One Of The 4400 Part 1 & 2

Chapter 17

After the voting had taken place (the audience for my trial voting, I found out I stay), I was immediately dragged away from Jordan Collier by Adam. He had grabbed my wrist and put a finger to his lips, gesturing me to be quiet, even though we were in a crowded auditorium.

As soon as we were out of the auditorium, I asked him what was going on, feeling the cold of the wind of today seep through my clothes. Adam gave me the answer after careful deliberation.

"I just wanted you out of there quick, Julie." He said, the edges of his lips turning down, as if it was a distasteful idea.

"You don't have to call me Julie anymore, Adam." I said, biting my bottom lip. It was the truth. He already knows my name after all. No point in calling me something else.

"Hmm, yeah. Maybe. But still..." He said, still gripping my wrist and whipping his head around as if someone might come out of the shadows of the surburban houses.

"Still?" I said, feeling a bit hurt. Knowing my voice betrayed that of me. I didn't know what was going on here.

Letting go of my wrist suddenly, Adam turned slowly to me and gave me the most queerest look ever; it was confusion, joy, and sadness mixed into one.

"I don't think you know fully what you got yourself into, Vera..." He said suddenly. The tone of his voice surprisingly soft like when I first was in his house.

"What do you mean?" I asked, feeling slightly queasy despite the fact that I barely ate at the restaurant I was at with my dad.

"Jordan is a sort of collector...He says he wants justice for all that is part of the 4400 community but that isn't so, Vera. He may be smiles and saying good things but he is the opposite..." He said finally.

"What do you mean?" I inquired, not sure of what he was saying. I mean, I guessed Jordan is not exactly right but...

"You noticed the blond man standing with the woman along with Jordan?" He asked, knowing the answer.

I nodded.

"He has powers to heal. Jordan took him in after a he had a fight with his family. His name is Shawn Farrell."

"To heal?" I gasped. No way, it almost seemed too miraculous. A person who could heal the sick?

Adam nodded but then stopped, suddenly shaking his head side to side, the expression on his face sad.

"You're missing the point, Vera." He said.

"Then tell me." I muttered, still starstruck.

"Jordan collects...4400's, like a child may collect teddy bears. You have to understand what I mean: Vera, he is not safe; he keeps the people who have powers around him. Jordan gave you that trial not for the benefit of you; he gave you that trial to see what you can do... It is camouflage...The trial is making sure if you have a power he can 'use' so you'll be up there with Shawn and him, being his next most trusted protégé..."

The heavy meaning behind Adam's words sunk in like an anchor to the sandy currents of sea. He was telling me I am trapped all because of my power. He was telling me I'm trapped because of my own stupidity of wanting to be around people who were like me. He was telling me I was trapped because of no one else but me.

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I know I said I would write a long chapter but this was the most I could write while listening to The Fray's Look After You at four in the morning before my internet friends could see that I was online on facebook and tell me to go to bed.

They really care about my sleeping habits, which is to say isn't unusual--but sometimes I have to be up writing these chapters if I'm feeling inspired by whatever I'm listening to.

Hopefully, the next chapter will be written really nice and long, long enough for you guys who have been reading what I write about the intersecting lives of the young woman named Vera and her family and the other 4400s.