Chapter 1 "My Life"
The screams and the dark flashes in my nightmares are the only memories of that day when my mother was murdered. It's has been haunting me in my sleep even to this day. I was only a child, eight years old to be exact. The memories keep on coming back to me but I know exactly what happen that day; my father happened.
At first it was an argument, but it started to get ugly since my mother was planning to run away and taking his only child with her. Mom always told me that Father was dangerous and I should always have caution. After her death I was aware what he was capable of and (should) be careful to not piss him off. But hey I'm a teenager and getting people piss off is my middle name.
Since my mom was out of the picture my father took charge. Luckily mom was friendly or I would never have met Luke, he was and still is my best friend. Luke carried me every step of the way to teenager hood. Father was very fond of Luke like having a son, for some reason he respects guys more than girls. Luke is four years older than me but neither of us cared. Luke is like having a caring older brother who is fun to have around and always wanted to have him on your side.
One day Father insisted that we move quickly and far away from New Jersey, I just thought he was trying to run away from being trailed from child abuse and I'm still hoping for murder... He wouldn't tell me why but I could see the first time ever that he was scared. So I was force to take anything that I could carry and say goodbye to my best friend. A few times I tried to escape but he always finds me.
The new places we moved in a rural area outside the boarders of New York and Pennsylvania. It's the worst! I'm alone with my coldblooded father (all these years still never look up to him and why should I?) with no one to protect me, and nowhere to run back to my hometown. This place turn my life horribly around and it's only been four months since living in the wilderness. And the only place I stayed is my room locked door and crying a river on my bed. It's been rough without Luke (but sometimes he sneaks in). But I'm used to be alone; the only thing that really passes the time is my sketch book, one of Luke's gifts for my 14th birthday.
Father got a job that kills me (over the years as I got older he's been cruel); the "job" he does is capturing animals and stuffs them to sell to men who often visit. I love animals! Sometimes I would help them escape; but most of the times my father catches me and the consequences are slapping and…worse.
I had enough, I started to fight back all of my hate and fright came back to me and will myself to push back. Recently weird things are starting to happen. Every time he hits me, I don't know if I'm seeing things but I can see that somehow he feels my own pain… I started to get a little suspicious. I started to test it out more.
My father started to see what was going on and started to ignore me. On the quiet days I started to hear stifled whispers, voices, in my head. At first I was frighten, but every now and then I listen carefully to them and notice they had my father's voice. I sneak out to take a peak to find him silently working. It hit me I can hear his thoughts! I have something special, or abnormal, hearing thoughts and causing pain! So cool!
Now a-days I don't really need to protect myself from my father anymore; he suddenly gotten Lung and Skin cancer from all his smoking over the years. Since he has problem breathing he walks around with a tank that will give him air to breath. My special abilities that (I'm starting to call it) are growing, I can now also control the human brain; once I was hiding from Father and the men that they pay extra for me, when he came in my room I wished he wouldn't find me and when he glanced where I was hiding he didn't see me. I always wondered where I had gotten them. Maybe my mother had them or my father has them and he uses them for murder? I asked myself that always… What I didn't know very soon I'll find the answer…
My name is Rachel Grey and this is my story.
Chapter 2 "The Visitor"
I woke up to the sound of the blue jays singing in the sunlight. I yanked my sleep away and dressed myself for another day in the woods, Yippy. I trudged out of my bed room to "the so called living room". The only thing that was there to eat was left overs I snuck in from last night (which was a two mile run). A few minutes I heard the wheels of a car pulling into the rock pave driveway in the front of the trailer. I glanced out of the window to see a red Toyota truck.
My father glared at me and yelled, "Go now, and go hide yourself and make sure you aren't to be seen!" I did what he asked. He been telling me lately (ever since he found out I can make myself disappear) to "go hide myself" means to make the newcomer not see me by using my ability. I was glad to I rarely never let any of his costumers see me from past experiences. I focused on the man's eyes so we wouldn't be able to see me. As he opens the door (without knocking or an answer to come in) I notice he was tall about 6-foot 3 with pale skin and dark brownish black hair and with brown chestnut eyes. His eyes hazed around the room and it went right pass me. His gaze stopped at the back of my father's gray hair head. The visitor headed to the outside tent connected to the trailer; he knocked twice on the glass sliding door.
"Come in, the order is almost ready," My father answered. The man responded, "My name is Gabriel… your son," I move cautiously to the outdoor tent to get a good look of the man named Gabriel I can see the resemblance, the brown eyes just like mine.
"Oh yeah, what do you want?" he asked.
"I came to ask you about something about me and why you murdered my mother!" Gabriel answered. I got a flash of memories my father younger and was pulling a boy, about 4, to a table and father gave a married couple the boy and they gave him cash. Then the boy ran out to catch up to Father but he was already in a car arguing with a woman. And in a flash she was dead on the ground with a huge gash on her forehead. Horrified tears stream down the boys big brown eyes – The memories were gone and my mind was back in the tent with my father and Gabriel. My father looked a little jumpy but he still didn't dare to look Gabriel in the eye and kept on doing his work.
"Oh that–well, to keep the story short I just gotten tired of her – both of you," Father replied calmly.
"You murdered her and sold me away to other people," Gabriel was shaking in fury, "And now I'm here for revenge!"
