Jaden Baker (36 page)

Jaden bit his lip and gave a tiny shake of his head. He would do as told and wouldn’t speak a word or make a sound. Time stretched, the two staring at one another, and Jaden wished for the moment to end. There wasn’t anything he could do to Dalton and he was restricted from saying anything. The purpose of this meeting was to assuage Dalton’s guilt, an activity Jaden resented.

Then Dalton did something Jaden had not expected. With wet eyes and a quivering bottom lip, Dalton pulled Jaden into an embrace. Out of instinct, Jaden put his fists on Dalton’s chest and pushed him away.

Dalton pulled back, saddened. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.

The motor powered on and the lift came down. Jaden folded his hands behind his back, aligned his toes, and stared at a point on the wall opposite him, his gaze going through Dalton’s solid form.

Joseph descended. “Time to go, Chad.”

The once confident man retreated with heavy shoulders. “Bye, Jaden,” he said with a hollow sort of voice. He joined Joseph on the lift and the two rose out of sight, Dalton’s eyes fixed on Jaden as he ascended.

When they were gone, Jaden sighed. He waited a few minutes but Joseph did not return. He brushed his teeth, washed his face and hands, then huddled in his corner, thinking.

“That was weird,” Seth said, and for the first time he looked worried.

Jaden nodded, unsettled by Seth’s expression.

“Whatever they’re doing, they’re going to do it soon,” said Seth, watching the wall.

“How do you know?” Jaden asked.

“Dalton said goodbye.”

If Jaden was to remain here forever, then there would be no need for goodbyes. Dalton could see Jaden whenever he liked, could watch with a glass barrier between them. If Joseph allowed Dalton to say goodbye then Jaden was going somewhere. Or it was the end.

“They’re not going to kill you after all this,” Seth said. “They’re going to do something else, I don’t know what. We have to get you out of here now.”

“You’ve said that for a long time,” Jaden said quietly.

“You’re losing faith in me?” Seth said. “I made you a promise and I’ll keep it.”

“Sure you will,” Jaden said, rising now because the motor engaged. He knew Joseph would come down again, he only hoped it wasn’t to hurt him. Seth got up and stood beside him, assuring him he would help. But Jaden couldn’t think of that now. He had an ominous feeling.

Joseph walked in, blowing puffs of air through his lips and pacing in a circle. Jaden felt cold—he had seen that pace before. His mind raced as he replayed everything that happened since Dalton visited. He hadn’t brushed his teeth. Would he be punished?

“That was interesting,” Joseph said, shuffling his feet against the floor. “Chad Dalton’s a friend of mine. He doesn’t understand how difficult you can be. I promised him I only do what’s necessary to keep you in line. You and I understand each other now, don’t we?”

“Yes, sir,” Jaden said automatically.

“Indeed we do,” he muttered. “For the most part you behave and do what you’re told. There are occasional slips, and I have to correct them, otherwise how would you learn. Do you know what mistakes you made today?”

Seth spoke first. “He didn’t make any,” he growled. “He doesn’t deserve what you want to do to him.”

Jaden saw no difference in Joseph’s demeanor, but then why would he? No one heard Seth.

“I didn’t have time to brush my teeth before you came,” Jaden said, that was all he could think of.

“I forgive you for that. You had only just finished when I came in with Dalton, I checked with the observer. I’m not unfair. Can you think of anything else you did without my permission?”

“No, sir,” Jaden said. “Dalton wanted me to say something but I stayed quiet like you told me. I didn’t say anything to him.”

Joseph stood before Jaden. “Look at me now.”

His face was blank, which was Joseph’s way of trying to be unpredictable, a face he showed before one of his moods.

“Dalton said you pushed him.”

“So that’s what this is about?” Seth yelled. “He pushed that creep away and you’re going to torture him, you sick fuck!”

“Why did you push him away, Jaden?” Joseph asked.

“That shouldn’t matter,” Seth argued. “Don’t answer the question, Jaden.”

