SAVANTS
The Chapture 54

The elevator ride was one of the hardest things I've ever done. I had to hide the fact that I felt nauseous from nervousness, given well what happened the last time I was alone with Daniel Kelly and his son.

"So, what do you like? They make good club sandwiches" Sean said, rubbing his hands together. All he needs is a black robe and a 'bwa-ha-ha' laugh to perfect his evil nature.

"Um, yeah, that sounds good."

"Do you like Las Vegas?"

"It's unique."

He giggles. "That's. Man-made playground."

"You're in college?"

"No. I went straight into the family business."

"Hotel?"

"And other things."

Those were other things he liked such as blackmail and violence. I can feel him considering himself following in his father's footsteps. 

He was truly pitiful, with no advantage that his father and sister had. She was only really scary when she threatened to suck up my emotions.

The elevator doors opened in an all too familiar corridor. I don't want to hesitate before I step out.

" Is there a problem?"

"Mmm .. no, just feel dejavu."

He stroked his mustache to hide a grin. "I know that feeling. Look, Sky, I just wanted to introduce you to my dad, he's the CEO of my family business. It won't be long. Do you not mind?"

I put my hand in my pocket, glanced down quickly to make sure my microphone was not visible in my cleavage. "No"

I did this for Zed, I told myself as I followed Sean into the meeting room.

Like that day, weeks ago, Daniel Kelly was waiting at the end of the table. "Ah, Sky, nice to see you again." He got up and closed the door with his Telekinesis power.

click, the door sounds in the lock.

Whahuh? He did not even bother to hide that he was a savant.

"I've met you before?" I asked, hoping I sounded really confused.

"You can let go of your pretense now. I was fully aware that the FBI had sent you to us in the vain hope that we would incriminate ourselves. But it's not gonna happen."

Then why is he talking like this? I couldn't help but glance down again.

"You can forget the eavesdropper. Disturbance from Maria. They will only hear a rumbling sound. Sean, where's your manners? Show our guests to the chair."

Sean grabbed my shoulder and pushed me into his own chair by the window.

"What did you get from him?" Daniel Kelly tapped his finger on the crossed arm.

"The pride of pride is gone." Sean took a deep breath. "Fear—tfear is amazing."

"Take as many as you like" said his father. "He's pretty detrimental to us with the action he's doing in the casino."

I shuddered as Sean leaned over my neck and rubbed my cheek with his fingers. I felt like a tire was leaking, air was flowing out. 

My training with Victor to maintain my mind, I couldn't remember what I had to do, my fear increased. I shivered uncontrollably. 

Worst of all, I can't feel Zed with me anymore. All the scariest moments of my life were swarming around in my mind, my parents' quarrels, Phil's beatings, abandonment, being shot in the woods, the warehouse and all the trouble I've ever faced.

"Great," muttered Sean. "He's like an old-fashioned wine— intoxicating."

Daniel Kelly decided that he had enough of self-indulgence. "Stop now, Sean. I want him to be conscious."

Sean gave me a sweaty kiss on my neck and stood up. I felt all over my body damp and disgusted, my energy had been drained away by it. I hugged my arm.

Think about it, I ordered my fractured mind. There's something I can do. Windsor Castle .

But my shield is a house of cards, about to collapse on the first strike.

"If I'm right, the FBI will try to gain access to this floor so we don't have long. Unfortunately, Sky, you're going berserk, your sanity is going to disappear. You're gonna use this gun" he showed me the gun lying on the table, "you're gonna run through the casino shooting innocent guests. The FBI has to take you out to stop you— sacrificed their pawns. Kind of mean, right?"

"I don't want to." My word.

"You're gonna do it. Of course, they'll suspect the truth, but there won't be any evidence, why you died and so on."

"No."

"How tragic are the Benedict family." He was perched on the edge of the table, checking his watch. "You know, Sky, I've decided that having them play a part in the death of innocents is the best revenge. They have to live with regrets. It'll cripple them permanently and the FBI won't dare use them again."

I have to get a grip on myself. Victor has told me what to do if I face a mind robbery again. 

I have to do it right because it's not just my own life that's threatened this time. I can't imagine anything more terrifying than causing the death of someone else. He's not gonna do this to me. I refuse to let him influence my thoughts.

I clenched my hand on the arm of the chair and started projecting waves of my power. The table trembled, a glass teapot swayed to the edge and fell to the floor, cracks developed in the windows, swerving upwards and up to the ceiling roof.

