So, after a lengthy hiatus on this I've decided to post up the remaining chapters like I did with When Daddy's Not Around. I don't have an official ending for this but hoping I'll be able to round it off for y'all. x
Chapter Twenty One
Having everyone's eyes on you first thing in the morning is a little awkward to say the very least. The only comfort I had as I walked in to the kitchen, was Dougie's arm around my waist, my safety barrier, security blanket. Tom and Nat were the first to acknowledge my discomfort. He smiled awkwardly, whereas she moved across the room quickly, enveloping me in a bone crushing hug.
"Sorry, Claire." She sniffed, holding me as I imagined a mother would her daughter. I winced a little, a vibe, a vision radiating from the young woman clutching me in her apologetic, motherly embrace. Natalie seemed to have that nurturing streak. Like mother hen, or something similar. And at the age of 22 I wondered for that split second if she'd have the courage to ask Tom for the children she wants. What a vibe. Vision. My head's a bit sore now though. I pulled away and smiled, she returned it, squeezing my arm a little. "I don't know how you quite did that." She whispered.
"It's okay. Without realising. Can't control it." I shrugged, looking over at Tom who was now deep in a heated argument with Sheena across the table, who sat on the verge of throwing the salt and pepper shakers at someone. Most likely Tom, or Dougie who was now attempting at restraining her.
"It's good to be home." I smiled, recognising this as a normality in the present company.
"Doug, tell your royal tramp to shut up." Sheena snarled.
"I missed you too." I beamed.
"Listen missy, you might find this funny and that the house is quaint, and like something out of an Enid Blyton novel right now, but I'm not up for having a pleasant little chat with you over tea and crumpets!" She smashed her empty glass on the table. "You're not Alice in f*cking wonderland. This isn't going to have a fairytale happy ending.!"
"Sheena." Harry warned. He'd been sat in a chair in the corner of the room, unnoticed by me until now. "Leave it."
"No! She needs to be taught a lesson!" She screamed, throwing the remains of the glass in my direction.
"Claire!" Dougie yelled as I flinched, closing my eyes, palms facing out as my hands shielded my face. Yet nothing hit me. Nothing made contact. Perhaps they'd missed. The room was eerily silent. What?
"That's a trick and a half." Tom muttered.
I frowned, opening my eyes, a shard of glass, still in mid-air, centimetres from my face. Frozen in mid-flight. I bit my lip, reaching up and placing it between my index finger and thumb, throwing it to the ground. I looked at Dougie, his eyes wide, half in horror, half in shock as he stared. I looked to where his gaze was fixed. There had to be a dozen, at least, glass pieces twinkling in the sunlight where they rotated in the air, pointed directly at my stomach. Natalie quickly pulled me aside when I remained still, the glass dropping to the tiled floor instantaneously.
"If you weren't a girl, I'd rip your f*cking face off." Dougie spat at Sheena, who shrugged as he rushed over, throwing his arms around me as I quivered.
"She's getting stronger." She commented to Harry, walking to the door to leave. "They at least fed her well in captivity."
"I wish I could do that." Gabrielle remarked upon hearing what had happened in the kitchen. Apparently, at the time, she'd been out walking with Danny and Jessi in one of the fields that backed up on to the large country house. "Stopping things. I'd love that. I just got empathy and things explode when I'm angry."
"I've never seen anything explode." I mused.
"When have you ever seen me angry?" She questioned.
She had made a good point. Gabrielle was never seen without a smile on her face. Her chirpy persona was incredibly lovable, not to mention contagious, in the sense you wanted to be happy with her, to be in on the secret that kept her eyes forever twinkling and her lips curved, content with her surroundings permanently. Determined to make the most of what she had.
"Touché." I smiled.
"You do not throw things at my pregnant girlfriend!" I groaned inwardly, hearing Dougie's yells downstairs. Points for guessing who he's bawling at. Blatantly obvious, don't you think?
"I've never heard him so loud before." Gabrielle spoke, adjusting her position on my bed, now lying on her front, head held in her hands as she leant on her elbows, looking up at me. "So much protest in his voice. Fright. Love."
"How can you tell?" I asked, curious.
Abilities still had me in wonder.
Were they genetic?
Did you work towards them?
Collect one every time you pass go?
"Empathy. I can feel what everyone else feels. I came up short with telepathy. Just can't do it." She shrugged. "But I'm the only empathic out of us all. I'm very slightly important. I'm like a lie detector sometimes." She grinned. "I could be an international spy when I'm older and everything smoothes over with the hunters."
"I'm sure you're more than just slightly important, Gabz." I rubbed her shoulder reassuringly before lying down, looking up at the ceiling, hands resting on my middle. She sighed heavily and there was silence. A short lived quiet period obviously. Gabrielle found it hard to stay in silence for very long.
"Do you remember anything from before you were rescued?" She asked, curiosity consuming her naivety once more.
"Not a thing." I grumbled.
"Doesn't that worry you?" She sat up, eyes wide with concern.
"I've not really thought about it." I confessed. Mainly because I hadn't wanted to let my mind wander. The thoughts initially coming to mind frightened, numbed, petrified me. I'd much rather be happily unaware, completely oblivious. I was safe now. That's what mattered more than anything.