Element of Surprise
Part 15: Working Out a Plan
Lily Montgomery entered the make-shift nursery half an hour later. She carried a basket with several bottles, diapers, and wipes. It was obvious she had cared for children before, but her eyes were downcast and haunted. She didn't speak while she went about her task. How she got involved with this group was unknown.
Caine watched her with curious eyes. He could sense there was more to the woman who gave him a bottle. He drank it greedily, his stomach cramping from hunger. *She's scared,* Caine told his brother.
*Yeah, I can tell,* Caleb answered. *Do you think we got that from our mother?*
*I want to try talking to her.*
*Are you nuts?* Jax interrupted.
*Her aura is open,* Caine commented. *She might be able to hear us.*
*She's with them, what if she gives us away?*
*She won't,* Haley added.
*How do you know?* Jaylyn asked.
*I just do,* Haley replied. *Besides if she does try to tell someone we could always start crying and give them blank looks*
*That will be rich,* Jax smirked. *So, who's going to test this theory?*
*You mean hypothesis, don't you? I will,* Caine replied. *Since I'm the one who noticed it.*
*One question, before you do. How did you know her mind was open?*
*I could sense it when she handed me the bottle and her hand brushed against mine. Caleb, I may need your help on this. She's going to be very scared.*
*You've got it brother,* Caleb answered.
*I really don't like this.* Jax stated.
*You don't have to like it, Jax. Even so, she may be our only way out of here.*
*All right,* Jax conceded. *You can try, but if this goes wrong, I'll blame you.*
*Don't worry, it won't.*
Caine concentrated and focused on the woman who was sitting on a rocking chair. *I guess she's waiting for us to be done with our bottles.* Caine focused on the words he wanted to say. *Help us!* Caine said. *Don't let them sell us.*
The woman looked around. *Who's there?*
*It's me,* Caine said. *In the crib.*
The woman cautiously got up, still weary of what was going on. Was there a stranger in the room? She looked under one of the cribs, but there was no one.
*Not under,* Caine said. *In the crib.*
"In the crib?" Lily questioned, but she looked anyway. "Babies can't talk."
*Not with our mouths yet,* Caine said, *But with our minds we can. Our Momma is Atlantean, and she can talk telepathically. She enabled all of us to communicate.*
*That's too much information!* Jax growled.
*I know what I'm doing,* Caine replied to his brother. *Now where were we.*
"That's . . . That's impossible."
*No, it's not, and you know it to be true,* Caine went on. *Your mind is open, too. How else would you explain it.*
"I . . . I have no explanation."
Caine could still sense her nervousness. *You have to help us, my cousins, my brother, and me.*
"I can't."
*Why not?* Caine asked.
*She's too scared,* Jax chimed in.
*We'll never get out of here if she won't help,* Haley stated.
*You have to help us,* Caine pleaded. *This is wrong. We have parents and family. Please don't let them take us away from our family.*
*Do you have a metal ball?* Jax suddenly asked.
"Why does he want a metal ball?" Lily asked. That question came out of left field.
Caine focused his thoughts on Jax. *Why are you asking her that?*
*So, I can demonstrate,* Jax answered. *I'm more than just a stupid baby to them.*
*Do you?* Caine asked. *Don't worry, Jax isn't going to swallow it.*
"Um, I can get you one,' Lily agreed. "But are you sure?"
*How soon are they going to come for us?* Caleb asked, putting his voice in. He wanted to know how much time they had.
*I don't know,* Lily replied, not expecting another voice in her head.
*Please,* several voices cried out at once. Then Caine pleaded one more time. *You know this is wrong.*
One of the men entered the room just as Lily was about to answer.
"The boss has stepped up the agenda. The children need to be ready by tomorrow night. They just announced on the news about the kidnapping."
Lily went over and turned on the TV. The whole Wayne family was standing at a podium.
"Please, whoever you are, we want our children returned," Timothy Wayne spoke. The police have been informed. You have to let them go."
*That's our Daddy,* Caine and Caleb stated.
"We'll even give you what you want if you'll just contact us."
"And that's our Dad," Jaylyn and Jax stated.
The third man stood behind the other two. The camera focused on his eyes. They were a partial yellow and blue mix, as if he was trying to hold a part of himself back.
*Daddy,* Haley said. *He'll release the Talon if they don't get us back, and that means real trouble.* She didn't voice that to Lily.
*Please,* Caine pleaded one more time.
A burner phone that one of the men was holding started to ring. He held it up to his ear then put it down after listening for only a minute or two. His face went pale, and he hung up the phone.
"That was the boss,' he swallowed.
"What did he say?"
"He said we blew it. We should have warned the Wayne family about making a press conference or informing the police. The buyer has pulled out."
"What does he want?"
"He wants us to kill the kids and drop their bodies where they can be found as a warning."
"Waaaaaaa!" Most of the children started crying, all except Caine.
*Please, help us!*
*I'll help you,* Lily said in her mind.
Continues with Part 16