"But I'm not a prophet. I control people's minds. There's a big difference."
"You were born to be who you are, my boy. Every gift has a dark and light side. It's a tool. The morality or immorality isn't inherent in the tool, it's in how you choose to wield it."
"So what do I do? How do I help her? When we were escaping the center... something happened. A woman who was helping us died. Sam wouldn't leave her, but we had to get out of there. Sam had been shot and was in shock. I didn't have time to think, I just acted... and I controlled her to get her to the car. I don't think she's forgiven me, even though she says she has. Was it wrong to do that?"
"Only you know if what you did was right or wrong. As for Sam, it's a very hard thing to lose control like that. Try to see it from her perspective. Don't give up, Drake. And know that I'm always here if ever you need me."
The priest pulled a rosary out of his desk and handed it to Drake. "Take this. I know you don't use it in the way I might suggest to others, but let it be a symbol of the love I hold for you, the son I never had."
Tears filled Drake's eyes as he reached for the gift. Precious gems of emerald, ruby and sapphire alternated to create a beautiful pattern that led to a silver crucifix, with the anguished Jesus hanging from a cross. Drake always wondered why Catholics focused on the torture and pain of the crucifixion, while Protestants focused on the empty cross of the resurrection. Father Patrick had explained once. 'The crucifixion is a reminder to us of the Lord's sacrifice. For while others focus on the redemptive nature of humanity, we choose to focus on the redeemer Himself, so that His sacrifice is never in vain.'
The priest handed him a tissue. Drake wiped his eyes and put the rosary in his pocket. "Thank you, Father. It means more than you know."
"Come, I will walk you to your car, and you can tell me more about Sam."
They took the long way, walking around the pristine church grounds, strolling between rows of colorful flowers and lush trees sprinkled with angelic sculptures that looked as if they played hide 'n seek. Drake had said more than he intended. The old priest always did have a way of getting him to open up.
Father Patrick turned to him when they arrived at the car. "What do you plan to do now?"
"I don't know. Wait until Sam gets better, then figure out the next step. Her friends are still trapped there. We need to figure out a way to get them out."
"And what will you do with so many children and teens if you do free them? Where will they go? With whom will they live?"
"Honestly, we haven't thought that far ahead. We've kind of been reacting more than planning so far."
"Do you have a few more minutes? I'd like to show you something."
Drake nodded and followed Father Patrick back into his office.
He moved aside a picture of the crucifix and revealed a safe. "I had a sense, some time back, that we would need this, though I didn't know why or when." Father Patrick pulled out a thick envelope and handed it to Drake.
"What's this?"
"Open it and see."
Drake sifted through the papers: A deed to 100 acres of land in Washington, and the blueprints for what looked like a mansion.
Drake sat, stunned. "What is this?"
"It's for the children you rescue, a place for new beginnings. It can be anything you want, including a live-in school for your paranormal friends."
"This is incredible. How did you—?" Drake looked at the man who had practically raised him. "You seem awfully prepared for something you knew nothing about until a few minutes ago."
The priest's blue eyes sparkled with mischief. "What can I say? I was a Boy Scout."
"Right... and it has nothing to do with how you always seem to know things you shouldn't?"
"My boy, I have no idea what you're talking about."
"I should introduce you to Sam. She's good at reading people."
The priest laughed and hugged him. "I'd love to meet her. I have nothing to hide from your mind-reading girlfriend."
"Thank you, Father. You've given me hope when I was ready to give up."
"Never give up, Son. There is always reason to hope."
Goodbyes were hard, but Drake needed to go someplace and think. He needed to process all this new information and figure out what it would mean for him and Sam.
He was pulling into a parking spot at the beach before it occurred to him that he'd never told the old priest what para-power Sam had. So how'd he know she could read minds?
Chapter 28 – Drake
Drake inhaled the cool, salty beach air and sank his toes into the warm sand. The crashing waves of the Pacific Ocean always calmed his mind, but not this time. He dropped his shoes onto the sand and rolled his cargo pants up past his calves, so he could feel the sharp bite of the cold water over his feet.