Balancer (10 page)

Please Step Away
From the Zoo

For the past
twenty minutes, Nicole had been sitting at her laptop back in her bedroom and was opening every one of Ben’s emails. Amy had no knowledge of this correspondence other than hearing from Nicole that NewBenKenobi was being a pain.

Nicole knew she had to face what Ben had to say to learn about the mystery that was lurking inside her. She clicked on another attached file, and a picture of the large fish kill at Flour Mill Run appeared.

Amy sucked in a little breath at the sight of the enormous mound of dead, shiny blue fish.

“So, what you’re saying is all of those fish equals one child?”

Nicole swallowed. Amy had put it plainly, and it sounded extraordinary. “I guess so. And the animals were Charlie? I mean, that must’ve been where we ran in the forest?”

“That’s crazy. There’s gotta be another explanation!” Amy knew she was only saying this because somehow it sounded comforting.

Nicole considered the idea, but almost immediately something in her discounted it. She rubbed her eyes, suddenly weary. She had no idea of the extent of her powers, but there were a few things that seemed certain: Whatever she did was irreversible, and some living thing died for whatever she chose to make live. Worse still, in the moment, she had no idea what that thing would be.

It was an uncomfortable burden for Nicole to bear. All living things mattered to Nicole. She even felt guilty whenever her dad set up mousetraps. Those little guys never did anything wrong, just going about their business. If it were up to her now, she would put everything back to normal, including Mrs. Truman’s precious plants.

Mrs. Truman.

She felt awful for the old lady, who was thankfully away for the weekend but would be facing an ominous return home. Then came the barrage of other thoughts — the devastation that she’d wielded during the wildfire, and how the trail of dead animals across the forest seemed to match her and Amy’s desperate escape route. One by one, the animals had trailed in their wake, sacrificed to save those of Nicole’s choice.

Nicole had been the one saving. She had been the one killing, and she hadn’t even known it.

This was too much.

Nicole burst into tears, and soon felt Amy’s arm around her shoulders.

“It’ll be OK …”

“I’m dangerous, Amy.”

“Nix, you’re being a bit dramatic here.”

“I’m serious! Sure, I rescued something. But I killed another thing to do it. I didn’t even mean to!”

“But you wanted Elise to live!”

“Yes…”

“A hundred fish for a girl sounds like a fair swap.”

“But I didn’t get to make that deal!” Nicole asserted. “I didn’t choose! And if I’d known then what I know now …” She trailed off.

Amy saw it was time for some straight talk.

“Nix, I can see you’re worried. And this is, like, way out of my league. Makeup, nail polish, boys, family irritation — those are basically my areas of expertise. But the way I see it, something out there made the decision for you. For what it’s worth, I think you did the right thing. And it didn’t harm anything major.”

“But it could.”

“Look, we need time to let this settle.” Amy was really getting into her stride now, saying the smart things that Nicole would have uttered. “You need to calm down, see Ethan and then we’ll head to the lake.”

“I can’t go.”

“What?”

“I can’t. What if something else happens? What if someone gets hurt and I kill something else.”

“What are you gonna do? Lock yourself up in your room all day and night?”

“Maybe!” Nicole retorted, though she knew that would be ridiculous.

“You promised your mom — plus Ethan is expecting you!”

“Me go into a building full of sick people? Are you insane?”

Nicole eyed Amy, who had the good sense to keep quiet. After a moment, the pretty brunette became aware of herself, her exaggerated posture and spotted who was quite plainly looking the more insane out of the two right now.

She settled back in her seat and relaxed.

“We can talk about Lake Fairfax afterwards, but you, lady, are putting on some decent clothes and we are going to the hospital.” Amy stood up and stuck out her hand.

Nicole stared at Amy. Her friend meant business. “Think about it: Given what we know about you saving people, it actually makes sense that a hospital is your safest bet right now. But just in case, keep your mind focused so we don’t end up killing anybody.”

“Amy!”

“Come on, you know I’m just kidding …” Amy tried to draw a smile out of Nicole.

“Are you coming with me?”

“Of course I’ll come. If you promise to calm down,” Amy said.

Nicole wiped her eyes. “I gotta find a book for Ethan, then we’ll go.”

“Deal. And remember: On the evidence we have, you’re completely safe for humans. You’re just bad news for zoos and aquariums.”

Hairball and Freckles

Nicole’s best efforts
to keep her head down and avoid attention were thwarted the minute she walked into Evergreen Hospital’s pediatric lobby. The nurse on duty had been waiting for her to show up and immediately cornered her, requesting a photo with the famous SuperNix on her smartphone for her youngest.

An ER doctor and one of her mom’s colleagues insisted on stopping and shaking Nicole’s hand, remarking that she was clearly as bright and modest as her mom. Nicole could feel all eyes on her as people passing by remarked to each other that
this was that girl on the news
.

