“Water,” I admit to him. “Just water.”
Both eyebrows shoot up as he stares at me in disbelief. “That’s it? I don’t get it. Water is an extremely basic power.” His eyes narrow. “What’s the real reason Raven is after you?”
If I told him I killed Senator Hightower’s son, he’d immediately kick me out. “I don’t know. One minute, I was a student, attending school and tutoring for money, and the next, I was being stalked. My guardian knew about… all this. We went on the run.”
His face is blank. “Where’s your guardian?”
I tell him what happened at the gas station, and he stiffens beside me. “That’s where you met River? You didn’t know him until a couple of nights ago?”
It sounds bad when he says it like that, but I didn’t really have a choice. Or maybe I’m afraid to do this alone. I’ve come to realize how sheltered I was from the world.
“Nope. I left Lionel on the ground, fire raging around him, and between one second and the next, River was dragging me into the forest to hide.” Guilt laces every word, but I can’t help it. Logically, I know Lionel couldn’t walk, but my heart still believes we could have found a way to escape together.
A line appears in the center of Jordan’s forehead. “I see. River to the rescue. He does that, you know. Last year, I was running with a group. All of us had powers. One of the guys, Lance, had the ability to bilocate, and he was kind of the designated leader of our group. Great guy. Amazing power. He met River on the streets and slowly brought him into our pack.”
He takes a long swig of his water. “For months, we all lived together in a large, abandoned warehouse. Protected each other. Pooled our resources. We were family. Until one day, it ended. Raven found us. I was headed back when River yanked me into a nearby alley. We watched them swarm the building and take everyone into custody. We stayed together for a couple of days, but I didn’t feel safe anymore, so I left.”
Leaning forward, he places his elbows on his knees and stares at the floor, his face twisted with memories. “River saved me, but sometimes, I feel so damn guilty about it that it pisses me off. Lance did so much for all of us, and I didn’t even try to save him.” He turns his brown eyes toward me. “That’s why you can’t stay more than a couple of nights. I refuse to go through that again.”
Understanding dawns. He’s grieving, too. “Don’t worry, we’ll be gone after we get some rest.” When his shoulders relax, I decide to change the subject. “What’s bilocate?”
His voice is full of awe as he answers. “Lance literally had the ability to be in two places at the same time. Both looked real. You couldn’t tell which one was the original. An extremely rare psi. He’s the only one I or anyone else has even heard of with that power. I confirmed on the boards.”
“What boards?” I ask, confused by his answer.
“There are websites out there for people like us. On the dark web. Hidden from the rest of the world,” he answers in a gruff tone. “It’s how we stay up-to-date and share information, like Raven’s location, so we can give each other a heads up.”
“Would you share them with me? I think I’m going to need all the help I can get,” I ask him, biting my lip. River was right.I’m a baby bird withzero knowledge and no survival skills.Worse, I don’t even know how to use my powers to defend myself.
Jordan studies me for a second, but my worry must be showing on my face because he capitulates. “I can get you access, but don’t be surprised if they don’t speak to you. It takes them a long time to trust anyone new.” He grabs his laptop and sets it on the coffee table in front of us.
River returns while Jordan is showing me the various boards and online forums. There’s even a subreddit cleverly hidden in plain sight where they can ask each other basic questions like how to find a place to live without showing an income. The members use code words to convey information to each other and help each other out.
Overwhelmed, I know it’s going to take me a while to catch on to everything, but it’s reassuring to know others are out there. Hiding. Surviving.
River pulls out the loaf of bread along with a few other groceries. Jordan hops up to show him where to put them.
Taking advantage of River’s return, I grab my backpack and head toward the bathroom. “Would you mind if I took a shower?”
Jordan waves his hand, his attention on the food River bought.
River’s bright green eyes linger on me for a second, then he pulls out a box of dark brown hair color. “I got you this. You don’t have to use it, but it might help.”
I take it from him and stare down at it. “Thanks.” Change my hair? I bite my lip. I should. It would help, but ever since Trent and his buddies kidnapped me, I’ve felt pieces of me being chipped away. I don’t know if I can lose another right now.
Uneasy with the situation, and unsure about the amount of hot water in this small apartment, I strip down and take a quick shower. Dirt runs down the drain, mostly from my hair, but soon it’s clean again. The whole time I’m in there, I mull over all the information I’ve picked up in the last few days and I… hate it. I don’t want to know any of it, much less use it, but I might have to if Phoenix doesn’t find me.
Tears slip down my cheeks and fall to the small pool below. I wish Lionel were here. He always had the best advice. The kind that always made me feel better. Safe. Loved. I tip my face to the water and wash away the sorrow. Later, I promise myself. When I’m safe.
After my shower, I pull on a fresh pair of jeans and layer on a clean tank and sweatshirt. I look around, but don’t see a hair dryer, so I towel dry my hair the best I can until it’s damp, then pick up the box of hair dye. Best on clean, dry hair. Relieved I don’t have to change my appearance right now, I set it on the sink. Maybe later.
The small black backpack Brad called a go pack sits on the floor next to my larger one. I open it and stare at the burner phones, wishing I could remember the number Lionel made me call, but it’s useless. Taking a chance, I grab one and hit send, but nothing happens. With a sigh, I return the phone and zip it closed.
I can’t keep wearing my windbreaker in the apartment, but I also don’t want to let the bag out of my sight. Maybe I can stuff it in the larger bag for now. When we leave, I’ll make sure to put it back on. Squatting down, I rearrange my clothes, putting the gun on the bottom, and placing the small go pack near the top with my purse. I want to be able to grab both quickly.
CHAPTER16
WILLA / GREER
