Noah glanced nervously around the room. Starting with Imogen and Johann, it had slowly emptied one-by-one. Owen went next after a word from one of Jason's guards, the one called Berlin or Erwin. Noah wondered whether it would be better to refer to them as their codenames or their real names, but after Jason had introduced them they had put on their masks again. Robyn was called after and she promised Noah to meet him in his room after everything was said and done. Penelope went next whose attitude defied what would be expected of discovering about the List and what it meant. Finally it was just himself and John sitting in the room. John was leaning back in his chair now muttering occasionally to his side, his voice filled with irritation. Jason was sitting at the end of the table, reading through some documents.
Berlin glanced out of the door and knocked once on the wall. Jason nodded and put down his notes. He clicked his fingers and Berlin beckoned at the three others: Barrett, Wasp, and Rhino, if Noah remembered correctly. They all followed Berlin out of the room. Noah could feel nerves running up his spine. So far Jason hadn't scared him but there was something in his face that made Noah worry. Even John seemed to tighten up, leaning forward on his chair, his face still hidden with that curtain of hair. The room grew deathly save for the thin breaths Noah could hear from all three of them.
Jason stood up and Noah watched him slowly walk to the windows that looked out into the hallway, where the four guards were standing with their backs to the glass. Jason slowly lowered blinds attached to the windows and twisted them shut, closing out the view of the hallway. He left the windows looking out of the administrative building into the woods beyond clear, the twilight slowly seeping into the room. Jason walked back to the head of the table and unzipped his black jacket, laying it on the table in front of him. He was wearing a black t-shirt underneath that highlighted Jason's militaristic muscle. A pair of dog tags jangled free from where they had been trapped under his jacket. Noah's keen eyes saw the names etched into each tag. Maylene. Ellie.
"I am not speaking to you now as a CEO of the Department of Human Protection," Jason said slowly. "In fact, this particular part of business they have no reason for knowing. This is why I sent my team away. This is why Johann is not here. This conversation is just for those of us in this room." Jason glanced somewhere to John's left and slowly walked around the table towards Noah. "You see, I understand the need for secrecy and why we hide information. I understand that things can be private to us. Can be… emotionally hurtful. So from now until we leave this room the things that are said are secrets to all of us. I would like us all to agree on this." Jason stopped behind Noah and Noah felt a drop of sweat run down his cheek and slide down his neck. He didn't understand why he was so nervous. Jason put a cold hand on Noah's bare neck. "All four of us, that is."
At first Noah didn't quite understand what he was looking at. Or to be more specific, he didn't understand why he was seeing it. There was no mistaking the woman standing to John's left. She stood out in the usual tepid design of Hearthome. Everything from her boots tied with different coloured laces to her black-and-white stockings to the red tartan skirt and finally to the t-shirt deliberately ripped at the belly scream punk-rock. Her hair was long and blonde, styled into multiple braids with thin coloured wires and beads wrapped within and around the braids. The woman's features were sharp and adventurous but Noah looked into her eyes and saw something akin strangely to embarrassment. Noah didn't understand what was happening. Had she been here all this time? Any questions stayed in his mind for saying the words out loud would have just felt ridiculous.
"Would you like to introduce yourself?" Jason murmured.
"I… Um, yeah. Of course. Lily. My name is Lily, it's… nice to meet you," Lily smiled awkwardly, running her hands down her skirt nervously. "Sorry I'm not usually so… out of sorts but well… it's been a long time since I've been able to talk to anyone other than Gerald here."
"Gerald?" Noah couldn't help but echo. Out of all the questions rolling about his mind the unusual name of 'Gerald' was what stuck out for him.
A long sigh came from John's direction. "Not anymore. My name is John and I would keep it that way."
"I don't like it," Lily said almost with a pout. It seemed any embarrassment was already disappearing. "Then again I never liked any of your names."
"I don't think I understand what is happening," Noah said. "Your name is Lily? Where have you been?"
"Here," Lily shrugged. "I'm always at Gerald's – sorry, John's side."
"But—" Noah started and then stopped. "Are you a…" The word didn't want to come out.