My father finally turned to face him, "Alright kill me it will stop me from suffering from this cancer," he showed Gabriel his air tank and his old wrinkle face.
Gabriel was staring at him in disbelief, "This is pitiful – a murdering man that turned to this!"
Father smiled knowingly, "Well if you want to know what happen to your mother I would say she was yelling at me for selling you so I just killed her. But don't worry I still have a little pain…." My father finished with a stare to the kitchen. I stick my "invisible" tongue at his comment.
"How did you kill her?" Gabriel asked. I want to know too.
"Well I lost control of my anger and pointed at her head and I started to carve open her head." He answered.
"Looks like we have something in common I kill people like that too," Gabriel leaned on the glass door. Great killing runs in the men in this family. I thought to myself as I edge way from both of them.
"Ah you have the Hunger, the urge to kill. Well … if you stay I can tell you more." Father suggested.
I watch them talking about how many abilities they have. To my father the "hunger" is a gift, makes you consume power and make you powerful. To me, I think it makes you crazy for power and make you kill under your free will. I got bored and walk around; accidently hit a chair and I froze as Gabriel's ears perk up and he ask what it was.
My father hesitated, "We… are in the forest and there are creatures all around." My father got up and slowly walked to a cage that has a poor brown bunny in it. Going back to his explanations of the hunger, "You have to feed the hunger and we are predators going after weak prey,"
Gabriel blurred out, "It wasn't my fault those people are not strong enough to fight back!"
"Well that's a part of life." My father opened the cage. The rabbit dashed out hopelessly knowing there was peril and he started to whistle loudly. At that moment the rabbit froze like it was in a trance.
Gabriel was amazed, "So you still have an ability that works?!"
"Yes – but it worked better in the old days." He coughed. He picked up the petrified rabbit by its back and handed a hunting knife to Gabriel. I was disgusted and turned away and shuddered as the words came pouring out.
"What do I do now?" Gabriel asked.
Father responded, "Well you stab him of course…" It was really grimace to see. I just ran back to the trailer holding back myself from puking as the blood and organs came spilling out.
After they finished stitching up the rabbit; Gabriel gashed his hand with the knife. I gazed at them curiously. My father and I watched as his wound began to heal. As it healed it was so absurd that we looked at it in disbelief. Father took the newly healed hand and was surveying for the cut.
Gabriel was amused, "I got that power from a cheerleader in California. Not everyone dies, not everyone can get old," adding a sneer, he stood up and headed slowly to the door. I saw the crazed hunger in my father's eyes—it was the same look back when I was eight… he clutched four arrows and threw them (without moving his arm) straight at Gabriel. I screamed in fright as Gabriel was struck with two arrows in his shoulders and two in his sides.
He yelled, "What are you doing?!"
"I want that power!" My father grabbed a knife and started to whistle loudly like he did with the rabbit, making Gabriel sleepy and paralyzed. I race towards him to help but it was like my father saw me. As I was close enough he caught my arm and I heard his voice in my mind, "Don't interfere! You're lucky I left you out all these years!" I looked up at his black eyes that now looks there is a hint of a red firing blaze in them. I stared horrified into them then I looked at the man stuck to the wall. I moved back helplessly and made sure I haven't lost focus. Feeling vulnerable made me sick to the stomach.
Gabriel spoke expressionless, "Why are you doing this to me?"
My father was closing in on him, "I want that power, so I can live forever! You see I have a few months to live through this cancer… Now stay still this won't hurt a bit!" He pulled out the knife and put it close to his head. The knife froze in place it wouldn't get a centimeter closer to his head. My father started to push the knife with force, but it wouldn't budge.
Chapter 3 "Freedom"
I gazed at the knife in shock and amazement, my father thought so credulity that he forgot that Gabriel is also strong maybe even stronger. Gabriel gave my father a heinous smile and the knife flew out of my father's hands. I staggered away as the knife landed a foot from me!
Father's face has the expression of fright and he backed away slowly. One of the arrows from Gabriel's shoulder flew out of his flesh and he torn the rest out. Gabriel glared at him as he'd brush himself off.
"How did you do that?" he asked shaky. With a yelp of surprise Father's breathing tube rap around his arms and neck.
Gabriel snarled, "I'm stronger than you old man!"
"I just wanted that power so I don't die! So what are you doing you can heal! You would be fine!" He gasped his eyes popping out of his head.
"But then you will be fine and you will live a long life," Gabriel replied.
Father gasped, "Kill me!"
Gabriel looked surprise, "Kill you? Why would I do that?" He gave another evil smile, "I want you to suffer and feel what you have done in the past." Without another word he left slamming the door behind him. When the truck wheels were out of sight I glanced at Father now purple and blue, "Rachel! Help me get these damn tubes off me!" I pick up the knife and hesitated, he's defenseless I can end it now… A voice in my head told me. No! I'm not a murderer. I sawed off the tubes and dashed to my room. I got my backpack and put all of my clothes and belongings in. I'm going on a trip and never coming back to this dump!
I stepped into the "kitchen" all pack up. I turned to the evil man sitting at the table smoking, "I'm done. I'm going to leave and will never come back!"
He glanced up at me and had the look of disbelief, "Why would you do that? You're just a child and you will be alone and there will be no one to—."
