Synesthesia - Chapter Ten
Sep. 28th, 2011 02:01 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dracoqueen22a/n: It's beyond time I updated this bit. Sorry I left you all on such a dreadful scene.
Title: Synesthesia
Rating: T (for violence and language and some gore)
Description: Ethan has lived with his gift -- hearing emotions as music -- his entire life. And he's learned to cope with it. But when a serial killer makes a home in his town, and he's contacted by different groups all wanting to make use of his ability, he finds himself dragged into the thick of things. And all he wants to do is be left alone.
[Back to the Beginning] [Previous Chapter]
Seven AM came far too quickly for Ethan's satisfaction. He lurched groggily out of bed, borrowed more clothes from Dray, got Jaiden mobile, and had everyone loaded into his tiny Honda by 7:30 AM. In fact, today felt a lot like yesterday, especially since his two passengers were little more than zombies, communicating with unintelligible grunts.
Ethan decided conversation wasn't necessary.
He dropped Dray off at the university, glad that he had no classes of his own, and promised to return later. It was the least he could do.
Ethan chuckled as he watched his best friend stumble to class, clothes unmatched and hair sticking up in all directions. Dray was definitely not a morning person.
“Where to now?” Jaiden asked, hiding a jaw-cracking yawn behind his fingers.
Ethan pulled away from the curb and back on to the street, cautious of the minimal traffic. “First, I have to see if my new apartment is habitable. Then reassure Jeanine that I'm alive while I pick up some things.”
“No work?”
“Nope. So you get to tag along while I do boring things.”
“Boring but safe,” Ethan amended internally.
Jaiden's elbow braced against the window. “We should try finding the Kinetic who's killing people.”
“Why?” Ethan demanded, heart leaping into his throat. “Shouldn't we avoid a messy, splattery death?”
“Nothing will happen to you while I'm around.”
Ethan made a disgusted face. “Don't say it like that. You make me sound like a damsel in distress.”
The aerokinetic shrugged, lips twitching with humor. “If the shoe fits...”
Ethan rolled his eyes, wishing he could think of a better retort. “It's not like we know where to start looking,” he said, opting to shift to the true topic on hand.
“I'll call HQ. Ask if they know of other Kinetics in this area.”
It was a good plan. Maybe Ethan needed to be that proactive.
Jaiden dug out his cell phone while Ethan headed for his apartment complex. A serial killer might be running loose, but for Ethan, life went on.
Well, at least he hoped it would.
o0o0o
Mrs. Lazer must have felt guilty about something. The apartment was fully furnished. All it needed was Ethan's personal touch and something to stock up the fridge. Luckily, Ethan could find all of this at home, though he hated hat he still couldn't get to any of his belongings in his old apartment.
He headed for Jeanine and Darryl's house, Jaiden at his side, and felt his heart sink into his belly at the sight of a police car in their driveway.
His first thought was that something had happened to his mother or Chrissy and he quickly threw his Honda into park, fumbling at his seat belt.
“What happened?” Jaiden murmured, a comment likely meant for himself, but Ethan responded anyway.
He cursed under his breath. “I don't know,” Ethan hissed and all but threw himself from the car, fear growing in his chest. They were all the family he had. If something happened to them ... Ethan's heart lurched in his chest.
He raced up the walk and found the front door unlocked, which was a good thing because he didn't think his shaking fingers could find the right key. Jaiden on his heels, Ethan burst into the entryway with all the subtlety of a locomotive.
“Mom? Chrissy?” he shouted, heading straight for the kitchen where his mother could usually be found. “Mom?”
“Ethan?” Jeanine's voice, quizzical and a bit reprimanding, poured from the open doorway of the den before she stepped into the hallway. “You know better than to shout like that,” she chastised with a frown.
His shoulders sagged. “You're all right.”
“Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?” Jeanine retorted, and pulled him into an embrace that for once, Ethan didn't bother to fight.
“We saw the police car in the driveway,” Jaiden explained. “That's why he was worried.”
“Oh.” Jeanine chuckled and pulled back, looking Ethan over from head to toe. “That's because of what happened last night.”
Ethan felt his heart hammering in his chest. “Last night?” he repeated, hoping he sounded completely confused.
“Mrs. Taft?”
A shadow moved into the doorway. Ethan recognized him immediately: Detective Stanton.
