The Calling
Page 14
After a few more steps, I opened my mouth, but again he got there first.
I think I think Sam might be onto something. Everything she says is true. Even about the pilot. I had a bad feeling, when we got on the helicopter, but only a slight one, and with everything that happened, I figured I was just stressing out. I dont believe the parts about demons and all that, but I can see maybe having some power to sense bad vibes in people. I mean, its not like shes saying Im a vampire or a werewolf. That would be crazy. This is just a little weird.
No, it wasnt like shed said he was a werewolf. It wasnt like shed said he could change into an animal. That would be crazy.
I shut my mouth and carried on in silence.
SEVEN
WHEN WE DREW NEAR the place wed left Corey, we realized going straight to him wasnt wise. We decided to take a look from farther down the shore.
We could hear a boat motor, but the running lights were off. There were people on board with flashlights, though, so we could see where it was.
Did that mean everyone was back in the boat? Did they have Corey?
A distant splash told us someone had gone in the water. Retrieving the bodies? Removing identifying parts from the helicopter? It sounded far-fetched, but if you kidnapped kids in a helicopter that crashed, you didnt want local fishermen finding the wreckage.
Daniel tapped my arm. I followed his outstretched finger and saw two more flashlight beams strafing the forest right around where wed left Corey.
I gripped Kenjiis collar as we crept closer. Another flashlight beam flickered through trees farther down. Three searchers. At least two more on the boat plus the diver.
So how would we get to Corey? Was he even still there? If theyd found him, had they?
My brain stuttered over the thought.
Shot him? That was the easy way of saying it, like it didnt mean what I knew it meant. Killed him.
Nicole was dead.
Nic, I whispered. Nics
We dont know that, Daniel whispered harshly, and I knew thats what hed been telling himself. Its what Id been thinking, too. Shot. Just shot. Hayley hadnt seen exactly, so we could keep telling ourselves Nicole was only injured.
Kenjii whined and brushed my hand, and I patted her head.
Corey, Daniel whispered.
He meant we couldnt think about Nicole. Just like we couldnt think about Rafe. We had to focus on saving everyone else.
Oh God. How had it come to this? Where I had to concentrate on saving the friends I could. Forget the ones I couldnt. The ones Id lost. The ones who were already
Daniel clutched my arm.
Maya, he whispered. I need you.
I nodded and took a deepbreath to steady myself. Then I got us as close to the searchers as I dared, picking my way through shadows too dark for Daniel to see. I stopped, and we hunkered down. I wrapped both arms around Kenjii, whispering for her to stay quiet.
After a moment, a radio crackled.
No, we havent found them, a male voice said. And were not going to. Even if they stuck around, theyd see us coming from a mile away. Especially after you shot the girl.
I couldnt make out the voice on the other end.
Yeah, well, by that time, theyll be long gone. If they arent fifty feet underwater.
More unintelligible murmuring as the person on the other end responded.
Just because you only found Jason and the mayor doesnt mean they were the only ones who died. The others could have fallen out or floated from the wreck or
Shut the hell up. Another mans voice. One that didnt come from the radio. One that made the hair on my neck stand up. The man in the forest. The man whod pointed a gun at me. The man who had my eyes and my cheekbones.
The kids are fine, the man continued. Theyre in excellent shape. Athletes, all of them. Champion swimmers and runners and fighters. Whatever else the St. Clouds screwed up, they did that right. They made them survivors.
Im sor
You want to keep your job? Then dont apologize. Just find these kids. Find my daughter.
Blood pounded in my ears and I grabbed a tree for support, nails digging into the bark.
Find my daughter.
He meant me. Id known that. From that moment in the woods, Id known it. I just hadnt wanted it to be true.
Daniel gripped my shoulder, squeezing until I looked at him.
Its okay, he murmured. We can do this.
I could tell by his expression that he hadnt heard what the man said. He didnt have my enhanced hearing.
I had to forget what the man said. Id always known I was adopted. Rick Delaney was still my real dad. He raised me. Nothing elseno one elsemattered.
I whispered to Daniel, telling him the other things that the men had said.
Theyre after all of us, Daniel said.
I think so.
I dont get it.
I think I do. I think it wasnt any coincidence that my family wound up in Salmon Creek. It wasnt any coincidence that Sam came here, either. They found me and they found her, and they brought us back to Salmon Creek, with the rest of you. I dont know what it all means, but Im starting to understand. I cant tell you any of that, though. I wish I could. God, I wish I could.
