Talent Storm (7 page)

CHAPTER 5

I jerked awake, head pounding to the sound of my uncle’s shouts. My stomach sank, remembering the fire. Mouth unnaturally dry, I grabbed and chugged the glass of water that I kept by my bed. If I had to deal with my uncle, at least I should be hydrated. Water made everything better. I blinked my tired eyes while stretching my arms above me.

“Get down here now!” His anger sounded like a hurricane ready to tear trees from the ground.

Ripped from my thoughts, I jumped out of bed. My heart pounded in my chest as if it was trying to escape. I didn’t blame it. I threw on some clothes and jogged downstairs, prepared for a vicious argument. Entering the kitchen, I saw my uncle standing next to the blackened wall holding a half empty bottle of liquor. When I saw his eye twitch, I stepped back.

“You had a party didn't you? I strictly forbade you from drinking or having guests, and you broke those rules.”

I shifted uncomfortably with my eyes lowered to the ground. I pretended with Ben that I wasn't concerned about my uncle, but truthfully I was terrified of him.

“Look at me!” he yelled.

I looked up and remained silent, hoping that his anger would burn out.

He spanned the room in a talent enhanced blur and appeared before me. “Now you will explain yourself.” Spittle sprayed my face when he talked.

I used my sleeve to wipe away his saliva. “Basic’s over and I thought that it would be all right to celebrate.” I lowered my eyes again.

He smashed the bottle on the ground, then grabbed my hair and pulled my face up to meet his. “I said look at me!” His face was now as red as a brightly burning furnace.

My knees shook and my heart raced. I ached to pull away but feared the repercussions. I'd lived through his aggression before.

“You’re a selfish piece of trash. You are worthless, and you will always be worthless.”

I cringed as more spit spattered me, but didn’t dare to wipe it.

“Do you think we’re living in some kind of game? If you do not toughen up and work hard, you will die like your temptress mother, and my poor brother.” He glared, fire in his eyes.

I ground my teeth. How dare he? Raising my chin, I pounded my chest. “Don't talk about my parents!”

For just a second, my uncle’s eyes flicked wide; then his face hardened. Suddenly, he lunged forward. I cringed back and shut my eyes, fearing the strike. My heart thumped once, twice and still he didn’t hit me. I dared to open one eye. His bright-red face was inches from mine. A single purple vain pulsed in his neck. When he breathed out, my nose turned up at the smell of old garlic.

“Hit me.” His voice was like iron; his voice was law.

I stood slouched, hands protecting my chest. I lowered my eyes, then glanced to the side, considering bolting. His hand leapt up lightning quick to backhand me. My cheek blazed with fire as my head lurched to the right. After regaining my footing, I faced him again.

He grunted, and his face twisted in a sneer. “I said hit me.”

I shook my head as I met his icy gaze. For a moment, we stood with our eyes locked before he glanced away. Had I won? His fist smashed into me, answering my question. I stumbled backward, tripping over my own feet. A stinging shock ran up my spine as I hit the hard tile.

He loomed over me. “Your mother was a whore. If not for her, my brother would be alive. You’re just as pathetic as her.”

My sudden rage was an earthquake, ready to crack the earth. “Don’t talk about her.”

“Or what?”

My anger steamed, pumping heat through my body. The tension in my muscles tested the strength of my tendons as talent flowed through me. My heart slammed into my chest like a Liberty war drum. I was tired of restraining myself; I let go, giving into my anger. Then, darkness washed over me, but this time my eyes were open.

When the world appeared again, I was unaware of how much time had passed. I stood tall, firmly rooted to the ground. My fists felt warm and sticky when I unclenched them. I glanced down to inspect the oddity. Blood coated my hands and dotted my arms. I gasped, feeling dizzy. What had happened? I slowly surveyed the room. The kitchen table lay shattered in a pile. Milk poured from jugs from the open fridge. Sparkling shards of glass littered the floor from countless broken bottles. A crimson stream caught my eye, and I followed it. My eyes sprung wide when I met the source. My uncle sat on the ground, gritting his teeth and clutching his left hand. It was missing two fingers. In their place he held a blood soaked cloth.

When I looked up, his eyes assaulted me. I flinched back, a cold shiver crawling up my spine.