“It was just my son, detective,” Jeanine answered, waving a hand of dismissal and following it up with a reassuring smile. “I can still answer your questions.”
Dark eyes raked Ethan over. Ethan could practically see the suspicions churning behind the detective's gaze.
“I did not realize this was your home. How interesting that we should meet again,” Stanton said gruffly. “You seem to be in the thick of things yet again.”
Ethan smiled weakly. “I guess I have really bad luck.”
“So it would seem.”
Jeanine's gaze jumped between them. “Um... Ethan. What is he talking about?”
“He and his partner were at Super Mart asking questions,” Ethan explained, and he looked at the detective. “So now you're harassing my mother?”
Stanton shook his head. “This is a different matter. There was a murder behind your father's bookstore.”
“Step-father,” Ethan corrected and licked his lips nervously. “And what do you mean murder? Does this has something to do with the serial killer?”
Jeanine paled visibly, but patted him on the arm. “Let's sit in the den, shall we?” she asked, and her voice wavered.
Ethan hated the detective for upsetting her like that. He glared at Stanton's stout back as the detective followed Jeanine's invitation.
“I hope you're a good liar,” Jaiden said softly.
Ethan didn't reply, squaring his shoulders and walking into the lion's den. He hoped that an alternate version of the truth would sound more plausible. He hoped he wouldn't give himself away.
“So, Ethan, from what I understand you closed your stepfather's bookstore last night?”
Detective Stanton certainly didn't waste any time.
“Ethan often helps Darryl out,” Jeanine answered before Ethan could open his mouth.
Lowering himself onto one of the lumpy sectionals his mother refused to get rid of, Ethan nodded stiffly. “Yes. Darryl had something to take care of last night so I volunteered.”
“And what time does the store close?”
“Nine PM.”
Stanton glanced a small notebook cradled within his sausage-like fingers. “Then you would have left by what... nine thirty?”
“Closer to ten actually,” Ethan answered and tried not to fidget. His palms felt sweaty, hands shaking. “One of the tills refused to reconcile.”
The detective made a noncommittal noise in his throat, suspicion buzzing around him like a horde of angry bees. “And did you hear anything unusual?”
Ethan shook his head. “No. It was pretty quiet.” He said that with a completely straight face.
“I see.” Detective Stanton wasn't convinced; Ethan could Hear it. Stanton turned his attention to Jeanine. “Do the Archives have any security cameras?”
Jeanine shook her head, lips pursed with thought. “Only on the inside, I believe. Darryl would know more, of course.”
“I'll be sure to ask Mr. Taft then.” The detective rose to his feet, snapping his notebook closed. “Thank you for your time, Mrs. Taft. Mr. McCormick. If you hear anything else, give me a call.”
Mother and son stood; Jaiden had never moved off the wall.
“I'm sorry we couldn't be of more help,” Jeanine said, already going out of her way to see him politely to the door.
Ethan paid no attention as Detective Stanton was escorted out, taking his buzzing suspicion with him. He rubbed fingers over his aching forehead.
“I'm going to end up in prison for the rest of my life,” Ethan groaned. “I'll never be able to pick up soap again.” He didn't even want to contemplate the emotions of the other locked up inmates, nor his own subjection to them for the rest of his life as well.
Jaiden snorted. “I didn't realize you were such a drama queen.”
“I lied to the police. I witnessed a murder. I'm lying to my mother,” Ethan retorted. “And the police are already suspicious of me. I'm seeing a one-way ticket to prison.”
The aerokinetic arched a brow. “Because you fit the profile of a serial bomber, yes. The English Lit Major who works in a supermarket.”
“It's always who you least expect,” Ethan muttered, and raked a hand through his hair. “When did my life get so complicated?”
“Ethan, dear, stop being so melodramatic,” Jeanine announced as she returned with a bustle of energy. “You're such a Negative Nancy.”
Ethan groaned. “Mom.”
“Well, it's true,” she retorted and looked him over. “Did you get any sleep last night?”
“Enough,” Ethan answered and hurried to change the subject. “Look. I only came to get a few things. Mrs. Lazer has already gotten a new apartment for me.”
“She's such a nice woman,” Jeanine mused. “Well, you do that and I'll whip up some lunch. It'll be all we need to wash that detective out of our mouths.”
