Chapter 30
The warm spring breeze filled Lily’s room with the sweet, fresh smell of spring flowers from her aunt’s garden. She glanced at the setting sun as she shut the window gently. Lily’s life had been good over the past few months. She didn’t need her crutches to walk anymore. Everyone involved in her physical therapy had been impressed with her quick recovery. She had done a few more small jobs on her free weekends for Mr. Turner, and had set aside a nice sum of money in a savings account for college. She would need much more, but it was a good start. High school was almost over, and in a few short weeks she would be flying up to New York for the summer to work for Mr. Turner full time. Everything finally seemed to be falling into place.
Lily picked up the sparkling, black clutch from her bedspread. The purse was small, but large enough to hold some lip gloss and a cell phone. She turned to her bedroom door and was about to leave the room, when she caught her reflection in the dresser mirror. She stared at the girl in the mirror. This reflection seemed so different than the one she had seen only a few months ago. Her hair was gently curled into soft waves that framed her pale face. Her smoky eye makeup complimented perfectly the charcoal grey dress she was wearing. She looked amazing, but it wasn’t just how she looked. It was how she felt. She had changed. Over the last few months she had grown as a person in ways she hadn’t thought possible. She had developed a quiet bravery and confidence she had never had before. She wasn’t afraid to stand up for herself anymore. She was worth it. She valued herself. Although there were small things that encouraged her inward changes, she attributed her new sense of self largely to her gift, and how she had chosen to use it. With every assignment and every time she chose to use her gift to help someone else, her self-assurance had increased. She had chosen to help others, and in return she was helped herself. She smiled at the beautiful woman in the mirror, and then walked to the stairs to greet her waiting date.
Landon had chosen the striped wing chair in the living room at Lily’s house. Jackson, Ruthie, and Lily’s aunt were all seated on the sofa in front of him. He had known the three of them for months now, but he still fumbled nervously with the clear plastic box in his hands. He leaned forward in the chair and gazed at the pink rose corsage resting inside the box.
“Pink roses are her favorite,” Ruthie said through the space in her mouth where her two front teeth should have been.
“I know,” Landon said smiling at her. “What’s your favorite flower?”
“Hmm,” Ruthie said tapping her chin with her finger. “I think wildflowers.”
“I should have guessed that,” Lily’s aunt said as she shook her head smiling. “Wild flowers certainly fit your personality.”
“I think so too,” Lily said appearing from nowhere. “Are you ready to go?”
“Of, course,” Landon said as he stood, his eyes fixed on his stunning girlfriend. “You look incredible.”
“Thank you,” she said smiling sweetly. He gently pulled the corsage out of the box and placed it on Lily’s wrist. She smiled up at him and then they both smiled for the pictures her aunt insisted on taking. Then the two of them walked out of the house hand in hand to the waiting sleek, black limousine.
“Wow,” Lily said surprised. “You really went all out.”
“Not really,” Landon said, opening the limo door for her. “My father sent it as a graduation gift for the three of us.”
“That was nice of him.”
At last year’s prom, Landon never would have considered accepting such a gift from his father, but over the last few months he had talked with his father a few times over the phone. Landon wanted to understand him, and why he chose what he did. He wanted to forgive him for everything that had happened, but forgiving him was a long process, and he still had a long way to go. At least he was on the right track.
***
“Lily, you look gorgeous,” Malaya squealed with glee once Lily was inside the limo.
“Thanks,” Lily grinned. “You do too.”
“Is that your Vegas dress?”
“Yeah, I thought of getting another one that was longer, but I like this one so much, that I decided against it.” The girls gabbed about this and that as the boys debated which video game was the best. By chance, Lily glanced out the window, and even though it was already quite dark, she saw nothing but fields. The driver had gone far past the school, and onto a paved country road.
“Landon,” Lily said cautiously. “We passed the school a while ago.”
“What?” He looked out the window to see nothing but trees and tall grass waving at him. Landon knocked on the divider, which had been closed the entire time, but there was no answer. He tried to open the divider, but it was either stuck or locked. He shouted for the driver to open it but there was nothing but silence on the other side. Lily felt her heart sink further and further down inside her chest. She closed her eyes trying to hear anything that might give her a clue as to what was going on. There was nothing.
“Did you see the driver when you got inside,” she asked Robert and Malaya.
“Yes, he seemed nice enough,” Malaya said, starting to bite down on a fingernail.