"I've suffered too long with you! All these years I hated you ever since you murdered my mother; and I was always scared to leave but now I'm starting to see things a little differently. I now know that I have a big brother that might take care of me instead of you!" I argued stepping little towards the door.
"You want to be with him?! He might not want –."
"No, I think he will because like he said you killed his mother and he's alone. I hope you have a boring painful life!" I was about to run out of the trailer but a force kept me still. "Let me go!" I yelled at him glaring at him struggling to move.
"You listen here young lady! That man that you are going to run off to see is a killer! He is way worse than me." He barked.
I gasped, "That maybe so but he wouldn't dare kill his only sibling. Now let me go!"
He stared at me with disgusted, "You know I always cared for you –,"
I boomed, "Yeah rapping me ones a week is really taking care of me! And you –,"
"Why don't you understand that I kept you alive unlike the other women before you?"
"Then why did you kept me alive?" I manage a whisper.
He grinned, "Because I knew when you were born that you were very special. Something inside of you kept you alive all these years I couldn't kill you like the others…" He played around with his cigarette examining me.
"What do you mean?" I asked staring at him as he twirls a knife.
"You'll find out soon enough," He simply replied talking in riddles.
I felt his force letting me go. I gave him a wary look and ran out of the trailer. I never felt this free before as I ran away from a man that was the cause of all my pain. But his last words to me ran through my mind. What did he mean that he couldn't kill me? My ears filled with my mom's voice and other women wailed as they all were about to perish under the hands of the killer name Simon Grey. I nervously twirled my heart necklace.
But I quickly rubbed off the subject. Where to next? Then I remember seeing the truck Gabriel drove that has a license plate reading NY City. Looks like I found where to go I'm just going to let fate take me to where I do next."
Chapter 4 "The War"
I found the main road after a half hour run next to the tire wake left by Gabriel. I started down towards east. I was careful not to be in the center of the road in case there were any passing cars. I stick up my thumb in the air to signal any passing cars to give me a lift. Then after about ten minutes, a white Volvo came slowly to a halt at my side. I bent over to gaze in the window as it strolled down.
A Haitian woman was the driver and she asked, "Do you need a lift?"
"Yes – I need to get to New York City please." I answered.
"Okay but The Big Apple is four hours away… I can drive you to the nearest bus station I definitely know they have buses that go to New York."
I sat down shotgun as the car jerk onward.
"What's your name?" she asked, "I'm Joi Ballard,"
I responded, "Nice to meet you, I'm Rachel Grey – oh thank you for giving me a lift or I'd be walking for a day to the next town."
"No problem, why are you going to New York all alone for?" Joi asked.
"One of my family member lives there and I'd like to pay him a visit." I answered. I snooped around the car and I stopped to find a newspaper on the back seat. I clutched it and brought it towards my face. It read, THE WAR IN OUR OWN COUNTRY.
I asked, "What does the paper mean 'The War in our Own Country'?"
She sneaked a glance at the paper, "Oh the government says there are terrorists in the country right now and they are capturing them… But I wouldn't believe everything that it says though…"
"Why not?" I asked confused.
"Well because they said something… weird. They said that they were different than any other terrorists that the government had ever encountered. Also there was a video on the News last night… In the video they capture these people and drug them – It's against the law to do that to people even if they are terrorist so the House of Representatives and the Senate are on the case to see to if they should go on. But I would just like to see all this nonsense to stop you know?"
I went quiet who drugs people? And I thought the United States government has self-control. A flashback came to me. It was back when I was only maybe seven and my mom was sitting on the bed with me. It was like watching an old family tape. When I saw her I felt tears in my eyes.
"Mommy, are you going to read me a bed time story?" At that age I was so innocent and unaware of the dangers in the world. Those were good times…
"Rachy, honey, I'm going to tell you something very important. When you get older promise me that you will be careful," I looked more closely to my mother as she looked sorrow.
"Ok mommy but why do I need to be careful?"
"… In the future the world will be getting closer to knowing about us. I need you to trust the only people that you feel that will always be close to you." My mom for a scary moment glanced where I was, (not the small me) but the 14 year old me, she smiled then glance back to seven year old me, "Be careful Rachel…"
The flashback disappeared and I was back in the car. Why haven't I remembered this before? My mom gave me a huge hint of what will happen and I was too little to pay attention! Well that doesn't matter anymore now that I know that the government is looking for us.
"Hey, you're all quiet all the sudden," Joi broke my train of thought.
"Yea sorry I just remembered something,"
"Oh well here you go, the bus station. Do you need help getting a ticket to New York?"
"No, thank you, I can manage by myself. Thanks for the ride." I thanked her and hopped out of the car and waved goodbye as Joi drove away.
Ok, one step closer to my destination! Now I just need to get my bus ticket… I looked over to where there were people huddling under roofs to get their tickets. I was behind two men getting there tickets. One of them was trying to hit on the woman behind the counter.
"Can I see your I.D please?" The woman behind the counter asked the men in front of me.
"That's new. Usually we just pay money and get our ticket," The man replied as he handed her his business I.D card.
"Well it changed after the whole terrorist thing. Every transportation industry needs to show if you have a clean record and if you're a citizen," The woman handed back his card.
Oh great not the best time to tell the counter woman that… oh… I don't have an I.D. need to make up a quick story!
