Fleeing the Mall

"Lord Almighty!" Brice whispered a little too loudly. "S...young man, we have to get going. Security and law enforcement will be here shortly. It looks like we, all three of us, have something in common. I will try to contact you later."

With that, both he and the other head out the back of the food court. Yolanda is sobbing and a few armed security guards are cautiously making their way into the food court with weapons drawn looking around. It's obvious that they aren't going to find anyone. Justin is one of the few people left. To everyone else, he is just another victim of the violence that occurred.

Sirens started to be heard outside after a short time as well. The local police force would come in on the scene, and paramedic crew would be arriving shortly as well. Scooping up Yolanda and holding her close with both arms Justin rose to his feet In a half daze he followed the silver man casting an occasional glance at her just to be sure she was still conscious. "Where are we going and who were those thugs... "

This was Jahck's mall, not Brice's. Brice turned and saw that Jahck was right there. "Lead us out of here, if you know a good way out."

Justin didn't care what the FBI agents were upto it he just wanted them to leave Yolanda and him alone. He glanced about the area to get his bearings then truned back to face Yolanda. The couple sat in silence his concern obvious even in the shadows of the vehicle.
Jahck took a good double take to get his bearings and headed straight for an exit he knew was rarely used. No one ever came in this door so it was an ideal place to leave unnoticed. It was mostly for food court employees to load and unload vehicles.

Brice followed close behind Jahck as he moved out of the mall. Justin and his girl followed after brice. Brice's own rental car was parked by the Sears store and he was not sure which direction it was. When he spoke he made sure he was not overheard. "I have a car in the lot by Sears. If you have a car closer, lets take that, otherwise we use my rental. And if you see or hear marked patrol vehicles slow to a casual walk."

"My truck is just a few rows over from here," Jahck said as he crossed the street casually, not drawing any attention to himself. Jahck had mixed feelings of excitement and anxiety. He had just learned a little bit more about his new found skill in the worst possible way. He still needed to figure out the limits his ability had. Jahck's first impressions of his ability were unimaginative and narrow minded. He had thought only stone affected him but metal also seemed to work. He couldn't wait to test himself further.

Jahck and Brice got into the truck, Justin and Yolanda squeezed in with them. Brice gave a sigh of relief to be out of sight for the moment. As they entered the truck, the body sunk a few inched as they combined weight was more than the shocks were used too. Brice hated to trust on luck or the incompetence of others. "Well? Where to? I think we need to go somewhere and talk, Jahck. Now I know how you survived the encounter at the caverns."

He looked at his hands and tried to calm his mind as Jahck started the truck. He did his best to will his body to return to its fleshy form.

Jahck's body slowly was returning to normal, while Brice focused and brought his emotions under control. The truck seemed to bounce back up and roared into life as Jahck turned the key. Jahck's first thoughts of a quiet place to go were the caverns themselves. As Jahck pulled away, Brice saw his rental sitting near the mall. Police cars and ambulances passed them while they drove.

Sgt. Jennings watched in relief as his hands turned to skin and blood and bone once more. "So, Jahck, I figure that this, um, whatever is happening to us, has to be rather rare. I have to wonder how three of us ended up in that food court at the same time. We will have to wait and see about that though."

They drove in silence for a few minutes before Brice spoke up again. "When was the first time you changed? Mine was yesterday." His question was to no one in particular but Jahck answered first.

"Well I don't believe in coincidence, so there has to be something going on. The first time I changed was last night as a bullet was flying into my chest." Jahck replied, the concept of the bullet hitting him made him feel uncomfortable and yet reassuring at the same time. "I actually just bought this ring made of some kind of super strong space stone after the incident. I figured my ability was some how tied specifically to stone but after the events of today I think I will have to reconsider my first deduction." Jahck was cautious to drive normally that way he wouldn't attract any unwanted attention.

"Well, I do believe in coincidence.  But this pattern is too remarkable to be random."  Said Brice.