"A ghost?" Lily grinned like a Cheshire cat. "I wonder, I wonder. Certainly, I'm pretty sure I died. This pretty face got a little bashed in, y'see. For seven years only this guy could see me, hear me, or even talk to me. Not that he likes to do any of those three things."
"Lily is one of these secrets I am referring to," Jason said quietly. "John promised to share after our little conversation from earlier."
"How is this happening?" Noah couldn't take his eyes away from Lily. It was like his brain was trying to place her in the room from the start but Noah knew she hadn't been at least visually present.
"The world is a particularly vast place," Jason said. "The List, your visions… they are but one facet of what the world has to offer. There is a reason my organisation used to be called the Department of Supernatural Investigation. For years, they spent time searching for and nurturing people with Abilities. It is how I was recruited. Sadly my ability cannot offer much. At least that is what I used to think." Jason let out a dry chuckle. "I am able to see what I like to call phantoms. Ghosts seems ridiculous."
"Like 'phantoms' is any better," Lily scoffed.
"At first it was someone I loved very dearly, my partner, Maylene. And then I started to be able to see more. Eventually I learned to show what I am seeing if I am touching someone. When I walked into John's room the last thing I expected was to see one of these phantoms. For you see, after recent events, in theory such phantoms shouldn't exist anymore."
"What events?" John asked.
"What events indeed," Jason said slyly.
"I thought we weren't keeping secrets," John growled.
"I never said we had to bear all our secrets. Besides, I wouldn't want to overcomplicate matters. I want to focus on Hearthome, the List, and you two."
"Can I ask John a question first?" Noah asked. He looked at John. "Why did you want to help me when you appeared from your room?"
"Like I said at the time. It sounded fun. I am not afraid to admit that I do not like dealing with people for the most part. I came to Hearthome because I thought I was crazy, because I kept seeing her-" He glared at Lily. "And she wouldn't leave me be. Over my travels I learned of Hearthome and learned what it could potentially do for me. Turns out all this time I thought everything was in my head may not be so clear-cut as all that. When Jason saw Lily… Well, that was a shock." John absently ran his hands through his beard. "When I heard you talking to that doctor about the List I just thought it would be interesting to involve myself."
"He likes to feel useful," Lily grinned. "You're not a man to be told what to do, are you? If something big is going down you want to be involved."
"Shut it. I just figured that if I could help then it would be worth helping," John shrugged.
"I knew a time when you wouldn't want to help anyone at any point, oh how the mighty have fallen," Lily taunted. She stuck out her tongue as John threw her an errant middle finger. "This feels like old times!"
"I guess I was reminded what it was like to be on a List," John said quietly. "No matter who you are it is not an experience I would recommend." John slipped his hand under his hair and brushed it backwards. Noah's eyes widened as John revealed the skull-like remnants on the side of his face. "The List ruined my life, Noah. I had everything I ever wanted. I was famous, successful, and wanted for nothing. Then the List came along. I was first. When this happened, I didn't even realise what was happening at the time. The visionary wasn't one for sharing unlike you. I guess that's what made me like you, Noah. You want to help the people on your List."
"Aw come on, don't miss out the details," Lily jumped up onto the table and sat down cross-legged. She looked like an excitable puppy as she looked from John to Noah to Jason. It seemed being able to interact with someone other than John for the first time in such a long time was making her giddy, Noah thought. "Guess who saved him – that's right, me! This guy just stayed staring down at the pyrotechnics like it was about to congratulate him for a job well done. It's a good thing I'm so quick. I remember how heavy you were despite your lanky frame!" Lily's expression suddenly faltered. She looked at her hand. "It's funny how you take things like that for granted. Simple things like brushing shoulders or feeling the wind. Whatever I am now I don't get to experience those things anymore. I may as well be a ghost for all the good this fake body does me." There was such a profound look of sadness upon her face that Noah could easily forget about all this supernatural nonsense and just focus on this woman in front of him expressing very human emotions so plainly.