"Next in line please!" She called over the loud chatter around the station. I stepped up to the counter. Smiling sweetly at her trying to show I have nothing to hide.
"Can I have one ticket to New York City please?" I asked as I took out 26 dollars from my pocket (I took some cash from the kitchen before I left the trailer.)
"Can I see identification?" she asked me.
"I'm only 14 years old I have no identification on me. I don't even have a driver license yet." I replied sweetly.
"Then why are you by yourself at a bus station little girl?" she asked suspiciously.
Is she serious? I thought for a second "Well my parents are devoiced and I'm going to New York to spent family time with my mom," I lied smoothly.
Her eyes search my face to see if I'm lying, and she must be horrible at telling because she gave me my ticket and sent me off as she called the next person in line.
One advantage for being a kid, I smiled to myself as I got onto the Greyhound bus number 50013. Put my ticket in the see through box and sat in the third row, seat next to the tinted window.
As the bus engine roared I positioned myself in a relaxing state and closed my eyes for a little snooze. Overcome by of my past… The table crashing in front of me, and I hid in the bedroom locking the door. The door breaking down and I jumped to safety down into darkness…
Chapter 5 "New York City"
The ride felt so short when the bus brakes squeaked to a stop. I woke up with a start as the bus door swished open. All the people lined up to get out to the city. I followed the rest of the people out of the bus and gazed around. The bus was parked in a bus station and there wasn't much to see, just parked cars and buses surrounded by concert walls.
I followed my ears to the noises of honks of car horns. And as I left the station, I was blown away with amazement! Huge sky scrapers and towers over the city and trillions of people talking the sidewalks and taxis roaming the roads. You can definitely get loss if you don't know where you're going… and that's me.
Man, New York looks way better than I have ever imagined! It's going to be hard to find Gabriel in this city, I sighed.
I started to roam around the sidewalks looking through amazing shopping stores and different varies of restaurants. The only thing I disliked about everything is that there were a million of whispers in my mind and it was getting very hard to concentrate. When I was about to turn off the sounds, one voice made me focus on what it was whispering.
"…why do they have to find out about us? My world would be just great with my Aunt if they wouldn't go around shooting people. I will…" I lost focus as a guy knocked into me and we both fell backward, "Sorry!" we apologized to each other. That voice! I glanced at the boy and he looked about my age and he was half African American and had curly short black hair.
"Are you ok? I heard that you might be upset about—." I stopped myself. I'm such an idiot!
"What did you say? Who are you?" He asked seriously.
"I'm like you if I heard correctly…" I edge off a little fearing that I might make it sound a little offensive.
"Wait you said you heard –." He grew to a whisper, "You can read minds right? I knew a guy who can do the same," He smiled and stretched out his hand, "The name is Micah Sanders."
"Rachel Grey," I shook his hand.
He looked around nervously, "We should go. They might be watching," he pulled me to the street and whistled down a cab. As we sat inside the taxi we went quiet. His hands twitched and he glances around anxiously at the sidewalks…
I glanced sideways at Micah and whispered in my mind, "Where are we going?" he jumped (I can push a thought into someone else's mind… had a lot of practice when I was pissed off with my father.)
He looked at me in amazement, "Awesome! That's so cool. Sorry going back to the subject, we're going to go to my hide out."
I gave him a questioning glance.
"My hide out… the government is after me and that's the safest place to go – yeah sorry for bringing you into this,"
"Great—you're going to get me killed," I remarked sarcastically.
He smiled at me weakly, "Sorry,"
Chapter 6 "The Government"
"This is your hide out?" I asked as I saw the abandoned apartment building near a sea port. It definitely looks deserted from the cracked windows and a door off its hinges.
"It's neat huh? It's enormous so if they try to find me they need to look in 24 apartment rooms first!" Micah boomed excitedly happy to show off. I gazed at the sea port watching the sunset vanishing behind the vast buildings.
I have other words to describe it then just 'neat'. I thought to myself following Micah towards the abandon apartment.
Inside the building was dimly lit and every step echoed in the deserted apartment. It reminded me of a horror film when a woman is in it going to go into a killer's house and the audience that is watching the movie is yelling, "Don't go in there!" Yup that's how this feels walking up the stairs every creak closer to the second floor. We went all the way to the right and stopped at the apartment room 18. Its number was barely visible from the filthy white door.
In the room there were only two rooms: a bathroom and a kitchen mixed with a bedroom. Anyone who walks in here will know that a teenager lives here—it looked like a tornado went through this room! There was every machine you can name. He has laptops, desktop, flat screens, video games etc. Also his bed wasn't made and there were food bowls, takeout food, and papers all over the place. My room usually looks like that too when I don't bother to clean it.
"Sorry for the mess, I wasn't expecting a visitor." He bent down and tried to clean up a little bit (but didn't really make a difference.)
"Its fine, what's with the papers and machines?" I asked eyeing all the equipment with curiosity.
"They are both for finding and tracking specials," he simply replied throwing some dirty clothes in a bag.
"What you mean by 'specials'?" I asked puzzle.
"Oh yeah, you aren't use to being around people like us… We usually call people who have powers, specials. You know 'cause we are different than the rest of them." He answered going straight to the bathroom.