Brice looked at the kid and the girl.  He was not sure of their relationship but they looked like a couple.  "Name's Brice Jennings.  You two going to be all right?"  He had not thought they would be coming with them, but was glad they were.  He wondered if the girl had something special going on with her as well.  Special beyond having a boyfriend who can bring someone back to life, that is.

"Justin... Justin Kase and this is Yolanda Yaleford, Pleased to meet you Mr Brice" he responded hesitantly as he took in what they were saying. "It sounds like you two know what's going on... I mean whats happening to people... its like a weird dream or a movie or something worse" he asked giving Yolanda's hand a squeeze as the image of a scientific experiment going astray and infecting everyone in America sprang to mind  "Where you taking us" more importantly can we trust you he thought.

"Oh, we are headed to the caverns where I work. They will be closed today so we won't have to worry about any people." Jahck said glancing back in his mirror to see Justin. "I don't have a clue what's going on if it makes you feel any better." Jahck said as he laughed at the idea of just waking up one day and understanding the whole world. "The best I can tell so far is that me and the tin man stumbled upon each other and then we stumbled upon you two. If this keeps happening I don't think my truck will hold the rest. Whatever it is it seems it has affected each of us in a different way." Jahck finished as he turned his focus back to driving.

Brice looked at Justin..Kase?  'Really?'  He thought to himself as he briefly smiled.  "I know the story may seem a bit dis-jointed, but I am a police officer from Baltimore County, Maryland.  I'm here investigating a murder that happened in New York City.  The body turned up here in West Virginia.  The victim is...was the son of a Senator who happens to be my neighbor.  It gets even more complicated from there.  And the caverns where we are going?  The body was found near that location."

He turned to Jahck.  "You know, I wanted to check out that scene as well.  I understand that the three suspects might have left more evidence there than was discovered.  When we get there, before we do much of anything, can you scan the place one more time and try to remember if they touched anything else?  From the report I read it almost looked like they were trying to get caught.  The woman used the bathroom?  Come on!  If the investigators didn't get prints from there then something is wrong."

He paused only a moment before remembering to warn Jahck.  "I anticipate the FBI to be all over this case shortly, by the way.  With a high profile victim and the state lines being crossed, its an inevitability.  The only question is when it will happen.  So approach the Caverns with that in mind."

'There were two men and a woman, who weren't from around here at the bakery this morning. They stood out like fish out of water' he mentioned casually then looked out of the window and back at Yolanda "How you feel" he asked putting his left arm around her shoulders and giving her hand a comforting squeeze with his right hand.

Jahck looked over at Brice giving him a 'that has to be them' look. "Did they say anything about where they were going or from?" Jahck asked Justin.

"The short guy was called Leon the others was Eli and the woman's name was Carrie. They mentioned a couple of Italian bakeries in New York that make homemade bread, kneaded and worked by hand. They asked if I ever been up to the Adena caverns as if they had visited it themselves. I got their vehicles number plate if you're interested"

Brice looked meaningfully at Jahck as he listened to Justin.  He took out his cell phone sent out a text message to his captain.

"Just got a break.  A witness saw suspects at a bakery this morning."  He included the tag number that Justin provided as well. "The suspects seemed to want to be noticed, giving their names a referencing a couple of Italian bakeries in New York.  Heading to caverns now." 

To Justin he said: "I think you may be a key witness in this case Justin."  But then Yolanda seemed to stir.  She seemed to have been mentally preoccupied and just found the courage to speak.  Or perhaps she had just recovered from her experience. 

Fates Twine Together

Yolanda looked up at Justin, "Shaken up," was her delayed response to his question. "How long, Justin, have yo been able to..." The question hung unfinished as she looked out the window. The drive to the caverns was quick but waiting at the caverns which was marked off with yellow tape, was a dark car. As Jahck approached the doors to the car opened and two people stepped out of either side. The one out of the driver's side was a tall man wearing dark glasses and a dark suit. The one who got out of the passenger side was a younger looking woman also in a suit and glasses, though she took hers off and held up a wallet that opened bearing the shiny metal of a badge. She kept it open and visible for Jahck and Brice to see as they approached.

