20

I held Alex’s gaze, my breathing running rapid. ‘Lie about me? What do you mean?’ I stuttered.

Alex shook his head. ‘The things we’ve been made to believe about people like you – it – it just doesn’t make sense to me anymore. I look at you and I start questioning everything I’ve been told.’

Once more he’d stunned me into silence. Clearly the picture they’d painted of us was not that warm and fuzzy. They really believed they were hunting monsters. And in Demos’s case, they obviously were.

‘But you believed them before yesterday – why?’

He looked away again and I could see the frustration etched on his face. ‘Because, when Jack and I were recruited at Washington State, they offered us the chance for revenge. And we believed them because we wanted to.’

‘What did they tell you? How did they recruit you?’

‘Two men showed up on campus one day. They wouldn’t tell us who they were working for. At first we assumed CIA but I don’t think they were. They showed us the information they had on Melissa’s – sorry – on your mother’s murder. They showed us everything they had on Demos: photographs, crime reports, trials in absentia, a whole raft of reports and evidence on other psys. At first we thought they were making it up. You have to understand, for us, it was like discovering aliens existed and were living among us. We didn’t believe it. So they took us to Pendleton, to the Unit, and showed us. They had one, someone they’d captured. We saw it with our own eyes. He could do what Key can do. We started to believe them, to ask questions. They told us that the Unit’s mission was to catch people like your mother’s killers. We didn’t need any other incentive. We signed the papers right there and then. It seems crazy now, but at the time there was no other option for either of us. We had to do it.’

It didn’t seem crazy at all. I loved them both for it. I just wished I hadn’t ended up being on their hit list.

‘Can I ask you a question now?’ Alex was looking at me, his blue eyes piercing right through me. I readied myself. ‘How did it happen?’

I leaned back against the headboard and hugged my knees tighter. ‘I don’t know. I thought you might be able to tell me that.’

He thought about it for a moment. ‘We don’t know. All we’ve managed to do is isolate the gene. We’re not sure what triggers it, though. Some people have the gene but it just lies dormant.’

It was genetic? Wow. Why wasn’t Jack like me, then?

‘When did it start?’ Alex suddenly asked.

It felt so strange to be admitting any of this, to be talking about it so openly. But at the same time, if there was anyone on the planet I wanted to tell, it was Alex. Just not under these circumstances.

I took a few breaths then started. ‘Three years ago. Well, actually there was one incident before then but I didn’t realise it was me . . .’

Alex waited for me to continue.

‘When I came to London it was really difficult. In my first week at school I got mad with a teacher. She, um, she . . .’ I looked down at the sheet, stroking the hem with my finger. ‘She asked me to take off the bracelet you’d given me. You remember it?’ I glanced up and met Alex’s eyes but he showed no flicker of recognition. Maybe he hadn’t opened my present.

I carried on. ‘I said no. She told me again to take it off or she’d cut it off and I said no. So she came towards me with these scissors . . . and I don’t know what happened. One minute the scissors were in her hand and the next they’d flown halfway across the room and were sticking out of the blackboard.’

I looked back up at Alex. He was pressing his lips together, reining in whatever he wanted to say. It was actually quite funny that my ability had, in a way, been triggered by his present to me.

I hurried on. ‘I had no idea I had made it happen. People looked at me weirdly but I honestly didn’t have a clue it was me.’

‘And then?’

I realised I’d stopped talking. I’d been thinking back to that moment and the teacher’s face as the scissors flew out of her hand. I frowned as I fast-forwarded to the first proper time I’d been conscious of.

‘Well, the next time it really happened was a year or so later. At school, in the dining room someone made a comment about my mum and I just lost it.’

I bit my lip. I didn’t need him thinking I was unstable or unable to control my ability. Which would be correct, but he didn’t need to know that.

‘I didn’t usually mind the comments – I mean, I guess I was a little weird; a little distant, uninterested – but it wasn’t a good time. I was missing my mum so much. I was missing you and Jack.’ I felt my stomach tighten. ‘So this girl said something and I threw a jam roly-poly at her head.’ There was a silence, so I added, ‘Not using my hands, obviously.’

‘You did what?’ He burst out laughing. It wasn’t the reaction I’d expected. I started laughing too.

‘Yeah, it was pretty stupid. But she deserved it. Anyway, after that, everyone pretty much avoided me. They thought I’d actually chucked it, that it had been in my hand. You would, right? I got into trouble. But I didn’t care – I was just utterly amazed that I could do this, this thing. So I started to practise. You know, with pencils and books and small things. It took ages to get a grip on it. I thought maybe it was all in my mind at first, that I was imagining it, and then, it was a bit like riding a bike, I just got it one day. Moving things without, um, actually touching them, was like the most natural thing in the world.’

I didn’t mention that it was a bit like riding a bike with no brakes, down a very steep hill.

‘And does it have anything to do with why you came here? Did you really get mugged?’

‘Yes. That was the truth. I just didn’t tell you the whole story.’ I paused; Alex was looking at me with a face like thunder. ‘I – I didn’t hurt them.’

‘What did they do to you?’