“I’m going to tell you this out of respect for my brother. You’re eighteen now and you clearly have talent. Soon you’ll be fighting for the Coalition. Don’t be lazy in your training or you’ll surely die. Goldwater thrives on war and you can’t imagine his power.”

“What do you know about him?”

His thick, dark eyebrows lowered, and he glared at me for a moment. “I know that he’s a tyrant. I know that people say he doesn’t age. And I’ve seen his power first-hand, during the Second Border War. After years of intense and bloody battles, we had finally broken the back of his army. The scattered and crippled remnants of it retreated into the walls of Liberty. For two days, we laid siege with the remaining third of our army, working to break down the wall. We were tired and ragged, but we had the numbers on our side. We demanded his surrender and believed it was only a matter of time until he granted it. Finally, his gates opened, and he stepped out alone. I thought we’d won.”

He shook his head with a grunt. “Then Goldwater smiled gleefully, like a kid on his birthday getting just what he wanted. In a blink, he crashed through us, his morning stars raining death. Our soldiers screamed and died as they were crushed into bloody pulps. His telekinesis tore countless men and women apart, like the giant hands of a glowing black demon. There was nothing I could do against a man so absolutely powerful. There was nothing anyone could do. In the face of his brutality, our army routed. I escaped, but most didn’t. After that, our men wearied of war. We focused on our defenses, worried that he might take us over singlehandedly.”

I shook my head, only half believing him. How could anyone be so powerful? “I hope war never comes again.”

“That’s why you’re a fool,” he said curtly. “Now leave. You have five minutes to get your things and get out of my house.” Although he was on the ground, he seemed to tower over me.

I slumped, lowering my head. “Where am I supposed to go?”

He scowled at me. “Always thinking about yourself. You now have four minutes; I suggest that you use them.”

What could I do? I bit my lip and scrambled up to my room. A maroon duffel bag sat unused in my closest. I grabbed it and stuffed it full of clothes. I snatched the picture of my parents from my nightstand, kissed it, then tucked it into my shirt. Slowly surveying the room one last time, I breathed deeply. It was never my home, but I’d lived here for years. I rushed down the stairs and out the door, slamming it behind me, without looking back.

☼☼☼

Uncle Garson’s Journal:

Growing up with my father was hard, between his explosive temper and the beatings. I hated his parenting style, but now I see that his tough love was for the best. I’ve risen in the ranks and protected the Coalition countless times. I’ve become a responsible, hardworking, and tough man.

I never wanted to raise children myself, but I always do my duty. When my brother died, it was my responsibility to raise Jaden, and it was his harlot mother’s fault. She illegally consorted with my brother during wartime and got him killed. Distractions in battle are deadly.

For years I’ve been trying to whip the boy into shape like my father did for me, for Jaden’s and the Coalition’s benefit. When Jaden was younger, kids abused him. He whined about it a few times to me, but I knew better than to step in. People need to deal with problems themselves, or they’ll always be weak. I made the mistake of protecting my brother from father’s wrath. If I let our father’s fists toughen up my brother, he might still be alive.

It’s taken all of my parenting skills and now two of my fingers, but I finally pushed Jaden hard enough to stand up for himself. He showed surprising potential with his telekinesis too. He may yet end up being a worthy citizen. It’s advanced training's turn now. I hope they can further my successes with him.

☼☼☼

In a daze, I trudged to Ben’s house. When I arrived, my legs quivered as I stared dumbly at the door. Would they take me in? With my bulging duffel bag slung over my shoulder, I knocked. Where else could I go? After a few moments, the door opened and his mother appeared before me.

“Hello Jaden.” Her smile faded into a frown. “Oh my, what happened to you? Your face is bruised.”

“My uncle kicked me out of the house.”

“What? Poor boy, come on in.” Her hand reached for mine, then froze. “Talent, you’re hands are all bloody. Are you hurt?”

I slowly looked down, raising my hands. “Oh yeah. My uncle and I fought, but I’m all right.”

She grasped my upper arm and led me inside. “You're always welcome here.”

I felt tears well up in my eyes before streaming down my face. It was so great that she cared. Very few people did. “Thank you.”

“Let’s get you cleaned up.”

We walked toward the bathroom, and Ben emerged from around the corner.

