Free Knell by Viola Grace Page B

It didn’t work but he did let a lot of blood out.”
    Her back was scarred from shoulder to hip. The beating was the final straw for her family and had sent her to the safety of Farrow Home. It had been an effort to keep them from losing more family than just Dot. It was easier to alienate one daughter than all their siblings, nieces and nephews who believed that voices in the night were evil.
    “We can remove most of the scars if you like. It would only take an hour or so.”
    She smiled. “I would like that. Can we schedule an appointment?”
    “I will make a note of it, and if you can’t get back here before you go, they can do it on the base as well.”
    He helped her into her shirt and sweats, smiling brightly. His third eye was as kind as the two on either side.
    “Aside from the damage, you are perfectly healthy and your mind is wide open and listening. Your temporal lobe is doing what it is described as. It is searching time and therein lies your talent.”
    She smiled, thanked him and headed into the outer office.
    Norz was sitting and speaking into a small device in a strange language. He saw her and let out a clipped barrage of words before putting the device away.
    “You are in good health?”
    She nodded. “Aside from some previous damage that does not hinder movement, yes, and I have asked for the scars to be removed so that won’t be a problem much longer.”
    He paused but shook off his question. “Your family is at the Volunteer Centre. They are protesting your acceptance of this position and they have dragged a senator with them.”
    “I am guessing you want me to speak to them?” She wasn’t in the most authoritarian of clothing but she could manage.
    “Please. You will not be alone. We are here to support you.”
    She chuckled and started to walk with him to the lift that would take them to the passageway. “I have gotten more support from the staff here in two hours than I have had from my family in twelve years.”
    “We know what you are and what you are capable of, and we want to see it happen.”
    She laughed. “ There is the difference.”
    The walk was quiet, but she armed herself for whomever had turned up in the office. She was shocked when she realized every aunt, cousin, sister, parent and uncle was in the room.
    Standing there and looking at her family, she felt no attachment. No wistful warmth.
    Her father came toward her and gripped her arm. “You cannot leave. You are my daughter and I say you cannot leave.”
    She grimaced and grabbed his arm, digging her nails in until he let go. “I will not be bullied. I will not be threatened. I will use the talents that God gave me to save lives as it was intended.”
    Her uncle Marv snorted. “Those works come from the devil. He is showing you evil.”
    Dot crossed her arms and ignored him. “I have saved ninety-six lives this year alone. I want to use what I have been given for the betterment of a society, and if it isn’t here on Earth, I will find somewhere that wants my help.”
    Uncle Marv moved toward her. “You are obscene and are damned to hell.”
    “Fuck you, too, Uncle Marv. They will take away the scars you inflicted on a child that you should have protected and leave me as whole as God made me. I will bear no marks, and I intend to forget about all of you the moment that I leave the planet. There is nothing for me here if you know I exist and am having a life of my own. You would try to destroy it. Time for a fresh start.”
    She turned her back and her mother shouted. “You are our daughter and we have a right to forbid you to go.”
    Dot turned slowly and looked at the woman who had watched her brother almost beat her daughter to death without stopping him. “You gave me to Farrow Home. They authorized my release. You have no rights. You signed them away twelve years ago when you left me half dead on the reception room floor expecting them to clean up your mess.”
    It was the last thing she said as she