18. Willa / Greer
CHAPTER 18
WILLA / GREER
D owntown Atlanta is too hot with Raven in the vicinity. River and I decide to head to the suburbs tomorrow. We found a motel or two that seems promising. River assures me they’re the kind that take your money and don’t ask any questions.
Tonight, we dine on cold pizza and water. What started out as a fantastically awesome day went to hell fast, but oddly enough, I’m sort of okay. Does that mean I’m getting used to this life?
I glance around the office. “How many of you lived here? And why isn’t it freezing?”
“Seven of us.” River leans back with a shrug. “Whoever owns the building must control the temperature remotely. The thermostat is set on sixty, and we could never find a way to change it.”
“Tell me about them?”
He flexes his fingers as if he doesn’t know what to do with them. “Lance was the best guy. He noticed me using my powers one day and invited me to lunch. When he found out I had no place to stay, he invited me back here.” River grins at the memory.
I turn toward him, getting comfortable on the couch. “He sounds like a good guy.”
“He was awesome. Always taking care of us. Finding cash jobs for the necessities. He was even working on a plan to get us an apartment,” he says with a soft snort, looking around the office. “None of us really cared where we were, though. Having a semi-permanent place like this one was better than any place we’d stayed in a while. We were like family.” His voice drops off, heavy with emotion.
“How did seven guys sleep in this tiny place?” I tease him, trying to help him through the guilt he must be feeling.
Jordan told me about how he and River watched them round up the rest of the guys and how guilty he still feels.
He motions to the right. “There’s a bathroom and another office behind that wall, along with a back door for a quick escape, not that it did any good.” This time, there’s a bitterness to his tone.
I slip off my shoes and lay my head on his shoulder. “Tell me about the others.”
“I can’t,” he murmurs, rubbing his palms on his thighs in agitation.
Underneath his usual spring scent, an underlying burnt wood smell like a bonfire fills the air, and it tells me more than his words. I get it. For a long time, I couldn’t talk about my parents. When I did, it was only to Lionel… someone who knew and loved them, too.
“I understand. How about your parents? You said your mom has powers?”
He’s silent for several minutes but then begins. “My dad left when we were kids. My mom is wonderful. Protected us for years. Always moving us before Raven could even get a sniff.” His voice is warm and full of love. “She has telekinesis. The ability to move objects with her mind. She’s not very powerful even for a first gen, but she only used it to make us laugh or swat us on the butt with a wooden spoon.”
His smile fades. “Her biggest fear was that we would be born with a high level of power or a rare talent. She felt that once the government knew about everyone, it would be bad. She was right. Her generation was largely ignored. Then, our generation came along, and Raven started rounding up the most powerful of us.”
The more I hear, the more scared I am of this whole thing. How do I live being scared all the time?
“We?” I ask softly.
His breath catches. “My sister and me.”
“I’ve always wanted a sibling. What’s she like? Do you ever see her or your mom?” I ask tentatively, almost afraid of his answer.
This time, his smile is brighter. “Lily is wonderful. Smart, beautiful, and at seventeen, growing up way too fast. Unfortunately, she’s extremely powerful. Her talent is telekinesis but on a significantly higher level than anyone else with those powers.” His mouth turns down. “If I get a chance to visit them, I take it, but it’s rare.”
“Does your sister look like you?” I ask, picturing a blond girl with green eyes. Scooting down into the leather couch, I tuck my cold hands into the crook of his arm and huddle closer.
“We used to look alike. Same blue eyes and blond hair,” he replies with a small smile. Confused, I stare at him. “My powers grew exponentially, and when they did, my eyes turned green. It happens sometimes. Lily’s are still blue. Brighter, though.”
It’s obvious he misses them. “I’m sorry. It sounds like you’re a close-knit family.” Although I try to hide the envy in my voice, I’m sure he can still hear it.
He squeezes my hand. “We are. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for them. Nothing.” Laying his head on the back of the sofa, he wraps his arms around me and rubs up and down, generating some warmth. “Try to get some sleep. Tomorrow’s going to be a long day.”
* * *
“Greer, wake up,” River tells me, his voice urgent. “We’ve got company.”
I shoot up from where I’m sleeping, only to be met with River’s arm across my chest and a very large gun in my face. The man in front of us is wearing dark camo fatigues. I search for an insignia, but I don’t see anything on his arms. Some kind of dark knit material covers his face, leaving only his eyes and mouth visible.
