Project Jamboree

Chapter Twelve

I resumed my silence, shaking the others awake after I parked the car a block away.

"I'll go," Ruby said, "I got us all dragged into this mess."

"I volunteered," Vida replied, "I'm coming."

Then, I walked over to them, pointing to myself, then the gas station. I wanted to know who it was.

Vida shook her head and began to process, "No, it's too dangerous, you-"

I put one finger to her lips and sparked a flame on my fingertips. She knew I would be fine, whatever awaited us in that gas station.

Following after them silently, I waited behind a door as Ruby and Vida went to scout.

"No," Ruby muttered.

"Ruby Elizabeth Daly," a voice said, "I've been expecting you."

I knew that voice, that cold, seething tone that could send a shiver down your spine.

Ruby beat me to his name, "Clancy Gray." So she knew him too, "We need to talk."

"Couldn't you at least wait until I've finished the chapter?" Clancy asked. After a rustle of pages, he closed his book.

I walked in.

"Vida Bautista," Clancy said, "Knew you were coming- but you," he nodded to me, "I didn't expect to see you here."

Ruby and Vida froze. I could sense Chubs, Jude, and Liam by the door.

"Maybe Mason, as far as reds go," Clancy continued, "But I'm assuming that if he isn't here, he's dead. What a waste."

My hands curled into fists at my sides.

"I'll admit, I never thought I'd get to see you again," Clancy confessed, "Quite frankly, I thought you'd die in camp. Or Project Jamboree. How did you find that program? It was my idea- such a lovely thought, wasn't it?"

I knew he was trying to evoke a reaction. Controlled panic. Panic because I was face to face with Clancy Gray for the first time in years. Controlled because I was the predator.

But I wasn't, was I? Maybe around everyone else, but not Clancy Gray.

"How's it doing without me running it?" Clancy asked. I remained silent, "Oh, come on. I heard you went silent at camp, but you can talk to me."

"Why should she?" Vida asked.

Clancy looked shocked, "You didn't tell them about me? It's only been- what? Seven years?"

"He your old boyfriend or something?" Vida asked.

"No, no, no," Clancy laughed, "She's my little sister."

Vida looked at me, "You're Natasha Gray? President Gray's daughter? They said you died of the IAAN."

"She's very much not dead, surprisingly," Clancy smiled, "Our parents dropped her off at Thurmond right after I'd been 'cured.' Allowed them to run the same tests on her. When she didn't get cured, they realized I didn't either."

"They didn't just drop me off," I kept my voice as strong as I could, "You told them I was psi. You told them it was safer for me at camp, out of sight. You told them it was safer for the world to think I was dead. You turned me in-"

Clancy sighed, "You should have played along. Had you pretended to be cured-"

"I don't need curing!" I spat, "I am perfectly happy like this! I am proud to be a red, I just don't want people staring at me as I walk by, or better yet, trying to kill me!"

"They wouldn't be trying to kill you if you weren't so openly-" he paused to think for a moment, "red."

I glared at him, "What do you want?"

"Well, to catch up with Ruby, for one," Clancy said, "And to see how Liam's doing."

"He's not here," Ruby snapped.

As luck would have it, Liam had just walked through the door. His eyes turned glassy. I knew this was what someone looked like when an orange was in their head.

"Leave him alone!" Ruby shrieked.

Then, there was a tingling at the back of my skull. Clancy.

Before I knew what I was doing, my hands were around my throat, slowly squeezing the air out of my lungs.

"Get out of my head," I choked out. Vida grabbed my arms and pinned them behind my back.

I threw Clancy out of my head and lunged toward him, knocking him unconscious with a swift blow to the jaw, "That's taken care of."

"Let's get him back to HQ," Ruby said.

"No," I replied, "No, he poses an unimaginable threat. He needs to be eliminated."

Ruby frowned at me, "So what, you don't talk for six years, and now you can't stop? He's your brother!"

"He's a lying snake who manipulates people to get what he wants!" I shouted back.

"He's a valuable asset," Ruby stated, "Nothing can change that. Let's get going."

I reluctantly agreed and got back in the car. Vida was driving, Chubs in the passenger seat. Jude was curled up in the back, head on my lap, sleeping. Ruby was sat across from Clancy, ready to kill him if necessary. Liam was just cramped in the corner.

"Who's dumb idea was it to grab a five seat car and bring seven people?" Liam asked.

I opened the door, dragged Clancy out, and threw him in the trunk, "Problem solved."

"He's gonna kill you when he wakes up," Ruby informed me, as if I couldn't guess that.

"If he tries, do I have permission to break his spine?" I asked.

Vida laughed from the front as we started moving, "That's my girl!"

"Miss Vida," Liam smiled, "Has anyone ever told you that you're simply the whipped cream on the sundae of life?"

"Has anyone told you your head is shaped like a pencil?" Vida snapped back.

Chubs began, "That's not-"

"Actually, Cole did once try to-" Liam paused as if just realizing he'd interrupted Chubs, "Sorry, did you say something?"

"No, it appears the middle of my sentence interrupted the beginning of yours," Chubs groaned, "Do continue."

Liam added, "My brother tried to squeeze my head through the neighbor's fence one time."

"Was there a lot of blood?" Vida was suddenly interested, "Did you lose an ear?"

Liam pinched both ears to reassure her they were still there and shook his head.

"Then nobody wants to hear your boring story," Vida snapped.

We burst into a fit of giggles.

A few hours later, everyone was asleep except Vida and I. Of course, that was when Clancy woke up.

I heard the pounding on the boot of the car, Clancy's cries for help. It was music to my ears. There was a faint tingling in my skull. Clancy was in my head again.

Let me out.

I shot back a screaming roar, essentially telling him no.

I need to explain what's happening back at HQ.

Before I could kick him from my mind, he added something.

Your friend Cole is in danger. There's a plot. He will resist it, and they will kill him.

I let him continue.

I know you have no reason to trust me, but I will explain everything if you let me out.

In my mind, I replied, "Betray us, and I will burn you to ash."

I understand.

"Everyone wake up. Vida, pull over," I said, "My brother wants to talk."