Angel's Demon

18. On the Move

18. On the Move

Four groups of three were going to head off into the unknown, in search of Helena. Where Helena was, Danizriel was likely to be.

I should be in the group that goes to America, Felicitia said.

Doug couldn’t miss the opportunity to have a little dig at her. What was it with girls and geography. North or South?

North, of course.

Mexico, the United States or Canada?

The United States, isn’t that what everyone calls America?

Sarah knew exactly what Doug was doing. She’d done the same thing to him often enough, when he was being ambiguous. Stop splitting hairs, Doug. This is serious business.

Fine, he sulked, but you need to tell them why we can’t be a part of this.

Choruses of What? appeared like firecrackers going off — lots of small, yet fierce explosions, all demanding your attention.

Sarah had argued with Doug about this for hours. If they weren’t needed they’d probably be dead by now, and if they didn’t help, chances are a lot more people would die. I told you that when we’re needed we’ll go, not that we won’t be a part of it.

You guys don’t want to be in the scouting parties? Andy asked. I thought the four musketeers would be the ones leading the pack.

Sarah sighed. Doug had deliberately put her in a difficult position. She’d have to tell them now. I’m pregnant.

There was silence. The others were too stunned to speak. Could they risk the life of an unborn child?

I was only thinking of Sarah and the baby, Doug explained. They mean everything to me.

Oh, wow, Felicitia said. I didn’t know.

Andy was the only one who knew we were dating. He kind of guessed, and we didn’t deny it, Sarah replied. I asked him to keep it to himself.

Two voices began speaking at the same time. We can’t keep secrets from each other, Alex said. Secrets lead to lies, and no good can come from lies, while Gesthimani said, This changes everything. We can’t ask Sarah to help. We’ll have to make do without her.

You’re right, Alex. I’m sorry, Sarah replied. You will need me … in the end.

Teresa knew that Sarah was right. There’s no point worrying about that now. We need to find Helena first.

Agreed, came the replies.

How about we find a website that can randomly pick names from a list? Rob said. Let fate decide who goes where.

Felicitia had already found a website and was typing in twenty-two names. I’ll do it, and live-stream it so that you can see the results.

Brooke was worried her name might come up. She may have had a passport — it turned out they all did — but she didn’t have money for airfares, accommodation or any of the other stuff that went with travelling. I can’t afford to go, she blurted out.

Me either.

I’m in the same boat.

Me too.

Felicitia felt like everything was falling apart. But what about when we find her? We’ll all need to travel to where she is eventually.

If money is the only issue, Dom said, don’t worry. I can cover it.

That’s very generous of you, Brooke replied, but I don’t know when I’d be able to pay you back.

Don’t worry about it … I have enough to go around.

Brooke’s curiosity was piqued, as was everyone else’s. There was still so much they didn’t know about each other. Are you rich? she asked.

Dom laughed. Depends what you call rich. I got into the tiny house business just as it started booming. I have thirty people on staff, mostly carpenters, and we build eight tiny houses a year. I also have a couple of tiny house communities. I purchased three large parcels of land, about eight years ago.

What about the third one? Brooke asked.

I’m saving that one. Not sure what for. It’ll come to me one day.

Felicitia removed the names of those who said they couldn’t afford to travel from the list.

What are you doing? Dom asked. I said I could cover it.

And you will, she reassured him. When we know where we’re needed. The first three are going to Canada, the next lot to the United States, then South America and lastly Africa.

I’m afraid of flying, Kyle said, rather sheepishly.

Aly felt sorry for Kyle. If they didn’t have to venture to another country, he wouldn’t have to worry about flying. We’re all afraid of something, she said, For me it’s spiders. You’ll have to get on a plane one day, even if your name isn’t picked today. Take a chill pill, that’ll help.

Kyle knew Aly was right. Besides, there was something even worse to be frightened of — whatever it was that they had to save Gina’s mother from.