"Stop!" Kelly said sharply, slapping my face. "Mary! Sean, take care of him!"

Maria rushed in as Sean bowed once more to my neck. I sensed it this time before he could begin to absorb his emotions. I let out a single punch of anger, hitting his mind like a punch to the chin. He retreated.

"Mary, do something!" daniel Kelly orders as debris from the ceiling begins to fall into the room.

Mary pushed both her palms towards me. It was like hitting a wall after sliding freely down a hill. I was thrown backwards in the chair, ending up on the floor, my attack interrupted.

"Little Savant we've learned to use his powers apparently" With a wave of his hand, Daniel Kelly fixed my chair. "But you don't seriously think you can match the three of us, do you? No, I can see it in your eyes if you can't. You're still waiting for your soul mate to attack us and save you, but the bad news is they won't. The floor is locked and they don't have a warrant. By the time they get it, the drama will be moved to the casino." Kelly said, grabbing my head between her hands and squeezing it. "Now sit back and relax. It won't be long."

The next thing I remember was walking out of the elevator into the hotel waiting room. A pianist sits in front of his instrument while singing a song about people who need help. But I don't need anyone. I want to shoot them, right?

I walked into the casino, a gun tucked in my back under my shirt.

"Hey, this is Miss Luck!" The third George Mitchell swooped at me.

"What are you still doing here, George?" I asked him. Should I kill him too? I felt a sweat gleam running down my face. I deleted.

"Just say goodbye to the table and some acquaintances. I swear to you that I'm not coming back and I'm the one who kept your promise."

"Good, George. You better go."

"Yes, I'm on my saddle and heading out." He pointed his hat at me, then squinted at my face. "You don't look so good, Miss."

"I feel a little weird."

"Go rest. Can I help you get someone to drop you off?"

I rubbed my forehead. I want someone. Zed. She's close.

"Your parents?" Said again.

Artist. Arts. Don't know, you understand art . Old Man. Shielding. It's important but I don't remember what. The images flashed through my brain like the wind stirring the leaves like in one of my novels.

"I'm fine. I'll be in my room in a minute."

"Yes.you must rest, Miss. It's good to see you."

"You too, George."

He turned his back, walking away with wide footsteps.

'Shoot him.' out of nowhere the sound came from.

'No!'

'Put out the gun and shoot him.'

My hand crept into the gun in my belt, and I'm currently holding the gun. Then someone shouted—Maria Kelly rushed to the security guard and pointed at me.

"He's got a gun!" Said screaming.

I looked at my hand. I should have run and shot that thing at random.

'Do it.' that voice again.

Old Man. Fake memories. Eroding.

Security guards sound the alarm. I stood hesitantly in the middle of the casino as gamblers went to take cover. The slot machine pays out empty winnings.

"Sheesh, miss, you don't want to shoot that thing! " excited George from the other side of the pinball table.

My brain screams at me to act. I couldn't help myself.I lifted his muzzle to the ceiling and pressed the trigger. 

Dorian

Her voice was incredible, shaking my wrist. A chandelier broke. How can I do this? I was stuck in a nightmare with my body and brain no longer under my control.

'That's it? —now target it to its people.'

No, this is wrong. I hate guns. I stared at the big black object in my hand as if it was a growing cancer, I wanted to drop it but my mind yelled at me to start shooting.

Then, as several people rushed down from the top floor of the hotel, the FBI managed to break into the casino, pushing the hotel's security aside. I must have looked strange, standing in the middle of an empty floor, surrounded by spilled cards and chips, a spinning roulette wheel.

"Drop the gun, Sky!" Victor called me. "You don't want to do this. It's not you."

I tried to take it off but my fingers didn't want to drop this thing, my brain took command.

'Fire the gun at yourself. Let's say that you'll kill yourself if they get close' . Daniel Kelly's voice carried a muzzle under my ear.

"Don't come any closer" I said in a trembling voice.

There was a scream on my left. Security guards detained my parents when they tried to approach me.

"Sky, what are you doing?" Sally cried, her face deathly pale.

"Come, honey, put the gun down. You need help, right. Nobody hurt—we'll help you," Simon said desperately.

Somehow their words did not penetrate into my mind. The stronger one was the whisper that I should put an end to everything, punishing the Benedict for using me.

"Retreat—no one is approaching!" My fingers are tightening on the trigger. There seems to be no other way.

Then Zed stepped out from behind Victor, shaking his brother's hand as Victor tried to stop him.