The Hunt: The Oakmont Saga, Book 2

The rest of that day was spent waiting. We were waiting on Gabriel to return with the tickets, waiting for time to leave, and waiting for the coming battle. We knew a battle was coming, we just didn’t know when.

I was beginning to think that we needed to set the terms of the battle, somehow. My biggest worry was that we wouldn’t be able to and we’d be destroyed when it happened. I didn’t think we’d be as lucky as the last time, if that was considered lucky. At least I survived it and Aliyah had become free.

I needed to return to reality though, so I shook that off and looked at Aliyah. Sometime during my musing, Gabe had returned and I hadn’t even noticed. I realized it was possible that I’d actually fallen asleep. “We leave at 11:30 tonight,” she said.

“What are we going to do about dinner?” I asked.

“It’s coming,” she replied. I looked at her curious, but she didn’t say anything else.

“Aliyah, is there any way we can get a letter delivered to the Ramirez’s? They helped me a lot and I left without even saying goodbye.”

“Gabe would be the one to ask,” she replied.

Looking over at him, he nodded, “I think we can get a letter to them. Get it written and I’ll give it to Raphe. He’ll make sure it gets delivered,” he told me. I very slowly went to a back room and wrote a letter to the Ramirez’s.

Alex & Diego,

Thank you for being so kind to me and letting me stay with your family. It was not my intention to leave when I did, but I didn’t have a choice. I hope and pray you are well and safe. Please tell Emilia bye for me. Thank you for everything and God bless you.

M

I looked at it and reread it several times. I had deliberately left it a little vague, just in case, but I was still worried. The problem was, if I made it any more vague they might not understand it. I finally decided there was nothing else I could do, so I folded the letter and slipped it into the envelope, then sealed it. I then wrote their names on it and held it for a moment, wishing things could have been different. They were good people, and I was afraid that they were going to get in a lot of trouble for helping me. There was nothing I could do about it though, so I stood up and walked out of the room.

Carefully, I walked into the den and handed it to Gabe. By that point, I was a little sore and sat down. Gabe and Aliyah were watching something on TV, so I sat beside Gabe to watch with them. I had no idea when it happened, but I went to sleep. I was being shaken awake later by Aliyah and my head was propped on Gabe’s shoulder.

“Mel, it’s time to go,” she said.

“Okay,” I replied, with a big yawn and a stretch that I immediately regretted. Besides hurting me pretty badly, I was pretty sure my head had dug into Gabe’s shoulder. He didn’t make a sound, though.

Very slowly, I got up with Gabe gently pushing me up. Aliyah also helped, by holding my arms and lifting. We went into the kitchen hoping to get some kind of snack, since we never actually ate supper. I was pretty sure that was my fault.

On the kitchen table were several plastic bags containing Chinese takeout. We all dug in and ate almost all of it, with Raphe taking his share as well. I was glad I finally knew his name, rather than just thinking of him as the guy that had been driving us around and carrying me places.

When we were done, we all brushed our teeth. Our parents would have been proud, at least those of us who had parents. I had no idea about Gabe’s parents, or Raphe’s for that matter.

I was about to get my pack, but then I remembered that I didn’t have one anymore. Mine was at the Ramirez’s house. “We’ll get you new stuff as soon as we can,” Aliyah promised, seeming to understand what had gone through my mind. It was getting kind of scary, how we knew what the other was thinking, or it might have been more that she knew what I was thinking.

Raphe carried me to the van and once everyone was settled in, he took off. It wasn’t very long before we saw the bus station ahead, but he stopped short and pulled against the curb.

“I like you kids,” he began.

“We like you too,” Aliyah said, looking a little worried.

“I will take you where you need to go. Do not take the bus. I heard what you said and it is too dangerous.”

“Raphe, we’re too dangerous for you to be around any longer. If they find out you know about us, they’ll kill you,” Aliyah told him.

“It is no more dangerous than what I do everyday. I might be safer with you and I will be doing something good instead of the bad things I do.”

“With what you do today, you can choose to leave, like you’re doing now. If you go with us, you’ll never be able to leave. Not once they find out,” Aliyah argued.

“I will take that chance. You are good kids and I want to help,” he replied, rather firmly.

After a long pause, in which Aliyah couldn’t come up with anything else, she finally said, “Thank you.”

With the end of that argument, Raphe pulled out and drove on past the bus station. “Where did you leave your pack?”

“At the Ramirez’s house, but I don’t know where that is,” I replied.

“Tell me their names,” he said.

“Diego and Alex. Her name is actually Alejandra, but she goes by Alex.”

