Chapter Eleven

Friend Or Foe

A while before, when Sammy and Junior load the last of Kyle’s things, “Lily, listen- “Luke pulls Lily to the side.

“Not this time Luke- we said all that was needed to be said” Lily shuts him down, trying to walk away when Luke grabs at her arm

“Just listen to me alright” Luke demands gripping her arm tighter “this is for your own good” tilting his head to meet Lily’s avoiding gaze “Mom, Becca, and myself are just worried for you that’s all- we’ve been worried since Dad- “

“Okay- that’s enough” Lily pulls away in frustration “that’s enough of your lecture, your worry, and most definitely your pity” she steps back “I don’t need any of it”

“Fine” Luke stands in surrender “have it your way” he’s tone patronizing “Call whenever you want us in your life”

“Again- I’m the one calling you” Lily mutters under her breath standing back with Sammy and Junior.

Luke, ignoring the murmurs from Lily, slams his door, before driving off.

“Lily, are you alright?” Junior shyly wraps his arms around her back patting her shoulder

“Don’t listen to that guy” Sammy snips waving her hand in dismissal “he’s not worth a second thought”

Lily’s expression blank, when suddenly she feels a chill “Alright guys, lets head in” she aims for the building, guiding the two in front of her, when that feeling grows. Glancing behind she hurriedly shoves the two “MOVE!” the three topple forward.  

“Ouch!” a voice cracks “Junior, Lily are you okay” Sammy shifts rolling over on her back. A mutter springs to her side “Junior!” she examines his forehead that sports a new cut “It’s not big but we should clean it up”

“Are you hurt” Junior questions scanning Sammy, with a simple nod, Junior sighs in relief “Sammy, I’m confused”

“I am t- LILY!” Sammy rushes over to witness Lily lying unconscious “phew- she’s breathing”

“Sammy-“

“Good the children are unharmed- it was risky, but we needed that woman out of the way”

“We got company” Junior scoops Lily into his arms “Lets go”

Sammy reaches the apartment, with Junior not far behind with Lily coming to, the three pile through the door.

“Um- “Junior quickly settles Lily on the sofa

“LILY- are you alright” Sammy locks the door, glancing back at the two.

“Y-yea” holding her neck, her brows furrow “I just don’t understand what those guys did”

“It felt like they blew us up without an explosion- It just doesn’t make sense”

“HUH?!” Junior squeaks, flipping his head from Lily to Sammy back to Lily. “Ah- Lily wait here, Sammy and I will find something for your neck” Junior quickly drags Sammy over to the bathroom.

“Junior, I need to watch the door” Sammy whispers “they could be here any second”

“Can somebody get weaker or lose their talent” Junior whispers glancing at Lily before closing the bathroom door, leaving but a crack.

“Uh not that I know of” Sammy shakes her head “Why?”

“I- I can hear Lily” Junior explains “I feel her anger, and confusion” he rubs his forehead before gliding over his bleeding cut on his temple.

Sammy thinks with a blank expression “I honestly don’t know Junior perhaps she’s a unicorn” she shrugs before wetting a towel.

“What?” Junior clearly befuddled “what’s a unicorn”

“Dude- this is why you study the important things” Sammy snaps tapping at Junior’s cut with the towel “a unicorn is somebody that has a unique power- a talent that was literally made for that person” she explains tossing the towel in the sink “but if you can hear her now doesn’t that mean she is once again weaker than you”

Junior and Sammy ponder as they peek out the bathroom door. Junior zones in on Lily once again.

“-aw three but I think one guy was not involved- if that is the cas- wait I think I saw one of those guys before- but where have I seen him- anyways lets put that aside for now- how did they do that? Did they plant something near us, but how would they know where we would stand- if that wasn’t it, did they have a strange weapon with the- “

“We need to tell her” Junior stands straight

“Are you insane” Sammy flails her arms “and tell her what- oh hey Lily, remember how some bad people are after our parents cause they discovered something well those dangerous people actually have -for the lack of a better 2word- powers yip they have powers oh and so do you! Congrats welcome to the secret society of talents” 

Just as Sammy finishes her rant, she glimpses Junior that stands grimly crossed armed “are you finished”

Sammy sighs relaxing her arms whispering as she follows Junior out “I don’t think those guys followed us- they would have been here by now if they had”

“Oh!” Lily flinches scooting to the edge of the couch to face behind her “Junior, thank you but I can do that” she holds her hand out.

