Chapter 10: Ruthie Lies and Rikki Tells the Truth

The teens sat at Cleo's empty house, figuring out what to do and calming Rikki. They all agreed that no one was going to leave the house alone.

"Cleo, where did you say your Sis and Dad were?" Lewis asked.

"Some fancy pool party at some fancy rich dudes home," Cleo said.

The boys nodded to acknowledge that they got it. Rikki lay on the couch not paying much attention to the others.

"So what are we to do about the whole Emma taken by Rikki's crazy mother? Do we talk to her or just sneak in to her office?" Ash asked.

"It is double locked and under watch by three cameras," Rikki informed everyone.

Everyone looked at her like she was crazy.

"She doesn't want anyone to see what she is doing," Rikki explained.

Everyone looked away from her then. They stayed quiet for what seemed to be 20 minutes. It was one of the longest silences since they met.

At Ruthie's home

Ruthie and Kim sat in Ruthie's room. They knew that Ruthie's mother had locked herself ether up in her office or down in her lab. They also knew there was no way of getting in the office without Ruthie's mom spotting them, even if they really wanted to go down.

"I think my mom has got Em," Ruthie told Kim.

"That's great, I mean terrible, I mean… what?" Kim responded.

Ruthie chuckled checking to see if Rikki was home yet. It's like she doesn't want to come home Ruthie thought.

"So what do you think she knows?" Kim asked.

"I don't know, but it has to be more than us. I so want to see her work," Ruthie said as her phone started to ring.

She answered it to her Elliot's panicked voice saying "I don't know what to do!"

"What do you mean, Elliot?" Ruthie asked.

"I mean my parents are going to the police. They believe Emma's been kidnapped and they are so worried. I can't even leave the house," He explained.

"That's terrible… They might send my mom to jail."

"Glade to hear you think of someone other than yourself. Ruthie, I'm serious, this could be really bad."

Kim had gotten as close to the phone as she could after she heard "my mom" and "jail".

"Tell him nothing will happen. I promise," Kim said to Ruthie.

Ruthie repeated Kim's message to Elliot, who seemed unconvinced.

"Are you allowed to have others over? We need to talk face to face," Ruthie asked.

"I guess, as long as my parents know the person. I think you two are fine," Elliot answered.

The girls told Ruthie's mom where they were going and headed out to Elliot's fast.

Emma in the lab

"What are you doing with me?" Emma asked Ruthie's mom.

"What do you think? You're my new secret project," She answered.

"What's your project anyway?"

"You and your powers."

"Why me?"

"Man you are full of questions," Ruthie's mother complained.

She set up a bunch of lights and cameras. Then she turned back to Emma, who was now studding everything around her.

"Ok, Emma, use your power," Rikki's mom said pressing play.

"What should I call you?" Emma asked.

"I don't care… Rikki's mom, Ruthie's mom, Mrs. Renn, Kit… just do something," Rikki's mom answered.

Emma smiled, did a cartwheel, spun like a ballerina, and smiled again at the camera.

"What are you doing?" Kit asked.

"Performing like when I was six and my mother filmed Elliot and me," Emma answered.

Kit hit her head ageist her desk and pressed stop on the camera. She then looked up at Emma, who was still standing there like a little kid.

"Look I need you to use your power. Please, for me," Kit asked.

"On what?" Emma asked.

"I don't care, just do it," Kit said pressing play on the camera.

Emma smiled and stuck out her hand. The camera suddenly froze. Kit was in shock.

"I didn't mean the camera," she said.

Just then, Emma put her hand to her forehead, feeling a bit faint. To her, the room started to spin and the next thing Kit knew Emma was on the floor.