Linked

Five : Secrets

I can hardly get through to you lately, Corin says. Why are you blocking me?

"I've been busy," I think at him. My bedroom door is locked. I've taken out and unfolded the pamphlet from today's school assembly, laid it on the quilt next to my notepad. I sit cross-legged on the bed, cheek resting against my fist. The wind chime spins and tinkles above me. A soft sound, stray notes of music. Lost songs.

Too busy for me? Ouch. I can tell from the tone of his voice that he's smiling.

"I've had enough to think about today without your thoughts barging in, too," I tease.

Like which pair of shoes to wear?

"You know me better than that."

Yes, I do. So what's going on?

"Can you keep your face blank?" I ask. "Don't let anyone guess you're Mindlinking."

I'm alone. He replies. 

"Is your father not home?"

In his study, working. As usual.

"Do you think he knows about you... you know, Mindlinking?" I finger the shiny printed pamphlet lying in front of me. "Would he turn you in, if he did?"

There is a long pause. I begin to wonder if Corin has withdrawn entirely, before he speaks again. His voice fills my head, surprisingly upbeat.

So you got one of those brochures today, too? Money in exchange for freaks?

I'm not sure how far away Corin is, I've never asked. The distance seems irrelevant as he will always be with me. But if he got a pamphlet too, maybe everyone, everywhere did. If the whole country is on the lookout for us, is there anywhere left to hide? I say as much to Corin. All of a sudden, my room feels like a cell.

There will be somewhere, he says. We just need to find it.

"Maybe the Department of Research & Investigation really do want to protect us," I suggest hopefully. "The representative at our school this afternoon said Linkers would be taken to a safe place."

Not likely, Corin scoffs. I bet their 'safe house' is a research institute. They'll be locking us up and studying us as if we were aliens.

Studying us. I remember her saying something about ensuring we are no longer a risk. Maybe the only way they think that can happen is if they take away our ability?

"I overheard my father say something about a 'cure'. He didn't say what for," I tell Corin, "but I was eavesdropping right after he'd been nagging me to go to a medical appointment." I light up my notepad screen and navigate to the calendar again.

They can't cure us. We're not sick.

"Doesn't mean they won't try."

I open the appointment. Nothing has changed. Date: highlighted for Wednesday. Doctor: I can't believe I didn't notice it earlier.

"Corin, the doctor listed for my medical is the same woman who was speaking about Mindlinking at school today."

What's her name? I'll see what I can find out. Corin's father specialises in medical research. It should be simple for him to drop a name and see what his father says.

"Garnet Frenchwood. What do you think this means?"

I think you should make sure you don't go to that appointment.