 Ignoring what was happening elsewhere he fixed his girlfriend with a mournful gaze "Yolanda this thing... this thing that's happening to me started yesterday... I don't know what it is or how it started.... I think I  should see a doctor or something but am not sure what will happen if I do they may take me off without word to Mum or you or anyone else or worse they may put us all in a confinement facility... what do you think..." he half asked half pleaded.

"Something I can help you with officers?" Jahck asked checking the badge to see who the two strangers are, or claim to be.

Brice made sure both of his hands were visible as the two approached the truck and noticed that he still had his cell phone in his hand. "Finally!"  he sighed.  He waited for the response to Jahck's question.  But he kept his mind open.  With all of the unusual events that were taking place he had to consider the possibility that these people could be fakes, for indeed much stranger things had been happening of late.

"FBI Special Agent Showalter, and my partner there is FBI Special Agent Short," the woman said. She approached cautiously showing that she had a gun on her hip and the badge remained out until she reached the truck and it remained open for a few seconds longer before closing the wallet and tucking inside her jacket. "This area is cordoned off following a crime, care to tell me what you folks are doing up here?" Agent Showalter has shoulder length brown hair and brown eyes. She's attractive enough to be one of those folks who play agents on TV. Agent Short, on the other hand, has an oxymoron for a name and looks to be a bit tougher. He's slightly on the unattractive side and he is moving to the rear of the truck pointing to the license plate.

Brice's friendly smile was genuine as he nearly beamed at the female FBI agent.  "Sgt. Brice Jennings, Baltimore County PD.  That would be Maryland, by the way.  This here is Jahck and back here we have Justin and Yolanda, recent friends of ours.  I'm off duty, ma'm, out of jurisdiction in any case, but mighty glad to meet you.  Senator Benjamin Cardin asked me to come and see what I could find out, sort of a personal favor, if you catch my meaning.  So, that's why we're here.  I was thinking that the local investigators might have missed something.

Just to be sure I know where things stand, has the FBI taken over this case?  And if so, who is the Special Agent In Charge?"

"Even an officer out of jurisdiction will carry identification, so I may want to check that information if you don't mind. Also an officer of the law would know better than to disturb the scene of a crime, personal favor or not. I am the Special Agent in Charge of this investigation. The documentation should have been faxed to the local authorities. I thought perhaps you might have been one pulling up." Showalter comes a little closer and looks at Justin and Yolanda in the back and nods and smiles friendly enough.

"I'm going to run the plates," Agent Short says walking up beside the passenger door, looking at Brice, and continuing on around the vehicle.

Pulling out his wallet he showed her his badge and handed her his identification.  "Disturb an active crime scene?  Never!  Any active crime scene would be secured or sealed.  So I had hoped to speak with whatever detective or officer was here and gain permission to poke around.  But all I see is you two, which tells me that either this is no longer an active crime scene or you have relieved the local authorities."  He smiles as he adds: "Or killed them and disposed of their bodies.  But, let me guess...there were no law enforcement officers here when you arrived, am I right?  And I'm willing to bet they did not place an evidence seal on the door and windows either."  

He motions to his cell.  "If you are who you say you are, we may have some new information for you.  But let me just confirm for myself, if you don't mind."  He looked through his contact list for the cell number of Special Agent Karen Grant from the FBI branch on Lord Baltimore Rd. in Baltimore County.  He had worked with her on a couple of cases before and hoped she could help here.  And since it was Saturday afternoon he was surprised to find she was actually at her office.  The conversation was brief since the information was scarce.  Karen found Showalter and Short in the database of active agents but the only information available was their names.  Their assignments and personal information, including photos were classified beyond her pay grade.  She would call back if she found anything else, or if she was even allowed to do so at all.

His next call was to Captain Donaldson, his precinct commander.  The phone rang until Brice thought it would go to voice mail when he picked up.  Brice briefly explained the situation and confirmed that Donaldson had received his last text message.  It turned out it was this very information that Donaldson was working on when he called.  When he pressed the end button Agent Showalter was handing back his police ID card.  It was a few years old and the photo was not terribly flattering.