“There are probably many of them. Can you tell me something about them that might be different about them.”

“She’s a teacher at the school I was at, but I don’t know its name, and he’s an EMT.”

“An EMT? That might make it easier.”

He pulled out a cell phone and dialed a number. “Yo, what’s up. I need some help. I’m looking for some friends of a little girl I’m helping. His name is Diego Ramirez and he’s an EMT and his wife is Alejandra and she is a teacher at that Catholic school you found the girl at.” He waited for a few minutes before there was any change. “You found them? That was fast. Send me the information. Thanks, man,” he said and hung up. A moment later, there was a sound from his phone and he looked at it.

He thrust the phone to me, so I could see the screen.

Diego Ramirez

74563 Rebecca Dr.

St. Charles, MO 63301

“I have them,” he said and pressed the face of the phone. He then handed it to me.

“Hello?” I heard, almost as soon as I put it to my ear. Alex sounded like she had been asleep.

“I’m sorry to call so late, but I was hoping I could come get my backpack,” I told her.

“Melanie. Dear sweet Jesus. We have been so worried about you, and it’s not very late,” she said.

“Alex, I can’t come back. They found me, but I kind of need my stuff.”

“Absolutely. I’ll get everyone ready so we can say goodbye.”

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

“Nonsense. Emilia was upset that she did not say goodbye to you,” she replied.

“Okay,” I said, unable to resist anymore.

“Raphe, how long will it take us to get there,” I asked him.

“Maybe 20 minutes,” he replied.

“We should be there in about 20 minutes,” I relayed to Alex. “Thank you,” I said after a pause and hung up.

When we arrived, every light in the house was on, but then I looked at a clock and saw that it really wasn’t that late. I slowly walked up to the front door and knocked, having had to argue to keep Raphe from carrying me there. Aliyah and the kids came with me, though, so I wasn’t alone. Aliyah gave me support as we walked. I didn’t wait more than a couple seconds before they answered.

“Melanie!” Alex, Diego and Emilia all said loudly and at once. All three of them rushed me and hugged me. I’d only been with them a day or two, yet they had accepted me as part of their family. It touched me so deeply, I couldn’t stop tears from coming out. I melted in their embrace, ignoring the slight pain from it.

When we finally parted, Diego got a serious look. “You were bleeding pretty bad when you left. How are you?”

“She’s good now. A doctor glued her up,” Aliyah told him.

“This is Aliyah, my sister, cousin and best friend. Aliyah, this is Diego, Alex and Emilia. I’m guessing the boys are in bed?” I kind of asked with the last part.

“Yes. It’s their bedtime and they didn’t really know you yet,” Alex replied.

“Who are these two?” Alex asked, referring to the kids.

“This is Ben, my brother and Eliana, Aliyah’s sister,” I replied. Emilia looked a little confused, but she didn’t ask.

“Who is this other young man?” Diego asked. I hadn’t noticed Gabe come up behind us.

“This is Gabriel. We met him in New Orleans, and he’s been helping us,” I replied.

“It is nice to meet all of you,” Diego said, inclining his head.

“Melanie, here is your pack. All of your clothes are clean,” Alex told me.

“Thank you,” I replied. Before I could take it, Gabe grabbed it. He proffered a slight smile directed at me, when I looked at him.

“When all of this finally settles down, please let us know that you are alright,” she said.

“I will, if I can,” I told her, although I wasn’t sure if I’d survive it all. “Thank you for everything,” I said, threatening to start crying again.

“It was our pleasure. You are a wonderful young lady and we’d be happy to have you again,” she said.

“Now, you go before they find you,” Diego said.

I reluctantly left, looking behind me a couple of times before loading back into the van. I felt like this had been my shot at a somewhat normal life, but I knew it had only been an illusion. My life had too many problems to escape for long. Even my island dream was only that...a dream.

“Where are we going?” Raphe asked.

“Whitefish Montana,” Aliyah replied, as I was beginning to doze off again. They had given me the back of the van all to myself, with a healthy collection of pillows and blankets.

The next time I woke up, we were stopping. Using my elbows to lift myself up, I looked toward the front and saw daylight.

“Where are we?” I asked.

“We are past Rapid City, South Dakota. A town called Piedmont,” Raphe replied. I had no idea where in South Dakota that was, but it sounded like a long way.

“It’s breakfast time and Raphe needs to rest. He’s been driving all night,” Aliyah told me. I nodded, not only agreeing, but not able to think of anything worthwhile to say. I was still somewhat groggy and my mind was still mixed up from recent events.

