Whisper (Whisper #1)(57)
His declaration doesn’t surprise me, but it still leaves me feeling hollow.
“That’s stupid,” Cami argues. “Why do you have to be there for her to come?”
“You know why.” His glance at the others reminds Cami not to mention — but also not to forget — my Creator ability. Yet again I am reminded that, friendship or no, they would consider me a monster if they knew the truth.
Cami doesn’t back down. “You told me yourself, she’s developing control way faster than you anticipated —”
This is news to me.
“— but even if she wasn’t, she doesn’t even talk unless she’s down here. She knows it’s not worth the risk. Right, Jane? If we take you out with the kids, you’ll be a walking mute?”
I nod quickly, even if I’m not thrilled about the way she describes me.
“We’re all gonna be there, Lando,” Enzo says.
His tone is encouraging, enough for me to wonder if he’s infusing a slight amount of Speaking power into his words.
“Nothing will happen that we can’t handle,” Enzo adds. “She’ll be safe with us.”
“It’s not her I’m worried about,” Ward mutters, too low for anyone but me to hear.
“Cuff me if you want,” I tell him, even though I hate the idea of being bound after not having seen the metallic restraints since I was officially accepted into the Exodus Project. “Gag me, too, if it’ll make you feel better. And if I so much as sneeze wrongly, have Crew on standby to take me down.”
Ward looks so repulsed that something inside me loosens.
“Seriously, Lando,” Enzo says. “She’ll be fine with us.”
Soft waves of light tell me he’s definitely using his Speaking ability now.
Ward sighs and rubs his temples, fending off Enzo’s words. “Give us a minute,” he says, and leads me to the other side of the room. When we’re far enough away to not be overheard, he quietly asks, “How confident are you that if something like Market Street happens again, you’ll be able to handle the cleanup without me?”
I’m shocked that he’s asking me, shocked that he’s willing to consider my opinion, shocked that he seems he might trust me. I know I have to give him the whole truth.
“I’m not sure. I want to say I’ll be fine, but honestly, I don’t know.”
He looks into my eyes for a long moment and then nods. “That’s good enough for me. You can go, but please try to keep your mouth shut unless it’s absolutely necessary. You’re still new to this, remember.”
“Wait — I can go?” When he nods again, I have to ask, “Why?”
“Because you’re not confident,” he says. “That means you’ll be extra careful. If you were overconfident of your control, you’d be more likely to test it out. And I don’t want you testing it anywhere if I’m not around. Let’s not forget the fire-water-ice disaster, yeah?”
I look forward to the day we can move past using that as a reminder.
When we walk back and share the news with the others, they respond with an embarrassing amount of enthusiasm. I feel like a kid being allowed out for a sleepover for the first time.
“Don’t worry, Ward. We’ll look after her,” Sneak promises quietly, slightly more visible now.
Ward looks at the younger boy and his expression softens. “Sorry, buddy, but you can’t go with them. You know that.”
Sneak’s face falls.
“What’s the harm in the kid coming?” Crew asks, smoothing his red Mohawk. “It’s not like anyone will see him, especially if he turns his ghost-o-meter up to full.”
“Even invisible, he could still bump someone in the crowd,” Ward points out. “And with Abby, Ethan and Isaac there, he wouldn’t be able to communicate with any of you. Can you imagine the kind of chaos that could come from someone hearing a disembodied voice?”
I recently learned that while Falon’s kids will one day embrace their own Speaking abilities, they’re not yet old enough to fully understand what happens at Lengard. Other than the actual initiated recruits, no one aside from the military higher-ups and the gray-uniformed, non-Speaker guards who once manhandled me through the corridors knows the truth about us and our under-underground training area. That’s why Esther is a medic on-site, even though Cami can heal people with just a word. Visiting militia and other nonessential personnel have to be treated without the slightest hint of the supernatural.
“But, Ward —”
“I’m sorry, Sneak,” Ward interrupts, his tone unwavering. “But there’s something I need you to do for me while they’re gone. It’s really important, and you’d be doing me a huge favor.”
Downcast, Sneak shuffles his feet and fails to make eye contact, but he still answers, “Sure.”
“Good man.” Ward claps him on his semivisible shoulder. “We’ll talk while the others get ready to leave.”
“You have to let us into the topside elevator, Lando,” Enzo says. “Neither Cam’s clearance nor mine will allow us out this late.”
I glance at them both, then at the others, my eyes questioning.
“We’re the untrustworthy nobodies,” Keeda informs me, blowing another gum bubble. “Cam and Enz can leave during the day, but the rest of us aren’t allowed to go anywhere without a Genesis babysitter.”