“Stop that,” Lily commanded, swatting Malaya’s hand away from her mouth.
“I was just…” Malaya started.
“I saw him,” Robert cut in. “He was tall, and well built, almost like a weight lifter. Oh, and he wore all black.” Lily rubbed her temple as she thought. She looked over at Landon.
“It has to be him,” she said. “There’s no reason any ordinary limo driver would take us clear out here, and I can’t hear any thoughts at all, so it has to be him. He knew how to evade me.”
“I’ll call the police,” he said, pulling out his cell phone. He scanned the limo for anything he could possibly use as a weapon, but found nothing.
“Wait,” Lily said, as she pulled a sleek black phone out of the small bag in her lap. Landon had seen the cell phone before, but not very often. “Let me call your father first.” Landon hesitated, but nodded his head in agreement. Landon’s father would know how to deal with this man better than the police would.
“This is straight out of a movie,” Malaya said, as her fingers drifted up to her mouth again. Lily just shook her head and pressed the first preset speed dial number.
“Hello Lily,” Mr. Turner answered after a single ring. “I know why you’re calling.”
“You do,” Lily asked, not convinced he actually did.
“Let me guess, you just discovered your limo driver is not a normal limo driver?”
“How did you know?”
“I have had agents keeping tabs on you off and on throughout the school year.”
“But why?”
“I told you I would protect you, Lily,” he said seriously. “And I will. I don’t know who’s actually driving the limo, but we will stop them.”
“You never sent a limo, did you?”
“No,” Mr. Turner answered. “But I should have.”
“Anyway, we think we know who it is,” Lily said.
“Who?”
“Mack.”
“Are you sure?”
“He fits the description Malaya and Robert gave, and I can’t hear any of his thoughts, so that alone is a dead giveaway. I don’t know who else it could be.”
“Alright,” Mr. Turner said in his ‘I have a plan’ voice. “You four make sure you’re buckled if you aren’t already, because you’re in for a bumpy ride. Oh, and keep your heads down, just in case. You’ll be out of this mess and on the dance floor in no time. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Okay, bye.” Lily snapped the cell phone shut and told her friends what Mr. Turner had said. As everyone began to check their seat belts the limo lurched forward increasing its speed.
“I bet he’s seen Mr. Turner’s agent following us,” Lily said trying to reassure everyone, including herself. She quickly glanced out the back window to see headlights following close behind them. The limo sped up even more as it drove down the empty country road. Suddenly, gunshots pierced the silent country night. The limo swerved and bumped along the road, with the breaks screeching as they went. When they had come to a complete stop, Lily heard the front door of the limo open. Lily’s heart pounded in her chest, thinking Mack would come for her, but instead of coming towards the side door, his footsteps rustled leaves and branches as he ran away from the limo. There were a second set of footsteps coming up the left side of the limo, they stopped near the driver’s door and then there was gunshot. The night outside was silent.
***
“Shazzi,” Lily said stunned, when they were finally brave enough to open the passenger door. Shazzi was in the middle of placing handcuffs on Mack when they all tumbled out of the limo.
“Hey girl,” Shazzi called back at her. “Just let me take care of this Cretan, and then I want to see you in your prom dress.” Mack moaned in pain as she dragged him along the uneven ground to the limo.
“I can’t believe you shot me, Shazzi,” Mack whimpered.
“I had to slow you down somehow, you were getting away. Besides, it’s just a small leg wound, you’ll get over it.”
“How could you treat me this way? We worked together. We were on the same team.”
“Not anymore,” she said unemotionally. She sat him up against the side of the limo and wiped the sweat off of her forehead. “I don’t know how you all deal with this humidity.”
“We don’t,” Malaya said fanning herself with her hand. Shazzi smiled as she turned in their direction.
“Oh, girls,” Shazzi said seeing them all dressed up. “You both look fantastic, and I have to say, your dates look awfully dashing too.” She winked at the boys and then turned back to Mack.
“Alright, who sent you,” she demanded grabbing the front of his button up shirt in her hands. “I know you didn’t come all on your own. I know you too well. You’re too lazy.”
“What makes you think I would tell you, just like that?”
“Because I can shoot you again, just like that,” she declared pointing to Mack’s wounded leg.
“My other boss will do worse to me if I tell.”
“Wait,” Shazzi said. “Other boss? You were fired from the agency. What boss are you talking about?”
