Jaden Baker (26 page)

Jaden sobbed and wailed into the silence, crying to a God he doubted could hear him, praying for everything to end. He couldn’t keep living like this.

Tears and sadness gave way to wrath. It wasn’t fair. What had he done to deserve this? His whole life was lived in fear, and Jaden was through with it. He had to escape somehow. If he couldn’t get out of here alive, then he’d leave in a black plastic bag.

Jaden’s face, red and raw from hot tears, was filled with rage. His bared teeth, reflected in the mirror, would have normally frightened him. Not today. With superhuman strength, Jaden lunged from the alcove and grabbed the rusted bed frame. He pulled at it, determined to rip it from the floor. Jaden felt one leg of it give, then the other. His biceps and hamstrings screamed in agony. With a sudden infusion of vexing injustice, Jaden ripped the cot from the floor, yelling in angry victory.

Jaden lift the cot and swung it at the mirror. Too long; it hit the wall instead. As he dragged the bed to a better location, he noticed smoke coming through an air vent. Only it didn’t smell like smoke. Jaden choked and dropped the bed, covering his nose.

He was suddenly weak. Gas.

Jaden ran at the mirror, pounded it. Because the room was so small, and air limited, the gas spread quickly and Jaden felt himself falling to the padded floor as he passed out.

When he came to, the bed was gone. He was alone in the room, with nothing but the toilet, sink, and shower head. There was only a pillow.

Rules were amended. Jaden knew how to control his power, there was no reason to be trained. He would not give these people anything. They could ask and command him until their voices crumbled, he wasn’t playing anymore. If they had to electrocute him to death, that’s what they would have to do. Jaden was done.

He heard something like a motor. Jaden gathered himself into a sitting position and watched the alcove. A platform lowered. First Jaden saw feet, legs, then the torso of a man. Once the lift stopped, the man walked to Jaden.

Jaden crawled backwards, then stood, wiping tears from his eyes and face. He stared at the man and said nothing.

Chad Dalton had come to Jaden wearing an annoying smile, colorful tie, and gazed at him with electric blue eyes. Dalton was easy to fool, easy to manipulate, and easy to beat. Dalton was fond of Jaden.

The man standing before him was nothing like Chad Dalton. He was older, maybe early sixties. Bald, deep set eyes, and no hint of sympathy anywhere on his thin lips; he looked at Jaden with indifference. He wore a dark pinstriped suit and held his hands behind his back, his chest puffed out in an aggressive stance. He wasn’t tall, but stocky, like a bulldog. Where Dalton’s eyes were lit with curiosity, this man’s pale gaze stared at Jaden like he was a bug pinned to a wall.

The two studied one another for what seemed hours, neither saying a word. Jaden’s first inclination was to yell and demand his freedom, but something held him back. Here was a new man, and a new set of mind games. He waited for the old man to speak first and introduce himself, as Dalton had upon their first formal meeting. The stranger remained silent.

Jaden crossed his arms and stared deeply into the man’s hazel eyes. What could they threaten him with? What possible game could be played that Jaden wouldn’t eventually win? He had what they wanted.

The old man cocked his head to the side then stepped forward. He rubbed his hand on his stubbled face, scratched his chin, never removing his eyes from Jaden’s.

“Hmmm,” mumbled the old man, then he raised his right hand and smacked Jaden across the face with so much force, Jaden stumbled and nearly fell.

“Stand up straight,” the man said in gruff, calm voice.

Face stinging, Jaden righted himself, and gathered saliva in his mouth.

“It’s nice to see you up and about,” said the old man.

Jaden nodded calmly, as though he hadn’t noticed the blow, then spat in the stranger’s face.

The man blinked and allowed himself a small smile as he drew a handkerchief from his pocket, wiping the saliva away.

“You had Dalton fooled.” He folded the kerchief with deliberate patience then tucked it in his pocket. “You had him eating out of your hand.”

Was he here to lecture, ask questions, irritate? Jaden took a step back then went to the sink. He splashed his face with water. There were no towels to dry his hands, so he dried them on his shirt. The man watched Jaden’s every move.

