Two of a Mind (23 page)

Trevalyn had threatened to take Seth from her unless she came to him.

“
I merely want to meet you face-to-face after all these years? Don't be afraid. You're my muse, I couldn't harm you
.” He sensed that Elizabeth was utterly drained. The school bus tragedy was the last straw. She'd agreed to meet him on the Memorial Bridge at the lake.

***

“I wasn't sure you'd come,” he said, as he emerged from the shadow of the lakeside woods. He approached the bridge cautiously, half-expecting her to turn and run. “Your Bloc seems to have reinstated itself. Fascinating. I didn't know it could do that.”

“What do you want?”

“Is that any way to greet the one who's shared your innermost thoughts and feelings all these years?” He grinned maliciously then added, “To tell you the truth, I'm bored, Lizzie, darling.”

“Don't you dare call me that,” she screamed at him.

“Calm down. You'll draw attention to us and you wouldn't want your precious Samuel to hear about you meeting a strange man by the lake would you?”

Elizabeth's tears shone in the clear October moonlight and he felt something totally unfamiliar as he watched the silver drops flow down her cheeks. An overwhelming sadness blended with hints of sympathy and apology seeped into his mind. He wasn't entirely sure if these sensations were his own or those being experienced by Elizabeth. Was he the object of her pity? He almost abandoned his plan to take her with him. Almost.

“I need you to come with me now Elizabeth,” he said. “I'm sure I could stop the slaughter if you helped me. I tried to distract myself with the relationship thing. Sally Mathers – remember? How could I not see she was only interested in hooking the boss to impress her PT? So shallow, don't you agree? I could have been so much more. A loving husband, a proud, doting father. Alas it was not to be.” He sighed dramatically.

“Your Bloc may still keep some of your secrets, but I know you've never loved anyone other than yourself. What would you know about the strength of family bonds?”

He was surprised to hear her vehement response. He'd thought that she was drowning in the despair that he'd inspired, no longer able to react so passionately to his torments. Her comment brought the unwelcome recollection of his childhood. One dominated by the ambitious men of the family with the women brought in only to keep the gene-pool healthy.
Well that didn't work so well for Father did it?
Once they'd produced the required son the female Trevalyns seemed to step aside – whether by choice or under duress, Victor was never sure but he remembered his grandfather's stern dismissal of any conversation regarding his own missing wife.

He realised his self-indulgence was allowing Elizabeth access to his weakness – his loneliness. His experiments to enhance psyche-links had reaped some benefit – for him if not the poor, now-demented, people he'd used as test subjects. He had been able to connect telepathically to people other than his PT but only if he was within a few feet of them. It wasn't enough. Despite numerous versions of the drug he used to establish his additional telepathy, he couldn't sustain a remote or lasting connection. No matter what risks were involved, he needed to understand the mechanics of his psyche-twinning with Elizabeth.

He lunged towards her but she leapt backwards to avoid his grasp. The momentum carried her over the rail into the dark water below. As the lake closed over her, her weariness became overwhelming and she embraced her fate. She projected final bitter thoughts to bombard her tormentor whilst the stinging cold lanced down her throat and the weight of her woollen coat dragged her to the murky depths.
Without his muse there would be no art in his killing. Without her he wouldn't be able to torment another soul with his monstrous thoughts. Without her he'd become one of the ‘Empties' that he so despised, a freak without a true PT.

“NO!”

This was one shared death he hadn't planned, that he wasn't prepared for. He felt the physical pain of his mind being ripped apart, the loss of half his soul – the better half.

Ha! She thinks I'll stop just because she's gone? No. Now there's nothing to hold me back – no whining voice of conscience to keep the monster at bay.

He's gonna have a heart attack!

Samuel's face had turned a dreadful shade of grey and Seth pushed a cup of lukewarm sweet tea into his hands.

