Potential by Heather Jane

Author:Heather Jane [Jane, Heather]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Part Three

The Team

Chapter Eleven

Guang

I WOKE WITH the morning sun shining through the trees into my eyes and Leona’s arms still around me. We slept tangled together on the ground, never having laid down anything to sleep on. My head was on her chest, over her heart, and I could hear her life’s rhythm. The more time we spent together, the more natural these moments became.

Leona started petting my head gently, signaling to me that she was awake. I snuggled in closer to her, not wanting to get up yet. I didn’t care where we were, or about anything that happened the night before. I was a little sad that she couldn’t share in the soothing vibration that hummed between us where we touched. I wanted Leona to experience this moment the same way that I did.

She stopped stroking my head and lifted my face to hers. “We should get up,” she told me. I nodded consent. She kissed my forehead so softly it barely happened. Then she was up and moving. I felt cold and missed her immediately. I breathed in deeply, trying to refresh myself with the fresh, outdoor air I was becoming accustomed to. It stung as I breathed in, however, and tasted sour.

“Something isn’t right,” I told Leona, as I coughed. She frowned back at me. “The air doesn’t smell the same.”

“The same as what? I don’t notice anything different.”

“Were you thinking about anything just then, or remembering a certain place?”

“No. Seriously. I don’t know what you mean. I’m going to call my friend to see if he can help us get moving,” she said reaching into her backpack for her comm. She took it out and said, “Guang.”

“Wèi,” a tentative voice answered.

“T shì Leona”

“HÎo jiÔ bú jiàn,” the voice on the phone changed to sounding excited once he heard it was Leona. I couldn’t believe I was stuck listening to another incomprehensible conversation.

“Listen, Guang, I’m here with my friend Gwen, and she doesn’t speak Chinese. I know you’d prefer it for your time off, but can we do English? I need your help.”

“Of course, what’s wrong?”

“Gwen’s friend Ruth was taken during testing. Gwen wants to help her get out, and her aunt, my guardian, is supportive of the idea, but her brother just intervened and there may be some problems.”

“Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Are you saying you’re with Martin’s sister Gwen? As in Commander Vivian’s nephew and niece?” He sounded absolutely incredulous, as if Leona had broken a law.

“I’m actually with Gwen under the Commander’s orders, although that is top secret so you know nothing about it. The business with Martin was unexpected.”

“Leona, do you have any idea what you’re doing? Or what you’re getting me into?

“I confess things are off track, but all I know for sure is we need help.”

“I’ll get a fix on your location and be there as soon as possible.” He sounded exasperated, but I felt relieved he agreed. The connection disconnected.

“We’ll need to check in with the Commander. We have to be careful not to mention that we saw Ruth or especially Martin.

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