For I Could Lift My Finger and Black Out the Sun (26 page)

8

As night fell once again, I descended the pine, repacked my gear and hiked along the strip of road that ran along the park. Making my best guess at which direction was west, I realized I had to cross the street. I thought I was lucky to find it deserted except for a few parked cars. I scanned left and right, making sure no one saw me, then walked as casually as I could across the road to head back into the woods once more.

I hadn’t even reached the double-yellow line when a strong light pinned me. Turning toward the harsh white glare, I cursed myself for being so stupid. One of the parked cars was a police cruiser.

I was busted.

The cruiser was maybe 50 yards to my right, on the far side of the road. Inside, some officer sat invisible behind the bright light. An electronic click sounded, and then his voice boomed out from a hidden speaker in the car.

“Hold it there, son,” the police officer said just before the driver’s-side door opened and he stepped out.

Still just a silhouette in the darkness, the officer approached, staying just outside the beam of light in which I was caught, keeping himself mysteriously hidden.

I stood frozen. Should I use my powers to send him on his way? Or could there be a second officer in the car, a partner? Did cops still do that? I had no idea.

He stepped closer, then pulled up only feet from me. “Well, son of a bitch,” he muttered. “You’re that missing kid, aren’t you? You’re John Black.”

* * *

He led me back toward the cruiser, the word POLICE painted on the side in some dated blocky font that made me think I had been captured by a cop out of an old movie. For a moment, I envisioned him twirling a baton rather than carrying a gun, but a quick glance proved otherwise. A black pistol was snapped into a similarly black holster at his waist.

Walking beside the officer, I felt a whirlwind of emotion. Living on the road for nearly two weeks, I had begun to feel different — tougher, more self-sufficient. It was easy to forget where I was heading, the danger that awaited me. But with the police officer at my side, probably a foot and a half taller than me, I remembered again that I was just a kid. All the fear came crushing back, amplified by a boy’s normal need to be with his mother, his family. I wanted everything to go away — the powers, Sol, Holly’s kidnapping — I just wanted things to be normal.

With my dirty green blanket draped over my shoulders, I even cried a bit as we reached his parked cruiser.

Suddenly it dawned on me what I had missed. A small, deserted road next to a heavily wooded park would be the perfect place for local teens to hang out at night. It must have been common for the cops to patrol along the fringes, looking for kids making out or drinking.

Hell, this officer probably wasn’t even looking for me. Maybe no one was. Maybe they’d tried and given up already. After 13 nights, would they even think I was alive? Would they think Holly was still alive?

They must have all thought we were dead.

Which meant I’d been found completely by accident. Damn, that ticked me off.

Sniffling, I saw the officer — a tall, thick man with a dark beard and the name HENSON engraved on the name plate under his badge — raising his hand to one shoulder. To his radio. Like I’d seen Sergeant Durso do.

In seconds, Officer Henson would call in that he’d found me. Then the word would go out, and I’d be packed up, taken first to some police station, then driven back home. To Mom. The idea was very appealing.

But no.

I couldn’t.

I knew Mom needed me, needed some kind of normal life in the house. But Holly needed me way more, especially now. Especially if the cops had given up on her.

Did Holly know where she was, what was happening? I was sure she was aware that something was wrong. She wasn’t with Mom, and that alone would be enough to upset her. I hoped that was all. But in my heart, I sensed that she knew much, much more than we could tell. She must’ve been terrified.

Thinking of my sister, captive and afraid, I became very angry. Then I thought of what might happen if I gave up, if I let them take me home. Would Sol let Holly go? Bring her comfortably back home? That didn’t seem likely. What did seem likely was that he’d try even harder to get at me.

Would Sol harm a little girl in a wheelchair? He was crazy, I was pretty sure of that. Was he
that
crazy? I mean, would he even consider
killing
her?

She was my sister. I know that in a lot of families, kids bicker. Not in mine. How could we argue when Holly never said a word? When our closest interactions were shared glances. We had our special moment, when we would touch foreheads, usually when saying good night. I realized how much I missed that. Sol had stolen it from me. So had Bobby. Sol and Bobby together had taken my sister from me, and from my mom, too.

They weren’t to blame for starting the disintegration of our family — I held that honor for my primary role in the death of my father — but we still
were
a family. We were together, until Sol and Bobby pulled us apart.

I no longer wanted to give myself up and go home.

I no longer wanted Officer Henson to tell anyone else where I was.

I was angry.

I
pushed
.

Officer Henson’s hand stopped, then fell to his side. His eyes glazed over for a moment, then he shook his head lightly and looked around, not sure where he was. “Uh, what did you say, son?”

“Um, I was saying thank you for helping me find my dog,” I lied, pushing a little more.

Officer Henson nodded. “Yes, yes, of course. You’re, uh, you’re welcome.” He turned and opened the driver’s door of his police cruiser, started to get in.