Raphe pulled off the highway and into a gas station. After he filled the gas tank, he walked inside, probably to pay for the gas. When he returned, he had a bag in his hands and began passing out snacks and drinks.

I didn’t notice anything anyone got, because I was shaking and totally focused on the orange soda he had in his hands. I started trying to climb over the seat to get at it, unable to stop myself. I was a wild animal.

“You like what I have,” he said, a small smile playing on his face. It didn’t take him long to realize there was more to my actions than simple desire for something he had. By that time, Aliyah was trying her best to hold me and also tickle my mind. Her efforts weren’t working, though.

“Gabe!” she almost screamed. Gabe had been asleep, and woke with a start.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, seeing me trying to climb toward Raphe.

“She’s trying to get the orange soda. We have to stop her,” Aliyah exclaimed. Gabe looked confused, but added his strength to her efforts. Using my mind, I pushed them all away and took the drink from Raphe, taking uncontrolled gulps of it, letting it spill down my chin as I did. It didn’t do what my messed up mind had wanted, though, and I threw it out the thankfully open side door. By the time I released them, both of them were breathing hard and I was crying like a baby.

“What was that all about?” Raphe asked, as Gabe and Aliyah were working to calm me down. He was looking at me like I was crazy, which I suppose was true. I was out of energy, but was still shaking, like an insane person, and my stomach was hurting too.

“When she was at Oakmont, they gave her some very addictive drugs that she thinks look like orange soda,” Aliyah explained.

“I have used and sold most things, and I have never seen a junkie act like that,” he replied. As Aliyah turned her attention to Raphe, Gabe also listening to her explanation, I withdrew into the back corner and curled up, sobbing and shaking.

Gabe, seeing my retreat, started to come over to me, but I tried to curl up tighter and move away from him. I didn’t want him close to me right then. I was too messed up and I was ashamed of who and what I was. He obviously noticed and sat back, just looking at me. The look on his face was like an accusation to me, calling me what I knew I was...a screwed up waste of a person.

“Can you get me heroin and cocaine,” I asked him, looking at him with an intensity in my eyes even I could feel. He just stared at me for a while, unable to seem to say anything.

“You do not want that junk,” Raphe said, before Gabe could come up with anything to say.

“Yes, I do!” I yelled, tears forming in my eyes again. I was unable to stop them.

He looked at Aliyah and asked, “What did you say they gave her?”

She thought about it for a minute. “It was a mix of cocaine, heroin and I don’t remember the other one,” she finally said.

“Sodium amytal,” I finished for her.

“I am no chemist, but I know a little about drugs. Those three things are very bad together,” Raphe said, giving a small whistle along with his response.

“I don’t care,” I said, getting a little heated in my reply.

“How old were you when they gave this to you?” Raphe asked.

“She was eleven,” Aliyah replied for me, irritating me a little.

“How long did she take it?” he then asked.

“If she got it the whole time they had her, maybe a week,” she said.

“I can answer for myself,” I snapped at her. The look of shock on her face instantly stopped me for a moment. I knew I was being mean, but I couldn’t help myself.

“Do you even know how to use heroin or cocaine?” Raphe asked.

“No, but I can figure it out,” I replied, still with attitude in my voice.

“You will kill yourself,” he said.

“Then my nightmare will end,” I threw back.

Before anyone could say anything else, I threw the back door open and jumped out. Gabe scrambling over the stuff in the back, trying to catch up, as was Aliyah.

I went into the store and straight to the restroom, locking the door as soon as I went in. I curled up in the corner of the less than clean bathroom, my head resting on my arms which were on my knees. I heard Aliyah knocking, but I ignored her.

I considered teleporting away, but I knew she’d find me, if she didn’t simply block my ability. No matter what Alex said, or anyone else for that matter, I needed to get away from everyone. Aliyah, and everyone else would be safer without me.

Although I knew Aliyah could take care of herself, I couldn’t abandon Ben and Eliana. Aliyah could probably take better care of them than me, but she might need help.

I suddenly realized that she had stopped knocking. Opening the door, I walked out and saw her looking at a TV. When I saw the screen, my heart almost stopped.

Plastered on the screen was a picture of me and Aliyah, with smaller pictures of Ben and Eliana. Those pictures went off the screen and a picture of Gabe was put up. I couldn’t hear the reporter, but the words that were there were enough.

We were considered to be in danger, and anyone with any information leading to the safe return of us would be rewarded. Thankfully, the store clerk wasn’t looking at the TV, but there were several other people in the store and any one of them could see the pictures.

