SAVANTS
The Chapture 33

I'm really disappointed that I didn't see Zed this afternoon, despite hanging out at the end of the game. Tina went down first, I saw Tina was quite upset because someone like her accidentally almost hit her on the slope.

''Not Zed?'' I asked worriedly.

''No, just an idiot with an inflated ego and no brain, otherwise known as a Nelson. He's trying to impress me.'' He threw his gear at the back of his car. ''Ready to go home?''

"Yes thank you. Nelson didn't persuade you?"

He stopped at the side door of the wheel. ''From what? That we fit in with each other?"

OK, that doesn't sound hopeful but I know Nelson and he's a nice guy who is sometimes silly and annoying.

I got into the passenger seat. Then Tina turned the ignition and tried to start the car several times but it did not turn on.

"Yes my. Sounds bad. Was this morning okay?" He tried to start the car again but it didn't work. "Damn"

''So we have to push the car?"

"You're kidding, no" he replied.

We drove back to the city after several tries to turn it on, on each street we were concerned that the car would stop at any time whenever it slowed down at the intersection.

''Ready to come out and push?'' he joked grimly.

We got to Main Street when the car really couldn't turn on.

''Tina, I think you should take your car to the workshop"

"Yes, I also received that advice from my sister." He swung to the front yard of the Wrickenridge petrol terminal. Only the petrol terminal is open but the market is closed due to the weekend. Kingsley the mechanic was on duty at the cashier and he came out when he heard the machine was broken.

"Open the lid, baby," she told Tina. He peered inside and scratched his head. "it looks like his alternator is gone.''

That makes it clearer—iya right.

He must have noticed our blank expressions. ''That's a battery charger. Without that thing the power will be drained and you get this situation.'' He pointed at the car.

"The car's dead." Tina kicked the tire.

"Car died while—not fatal. I'll fix it for you tomorrow.''

"Thank you, Mr. Kingsley." Tina said

''I'll tow it to the workshop. Your car will be safe enough here, leave your gear in the trunk.''

Tina hands the car into the hands of Kingsley who knows the engine.

''Haaah, what a bad day'' Tina snorted.

I know the cure for a situation like this. "Let's go get a muffin and three chocolates?"

He was immediately excited. ''That's all I need now. You're a good friend, Sky.''

We also ate a little at the cafe. I managed to coax him out of his anger towards Nelson, showing that he was simply overzealous, not evil, in his attempt to get Tina's attention.

"I guess, but sometimes he acts like a big baby" he grunts. ''Why can't he grow up?''

''Maybe he's in the process of learning"

He grins. ''Hey, who is Obi now?''

I put on an expression like my best wrinkled old man. ''Nelson, he's a good man, try to give him a chance "

He laughed out loud. "OK, stop. Obi does not have a British accent!''

I raised an eyebrow. ''Besides, you're saying I'm a dead peski?'

"If those shoes fit you"

''Sheesh, I hate tall girls.''

Outside the cafe we had to split up. It's getting dark. Some street lights blinked, making it appear darker in the shadows.

"Thank you for Tina's lesson and sorry about your car." I closed my jacket zipper.

''This happens often. I have to see if I can take the extra time to the store to pay for my car repairs. See you soon.''

I reached into my pocket looking for a cell phone to tell Sally and Simon that I was going home.

''Hi, Selly? Tina has car problems. I'm walking from Main Street.''

I could hear loud music in the background as Sally's voice sounded. ''You are not alone, are you?''

''I was alone, I know. Sounds not good. Can you come and see me at the store near the cafe? I don't want to walk home alone.''

"I'll go now. See you at the store. Stay where there are other people around you.''

''Good. I'll wait inside.''

I tucked the phone in my back pocket. There were about five hundred meters between the cafe and the shop, and I had to cross the intersection with a traffic light.

I feel good walking there because the lighting is quite good and there are always a lot of people hanging around.

I wonder how Zed is doing. He must have stopped going up the mountain because it was already dark. Did her father tell her that I was expecting too much to see her?

I almost reached the intersection when a man ran behind me. I glanced at a glance. Big, tall. He almost completely shaved his head, aside from the long curly hair on the back. I moved to one side to let him through.

"Hey, I thought you dropped this." He handed me a brown leather wallet.

"Eh, no, it's not mine.'' I clutched my bag closer. I knew very well that my red wallet was securely stored deep inside.

He gave me a grin ''aw shit, that's kind of weird—because there's a picture of you in it.''

''It's impossible.'' Confused, I took the wallet from him and opened the front. A photo that was recently taken while Zed and I were walking together in the schoolyard.

His wallet was full of dollars, far more than I ever had. "I don't understand.'' I glanced at the horse-pointed man who was in front of me. There's something strange about him. I backed off, thrusting the wallet into his hand again. "It's not mine."