“I’m not saying another word. Not one. Shoot me if you want.” Shazzi stood silently thinking for a moment then bent over and struggled to hoist Mack into the back portion of the limo. Robert and Landon hurried over to help her lift him in. She closed the door and locked the limo up tight.
“Okay you lot,” she said to them smiling. “Let’s get you to that dance.” Shazzi drove them to Landon’s house where they piled into his car.
“Thanks for watching out for me,” Lily said through her open window.
“My pleasure,” Shazzi grinned. “I’ll check on you again later tonight to make sure you all get home safe and sound.”
“Thanks,” Lily said gratefully.
“It was good to see all of you. Have a great time at your senior prom.” Shazzi waved after them as they drove away to the school. The short ride to the school was quiet. They were all still a bit shaken up from the nightmare limo ride, but with each passing minute the tension seemed to fade away. Landon pulled into the school parking lot and they walked up the outside steps of the school together. Loud upbeat music blared from inside. The four of them stood unmoving as if there were a wall blocking them from the rest of their classmates.
“Do you think anyone would believe what happened to us tonight,” Robert asked.
“Not a chance,” Landon replied.
“I guess we should go inside,” Robert said straightening his tie.
“I guess so,” Malaya agreed. Robert took Malaya’s hand and escorted her in through the decorated doors.
“Shall we?” Landon smiled and extended his arm to her.
“Actually, I think I would like a moment alone, if you don’t mind.” Landon nodded his head in understanding.
“I’ll be waiting for you inside the doors if you need me,” he said giving her a quick kiss before disappearing through the school doors.
Lily walked halfway down the hard steps and sat down. She inhaled the warm, humid air filling her lungs with as much life as she could. So far the night hadn’t gone anything like she had thought it would, but she was safe now and her friends were safe. That was really all that mattered. Lily leaned back on her hands and gazed up at the stars glittering in the blackened sky. It was her senior prom. Soon high school would be over for good, and she would be spending the majority of her summer working for Landon’s father in New York. Now that Landon was on better terms with him, he had decided he might look for a job up there so they wouldn’t have to spend as much time apart. Landon, Lily, Malaya, and Robert had all applied and gotten into universities in both California and New York, but none of them had made any definite decisions. Lily was leaning toward California. Partly because she knew that was where Landon really wanted to go, and partly to have a break from the cold New York weather. College seemed so distant to Lily, even though it was right around the corner. Her life seemed to revolve around her gift more and more each day. There were times she wasn’t even sure if college was the best thing for her to do anymore. After the night’s events, she wasn’t sure she would be safe at school. She wasn’t sure she would be safe anywhere. There was no telling who Mack had told. His boss could be anyone, anywhere. Right now someone else knew about her gift and wanted her for it, someone she never wanted to meet. There was only one person after her now, but what about a few years down the road? How many people would find out what she could do? How many people would be after her? One thing she knew for sure was that Mr. Turner wouldn’t always be there to fight her battles for her. She was going to have to figure out how to fight them on her own in case she was alone the next time someone tried to kidnap her. A few months ago she would have been overwhelmed by that, but now she knew she could do anything if she put her mind to it. Especially since she had so many people who loved her and would do anything they could to help her.
Of all the stars in the big, open sky, one glimmered more brightly than the rest. Lily thought she could almost hear it say, ‘remember me, I’m here for you too’.
“I remember you mom,” she said to the star. “I’ll never forget you. Thank you for always loving me and believing in me. You were right about me, mom. I’m a pretty awesome person, even without my gift.” Lily looked up at the star one last time. It sparkled at her as if to say, ‘that’s my girl. I love you, Lily’.
“I love you too mom. Keep an eye out for me. I’m sure gonna need it.” Lily stood and climbed the stairs. When she reached the top step she turned back toward the black night. She put her hands on her hips and whispered out into the warm night air.
“Hey world,” she said confidently to the night. “I am Lillian Harrison, and I am brave. So whatever you’ve got in store for me, I’m ready.” She turned on her heel, walked to the school doors, and opened them just as she was about to open a new chapter in her life.
About the Author
Katherine Hodges is an author, reader, traveler, knitter, web-surfer, crafter, and lover of all things chocolate. She lives with her husband and two boys in Texas.
Visit Katherine online at www.katherinehodges.wordpress.com or follow her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/katherinelhodges.