Loss, misery and shock warred in Mr. Black's heart. The night of his wife's death played through his mind in Technicolor....
***
"Do you want the cheap wine, or the cheap beer?" Laura's smile lit up the run-down convenience store. She held up the choices and posed with each like a magazine model—and her beauty rivaled any model ever to grace those glossy covers.
Mr. Black wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her to him. Her lips tasted of mint gum. He kissed her deeply without shame or modesty.
Laura put the alcohol back on the shelves. "Guess we don't need libations to celebrate, do we? I think this new job of yours will be just what we need to cover Sarah's medical expenses. I can quit my job and stay home with her. Things are finally looking up."
Sadness filled her bloodshot eyes. The dark circles spoke of the many sleepless nights she'd stayed awake with their daughter while he worked graveyard.
The curves of her body, the soft honey-colored hair flowing down her back, her womanly scent—all distracted him from the two teenage boys who entered the store.
He didn't see their guns until they pointed one at the cash register and one at his wife.
He didn't react in time to save her. The gun thundered and his wife fell dead at his feet.
***
...The Seeker's hand on his arm startled him out of his thoughts.
"I am sorry. I had no idea."
"You were in my mind?" The violation rankled Mr. Black, but he forced himself to feign a calmness he didn't feel.
"You projected that memory so forcefully, I had little choice in the matter. I understand better why you reacted the way you did today with the boy, but I do not approve of killing these children. I have plans for them that your puny, normal mind cannot comprehend."
Pain shot through Mr. Black's head. He moaned and fell to his knees. Tears streamed down his face.
"This is only a sample of what I could do to you if I so chose. Get control of these children, without death or permanent injury, or you will spend the rest of your life so miserable you will wish you were dead. Are we clear?"
The pressure eased as fast as it had started. Only a low-grade headache remained, but Mr. Black ignored it and got back into his seat.
He seethed internally but kept his voice level and calm. "Yes, we are clear. If I can do this... if I can keep the kids in line, without killing any of them—"
"Or permanently damaging them."
"Right, or that. Will you help me with something?"
"If I can. What is it you seek?"
A dash of hope. A seed of luck.
"A miracle."
Chapter 46 – Lucy
The silver sphere glowed brighter each day. Lucy pressed it to her chest as she sang along with the music playing gently through her earphones. She hid the sphere in her pocket when Luke knocked and walked through her locked door.
She sent a pillow flying in his direction. "Dude, privacy."
Normally, Luke enjoyed a good pillow fight, but he let this one fall to his feet. He frowned. "We're being summoned. The guards are here to take us to our 'assignment.' They're in the living room, waiting."
"What? We're supposed to have the rest of the week. They said Sunday, and it's only Wednesday."
"What can I say? They're here now. Time to go." He then used sign language—something they hadn't done since they were kids—to tell her they needed to get away and activate the Freedom Fighters' escape plan.
She nodded and grabbed her jacket and backpack.
Before they left the dorm, Luke and Lucy turned on the two men escorting them.
With a front snap kick, Lucy disarmed one guard and planted her foot into his face with a side kick. He fell to the floor just as Luke finished off the other guard.
They picked up the guns, dragged the bodies to a utility closet and locked them inside.
Their actions synched perfectly after years of training together. Luke smiled and dusted off his hands. "You haven't lost it. Good job, Sis."
Lucy massaged kinks out of her wrists. "We need to get Gary and the gang for the first phase of the plan."
While the mandatory dorm time sucked, it did make it easy to find people. They split up, gathered the team, and regrouped in the meeting room.
Greg closed his eyes for a moment, then nodded and opened them. "We're clear. All systems are looped so that they can't see us." He reached for Gary's hand. "Be careful. Don't do anything stupid."
They hugged, and Lucy thought again about how many people would be hurt or killed, no matter how well their plan went. Her shoulders slumped. The responsibility of leading such a team weighed heavily on her.
Mary cleared her throat. "This is all very touching, but can we please go? I was in the middle of painting my toes and now they're all smudged."