In the bathroom he called out, "Oh and also they, you know the government, have information about different specials like mind readers, fire breathers, and all that stuff."
"You got all this information by…" I started picking up a bunch of papers of profiles of different people.
He flushed and answered me, "Well… I got all this information from the government's top secret files. But I'm using it for a good reason. I'm tracking every special down and sending them a message to get out and warn them. I don't really meet face to face with them and I don't use my real name – I use Rebel, which is an awesome name to use in this situation. And I just let the computers do all the talking."
"What do you mean by 'let the computers do all the talking'?" I asked confused not really getting what all of his words means.
"I can speak with computers. I can – like talk to them and they talk back. I know it sounds complicated. Trust me sometimes to me it sounds weird to me too, but if you live with it it's way easier to understand." He responded smiling bet he's loves being the teacher.
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Sure, you're already asking plenty," he joked.
"Ok, do you know who told the government about people like us? That question has been swimming in my head for hours!" I questioned wanting to know what I miss from being captive in a forest throughout the war business and I know nothing about my own kind of people.
"I have my suspicions. His name is Nathan Petrelli and he's a special, but he also works for the government – guess he chose the country rather than his own people. He's one of the Senators of New York and he betrayed us all to be the President's favorite pet." Micah pulled out a file written "Nathan Petrelli" and handed it to me. I opened up the file and there was a picture of him, green eyes, brown hair and he has a tight set jaw. I flipped through the pages from the files and found out that his ability is flying and has a brother, ex-wife and three children. I wonder… if he could find this guy he could find Gabriel…
"Micah, do you think you can find someone for me?" I asked putting down the Nathan Petrelli file.
Micah turned on his laptop, "Sure who's the dude or girl?"
"Gabriel Grey, my brother." I sat next to him on the bed to get a good look at the laptop.
He typed the name as the speed of light and as the picture shown up he gasped I glance puzzled at the picture Gabriel was just sneering, "This guy is your brother? I know him, I saw him at Kirby Plaza about three years ago. Strange he goes by a different name though…"
"So you know where he is?" I asked excitedly.
Micah hesitated, "You don't understand this man is also named… Sylar, he's a serial killer. He kills specials to steal their powers. My mom helped stop him once with other specials, but he's not that easy to kill. There is a rumor going around about him, that he is working with the government but I'm not sure it's true he usually the one who manipulates –,"
"Micah he's the only family I have! Telling me he killed a few people isn't going to change my mind. I came here all the way from the boarder. Also my father killed my mother and his and maybe others, Micah please!" I pleaded not caring about his warnings.
He stared at me and sighed, "Fine because everyone needs family, my aunt – well I think I lost her 'cause I heard a gun fired when I ran out of the garage. And my parents died – dad got shot by a psycho – Mom saved my cousin from a fire, but let her run first and my mom never came out. She was buried alive from falling timber."
I felt so sorry for him he had lost everything, "Micah I'm so sorry what happen to your family… but I think I'm here to help you get through this. I don't think this is a coincidence that we bumped into each other."
He smiled a little, "Yeah you're probably –."
He was interrupted by a loud BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! He jumped off the bed and dash to the table where there was a blue AT&T cell phone. A flat screen flashed on showing lights searching the area. "This isn't good! They tracked me down!" He ran to the window and lifted one blind as I followed him, "They're here! Get everything you can!" There was a wave of men wearing black cameo suits wearing night goggles and caring gigantic guns. I stared horrified at the sight I never seen anything like that before!
We poured all the files in his sport bags with his laptop and any moveable technology, like laptops, phones etc. We gaze up towards the flat screen seeing the men dashing into the building. As the chilling footsteps echoed the halls we knew that we needed to get out quick before we are brought to our knees!
As I whispered, "We need to go!" the power went out and the emergency red light flickered on making a red haunting glow around us. Great this day is getting better and better! "Micah hold on to me ok, I can use my ability to find a way out without meeting a shooter." I whispered. When I felt Micah's hands on my shoulders, I closed my eyes forcing a shield around us making us disappear and I opened the door to reveal my brother, Gabriel Grey. I hold my breath and put a hand around Micah's mouth. Gabriel gazed around Micah and I froze afraid to move. "Oh my god I can't breathe! We are going to die!" Micah screams.
"Shut up! I can get us out of this mess!" I assured him. Micah took a deep breath, Gabriel's ears perked. He blocked the only exit (not counting the window) so Micah and I were force to retreat in the room. I pushed Micah down on the bed and raced at Gabriel, but he saw me and with a flick of a hand flung me back towards the wall. I struggled trying to get down; Gabriel tilts his head examining me. Micah ran in front of me stretching his hands out blocking Gabriel, Gabriel stares at us and the door shut he looked at us confused and outraged, "You're the one named Rebel?" He asked Micah whom just nodded weakly, "You're just a child!" He looked at me, "Children," he added.
"And this child likes to be on the ground!" I responded dangling my legs Gabriel lowers his hand and I felt gravity kick in as I fallen on top of Micah. We stayed on the ground staring up at him horrified.
In the dark red light he looked frightening increasing the raging look on his face. We heard footsteps drawing closer and I felt Micah's hands tighten on my shoulders and I knew we were both of us were trembling. "Oh we are going to die!" Micah's voice sounded so certain.