We all struggled with the implications of Trevalyn cropping up in our amateur sleuthing. I realised that as soon as he'd been in contact with Alvin, Trevalyn was able to lift my identity from the therapist's thoughts. During his brief visit to The Johnson Foundation he'd have picked up that we'd been there too. In the heavy silence that followed Seth's bomb-shell announcement I wondered how to start explaining the situation.

Dad got to his feet and began gathering the rucksacks in preparation to leave. I watched the people I loved most in the world being uprooted from the security of home, work, and school and all because I'd brought us to Trevalyn's attention. I didn't need to look for him in my head, I could feel him probing, sending waves of hate towards me and suddenly the link was full on and I had to stifle a groan of pain. He had his hands around my neck – no, it wasn't me, it was that awful nurse from the clinic and he wasn't strangling her, well not fully.
Omigod, she's enjoying it!.
I tried to tune out – I didn't want to sense any part of the action but the connection was too strong.

His recent memories came flooding through. He'd checked up on Alvin's location and guessed that the therapist had initially visited his unique client at the Trevalyn clinic in Ellingham. It was easy for Trevalyn to check admission records from his own facility. When my name cropped up, not once but twice – and that the second time my stand-in parent had been Samuel Wallis – he knew he was onto something more than an interesting telepath with exceptional talents. He'd found a link back to his lost PT. His lost soul. His Elizabeth.

I felt an intense fury to hear her name in his mind.
He's no right to even think of her!
I wished I could halt his thoughts – silence them like he'd silenced her.

The hateful nurse was only too keen to fill in any details about me that hadn't been officially noted.

“You've been a great help, Marion,” he said. “Now you can have your reward.”

Her giggle was cut short the instant he twisted her head and I almost vomited when I felt her neck break as though it was my own.

A strange calm came over me – I'd had enough! The last few weeks had been one disaster after another. My head constantly ached. I was bad-tempered. I was tired. And I kept dying for godssake! Victor Trevalyn might've liked that sort of experience whenever he killed someone but I didn't.

I now understood what had happened to Elizabeth – I felt the same desperation that she'd had on the night she went to meet him at the Lake. He had been constantly goading her, enjoying her agony whilst he replayed his murders in her mind. The details became clear to me in a sudden rush of information. In his privileged position Trevalyn had access to all the latest drugs and digital gadgetry. His own concoction of drugs had killed Sally Mathers in the Weardale forest. With his new digital toys he'd overridden the safety devices on the Austrian school-bus – just to see if the technology worked.

He was now projecting these images especially to get my attention. Well, it worked! I had to get away from the others and face him alone. I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of tormenting Seth and Samuel with details about the night he'd lured Elizabeth to meet him.

More of his memories flashed through my thoughts.

Although he hadn't lost the ability to sense another person's thoughts and feelings whilst in close contact Trevalyn hungered for the relationship he'd had with his unique PT. That was all about to change. He'd heard about me and he was looking forward to getting up close and personal so that I could replace Elizabeth. With my ability to hear his thoughts, he would make me suffer the same horrors that she'd felt as he tormented her with his killing plans. And, of course, he'd be able to enjoy my suffering because of his own extra telepathic talent.

Not if I can help it!
I thought, although I had no idea what I was going to do to stop him. I tried to clear my head – difficult even under normal circumstances. Breathing slowly and deeply, the way Alvin had taught me, I detached myself from the frantic activity surrounding me. Everyone was so caught up in the preparations for our escape that nobody noticed me slipping out of the back door. Silent sobs tore at my throat and tears blurred my vision as I realised I might never see my family, Samuel or my dearest Seth again. I hadn't even left a message to say goodbye. At least Elizabeth had had the chance to do that, even if it had been hidden.

“Alvin,” I coughed to cover the sob that escaped. “Sorry…Alvin…Hello.”

“Hello Dez,” he replied. “Are you all right? Our call earlier got cut off and now you sound …”

“Just a frog in my throat,” I interrupted, trying to sound more cheerful. I needed to pull this off. “I was calling to say I'd be happy to speak with Mr Trevalyn if you have his contact details.”