What was almost as surprising was that the pictures had us in the clothes we were wearing right then. That’s when I looked up and saw the camera in the corner. “We’ve been seen. Raphe, get them out of here and I’ll take care of the people coming to get us,” I said, very quietly.

Aliyah looked like she was going to resist, as Raphe herded the kids to the van. Aliyah and I were left alone in the store. I sent a probe to her, since I wanted to talk to her without anyone hearing. Aliyah, you’ve got to watch the kids. Take care of them and try to find our parents. I’ll try and find you, I told her, strongly believing that I’d likely never see her again, sure she knew that too.

She looked like she was going to try and fight me. “They’re coming and you know it. If one of us stays to distract them, the rest can get away. You’re more stable than me. It only makes sense that you should take care of them. You’re a better leader, anyway,” I verbally argued, before she could try and argue with me.

“We can all get away just as easily. They’re not here yet,” she replied.

“I’m going to cause us to get caught. Maybe it won’t happen this time, but it might the next. I’m too messed up right now, and I can give you a chance to get away. Give me this, please,” I begged her.

Raphe returned, putting my pack on the floor in front of me. “I thought you might need this.” He then picked Aliyah up. She looked at me, as Raphe was taking her out, but she didn’t say anything else, out loud or in my mind.

“Mel, no,” Gabe said, realizing what I was doing. I gave him a very slight smile, as that was all I could manage.

“Take care of Aliyah and the kids for me. Help her do what she needs to do,” I begged him, fairly sure he wouldn’t be able to fight me on that.

He looked like he wanted to, but every time he started to say something, he’d close his mouth back. Finally, Aliyah returned and grabbed his arm, pulling him toward the van. I had a hard time watching them drive off, knowing it might be the last time I saw them.

It wasn’t ten minutes later that a line of black SUVs drove up very fast. I hadn’t made it too far toward the field behind the store as they arrived. I considered a repeat of the other gas station, but I knew there were people inside. I also knew these FBI agents had no idea what they were a part of. They probably thought they were rescuing children.

When the men began climbing out of the SUVs, I sensed that they weren’t all FBI. Some of them were from the program. I smiled a very small and sadistic smile at that. I wanted to hurt them. I knew that was bad of me, but I couldn’t help it.

Before they knew what had happened, I sent a probe to everyone of the people from the program and a small trickle of energy along with it. The ten program people fell to the ground immediately. As I did it, I noticed one of them had shields, although I went through them with ease.

As they fell, all of the FBI people looked surprised and worried. They were looking around, as if they thought someone had shot them or something.

“Melanie Brager, come here, quickly,” a woman with the FBI yelled out to me. It was like she was trying to whisper, while yelling. I turned my back to her and started walking toward a farm and trees a little ways off.

She started running toward me and I simply put up my hand and she ran into an invisible wall, which flashed purple as she hit it. She looked stunned for a moment and then started feeling along it, trying to figure out what it was. I continued walking.

It was a bit of a walk into the trees, and the energy drain keeping the force field up was immense. This was something Aliyah was better suited for.

Finally making it into the trees, I nearly collapsed as I walked behind a small copse. My energy was spent but I knew they wouldn’t stop that easily. I had to keep moving.

It was everything I could do to put one foot in front of the other, and that was all I was able to think about. It seemed like forever before I finally saw a clearing open up in front of me. In the clearing was an old rusted fire engine and a large house with a small playhouse in the yard. I called it a small playhouse, but it was a little more than that. It actually looked like a miniature house, kid sized.

I considered climbing inside the fire engine, but decided that the playhouse might be better, so I forced myself to walk the extra distance past the fire engine and to the playhouse, every step a struggle. Opening the door, I ducked down and went inside, almost passing out as soon as I got in.

I was beginning to think that we needed to set the terms of the battle, somehow. My biggest worry was that we wouldn’t be able to and we’d be destroyed when it happened. I didn’t think we’d be as lucky as the last time, if that was considered lucky. At least I survived it and Aliyah had become free.

I needed to return to reality though, so I shook that off and looked at Aliyah. Sometime during my musing, Gabe had returned and I hadn’t even noticed. I realized it was possible that I’d actually fallen asleep. “We leave at 11:30 tonight,” she said.

“What are we going to do about dinner,” I asked.

“It’s coming,” she replied. I looked at her curious, but she didn’t say anything else.

“Aliyah, is there any way we can get a letter delivered to the Ramirez’s? They helped me a lot and I left without even saying goodbye,” I said.

“Gabe would be the one to ask,” she replied.