“You see, he was rather fond of you—thought of you like a pet, really,” he continued. “His favorite spaniel. He believed he had you under his control. I know he let you get away with running your mouth like a spoiled child, or faking your strength. But you showed all your cards the other day with your little stunt. You’re a very powerful tool. You fooled Dalton. You won’t fool me.”

“I won’t do anything for you or anyone else,” Jaden growled. “You’re going to have to kill me or let me out,” Jaden said. “I’m done playing games.”

The man smirked. “I didn’t give you permission to speak.”

Suddenly Jaden’s body burned. Pain stronger than anything he had experienced pulsed through him, scorched his veins and his skin, like hot shards of glass piercing every inch of him, over and over. He heard himself screaming. He arched his back and writhed on the floor, trying to escape the incredible pain.

Then it was over, though his entire body reeled from the shocking pain. Jaden rolled onto his stomach and panted into the padded floor. His body shook.

The man snickered. “You see, unlike your previous master, I do not mind administering discipline.” The man paced the room. “The moment you try to harm me in any way, you will feel so much pain you’ll beg for death and mean it.”

Jaden glared from the floor. He didn’t believe him. Jaden’s job was simple. Like all living things, this man had a beating heart, and should it come to a sudden stop, the man would die. He had no idea how much power Jaden had. He
hadn’t
shown all his cards. With less than a thought, the man would drop dead before he could push a button.

The man laughed softly. “You don’t believe me?” He crouched to study Jaden’s face. “PK is an amazing thing. But there is a small catch to it. Go on.” He stood again. “Do something to me. Try to kill me.”

Jaden pulled himself into a sitting position, his body aching. He heard the man’s heart beating a slow, relaxed rhythm. Steady. Jaden stood to be equal in height. He wasn’t going to be looked down upon and made inferior.

He couldn’t so much hear the man’s heart but feel it—all he had to do was reach out and squeeze it. The man’s face was confident. A trace of the smile he’d shown when he’d sent electric shocks through Jaden’s body still remained on his lips. It was an expression Dalton would’ve never shown.

Don’t do it
.

But why not? This man needed to be taught a lesson. Jaden wasn’t a dog performing neat tricks. He was tired of being belittled, being mistreated and abused at the hands of the less powerful. It was a mistake he made with Dalton. He should’ve killed him when he had the chance, run out the door, killed anyone in his way, and left this place. Freedom had been so close. What stopped him? Pity? Fear? Well not anymore. There was nothing stopping him now. It was time to call the man’s bluff.

Jaden reached for the man’s heart, his mind wrapping around it like a hard fist.

The painful pulse of burning electricity coursed through his body again. Undiluted pain so strong he couldn’t remember anything, ripped through him, knocking him back to the floor. The fire burned all over him, inside him, to the tips of his fingers. A loud and sharp scream ripped through his throat. He writhed on the floor, twitching and thrashing against the agony. When his head felt like it would explode, it ended.

Jaden rolled on his side, his breathing ragged, his throat sore from shrieking. Jaden’s vision was blurred from tears he didn’t remember crying.

The man laughed. He paced around Jaden, shaking his head in mock disappointment. “Dalton was right when he said PK is like any other function of your body. Synapses in your brain fire up before you use it. Neurons start communicating, there’s a chain reaction, et cetera, et cetera. So anytime your brain spools up, if you will, I know. You see, unlike the last collar, this one is tapped into your central nervous system. The moment you consider using PK, I know.” He kneeled and looked into Jaden’s eyes, and whispered: “It’s one of life’s little bonuses: there’s a method to everything.”

Jaden shifted positions so he could rest his cheek on the floor. His whole body was hot and sore, and the cool soft ground soothed his skin. The man continued pacing around him. Jaden got his knees underneath him and sat up. His arms and legs trembled.

“Hurts, doesn’t it?” the man said.

Jaden said nothing. He wasn’t going to give the man the satisfaction of an answer. He knew exactly what this was—a test of wills. He wanted to break Jaden, to get control over him, like Dalton had. But he wouldn’t give in. Jaden meant what he said. This man would have to kill him, because he wouldn’t surrender. His pride and mind were all Jaden had, and this man wouldn’t take them from him.

“I asked you a direct question, and you will answer it,” the man said calmly.