"This is where I can come in, Lily," Jason said with a soft smile. "I want to offer each one of you something for a request that I will ask. John, I offered you your freedom. After all, it is not easy to get out of Hearthome once you're in – especially now. Noah, you'll have to forgive me, but I had my doctors take care of your eye for the sole purpose of gaining a favour. Lily… When I saw you with John I knew your help would be invaluable but I was certain what I could offer you. Now I know what it is."
"What are you talking about, man?" Lily raised an eyebrow. "I got all I need with John."
"Much as I want it," John shook his head. "I would love for you to stop bothering me."
"Never gonna happen dude, not in a million years," Lily turned back to Jason. "So what can you offer me?"
"Come here. Come on, sit in front of Noah," Jason beckoned Lily forward. Lily looked to John, who simply shrugged, his expression unreadable past the wicked burn scar on his face. She pulled herself forward from where she was already sitting cross-legged until she was sitting on the edge of the table in front of Noah. "Noah, raise your hand."
Noah looked sideways at Jason where he was standing, his hand never moving from its position on Noah's neck. Jason simply nodded reassuringly. Noah took a breath and raised his hand out in front of him, palm facing towards Lily.
"Now Lily. Put your palm against his."
"What are you talking about man?" Lily laughed. "You know how many times I've tried to touch people? For the first year whenever Gerald would explore I'd try talking to people and showing myself, I'd kick and punch, but phwoosh, nothing ever worked."
"Humour me, Lily, please," Jason said.
"Fine, fine, but don't blame me when Noah looks like an idiot holding his hand out to empty space if anyone walks in," Lily raised her own hand and almost lazily moved it forward.
Noah felt the soft skin of Lily's hand come into contact with his own. Despite being such a strong-willed girl, she felt so fragile as Noah felt her fingers squeeze tighter, almost clenching between his own fingers. Noah looked up and saw Lily staring at their connected hands. Lily's eyes widened and she squeezed harder. It hurt Noah but he didn't dare to pull away; he could see just what this moment meant to the girl.
"Seven years…" Lily muttered. "I have followed Gerald for seven years… Followed him longer than that but ever since the construction site I have never felt contact like this. I have never…" Her voice caught in her throat and she looked firmly at Jason, her eyes thick with emotion. "Whatever I can offer you, I will. Can I… Can you help me touch anybody?"
"I can," Jason nodded. "I have to be touching them or someone who is touching them to act as a conduit but I can."
"Then can you please hold onto Gerald?" Lily asked, fighting to control her emotions.
"No!" John suddenly said, standing up from his chair with such force that the chair went skittering against the floor. The expression on his face was strange, Noah noted. "Not a chance, Lily, no!"
"Come on, Gerald," Lily almost pleaded. "I need this, I—"
"I don't care what you need, Lily, alright! I want you out of my mind, I want you gone. I don't have any desire to look at you anymore let alone touch you!" Despite John's harsh words, Lily didn't seem particularly affected by them.
"One of these days you'll say you need me, Gerald," Lily smirked. "I've followed you all my life and I'm gonna follow you all of my death, too. And when you ask me it's gonna be oh so sweet. I will never leave you, Gerald." Lily suddenly turned to Noah and Noah was startled by her expression. Noah felt like he was caught in some kind of trap. "Hey, just a heads up. No hard feelings dude, alright?" With that, Lily leaned forward and pecked Noah on the cheek with a soft yet sharp kiss.
Noah did not have any time to process the action before a yell bellowed through the room. "What do you think you are doing, Lily, are you insane!? Control yourself before—" John reached out and grabbed hold of Lily's arm that was holding Noah. John's long fingers gripped tightly before Lily let out a girlish chuckle.
"Caught ya, hook, line, and sinker," Lily reached up with her free hand and placed it lightly on the healthy side of John's face. "I don't think I've ever seen you jealous Gerald. It's a good look on you." John was frozen as Lily's fingers trailed down his cheek and touching the edges of his beard. "The beard, though…" After a moment John suddenly scampered backwards as if struck, letting go of Lily's arm. He touched his face and glared daggers at Lily.
"You… You… You are… You always ruin everything, all the time, all my life, you always…" John let out a growl deep from his throat and marched across the room, practically kicking open the door to leave.