Looking over at him, he nodded, “I think we can get a letter to them. Get it written and I’ll give it to Raphe. He’ll make sure it gets delivered,” he told me. I very slowly went to a back room and wrote a letter to the Ramirez’s.

Alex & Diego,

Thank you for being so kind to me and letting me stay with your family. It was not my intention to leave when I did, but I didn’t have a choice. I hope and pray you are well and safe. Please tell Emilia bye for me. Thank you for everything and God bless you.

M

I looked at it and reread it several times. I had deliberately left it a little vague, just in case, but I was still worried. The problem was, if I made it any more vague they might not understand it. I finally decided there was nothing else I could do, so I folded the letter and slipped it into the envelope, then sealed it. I then wrote their names on it and held it for a moment, wishing things could have been different. They were good people, and I was afraid that they were going to get in a lot of trouble for helping me. There was nothing I could do about it though, so I stood up and walked out of the room.

Carefully, I walked into the den and handed it to Gabe. By that point, I was a little sore and sat down. Gabe and Aliyah were watching something on TV, so I sat beside Gabe to watch with them. I had no idea when it happened, but I went to sleep. I was being shaken awake later by Aliyah and my head was propped on Gabe’s shoulder.

“Mel, it’s time to go,” she said.

“Okay,” I replied, with a big yawn and a stretch that I immediately regretted. Besides hurting me pretty badly, I was pretty sure my head had dug into Gabe’s shoulder. He didn’t even make a sound, though.

Very slowly, I got up with Gabe gently pushing me up. Aliyah also helped, by holding my arms and lifting. We went into the kitchen hoping to get some kind of snack, since we never actually ate supper. I was pretty sure that was my fault.

On the kitchen table were several plastic bags containing Chinese takeout. We all dug in and ate almost all of it, with Raphe taking his share as well. I was glad I finally knew his name, rather than just thinking of him as the guy that’d been driving us around and carrying me places.

When we were done, we all brushed our teeth. Our parents would have been proud, at least those of us who had parents. I had no idea about Gabe’s parents, or Raphe’s for that matter.

I was about to get my pack, but then I remembered that I didn’t have one anymore. Mine was at the Ramirez’s house. “We’ll get you new stuff as soon as we can,” Aliyah promised, seeming to understand what had gone through my mind. It was getting kind of scary, how we knew what the other was thinking, or it might have been more that she knew what I was thinking.

Raphe carried me to the van and once everyone was settled in, he took off. It wasn’t very long before we saw the bus station ahead, but he stopped short and pulled against the curb.

“I like you kids,” he began.

“We like you too,” Aliyah said, looking a little worried.

“I will take you where you need to go. Do not take the bus. I heard what you said and it is too dangerous,” he said.

“Raphe, we are too dangerous for you to be around any longer. If they find out you know about us, they’ll kill you,” Aliyah told him.

“It is no more dangerous than what I do everyday. I might be safer with you and I will be doing something good instead of the bad things I do,” he said.

“With what you do today, you can choose to leave, like you’re doing now. If you go with us, you’ll never be able to leave. Not once they find out,” Aliyah argued.

“I will take that chance. You are good kids and I want to help,” he replied, rather firmly.

After a long pause, in which Aliyah couldn’t come up with anything else, she finally said, “Thank you.”

With the end of that argument, Raphe pulled out and drove on past the bus station. “Where did you leave your pack,” he asked.

“At the Ramirez’s house, but I don’t know where that is,” I replied.

“Tell me their names,” he said.

“Diego and Alex. Her name is actually Alejandra, but she goes by Alex,” I replied.

“There are probably many of them. Can you tell me something about them that might be different about them,” he asked.

“She is a teacher at the school I was at, but I don’t know its name, and he is an EMT,” I said.

“An EMT? That might make it easier,” he told me.

He pulled out a cell phone and dialed a number. “Yo, what’s up. I need some help. I’m looking for some friends of a little girl I’m helping. His name is Diego Ramirez and he’s an EMT and his wife is Alejandra and she is a teacher at that Catholic school you found the girl at,” he said. He waited for a few minutes before there was any change. “You found them? That was fast. Send me the information. Thanks, man,” he said and hung up. A moment later, there was a sound from his phone and he looked at it.

He thrust the phone to me, so I could see the screen.

Diego Ramirez

74563 Rebecca Dr.

St. Charles, MO 63301

“I have them,” he said and pressed the face of the phone. He then handed it to me.

“Hello,” I heard, almost as soon as I put it to my ear. Alex sounded like she had been asleep.

“I’m sorry to call so late, but I was hoping I could come get my backpack,” I told her.