The things that Micah told me about my brother seemed a lie because he ordered me and Micah to get out while he stalls and stay close to the area. Micah and I ran for our lives and I made sure no one will have the chance to spot us. As we got out safely I pointed out a wall that had a clear view of the apartment and sea port. We crouched down just to be safe. Horrors filled Micah's thoughts and me hearing them isn't helping, "Sylar is going to tell them where we are! I wonder if those stun darts really hurt?! Where are they going to keep us when we all –?!"
There was commotion coming our way as we glanced where the source came from, all the men were chasing after a boy who was a mirror image of Micah! We both glanced confused at each other and turned back to the scene. "Micah" was surrounded by the men and the sea. We watch in silent terror as the men came closer.
One of the men in front stopped and yelled hoarsely in the radio, "Sir, he's just a kid,"
The radio responded, "Do it now!" The man hesitated with the command.
"Micah" looked at the man with braveness and had a weird evil look in his smile as he was shot by three darts and tumbled backwards into the dark sea below.
We both glanced bewilderedly at each other and the sea port now as the men were now searching with boats and spot lights, five minutes after the boy got shot into the water.
"Rachel I think that was your brother! That's an awesome power! I didn't know he can have that many!"
"I – I think you're right."
I hushed him after all the men in black left and a bald man was the only one left. As he was eyeing the sea he was intruded by a set of footsteps. He turned slightly but wasn't surprised to see my brother. My brother stood next to him looking at the sea.
"Why didn't you kill the boy to get his power Sylar?" The man asked.
My brother looked sideways at him and replied coldly, "Well I think talking to machines will be too much of an over kill."
He sighed annoyed, "Pity a powerful boy drowning in the sea," The man started to walk away.
"Yes very pitiful," My brother whispered and grinned secretly. He turned around and walked in the same direction the man went.
I felt a presence behind us and turned quickly to find Gabriel behind us.
Micah spoke up, "How did you do that?!"
"One of my abilities that I stole, now come on!" he ordered.
He started to walk ahead of us and Micah and I followed closely afraid the government might get us if we are too far away from him.
He was silent the whole entire walk I tried to get in his head but something was interfering his thoughts I can only make out muffles. So Micah and I were taking all about what happen in our minds.
"That was so cool! No wonder nobody could tell where he is!" Micah though amazed.
"Yeah being anyone he wants is sure hard for people to catch him. Still have doubts about my choice?" I pushed the thought to him.
Micah shook his head grinning wickedly, "Nope this will be awesome! Besides I'm just glad he isn't looking to kill me!" I stared at him but something tells me it's hard to be on the 'not kill list'.
We speed walked to a hotel. Wow! This place is awesome! The lobby had marble flooring, and counters with gold and silver tables and expensive furniture. The elevator had enough space for a dozen people and has so many buttons for all the floors. We halt at a door near the elevator. When Gabriel opened the door we were facing a beautiful master suite!
Both Micah and I gasped, "Whoa!" As we stepped onto the marble floors we could see the whole room, two bedrooms, sitting area, kitchen and a huge bathroom.
Gabriel finally spoke up, "Just to be clear, I'm not responsible for you two."
As Micah and I relaxed in the sitting area; when he was about to shut his door I called, "Thank you for saving us back there sir." Micah gave me a question look I snapped back, "What? I'm just being polite!"
Gabriel stared at me like he has never been address as sir before, "You called that saving you? I just call it protecting my back,"
"I don't think so you really didn't need to do anything to help us, but you did so I'm grateful," I replied feeling a little offended about him saying to 'protect his own back'.
Micah shook his head at me, "Rachel, don't push it' cause he can change his mind and kill us!"
Gabriel examined me and just shut the door and I heard him lock it.
Micah turned on his laptop, "What are you doing?" I asked
"Going to see what the bold dude's name is," Micah answered.
"Also can you type in my name to see if they have a file on me?"
"Why? Scared that they will track you down?" he smiled. I stuck my tongue at him.
"The bold dudes name is John Dranko, he was hired to be a bounty hunter to catch us has a metal for tracking down terrorist and protecting the country; looks like he's also in charge of this whole mess."
"Great, we have a trained psycho government killer on our tail." I sighed.
"He's not the only psychopath in the government," Micah thought. I threw a pillow at him, "Hey! What? It's true!"
"You just go back to your typing my name," I snapped.
"Your wish is my command," Micah smirked. He typed in my name in seconds flat, "Well looks like you don't exist. Lucky for you…"
"Good and I would like to keep it that way," I replied.
"So… when are you going to tell him," Micah nodded to the door.
"How about you tell him?" I whispered angrily.
Micah responded, "That's not any of my –."
"Tell him what?" we jumped Man I didn't even hear the door open! Gabriel stared at us suspiciously. "Well?"
Micah and I looked at one another and Micah nodded towards Gabriel.
I hesitated, "Well it's funny and hard to explain…"
"I can catch up," he coldly responded. Micah just was staring at him and at me.
Well how can I put this? "Well – I'm sort of your – um… sister." I finished that was harder to say, great how would he react to this?
He looked shocked and outraged, "You're telling me that you're my – sister?"
I sighed and steady my voice, "Yes, my name is Rachel, and I was there that day when you visited my father's trailer…"
"I can tell that you're telling the truth," he stared hard at me and turned away from me.