She was grateful that Amy had talked her into a quick makeover beforehand and wondered how many Facebook photos she’d be tagged in by the time this visit was over. All the while she was congratulated, admired and generally the focal point of the room, Nicole became painfully aware of Amy hanging around like a fifth wheel. Thankfully, just then, Nicole’s mom breezed in, strode up to the whiteboard, rubbed off the name of a patient she’d just attended to, and had a quick word with the receptionist. Nicole didn’t catch all of it but almost certainly heard the words ”monopolizing” and “daughter.” Her mom then announced to anyone in earshot that Nicole had an important appointment to keep and thanked them all for their understanding.

Nicole was relieved when the receptionist said she and Amy could go to Ethan’s room, and they followed the green-clad nurse in nervous silence.

The children’s ward was brightly colored and decorated with paintings and photos. It also had an unmistakable hospital odor. Cheerful pop music was heard from somewhere farther off, and Nicole could see children playing, albeit with a marked lack of the exuberant energy she would normally expect from their age group.

The staff moved about here purposefully but with an air of humor and good spirit, some greeting Nicole as if they knew her. This really was a taste of fame, and Nicole felt odd to be regarded as familiar to complete strangers.

Despite herself, Nicole couldn’t help peering in on the children in their individual rooms. Names of those suffering various ailments and illnesses flashed past her. Some were connected to drips, heart monitors, tubes and dialysis machines. Parents were often found slumped in chairs, having spent the night up keeping their child company. One mother was curled up on her little girl’s bed, nestled at her feet, both sleeping at last.

Nicole knew stopping to visit all of these patients would be too risky, even if her presence might brighten their day. She just didn’t understand her power enough yet, and she was afraid of the damage she could inflict if she accidentally saved one of these children. It was crazy even to consider that she possessed the power to save them. With no animal life around to act as a substitute, would it be like trading the life of one child for another? Who or what would have to suffer for the sacrifice?

She shuddered at the thought and, feeling Amy’s hand on her arm, realized her best friend was concerned about her.

“Keep focused, Nix.”

Nicole nodded and tore her attention from the rooms to concentrate instead on the brightly painted footprints on the linoleum ahead of her.

At last they arrived. Ethan, a skinny, pale, 8-year-old boy, was sitting up in bed. A feeding tube ran from his nose to an IV drip, and he had wires and cords poking out of his wrist. His hair was freshly washed and brushed, and his father was reading from a book. The words of the story were duly ignored, however, when Ethan looked up, saw his heroine and beamed.

“Hey, little man, look who’s here,” Ethan’s dad said, excitedly standing up to shake both Nicole’s and Amy’s hands. “Thanks for coming. I’m Tim Geller, Ethan’s dad.” He paused for a moment to catch a breath as emotions washed over him. “You’re all he can talk about.”

Nicole blushed and sat down next to the little boy. “Hi, Ethan. I’m Nicole.”

“Hi,” he replied, a little shy and star-struck.

Ethan’s dad got up and started to move toward the door. “You guys want some soda? Cuz I think I’ll leave you for a bit. That OK?”

Ethan grinned. It was evidently more than OK with him. Nicole had her reservations, but Amy glanced her way with a determined little shake of the head. She would make sure it was OK.

After his dad had left the room, Ethan leaned forward as if he were about to reveal the world’s greatest secret.

“I know who you really are! You’re SuperNix.”

The nickname stirred up a sense of nausea in Nicole, but she pushed it aside. It clearly meant the world to this boy that she was sitting next to him, and she was going to do everything in her power to play the part for him.

Amy interjected. “Right, right — she’s SuperNix. But …” Amy brought her voice down to a dramatic whisper, “let’s keep it between us, OK?”

“So, who are you, then?” Ethan looked at Amy, vaguely unimpressed. It wasn’t meant to be an insult, but it underlined much of the torment Amy had experienced that morning. Used to being the center of attention, this whole day had worked out oddly for her — first calming down an upset Nicole (unheard of!), and now being the sidekick to her shy best friend.

“It’s kind of obvious, right? I know you’re ill, kid, but you can do better than that.”

Ethan gasped. Amy’s blunt talk could render most people slack-jawed, and she was surprising even herself today.

“You’re the sidekick!”

“Bingo!” Amy threw her hands up in the air.

“Hey, and you know you have an important job we need you to do today, Ethan,” Nicole chimed in. “Amy needs a sidekick name.”

“You don’t already have one?” Ethan seemed disappointed, as though his reservations about Amy were now confirmed.

“Well, an unofficial one. But I bet you got some good ideas.”

Ethan thought about it.

“All right … what about … Hairball!”

Nicole burst into giggles and Amy gave a mock gasp.