“Oh! Yes, I'll send them through to you straight away.” Alvin seemed put out. I gathered from his stray thoughts that he'd expected to be present at any meeting between Trevalyn and me, so that he would get the credit for ‘finding' me. Whilst I was annoyed that he still saw me as an important medical anomaly, I sensed his professional ambition was not entirely selfish.

“I'll make arrangements to meet him at your office tomorrow if that's okay?” I offered. For once my lie was convincing enough and Alvin's grin was obvious in the tone of his voice as he said goodbye. Immediately after the call was disconnected, my Comms kit pinged to alert me to his message. Before I could lose the courage to do it, I sent a text to Trevalyn. Calling would be too hard, I couldn't face speaking to him knowing his voice would destroy my resolve. The message? LAKE – NOW.

No going back, Dez.

What the hell am I doing?

The residual memory of that October night when Elizabeth confronted Victor clung to me and sent shivers through my body.

The sun was beginning to sink behind the trees surrounding the lake. Starlings swirled in vast living black clouds as they came back to their nests amongst the hedgerows along the park boundary. In the distance, the lake attendant finished chaining up the pedal-boats for the night although in the morning he'd find one or two adrift in the middle of the lake – a favourite pastime of local couples, night-time boating.

How could life continue so serenely, so normally, when the world held horrors such as Victor Trevalyn? Had that bio-agent made us all oblivious to the violence that we were still capable of? Three weeks ago I'd been a naïve teenager, angry with my mother for making me wear a frilly dress at a stupid party that I hadn't even wanted. How I wished I could go back to those innocent, safe days. But had they ever really been innocent or safe? Victor had been there in the background all my life, through my relationship with Seth and his family. He'd caused Elizabeth's death and its effect rippled through our lives on a daily basis. I had to find a way to avenge her and to complete her intention. I had to let Seth and Samuel know that she'd died trying to protect them. It was my turn now. Trevalyn must be stopped.

“Good evening, Miss Hanson.” I'd sensed his approach before he spoke so I didn't jump with fright as he'd hoped although I couldn't stop my stomach from clenching as I finally met the man who'd been such a malevolent presence in my life for the past few weeks.

Trevalyn in the flesh was somehow less than the shadow he'd cast in my mind. If I hadn't known that he was around forty-four years old I'd have put him in his sixties. He was slightly stooped and his hair was completely white, trimmed close to his head so that I could see his pink skull beneath. Even so, he exuded a strength that belied his apparently frail body – probably due to him being so close to me. Too close. I could hear his thoughts clearly.

He was mentally gloating that he'd brought me here – a re-run of the last meeting with Elizabeth. This time he wouldn't be distracted and lose his prize.

“You didn't bring me here.
I
sent
you
the invitation.” My voice sounded petty to my own ears but he was surprised that I'd managed to speak at all.

“I see that the rumours about your talent are well-founded,” he said, acknowledging that I'd understood his thoughts perfectly. A frown briefly crossed his face – he'd been trying to hear my thoughts but he hadn't been able to connect. I hadn't expected that myself and I tried to keep the relief from showing in my own expression. He stepped forward as if to grab me.

“Hello there Dez. Are you feeling better?” a neighbour called, as he approached with his Labrador trotting obediently alongside. He eyed Trevalyn suspiciously as though he could sense the tension between us.

“Fine, thank you, Mr Marshall. I'm just showing Uncle Vic around. He's visiting us for the first time – all the way from Australia.” My false teenage enthusiasm soothed Mr Marshall's worries but I didn't want Trevalyn to register anything about our friendly neighbour. I patted Mr Marshall's arm briefly and, by pure instinct, I tried to build a telepathic barrier around his mind to keep Trevalyn out.

“Nice to meet you.” Mr Marshall nodded at Trevalyn and rubbed his arm absentmindedly as he continued his evening dog-walking duty.