Noah and Jason were both silent as Lily watched the door shut. Again, strangely, she didn't look hurt by his words. "When a boy is sheltered so much they aren't certain what to think of emotions they have no experience with," Lily said quietly. "Gerald is just one big boy who has never lived in reality. He has always tried to be rid of me, all my life, but he has never once tried seriously. I know he appreciates my presence and I know he doesn't understand how to process it. I think it's kind of cute, really."
"Lily. Did John… you mentioned what happened to you. The old records of the DSI have who committed the crime on file. Was she really the one who…?"
"I know what you're asking, Jason. You had to kill a loved one to get off the list. Sabrina Holland may have been the one to kill me… but perhaps Gerald doesn't see her holding that rebar. Perhaps he blames somebody else." Lily slowly drew her hand from Noah's albeit reluctantly. "Like I say, Gerald does not know how to understand emotions. He was a sheltered boy growing up and a sheltered man as he grew. I know what I feel for Gerald. I know what he feels for me. He has never admitted nor will he ever admit it… but the fact that he is not on the List anymore? That is all the proof I need of his feelings. That is why I will never leave his side."
"Is that healthy?" Noah suddenly asked. He wasn't sure where the question came from. He looked up at Lily. "It sounds like you are… holding onto him tightly and not letting go."
Lily sighed, looking at the door. "Perhaps I am. How can I let him go though? He will be lost without me." She suddenly smiled and hopped off the table. "Thank you, Jason. As I said, I will help as I can. Give Gerald and I some time and tell us your request later. Sorry about the kiss, Noah. I just like seeing Gerald squirm." With that, Jason took his hand off of Noah's neck and Lily disappeared as if she was never there.
Jason slowly walked back to the head of the table and grabbed his jacket, pulling it on and zipping it back up again. "I suppose that answers the first of my questions. I think today has been a long day, Noah. I thank you for your patience. I think we will leave this for now."
"What about your request?" Noah asked.
"My request can wait. For now, focus on living as normally as you can for the next few days or however long it takes until your next clue. Take advantage of what time you do have. For every survivor of the List there are numerous casualties. And Noah…" Noah could see the sadness in Jason's eyes. "Be prepared for more death. I know Charles and Finley's death's have been somewhat distant but as the List approaches the people you knew closely… saving everyone else is an optimistic hope yet also an unrealistic one. If there is one rule survivors of the List learn… it is that you cannot save everyone."
With that, Jason left the room and left Noah alone. Noah sat under the dim lights, contemplating Jason's words. Of course, Noah knew that. He knew that you couldn't save everyone. This wasn't his first rodeo.
"You got to let it all play out, boy. Let them fall like the dominoes they are and I will reward you with your life. Just like before."
Noah suddenly shook his head, confused. What was that voice? Why did he recognise it? Even as he thought of the words that were said they faded from his memory. A sudden flash of bright purple reflected in the corner of his eyes and Noah's head snapped towards it.
"He may be able to see phantoms but he cannot see me."
Noah stood up. Something was wrong. Who was talking? What did they say? Again the words were fading from his mind like a long-lost echo.
"This is the last vestige that I need. Five more lives. I am not gone yet. Tick tock."
"Who are you?!" Noah found his voice easily in the empty room. A flash of purple again and Noah twisted around completely. There was nobody to be found in the empty room.
"Listen, act, forget. It is good to see you healthy again. You've slowly stitched together the fractures of your mind. That is a good boy. Keep it together, just this last time."
Noah hadn't realised how much he was sweating as he pressed his back against the wall. The voice was almost child-like but filled with so much… so much memory? Noah didn't understand. He knew the voice, he recognised the voice, but the voice was…
"Noah?" The door opened and Jason looked through the doorway, his face a mask of concern. "Are you okay? You didn't follow."
"I…" Noah opened his mouth slowly. "I…"
"What's wrong?" Jason's eyes peered around the room cautiously. "Noah?"
"I…" Noah blinked. "I don't know." Noah pressed a hand against the bandage over his eye. He didn't even remember getting up at the table let alone backing against the wall. Why was he sweating? "I think I'm just a little tired. Sorry, I'm coming."