I realised he wasn’t angry with me, he was angry with them. This was good – anywhere his anger could be directed other than at me was good.

‘Nothing. Well, I mean, they were just trying to take my bag. But they held a knife to me and, I don’t know what happened, but the next second I was holding the knife. Well, not holding it exactly. It was—’ I couldn’t accurately describe it, so I stopped.

Alex put his head in his hands. I hadn’t thought it was that bad. Oh God, he did think I was a sociopath.

‘I didn’t mean to do it. I didn’t hurt them. I know it was bad. I tried to stop. I did stop. I promised myself I wouldn’t do it again. Then all this happened and . . .’ I ran out of steam.

He looked up at me with an expression I really couldn’t read. Like someone had told him his motorbike had been stolen.

‘Will you tell Jack?’ I asked.

His expression settled. ‘I think he needs to know.’

‘Why?’ I didn’t want to tell Jack. I knew he’d make Alex’s reaction look like a peace meditation.

‘Because, Lila, you’re his sister. And I have to get you out of the country and I need his help to do it.’

I threw off the blanket and stood up off the bed. ‘But he’ll hate me, he’ll look at me like you just did. Like I’m some kind of monster, something awful. Like the people who killed Mum.’

Suddenly he was on his feet. ‘Lila, that’s not what I think. I told you I don’t believe it. It’s not what Jack will think, either, once we explain.’

‘But you’re still not sure about me – I can see the doubt. And the way you’re looking at me now . . . it’s obvious.’

‘No – no, that’s not it. I’m angry now, for sure. But not with you. I’m furious with those kids for mugging you. I could kill them. You had far more self-control than Jack or I would have done.’

He sat back down on the bed, facing me. ‘I’m sorry about last night, and today. The way I’ve been treating you,’ he said. ‘It was a shock.’ He paused, trying to think what to say. ‘It’s what I was trying to tell you before. For the last three years I’ve been programmed to think of you, of people like you, rather, as something less than human. As all bad. It was as if the gene that triggers this was a rogue gene, like a cancer, wiping out all the good in people – and then I see you . . . It was, it was a bit like losing gravity.’ He ran his hands down his face, pressed his fingers into his temples. ‘Everything’s changed. I no longer know what to think or who to trust.’

I stared straight at him. Did he trust me? The silence started to thump like it had its own heartbeat. Neither of us moved or said anything for a long time. I was trying to reconstruct the whole night from this new perspective.

‘Is that why you almost killed Key too? Because you thought he was like me?’ Was their automatic reaction to try to exterminate us on sight?

‘What?’ His eyes flashed, his voice was low but angry. ‘I almost killed him because I saw him dragging you out of the house.’

‘Oh.’ I sank down onto the opposite bed.

‘I had no idea who he was – I just saw him with you and—’ He looked up at me apologetically and I felt my heart do a little jump. He’d been trying to save me. Put like that, it was swoonworthy stuff, though I doubted Key’s face agreed.

All of a sudden, none of it mattered anymore. The whole of last night could be rewritten in my head. He wasn’t angry with me. He didn’t hate me. Now all I needed was for him to tell me he was coming with me.

‘Where am I going to go?’

His eyes met mine. He really looked so tired. Like he didn’t have the energy to stand. He hadn’t slept yet. ‘I don’t know yet. I’m thinking about it.’

A thought bubbled to the surface. ‘What about my dad? What will we tell him if I just disappear?’

‘We’ll make something up. You can see him again when this is over. When it’s safe.’

‘You know he’s not going to be that happy about me missing my exams.’ It seemed ridiculous to be worrying about tests when I was potentially about to be killed, but I knew how my dad’s mind worked.

‘Yes, I realise that. I’m sorry. Maybe you can take them in a few months’ time.’

‘Hmmm. Maybe.’ I didn’t mind. Not taking exams and heading off into the sunset with Alex was a pretty amazing deal. I’d take it every time.

A thought was scuttling around my head, though, and I couldn’t shake it. I heard myself voice it quietly. ‘Are you coming with me?’

He took a while to answer, then he said, ‘You think I’d let you go alone?’ My heart leapt.

Alex stood up and came towards me and then knelt down in front of me. ‘Lila, when you asked me earlier why I was helping you and I told you I had no choice I meant I have no choice because you are—’

The trilling of a phone interrupted. I hung on to the last words, I am what? I am WHAT?

He was gone, though, over to the table, where his phone was vibrating.

‘Hello . . .? We’re good. Where are you? Did you find them?’

It had to be Key. There was a pause.

‘OK. OK. No, that’s good. Yes. I’ll call him later. We’re going to be gone in twenty-four hours. Is that long enough?’

‘Yes, I promise. Yes – I will be.’ A pause. ‘No. Not on her own.’ Another pause. ‘Yes. And Key – thank you.’

He hung up and turned towards me. I waited. He put the phone down on the table.

‘He’s followed them. They’re in San Diego. They’re trying to find us there. The Unit are closing in. They think we’re with them.’ He stopped and I caught the worry on his face. ‘I hope he doesn’t get caught. There’s not much I can do from here.’

