See How She Runs (The Chronicles of Izzy #1)(57)
Molly released my mind as I reeled. So, yea, there were more big bad guys out there. Fantastic. Could I deal with the first one on my list before another one took his place? I looked down at my half eaten cardboard, I mean pizza, and realized I could not wait to gain any more information. I had only been here for a few hours and I already knew, without a doubt, that something bad was coming.
We finished eating, talking about small things. I asked her how her life was growing up under the Corporation and she said miserable. Not that I had guessed it would be much fun. But she told me all of the small things she had done, little rebellious acts that they had never caught on to. She would only go so far and then stop. She made it so they would trust her to leave the compound, but she only gave them part of the information she garnered from visions or psychic links.
She also told me that she and several other Seers had been genetically mapped and given something to induce their visions earlier. It wasn’t one hundred percent effective, so the Corporation still had to wait for the Seers to reach twenty five. They were not completely reliable until then.
We headed back toward the rooms and I stopped outside of my door.
“Um, Molly, I have a weird request. It is a total invasion, and I will understand if you say no," I said, anxiously awaiting her response.
“Well, spit it out. Don’t tiptoe around whatever it is you need to ask. Just ask it," she said.
“Would you let me sift your memories? Just to see if there is anything you might have picked up on that you have forgotten. Or any sort of information that might help us figure out who on the Council is batting for team evil?" I finished nervously.
“Sure, I have nothing to hide. Like I said, life under the Corporation is boring and stressful. Plus, I have like zero personal things that have not already been looked through by one of the Guardians. So browse away. Just try not to fall asleep from boredom," she said, and she came into my room and sat down on my bed.
I sat next to her and grabbed her hand. I cleared my mind and I started turning back her memories like pages in a book. Each time I did this it got easier and easier. I looked through all of the years she had lived here and watched as more and more Seers were brought in until it abruptly stopped with my mother. She was the last Seer to be brought here. I wondered if she somehow protected the others.
I watched all of the little things Molly did to get under the Corporation’s skin and I watched as her mother admonished her for her rebellion. All of her life played out before me. I gathered very little useful information. But in the end, I knew that I had gained a friend. When I came to the memory of Molly first seeing me, I felt her relief at the sight of me.
I broke contact with her, bringing myself back to the present. I looked at her and said a quick thank you. I always felt guilty about poking around in people’s heads.
“Oh stop it, you shouldn’t feel guilty about something you were born to do," Molly said.
She really seemed to be an advocate of the ‘drink some water and suck it up’ campaign. No fluffy placations from her.
“Alright, fine. Listen, I am going to try and spring us. I am pretty sure my plan will fail miserably, because I don’t have that great of a track record so far. But, if you hear a ruckus, know it is time to bounce? Got it?" I asked, hoping that she would not hesitate to run if the time came.
“Well, let’s just hope this one works out better than the last. With you blocking all of us, we can’t see what will happen around you. So, whatever the plan is, don’t mess it up," she said before getting up to leave.
I hugged her tightly and she sort of stood there in shock for a moment before awkwardly returning my hug.
“Thank you for helping me, Molly. In all seriousness, I thought I was on my own in here. Granted, with my luck, you will just go and turn me in when you leave here," I laughed awkwardly, really hoping she was not a turncoat. I had dealt with enough of those to last a lifetime.
“Nah. I am tired of playing at rebellion. I want the real thing," Molly said while wagging her eyebrows.
“Well, I hope that I can make all of your dreams come true," I smiled as she left.
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I spent the next few days with Molly. She introduced me to the other Seers. They all seemed more hesitant to form a friendship with me, and I could not really blame them. Xavier had basically told everyone to watch me. I felt like a bug under a microscope. Anytime I tried to sift through someone’s memories, I would almost get caught. I was blocked at every turn. Unable to get any information, I was starting to get frustrated.
I was dragged to countless meetings with scholars. All of which had promised Xavier they would be able to hack into my wards. So far, none of them had had any luck. I could tell that Xavier was becoming increasingly more agitated with me as the days passed, and I knew that if I was going to survive I needed to act soon. With the lack of information and his rage, waiting was not worth it anymore.
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TWENTY FOUR
That night when I lay down to sleep, I lifted the ward from my dreaming. I knew it was risky, and I knew there was a very real chance I would be caught. I had to find Kennan though. As soon as I closed my eyes he was there.
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