Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 88119 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88119 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Devon frowned. It was strange how good it felt to be shoulder to shoulder with him. I’d never felt more alone than when I’d found out about Alec’s and the FEA’s betrayal, but it was comforting to learn I still had Devon.
“Would you even recognize her if she looked, like, twenty?”
I tried to recall my mother’s face the last time I’d seen her, but that had been more than three years ago. I leaned forward, heaved my bag onto my legs and pulled out the photo of my mother that I’d found in the file—but kept the photos with Abel and my brother Zachary hidden.
“I think it would actually be easier for me if she looked younger, back when life was made of happy memories. The truth is, I hardly remember how she looked three years ago.”
I handed the photo to Devon. He shined the flashlight on it, his eyes squinting to get a better look.
“I was one in that photo,” I explained, “and to the best of my knowledge, my mother was in her twenties.”
Devon’s expression softened. “You and your mom look so happy here.”
I glanced over at it—at the loving smile on my mother’s face, at her smooth skin, at the way she held me close to her. My smile was wide, showing off my first few teeth, and I looked like I couldn’t be happier anywhere but on my mother’s lap. “I suppose we were happy at that time.”
“So what happened?” He handed the photo back to me and I stuffed it into my bag where it couldn’t bring up hurtful memories.
I’d asked myself that question so often and always come up short, but now I thought that I might know the answer. “We moved a lot. Later on I thought it was because my mother was worried someone might find out about my Variation, but now I think she might have been running from Abel’s Army.”
“If she was so worried about Abel’s Army, why do you think she didn’t return to the FEA? You said she’d lived in headquarters for a few years, right?” Devon shifted and the friction of our shoulders rubbing against each other gave me goose bumps. It was still weird to be this close to Devon; I’d always thought Alec would be the one to stand by me if anything went downhill. I never would have thought that he might be the reason why it went downhill in the first place.
I could feel Devon staring at me. “I don’t know,” I said. “But I need to find out. That’s why we need to find her.” I tried to think back to the happier years with my mother, but the early memories were almost faded. “I don’t think the happy period lasted for long. I think the running got to my mother pretty fast, but what really did her in was when I showed signs of my Variation. It reminded her of everything she’d worked so hard to forget. I think that’s when she lost it and started hating me.”
Devon’s hand reached for mine and laced my fingers through his. He did it with such an ease and casualness, as if we’d been friends—or more—for years.
“She doesn’t hate you,” he said softly. But he couldn’t know. He had never met my mother, had never seen the disgust in her eyes when she’d caught me using my talent.
I didn’t say anything, just closed my eyes.
I wasn’t sure how long I’d been asleep, but it couldn’t have been more than a couple of hours from the way my body felt. Sluggishly, I lifted my head, wondering what had woken me. The beam of a spotlight swiveled across our tent. I peered out of the gap. It was dark outside except for the spotlights, but I could make out the shape of police sirens on the roof of a car.
“Devon,” I hissed, shaking his shoulder.
He turned around, blinking back sleep. “What’s up?”
“The police,” I said quietly.
Devon sat up, eyes wide. “They’re searching for us. You have to get out and hide somewhere. Quick!”
He got to his knees, confusion showing on his face. “Why?”
“Hurry,” I whispered. “I’m fine here, but you need to stay hidden.”
When the police car pulled into the parking lot, there was a moment when the trees hid the truck bed from their view.
“Now.”
I half-pushed Devon out of the tent. He landed with a gentle thud on the asphalt and I watched him dart into the bushes beside the truck, crouching in the brush. We couldn’t risk being caught. I wriggled out of my clothes, stashed them in my sleeping bag, then snatched jogging pants and a shirt from Devon’s bag and gingerly slipped them on.
The crunching of tires on asphalt stopped close by. The police car had come to a halt beside ours. I took a deep breath, recalled the memory of Uncle Scott’s appearance and let the rippling wash over me. I could hear their steps coming closer, and saw the beam of a flashlight growing larger and brighter as they approached the tent. I lay very still except for the shaking of my limbs as I transformed into the form of Uncle Scott. I willed the transformation to go faster. If the police officers caught me mid-change, we’d all be in a shitload of trouble.