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  TWO OF A KIND

  The Super Seven – Book 1

  Celesta Thiessen

  Copyright 2013 Celesta Thiessen

  Chapter 1 - A Change

  Faith curled up in bed and shut her eyes tightly against the darkness. She had dreamed of them again. But she never saw their faces. Silent creatures shrouded in shadows. Fear overwhelmed her. At twelve years old, Faith was still afraid of the dark and, after a nightmare, it was almost unbearable. It was like the blackness had a physical weight and was pressing down against her. But she dared not rise or make a sound, for the consequences of that would be much worse.

  So she cried out for help in her mind, as she often had before. Please help me! Please save me! Please help me! Please save me! After a time, she felt her fears fading, and she felt a pinging in her heart. Faith liked to fancy that someone heard her pleas. Finally, sleep found her. And she dreamed no more of them that night.

  When Faith awoke, she felt something different. There was a tension in the air. A change was coming. Silently, she rose and ate the prescribed gruel that had been deposited by her bedside. Then she showered quickly and donned a clean, gray smock, which was her usual uniform.

  Her handler entered her small chamber.

  “Here,” she said, tossing a pink, frilly frock onto the bed. “You will wear this today.”

  Faith gazed at the pretty thing. She had never before been given anything so lovely.

  Her handler turned on her heel and left the room without another word.

  Faith touched the dress. All lace and silk. Quickly, she took off the smock and pulled the frilly thing down over her head. The dress was snug. Faith moved to see herself in the mirror. Her golden curls were almost dry and startling blue eyes stared back at her. Pink was a good color on her, she decided. She looked so...grown up.

  Faith heard the door sliding open. Her handler was back.

  “Let’s go,” the woman snapped.

  Faith followed her. They did not go to the classrooms or other training areas as Faith had expected. Instead she was led outside, on to the grounds. There, standing in a row on the grass near the parking lot, were four other girls. They were also dressed in beautiful gowns. She was made to join them. Faith felt that they, too, were confused. The director of the home was there, too. Faith looked at him. He seemed...pleased. What is happening?, she cried in her mind. Then Faith saw a group of about forty people approaching from the parking lot. There was excitement among them.

  When the people got close, they stood and watched the girls.

  “The highest offer takes the prize,” said the director. “And please, don’t ruffle the merchandise.”

  So, that was it. They were now to be sold.

  Faith looked into the crowd of faces and was afraid of what she felt there. Then her eyes locked onto stunning, blue eyes in the face of a lanky teen. He was staring at her. His too-long blond hair hung down past his ears in clumps. She felt a rush of something as he slowly approached her. The other people seemed not to notice him.

  He was close to her now, looking at her intensely. Then he drew an iScan from his pocket and directed the beam towards her. It chirped and the girl beside her startled and looked around.

  “I didn’t really need a scan to tell me,” he said. “It’s you!” He shoved the device back into his pocket. “I’m Fisher.” He grabbed her hand. “Let’s go.”

  Faith thrilled at his touch. Fisher was very tall and strong. He wanted her and...he was saving her!

  She felt confusion from those around them.

  “Hey!” shouted the director. “What’s going on here?”

  The crowd was agitated and looking around. Fisher led her past the people. No one tried to stop them. They ran full out through the parking lot. He was pulling her so fast. Faith stumbled, her long dress hampering her stride. Fisher never slowed, only yanked on her arm to keep her from falling.

  Faith was wheezing now and had a cramp in her side. She had never run so far before in her whole life. Fisher slowed to a walk as they entered a stand of trees but he kept hold of her hand.

  “What just happened?” Faith gasped.

  “You’ve been calling to me for months now,” he said. “I just had to save you.”

  Her blue eyes widened. She realized that, since she had first seen him, she had been feeling that same pinging feeling in her heart. Their walking slowed, yet still he held her.

  “You’re wondering how I heard you, when you were alone in the dark, aren’t you?”

  He glanced down at her and saw her regarding him with wide-eyed astonishment.

  “It’s okay,” he said. “You’re safe with me. You can speak freely.”

  All her years growing up, Faith had been carefully disciplined for any breaches in protocol. They were constantly reminded that orphans must be obedient and strive to become of worth to society.

  “You’re worth far more than you know,” he told her quietly.

  The trees were thinning now. Fisher stopped. He released her hand and sat down on the cool, damp grass, with his back against a large oak trunk.

  “Sit down,” he said.

  Faith complied instantly, tucking her pink ruffled skirt beneath her. She sat facing him, gazing into his face.

  He smiled shyly, then blushed. “I’m not used to girls looking at me,” he explained. “I’m not really used to girls at all.”

  Faith nodded. She had grown up in an all-girls home for orphans. The only men she had ever seen where the teachers and the director...and those who were in the crowd that they had just left behind.

  “Why did they not stop us?” she asked him, finally.

  “Oh, that! I was in stealth mode,” he explained.

  Faith said nothing, only raised her eyebrows.

  “Here,” he said, “look.” He took a green apple out of his pocket and set it on the ground between them.

  She looked at the apple. Then suddenly it sprang up and jumped towards her. Faith gasped and caught it in her hands. She looked at Fisher.