Okay, if we’re ready now, I’ll start. Felicitia clicked the Pick one button …

Kyle, Jake and Gesthimani had discussed whether they should apply for a visa or ESTA. They decided on the latter, as they thought it would be quicker, and they were right. Within three days their applications were approved, and their flights booked — they were all on the same one — for the next day. Kyle and Gesthimani would board at Melbourne, Jake at Sydney. From there it was a fourteen-hour flight to Los Angeles.

A knock on Kyle’s bedroom door brought him back to the here and now. He was busy packing, as lightly as he could, and thinking about what they might possibly need if they were trekking halfway across the country.

“Come in.” He looked up and saw his mum standing in the doorway.

“Is there anything I can say or do to make you change your mind?” she asked.

“Nope.” He could see the concern in his mother’s eyes. “I know I’ve only been back a few weeks, but this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

“Can’t it wait? You’re young. You still have plenty of time to travel.”

“Everything’s booked and paid for. Besides, my friends would be disappointed if I didn’t go.”

“Friends? What friends?”

“No one you know, Mum. Gesthimani and —”

“Gesthimani,” she exclaimed, real fear in her eyes. She felt the blood drain from her face and whispered, “No, it can’t be … you can’t.”

Kyle tried to calm his mum down. He wished he had Gesthimani’s knack of being able to soothe people. “It’s no big deal, Mum. Guys and girls travel all the time. Jake’s coming along as well.”

“No …” his mum said, falling to the floor.

Kyle rushed over to her. He’d never seen his mum faint before. She was usually the rock of the family — while everyone else blubbered around her, she was solid, unmoving. He picked up her hand and tapped it gently. What else did you do when someone fainted? He didn’t have a clue.

“Mum, are you okay? Should I call an ambulance?”

The colour was beginning to return to his mum’s face. Her eyes fluttered open and closed again. Everything was spinning. A low moan escaped from her mouth.

“I’m calling an ambulance. I’ll be right back.”

“No, don’t,” his mum whispered. “It’s just shock, that’s all. Give me a few minutes. I’ll be okay.”

Kyle helped his mum up, and walked her over to his bed, where she sat down, next to the half-filled backpack.

“Why shock?”

Kyle’s mum took a deep breath. “It’s time I told you about what happened and why we did what we did.”

“What are you talking about, Mum? Did you hit your head?”

“Listen to me,” she said sharply, in that tone mothers use to let you know that you had better do as you’re told. “Your life may depend on it.

“You and the other children that Gina supposedly healed were celebrities here in Australia for a short time. Do you remember?”

He shook his head. Kyle could remember being in hospital, the other kids, Gina’s visit, going home, then more tests for a few years afterwards. If they had been celebrities, the memories were locked away, hidden, for whatever reason.

“Gina was murdered by some fanatical group. They said she was an abomination, the devil in disguise, or something like that. I can’t remember the exact words now. Lilly might. She was there.”

“Who’s Lilly?” Kyle asked.

“Andy’s mum. I take it you’ve kept in contact with Andy as well?”

“Actually, we only found Andy and some of the others more recently.”

“I knew I should have forbidden you from being friends with Matt. All of us, parents and children alike, were meant to sever ties. We even had injunctions taken out on websites that remotely identified who you are. Anything that tied you to Gina was taken down.”

Kyle thought it best to let his mum think that he and Matt had found the others, not that he’d been in contact with fourteen of them for years. “But why?”

“Because fanatics will stop at nothing to eradicate something they find to be heretical.”

“Heretical?”

“A female messiah, and all those who believed in her, or were touched by her.”

“Oh, that,” Kyle said. “Matt’s been watching the news and told me about the murders.”

“That’s why I don’t want you to go. It’s too dangerous.”

“It wouldn’t matter where I was, it would still be dangerous. Besides, you said anything about us had been removed from the media.”

She shook her head. “We couldn’t get rid of everything. There’ll still be print versions of magazines or newspaper articles floating around. We tried our hardest …”

“You guys, our parents, thought that we might be targets?”

“Yes,” she replied, crying softly. “The thought of possibly losing you again … it was too much to bear. Better to cut ties, pretend it never happened, and move on.”

