Sooner Than Expected

Chapter 3 - The Plan

Mum and dad had spent the entire weekend looking for another house in another town. After their shock had worn off, they started to make plans. We were moving to Los Angeles. I would really miss Richmond. This town was different from the others I had lived in. I had made really good friends that cared about me. Of course I had the advantage of my mind reading, but I tried not to use it much when it came to my friends. I just wished I didn't have to move

"We found a lovely house near the sea" Mum said as she popped a piece of vegetable in her mouth "You're going to love it"

I stared intently at my plate, moving the food with the fork, not hungry enough to eat

"You can do surf Justin" She added cheerfully, knowing the passion Justin had for surf

"That's great mum" He answered, trying to sound enthusiastic. He didn't fool her.

"Mum" I started saying, an idea starting to make up in my mind "Aren't you tired of running away?"

"Well, sure honey, but it's what's best for us"

"Don't you think it would be better if we stayed and faced him?"

Everybody looked at me like I was out of my mind. I ran through everyone's thoughts, looking for something to hold on to. Dad's mind was blank, literally. Mum was just horrified, the idea of us getting caught just scaring the hell out of her. Justin was the only one that was taking my idea into account.

"No, absolutely not. Not in a thousand years. We're moving. I don't want him anywhere near us" Mum said, almost screaming

"But mum, just think about it. With Justin and his 'moving things

around' and —"

She cut me off "I said no, and it's no"

"Mum, it's impossible to keep running from him all our lives"

"We will if we have to"

"He'll get us one way or another"

"No, Hailey"

"You're just so stubborn"

"Hailey Williams, I will not let you talk to me like that. We don't want him anywhere near us and it's our final decision"

"Mum, listen to her! She has a point" Justin screamed, slamming his hand against the table and getting up "We're not going to keep running from him forever, we don't wanna live with the fear of him chasing us. We want normal lives. We'll have to face him sometime"

"It's just not the time yet" She answered, tears filling her eyes and starting to clean up the table

"And when is it? We've been moving for 18 years now mum, that's even before I was born. I can't take another year" I said, feeling every single thought of this room coming to my mind. This is what I hated about mind reading; whenever I lost it a little bit, every thought would come to my mind. And it only got worse when everything I thought was said out loud.

She turned around, not looking at us

"Mum, look at me" Justin said "We all want this family to live like a normal one"

I was starting to feel dizzy. So many thoughts from many different people were trying to be heard in my mind, it was driving me crazy.

"Do you think I don't want that?"

"Then do something" Justin answered

The room started to spin. I grabbed Justin's arm, looking for support. My head was just such a chaos. Mum and Justin's voices were tuned out, I could barely hear them.

"Guys, that's enough!" Dad said, screaming at the same time he put an arm around mum's shoulder

My knees were wobbling; I doubted I could stay conscious for one more minute. Every single voice in my head was like a bee sting, each one trying to hurt more than the last one. My head was going to explode. I couldn't take it anymore

"Dad, you know—" Justin began to say

"Justin" I whispered, trying to call attention to myself. I couldn't find my voice

"I know. We'll have to think about the idea" He said, trying to sooth mum. I could barely hear his voice, it sounded like it was whispering

That was the last thing I heard. My knees collapsed, and I fell to the floor. If it hadn't been for Justin, that had caught me in the last second, I would have knocked myself out. The voices in my head became louder. I felt Justin's arms around me.

That was the last thing I felt.