The Unseen

Chapter 13

Shae and the Oakmans were in the back of a van. Sarah quivered silently as some unpleasant memories were brought fresh to her mind. She hated vans like this.

The woman who Shae had healed was explaining their business to the Oakmans. She, Julia, said that she and her partner Indy, worked for a school for the 'especially gifted,' and had been trying to bring in Shae and his friend Cody for weeks. Julia mentioned that she had become confused in their objectives, and thought they were trying to capture Shae and Cody.

Shae sat by himself at the other end of the van, his fingers knitted in his lap. He stared at his hands with an intensity that warded away even the veterans Indy and Julia. Finally, however, Julia tried to spark a conversation with him.

"So... Shae, is it?" she asked, sitting across from him. He blinked for the first time in hours, but remained focused on his hands.

"Well," she thought, "It's a start."

"I'm Julia." Shae didn't respond.

"I just, uh, thought you should know that I'm, um, very grateful. For saving me."

"I had to," he replied. The abruptness with which he spoke startled everyone in the van.

"You had to?"

"It is the duty of our race. Our calling preceeds our birth." Julia, terrified that she might be speaking to an extraterrestrial, nodded nervously. She also noticed that Shae's knitted hands had a sky blue light emitting from them.

"Um... what are you doing there?"

"Restoring my power. Healing you drained it significantly." Julia once again nodded.

"Is it hard?"

"If I screw up we all go boom. Give me five more minutes." Terrified, Julia scooted back to the Oakmans.

"Is he always like this?" she whispered to them. Miranda nodded profusely.

"Hmm." Julia sat quietly, having nothing left to discuss. Miranda sat in Sarah's lap, and Sarah kept as far away from her father as possible.

"So..." Julia began, "You had two girls, Mr. Oakman?"

"No. I took them." Her eyes widened, and she again nodded awkwardly. Shae finished the process of restoring his power, and glanced in Julia's direction.

"Gah!" she exclaimed, trying to hide from his gaze, "What do you want?"

"You tried to kill Cody," he commented casually, "I am searching your memories to determine if I should continue to trust you." Julia sat mortified, mouth agape, as the Oakman girls glared at her.

"I told Mr. Nolman I wasn't good with people," she grumbled under her breath as Shae continued his 'examination.'

"Good news, Julia," he told her, "I have decided your attempt to murder my friend was a temporary lapse in judgement."

"Wonderful," she pouted, crossing her arms.