“Name,” the man in front of me barks, his gravelly voice sounding almost irritated.
I’m caught by his amber eyes. Ringed with burnt orange, they’re so striking it takes me a minute to respond. “Greer… Vickers.” It’s tough to say Lionel’s last name. “Who are you?” My voice is shaky, but it’s hard not to be scared when a soldier is standing in front of you with a gun.
He ignores my question and looks at River. “You?”
“River Fulton,” he states with a slight smirk.
He ignores River and taps the thing on his throat. “Greer confirmed.” He pauses. “Affirmative. On our way out.”
He eases back a step or two, but the gun never lowers. “Get up. We’re leaving.”
Not liking his attitude, I glare at him. “What’s your name?”
He says nothing, only jerks his head toward the door.
Afraid we’d have to leave in a hurry, the only thing I took off last night were my shoes. I’m still wearing the bag and my windbreaker. Reaching down, I jam my foot into one sneaker, then the other. The minute they’re on, River grabs my hand and pulls me up, leading us out of the office. GI Joe falls into step behind me.
The second we pass through the office door, more men in fatigues with their faces covered close in on us, guns aimed in our direction. Unnerved, I stumble and almost fall, but the man behind me reaches out and steadies me.
Glancing back, I reluctantly murmur my thanks, but of course, he doesn’t answer. Another man falls in behind him. Swallowing hard, I grip River’s hand tighter and carefully watch each step. Outside, the sun is shining, and the air is crisp. Two dark SUVs are idling in front of the door. Seconds later, we’re completely surrounded by men.
The big guy behind me wraps a single arm around my body. “Now.”
A tall, lean men standing beside the first SUV reaches out and touches River on the neck. “Sleep.” Two men catch him as he instantly drops.
Unable to move, I open my mouth to scream, but a hand clamps across my lips. “Sleep” is the last word I hear.
* * *
Something taps my face a couple of times, and I reach up to brush it away. An irritated sigh, followed by a gruff order to get up, wakes me immediately. I sit up with a glare and find myself in unfamiliar surroundings with a guy squatting in front of me. Correction, a man. Big, with broad shoulders and thick thighs, he squats easily as if he’s used to it.
His jaw is chiseled like granite and based on the tic I see, clenched tightly in irritation. Scruff covers his strong cheekbones and slightly crooked nose. Even his dark brown hair is closely cropped and molded to his skull. Pouty lips are the only thing soft on this guy. The longer I stare at him, the more the line across his forehead deepens until he’s scowling. If it wasn’t for those strange amber eyes of his, I wouldn’t know he was the same guy who came for us at the warehouse.
“Where am I?” I ask, flicking a glance around the grey room. There’s a large window along one wall. Looks like an interrogation room. “Am I in jail?” I sit up a little straighter and realize my go bag and windbreaker are gone.
“I’ll be the one asking questions,” he curtly informs me. He stands and stalks over to the table in the center of the room. “Come over here and sit.”
Uncertain whether I’m in jail or not, I rush over and sit down in the cold metal chair. Folding my arms, I watch him as he sits across from me.
He picks up a file and notepad. “Name?”
“Greer Vickers,” I reply with a sigh.
“Address?”
A laugh escapes. “None.”
His head pops up and his eyes narrow. “Previous address?”
“A friend’s place,” I answer quickly.
He leans forward. “What was your friend’s address?”
I shrug. “I don’t know.” His eyes start to glow, and I realize I’m definitely not in jail. Whatever his power is, it’s starting to show. I swallow hard. “I promise. I don’t know his address. Can you tell me where I am?” Can you tell me if you’re Raven ? I want to scream but somehow hold back.
He ignores my question and looks back down at the file. “Parents?”
“Where’s River?” I counter, lifting my chin.
“Down the hall,” he replies to my surprise. “In a room similar to this one. Answering questions.” His jaw hardens further. “Parents?”
“Dead,” I tell him. “All of them are dead. I’m the only one left. Happy now?” Angry tears fill my eyes, and it pisses me off. “Where am I?”
His hand rises to his ear, and he says nothing for a second. “Someone’s here to see you.” He stands up and opens the door.
Brad, with his shaved head and tattoos, is standing in the hallway, and I immediately burst into tears.