Linked

Chapter 9

[Casey's POV]

My heart thumped with triumphant glee.  Yes!  We have a chance!

Once telling Dustin, Jordan, and Emily about the link between Liam and I, we began to form a plan about getting out of this prison.  Jordan worked-out that if the Boss didn't know about Liam having powers, then she might not know about our bond either.  The plan was mostly based on guesses and hopes, but I confirmed that Liam could still be reached and he may be our way out.

"He's okay.  And I can still communicate with him.  Do you think we have a shot?"  I grinned at my cell-mates.

"It is possible that having a guy on the outside will increase our odds of escaping.  It's very good news,"  Jordan admitted.

"It's true!  This dude could be our ticket to freedom!  So what is the plan from here?"  Dustin asked.

"I'm not entirely sure,"  My head formed tactics for this situation. "We could try to find a way to help Liam locate us.  Have you guys ever found out where we are?  Or a way to find out?"

"Not quite,"  Jordan responded, and added with confidence, "Except we do know the routines for the guards.  We've pieced together that each week a single guard exits the building to continue searching for people like us.  With my sight ability, we could piece together where we are from what the guard sees, but there is a problem with that plan."

"What?"

"Every time the captors leave the HQ, they stick us before going; rendering us powerless and unconscious for at least an hour."

"Oh.  That is a slight concern,"  I included sarcasm to cover-up the road-block we've reached.  I do not want to get stuck with another one of those things.  My hands felt the stinging bruise left by the object from our jailers.

"Maybe there's a way to stop them from sticking us,"  Even Emily did not want anymore effects from the devices; she twiddled her thumbs anxiously.

"Perhaps...  I mean, if we could fight them off or distract them long enough for me to get a small peek at the outside world..."  Jordan thought hard.

"Yeah, and then Liam could come and find us!  Break us out!  He can handle some guards right, Casey?"  Dustin's question suddenly transported me back to high school.

I thought back to the popular Liam Walker.  The one girls fought over, and boys wanted to be.  I remembered Liam telling me that they liked his fashion sense or something and oh how wrong he was.  His leather jacket and white t-shirt only began to comprehend the fawned-over muscles and strength.  My memory-banks also dug up the last time I saw Liam; fighting off two or three huge guys with weapons...  I gasped internally at the length of memories connected to Dustin's question.

"Definitely.  He can take out a few guys,"  I concluded, returning to reality.

"Yes!  I knew it!"  He pumped his fist in the air.  Dustin may have a short-sighted frame-of-mind, but he's sure optimistic.

"Is Liam nice?"  Emily tugged on my jeans, and asked another question that spiraled me into a whirlwind of flashbacks.

I saw all the times we talked in our brains and the most recent times we were together.  At the end of the captivating moments we shared, I found myself re-playing the time we first met.  The time Liam and I were just L and C.  It was the first time we ever realized we could chat with each other in our minds.

I was five years old, and alone in a supermarket.  I couldn't find my mom because I had wandered off for a few minutes to pet someone's guide dog.  The owner of the dog was very sweet, but I remember feeling disappointed because I could not pet the puppy I longed to stroke.

Still, I was young, and feelings fade faster when you are a curious child, so I briskly walked away to join my mother again, but realized she was gone.

I wandered around for a solid five minutes before starting to panic, and I just sat down in the middle of the pet aisle.  I buried myself in a fluffy pet-bed, trying not to cry.  And that's when I heard him.

Are you okay?  A young Liam asked.

"What?"  I looked around to see who had spoken.

Are you okay?  The voice repeated.  Regaining my position in the soft pillow, I, being a simple-minded toddler, gave in to the absurdity and replied.

No.  I'm not okay.  My mommy's gone and I can't find her.  Somehow I already knew how to talk in my head to him.

Oh, I'm sorry.  I could tell you were scared.  He answered in a genuine tone.

Yeah, I'm still scared, but not as much now.  Now I have someone to talk to.  I opened my eyes and sat up straighter.  What's your name?

Uh, my mommy says I'm not supposed to talk to strangers, but my name starts with an L.  He sounded proud to know his first initial.

That's cool.  My name starts with a C.  I began to smile; I'd made a new friend without even knowing how special this occurrence was.

C.  I like that.  We'll call each other C and L, okay?

Okay, L.

Okay, C.  I hope you find your mommy.

Oh yeah, me too.  I remembered my current setting and looked around.

Then I saw her figure look down the aisle, and shot up.

"Mom!"  I hurriedly ran to my mom and smiled for her to pick me up.

"Sweetie!  Where have you been?"  She picked me up and kissed me on the cheek multiple times, "Oh, I don't care.  I found you.  Don't run off again though."

"Okay,"  I replied as we walked out of the store together, "But guess what?"

"What?"  My mother beamed at me and invoked my response.

"I made a new friend while you were gone."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes, I did.  And his name is L,"  Our conversation continued on as we walked to the car and my flashback stopped.

If only I had known how big of a role that little event would be in my life.  If I had known all the things it would set in motion.

"Yes, Emily.  Liam is a very nice guy,"  I replied with full consideration after the lengthy memory.  Nostalgia coursed through my heart.

"Now..."  I shook off the feelings and faced Dustin and Jordan, "When does our plan begin?"