“Melanie. Dear sweet Jesus. We have been so worried about you, and it’s not very late,” she said.

“Alex, I can’t come back. They found me, but I kind of need my stuff,” I said.

“Absolutely. I’ll get everyone ready so we can say goodbye,” she replied.

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” I told her.

“Nonsense. Emilia was upset that she did not say goodbye to you,” she replied.

“Okay,” I said, unable to resist anymore.

“Raphe, how long will it take us to get there,” I asked him.

“Maybe 20 minutes,” he replied.

“We should be there in about 20 minutes,” I relayed to Alex. “Thank you,” I said after a pause and hung up.

When we arrived, every light in the house was on, but then I looked at a clock and saw that it really wasn’t that late. I slowly walked up to the front door and knocked, having had to argue to keep Raphe from carrying me there. Aliyah and the kids came with me, though, so I wasn’t alone. Aliyah gave me support as we walked. I didn’t wait more than a couple seconds before they answered.

“Melanie,” Alex, Diego and Emilia all said loudly and at once. All three of them rushed me and hugged me. I’d only been with them a day or two, yet they had accepted me as part of their family. It touched me so deeply and I couldn’t stop tears from coming out. I melted in their embrace, ignoring the slight pain from it.

When we finally parted, Diego got a serious look. “You were bleeding pretty bad when you left. How are you,” he asked.

“She’s good now. A doctor glued her up,” Aliyah told him.

“This is Aliyah, my sister, cousin and best friend. Aliyah, this is Diego, Alex and Emilia. I’m guessing the boys are in bed,” I kind of asked with the last part.

“Yes. It’s their bedtime and they didn’t really know you yet,” Alex replied.

“Who are these two,” Alex asked, referring to the kids.

“This is Ben, my brother and Eliana, Aliyah’s sister,” I replied. Emilia looked a little confused, but she didn’t ask.

“Who is this other young man,” Diego asked. I hadn’t noticed Gabe come up behind us.

“This is Gabriel. We met him in New Orleans, and he’s been helping us,” I replied.

“It is nice to meet all of you,” Diego said, inclining his head.

“Melanie, here is your pack. All of your clothes are clean,” Alex told me.

“Thank you,” I replied. Before I could take it, Gabe grabbed it. He proffered a slight smile directed at me, when I looked at him.

“When all of this finally settles down, please let us know that you are alright,” she said.

“I will, if I can,” I told her, although I wasn’t sure if I’d survive it all. “Thank you for everything,” I said, threatening to start crying again.

“It was our pleasure. You are a wonderful young lady and we’d be happy to have you again,” she said.

“Now, you go before they find you,” Diego said.

I reluctantly left, looking behind me a couple of times before loading back into the van. I felt like this had been my shot at a somewhat normal life, but I knew it had only been an illusion. My life had too many problems to escape for long. Even my island dream was only that...a dream.

“Where are we going,” Raphe asked.

“Whitefish Montana,” Aliyah replied, as I was beginning to doze off again. They had given me the back of the van all to myself, with a healthy collection of pillows and blankets.

The next time I woke up, we were stopping. Using my elbows to lift myself up, I looked toward the front and saw daylight.

“Where are we,” I asked.

“We are past Rapid City, South Dakota. A town called Piedmont,” Raphe replied. I had no idea where in South Dakota that was, but it sounded like a long way.

“It’s breakfast time and Raphe needs to rest. He’s been driving all night,” Aliyah told me. I nodded, not only agreeing, but not able to think of anything worthwhile to say. I was still somewhat groggy and my mind was still mixed up from recent events.

Raphe pulled off the highway and into a gas station. After he filled the gas tank, he walked inside, probably to pay for the gas. When he returned, he had a bag in his hands and began passing out snacks and drinks.

I didn’t notice anything anyone got, because I was shaking and totally focused on the orange soda he had in his hands. I started trying to climb over the seat to get at it, unable to stop myself.

“You like what I have,” he said, a small smile playing on his face. It didn’t take him long to realize there was more to my actions than simple desire for something he had. By that time, Aliyah was trying her best to hold me and also tickle my mind. Her efforts weren’t working, though.

“Gabe,” she almost screamed. Gabe had been asleep, and woke with a start.

“What’s wrong,” he asked, seeing me trying to climb toward Raphe.

“She’s trying to get the orange soda. We have to stop her,” Aliyah exclaimed. Gabe looked confused, but added his strength to her efforts. Using my mind, I pushed them all away and took the drink from Raphe, taking uncontrolled gulps of it, letting it spill down my chin as I did. It didn’t do what my messed up mind had wanted, though, and I threw it out the thankfully open side door. By the time I released them, both of them were breathing hard and I was crying like a baby.