  “I did that,” he said, smiling. “You can learn it, too.”

  Faith felt the pinging in her heart stronger than ever. It was almost a thrumming now. She felt safe with Fisher.

  “Eat the apple,” he told her, “and then rest. You’ll need your strength. We’ll wait here until dark. Then we will run again.” She bit into the apple. It was sweet and crisp.

  “How do you know I can learn to do that?” she asked him, after she swallowed.

  He looked deep into her eyes. “We are two of a kind.”

  Chapter 2 - To the City

  Someone was touching her shoulder. Faith awoke in a panic. It was dark but she wasn’t in her bed. She saw a glimpse of the moon between the branches of the trees. Her eyes were adjusting. She saw Fisher’s outline, but she couldn’t make out his face as he crouched near her in the shadows.

  “We need to move,” he whispered, close to her ear. “Get up.”

  Instantly, Faith was on her feet, brushing grass and leaves from her dress.

  “We’re safest travelling at night,” he told her. “We must move quickly. Even in stealth mode, scanning devices can detect us if we’re in the open. We have to get to the city. That’s where we’re headed.”

  Faith nodded. She had been trained not to ask questions. Fisher took her hand again.

  “There’ll be more time for explanation later,” he said quietly. “Let’s go.” They broke from the cover of the trees and ran towards a farm building in the distance.

  Faith was glad that, beneath her dress, she had flat-soled, practical shoes. She loved the feeling of the wind whipping past her face and through her hair as they ran on and on. Everything was so beautiful. The sky was pricked with more stars than she
could imagine and the white-silver moon was almost full. Faith couldn’t ever remember being outside at nighttime. She felt a controlled concern from Fisher that drove him forward, but she felt as though she flew. This must be what happiness feels like, she thought.

  They heard a dog barking in the distance. The barking came nearer. Fisher stopped abruptly and dove for cover. Faith found herself sprawled in the dirt, down in the long grass, next to him. She wanted to ask him what was happening.

  “Shh....,” he whispered. “Stealth mode doesn’t work on dogs.”

  Faith heard a snuffling sound. The dog was looking for them.

  “Here, Boy!” called Fisher, now crouching up beside her. The dog ran at him with a powerful bark. Fisher held steady as the dog jumped at him. The dog collided with the teen and bowled him backwards. For a moment, they both lay still.

  “Fisher!” cried Faith, scrambling towards them to pull the large dog off the boy.

  “It’s okay,” Fisher said quietly, sitting up and pushing the animal aside. “He’s just a farm dog...just trying to protect his master. He’s sleeping now.”

  He grinned at Faith who realized she was crying.

  “I thought you were hurt,” she whispered.

  He leaned towards her and gently wiped the tears from her eyes. “Thanks for caring.” He smiled again and took her hand. “Let’s go!”

  They ran on and on and then stopped to rest in the cover of the farm buildings. Fisher put his finger to his lips, signalling her to remain silent.

  This is taking too long. She heard the thoughts in her head but she was sure they weren’t her own. Wait here. It was him! He was talking in her head! Fisher moved away from her and rounded the corner of the building. Faith still felt the thrumming in her heart. She knew he was nearby.

  After several long moments, Fisher returned with a hoverscooter. It was shiny silver, shaped like a bullet, with a long seat on the top. It hovered two feet off the ground. Faith was surprised to see such an expensive piece of equipment coming out of such an old barn.

  Some farmers have more money than they like to let on, she heard inside her head. Fisher grinned at her and leapt astride the hoverscooter.

  A barrage of doubts assailed her as he hoisted her up behind him. Was it okay that they should take it? Wasn’t that stealing? Then Fisher gunned the scooter and it lurched forward. She threw her arms about his middle to keep herself from falling. Faith clung to him tightly as they sped away from the farm buildings.

  As they reached the outskirts of the city, Fisher drove the hoverscooter into a ditch. She saw a large culvert there, with only a little water flowing from it. Carefully, he drove the scooter inside. He left it hovering there and jumped down into the ankle-deep flow. Then he reached up to Faith. He pulled her down into his arms.

  “Oh!” she exclaimed.

  He blushed as he carried her from the culvert and set her down in a dry part of the ditch.

  “I didn’t want you to have to get your feet wet, too,” he explained, looking into her eyes. “It’s chilly out. I don’t want you getting sick.”

  “Thank you!” She smiled at him. Faith smoothed out her dress and then took his hand again.

  “Don’t worry,” he assured her, as they climbed out of the ditch. “All hoverscooters have a chip in them. The farmer will be able to locate his bike as soon as he realizes that it’s missing.”

  Faith was relieved. She just didn’t feel right about taking other people’s stuff.

  It was the cold, gray light of dawn now as they walked hurriedly down the highway into the city. They passed houses and other buildings. As they continued to walk, the structures became closer and closer together.

  “I think we’ll be safe now,” said Fisher. “It’s hard for them to find specific people in the city. Scanners don’t work that well due to all the interference. He turned his head to smile at her.

  “Come on,” he said. “I’ll show you my place. I have some things there you really need to see!”

