Note: This is the last chapter to this series! Stay tuned for the sequel!
"What?!" I'm in such shock I accidentally say this out loud. Jackson gives me a warning glare while the other two look at me as if I have two heads. "Sorry, I was just thinking out loud. I think I'm going to.. go.. to my room." I turn sharply and stalk back to the house. I slam the door and make Arlene, the woman staying with us while Liz goes 'looking' for Will, jump about 5 feet out of her chair. She smiles and starts to say something but one look at my face shuts her up.
I stomp up the stairs and slam my bedroom door behind me, breathing heavily due to my anger. I sit on the bed and take deep breaths until I calm down enough to think. Jackson said they're going to wait a month, but who knows if they really will? Maybe they'll only wait a week or two. I can't stick around that long. None of us can.
Jackson is quiet during my mental tirade, until I start trying to plan our getaway.
I've already thought of that.
Wha- Of course you have. What did you come up with?
Easy enough, we go at night when Liz and Geoffrey are sleeping.
How do we get away from the building? We don't have a car and the nearest town is miles away.
I'll get Geoffreys' keys tonight after he's back with Liz.
I start to nod, then stop.
Wait, tonight? You want to do this tonight?
We've already decided, why wait?
Yeah, we have decided. Zee and Tessa haven't decided anything.
So that's their problem. If they want to stay then let them. I'm not risking your safety for them.
I shake my head and pull myself away from Jackson. He does have a point. Why wait when we can get out now? If we wait too long, they might decide to go ahead with their plans. But tonight seems too soon, especially since Christmas is only two days away. I sigh and lay back against my pillow and close my eyes. My plan was to just lay here for a minute or two, but I end up falling asleep.
**
I'm woken up by a knock at my door. "Gemma?" I sit up groggily.
"Yeah?"
"Lunch is ready, are you coming down?" I yawn and stretch my arms.
"Yeah, I'll be down in a minute." I get out of bed and walk over to the door, opening it and bumping into Zee. "Sorry, hey." His arms go around my back and I rest my head on his chest. It would be so easy with Zee. I know he feels that way, and I feel bad that I can't return it. I feel pangs of jealousy from Jackson, as much as he's trying to hide it. I let Zee go and look up at him. "Care to escort a lady to lunch?" He smiles and holds out his arm. I take it and we head down to the kitchen.
Tessa and Jackson are already eating lunch, egg salad sandwiches and baby carrots today. I sit across from Jackson, Zee sits on my left.
How are we going to talk about this without Arlene getting suspicious?
Can you connect with more than one mind at a time?
I don't know, I've never tried. Can you?
Mine works differently, you know that. Try connecting with Zee.
I glance over at Zee and tap my forehead, my special signal to tell him I want in his head. We think of the word, hippo, and I'm in. I look over at Tessa, who's reading as well as eating.
How do I get her in without letting Arlene know?
I'll take care of that.
Jackson?! What is he doing in your head? And why can I hear him?
I sigh. This isn't going to be easy.
We need to plan without letting Arlene know we're up to anything. He had the idea of me connecting everyone so we don't have to talk out loud.
I watch as Jackson gets up and goes to the counter. He grabs a pen and paper, writes for a few seconds, and then folds the paper.
"Hey Tessa?" She startles and look at Jackson. I almost laugh at the expression on her face. "Can I see your book for a second?" She gives him a confused look but hands him the book. He pretends to read it for a second, while slipping the paper in to mark her page, and then hands it back to her. She takes it and goes to the page, looking at me. I mouth 'common room' and point with my thumb out the kitchen door then glance at Arlene. She's oblivious to what's going on.
Come on, let's go to the common room. We'll put a movie in and pretend to watch it while we plan.
Plan what? What are we doing?
I'll explain in a few minutes, once I connect with Tessa.
"Arlene? We're going to go watch a movie, okay?" She nods.
"You're all done lunch?" I look down at the sandwich I've taken one bite of.
"I'm not that hungry today."
"Well okay, but remember you've got chores to do today, too." We all get up and head to the common room, Tessa reading Jackson's instructions on the way. Zee picks a movie and sets it up while I sit on the couch, Jackson beside me. Tessa sits on the chair, leaving Zee to sit beside Jackson.
"Okay, I'm ready Gemma."
What word am I thinking of?
Hippo, I thought I'd keep it simple so no one forgets it.
I nod at Tessa, and we both think of the word, and to my surprise, I'm in her head.
Okay, here's what's going to happen.
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