“What was that all about,” Raphe asked, as Gabe and Aliyah were working to calm me down. He was looking at me like I was crazy, which I suppose was true. I was out of energy, but was still shaking, like an insane person, and my stomach was hurting too.

“When she was at Oakmont, they gave her some very addictive drugs that she thinks look like orange soda,” Aliyah explained.

“I have used and sold most things, and I have never seen a junkie act like that,” he replied. As Aliyah turned her attention to Raphe, Gabe also listening to her explanation, I withdrew into the back corner and curled up, sobbing and shaking.

Gabe, seeing my retreat, started to come over to me, but I tried to curl up tighter and move away from him. I didn’t want him close to me right then. I was too messed up and I was ashamed of who and what I was. He obviously noticed and sat back, just looking at me. The look on his face was like an accusation to me, calling me what I knew I was...a screwed up waste of a person.

“Can you get me heroin and cocaine,” I asked him, looking at him with an intensity in my eyes even I could feel. He just stared at me for a while, unable to seem to say anything.

“You do not want that junk,” Raphe said, before Gabe could come up with anything to say.

“Yes, I do,” I yelled, tears forming in my eyes again. I was unable to stop them.

He looked at Aliyah and asked, “What did you say they gave her?”

She thought about it for a minute. “It was a mix of cocaine, heroin and I don’t remember the other one,” she finally said.

“Sodium amytal,” I finished for her.

“I am no chemist, but I know a little about drugs. Those three things are very bad together,” Raphe said, giving a small whistle along with his response.

“I don’t care,” I said, getting a little heated in my reply.

“How old were you when they gave this to you,” Raphe asked.

“She was eleven,” Aliyah replied for me, irritating me a little.

“How long did she take it,” he then asked.

“If she got it the whole time they had her, maybe a week,” she said.

“I can answer for myself,” I snapped at her. The look of shock on her face instantly stopped me for a moment. I knew I was being mean, but I couldn’t help myself.

“Do you even know how to use heroin or cocaine,” Raphe asked.

“No, but I can figure it out,” I replied, still with attitude in my voice.

“You will kill yourself,” he said.

“Then my nightmare will end,” I threw back.

Before anyone could say anything else, I threw the back door open and jumped out. Gabe scrambling over the stuff in the back, trying to catch up, as was Aliyah.

I went into the store and straight to the restroom, locking the door as soon as I went in. I curled up in the corner of the less than clean bathroom, my head resting on my arms which were on my knees. I heard Aliyah knocking, but I ignored her.

I considered teleporting away, but I knew she’d find me, if she didn’t simply block my ability. No matter what Alex said, or anyone else for that matter, I needed to get away from everyone. Aliyah, and everyone else would be safer without me.

Although I knew Aliyah could take care of herself, I couldn’t abandon Ben and Eliana. Aliyah could probably take better care of them than me, but she might need help.

I suddenly realized that she had stopped knocking. Opening the door, I walked out and saw her looking at a TV. When I saw the screen, my heart almost stopped.

Plastered on the screen was a picture of me and Aliyah, with smaller pictures of Ben and Eliana. Those pictures went off the screen and a picture of Gabe was put up. I couldn’t hear the reporter, but the words that were there were enough.

We were considered to be in danger, and anyone with any information leading to the safe return of us would be rewarded. Thankfully, the store clerk wasn’t looking at the TV, but there were several other people in the store and any one of them could see the pictures.

What was almost as surprising was that the pictures had us in the clothes we were wearing right then. That’s when I looked up and saw the camera in the corner. “We’ve been seen. Raphe, get them out of here and I’ll take care of the people coming to get us,” I said, very quietly.

Aliyah looked like she was going to resist, but Raphe picked her up without any questions. She started to struggle, but I sent a probe to her. “Aliyah, you’ve got to watch the kids. Take care of them and try to find our parents. I’ll try and find you,” I told her, strongly believing that I’d likely never see her again.

She looked like she was going to try and fight me on that, but she finally gave in. “They’re coming and you know it. If one of us stays to distract them, the rest can get away. You’re more stable than me. It only makes sense that you should take care of them. You’re a better leader than me, anyway,” I verbally argued, before she could try and argue with me.

“We can all get away just as easily. They’re not here yet,” she replied.

“I’m going to cause us to get caught. Maybe it won’t happen this time, but it might the next. I’m too messed up right now, and I can give you a chance to get away. Give me this,” I begged her.