The interruption reminded Trevalyn that the area was too public at this time of year. The late night meeting with Elizabeth in October had been private – secluded. Now, on a warm August evening too many people, out enjoying the late sunshine, could become potential witnesses, so he had to keep control of his violent tendencies. He sat down at the far end of a bench, gesturing for me to join him. I still had no idea how I was going to deal with the situation, although I was quickly discovering more about my psychic talents. For the moment, I had to make it up as I went along. I sat as far away from him as I could. I didn't trust what might happen if we came into contact physically. At least I now knew I could hold him at bay telepathically.

“That was neatly done,” he said. “Marshall, was it? He should be grateful to you for trying to save his life. Although you realise, of course, that I'll track him down later.”

“Not if I stop you right now.”
Yeah and how am I gonna do that?
I wished my thoughts were more positive and was relieved that Trevalyn couldn't read them to see how useless I felt. He didn't need to hear my thoughts to respond with a sarcastic laugh. He was mega-rich – a murdering bastard with the will, the power, and the gadgets to do whatever he wanted and to get away with it. I was a sixteen year old Academy student
with a mental problem – and a girl at that!

“Please don't underestimate me simply because I'm a girl. And, I don't consider my open telepathy to be a mental problem,” I said, amazed that I'd found the courage to retaliate. “I can handle it now. I can use it for the good of others.”

“Ah, yes. When I visited the Foundation yesterday, I heard about dear old Dale making a miraculous recovery and, although they're keeping your involvement secret, I could easily pick up the details. Shame he can't remember what happened that night.”

“You're what happened. You were testing your unlicensed and illegal drugs on the people that Dale was trying to help through his medical aid projects. Trevalyn Corps was supposed to be assisting the Johnson Foundation but you were just using it as a cover. When Dale got suspicious he had to go.”

“You've already proved you can read my thoughts, Miss Hanson. Are we going to spend the entire evening listening to you regurgitate my past activities?”

“I'm simply letting you know that we have the records to connect you to your victims and with my psychic links to them and to you, we'll be able to put you away for the rest of your life.” I was stalling. He knew that, but he played along – he wasn't in a rush and he was curious about what I had in mind since he couldn't read it.

“I see,” he said, nodding as he drew his own conclusions. “Via your telepathic connection to me, you sense their death throes because I was able to absorb them myself. How very interesting. No wonder Grey was so excited about you. I'm going to enjoy breaking into that pretty little head of yours to see how it all works.”

His tone of voice sliced through my resolve. The calmness that had kept me stable was weakening. He projected a vision of me being strapped to an operating table; he was drilling open my skull and prodding my brain with his shining surgical instruments whilst he chatted to me about his numerous murders. I felt sick and struggled not to retch.

“Lay one finger on her and you're dead right here and now.”

No, Seth. Why did you come?
I tried to shield his mind but without touching him I had no chance and Trevalyn's response showed I'd failed.

“Seth Wallis. Elizabeth's boy. How nice to finally meet. I'll thank Mr Marshall later for pointing you in the right direction.”

I could hear Seth's teeth grinding with fury and fear. Why could Trevalyn hear his thoughts but I couldn't?
It's not fair!
I stood and ran to Seth's side, reaching towards him, trying to make that elusive connection. Seth held both arms rigid as he pointed Mum's antique pistol at Trevalyn. The expression on his face terrified me and I stood apart from him, held back by his anger. The pain and anguish from the past four years had hardened into absolute hatred for the man in front of him. He was ready to kill and that was what scared me the most. Trevalyn didn't seem fazed at all.

“Where did you find that antique toy, Wallis? Think you'd stand a chance with that peashooter, do you?”

“Don't listen to him, Seth.” Mum's voice came from the gathering gloom. “Don't let him push you.”

“Celeste, my dear. I suppose that undeserving husband of yours isn't far behind you.”

“No, he's behind
you
.” I almost cried with relief at Dad's one-liner. We'd got Trevalyn surrounded. He didn't have any way to escape now. So why was he smiling and what had he brought out of his pocket? As each of my loved ones had arrived, I'd let my attention wander and lost focus on his immediate intentions. I furrowed my forehead as I pushed back into his thoughts.

