Chapter 16

Q&A

As soon as Dad left, all the kids, with two notable exceptions, wanted to talk. The questions came in an endless stream, so much I was overwhelmed by them.

Abigail pulled things under control.

"One at a time," she said. "Elle, go ahead."

"What was the first thing you noticed?" She seemed to vibrate with excitement, appearing stronger than when we first met.

I explained it from the beginning, not holding back anything about my previous condition, making sure they understood what my life had been like before. Abigail even passed around a picture, much to my embarrassment. I told them about the night of the test, about waking up feeling stronger and how I almost totaled my school because I hadn't told my father everything.

"I think the tingling is some kind of transformation sensation," I said. "It seemed like after every round I was stronger. The incidents came closer together, too. Like it was building up. I don't even remember the last one." I grinned, sheepish. "Except coming back to myself to find I was a lot stronger than I was before."

I shook off the image of Mr. Tait's chair and the tree.

"How long did it take to be over?" Philip asked.

"A couple of days," I said. "The tingling part stopped in about twenty-four hours. I kept growing after that, but only a little."

"How do you feel?" Simone's voice gave me the creeps when she struggled to cough. Abigail went to her and helped her lean over to clear the phlegm from her lungs.

After all the pokes, prods and questions I'd already come through, no one would have blamed me if I was sick of the whole thing, but talking to them was tied into everything I was going through. It was like they were my family or something. A sudden swell of protectiveness washed over me, so I gave it my best shot.

"I feel…" I tried to focus on the answer, actually wondering myself. And was surprised by the answer. "Honestly, aside from the obvious, I don't feel any different." Billy looked skeptical. "Believe it," I said. "Yeah, I'm strong and I can fly and I don't have constant pain anymore. But inside… I feel like I was supposed to be this way all along." I was amazed it was true. I felt like I came home to the life intended for me. I looked up to see Abigail, her eyes shining with tears before she glanced back down at Simone as if to hide it from me.

"I can't wait," Elle said. "It's such a grand adventure. What's it like to fly?" From the wistful way she asked, I wasn't the only one who dreamed of the freedom I'd longed for.

"That's the best part," I grinned at her. "It's so cool, you'll see."

"You mean, you think we'll see." Billy poked a pin in my happy balloon. "We still don't know if this is going to work or not."

"Then, let's find out, shall we?" Dad returned without us noticing.

"Already?" I said. "You mean now?"

A handful of techs filed into the room behind my father, separating off to stand behind each bed. I heard the steady stream of clicks as they kicked free the brakes on the wheels and started moving the kids out.

"No time like the present," Dad said. "The chamber is prepped and ready to go."

Abigail wrung her hands as one of the techs wheeled Simone away from her, looking so lost and fearful, I started feeling it too.

I was so close to telling my father he had to stop when Elle pulled up beside me. She gestured at her tech to wait, reaching out to take my hand, smiling up at me like a beam of sunlight.

"Will you be there? With us? I won't be afraid at all if you are."

I nodded, not able to say anything else. Instead, I walked out with her, still holding her hand.

And that was how I found myself standing on the other side of the glass, Abigail tucked in beside me, as the lab hummed with activity. I watched as each of the kids I only just started to get to know were strapped into their seats and left to their fate. It seemed so unfair, somehow. At least I had been surrounded by big, burly soldiers, had someone to reassure me in the chamber, right next to me. These were six lost and irreparably damaged kids with only hope to keep them going.

Abigail's thoughts mirrored my own. "They look so frail," she whispered. "So afraid. Wyatt, I'm afraid, too."

I slid my arm around her shoulders, amazed at how small she was compared to me now. "It'll all be okay, Ab," I said, even though I had no idea.

She looked up at me with a smile. "Don't fib a fibber," she said. "I used to say it to you all the time, remember? I know how empty it is."

"You were always right, though, weren't you?"

Her smile was real as she jabbed my stomach. "Brat."

"Yup," I said. "That's why you love me."

She sighed. "I just hope you're right."

"Don't worry," Uni said. I didn't know how he managed to sneak up on us, but there he was, standing beside her, smiling his creepy smile. The need to protect her took over and I just resisted the irrational urge to block her from his view. "We know what we are doing. The children are the part of a new, great order, Ms. Franks. You'll see."

Abigail wasn't sure how to take him. Her smile fluttered to a frown then settled on blank friendliness, the expression she used for strangers who tried to talk to her.

"And you are?"

I jumped in before Uni could speak. "Dr. Uni Murd. Works for Dad."

Uni's eyes flickered to me. Was it annoyance I saw? Abigail, meanwhile, regained her poise.

"I have faith in Dr. Simons," she said.

Uni's own smile faded before returning, stronger than ever. "As you should. And his wonderful boy, here." Uni turned to me. "I knew you had greatness in you, Wyatt. I understand it's partly your influence, Ms. Franks."

"He's a good boy," she said.

The last of the techs left the chamber, the glass door hissing as it closed.

"Then have no fear for the others," Uni told her as he turned to go. "Be proud. You're witnessing greatness in the making."

She shuddered against me after he left. "Creepy."

"Really?" I said. "I thought he kind of liked you."

She hit me again, this time harder, then shook her hand.

"That hurt. You are such a brat."

The door hissed shut, my sensitive ears vibrating from the change in air pressure as the glass room was sealed off. I returned my attention to the chamber and the kids awaiting their fate. Elle faced me in the forward chair, raising one hand to wave when she caught me watching. I waved back, giving her a big smile and two thumbs up.

"Begin sequence," Dad droned in the background. "Engage beam in thirty seconds."

"Confirmed," Uni's voice said. "In thirty. Twenty-nine. Twenty-eight…"

"Countdown begun," Dad said. "Commence compression."

I felt the buildup even from outside the chamber. Abigail rubbed her arms and whispered, "Goosebumps."

I nodded and turned back, ignoring the guard who passed Abigail a pair of goggles. No surprise he didn't offer me any. I didn't need them. My gaze stayed locked on Elle and she met my eyes.

"And in five," my father took over the countdown, "four, three, two, one. Engage."

As the flash of light engulfed the chamber and the helpless kids inside, I found myself committing to the hope they would be like me. I was tired of being alone. And the thought I was just a fluke after all, a mistake, was more than I could take.

***