She looked at me, as Raphe was taking her out, but she didn’t say anything else, out loud or in my mind.

“Mel, no,” Gabe said, realizing what I was doing. I gave him a very slight smile, as that was all I could manage.

“Take care of Aliyah and the kids for me. Help her do what she needs to do,” I begged him, fairly sure he wouldn’t be able to fight me on that.

He looked like he wanted to, but every time he started to say something, he’d close his mouth back. Finally, Aliyah returned and grabbed his arm, pulling him toward the van. I had a hard time watching them drive off, knowing it might be the last time I saw them.

It wasn’t five minutes later that a line of black SUVs drove up very fast. I had just started walking toward the field behind the store as they arrived. I considered a repeat of the other gas station, but I knew there were people inside. I also knew these FBI agents had no idea what they were a part of. They probably thought they were rescuing children.

When the men began climbing out of the SUVs, I realized they were not all FBI. Some of them were from the program. I smiled a very small and sadistic smile at that. I wanted to hurt them. I knew that was bad of me, but I couldn’t help it.

Before they knew what had happened, I sent a probe to everyone of the people from the program and a small trickle of energy along with it. The ten program people fell to the ground immediately. As I did it, I noticed one of them had shields, although I went through them with ease.

As they fell, all of the FBI people looked surprised and worried. They were looking around, as if they thought someone had shot them or something.

“Melanie Brager, come here, quickly,” a woman with the FBI yelled out to me. It was like she was trying to whisper, while yelling. I turned my back to her and started walking toward a farm and trees a little ways off.

She started running toward me and I simply put up my hand and she ran into an invisible wall, which flashed purple as she hit it. She looked stunned for a moment and then started feeling along it, trying to figure out what it was. I continued walking.

It was a bit of a walk into the trees, and the energy drain keeping the force field up was immense. This was something Aliyah was better suited for.

Finally making it into the trees, I nearly collapsed as I walked behind a small copse. My energy was spent. Forcing myself, I kept walking. I knew they wouldn’t stop that easily.

It was everything I could do to put one foot in front of the other, and that was all I was able to think about. It seemed like forever before I finally saw a clearing open up in front of me. In the clearing was an old rusted fire engine and a large house with a small playhouse in the yard. I called it a small playhouse, but it was a little more than that. It actually looked like a miniature house, kid sized.

I considered climbing inside the fire engine, but decided that the playhouse might be better, so I forced myself to walk the extra distance past the fire engine and to the playhouse, every step a struggle. Opening the door, I ducked down and went inside, almost passing out as soon as I got in.

“Sir, we almost got the Brager girl. She managed to escape, but she is now alone, as far as we can tell,” John told the Headmaster. Raughlin smiled at that unanticipated bit of information. John Wu had finally managed to do something right.

“Do you have any idea where the two younger children and the Draper girl are,” Raughlin asked.

“No sir. Brager was the only one seen and she captured the complete attention of the extraction team in South Dakota. Unfortunately, the telepath we had there is unresponsive,” he replied.

“So, she offered herself up as a sacrifice,” Raughlin mused, not even acknowledging Wu’s comment about the telepath.

“I think so, sir,” Wu said.

“Get her this time. Don’t tell me you have failed again,” Raughlin said.

“Yes sir,” Wu replied. If Raughlin could have seen him, he would have saluted.

“What are they doing in South Dakota,” Raughlin wondered, once he hung the phone up. He sat thinking about that for a long time. Of course, the location didn’t really matter, not for what he had planned. What mattered was that she was now isolated. More importantly, she was removed from the others, which made them all vulnerable.

“Sir, we almost got the Brager girl. She managed to escape, but she’s now alone, as far as we can tell,” John told the Headmaster. Raughlin smiled at that unanticipated bit of information.

“Do you have any idea where the two younger children and the Draper girl are?” Raughlin asked.

“No sir. Brager was the only one seen and she captured the complete attention of the extraction team in South Dakota. Unfortunately, the telepath we had there is unresponsive,” he replied.

“So, she offered herself up as a sacrifice,” Raughlin mused, not even acknowledging Wu’s comment about the telepath.

“I think so, sir,” Wu said.

“Get her this time. Don’t tell me you have failed again,” Raughlin said.

“Yes sir,” Wu replied. If Raughlin could have seen him, he would have saluted.

“What are they doing in South Dakota?” Raughlin wondered, once he hung the phone up. He sat thinking about that for a long time. Of course, the location didn’t really matter, not for what he had planned. What mattered was that she was now isolated. More importantly, she was removed from the others, which made them all vulnerable.