Ethan winced at his mother's turn of phrase, saw Jaiden quirking a brow, and chewed the inside of his cheek. “Was he rude to you?”
His mother patted him on the face. “No, dear. He just asked a lot of questions.”
It was a small relief. Jeanine bustled past him, humming quietly, leaving Jaiden and Ethan alone. Ethan hung his head, feeling a low throb building in the base of his neck.
o0o0o
After lunch and piling his Honda with as much shit as it could carry, Ethan set out to get his apartment in some semblance of working order. Jaiden was a helpful pair of hands so by the time Ethan was to leave to pick up Dray, his new place was at least comfortable, if not livable.
Still, Ethan was thirty minutes late when he pulled up at the campus, fully expecting a tongue-lashing from his best friend. He pulled into an open parking space, scanning the lingering crowd for signs of Dray. After several minutes, however, he couldn't spot his best friend.
“Perhaps he left already. We were late.”
Ethan shook his head. “Not if he knew I was coming. I'd never forget either.” He closed and locked his doors, trying to find a familiar face to ask.
“Can't you just scan for him or something?”
“I'm not a telepath,” Ethan muttered, shooting Jaiden a cross look. “Right now, there's too much white noise to pick out one person, even if I could do something like that.”
Jaiden tilted his head. “Most empaths can separate those they are close to, even in a crowd.”
“Yeah, well, I'm not that powerful,” Ethan snapped, and felt a surge of relief when he caught sight of Sheila walking briskly to her car. “Sheila!”
She paused, head turning to locate who had called for her. Ethan waved a hand in the air to grab her attention, hollering her name again.
Sheila altered her course as soon as she recognized him. “What?”
“Have you seen Dray?”
She rolled her eyes. “What? Do I look like a dog walker?”
“Sheila.”
“Okay, okay.” She flicked a hand through her hair, a small frown turning glossed lips downward. “I think he left already.”
That didn't make any sense to Ethan. “With who?”
A finely plucked eyebrow arched. “One of his many girlfriends, I suppose. I didn't recognize her.”
Ethan frowned. Dray wasn't the most responsible, sure, but he wouldn't just leave with someone else. Not when he knew Ethan was coming for him.
“What did she look like?”
“I didn't pay that much attention,” Sheila retorted, and shifted the strap of her heavy book bag. “Why? Is something wrong?”
“No, I'm just overreacting,” Ethan assured her. “Thanks, Sheila.”
“Sure.” The blonde made her escape, leaving Ethan to exchange a worried glance with Jaiden.
“What now?”
Ethan shook his head, turning back toward the car. “I have a bad feeling about this. I'll just drive by his house. See if he's home.”
“Why don't you call him?”
“I don't have a cell phone.”
Jaiden unclipped his from his belt, handing it over without second thought. “Call him.”
He dialed a number he knew by heart, but the call went straight to voice mail. Either Dray was in one of Valda many and random no-signal zones or his phone was off because he was otherwise occupied. Or... something more negative that Ethan didn't want to consider.
Ethan left a message just in case he was overreacting and handed Jaiden back his phone. Wordlessly, he climbed into the Honda, refusing to think of the worst.
“Well?”
“I got his voicemail,” Ethan answered tightly. “And I can't remember his home number. I haven't had to use it in years.”
Jaiden's fingers rapped a nonsense rhythm on his jean-covered thigh. “Do you honestly believe--”
“I don't know what to believe,” Ethan cut in curtly, his own fingers curling around the steering wheel with a rubbery noise. “Maybe I'm jumping to conclusions. So I'm going to drive out to Baltmore Heights and check.”
o0o0o
Dray wasn't home. And no, he hadn't called.
Dray's house had been a dead end.
Ethan kept himself calm, not wanting to worry Thomas or his new wife. They were sure Dray was just at a friend's house, or as Sheila said, with one of his many girlfriends.
Ethan, however, was starting to be less certain. If Dray had planned to visit one of his special buddies, he would have bragged about it ahead of time. He probably would have offered to share, perverted idiot that he was. He certainly wouldn't have disappeared into thin air.
“What now?”
“You sound like a broken record,” Ethan muttered, leaning forward, his head braced on the steering wheel. “Always asking me what I'm going to do next like I have any fucking clue.”
He sighed and closed his eyes.
They were currently sitting in the gigantic parking lot for the local Wal-Mart. It was the closest thing to a central location that Ethan could think of.