“It’s fine- you got hurt protecting us” Junior leans Lily back against the couch to apply the muscle relaxant cream.

“Just confess, get rejected, and move on with your life”

Junior hears the snicker in Sammy’s thoughts for a split second before hearing

“What do I do? Perhaps taking them to work would be best- having them mesh in a crowd would be a lot safer than having them sit here like lambs to the slaugh-”

“BANG”

“BOOM”

Lily springs to her feet, while Sammy and Junior step back “GO- “she whispers guiding the two to the window “the fire escape!” The three climb out making it to the back alley “This way”

Following Lily, Sammy slides the overflowing dumpster to blocking the fire escape.

“Nice” Junior smirks before Lily halts right in front of him “What’s wrong Lily”

“It’s like I can see them without looking at them- it’s interesting but freaky”

Junior overhears Lily’s thoughts while she shifts from one direction down another before pausing once more

“No- “she shifts “this way” Lily takes Sammy’s wrist “there’s four- no five of them” Lily pauses behind a tall, solid, white fence.

“Henry knock that off, it’s proba-“

“The corner! Behind! KILL! KILL! Be careful that roof has a lot of snipers”

“Those two kids couldn’t have gone far! The apartments were a bust”

“That woman is most likely dead, a normie wouldn’t be able to handle that sound blast”

“Just be safe- I promised Mark”

“Huh! This way” Junior sprint passed Lily

“Stop! Junior” Lily shouts before shuffling towards “Sammy under no circumstances do you expose yourself unless I- unless I say buffalo do you understand”

“But Junior- “Sammy looks past Lily into the direction Junior ran off

“Sammy I am going after him- and I promise I will bring him back- but I need to know you will be safe the key word is buffalo” Lily states aloud before running after Junior.

“Where did that kid run off to” Lily mutters “what made him take off anyway” carefully looking about, she avoids the prying eyes of the men.

“It’s strange- there are five guys possibly more all dress in suspiciously black suits and yet not one person in this neighborhood is finding this concerning”

“Pfft- Lily it’s alright he’s a friend” Junior waves her over “this is Oliver” Junior gestures “he’s an old-time friend of my dad’s”

“old-time friend” Lily thinks aloud “well it was nice meeting you Owen, but we should be on our way” she attempts to get Junior behind her.

“Oh- it’s Oliver” he corrects “and there’s no rush- ah Junior where’s your sister at” he questions

“um- she w- “Junior glances over to Lily

“She went back to the apartment- in fact we should be heading back too, right Junior” Lily’s tone almost cold

“Please listen to me please- this man- I don’t trust him, please I know you only knew me for a few days, but it just so happens he’s here now of all times”

“Right- we really should head back” Junior agrees “don’t you have to work tonight”

Lily’s shoulders visibly relax “unfortunately” she chuckles pitifully “I need to get a bit of sleep before heading out”

Junior nods, stepping in towards Lily “Don’t be like that Junior- oh how ‘bout this? I can take the kids off your hands for a while just while you get some shut eye” Oliver gestures “what do you say bud, just like old times”

“Um- maybe next time man” Junior declines with a shrug.

“Almost there- don’t look back- R-“

“RUN” Lily pushes Junior out of the way, resulting in the man gripping Lily into his arms before vanishing.

Junior sprawled in the alley road, stunned at the last thought he heard

“All because of their father”

Junior picks himself up- “she- she’s gone! A teleporter! Really?” Junior grunts before “Sammy!”

Meanwhile, “What the- she passed out?” the man lays her down “she acted so brave and now look at her”

“Oliver” a stern, husked, tone breaks the stiff air “did you brin- “the man’s murderous aura sends shivers through Oliver “I ordered for those kids alive” the tone is calm but powerful “and you bring me a civilian” pointing to the unconscious woman “did she see your talent”

“You don’t have to worry about that” Oliver explains “she passed out due to the warp” He shrugs “at least she won’t get in our way anymore” Oliver smirks glimpsing Lily “I’ll deal with her- later” he shrugs face back “Ethan” flinching upon meeting Ethan’s glare

“You will have nothing more to do with that woman” Ethan orders stepping between Lily and Oliver “You will get back to the task at hand”

“Yeah, yeah” Oliver shifts away readying to warp “you always take my prey” he ticks warping out.

“What prey” Ethan snips “you are no predator” he snickers glimpsing Lily. “TSK” prior to leaving the room, Ethan collects Lily from the ground.