“SuperNix and Hairball? Are you crazy? That’s not heroic. Try again.” Amy sat back, arms folded, wrinkling her nose up at Ethan.

“It
is
descriptive,” offered Nicole.

“You’re lucky you’re not
my
sidekick, Freckles,” Amy fired back. “Come on, Ethan. Next name.”

“Ummm …” Ethan made a thinking noise. His eyes twinkled mischievously, and Nicole was touched to see a little color returning to his cheeks. Her mom had been so right about this visit making a difference.

“I have a suggestion,” Nicole said after seeing Ethan struggling.

“OK, SuperNix. Shoot.” Ethan turned to Nicole, all ears.

“Well, think of the other sidekicks out there. What kind of names do they have?”

“Ummm … Robin?”

“Oh, a bird name. Yay!” Amy said happily. “It could be SuperNix and … The Swan!” Amy’s arms traced the names out in imaginary movie theater lights.

“It doesn’t suit you,” Ethan said, matter-of-factly.

Nicole stifled a laugh. “OK, so there’s Batgirl … Catwoman …”

“Frizzgirl!” Ethan announced. Nicole thought she might collapse in hysterics.

“Will you cut it out with the hair references, already? I know it’s big. Humidity, people!” Amy yelled, a tiny tinge of irritation seeping in.

“OK, OK. Seriously now,” Nicole said, wiping a tear from her eye. “We need a name for someone dynamic, loyal, brilliant, smart and daring.”

Amy folded her hands and waited for Ethan’s verdict.

“I got it.”

“Great!” Nicole chimed in.

“Is it gonna make me cry?” Amy joked.

Ethan shook his head. “Awesome Amy.”

Brilliant.

Amy grinned and flung her hands in the air. “I love it!”

“Me too! SuperNix and Awesome Amy!” Nicole reiterated.

Ethan laughed along for a few moments. Then, like a cloud coming over him, he attempted to stifle a cough. All of a sudden, the color seemed to drain from his cheeks, and his racking cough intensified. Nicole shot a look at Amy, who also seemed worried. Ethan had gotten over-excited and tired out by all of the laughter, and he needed to settle down.

Nicole poured him a glass of juice and handed it across.

“SuperNix says drink this.”

“No, I don’t think your powers work like that,” Ethan retorted. He drank the juice anyway.

Nicole produced
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
, her favorite book from when she was Ethan’s age. “Hey, I brought you something. Have you read this?” Ethan slowly examined the book. It was evident from the magazines and hand-held computer games around him that he wasn’t a bookish kid, but Nicole could have offered him the telephone book and he would have been just as enthralled by it.

“Would you like me to read you some?”

“Sure.” Ethan said. “But …”

Nicole closed the book before even reading the first word. “Are you feeling too tired?”

“No. But … could you tell me about the wildfire?”

Ethan looked up at them both, expectantly.

Nicole and Amy exchanged looks, and without a second’s more thought, Amy set the scene for Ethan in the most dramatic and suspenseful way she could muster.

The next ten minutes were spent with Ethan sitting up straight in rapt attention listening to Amy and Nicole take turns describing their heroic feats. It was SuperNix and Awesome Amy, with little mention of superhealing or Nicole’s actual gifts.

Ethan soaked in every word as if he were listening to a real-life superhero telling tales of brave rescues and great dangers. “What are you girls going to do next?” he asked when they’d finished.

Once again, Nicole and Amy looked at each other. And before Nicole could respond, Amy answered with her usual dramatic flair. “Something even more amazing and unexpected!”

Half an hour later, as Nicole and Amy left Ethan’s hospital room, his mom was tucking the exhausted but happy boy back into bed for a well-earned rest. Both Nicole and Amy had been incredibly moved by the courage of the spirited Ethan.

Ethan’s dad hadn’t noticed them emerging from his son’s room as he sat slumped on one of the plastic chairs outside, resting his elbows on his knees. It looked like a classical thinking posture, and the man was evidently having many troubled thoughts, as his face was all knotted up with tension.

Nicole hadn’t been sure whether to interrupt him.

“Mr. Geller?”

This disturbed the troubled dad’s private thoughts. He stood up, embarrassed that he was caught in his morose state, having been so used to putting on a brave face. However, one look at the faces of the two teenage girls told him they were perfectly able to comprehend the tragedy of his son’s illness. He didn’t need to pretend with them.

His expression fell back to normal, and he regarded them warmly.

“Thanks again for coming. SuperNix really made his day.”

“Ethan’s really great.”

“Yeah.” Mr. Geller rubbed the back of his neck, surely aching from the long nights spent on hospital chairs. “It’s been a tough week for us. Know any real superheroes you could send my way?”

Nicole blushed and looked away. She couldn’t look at Amy either. Mr. Geller took this as natural modesty. The truth was far more complex than that.