Watch Me Find

Zack

We were invisible. Leo dragged the girl's limp body and swung her over his shoulder with ease. He had super strength. I projected my invisibility over us almost immediately. We didn't say a word to each other. This was not the time. We were in deep trouble.

I held the round now-invisible-orb in my hand and whispered, "Evervale."

We let the light carry us away. The dull grey of the school corridors transformed into a vibrant green. Lush greenery and colourful flowers surrounded me. A sickening dread crept into my mind. Father was not going to be happy. We were supposed to observe. Then explain to her. Then calmly bring her back with us. Conscious. We did none of that. Whatever. He never cared about me anyway.

I pulled open the door and slipped through silently, not at all caring about Leo.

"Hey, I'm the one carrying her," he grumbled, his foot jammed at the door, preventing it from closing.

But I wasn't listening. I continued walking until I saw the ornate wooden door as Leo tailed behind me, complaining—somewhat loudly about my manners.

"Just so you know, I'm not taking any responsibility for this. It was your fault for losing your temper," Leo said as Iifted my hand to knock on the door.

I paused, then gave the door three sharp raps.

"Come in," Father replied.

I stepped into the chilly room and stared at Father. He was sifting through some documents. Leo tip-toed slowly into the room behind me.

"Look Liam, I told you to—" Father said looking up, then stopped,"Zack? Leo? What are the both of you doing here?"

Father took a glance at the girl over Leo's shoulder and shook his head,"Please don't tell me you did something stupid."

I simply stared. Leo took over, he always was the favourite child,"Father—"

"Sir," Father corrected. I glanced at Leo. It was unlike him to make these kinds of mistakes. Since we were children, he made us call him that whenever he was working.

"Sir," Leo corrected himself hurriedly,"the girl, she saw us using our abilities."

Leo went on to explain what had happened, carefully missing out the parts when I had stormed out of the classroom. I silently thanked him.

Father sat there for a moment, silently deliberating. He turned to Leo,"Take her to the guest room."

Leo nodded and hurried out to escape the suffocating tension in the room.

Father turned towards me. "Have a seat."

"I'd rather stand," my voice was cold.

It's going to be a long talk, sit." It wasn't a request.

I took my time to sink into the leather chair, not breaking eye contact with him.

"So, what actually happened? You don't think that I didn't catch the fact that Leo conveniently left out why the both of you were out of class?" Father questioned.

"It was recess." I lied easily. Father could read emotions and could tell most of the time when people were lying but he never seemed to know for me. I got away with most of my lies and my trick was not to have a change of emotions. Stay calm. Stay cool. Stay collected. I learnt it over time. I do it with ease now.

Father sighed. I could tell he was confused. His mind told him I was telling the truth but his heart insisted I was lying. "Why did no one else see you?"

"The place was deserted."

"It was recess. How could that be?"

"No one goes there."

"Really? Why was the girl there?"

"Privacy? How would I know?"

"You were supposed to observe her, be friends if possible. What happened to that?"

"Well maybe, I was going to the toilet."

"Well maybe, I think you are lying!" his voice reminded me of subdued thunder.

This was getting heated. Fast.

"If you don't trust me, why bother to give this mission to me?

"Because she's your sister!" as soon as the words left his mouth, I knew he regretted them.

"She's my what?"

"Nothing."

"She's my sister and you never told me?" my voice was soft with disbelief,"No way. How?"

"She... she just disappeared one day. We thought she was gone forever. Until we heard of a girl with powers. We knew it was her. It must be her. We are going to run a DNA test," Father cleared his throat and gestured to the door.

I stood up slowly, and opened the door. Just before I left, I wanted to ask something,"What is her name?"

A pause.

"Alice."