How does he know my name? ''No, that's really....''I ran.

''Hey, don't you want the money?'' he called while chasing me.

I got to the corner but all the cars were going so fast that I couldn't risk crossing without causing an accident.But when I wanted to cross he was already behind me and I felt something hit my ribs.

''Then let me explain everything more clearly. You're gonna get in the car with me right now without attracting anyone's attention''

I took a breath to scream and tried to pull myself out of his hand.

"Do that and I'll shoot you." He stuck something in my body that I now realize was a gun.

A black SUV with dark windows came to a halt in front of us.

''Include.''

It happened so quickly and so smoothly, I had no chance to plan an escape. He pushed me into the back seat, forcing my head down as he closed the door. Then the car drove away.

'Zed!' I screamed in my mind.

''He was using telepathy, '' said the man in the steering chair, who was sitting in the driver's seat. She was like her late thirties, she had short red hair and many spots on her face.

'Sky? What's wrong?' Zed answered immediately.

''That's nice. Let him know we've got you, son. Tell him to come get you.'' The driver up front has a strong Irish accent.

Immediately I turned off my telepathic connection with Zed. They used me to pull the Benedict family out.

''He was blocking it, '' said the red-haired man.

The thugs in the back seat pulled me by the nape of the neck. At first glance I saw my mother waiting outside the store, pulling out her phone. And my phone in my pocket is ringing.

''Is that him calling you?'' the thug asked. "Come, answer."

She probably wouldn't let me talk if I said it was my mother. I removed it from my skating suit, but he quickly took the phone from me and pressed the receive button.

"We kidnapped her. You know what we want. Eye for an eye, teeth for a tooth, two Benedict for our family.'' He disconnects the call and then throws the phone out the window. ''Who needs telepathy? It has to be done hahaha"

''It wasn't them—it .. it was my mother.'' I started shaking. A few moments of blunt shock turned into deep fear.

''Just the same" he shrugged his shoulders. "Let him tell the Benedict family"

I could hear the hum of a voice trying to reach me—not just Zed but his entire family.

I couldn't help myself answering. 'Help me! Help u!'

But then the voice died and disappeared.

"I let him get one wish that cut their hearts." The red-haired man rubbed his forehead. ''But those Benedict attacked my shield. Let's get out of here as soon as possible "

So he was that expert savant.

"That's evil, Halloran. You let them hear this little girl's last words and then stop her?" The guy who told me to get in the car laughed.

''Yeah, I thought it was a nice touch. Tears are brought, right?'' He turned around to blink an eye at me. ''Don't worry, son, they'll come for you. The Benedict family won't stay put if one of them gets kidnapped"

I curled up like a ball, hugged my knees, put as far distance as possible between me and the criminals. Closing my eyes, I concentrated on finding my way through the shield.

''Stop!'' snarl Halloran.

My eyes were wide open in surprise. He glared at me in the rearview mirror. I had managed to disrupt the barrier with my efforts, but I was too clueless about things about strength to know how to utilize it.

''I will tell Gator to take you down if you try again, Halloran warned.

"What's he doing?" ask Gator the horse-tailed thug.

Halloran rubbed his temple again. My attack and Benedict's attack on his shield must have overwhelmed him.

"We have a baby Savant here. I don't know why he doesn't know what to do with his strength but he has some things locked inside him. He can only telepathize"

Gator looks agitated now. "What else can he do?"

Halloran looked at me while shrugging his shoulders. ''Nothing, as far as I know. Don't worry, he won't hurt you.''

Gator is afraid of Savants?. But keep in mind—doesn't mean I can do anything with him right now. Halloran's right, I'm still a baby in their terms. If I want to help myself get out of this mess, I have to grow up really fast.

°°°

We have been driving for over an hour. I had already gone through the terror of fear and now felt a deadly despair. We're too far from Wrickenridge for anyone to chase us.

''Where are you taking me?'' i asked.

Gator looked surprised to hear me speak. I had the impression that I was just a tool to achieve their goal of getting the Benedict family and that no one in the car really thought of me.

"Should I tell him?'' ask her to Halloran.

Halloran. He is silent, his battle with the Benedict family unseen as the Benedicts desperately attempt to destroy his shield.

''Well, we'll take you to the boss.'' Gator took a packet of gum from his breast pocket and offered me. I shook my head.

"Who's your boss?"

"You'll know soon."

''Where is he?''

"At the other end of the journey when it was finished boarding that plane." He pointed towards an aircraft waiting on the runway of a small provincial airfield.

"You guys flying?''

"We sure as hell won't walk to Vegas."

We stopped next to the jet. Gator pulled me out of the car and tied me up with a short strap. And the plane took off immediately, heading south to Las Vegas.