“Am I overreacting because of what I saw?” Ethan muttered, more to fill the silence.
“You tell me.”
Ethan turned his head, pinning Jaiden with a fierce glare. “That was a rhetorical question.”
“Then look at it logically. Has Adrayan ever vanished before?”
“Not like this.”
“Meaning?”
Ethan sighed. “Sure, he's taken off with one of his girlfriends before. But not when he knows I”m picking him up.” He watched his fingers flex over the steering wheel, weak and pale fingers that couldn't throw a baseball, much less a fireball. “I guess I should be honored I'm the one person he'll depend on.”
“You are lucky.”
There was an odd tone to Jaiden's words and Ethan strongly wished he could sense the other Kinetic's emotions.
“Friendships are rare,” Jaiden clarified, shifting in his seat to balance his elbow on the door. “Especially for a Kinetic. He even knows your secret.”
Ethan's heart skipped a beat. “You don't think Taylor had anything to do with this, do you?”
“Doesn't seem his style but... I don't know.” Jaiden's hand moved toward his mouth where he proceeded to chew on his thumbnail. “Maybe he's getting desperate.”
Ethan's head hit the steering wheel with a dull thud. He didn't know if he should be worried or not. Maybe it was better to overreact and subject himself to Dray's teasing later. Maybe this was all one big misunderstanding.
Maybe--
Rapping on Ethan's window stalled his circular thoughts. He straightened and looked outside, expecting to see Wal-Mart's low cost security reminding him of the law against loitering. What he got instead was Melanie's cheerful grin and flirty wave.
“We need to talk,” she shouted at the closed window.
Ethan was out of the car without a second thought, anger sparking through his veins. “Where the hell is he?” Ethan demanded, eyes flashing. “What did you do?”
“Whoa.” Mel took a step back, hands raised in surrender, he sucker leaving her mouth with a wet plop. “I have no idea who you're talking about.”
“Like hell.” Ethan was snarling, anger bursting inside of him like a boiling tea kettle. “You must have something to do with it! What have you done with Dray!”
Mel shook her head, tongue darting out to wet her lips. “I don't know what you think happened but I had nothing to do with it. Why don't you try asking your buddy from Ektos?”
“Nice try. But he's been with me this whole time.”
“Yeah, he has,” she challenged, lifting her chin. “But what about his pals? Any one of them could have done it.”
Ethan's mouth opened to retort, but Mel was right. Jaiden might be innocent but there was no guarantee his organization was as well.
A sharp gust of wind pushed past Ethan, slamming Mel back by several steps. “Don't confuse him, Melanie,” Jaiden said in a low, deadly voice. “Just give Ethan back his friend and I won't have to hurt you.”
Mel regained her footing, tossing her hair out of her eyes. “I would if I could but we had nothing to do with it. Taking hostages means Ethan didn't come of his free will. That's not what we're after.”
“Then who was it?” Ethan demanded, and he whirled toward Jaiden. “What about your people?”
Jaiden shook his head. “We want your willing cooperation. Besides, we wouldn't drag a Norm into it.”
“Oh, like I haven't heard that before,” Melanie spat, and for a moment, it was starting to sound personal. “You're no better than Kryptos, despite your claims.”
Ethan ground his teeth as the two Kinetics glared at each other, vitriol dancing between them. Wind whipped across the parking lot, making the flags ripple loudly.
“And Baskania is nothing more than hired thugs.”
Melanie's eyes flashed, but Ethan had enough of both of them.
“Shut up!” he snarled, furious that no one would give him a straight answer. “If you're not going to help me then I don't need either of you.”
“I can help you find him,” Melanie claimed, eyes darting to Jaiden. “But only if your guard dog will let me.”
Jaiden's lips pulled back, over his teeth. “I never trust a Baskania.”
Ethan threw up his hands, whirling toward the car and yanking open the driver's side door. “Have it your way,” he huffed, anger twisting his insides. “I'm done.”
He slid into the seat, shoved his keys into the ignition and locked all the doors before either Jaiden or Melanie could protest. Ethan threw the car in reverse and peeled out of the parking lot. Either Jaiden had wisely figured it was best not to stop him or Ethan had surprised him.
He didn't have time for their bickering. Dray was missing and Ethan was going to find him, with or without their help.
