ChapterSixteen
KEATON
I’m pulling on my pants just as I hear Elsy open the door.
“We need to talk,” Jade says as I’m coming out of the bedroom.
“Nice to meet you, Jade,” I call out. Elsy turns around, and she scowls at my bare chest.
“Could you not put a shirt on?”
I smirk as I walk up beside her and kiss the top of her head. “You’re wearing it, sweet girl.”
“Oh.”
“She’s right, you need to get dressed.” Jade doesn’t miss a beat as she comes in and starts talking.
“Why?” Elsy and I ask in unison.
“There’s a fire downtown at Lone Labs. I was on my way here to talk to Elsy about JM Tech and her work yesterday when I got the call. We need to go.”
“Oh no, Key,” Elsy says as she turns to me. “Is your dad there?”
“I don’t know, I haven’t gotten a call.” I scoop her in my arms and hurry to the bedroom faster than she could go.
I grab her some clothes and then pull mine on as I help her get dressed. It’s all a blur as I move at superhuman speed, but I can’t waste time. When I check my cell, I don’t see a missed call but I dial my dad’s number. The first time, it goes straight to voicemail, and I call my mom.
“Shit,” I say when the same thing happens, and I carry Elsy to the living room.
“Holy shit, did you just go into hyper speed or something?” Jade eyes the two of us as I put Elsy down.
“You two stay here. I’ll call you if there’s anything wrong.”
“What?” Elsy grabs my arm. “I’m coming with you.”
“No, it’s too dangerous.”
“I don’t have my phone!” She keeps a hold of me as I go to the door. “I won’t sit here and wait to see if something has happened to your family, or worse, if you get there and something happens to you.” I look into her eyes that are beginning to fill with tears. “Key, I just got you back. I won’t lose you again.”
“There’s no time for this,” Jade cuts in. “Let’s move.”
“All right,” I concede as I pull her against me and kiss her cheek. “Let’s go.”
Jade grabs a hold of my arm and then nods at the door. “Apparently you’re faster than Sonic the Hedgehog, and right now we don't have the time for you to explain why.”
“I knew I liked you,” Elsy says to Jade as she holds on to my other arm.
With one quick tensing of my muscles, I let the power that I always keep so carefully controlled break free. With a speed I’ve only tested a few times, I jet out of Elsy’s building and toward downtown. It all goes by in a blur, but they both hold on tightly as I come around the end of the block and stop.
“Whoa.” Elsy is dizzy, so I slide my arm around her waist and lift her off her feet.
Jade grabs her knees as she bends over and barfs on the sidewalk. “I’m okay,” she mumbles, holding out a thumbs-up in our direction. “I forgot to mention I get seasick.”
Up ahead, the building where I’ve lived for the last six years is ablaze, and I move toward it.
“Key!” Elsy grabs my arms so tightly her fingers dig into my skin. “Be careful.”
I nod as I hold her face with both hands. “I love you, don’t be scared. I’m coming right back to you.”