"I heard what my father did to your mother. He killed mine also when I was eight – I can tell that you're confused why he kept me – and not you but they aren't the answers you might want to hear. He kept me because I was a scared little girl who knows how to clean and work. Also I would do anything he wanted because I know what he can do. I'm telling you that you got the better life and you shouldn't be angry…"
He stared back at me for a few minutes and made up his mind, "Fine… you're allowed to stay."
"Really?!" I ask surprisingly shocked smiling.
"Sure… it's been a while since I had ever had a family member living with me..." He kept on examining me with those chestnut eyes.
He turned around and was about to head back to his bedroom until I called, "Wait, what do you want me to call you by, Gabriel or…uh…Sylar?"
He stopped and turned his gaze back to me, "Gabriel, call me Gabriel. My family should call me by my birth name." he glanced hard at Micah, "But you're little friend needs to call me by Sylar alright?" Micah nodded and Gabriel went back in his room again.
I got bored and took out my sketch book and added my brother's and Micah's faces (I always draw the people I encountered.) Micah looked over my shoulder to see what I was doing. I handed my book to him as he began to glance at it from the beginning. I got up and stretched and went to the kitchen to get something to drink.
Micah called over, "Who's the woman in the third page?"
"My mom, I copied the drawing from a picture of her." I replied as I stick my nose into the fridge.
"And the guy on the next page...your boyfriend?"
My face burned red, "No, he's my best friend since I was little." I smiled as memories of Luke having his arm around me smirking crazily at me and laughing. I glance back at Micah and added, "How about you stop calling out questions and I tell you who else is next; my father, Gabriel and you."
He flipped through the pages. As I sat back down he was gazing at his picture, "Wow you're a great artist!"
"Thanks, and you're very good with electronics." I complimented back. He closed the book and handed it back to me as he relaxed on the couch, "You know there is another bedroom," I commented.
"I know, but I think you should have it," he yawned and closed his eyes.
"You sure?" I asked.
"Yeah you're the lady in the house just being polite." He responded smiling slightly.
Can't argue with that! I picked up my stuff and head to the door next to Gabriel's. As I opened the door I found a queen sized bed calling me. As I sat on the bed I was overwhelmed by the softness. I put my head down on the pillow and stared up at the roof. This is so nice! I can definitely get used to this! I reopened my sketchbook and stopped and stared at my father's picture his black murdering eyes staring deep into mine… "Then why did you kept me alive?" I whispered as my father just sneered, "Because I knew when you were born that you are special. Something inside of you kept you alive all these years I couldn't kill you like the others…" I stared in disgusted at the picture others? How many people have he killed? My thoughts were interrupted by whispering coming from the door next to mine leading to Gabriel's room. I can't make them out, but they sound like it's coming from two different people. Weird, should I really be going into his privacy? Why am I asking this question? I crept out of the soft bed and carefully walk slowly to the door. I sat criss-cross and put my ear to the door listening quietly.
"…It was the right thing to do taking care of the children Gabriel," It was a women's voice very high pitched but in a soft whisper.
"But I don't know anything about taking care of kids," this time is Gabriel's. I listen closely wanting to learn more about my brother.
"Sure you do. I raised you just fine. They are teenagers the only thing you need to do is feed them…"
"I know but what happens if I lose control of myself and kill them?"
"I doubt that you will ever hurt children,"
"About three years ago I was looking for a little girl who can find people and I killed a lot of people to get her."
"Still one of the children I heard is your little sister… and big brothers are suppose too take care of them. You wouldn't hurt her will you?" the woman asked.
There was silent for a few minutes, "I – don't think I'll hurt her but what I'm involve in will get her killed –,"
"Then don't involve her in anything… Could I see her?" The woman asked surprisingly excitingly.
I rushed to my feet and headed quickly to the bed and slid my body under the warmth of the covers and pretended to sleep. I heard the door open to the sitting area then it closed… One pair of foot-steps headed to the door connected to my room. I closed my eyes but sneaked a little peak.
The door opened and I saw the woman, she was wearing a dress and her hair was a rat's nest. She looked about 50 or 60 years old but it was too dark to see her features. She spoke in a whisper, "She's such a beautiful girl!"
All of a sudden, the scariest thing happened—her whole entire body transformed into Gabriel! It took my whole will power to not gasp in shock.
"She is… The weird part is that she makes me feel different. It's like my anger and hunger just goes away." He whispered. He walked closer to my bed and hesitated before stroking a part of my hair away from my face.
His hand changed smaller and ice cold, "She's the key to your struggles," the woman whispered. Gabriel changed back to himself and he picked up my sketchbook damn I forgot to put that away! he stared at the drawing of our father then at me, "She has a long painful past… but I couldn't get the whole story…"
The woman was back, "When the time is right she will tell you…"
The woman changed, "We should go I don't want to wake her," Gabriel put down the sketchbook and the footsteps disappeared as the door shut.
I glance nervously at the door, Oh my god! What was all that about! It's like he has two personalities in him! That's creepy! I'm going to bed! I stuck my head under the covers and zoned out.