"So, it looks like I have some mixed messages here.  The FBI are formally on the case and you and your partner exist, at least your names correspond with agents.  My Captain said he was going to contact the senator to keep him updated and to let him know the FBI are finally at the scene here at the caverns.  So, how do I check out?  Have I disappeared from the databases yet?"  

He was in good spirits.  There were mysteries and secrets here, and he loved mysteries and secrets.  He truly did not know anything about FBI protocol or what information should have been available to Karen.  But he was experienced enough to make some good educated guesses about both.  He just had to be patient.

"I sure hate to but in to what surely must be an interesting 'lets all find out who everyone else is' conversation but I run that little broke down business behind you and if it isn't a crime sceen I need to start securing what is left and account for all my merchandise." Jahck said as politely as possible. "All respect for the departed but I am pretty sure the guy murdered was dead when he got here so there shouldn't be much to investigate that would need more than a fingerprinting kit. But hey I'm no expert or nothin' like that." Jahck's accent started kicking in revealing how uncomfortable the 'men in black' made him feel. It wasn't the fact that they wore black it was the fact that people tended to disappear when they showed up. And four people with special powers were just those kind of people.

Showalter looked from Jahck to Jennings, "Disappeared from the databases, Sergeant? You've been watching to many movies. Though you are right. There were no officers here when we arrived. I was waiting and hoping. My partner felt sure that someone would show up, and here you are. Let's go inside, I predict some weather."

Jahck's muscles started to tense when she said this and indeed he felt that there was going to be some weather moving in, mostly fog and rain but it was going to be cold. No snow. Short came back beside Showalter and shined a flashlight across each of them. "They checked out, Local kids, Maryland police, and the local who cares for this Travel and Tourism hidden destination." He hands Showalter an slimbook computer and she is tapping the screen as she walks towards the entrance and the yellow tape. Looking over he shoulder she asks, "You coming? Just don't touch anything right away."

Brice got out of the car and referred to his cell phone for a moment as he did so.   "If that computer has a secured link, I have a tag for you.  Justin here caught sight of our suspects at a bakery this morning.  They even commented that they were from New York like they wanted to be noticed or something.  But they certainly fit the description."  He gave the tag, make, model and color as he had copied them from down from what Justin told him earlier.

He was putting his cell away as they got to the door.  "Jahck said that the woman used the toilet.  Her prints have to be in the bathroom.  And the door was busted open as well.  Possibly shoe prints on the door?  I had hoped for a mobile FBI lab or something to be here.  I guess my expectations were a bit inflated."

He carried his briefcase with his own laptop inside.  He was glad he had a spare flash drive so that he could hand over the contents of his virtual case file in .pdf format.  But he would get to that later.

Inside the shop things had not been touched. It looked fairly organized and Showalter's cellphone rang. She stepped off to the side patting Short on the shoulder. Agent Short looked at Jahck and Brice and the Kids before disappearing into the bathroom. "I think I want to go home," Yolanda said. "Do you think I'd be able to go home?" She picked up a keychain and examined it briefly before putting it back on the stand she got it from.

Showalter appears quickly after Short goes into the restroom. "Sergeant Jennings, you shouldn't be disappointed by anything the FBI has to offer. Where were you all before you got here and Why did you choose here?" Agent Showalter was holding up her phone while a video played over its tiny screen. The image was shaky at best but the sounds were unmistakable. It was the sounds that had accompanied them earlier at the mall.

You're Not Alone
Concerned that any comment he made would cause a delay in getting Yolanda home Justin shrugged noncommittally. this was all his fault why did he have to be at the mall, he shouldn't have asked her to meet him there. Botherations ... how was going to... to do anything with all this happening. now they were caught on video in the mall the feds are involved... He shouldn't have got out of bed this morning

Brice never considered saying anything less that the entire, honest truth.  "We came from the Mall, my rental car is still parked near the entrance to Sears.  And we came here for a look at the crime scene, or at least I did anyway, with Jahck's help that is.  He is the key witness to what went on here and I just had a couple of questions for him."