* * * *
a/n: Six more chapters to go! The plot thickens!
Feedback is always welcome and appreciated.
[Next Chapter ]
Title: Synesthesia
Rating: T (for violence and language and some gore)
Description: Ethan has lived with his gift -- hearing emotions as music -- his entire life. And he's learned to cope with it. But when a serial killer makes a home in his town, and he's contacted by different groups all wanting to make use of his ability, he finds himself dragged into the thick of things. And all he wants to do is be left alone.
[Back to the Beginning] [Previous Chapter]
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Chapter Ten
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Chapter Ten
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Seven AM came far too quickly for Ethan's satisfaction. He lurched groggily out of bed, borrowed more clothes from Dray, got Jaiden mobile, and had everyone loaded into his tiny Honda by 7:30 AM. In fact, today felt a lot like yesterday, especially since his two passengers were little more than zombies, communicating with unintelligible grunts.
Ethan decided conversation wasn't necessary.
He dropped Dray off at the university, glad that he had no classes of his own, and promised to return later. It was the least he could do.
Ethan chuckled as he watched his best friend stumble to class, clothes unmatched and hair sticking up in all directions. Dray was definitely not a morning person.
“Where to now?” Jaiden asked, hiding a jaw-cracking yawn behind his fingers.
Ethan pulled away from the curb and back on to the street, cautious of the minimal traffic. “First, I have to see if my new apartment is habitable. Then reassure Jeanine that I'm alive while I pick up some things.”
“No work?”
“Nope. So you get to tag along while I do boring things.”
“Boring but safe,” Ethan amended internally.
Jaiden's elbow braced against the window. “We should try finding the Kinetic who's killing people.”
“Why?” Ethan demanded, heart leaping into his throat. “Shouldn't we avoid a messy, splattery death?”
“Nothing will happen to you while I'm around.”
Ethan made a disgusted face. “Don't say it like that. You make me sound like a damsel in distress.”
The aerokinetic shrugged, lips twitching with humor. “If the shoe fits...”
Ethan rolled his eyes, wishing he could think of a better retort. “It's not like we know where to start looking,” he said, opting to shift to the true topic on hand.
“I'll call HQ. Ask if they know of other Kinetics in this area.”
It was a good plan. Maybe Ethan needed to be that proactive.
Jaiden dug out his cell phone while Ethan headed for his apartment complex. A serial killer might be running loose, but for Ethan, life went on.
Well, at least he hoped it would.
Mrs. Lazer must have felt guilty about something. The apartment was fully furnished. All it needed was Ethan's personal touch and something to stock up the fridge. Luckily, Ethan could find all of this at home, though he hated hat he still couldn't get to any of his belongings in his old apartment.
He headed for Jeanine and Darryl's house, Jaiden at his side, and felt his heart sink into his belly at the sight of a police car in their driveway.
His first thought was that something had happened to his mother or Chrissy and he quickly threw his Honda into park, fumbling at his seat belt.
“What happened?” Jaiden murmured, a comment likely meant for himself, but Ethan responded anyway.
He cursed under his breath. “I don't know,” Ethan hissed and all but threw himself from the car, fear growing in his chest. They were all the family he had. If something happened to them ... Ethan's heart lurched in his chest.
He raced up the walk and found the front door unlocked, which was a good thing because he didn't think his shaking fingers could find the right key. Jaiden on his heels, Ethan burst into the entryway with all the subtlety of a locomotive.
“Mom? Chrissy?” he shouted, heading straight for the kitchen where his mother could usually be found. “Mom?”
“Ethan?” Jeanine's voice, quizzical and a bit reprimanding, poured from the open doorway of the den before she stepped into the hallway. “You know better than to shout like that,” she chastised with a frown.
His shoulders sagged. “You're all right.”
“Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?” Jeanine retorted, and pulled him into an embrace that for once, Ethan didn't bother to fight.
“We saw the police car in the driveway,” Jaiden explained. “That's why he was worried.”
“Oh.” Jeanine chuckled and pulled back, looking Ethan over from head to toe. “That's because of what happened last night.”
Ethan felt his heart hammering in his chest. “Last night?” he repeated, hoping he sounded completely confused.
“Mrs. Taft?”
A shadow moved into the doorway. Ethan recognized him immediately: Detective Stanton.