But he had to answer. Those were the rules. He only spoke when spoken to, and if a question was asked he must answer. He had to do what he was told.

“I don’t know,” Jaden said. “It was a reaction, sir. I’m sorry I did it, I wasn’t thinking—”

“No you weren’t thinking,” Joseph interrupted.

“What should I have done differently?” Jaden asked.

“You should have stayed still and done nothing, obviously,” Joseph said, his eyes hard. “Which you would have known had you thought of what I wanted you to do, rather than what you wanted. You were selfish.”

Seth stood between the two, so Jaden couldn’t see Joseph anymore. “He would have done this even if you had stayed still. He’s mad about Dalton, and he’s going to take it out on you.”

“I know you’re right,” Jaden said to both of them.

“Good.”

He wasn’t sure how he mastered it, but Jaden no longer cried. His eyes were dry now, though he felt every bit like breaking down and crying as Seth screamed injustice. Like always, though, Jaden got through it knowing it would end, one way or another. Nothing lasts forever. Whatever was ahead of him, the only reason Jaden soldiered on was knowing he was one step closer to the end. He lived for the end.

When Joseph left Jaden panting on the floor, Seth sat next to him and put his hand on the top of Jaden’s sweaty head. He hummed and sung the Kookaburra song but remarked on nothing else for the remainder of the day. He only sung. It was a comforting and welcome sound, and Jaden wished he could remember his own mother singing it. He wished she were with him.

After a while the lights dimmed and so did the pain. Jaden thought of sleeping and was ready to close his eyes when a curious dull orange flashing made him sit up. Jaden twist his head around to see what the flashing was. When he turned it was gone.

Seth frowned momentarily, then his face broke into triumph.

“That’s it,” Seth whispered.

“What?” Jaden yawned. “What is it?”

Seth jumped and punched the air. “This is it.”

“What?” Jaden whispered again, facing away from the mirror and watching the pulsing orange light. “Why are you so excited?”

“The light,” Seth breathed. “It’s orange.”

Jaden was confused. “What light?”

“It’s green when it’s off, red when it’s on,” Seth said, his face gleeful.

“What is?” Jaden asked.

“The collar,” Seth said. “There’s a small light on the back, where you can’t see. It’s green when it’s turned off, so everyone knows you can use PK. It’s red when it’s on, so people know it’s safe. But now it’s blinking orange.”

“What does that mean?” Jaden asked.

Seth laughed. “Low battery.”

Now Jaden sat up too. “How do you know?”

“It makes sense,” Seth said, talking fast. “What else would it mean? He’s overused it. This is it, Jaden. This is how you get out of here.”

“How do they change it?” Jaden asked.

“Probably when you’re asleep, maybe regularly, maybe they drug you before they change it, who knows. The point is, it’s dying now. That collar is the only thing that stops you. Once it’s gone, you can get out of here.”

But instead of being excited, like Seth, Jaden was nervous. “We don’t know that for sure.”

“You have to try,” Seth said.

Jaden backed into his usual corner and rocked himself. “I can’t.”

“You have to,” Seth said.

“If it doesn’t work, he’ll get mad and hurt me. If I don’t make it out of here like the last time, he’ll torture me worse than ever,” Jaden said, and if he hadn’t lost his ability to cry, he would have now. “He’ll catch me again.”

Seth grabbed Jaden’s knees and shook them as he shook his head. “This isn’t who you are,” he said. “You’re a survivor and you’re getting out of here tonight. It’s time to rejoin the world and leave this vicious place forever.”

Rejoining the world had been a fantasy, a terrifying prospect. He had been here so long he could hardly remember what it was like outside. At least he knew what to expect here.

Seth squeezed Jaden’s knees. “This isn’t what life is about.”

“Then what is it about?” Jaden asked. “It hurt out there, too, remember? They did things to me there too, and no one stopped them. You didn’t help me.”

“I’m with you now,” Seth said. “It’s different this time. You’re powerful. You don’t need protecting because you can take care of yourself. Surviving is what you do best, and this time you’re going to do it to live. It’s your life, not theirs. You have to take it back.