I felt all the air come out of me. So we were safe for the moment. The fear wasn’t gone but it was muted. No one was about to come racing through the door. Apart from maybe the police but I was sure that Alex could handle them. He probably had some gadget in his bag that would persuade them to put their guns away and leave us in peace. For the first time in almost twenty-four hours, I felt myself relax, and my muscles started to scream as they uncramped.

‘I need to call Jack.’

My head jerked up. ‘Now?’

No, he couldn’t call Jack now. He needed to finish his sentence. I was what? He seemed to have forgotten our conversation, though. Instead, he crossed over to the chair where the holdall was still sitting and started rifling through it. He pulled out a small metallic-looking object and crossed to the phone that sat on the table between the two beds. He lifted the phone and attached the metal thing to the wires at the base. Then, glancing at me quickly, he dialled a number.

In the ten seconds it took for the call to connect, I held my breath, drawing my knees to my chest. My eyes didn’t leave Alex’s back.

‘Hey, Jack – no, listen, listen. Yes, no, don’t worry – she’s here – OK, here . . .’ He turned and held the phone out to me. ‘Tell him you’re all right.’

I clutched the phone. ‘Hi, Jack, it’s me.’

‘Jesus, Lila, where the hell are you? Are you OK? Where have you been?’

‘Er—’

Alex snatched the receiver back and I was grateful. I hadn’t been sure where to begin on that one.

‘We’re fine,’ I heard Alex say. ‘No. I can explain. It wasn’t Demos. We’re not with them.’ There was a pause.

‘Flank two.’

Flank what?

‘Seriously. They came to the house. I had to get her away and I couldn’t take her to the base. It wasn’t safe – the alarm – yes, I know. OK – how close are you?’

My breathing caught like it was snagged on barbed wire.

‘Right. Good. That’s good. Keep on them. Keep them south.’

Another pause. I could hear Jack’s voice getting louder.

‘The truck? Yeah, that was the idea. I’ll explain when I see you. The car? Yeah, I’ll explain that later too . . . No. No. It’s fine.’

Uh-oh.

‘No, I think it’s best we stay as far away from San Diego and the base as possible. Can you meet us? Alone. You need to come alone – any more of you and they’ll suspect something. You come alone and let the Unit take care of business. I’m serious, Jack. Don’t even tell them where you’re going. Demos is getting intel from the inside. I can’t tell you over the phone.’

Alex dropped his voice, shouldering me out. ‘I need to talk to you face-to-face.’

There was a hugely long pause and I started to fidget. Alex’s shoulders were tensing, I could see that even from behind. He was running his hand over his close-cropped hair. I remembered how it had felt; soft, like dandelion quills. Wow, I really needed to focus.

‘Just her passport. And some papers for you and me.’

Both of them?

‘When’s the earliest you can meet us?’

‘OK. Eight a.m. Near Palm Springs. I’ll call you and tell you where to go.’

I glanced at the clock. It was flashing 23.13.

Alex hung up and turned to me. My face was expectant. His lips were pursed.

‘What did he say about Demos?’

‘As Key said, they’re in San Diego, the Unit are on them. They thought Demos had us both. It caused a major panic. The whole Unit deployed after them.’

‘But I thought you said they wouldn’t do anything if anyone from the Unit got taken?’

‘It’s not about me,’ he said, looking at me pointedly.

I continued staring at him.

Alex carried on, ‘He wanted to know about the car.’

I bet. I didn’t want to be nearby when Alex told him the truth about that.

‘And flank two?’ I asked. ‘What does that mean?’

He smiled. ‘Just a code word, to let him know we’re not under duress.’

‘Why did you say Demos was getting intel from the inside?’

‘So he wouldn’t tell anyone what he was doing and would come alone.’

Oh.

I frowned. ‘So we’re meeting Jack tomorrow?’ It felt suddenly like the night before an exam. I was sweating fear. ‘Are you sure we have to tell him? I’m not so—’

‘Yes, we have to tell him.’

I glared at him. ‘Why?’

‘For lots of reasons. Mainly because I need him to know the truth.’

‘What about me? I don’t want him to know the truth. Does that count? Don’t I get a say in this?’

‘Lila, it’ll be fine. It’s Jack. I’ll talk to him – he needs to know.’ Alex was deploying the tone he usually used to defuse situations, soft and smooth and stomach-flipping.

Great. Well, I hoped wherever we were going was in public so Jack couldn’t do anything to me without witnesses.

Alex seemed subdued once more, wrapped up in his thoughts, and I wondered whether they were about how to tell Jack about my ability without him killing or containing me.

‘Come on, let’s both get some sleep while we can. We need to be up before dawn – I need to steal another car.’

He crossed to the second bed and flopped onto it, pushing his gun half under the pillow with his hand resting on it. He was on his side, his eyes already closed.

I stood stranded, knowing I needed to go and lie down on the other bed but wanting so much to crawl into his bed and curl up against him.

‘Can I sleep with you?’ I asked. My hand flew to my mouth. It had just come out. A bit like my ability just came out when I was tired or otherwise emotional.

Alex opened one eye and gave me a long, guarded look but then finally he lifted his arm and I went and slid under it.