The girl in the bed in front of Jack seemed so peaceful and beautiful. Her jet-black hair was long and silky. Her skin was a light brown color. Her unconscious breaths conveyed an air of serenity.
As he drew closer to her, he saw that she was not as serene as he thought. Her eyes were clenched tightly, and her hands were in white-knuckled fists. Her breathing became erratic and labored. She could feel him approaching.
Suddenly, Gina sat up in the bed. She had a look of fear and surprise on her face. Nearly in tears, she groaned, "The animal. The man. What are you?"
"I'm Jack," Jack answered in his most calming voice. "I'm a mutant, like you."
"Not like me. Animal! Savage! Angry!"
"Shh... calm down." Jack slowly lifted a hand. "I want to help you."
Gina's stare softened a bit, becoming more an appearance of anxiety than fear. "Help?"
"Yes, I want to help you. And I think you can help me."
"Help? How?"
"Just try to clear your mind. Close out the voices."
Gina looked pained. "Can't. Too loud. Too many." She could hear the thoughts of everyone within a few hundred feet. Their feelings of happiness, fear, anger, sadness, and curiosity enveloped her, were a part of her. Their public speech, and most private thoughts bombarded her.
The doctors had once told her parents that she was schizophrenic. They said that the voices were caused by a chemical imbalance. They didn't know the truth, and even if they did, they would never readily accept the fact that she was a telepath.
Her father was the first to realize that the voices weren't just in her head. They were in everyone else's heads. She knew everyone's secrets. Including his. His hatred. His fear. His past deeds.
"Then don't try to quiet the voices. Try to accept them." Jack closed his eyes and projected pleasant images in his mind, trying to soothe her. "What are they saying?"
"Everything. Feelings of love. Hatred. Despair. Want. Murder."
Jack's eyes immediately opened. He was rather surprised to hear that word. "Murder?"
Gina had begun crying. "Yes, murder. He wants to kill."
"Who wants to kill?"
"He wants to kill. Love. Hatred. Sadness. Revenge. He wants to kill!"
"Who wants to kill? Who does he want to kill?"
"He wants to kill all those outside! Those who are evil! So passionate! So sad!" Gina was becoming hysterical.
Jack placed his hand on hers, whispering, "It's OK. He's not going to kill. I won't let him."
Gina was very disturbed by the feelings she'd just channeled, but Jack had an idea of how to calm her. He'd once seen a documentary about how animals are used as therapeutic aids for mental patients. Immediately, he turned into an orange and white cat. He jumped onto the bed, and again began projecting pleasant images in his mind. He gently rubbed his soft furry head against her hand.
Gina began returning the simple affection, involuntarily rubbing the cat's head. She soon began running her hand down his back, and her tears stopped flowing. Hearing the feline's purrs, her mind forgot the overwhelming images and voices. She smiled, and slowly drifted to sleep.
"I understand you made a very substantial step in Miss Morgan's recovery," said Elias.
Jack smiled humbly. "I guess so. But I'm afraid it's not nearly enough. She's still going to need a lot more help."
"Every little bit helps, Jack. And that little bit can go a long way. Paula will be pleased to hear that you've been so helpful with her patient."
"When will she be back?" Jack knew that Paula, one of the only people he fully trusted, was on another business trip for her father, but he had no clue where she was, and didn't know when he'd see his friend again.
"Soon." Elias turned to Jack, eyeing his worried face. "Jack, is something troubling you?"
Jack glanced around him. The large flower garden through which he and Altman were walking was beautiful, slightly easing him. "Elias, when that creature...that unknown mutant broke in, what do you think it was looking for?"
"I'm not sure, Jack."
This answer troubled him; he knew that Elias was lying.
"Why did it only access your personal files in the computer database?" Jack asked his friend and mentor. "What information do you have there?"
"If I told you that, then they would no longer be my personal files, now would they?" Altman seemed somewhat annoyed by the inquiries, but still managed to remain calm and compassionate. "Actually, I think it was an agent sent from a rival business owner. I have so many corporate enemies, Jack."
Jack said nothing to this.
"You do believe me, don't you, my friend?" Elias asked, truly unsure what Jack's response would be. "Don't you trust me?"
Jack wasn't quite sure how to answer. He didn't know if he did trust him. Thinking logically, Jack remembered that this man had saved his life, accepted him for who he was, and taught him so many valuable things. But thinking instinctively, Jack knew that Altman kept so many secrets from him. Lied to him.
Jack ignored his instincts, opting for logic. He nodded and smiled, answering quietly, "Yes."