“NO!” I wailed.

“Are you going to tell them or shall I?” Trevalyn said. Then, without waiting for my reply, he continued. “This handy little device is a remote link to one of Trevalyn Corps' many satellites. From anywhere in the world I have control over all of our facilities – pharmaceutical plants, laboratories, bio-hazard storage dumps, even small town clinics.” He couldn't resist a wink at me. “I hope you appreciated the treatment during your stay at my clinic, Miss Hanson. Our mutual friend Marion was so eager to share her thoughts about your condition.”

“No, Dad,” I warned as he moved closer to Trevalyn.

“That's right, Hanson. Keep your distance. This little beauty can trigger the instant release of my latest pharmaceutical concoction.” He waved the control casually, but I sensed he was being very careful not to hit the release button by accident. He didn't want to lose his advantage too soon. He turned back to Seth.

“Biological warfare? You'll think 2015 was a blessing compared to what I can unleash now. Go on, tell them.” He jerked his head, instructing me telepathically and I recoiled at the hatred in his thoughts.

“He's made a more powerful form of the original mood-suppressant. The tests showed it was almost one hundred percent effective. It completely overrides free will and the few people who are unaffected will be
dealt with
in due course. He's immune to the drug himself so he's not bluffing. He'll release it if I don't go with him.”

“And what good will that do you, Trevalyn?” Dad asked. “Megalomaniacs always forget they need healthy, hard-working people to produce their food, work in their industries, and worship at their feet.” I'd never heard my dad speak so derisively and I worried that his mocking would encourage Trevalyn to push the button.

“You imagine I haven't thought this through? Don't worry, Hanson. I'll have enough people to do what's needed to keep the world turning. But I'm not going to waste my time sharing my plans with you. This isn't one of those dreadful vintage Bond films where the villain tells all while the hero works out how to get away. I'm weary of talking. Come along Desirée. Say bye-bye to your folks.”

The noise in my head exploded as my failure to stop this evil became too hard for me to bear. I heard snatches of my parents' tormented thoughts, their internal struggle between the need to save their only child and the duty to safeguard billions of strangers. Among distant voices I heard Alvin wondering if it was too soon to ask Debbie to marry him. Claude, far out in the North Sea, looking for a good stock of cod, and Rosa, in sunny Argentina, hanging out her daily washing – both halted in their actions by the anguish they felt from their PTs. It was all too much. I screamed with the pain not caring that the screech merely added to the agony.

Everything happened so quickly but I felt like I was bystander watching from the side lines.

Trevalyn reached forward to grab me. Seth leapt towards me to hold him back. The force of Seth's action threw the three of us off balance and Trevalyn lost his grip on the digital device. A pistol shot rang out and the roosting starlings flew up into the darkening sky squawking their anger. I felt something leap from my mind and lodge deep in Trevalyn's subconscious.

I lay on the ground, panting, dry retching and sobbing all at once. It seemed that hours had passed but it must've only been minutes – seconds even. Mum was pulling me into her arms and rocking me like a baby, soothing my hair and whispering that it was all going to be fine. Dad was using packing straps to tie Trevalyn's hands behind his back, although Trevalyn wasn't responding in any way. His eyes stared unseeing, his limbs were floppy and he couldn't even sit upright without Dad supporting him.

“SETH.” I heard the shriek. The cry of a father whose grief can't be contained.

NO. No, no, no.

I scrambled out of Mum's arms and turned to where Seth had fallen during the scuffle with Trevalyn. Samuel was on his knees beside his son, his hands hovering over the prostrate body, not daring to touch. Seth's eyes were closed, his pale face almost luminous in the dusk, his auburn curls turning a deeper, terrible, shade of red where the blood flowed from a head-wound.

Don't you dare die, Seth Wallis. Don't you bloody dare.