Jaden Baker (23 page)

The chemical properties of fire were more complex than water. Jaden thought Dalton must have forgotten his basic chemistry in all his excitement. Three things were needed to create fire: oxygen, fuel, and heat. While Jaden could make water hot by exciting the molecules, he could not provide the flaming candle with more oxygen, fuel, or heat.

“No,” Jaden said. “How would I do that?”

Two mistakes in one day. The second being the most significant. A mental slip, an error in his fundamental education. That was significant. Whatever weighed on Dalton’s mind, it vented through more than his poor judgment of neckties.

“I suppose not,” Dalton said. He blew out the candle.

Jaden expected he would be sent back to his cell now Dalton was done with him. What else could Jaden do? He’d proven expert in everything.

His initial strategy with Dalton was to take it slow, go at his pace. Jaden had learned the basics quicker than he anticipated, so he decided it was better to speed up, not slow down. He didn’t know what else Dalton wished with him. Whatever Dalton had planned, Jaden wanted it over and done, so he could move on with his life.

Dalton had not risen from the bench, his eyes darted between the water bowl and Jaden’s face. He got the impression Dalton wanted to say something. Dalton’s pulse quickened.

“I need to tell you something,” Dalton said. “It’s important and you need to know about it, since it involves you.”

Jaden resisted his common urge to mouth off. Sometimes Dalton said the dumbest, most obvious things. Everything here was about Jaden. This whole facility revolved around his existence.

Dalton pinched the bridge of his nose. “There’s going to be a presentation. A number of people will be there to see you.”

That made sense. Dalton was nervous about Jaden’s performance for a great big show. Everything led to this moment for Dalton. The exercises, the brain scans, the frequent absences...all of it. Dalton reported to someone else.

“This is very important, Jaden,” Dalton said. “You have a gift, you can change the world with your ability.”

Jaden wanted to know who it was for, then his eyes landed on the tattoo on his right forearm. It was a symbol of some kind...or a logo.

“Who is the presentation for?” he asked, wondering if he would get the answer.

Dalton tapped his fingers on the table, considereding his answer. “My peers,” he said.

“Your peers?” Jaden echoed. Dalton’s equals. His doctor and lawyer friends. People he respected and trusted with a nefarious secret.

“Yes. They need to see what you can do.”

“They don’t believe you?” Jaden said.

Dalton scratched his temple and smirked. “That’s not quite it.”

“What is it then?” Jaden asked.

Dalton stood and Jaden pushed away from the table.

Jaden understood chemistry and physics in a way Dalton never could. Jaden’s mind was, in Dalton’s words “exceptional” and yet he didn’t think Jaden would understand? Intelligence and understanding had nothing to do with this. The pending presentation had everything to do with this place and the people and secrets behind it. If Dalton needed to conduct a show-and-tell then he wasn’t the all powerful being. Someone sat higher on the totem pole.

He found himself back in his cell without further explanation from Dalton regarding the presentation. And Jaden didn’t bother asking. He didn’t need to know when, he could guess. He didn’t need to know who because he was past caring. Why did it matter who incarcerated him? He was here and he didn’t want to be. His only real concern was breaking free.

Jaden sat in his corner and took a book from the box. It was
Jane Eyre,
the story of a governess who fell in love with the mysterious Mr. Rochester. Jaden had read it because he had nothing else, and though he had enjoyed it, he did not intend to read it again.

He flipped the book to the inside cover.

Molly Dalton had left her name here, too. Her writing had become more elegant as she grew older, yet it still had a playful quality. Her twice-curled Y smiled at him.

She only penned her name in the books she liked, or so he assumed, and her tastes had evolved over time, like his had. He’d read this book hoping to find any clue about Molly and what she was like. But she hadn’t even dog-eared a favorite page. Jaden was afraid to ask Dalton about her, fearing Dalton would revoke his reading privileges.

He wished he had a pen so he could leave her a message. Whenever he found a book with her name written inside, he imagined letters he would leave for her, messages inscribed under her name, or inside the back cover. Things like “
Your dad has me hidden in a secret laboratory. Send help and apple pie.”
She would think it a joke at first and write a note in her next book saying: “
Couldn’t send pie. Dad’s an asswipe. I’ve carved out the pages of this book and included a pocket knife and a shortbread cookie.”

Jaden traced her name with his index finger, thinking of her.

“
Dear Molly
,” he would write, “
Thanks for the cookie, it was perfect. I used the pocket knife to threaten your dad into letting me go. It didn’t work. Could you please send something bigger next time? Hope you’re well, Jaden.”

Dear Jaden,

Here is the biggest dictionary I could find. I’ve hollowed out the pages (wow, was that a chore!) and inserted a large and jagged rock. That ought to do the trick. There was enough room for a couple of brownies. Enjoy!

With love,

Molly

Molly,

The rock was brilliant. Rock always beats scissors, and your father is a real tool. It was pointy enough to break through paper, so I should be out of here soon. The brownies were amazing, I only wish I had some milk to go with them. Next time bring the book yourself. I can’t wait to meet you. I hope to see you soon.

Love,

Jaden

Dearest Jaden,

This is the last note sent by book. I’ll be down soon to rescue you. I can’t wait to meet you. I’ll bring a cheesecake with me. We can share a piece and then shove Dad’s face in it. Then we’ll get the hell out of there! It’s wonderful up here, you’re going to love it.

I’ll see you soon,

Molly

The pending presentation explained Dalton’s many absences over the coming weeks. He popped in occasionally, once without a necktie, to review the basics with Jaden. He, Jaden, wondered if Dalton thought PK was like muscles and would lose their tone and athleticism without exercise. Jaden didn’t think of PK that way, but went along with Dalton’s ideas. It was nice to get out of his cell from time to time.