I felt relieved, and turned to head back into the line of trees.

Suddenly everything lit up in red and blue, and I heard another car approaching, the static crunch of tires rolling across the pavement. I turned my face toward the light.
Damn
.

A second cruiser was pulling up, windows down. From inside, the sound carrying in the quiet night air, I could hear the officer behind the wheel speaking into his radio. “I’ve located Henson and — oh my God — it’s that missing kid! Henson found that missing boy, John Black!”

9

The place was dense with
stuff
. Chairs, desks, tables covered with papers and things, bulletin boards with barely a square inch of open space. Walls that might have once been white, now in serious need of fresh paint. A faded and chipped linoleum floor, in a pattern that screamed of decades past.

The police station was crowded, with every officer on- or off-duty coming by to see what Officer Henson had found. The missing boy. Me.

Walking through the zigzag of desks, I felt like a rat in a science experiment. Finally, I was led to someone’s glass-enclosed office. Henson’s? Did a patrol cop have an office? I didn’t think so. Maybe it belonged to the chief of police. Either way, it was just as cluttered and in need of new paint as the rest of the place. Its only saving grace was a beat-up tan leather couch along one wall, where I was able to sit. Without asking, I sprawled out on the comfortable cushions, realizing how much better it was than being strapped into a tree to sleep. If they’d left me alone for even five minutes, I think I’d have been out cold.

“John.” It was a new voice. I turned and saw an older man, bald on top, wearing a tan suit. “Hi, John. I’m Police Chief Carney. We’re all very, very glad that you’re here. You’re safe with us now. We’ve let everyone know you’re here, even your mom. She’s really looking forward to seeing you, you know?” He smiled a thin smile.

Despite the joy of a real place to lie down, I was immediately cynical. Of course this man was glad I was here. His department found the kid no one could find. He’d probably end up on the national news, might even get a raise and a promotion.

But Holly was still with Sol.

I sat up. “Listen, sir, I’m sorry if this sounds disrespectful and all, but I really should go.”

He chuckled. He actually chuckled. “Son, I know you must’ve been through a lot, but you’re gonna be okay now. We’ve—”

“No, listen.” I was riled up. Being out on my own had gotten to me, I suppose. My manners had slipped, but I also felt more confident. “You’ve already told everyone about me, so there’s no sense in me lying. I need to leave to help my sister.”

Chief Carney pricked up his ears at the mention of Holly, who he no doubt knew was missing as well. “Do you know where she is, John?” He crouched down beside me, seemingly very concerned.

“Yes. I do.” I took a deep breath, afraid of what this stranger would think, but needing to say it anyway. “She’s with Sol.”

Immediately, the chief backed away, wrinkling his brow. “Sol? You mean… you mean that guy who took over the governor’s mansion?
That
Sol?”

I rolled my eyes even though I knew it wasn’t terribly polite. How many
Sols
did Chief Carney know? “Yeah, him. He took her —”

“But no one’s seen him in weeks. And why would he take your sister?” He shook his head.

“It’s true, Officer — I mean, Chief Carney,” I said. “He did it because he’s trying to get to me.”

Instantly, the chief stood. “John, listen. I think you’re tired. We don’t have to talk about this right now. You’re safe, that’s what matters.”
Damn it
, I thought.
He’s already decided I’m lying. Or maybe crazy
. “Look, we can give your mom a call, let you talk to her. Would that make you feel better? Forget about this whole idea of Sol for now.”

Forget about Sol
. I wish. Still, I
did
want to talk to Mom, very, very much. “Sure,” I said, sighing. There was no use in trying to convince him — pushing him or otherwise — as far as I could tell. Too many people were already part of it.

Chief Carney went to his desk, picked up the phone, and asked someone to call my mom. He hung up, and a couple of minutes went by before the phone rang. Carney picked it up on the first ring. “Yeah? Okay, thanks… Yes, hello, Mrs. Black! Yes, oh, you’re most welcome, ma’am. I’m very excited to be able to make this call. I’ll put him right on.” Carney stretched the long spiral cord of the phone out so I could take the handset. Then, with a nod, he left the room, pulling the door shut. Even though he didn’t believe me, Chief Carney seemed like a decent man. I remember hoping he’d get that raise and promotion, but I honestly don’t know if he did. I never once set eyes on him again after he closed the door.

“Mom?”

“John? Oh my God, it is you! Thank God! I thought you were gone forever!” She started to cry.

“Don’t cry, Mom, I’m okay.”

“How did you get so far away, John? What are you doing there? No one is telling me anything.”

“Mom, I know you don’t want to hear this, but I can’t come home yet.” I cringed, waiting for the reply.

“
What?
What are you talking about, John? You’ve got to come home, just as soon as they can bring you here. Wait. Is this something to do with Bobby? You said he was off living somewhere, not going home. Are you with Bobby, John? What’re you two doing? You’re too young for this. You’ve got to come home.”