“Jaden,” he said in a jovial greeting. Then, his face fell. “What happened to you?”

Embarrassed, I quickly wiped up my tears with my shirtsleeve. “I had a party at the house. My uncle found out, beat me, and kicked me out.” There was no need to place Ben at the scene of the crime.

Ben's expression shifted into a scowl. “That bastard.”

“Ben! Don't use that kind of language in here,” his mother said.

He lowered his head. “Sorry mother.”

“It’s okay…. Jaden will be staying on the floor in your room for a while.” She faced me. “Now, let’s get you cleaned up.”

After ushering me into the bathroom, she searched through a drawer under the sink. She located a clean looking washcloth, wet it, and rubbed it with soap. Water dripped on the tile floor as she dabbed the cut on my jaw. She then held my hands and scrubbed the dried blood off.

After she was done, she inspecting me. “I still don’t understand where all that blood came from.”

I shook my head. “I don’t know. My uncle must have been cut.”

“Maybe I should call over to make sure he’s okay.”

“He’s fine but call if you want,” I said.

“I will…. Well, you’re all set. Make yourself at home.” She turned to the kitchen. “Ben why don’t you go fix some sandwiches? I’m going to set up a bed for Jaden.”

☼☼☼

That night, Ben and I sat in his bedroom in matching wicker chairs. Ben ran his hands through his stringy hair while shaking his head. “Dude, I'm sorry about how things turned out.”

I exhaled, shaking my head side to side. “I know... thanks. At least I'm out of the house now.”

“So, how did you get all that blood on your hands anyway?”

I looked away. “Umm.”

“Come on.”

I sighed. “I gave in to my anger and blacked out. When I woke up, my uncle was in a pool of blood.”

Ben gasped. “Is he dead?”

I laughed despite myself. “No, just missing two fingers.”

“Whoa, that’s insane. I’m sure he deserved it though.”

I nodded, making a fist. “He deserved that and more. Don’t tell your mom. I don’t want her to think poorly of me.”

“Sure.”

“Thanks for letting me stay in your room. It really helps to have people around who care about me.”

“You had a tough childhood with your uncle, but people do care for you. I’m one of them.”

Emotions welled inside me at his admission, but I held back my tears.

He clasped my shoulder. “I'll always be there to help you out.”

I smiled while patting his hand. “I know. You’re a good friend.”

“I’m not sure if I should tell you this now, but... you know how you always talk about Lilly from the park... the one who got away.”

Sighing, I shook my head. “Yeah,” I said. “She was so caring and pretty. I could stare into her eyes forever. She was the one for me.”

“Come on,” he said, shaking his head. “You say stuff like that all the time. How many ones are there?”

I crossed my hands over my chest. “I do not. She really was the one.” I looked away. “I can’t believe I never saw her again.”

“About that...”

Cocking my head, I squinted at him. “Oh?”

“The girl whose skirt you lifted, Lilly, she’s your girl at the park... she’s your one.”

My eyes jerked open, my jaw dropping. “What, really?” I shook my head. I couldn’t believe it.

He raised his hands, palms up. “Yeah. Didn’t you recognize her?”

I frowned, crinkling my brow. “I thought so, but I was too busy getting slapped to remember who she was. I can’t believe I messed it up with her! My life is falling apart.” I lowered my head, feeling lost.

He tapped my arm. “Sorry man. I shouldn’t have brought it up.”

“It’s all right. It’s better to know.”

“You know... if your apology is good enough, you might be able to eventually win her over,” said Ben.

I perked up, lifting my eyebrows. “You’re right. Maybe I still have a chance.” My body tingled at the thought of seeing her again.

☼☼☼

Lilly’s Journal:

I can’t believe it. My life is over! When I was younger, my parents always pushed me. “Work harder, study more, socialize less, do your chores, take care of the dog,” they always said. I resented them, but listened. For once in my life, I thought I would try something new and go to a party, but it was a nightmare. I can’t believe everyone saw my underwear! And to think, after all these years of hoping to see and kiss that boy again, he humiliated me.

Now everyone will be laughing behind my back. I might even have to move back to Alliance City to start over. My dad would never leave his new job at the vertical farm though. Damn it. I should just stick to my studies like my parents have always said. I guess they were right. Responsibility comes before fun.