His absence also meant he and Alan had time to spar, an activity he looked forward to. He’d gotten quite good. Because he was so aware of his surroundings, Jaden knew exactly what Alan did, even with his eyes closed.

Alan laughed as he picked himself off the floor after Jaden threw him over his shoulder.

“You’ve gotten strong,” Alan said, clapping Jaden’s back. “You’ve come a long way!” He grinned at Jaden proudly.

“Thanks,” Jaden said, exchanging a faint smile. Then he had a reckless thought.

Alan had spent a lot of time teaching Jaden to fight and enjoyed it. Jaden knew he did it at great risk, as Dalton would not be pleased knowing Jaden could inflict harm with or without PK. He suspected Alan was uncomfortable and felt guilty about Jaden’s incarceration.

“Alan?” Jaden said.

“Yeah?” he said.

“What will happen to me after the presentation?”

Alan’s grin slid from his face like a drop of rain down glass. His big eyes were reproachful. He picked at his shirt nervously, averting his eyes.

“What’ll happen?” Jaden asked forcefully, grabbing Alan’s elbow. “I have a right to know.”

Alan pulled away from Jaden and stormed towards the door.

“Damn it, tell me!” Jaden yelled.

“I don’t know!” Alan said. “They haven’t told us. Now I need to go, I’ve already said too much.” He left without looking back.

Jaden stormed into his bathroom and stripped off his sweaty shirt and pants, getting under the lukewarm stream of water and thinking. Alan had “said too much.” Jaden didn’t think he had said anything...

They
haven’t told us.

Jaden was right. Dalton was not the top dog, he reported to someone. Everyone here reported to someone. This presentation wasn’t just to peers. It had Dalton in a right state, frantic, panicked, and clumsy.

This was it. This presentation was his way out of here. It was the
only
way out. Jaden couldn’t believe the time had finally come.

And come it did, quicker than he anticipated, and sooner, clearly, than Dalton would have liked. Leading up to it, Dalton forced Jaden to practice and keep practicing, though he was already an expert. He went along with it anyway, entertained by Dalton’s panic.

After a while, Jaden couldn’t ignore his own nerves. This was more than a presentation, his life depended on it. He had to think and react instantly and break out of here before anyone could stop him. He didn’t know how to work the doors, but perhaps learning them was not important. Maybe he would be moved to another location, and the doors would be different.

The day before the presentation, Dalton came into Jaden’s cell carrying a box. He sat on the edge of Jaden’s bed. Jaden stood with his arms crossed, curious about why Dalton was here, and why he acted so casually.

“I want to thank you, Jaden,” he said with what sounded like sincerity. “I know this hasn’t been easy for you. It hasn’t even been fair. You’ve given me your best and allowed me to take part in the miracle. So thank you.”

Jaden couldn’t speak.

Something was going to happen after the presentation. Dalton had an idea, but wasn’t sharing. Jaden would’ve jumped on the panic train, but Dalton didn’t act worried. It didn’t matter anyway, Jaden wouldn’t be here after tomorrow.

Dalton set the box on the bed. “They’re clothes for tomorrow. You don’t want to be dressed like that in front of so many people.”

For the past who knows how many years, Jaden had worn the exact same thing: loose fitting gray scrubs and socks. The clothes in the box were for the real world. Dark blue jeans, a cream colored turtleneck sweater, brown hiking boots. The turtleneck interested him the most. Dalton wanted to hide the collar. The people coming to the presentation didn’t know about it.

Jaden was told to get ready after finishing his lunch. Martin wore a button up black shirt with the symbol of Jaden’s tattoo embroidered over his left breast. Interesting.

He felt like vomiting. His hands shook as he pulled on his jeans. He noticed how weird they felt on his legs, rough and stiff. With the sweater on, Jaden examined himself in the mirror: he looked nearly normal, save his ghostly skin and eyes wide with fright.

“Come on, kid,” Martin said. He, too, was nervous.

Jaden came out of the room, clomping in his new shoes. They were heavy and bulky.

Outside in the hallway were all of Jaden’s handlers: Casey, Martin, Patrick, Douglas, William, and Alan. All wore the same black uniforms with the upside down black and white pyramid on the breasts.

Dalton wore a dark gray suit with a blazing white shirt and diagonal blue striped tie. He fiddled with it and examined his watch, which he’d never worn before.

“We gotta go,” he said. “Everyone follow me. Casey, Patrick and William, you walk behind me, and you three walk behind him. Jaden, how you feeling?” he asked, smiling.

Apprehensive but alive.

“Fine,” Jaden said. “Nervous,” he added truthfully.

“You’ll be great. Just do as I say and everything will be all right. Okay everyone, let’s go.”

Jaden was excited to see the exit. He’d only ever been in three rooms. They walked down the main hallway and it came to a corner, another hall to the left and a door to the right.

“Okay,” Dalton said. “So, Patrick when you get the go ahead, Martin and Douglas will bring Jaden through the other door. Alan and Casey, you’ll wait at this entrance and William and Patrick will head to the other entrance. Clear?”

All six of them nodded. Jaden was confused. They weren’t leaving?

Dalton typed in the door code, shielding it from Jaden’s view, and walked through the door. It clanked behind him, leaving Jaden with the six handlers and nothing to say. He wondered what Dalton was doing, or what he was supposed to do once he got wherever.

Martin showed the first sign of nerves. He tapped his toe and rubbed the stubble on his face. Patrick also got a little itchy. Douglas yawned. Alan stared straight ahead, not looking at anyone and avoiding Jaden’s eyes.

After ten minutes or so, Patrick’s radio scratched on. “Bring him in.”