Jaden sat and wrapped his shaking arms around his legs. He stared at a spot on the wall ahead of him, keeping his mouth closed.

The man smirked and sighed. “You’re not going to be taken, eh? You think I’ll kill you first?”

Silence.

“That’s a pity.” He walked to the observation mirror and knocked it with his fist. “I admire your resolve, Jaden, though I will have to do something about it. Fortunately for me, I had this planned. You should know my resolve is stronger than yours. Age and wisdom,” he said, tapping his temple, “have taught me patience. If you’d seen what I’d seen, and know what I know, then you’d answer the question. You’re young and have much to learn.” He put his hands in his pants pockets and licked his lips. “You see, pain can accomplish a lot of things. There’s discipline, dominance, and of course, humiliation. Remember I offered the easy road, and you chose the pain. There’s no turning back now.”

Jaden glared at him.

The small elevator lowered, carrying two men Jaden hadn’t seen before. His assumptions were correctthey hired a new staff. The last group took pity on Jaden, and one slipped him the door code to help him escape. Moving him to a new facility with a new staff made sense.

Both men were tall, well muscled. The first had light brown hair and dark eyes, which held no sympathy. The second had thin cheeks and blonde spiked hair. He looked at Jaden like a spider would a fly struggling in his web. These men were not like his last handlers—they were not afraid of him.

“Malcolm and Curtis, this is Jaden.” The man turned to Jaden and smiled. “And this is Malcolm,” he said, pointing to the man with brown hair, “and Curtis,” he pointed to the blonde haired man. “Jaden is being disobedient and I would like him taken to room D please.”

Malcolm raised his eyebrows. “It’s set to automatic?” He had a southern accent.

The man chuckled. “Oh yes. He’s quite harmless.”

Malcolm and Curtis advanced on Jaden. But he wasn’t harmless. He might not be able to use his mind, but he still had his fists. Alan had taught him well.

The moment the two men neared, Jaden jumped, spreading his legs for balance, lowering his hips. Malcolm was prepared. He pulled a rod from his belt and hit the back of Jaden’s legs, knocking him to the floor.

“Careful, gentlemen.”

Ignoring the throbbing pain in the back of his knees, Jaden squirmed out of Malcolm’s reach, blocking himself in the corner. Curtis cautiously moved forward and reached for Jaden.

Instinct took over, and before he could stop it, his mind reacted in defense. For the third time, the unendurable pain shot through him, like knives stabbing him. When Jaden realized the pain was over, Malcolm and Curtis had pinned him to the ground, binding his hands and legs. They picked him up and carried him to the elevator. The stranger was gone, presumably in room D.

With three of them crammed in the tiny space, the platform rose, carrying them to the top. Jaden thrashed, trying to bite them with Dr. Claire’s straightened teeth. But he couldn’t reach.

Up top was a hallway with several doors, none of which opened by key code. They all had common door knobs instead. Curtis and Malcolm carried Jaden to the door labeled with a plastic “D.” Socks slippery on the floor, Jaden’s pushing and bracing was a useless attempt at resistance.

The man paced the inside of the room, one hand in his pocket, the other on a thin wooden rod. A strange stone cylinder was rooted in the middle of the room, the flat surface at an angle, manacles bolted to its center. Jaden struggled against his captors, frantically running backwards, his feet sliding on the slick floor. He fought his instinct to use psychokinesis—it would worsen his situation. Curtis removed the handcuffs then he and Malcolm forced Jaden’s wrists in the manacles on the slanted platform. Once secured, they stepped back, and the stranger stepped forward, looking down on Jaden.

The platform was such a height Jaden could neither stand nor kneel. Clearly it had been designed for his discomfort. Already it achieved its purpose. Jaden tugged at the manacles—the short chains would not budge. His heart raced as his mind put the pieces together.

“Now,” began the man, leaning to see into Jaden’s eyes, “this is what we’re going to do. Between the three of us, we can keep this going for a long time, until you do as I say. The minute you obey my command, we stop. Unfortunately the pain will continue. However, I am not unreasonable. We will take you to the onsite physician to get you mended, because trust me, you’ll need it,” he said with a soft snicker. “Unlike the electric collar, this will leave a mark.”