Synectica

Chapter 18

Netta's mind raced in circles, trying to remember the bits and pieces of information she knew about Melna. Such a powerful sorceress who was quite blatantly feared by both James and Ella surely could not be a child. Was it possible that she was older than she looked? But even then, at most she could be a teenager. This powerful sorceress had been alive for centuries and yet she looked younger than even Peter.

"You have questions, I'm sure," Melna continued, forcing Netta's wondering thoughts to come flocking back, a jumbled mess of questions, "but unfortunately we don't have the time." She took off her cloak and hung it on what appeared to an invisible coat rack.

"Now then," she said brushing herself off, looking at them as one evaluates weapons for purchase, "you must be the recruits I've heard so much about. Let's see...Sophie Lanin: Sprite," she said gazing at Sophie. "And Ryan Cartson: Flico," she droned on, as if reciting from a ledger, "which makes you Netta Everst: Affliction." Ryan visibly twitched at the way Melna's mossy eyes gobbled up every inch of Netta. Netta could feel her looking through her, straight into her soul. The word "recruit" pulsed angrily throughout her entire body, formulating one single thought that overthrew every other that dared oppose it: she had been lied to - this, everything she thought she had worked for, the family and the trust she thought she'd gained - it wasn't real.

The sharp realization was like being held underwater, not giving her a chance to even try and swallow the truth. The sole idea of betrayal flooded her mind, burning every piece hope she had mustered over the last few months to ash. When the tinders of her thoughts settled again, everything was cracked and empty. She could already feel herself begin to recoil from the loneliness that she had managed to press out. It snaked in through her stomach, then curled around her lungs, it's icy skin demanding a spot inside her.

"Alice, it is good to see you again," Melna continued, "though you're hair is longer than I remember it." The sorcerer's small mouth formed a thin smile. "I'll have to congratulate our healers on an excellent job. You seem to be in fine health, though I know you will be even better once we're home." Melna reached up to pat Alice's cheek affectionately, but Alice drew away.

"What are you talking about? I'm fine - I always have been," Alice muttered. A memory in the back of her mind tingled with the sight of her, but she couldn't be sure. Her eyes darted from the child to strange people across from her and then back to her brother. Netta saw the panic growing in her shaking hands.

James strode over to her and sat her down in a chair, rubbing her arm gently.

"Shh, it's ok Alice," he said calmly, as if he had done this before.

She yanked out of his grasp and tried to stand up.

"I'm fine!" she said exasperatedly. "Why are you acting like I'm some ill person? What is going on! I don't know these people!" She fought back against James but gave up as he kept her in the chair, still speaking in a soothing voice. Netta, Ryan and Sophie watched in horrified, paralyzed confusion - everything they knew wasn't right.

"I don't know these people," she kept muttering, her eyes locked on them in spite of herself. Her head began to pound as memories overwhelmingly flooded her mind - horrors she had passed off as nightmares for so many years that now seemed too real. Flashes of a cold, dark room and a numbing dread that filled her stomach, spreading through her limbs and into her fingertips. A mechanical beeping pulsed through her, rattling her bones with each tone. Masked figures moved over her, touching her and speaking in low, gruff voices that awakened a cancerous fear that had been numbed until now.

"I think our presence seems to be a trigger," the boy named Caleb said, his eyes transfixed on Alice.

"And you would be right," James growled. He continued to stroke Alice's hair, speaking softly.