“Yes and no, Mom. It has to do with Bobby, but not the way you think.” I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
Here goes
. “Mom, I need to tell you something. No, I need to tell you pretty much
everything
. Things aren’t what you think, Mom.”

“What are you talking about, John? I —”

“Hold on, Mom. Just let me talk. I know this is all going to be really hard to believe, but you’re going to have to try. Okay?” I waited. Outside the glass walls of Chief Carney’s tiny office, cops came and went, the miracle rescue of the missing boy already fading into history.

“Uh. Okay, okay, John,” Mom said. “You can tell me anything. I’m your mother.”

Now or never
. “Mom, I’m not really sure were to begin, but a while ago, I started realizing I could do things. Strange things, like avoid burns, stop punches cold, make people change their minds. I know it sounds totally crazy, but I have these… abilities now. Things other people can’t do. Sort of like superpowers.” Silence on the other end of the line.
Oh, crap
. I just continued. “Bobby does, too. It happened around the time we were both hit by that car, but I don’t think the car is what did it. Because there are other people, too. Definitely at least one more person. Do you remember that guy named Sol who terrorized the governor?”

“Of course, but what does that —”

“He’s like me. Or maybe I’m like him. Bobby, too. The reason Sol could walk in and take over the governor’s mansion was because he could make people’s minds do what he wanted. And his body can sort of automatically dodge bullets.”

“John, this… This sounds…”

“I know it does, Mom, but just wait. There’s more. I met Sol before all that stuff at the governor’s mansion happened. When we went to Playa Beach over the summer, when I went to the boardwalk to play games — he was there. Just some guy I ran into accidentally. At least I thought so. But I found out he had the same abilities that I did, and I sort of freaked out. Then, with what he did, killing those people in the capital, well… I didn’t want to have anything to do with him again. But he found me. Called me. Asked me to come meet him in the city.”

“John. This isn’t making any sense. I can’t —”

“Mom. I went to the capital. You know I did.”

“You went to help your aunt, because she’s
sick
.”

“No, Mom, I didn’t. Call Aunt Cindy. Ask her. I was never there.” I let that sink in for a moment. “Mom, Bobby is with Sol. Sol called to him with his mind, and he came. The three of us can bend people’s thoughts, and we pretty much can’t be hurt. Not by bullets or fire or falling off a building. So Sol wants us to all join together. This sounds crazy, but you have to believe me that it’s true. Sol called to me, too. But when I went to the city, I didn’t do what he expected. I didn’t just walk up and join his little party. In fact, I sort of tricked him. And to pay me back, he took Holly.” I left out the part about it being Bobby’s idea. Even I couldn’t comprehend that yet.

On the other end of the line, I heard my mother gasp.

“Mom. Holly is missing because of me, because Sol wants me to come to him. So that’s what I’m going to do. I have to. But I’m not going to join Sol like Bobby has. I’m going to get Holly back. No matter what.”

There was a long silence. After a while, I wasn’t even sure if she was still on the line. I shifted the phone to my other ear and opened my mouth to say something when she finally spoke.

“Is that what happened to my sewing needle?”

“Huh?” At the moment, a sewing needle might have been the furthest thing from my mind, but as soon as she said it, I knew exactly what she was talking about. Was she going to make this decision based on that mangled sewing needle?

“The time you and Bobby bent my sewing needle. It shouldn’t have bent. It should’ve hurt you instead. But I knew something was up that day. Neither of you were hurt, were you?”

“No. Not at all.”

“And the needle bent from what? From touching you?”

“That was Bobby, actually. He put his finger under it while the machine was running, and the needle bent. It couldn’t go through his skin. Like I said, we can’t really be hurt.”

I was certain she didn’t believe me. But you know how moms have an almost magical knack for detecting lies? Well, they must have the same ability to detect the truth. Or else my mom took one hell of a leap of faith.

“Okay, John. Go. Get your sister. And if there’s anything,
anything at all
, that I can do to help you, you call home immediately. I mean that. Sitting around here on my hands is the worse thing I’ve ever done in my life.”

“You… believe me?” I said. “And you’re not mad about it?”

“Believe you? I want to, John. You’re my son. It’s all very hard to understand. In fact, it’s the hardest thing to understand that I’ve ever heard of in my life. But I believe
in
you
.
And no, why would I be mad? It sounds to me like you’re in something you didn’t ask for, and you’re trying to help Holly. It’ll take me a while to come to grips with all the other things you said, and I’m scared as hell to say this to you, but go and try to help your sister. But I mean it. If I can help, you
have
to let me. Otherwise, I’ll go crazy here by myself.”

That was when I looked out through the glass wall again and noticed several of the officers face down on their desks.
What the hell? Did they fall asleep?
Then a shudder rolled through my body.

Or are they dead?