“It was just my son, detective,” Jeanine answered, waving a hand of dismissal and following it up with a reassuring smile. “I can still answer your questions.”
Dark eyes raked Ethan over. Ethan could practically see the suspicions churning behind the detective's gaze.
“I did not realize this was your home. How interesting that we should meet again,” Stanton said gruffly. “You seem to be in the thick of things yet again.”
Ethan smiled weakly. “I guess I have really bad luck.”
“So it would seem.”
Jeanine's gaze jumped between them. “Um... Ethan. What is he talking about?”
“He and his partner were at Super Mart asking questions,” Ethan explained, and he looked at the detective. “So now you're harassing my mother?”
Stanton shook his head. “This is a different matter. There was a murder behind your father's bookstore.”
“Step-father,” Ethan corrected and licked his lips nervously. “And what do you mean murder? Does this has something to do with the serial killer?”
Jeanine paled visibly, but patted him on the arm. “Let's sit in the den, shall we?” she asked, and her voice wavered.
Ethan hated the detective for upsetting her like that. He glared at Stanton's stout back as the detective followed Jeanine's invitation.
“I hope you're a good liar,” Jaiden said softly.
Ethan didn't reply, squaring his shoulders and walking into the lion's den. He hoped that an alternate version of the truth would sound more plausible. He hoped he wouldn't give himself away.
“So, Ethan, from what I understand you closed your stepfather's bookstore last night?”
Detective Stanton certainly didn't waste any time.
“Ethan often helps Darryl out,” Jeanine answered before Ethan could open his mouth.
Lowering himself onto one of the lumpy sectionals his mother refused to get rid of, Ethan nodded stiffly. “Yes. Darryl had something to take care of last night so I volunteered.”
“And what time does the store close?”
“Nine PM.”
Stanton glanced a small notebook cradled within his sausage-like fingers. “Then you would have left by what... nine thirty?”
“Closer to ten actually,” Ethan answered and tried not to fidget. His palms felt sweaty, hands shaking. “One of the tills refused to reconcile.”
The detective made a noncommittal noise in his throat, suspicion buzzing around him like a horde of angry bees. “And did you hear anything unusual?”
Ethan shook his head. “No. It was pretty quiet.” He said that with a completely straight face.
“I see.” Detective Stanton wasn't convinced; Ethan could Hear it. Stanton turned his attention to Jeanine. “Do the Archives have any security cameras?”
Jeanine shook her head, lips pursed with thought. “Only on the inside, I believe. Darryl would know more, of course.”
“I'll be sure to ask Mr. Taft then.” The detective rose to his feet, snapping his notebook closed. “Thank you for your time, Mrs. Taft. Mr. McCormick. If you hear anything else, give me a call.”
Mother and son stood; Jaiden had never moved off the wall.
“I'm sorry we couldn't be of more help,” Jeanine said, already going out of her way to see him politely to the door.
Ethan paid no attention as Detective Stanton was escorted out, taking his buzzing suspicion with him. He rubbed fingers over his aching forehead.
“I'm going to end up in prison for the rest of my life,” Ethan groaned. “I'll never be able to pick up soap again.” He didn't even want to contemplate the emotions of the other locked up inmates, nor his own subjection to them for the rest of his life as well.
Jaiden snorted. “I didn't realize you were such a drama queen.”
“I lied to the police. I witnessed a murder. I'm lying to my mother,” Ethan retorted. “And the police are already suspicious of me. I'm seeing a one-way ticket to prison.”
The aerokinetic arched a brow. “Because you fit the profile of a serial bomber, yes. The English Lit Major who works in a supermarket.”
“It's always who you least expect,” Ethan muttered, and raked a hand through his hair. “When did my life get so complicated?”
“Ethan, dear, stop being so melodramatic,” Jeanine announced as she returned with a bustle of energy. “You're such a Negative Nancy.”
Ethan groaned. “Mom.”
“Well, it's true,” she retorted and looked him over. “Did you get any sleep last night?”
“Enough,” Ethan answered and hurried to change the subject. “Look. I only came to get a few things. Mrs. Lazer has already gotten a new apartment for me.”
“She's such a nice woman,” Jeanine mused. “Well, you do that and I'll whip up some lunch. It'll be all we need to wash that detective out of our mouths.”
Ethan winced at his mother's turn of phrase, saw Jaiden quirking a brow, and chewed the inside of his cheek. “Was he rude to you?”
