Free Hold Me by LJ Baker

sniffled and started to calm down a bit.
    "I'm sorry. I forgot, but you do realize that seeing things in the future, and having visions, is kind of the definition of being psychic, right?"
    She nodded, her long lashes flapped up and down over her eyes, and for a moment, she looked like a small child. She wasn't like other sixteen year olds. Hadley was special. She had an undeniable innocence about her that made you want to protect her, but at the same time, she had a fire inside her that warned you not to cross her.
    She sat back and wiped her eyes on her sleeves. "I am sorry. I only have a short time with you and I do not want to waste it with such depressing nonsense."
    "Why don't you just stay?" Without even thinking, I blurted the words out.
    Her eyes lit up and she smiled. "I would love to." Then her smiled faded and her head slumped down. "But I cannot. I have to return to the base for now. But maybe I can come back when they are finished?"
    "Finished with what? What's going on over there?" There were so many unanswered questions and I felt like Hadley had some of the answers.
    She tugged the neck of her shirt down and showed me a port in her neck, taped up and ready when needed.
    "How long has that been there?"
    She shrugged. "A while. They were using my arms but this is easier."
    "Hadley, what are they doing to you?" I should have asked her that the first time I noticed the gauze taped to her arm.
    "I am not supposed to talk about it, but I guess it does not matter anymore since you do not live there. They are using me to find a cure because I am immune."
    "So they do experiments on you?" Visions of horrible, painful procedures flashed through my mind.
    "Oh do not worry, it is not all bad. Mostly they just take my blood now. Then they give me presents. I do not mind it."
    "How can you not mind that? It's wrong. They shouldn't be experimenting on a child. You aren't even old enough to consent."
    Hadley let out a little laugh and patted me on the arm. "Oh Andi, do not worry about me. I am old enough to understand what is going on. They are using my blood to find a cure and that is a good thing. I want this outbreak to be over, as I am sure you do too. They have other people too, but the doctor says I am his favorite."
    "Do they do anything else to you?" I couldn't shake the images of Hadley being strapped to a table and being poked and prodded like some alien abduction scene in a bad movie.
    "They did at first. Scans and tissue samples, but it is just blood now. I think they are close to a breakthrough. I had a vision that there was a cure, and we all lived together, but it was not here or at the base. I have never been to the place, but we were happy there." She gave me a reassuring smile.
    "Do you really think your visions will come true?"
    She giggled and tilted her head to the side. "I had a vision just the other day that you told me you were sorry for not believing me before, but you now you did. I guess we will see if that comes true." She winked just as Will came into the room.
    "I'm gonna run upstairs for a minute to see if I can find a part I need. Don't have too much fun while I'm gone." He kissed my head and disappeared up the stairs.
    "You two seem to be getting along well." She pulled her legs under her and turned to face me. "Are you going to have babies?"
    "Oh my God, Hadley. Did you seriously just ask me that?"
    "What?" Her eyes widened and she covered her mouth with her hand. "Is that not okay to ask? Sometimes I am not sure what things are all right."
    Her innocence and lack of social skills were actually one of her endearing qualities. It sure beat her refusal to use contractions.
    "I guess it's okay to ask that with me, but you probably shouldn't be going around saying that to just anyone."
    "Why is it different to ask you?" Her head tilted and she looked back and forth between my eyes searching for some understanding.
    "Because we're close friends."
    Hadley's lips turned up into a grin as she