"I understand if you want to leave out details." Showalter said as the sounds of voices, Jahck's and Brice's voice came over the cell phone.  "I'd probably be leery too if federal agents showed up when all sorts of weirdness was happening.  We're not the bad guys.  This video, playing right now, almost made it to youtube.  And just like we have super hackers working for us, on our side to do this kind of thing.  We need people on our side to take care of the kinds of problems that you present.  This video is tiny and hard to make out.  I'm not sure what I'm seeing here and what each of you have to do with this, but you need to know.  You're not alone."

Showalter clicks the phone closed and takes off her jacket.  She's wearing a sleeveless shirt and she stoops to the floor and holds out a hand fingers spread wide palm down.  In the dirt and dust of the floor small pools of water begin to form and her arms begin to glow like sunlight playing across water.  The pools of water flow in tiny rivulets towards Justin, Brice, and Jahck.

"Yumpin Yimminies... did you see that Yolanda" Justin exclaimed "That's some show Miss.. um Special Agent Showalter." normally he would have taken the effect as a neat trick Professional Magicians would use but seeing how things were as they are now he definitely wouldn't. "So SA Showalter does the agency protect your family and loved ones..." he asked glancing at Yolanda

Brice was unusually speechless.  He looked from person to person, his legs weak.  He thought of sitting but he had not asked Jahck if any of the suspects used the few chairs in the room.  The thought he had in the car earlier had come crashing back.  Of the six people here, at least four had some unusual power.  He could hardly imagine what the distribution of 'supers' might be among the population, but this was just too....improbable.  He had no idea what her reaction was going to be, but this was not it.  He opened and closed his mouth, something on the tip of his tongue.  But Justin's question was actually really important.  Their situation had some serious implications and this was one of them.

"There's not a special program. This is something that has to be done the old fashioned way. We need to keep special individuals such as yourselves out of the limelight and under wraps. How the world will react to this news is as of yet determined. We have an idea, but it's better to lay low. The world is getting smaller in light of technology and so it's important to now have events like this," she held up the cell phone. "You can try to move you families to move isolated areas, but there are crazy people out there believe me, we have the files to prove it. Take the current case around us, the death right here in these caves. This place is certainly hard to find, and if it weren't for the internet we might never have found it. Or wouldn't have if is also weren't for certain special abilities." Agent Showalter puts her coat back on and adjusts the cuffs.

Having regained his composure, Brice sighed heavily.  'One thing at a time.' he told himself.  "Well, I can certainly agree that laying low and trying to stay out of the limelight is definitely the best course.  And I think we need to talk about how we can work together and how to avoid such situations like the mall incident in the future.  But let's focus on the matter at hand, shall we?  And that's the murder of a man in New York whose body was disposed of here.  And," he took a short look at Jahck "I think we can be completely candid with each other about the details."

Justin stared with incredulity at the agents Their offer was nothing but cold comfort on a winters day, 'Work with us but don't expect anything but advice when it comes to your relatives.' Typical government give me your taxes then go jump. He needed to get Yolanda home and tell his family what was happening. But how "So SA Showalter are you finished with us for the moment" he prompted.

"Wait a second. Your telling me that the government, with all it's super secret special toys and people, has no clue why we can do this?" Jahck says a little angry as he touches his ring and slams his fist on the counter. "Or what 'just happened' to make us this way? They have no clue why I will never be able to go rock climbing without turning into a piece of granite or why I will never be able to wear a stone bead necklace ever again? But you do manage to find your way to our little town and tell us 'well shucks guys we are real darn sorry about this but your on your own'." Jahck embellished a little but knew his point was being made clearly. "Next you will be telling us you need our help doing something deadly and if we don't come along nicely your going to throw us into a hole in god knows where." Jahck had never really liked the thought of 'men in black' and now that they were in his store, snooping about, and waiving special powers around like it was normal he just couldn't handle it.