I think I think Sam might be onto something. Everything she says is true. Even about the pilot. I had a bad feeling, when we got on the helicopter, but only a slight one, and with everything that happened, I figured I was just stressing out. I dont believe the parts about demons and all that, but I can see maybe having some power to sense bad vibes in people. I mean, its not like shes saying Im a vampire or a werewolf. That would be crazy. This is just a little weird.
No, it wasnt like shed said he was a werewolf. It wasnt like shed said he could change into an animal. That would be crazy.
I shut my mouth and carried on in silence.
SEVEN
WHEN WE DREW NEAR the place wed left Corey, we realized going straight to him wasnt wise. We decided to take a look from farther down the shore.
We could hear a boat motor, but the running lights were off. There were people on board with flashlights, though, so we could see where it was.
Did that mean everyone was back in the boat? Did they have Corey?
A distant splash told us someone had gone in the water. Retrieving the bodies? Removing identifying parts from the helicopter? It sounded far-fetched, but if you kidnapped kids in a helicopter that crashed, you didnt want local fishermen finding the wreckage.
Daniel tapped my arm. I followed his outstretched finger and saw two more flashlight beams strafing the forest right around where wed left Corey.
I gripped Kenjiis collar as we crept closer. Another flashlight beam flickered through trees farther down. Three searchers. At least two more on the boat plus the diver.
So how would we get to Corey? Was he even still there? If theyd found him, had they?
My brain stuttered over the thought.
Shot him? That was the easy way of saying it, like it didnt mean what I knew it meant. Killed him.
Nicole was dead.
Nic, I whispered. Nics
We dont know that, Daniel whispered harshly, and I knew thats what hed been telling himself. Its what Id been thinking, too. Shot. Just shot. Hayley hadnt seen exactly, so we could keep telling ourselves Nicole was only injured.
Kenjii whined and brushed my hand, and I patted her head.
Corey, Daniel whispered.
He meant we couldnt think about Nicole. Just like we couldnt think about Rafe. We had to focus on saving everyone else.
Oh God. How had it come to this? Where I had to concentrate on saving the friends I could. Forget the ones I couldnt. The ones Id lost. The ones who were already
Daniel clutched my arm.
Maya, he whispered. I need you.
I nodded and took a deepbreath to steady myself. Then I got us as close to the searchers as I dared, picking my way through shadows too dark for Daniel to see. I stopped, and we hunkered down. I wrapped both arms around Kenjii, whispering for her to stay quiet.
After a moment, a radio crackled.
No, we havent found them, a male voice said. And were not going to. Even if they stuck around, theyd see us coming from a mile away. Especially after you shot the girl.
I couldnt make out the voice on the other end.
Yeah, well, by that time, theyll be long gone. If they arent fifty feet underwater.
More unintelligible murmuring as the person on the other end responded.
Just because you only found Jason and the mayor doesnt mean they were the only ones who died. The others could have fallen out or floated from the wreck or
Shut the hell up. Another mans voice. One that didnt come from the radio. One that made the hair on my neck stand up. The man in the forest. The man whod pointed a gun at me. The man who had my eyes and my cheekbones.
The kids are fine, the man continued. Theyre in excellent shape. Athletes, all of them. Champion swimmers and runners and fighters. Whatever else the St. Clouds screwed up, they did that right. They made them survivors.
Im sor
You want to keep your job? Then dont apologize. Just find these kids. Find my daughter.
Blood pounded in my ears and I grabbed a tree for support, nails digging into the bark.
Find my daughter.
He meant me. Id known that. From that moment in the woods, Id known it. I just hadnt wanted it to be true.
Daniel gripped my shoulder, squeezing until I looked at him.
Its okay, he murmured. We can do this.
I could tell by his expression that he hadnt heard what the man said. He didnt have my enhanced hearing.
I had to forget what the man said. Id always known I was adopted. Rick Delaney was still my real dad. He raised me. Nothing elseno one elsemattered.
I whispered to Daniel, telling him the other things that the men had said.
Theyre after all of us, Daniel said.
I think so.
I dont get it.
I think I do. I think it wasnt any coincidence that my family wound up in Salmon Creek. It wasnt any coincidence that Sam came here, either. They found me and they found her, and they brought us back to Salmon Creek, with the rest of you. I dont know what it all means, but Im starting to understand. I cant tell you any of that, though. I wish I could. God, I wish I could.