  Chapter 3 - At Fisher’s Place

  They descended a steep set of stairs into a dark alcove in the concrete. Faith could make out a door in the dim light. She expected that Fisher would take out a key but, instead, he put his palm on the rough wood surface and closed his eyes. There was a faint clicking sound. He turned the doorknob and pulled the door open, revealing more darkness inside. Then lights sprang on, seemingly by themselves.

  “Come on in,” he said. He closed the door, locking it behind them.

  The small room was sparsely furnished with a pallet on the floor and an old wooden dresser against the back wall. The floor and walls were concrete. There was no kitchen but a door led to a small washroom.

  “Sit down,” he said, indicating the pallet. “I have something for you.”

  Fisher walked to the dresser and opened the top drawer. Faith sat on the small, thin mattress. The pallet was old and worn but it didn’t smell. Even though everything was so meagre and her stomach churned with hunger, she liked it better here than back at the home for orphans. She smoothed down her dress. It was muddied at the bottom from their run through the woods and the fields. She liked the frilly garment even though it felt odd to wear such a thing.

  Fisher came and sat beside her, leaning his back against the concrete wall. He held something in his hand.

  “Here,” he said, passing it to Faith.

  It was a folded piece of paper and something metal. She looked into her hand to see what he had given her. It was a small silver cross on a silver chain. Faith inspected it closely.

  “It’s beautiful!” she exclaimed.

  “It belonged to your mother.” Fisher leaned his head back against the wall and closed his eyes. “And the letter’s from your father,” he said quietly.

  A gasp escaped her lips as she quickly unfolded the paper.

  Dear Faith,

  If you are reading this letter, then I thank God that Fisher has found you. I’m sorry I could not greet you in person, my daughter. I have been sick a long time now and we have no money for medicine. Soon I will be with the Lord. But death is not the end, my child, and I know that, someday, I will see you again on the other side.

  Not all things are as they seem. I believe your mother may yet live, although she is very far away. I think she was given to the aliens. Try to make your way to the colony world called Kappa. Your mother has family there. People like Fisher and you. They will be able to take care of you and train you. Perhaps they will also be able to help you search for your mother. Trust only your brother and those who follow the way of the cross.

  I will always love you, my darling Faith.

  Love,

  Dad

  Faith looked up from the page, tears streaming down her face.

  “My brother,” she sobbed, reaching for him.

  Fisher pulled her into an awkward embrace.

  “I always wanted a family.” She held him tightly until her tears subsided.

  “You didn’t know?” he asked her, smiling as she pulled away.

  Faith shook her head.

  “When did our father die?” she asked.

  “Four years ago,” said Fisher sadly. “Since then I’ve been alone...I’m so glad I found you.”

  “Me too!” she said. Faith wiped the tears from her face. She took the silver necklace and clumsily tried to fasten it around her neck. The clasp slipped closed and she tried again.

  “Here,” said her brother, “let me help you.” He moved her golden hair aside and fastened the delicate necklace. “There,” he said.

  She centered the cross pendant and looked at her brother.

  “Do I look like Mom?” she asked.

  Fisher regarded her. “I’m not sure,” he said, finally. “I don’t really remember what she looked like.”

  “What happened to our family?” asked Faith.

  “When I was four and you were a baby, they took mom and you away. Mom was...like me. She could do stuff. The government said that
wasn’t allowed. They call us ‘Talents’. The government says being able to do stuff with your mind is bad. Dad says it’s just the way that we were made...They took Mom away and said she was dead.”

  “But Dad...he didn’t believe that she was dead?”

  “No. Mom and Dad always had a strong connection because of her talent. He could sense her. He said she was taken farther and farther away. But he still felt her out there. Somewhere in space...alive.”

  “But why did they take me?” Faith asked.

  “They said you would be better off. The government said Dad wasn’t a suitable parent.”

  Fisher was quiet then for a few minutes. Faith touched the cross that hung at her throat.

  “Here, let me show you something,” Fisher got up and went to the dresser again. He retrieved something. In his hand was a bright orange, plastic ball. “Watch.” He dropped his hand and the plastic ball hovered in place. Then the ball floated over and dropped into her lap.

  “Now you try.”

  “I can’t do that!” she protested.

  “Sure you can. A ball is the easiest thing to work with.”

  He sat back down beside her. Fisher put his hand on her shoulder and closed his eyes.

  “Now concentrate on the ball.”

  Faith looked at the ball. She felt something in her mind that had not been there before. The ball quivered. It lurched upwards, then dropped, bounced, and went rolling across the concrete floor.

  “That was very good for a first attempt!”

  Her stomach growled.

  “You’re hungry,” Fisher remarked, going to the dresser again. “Here, I have something.”

  Her brother pulled a chocolate bar from the drawer. Fisher gave it to her and watched as she tore the wrapping off.

  “Oh,” she said, “you must be hungry, too. Let’s split it.”

  “Alright.” He reached out and took the piece she offered him.

  “Let’s rest now,” he suggested. “It will be better to find supplies for our trip when it’s dark out.”

  So they both lay down on his narrow pallet and, soon, Faith was fast asleep.