Chapter 13

Changing Channels

I woke up and realized that someone had pulled a blanket over me in the night. I sat up and the light was just coming in through the window. It was the same color of my sky in Princeton, it didn't look any different. I didn't know if that meant anything, but I thought it might.

Auri! Auri! Where are you? Are you there? Auri! Auri!

Sweetie! I'm here, I'm here honey. How are you?

I think I'm okay. I woke up with a blanket on me. The sky is a grayish pink. Is it a grayish pink where you are?

Just a sec…yes, it is honey. It's a grayish pink. That's good; tell me more about where you are.

I'm in a room about half the size of mine. There's a twin bed, wood floor, a table. Oh, there's a banana on my table…an apple too. A book…wait…the book has a mark in it. Princeton Paupers.

Princeton Paupers?

Auri…it's a used book store. I bought my last two Harry Potters there.

Good! Good sweetie. Now listen. Your Mom and I learned a trick. We learned how to channel other people's thoughts and then project them to each other. It wasn't easy to learn, but maybe you could do it.

I wasn't sure I understood her. What do you want me to do?

Okay, Furey. I want you to try and fix on the thoughts of one of the people who took you. Don't just leave the thought, fix on it and pull it into your mind so that I can fish it out.

I could feel her frustration, she knew this wouldn't be easy to learn, but it might mean my life. I was worried; I could tell that they were all asleep around me in this building. I had to pee and didn't know where to go.

Auri?

Yes honey.

I…I…I have to pee, but how do I do it?

You mean you can't reach your fly?

No! I mean, what do I pee into?

I could feel her giggle.

Honey, you can pee out the window, in a jar, in a plant…look around, is there a container somewhere?

I got up, the chain was around my ankle, but there was enough links to let me move in a six foot radius. I looked under the bed and there was a stainless steel bowl.

Auri, there's a stainless bowl under my bed, but it's empty.

Honey, I think that's your answer, they left it for you to pee in.

Ewwwww.

Just think of it like you were camping.

I've never been camping.

What? You're Dad never took you camping? Well, when you get home, I'll take you camping. But now let's try channeling those thoughts. I'll be quiet, you try and find someone to channel, okay.

Okay.

I took a deep breath and started to feel around with my mind. Someone was out somewhere making coffee. Whoever it was started to think about his children; worried that he was going to get caught. I pulled on the thoughts tried to grab and hang on to them, but I wasn't sure I was doing it right. I kept trying, but I could feel them slip out.

Auri, Auri…I don't think I can do it.

Honey, I caught something, did he say something about creamer.

Yeah, is that important?

I could feel her amusement. No honey, but it does mean that you're managing to broadcast his thoughts to me. If I can follow the trail, I can get them directly. Keep trying honey. Keep trying.

I kept trying because I loved Auri and I didn't want to let her down. So I searched again. I felt someone coming, a woman. She was thinking about breakfast.

…donuts, milk, what else would he like? Hmmm. Well, tomorrow I'll get cereal. Tomorrow. Tomorrow we'll be in leaving for New York.

I felt Auri's excitement. Furey, is that you thinking about milk or someone else? It sounds like a woman.

Auri, it's a lady outside my door. Did you hear we're going to New York?

What? What exactly did she say? Ah, Greg is waking.

That she'll get cereal tomorrow and that we'll be leaving tomorrow for New York. Auri, are you worried about Dad?

Huh? Honey, you need to concentrate on what's around you.

No, I heard you think about Dad…that he was waking up, but you're worried. Why?

Your Dad is very anxious about you. He wants you back…just a sec…while I talk to your Dad, you try and listen in to the woman, okay?

Okay. Auri please come back.

Honey, I'm right here. If something happens while I'm talking to your Dad, just yell, I'll hear you. Practice channeling.

I felt her mind go away. I made use of my time by listening in to the woman's thoughts. She was worried about me, worried that they weren't going to let me go, that they would either keep me or…kill me.

I freaked out. When she opened the door, I backed up. It was the crossing guard.

"I'm not going to hurt you. I brought you donuts and milk. Are you hungry?"

"I have to pee."

"You can pee in that bowl and we'll throw it out."

"That's unsanitary."

She laughed at me. "Here, have the food and take a pee. I'll come back and get the stuff later."

"Lady, do you have kids?"

She smiled at me, "No."

But I could tell she was lying. She had one child, but he had died. He had died in Iraq a year before. I saw a picture in her head of the casket, his burial, the soldiers around the grave.

"Your son was very brave, wasn't he?"

She stepped back and stared at me as if I was an alien. "My God, it's true. You are a psychic!"

My family never called me a psychic. I don't know why. My talent was always referred to as intuition. I listened to her. She started thinking about why they took me. I tried to capture the thoughts and pass them on, but Auri wasn't there.

"Lady, I'm scared. Can I go back to my Dad? I'm sure he's worried about me."

Her mind went crazy. He wants his Dad. He's just a little boy who wants his Dad. Guns. It seemed the right thing. Sell the good guys the guns. But take a little boy from his Dad? They promised to give him back. That's what Bonfiglio promised us. Now Kaplinger says we may need him for the next deal. What deal? I thought this was the only deal.

Auri! Are you getting this? Auri?

She was back. Honey, I'm getting a little. Concentrate, concentrate.

I concentrated on pulling the thoughts from the lady. I tried really hard as she thought about what was going on.

I don't like it. Why didn't Kap make us use something over our faces so the kid couldn't identify us? Either he plans to keep the kid or kill him. I didn't sign on for this. I need to talk to Bonfiglio.

Furey, I heard that. She said Cap…what cap?

Kaplinger. Some person named Kaplinger. Auri, did you hear her? They may kill me.

Honey, I heard. You did a great job. But, they need you right now. They aren't going to hurt you. Let them know that you have to be close to someone…in the same room to read them. I have to find something out, but try to keep alert for anything. I think I might have an idea of who you're going to meet. Okay honey? I have to go, but if something happens, yell at me. Okay, Furey?

Yeah. Okay. You'll be back soon, right?

Sweetie, I'm right here, just a yell away. Your Dad loves you and wants you to stay strong, okay?

Okay. I love him too. And Uncle Jimmy. Aunt Jen too. You too Auri. Please take care of my Dad.

Sure honey. I love you. I'll talk to you soon.

I felt her mind pull away. I felt alone again, abandoned. I knew Auri was working hard to get me back, but I was still afraid. I asked my Mom to look down on me and keep me safe. I hate to admit it, but I started to cry.

Dear Readers:

It's so cool to see where you come from! Netherlands, London, Michigan, Pennsylvania (half my family is from Philly), North Carolina and all over! I love it! I'd still like to read where you're from ...the internet is such a wonderful instrument to link us all together. Take Care, Kim