"Whatever garbage is being spewed at you on TV about the government and what they may or may not be hiding from you, remember that we are people too. No one knows about what is going on with these powers. A special division of the FBI has been set up to use these abilities, if possible, to solve crimes. I'm not here to drag you off and lock you up, but someone might try. I'm certain there are people out there who are looking to exploit their fellow man as much as possible. I'm sure they do so even now. And once it really becomes known that there are people in this world that can do things only dreamed of in Hollywood movies and in comic books, their minds will be turning. Those are the people you'll need to worry the most about. You want some help then, hey, maybe I can help, but we're trying to understand this kind of thing, just as much as everyone else. The only thing I know is that it all started happening this year." Agent Showalter runs her fingers through her hair and looks around.

"Yeah, kid, for the moment. I'd tell you two to wait in the car but it's probably safer up in here. Agent Short can take you home, if you like. Of course I'll need a little professional assistance here. Sergent Jennings take any detective tests lately?"

Justin guided Yolanda to the car and saw to it that she was comfortable. All the while mulling over what he had just heard. "I'll be right back honey" he informed giving her a hug before returning to the agents.

As Justin led Yolanda away Brice spoke to agent Showalter.  "Before agent Short takes them home, you might want to get a written statement from Justin about what he saw at a bakery this morning.  Specifically the suspects from this case, the description of their car and tag number.  I think he has a photo of their car on his phone.  And, no, I have never taken a detective test or even interviewed for the job.  However I have recently been studying for the position of Homicide Detective if that means anything.  I am currently a patrol shift supervisor."  But he stopped talking when Justin returned and spoke to the FBI agent.

"SA Showalter, what you say about the FBI is true moreso about others who would try to exploit. They would do and use anything for this purpose. What would you do if someone like that came after your friends or family. What would the FBI do to protect them..."

Brice had a sick feeling in his stomach suddenly.  "No, no, no"  he mumbled to himself.  Aloud he added:  "I suppose the best way to protect our families is to hide our identities.  Its the least expensive anyway."  He was sooo not going to be wearing colored tights, booties, and a cape. 

"I'd do my best to hide. Maybe keep running. Maybe find a shelter where others could protect me. The section of the FBI in which I now belong is working towards safehouses, but like I said. This is still very new. We have only the imagination of people that came before, who never imagined their strange universes might someday be a reality. Part of my training was watching the TV show heroes, but I wouldn't recommend it. It might scare the wits out of you." Showalter offered a smile.

Brice blinked at that.  'She has got to be kidding'  he thought to himself.  'the imagination of people that came before?'  she had said. 'Drawing from fiction...Just great!'  But he took a deep breath and said "Sounds like you need all the help you can get.  Count me in."

He then turned to Justin and Jahck to see what they had to say about the matter.  If they were concerned of rumors that such people were vanishing, this is probably why.  The FBI or other agencies, for good or ill, were probably helping those with actual powers vanish from the media and go into hiding in some way.  But he was not the person to point this out to them.

As interesting as all this super-power stuff was, it was distracting attention away from the murder case.  But he was not the 'Agent in Charge'.  He was sure she would get them on track eventually, when this matter was settled with all of them.  

His greatest concern in that regard was for Jahck.  His outburst was unsettling.  His expectations were not being met and that probably put him off, but Brice had not expected the anger.  Justin seemed to be looking for a safe harbor against the coming storm and Showalter's mention of 'Safe Houses' would probably put him at ease.  He would have to wait and see.

"I think I can handle myself right here in my town. Thanks, but no thanks." Jahck said as he started walking towards the door. "Can you let me know when my store will be released? Time ia money." He finished as he walked out the door.

"Concealing ourselves and our families is of course one of the best solutions. Would the agency help our families with this. I can arrange for you to talk with Mum and the Yebetycans about this." he volunteered

Brice to WV Editorals
Justin to WV Nightly News
Jahck to WV Weather Report