Free Tainted Energy (The Energy Series Book 1) by Lynn Vroman Page B

the guy could be, but there was a good chance he knew Lena.
    Stepping
forward, Tarek adjusted the picture on the screen until it projected into his
living room, the picture now a hologram right inside his house. The shriveled
guy even appeared to sit on the couch, leaning on the edge, still sucking on his
cigarette. Ignoring him, Tarek began to scout the area, noticing a patch of
woods not far from the house. He'd open the portal in there and wait for the
right time to start searching the place.
    All the
damn houses looked the same. A problem but not impossible. He'd bang on every
door, peek through every window if he had to.
    The idea
of her living in one of those rust heaps…
    There
she was, walking right up beside him to face the smoking jerk-off on the
blocks. Breathing became a second priority as she stood next to him, the image
so crisp, like he could reach out and touch her.
    His
hand, trembling and clammy, moved to smooth her hair, short this time. It stood
out like she'd spent the better part of the day in a fitful sleep. His heart
jumped but sank when all his touch did was scatter the pixels in the hologram. He
remembered, though. Her dark hair would be soft, thick.
    The
false smile on her face and the way she fidgeted indicated the relationship she
had with this guy wasn't all that great. He dropped his hand, not wanting to
fudge the image, and watched.
    She
rubbed her lips, shrugged her shoulders…waved at some kid. All the while, the
asshole on the blocks kept his beady eyes on Lena. The hate and disgust on the
man's sunken face had Tarek swiping at the image, wishing the guy could feel
it, frustrated he couldn't hear what they were saying.
    When
Lena disappeared into the house, he tried to follow her. Stupid because he
forgot the picture was, well, just a picture, but…
    "I'm
coming." His voice was loud, ragged.
    Tarek
went to his room and opened the trunk containing the contego suit he hadn't
worn in almost twenty years. In minutes, he was ready. He put out the fire,
disabled the screens, the image disappearing, and fried the circuits with his
UV pen.
    The
coordinates cemented in his brain, he raised his fist. The ceiling above his
hand grew blurry, wavy. A calming breath escaped his lips, and he closed his
eyes, letting the wind kicking from the open portal pull him through.

 
     

     
    Lena
     
    M om and I had to go through the same
routine as last night. Only this time, Dad didn't want anyone touching him. The
shakes and sweating seemed uncontrollable, and by the way he twitched and
scratched at his skin, he looked uncomfortable, too. He acted like a douche,
but no one got hit, and so I deemed the evening of sitcoms and canned meat
sandwiches a success.
    By
eight, Dad decided it was time for all of us to go to bed after we prayed
together.
    Holy
Jes–I mean, ah, praying?
    He kept
saying, "Yes, Lord. I won't, Lord. I will, Lord."
    We knelt
in front of his chair while he talked to someone inside his mushy head. When he
released our hands, I pushed off my knees and helped Mom from hers, giving her
a hug before heading to my room.
    "'Night,
Dad," I said with a wave.
    He held
up a shaky hand. "'Night, peanut."
    I almost
felt sorry for him.
     
    ∞ ∞ ∞
     
    Time
dragged waiting for the clock to hit ten. Leaving then would give Dad enough
time to fall asleep, plus ensure I'd be here when Mom came to check on me
before going to bed.
    Who knew
what Wilma would tell me, but it'd be more than what I had now. I just wanted
her to tell me how to stop it–whatever it was.
    A glance
at the bed had panic inching its way into my gut. It looked so innocent, but
laying on it was out of the question. Sitting on the floor was good enough. I
tried to read, make the time go by faster, but the warning Wilma had given
caused the words on the pages to get all blurry. Control my fear?
    Yeah,
sure, let me get right on that.
    After
spending so much time chasing it, fear finally decided to chase me. I couldn't
even look at my