“All you have to do is drain the battery. When someone tries to change it, you’ll be ready. You have a life to live. Don’t be afraid of it!”

Jaden and Seth stared at one another for an immeasurable amount of time, until Jaden’s face matched Seth’s. He never led him wrong before, so Jaden had to trust him. Seth would help him. He had promised someone would make a mistake, and they finally had. If they made it out, Seth would still be there for him. Seth was right: Joseph and his people wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.

“Okay,” Jaden said.

Seth took hold of Jaden’s hands in both of his and nodded. “Keep going until it stops,” Seth said breathlessly. “There’s a purpose to the pain this time. Stay as quiet as you can. I don’t know how long it will take, but this is the end of it.”

Jaden pealed off a sock and placed it on the floor. As soon as he tried lifting it with PK, the jolt of electricity burned and coursed through his body, then stopped. Taking a deep breath, he tried again. His top teeth cut into his bottom lip, and his throat burst and cracked as it tried keeping his voice inside.

The sock lay motionless as Jaden writhed on the floor, ablaze with electricity. He rolled onto his stomach and stared at the sock, his body already worn from being punished many times before.

“One more time,” he heard Seth say, as if he was a mile from him. “Once more. And hurry, they’re coming.”

Jaden concentrated on the sock, and the shocks traveled through him, making him twitch and shake, thrashing his body as the pain stabbed through him, it was so horrible that it—

His eyes flew open and he gasped air like a fish in the talons of an eagle.

He rolled onto his side and saw the sock. In his mind’s eye he saw the sock at all angles, felt its light weight and its texture.

The sock hovered in the air at eye level, and Jaden snatched it and put it back onto his foot. He and Seth hugged.

“Now what?” Jaden asked him.

“We wait,” Seth said. “Lay down and look like you’re sleeping. They’ll come with tranquilizer guns, but that doesn’t matter. As soon as they come in, take the guns and shoot all but one.”

“How many are coming?” Jaden asked.

“At least two,” Seth said.

The motor engaged and for once Jaden was pleased to hear it. He flattened himself on the floor and kept his eyes wide, waiting for them to enter. His heart was loud in his ears, the extra blood pumping him full of energy he hadn’t had in months. He watched as two sets of legs came down the shaft, followed by torsos and heads. Both men raised their guns and pointed them at Jaden as soon as they got to ground level.

Smirking, Jaden pulled both guns from their hands and caught them in his own as he jumped off the floor.

Before either man could run, Jaden shot Curtis. He ran, kicked Curtis down, punched Malcolm in the face with his left fist, and one solid punch with his right, then he delivered a quick knee strike to Malcolm’s stomach, knocking the wind out of him.

He put Malcolm in a headlock and jumped onto the rising elevator platform.

Malcolm, surprisingly, did not struggle.

“They’ll be waiting for you at the top,” Seth said.

Jaden looked at him and mouthed, “How many?”

“I don’t know. Everyone who’s here.”

Jaden shot the remaining tranquilizer into Malcolm’s leg, but Jaden kept him in a headlock to use as a body shield.

Before they reached the top, before the brick panel that separated his cell from the top floor slid into the wall, Jaden tried to feel the people waiting for him. If it was a choice between who lived and who got shot with a tranquilizer, they would have to die.

The fear he’d experienced before was either gone or hiding now—he knew no one and nothing could stop him. Seth was right. This was no way to live, and while life outside had been a struggle, it was nothing to here.

The panel slid back and Jaden crouched underneath Malcolm’s limp body. There were seven men topside, Jaden felt each of them. He almost pitied them.

Before the lift leveled out with the ground, Jaden threw Malcolm in front of him. He ducked and spread his arms wide as the seven men sent to stop him flew across both sides of the hallway, like bowling pins hit with a cannonball. Their guttural sounds of pain and protest reached Jaden’s ears as afterthoughts. They lay on the floor, barely moving from shock and pain.