Gabriel Grey/ Sylar
Gabriel sat on his bed memories filling his mind; he smash a man's head with a rock to steal his power, dozens of people screaming in terror and agony as he sawed off their head, a woman with a rats nest stabbed to death… He glances mournfully at the door his mind was filled with the girl's smile and her voice, "My name is Rachel, and I was there that day when you visited my father's trailer…" Gabriel thought for a second… Why didn't I see her there? He remembered a man glaring at him and disappearing in a blink in an eye and back in that abandon apartment when she ran at him. Hmm could she be that powerful at this young age? He glance at his hands they twitched slightly She's powerful – No… I'm not going to do anything… He shocked his head trying to get the horrible thought out of his head a harsh whisper responded Not yet…
Rachel Grey
I was woken up with the jolt of someone shaking me. It was still dark, "Wake up! We need to leave now!" it was Micah, he pointed at the blue phone that is flashing red, "Dranko is coming – I think he really didn't believe Gab—Sylar's story about me dying. And he bringing back up." He was already packed. I took my bag and ran to the door.
"Are you coming?!" I snapped at Micah as he ran towards me.
"Gabriel, are you coming?!" I asked.
"Remember what I said—I'm not responsible for you two. Besides if I go Dranko will be suspicious." He replied and added, "Just make sure you don't get yourself caught,"
I grab Micah's arm and forced him to follow as we headed down the stairs.
We finally emerged from the bottom of the stair case's exit and we dashed through the lobby. As we were half way to the glass doors I heard a gun load up. I stopped dead in my tracks and gazed around as men came out of the shadows of the lobby and some came in the glass doors. We are surrounded! Guns all locked on us.
"Well, well, well…looks like you survived the fall," It was Draco, the hunter. I glanced at the exits and the stair case to see my brother looking anxiously at us.
Micah was shaking with fear next to me holding my arm tightly.
"Well men you can fire now!" Dranko yelled.
All the orange darts came out of the guns in second's flat. I closed my eyes and wished that the darts wouldn't hurt. While Micah screamed bloody murder in the back ground.
Why haven't they hit us yet? I opened one eye to see all the darts stop midair an inch away from us. Close one. I remember my brother's ability to control objects.
"How did you do that?" Micah asked shaky as he hesitated to touch one of the darts. I glanced at my brother to see if he did this but he looked just as shocked as everyone else in the lobby.
I'm doing this? I raised one hand and copied what my brother had done in with the tubes. I moved two of my fingers downward and in a flash all the darts flew back at their owners.
As all the men fell unconscious, I grab Micah's arm and fled the scene out of the hotel and into the streets… and didn't dare to look back.
When we ran a couple of blocks away from the crime scene Micah gasped, "Wait I know – a man who can help us, he works for the government, but he would help us."
We walked four blocks to a Sushi bar and nervously glance around.
"That's him," Micah announced.
Chapter 7 "The Man with the Glasses"
Micah and I walked up to one of the men sitting at the bar. Micah sat next to him and I sat next to Micah, "Mr. Bennet sir, we need your help." Micah gasped for air. Mr. Bennet, tall, with brown hair and squared glasses over his gray eyes answered, "Sure Micah, but first you and your friend need something to drink and eat,"
Micah and I stayed and ate a little bit of sushi we didn't bother to say a work until we were finished eating. Mr. Bennet walked up stairs as we followed quietly. We entered a little apartment and sat on the couch.
"So how can I help you Micah?" Bennet asked closing the door behind us.
"Well sir, we got nowhere to go and we ran into 'the hunter' twice." Micah answered.
"Sure you can stay here, but don't go out in public around here. I don't want to get my family into trouble,"
"Why would you get into trouble?" I asked.
Mr. Bennet looked at me for the first time, "Well miss I don't want to get my family into this war… Besides, if they saw me helping specials then my family will pay the price." He answered.
"Well if you will get in trouble we can leave," I suggested without a second thought.
"No, no it is fine, so how did you get away from Dranko twice?"
Micah answered, "The first time Sylar saved us. And the second time Rachel saves both of our lives,"
Mr. Bennet looked shocked, "Sylar helped you? Why would he do that?"
"'Cause Rachel is his sister." Micah spoke out.
I glared at him, "You call that keeping me a secret?"
"Sorry!"
"Rachel is that your name?" Bennet asked me I just nodded stiffly. He looked shocked, "I didn't know he had a sister! Well Ms. Grey your brother is well – complicated… he never had been so outgoing to help people before," Bennet smiled greedily.
I don't like that smile! Well Bennet, I have a weapon up my sleeve.
I picked through his mind, "Sylar has a sister she will be great to draw him out of hiding…"
I grab Micah's arm, "Well it was nice meeting you but we really have to go." Micah stared at me confused. I told him fast in his mind about what was going on.
He stared at Bennet responding, "Is that true? You are using us to get to Sylar?"
I nudged him hard, "You're an idiot!"
"How did –." Bennet started but pulled out a Taser gun or stun gun. We were shocked at his reaction. Without warning he pulled the trigger. Two lines of electricity came out. I focused on them and just like the darts they stopped in midair. I didn't dare lose focus on the gun.
"The apple doesn't fall far from the tree." Bennet was shocked but very interested.
I dropped my gaze to the floor and the lines did the same. Without another word I gripped Micah hard and gave Bennet the middle finger, while he shot bullets at us, and ran from the building into the streets once again.