His mother patted him on the face. “No, dear. He just asked a lot of questions.”
It was a small relief. Jeanine bustled past him, humming quietly, leaving Jaiden and Ethan alone. Ethan hung his head, feeling a low throb building in the base of his neck.
After lunch and piling his Honda with as much shit as it could carry, Ethan set out to get his apartment in some semblance of working order. Jaiden was a helpful pair of hands so by the time Ethan was to leave to pick up Dray, his new place was at least comfortable, if not livable.
Still, Ethan was thirty minutes late when he pulled up at the campus, fully expecting a tongue-lashing from his best friend. He pulled into an open parking space, scanning the lingering crowd for signs of Dray. After several minutes, however, he couldn't spot his best friend.
“Perhaps he left already. We were late.”
Ethan shook his head. “Not if he knew I was coming. I'd never forget either.” He closed and locked his doors, trying to find a familiar face to ask.
“Can't you just scan for him or something?”
“I'm not a telepath,” Ethan muttered, shooting Jaiden a cross look. “Right now, there's too much white noise to pick out one person, even if I could do something like that.”
Jaiden tilted his head. “Most empaths can separate those they are close to, even in a crowd.”
“Yeah, well, I'm not that powerful,” Ethan snapped, and felt a surge of relief when he caught sight of Sheila walking briskly to her car. “Sheila!”
She paused, head turning to locate who had called for her. Ethan waved a hand in the air to grab her attention, hollering her name again.
Sheila altered her course as soon as she recognized him. “What?”
“Have you seen Dray?”
She rolled her eyes. “What? Do I look like a dog walker?”
“Sheila.”
“Okay, okay.” She flicked a hand through her hair, a small frown turning glossed lips downward. “I think he left already.”
That didn't make any sense to Ethan. “With who?”
A finely plucked eyebrow arched. “One of his many girlfriends, I suppose. I didn't recognize her.”
Ethan frowned. Dray wasn't the most responsible, sure, but he wouldn't just leave with someone else. Not when he knew Ethan was coming for him.
“What did she look like?”
“I didn't pay that much attention,” Sheila retorted, and shifted the strap of her heavy book bag. “Why? Is something wrong?”
“No, I'm just overreacting,” Ethan assured her. “Thanks, Sheila.”
“Sure.” The blonde made her escape, leaving Ethan to exchange a worried glance with Jaiden.
“What now?”
Ethan shook his head, turning back toward the car. “I have a bad feeling about this. I'll just drive by his house. See if he's home.”
“Why don't you call him?”
“I don't have a cell phone.”
Jaiden unclipped his from his belt, handing it over without second thought. “Call him.”
He dialed a number he knew by heart, but the call went straight to voice mail. Either Dray was in one of Valda many and random no-signal zones or his phone was off because he was otherwise occupied. Or... something more negative that Ethan didn't want to consider.
Ethan left a message just in case he was overreacting and handed Jaiden back his phone. Wordlessly, he climbed into the Honda, refusing to think of the worst.
“Well?”
“I got his voicemail,” Ethan answered tightly. “And I can't remember his home number. I haven't had to use it in years.”
Jaiden's fingers rapped a nonsense rhythm on his jean-covered thigh. “Do you honestly believe--”
“I don't know what to believe,” Ethan cut in curtly, his own fingers curling around the steering wheel with a rubbery noise. “Maybe I'm jumping to conclusions. So I'm going to drive out to Baltmore Heights and check.”
Dray wasn't home. And no, he hadn't called.
Dray's house had been a dead end.
Ethan kept himself calm, not wanting to worry Thomas or his new wife. They were sure Dray was just at a friend's house, or as Sheila said, with one of his many girlfriends.
Ethan, however, was starting to be less certain. If Dray had planned to visit one of his special buddies, he would have bragged about it ahead of time. He probably would have offered to share, perverted idiot that he was. He certainly wouldn't have disappeared into thin air.
“What now?”
“You sound like a broken record,” Ethan muttered, leaning forward, his head braced on the steering wheel. “Always asking me what I'm going to do next like I have any fucking clue.”
He sighed and closed his eyes.
They were currently sitting in the gigantic parking lot for the local Wal-Mart. It was the closest thing to a central location that Ethan could think of.
