t let me do anything. I’m on strict orders from her not to leave this spot.”

They looked at each other with endearing smiles, Chloe happy to be helping make her mother’s life a little easier, and Anna appreciative.

“You better start peeling those potatoes,” Anna said, giving directions from the couch. “When you’re done with that, come back and I’ll tell you what’s next.”

“Okay,” she said with excitement before darting off to the kitchen.

As soon as Chloe was out of earshot, I looked at Anna. “So how are you really?” I asked, sitting at her feet.

Her eyes fell, revealing the truth. Her cheery disposition was all an act. I let her be silent for a while, to take a break from having to be or say anything that wasn’t genuine.

“You know, the illness, the pain, it’s hard. I’m not going to lie, but the worst part . . .” She sighed, leaning closer to me. “It’s her.”

She glanced at the swinging door to the kitchen, eyes welling with tears that she was determined to hold back. Guilt pummeled me from every angle, like I was losing a boxing match. I rested my hand on her shin, but I was sure the feeling gave me more comfort than it did her.

“She’s only fourteen,” Anna continued with heartache. “It’s just such a burden on her. I mean she’s making Thanksgiving dinner, and she’s just a kid.”

“It’s okay,” I tried consoling her. “The burden would be much heavier without her mother—”

“It’s not okay,” she cut me off bitterly. “I just wish it would happen already so she could move in with my sister and be a kid again.”

“What?” I whispered with an edge to my voice. “Anna, don’t talk like that.”

“I’m sorry, it’s . . .”

“No,” I said forcefully. “I told you. I’m going to heal you. It will be soon it’s just . . . I mean, I need more time.” Seeing her erased all doubts in my mind about my decision to heal her. If I had to give up my life, I would, but if I had a little more time, maybe I could still find another way. I hesitated too long, and she saw right through me.

“What will happen if you heal me, Elyse?”

I looked down at her thin frame beneath the blanket. “How much time do I have?” I asked, avoiding her question.

She ignored me. “If you won’t tell me, I don’t want you to do it.”

“Well, I can’t tell you.”

She closed her eyes, losing hope. “Why?”

“Because you’ll try and talk me out of it.”

“You’re probably right, and if that’s the case, then don’t do it.”

She was so stubborn. I didn’t bother fighting back.

She sighed, lying back down. “I’m so tired.”

“So rest,” I said getting up, stretching her legs out for her. It was my decision to make anyway, not hers. “I’ll go help Chloe.”

She didn’t argue, and as she closed her eyes, I was glad I was there to give her a little reprieve. After all, she was suffering while I took my time coming to terms with the situation. It was hard to see her in so much pain, and I would have done it right then and there if it weren’t for William. I owed it to him to say goodbye, and more than anything, I was scared.

“Hi,” I said walking into the kitchen. Seeing Chloe was always a little jarring for me. She looked so much like the younger Anna I remembered. “Can I help?”

She smiled. “Sure.”

I grabbed a knife and began to peel potatoes, watching her from the corner of my eye. There was so much of her mother in every move she made. I had always felt love for her, but now something deeper compelled me to protect her as if she were my own.

“So, what are you this year, a freshman?” I asked.

“Sophomore,” she answered. “You know that.”

“Yeah,” I admitted. “I still don’t believe it though.”

“Three more years,” she said with a mischievous smile. She had to remind me every time I saw her, confronting me with how close we seemed in age. It was strange. She seemed so young, so impressionable.

“Four more years,” I corrected, “and don’t think that means you don’t have to listen to me. I’m twice as old as your mom. Remember that.”

“Yeah, yeah,” she teased.

I shoved her with my shoulder as she picked up a knife and started peeling beside me.

“So, give me the latest gossip. How’s school going?”

Her eyes stayed down. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Why?” I asked, picking up on her discomfort.

She shook her head. “There are these girls.”

“What girls? What are they doing?”

“You know, locking me in the bathroom, sticking gum in my hair, pretty much making school my own personal hell.”

I put down the knife, angry at the thought of such cruelty. Didn’t they know her mother was dying? “How long?”

She still hadn’t looked at me, and I could tell she was embarrassed. “Since last year,” she mumbled.

“Does your mom know?”

“No. I haven’t told her.” Her eyes snapped up, intent and serious. “And I don’t want you to tell her either.”

I sighed, struggling with the decision to keep this from Anna, but Chloe’s expression was desperate. “All right,” I agreed.

“Is she feeling okay?” she asked nervously. “I know she acts better than she feels with me.”

I turned to put the freshly peeled potatoes in the boiling water, trying to avoid eye contact. The question had sort of blindsided me, and I wasn’t sure how to answer.

“Yeah, she’s fine,” I tried to say as casually as possible.

“Do you think I should go check on her?”

“No, let her rest,” I said with my back still turned. “Don’t wake her.”

“All right.” I could hear the stress in her voice as she opened the oven to baste the turkey.

I tried to compose myself, but hearing her worry and fret over her mother’s condition tore me apart. I knew what it was like to lose a mother. It wasn’t fair, not this young, and I wouldn’t let it happen to her. I had to give her some peace of mind, tell her that it would all be all right.

“Chloe,” I said softly.

“Yeah,” she turned to look at me, her eyes heavy with sorrow.

“Your mom is going to be fine. She’ll make it through this.”

The words were a promise solidifying my decision, but to her they were nothing but a false consolation. Tears fell silently down her cheeks, although she spoke with a smile.

“No, she won’t.”

“Trust me,” I said, trying to speak more with my eyes than with my words. “I won’t let it happen.”

I could tell by her expression that she knew I was trying to say more than I was, but she didn’t understand. How could she? Over the years, Chloe had learned about my age, but Anna and I had kept the day we healed between us. Without discussing it anymore, we continued to prepare the food, grateful of each other’s company.