“Am I overreacting because of what I saw?” Ethan muttered, more to fill the silence.
“You tell me.”
Ethan turned his head, pinning Jaiden with a fierce glare. “That was a rhetorical question.”
“Then look at it logically. Has Adrayan ever vanished before?”
“Not like this.”
“Meaning?”
Ethan sighed. “Sure, he's taken off with one of his girlfriends before. But not when he knows I”m picking him up.” He watched his fingers flex over the steering wheel, weak and pale fingers that couldn't throw a baseball, much less a fireball. “I guess I should be honored I'm the one person he'll depend on.”
“You are lucky.”
There was an odd tone to Jaiden's words and Ethan strongly wished he could sense the other Kinetic's emotions.
“Friendships are rare,” Jaiden clarified, shifting in his seat to balance his elbow on the door. “Especially for a Kinetic. He even knows your secret.”
Ethan's heart skipped a beat. “You don't think Taylor had anything to do with this, do you?”
“Doesn't seem his style but... I don't know.” Jaiden's hand moved toward his mouth where he proceeded to chew on his thumbnail. “Maybe he's getting desperate.”
Ethan's head hit the steering wheel with a dull thud. He didn't know if he should be worried or not. Maybe it was better to overreact and subject himself to Dray's teasing later. Maybe this was all one big misunderstanding.
Maybe--
Rapping on Ethan's window stalled his circular thoughts. He straightened and looked outside, expecting to see Wal-Mart's low cost security reminding him of the law against loitering. What he got instead was Melanie's cheerful grin and flirty wave.
“We need to talk,” she shouted at the closed window.
Ethan was out of the car without a second thought, anger sparking through his veins. “Where the hell is he?” Ethan demanded, eyes flashing. “What did you do?”
“Whoa.” Mel took a step back, hands raised in surrender, he sucker leaving her mouth with a wet plop. “I have no idea who you're talking about.”
“Like hell.” Ethan was snarling, anger bursting inside of him like a boiling tea kettle. “You must have something to do with it! What have you done with Dray!”
Mel shook her head, tongue darting out to wet her lips. “I don't know what you think happened but I had nothing to do with it. Why don't you try asking your buddy from Ektos?”
“Nice try. But he's been with me this whole time.”
“Yeah, he has,” she challenged, lifting her chin. “But what about his pals? Any one of them could have done it.”
Ethan's mouth opened to retort, but Mel was right. Jaiden might be innocent but there was no guarantee his organization was as well.
A sharp gust of wind pushed past Ethan, slamming Mel back by several steps. “Don't confuse him, Melanie,” Jaiden said in a low, deadly voice. “Just give Ethan back his friend and I won't have to hurt you.”
Mel regained her footing, tossing her hair out of her eyes. “I would if I could but we had nothing to do with it. Taking hostages means Ethan didn't come of his free will. That's not what we're after.”
“Then who was it?” Ethan demanded, and he whirled toward Jaiden. “What about your people?”
Jaiden shook his head. “We want your willing cooperation. Besides, we wouldn't drag a Norm into it.”
“Oh, like I haven't heard that before,” Melanie spat, and for a moment, it was starting to sound personal. “You're no better than Kryptos, despite your claims.”
Ethan ground his teeth as the two Kinetics glared at each other, vitriol dancing between them. Wind whipped across the parking lot, making the flags ripple loudly.
“And Baskania is nothing more than hired thugs.”
Melanie's eyes flashed, but Ethan had enough of both of them.
“Shut up!” he snarled, furious that no one would give him a straight answer. “If you're not going to help me then I don't need either of you.”
“I can help you find him,” Melanie claimed, eyes darting to Jaiden. “But only if your guard dog will let me.”
Jaiden's lips pulled back, over his teeth. “I never trust a Baskania.”
Ethan threw up his hands, whirling toward the car and yanking open the driver's side door. “Have it your way,” he huffed, anger twisting his insides. “I'm done.”
He slid into the seat, shoved his keys into the ignition and locked all the doors before either Jaiden or Melanie could protest. Ethan threw the car in reverse and peeled out of the parking lot. Either Jaiden had wisely figured it was best not to stop him or Ethan had surprised him.
He didn't have time for their bickering. Dray was missing and Ethan was going to find him, with or without their help.
a/n: Six more chapters to go! The plot thickens!
Feedback is always welcome and appreciated.
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