“But it did happen, and now people are dying.” Kyle wondered how much he should tell his mum. “I … we’ll be okay. We made a promise to Gina and now it’s time to make good on it. I have to go.”

“I know you’re an adult, and I can’t stop you from going …”

Kyle hugged his mum, the woman who was his fiercest supporter, and always went the extra mile when he needed her help. If things went bad, it would be the last time he’d see her. “Mum, I love you. I don’t want you to worry about me. I’ll try and call, or email, every few days.”

She smiled between sobs. “The only two words I need to hear are I’m okay. Ten seconds a day is all it will take.”

“No guarantees, Mum. If I’m hiking in the wilderness I might not have reception, but I’ll try my best.”

“That’s all I’ve ever asked from you, Kyle.”

Felicitia was kicking herself for having live-streamed the results of the random draw — her name hadn’t been picked, and no one had been willing to switch places with her. She consoled herself by heading to the airport whenever one of the Victorians was due to fly out, issuing final instructions, warnings and finishing off with a fierce hug. Today she was saying her goodbyes to Kyle and Gesthimani.

I’ll be listening, even in my sleep, she told them, though deep down she knew that once she was dreaming she probably wouldn’t hear a thing. If you need me to contact anyone, or look something up, ask. I want to help as much as I can.

We’re the last lot to head out, Kyle replied. What a waste of time it’ll be if the others find Helena before we’ve even reached Los Angeles.

It doesn’t matter who finds her.

You’re right. I just hope it’s not Matt, Kyle smirked. He’ll never let me live it down.

You’ve got your connecting flights to Kansas sorted?

Yes, all booked, like we planned. We start in the middle and work our way out.

Felicitia nodded and gave each of them one final hug. I wish I was coming along with you.

Gesthimani hugged Felicitia back, and whispered in her ear, like silent people do, “Be calm. All will be well.”

Strangely enough, Felicitia was at peace. She smiled and gave a wave before heading back to her car. She would not stay and watch the flight leave, fretting and worrying that something might go wrong. She would trust in her friends.

Friends, she thought to herself. I’ve never really had friends before.

The little voice that was her own replied, What about Andy, Sarah and Doug?

They weren’t real friends, until we met. It’s like social media and having thousands of friends you don’t really know.

The little voice didn’t respond. Her subconscious must have agreed with her reasoning.

The pull had shifted again, and almost as quick, it disappeared.

Did you feel it change? It was northish, Gesthimani said, before we lost track of it.

Felicitia yawned. Sorry, most of us back home probably missed it. We were asleep. Where are you now?

Flying above Utah, I think, on our way to Kansas.

Teresa knew they needed different perspectives to try and get an accurate bearing. We’re in Winnipeg. It was south-west for us.

Felicitia stumbled out of bed and walked over to the world map that she’d pinned to one of the walls. She opened the box of flag push-pins she’d bought and sifted through them to pick out four red ones. The first she pinned in the middle of Utah, with the flag pointing almost due north.

Whereabouts in Canada is Winnipeg? Felicitia asked, between yawns.

Manitoba, Teresa replied. We’re heading north, towards Baker Lake.

Felicitia scanned the map until she found Manitoba and pushed a pin into one of the lakes. Close enough, she mumbled, as she pointed the flag south-west.

North-west, Andy said. Brasilia.

I know you’re in Brazil, but whereabouts?

Andy laughed. He could understand her frustration. It must have sounded like he’d put on an awful accent when he said Brasilia. Brasilia is the capital of Brazil. It should be on that map of yours.

Instead of thinking nasty thoughts, Felicitia mumbled under her breath and stuck the pin on the map somewhere in the middle of Brazil, angling the flag north-west.

Aly thought she’d make it easier for Felicitia by showing her exactly where to stick their pin. Show me a picture of the map, Felicitia. I’ll let you know where to put our pin.

With an image of Africa — the region Aly, Laura, and Matt had ended up going to — projected in their heads, Aly was able to spot their location in a matter of moments. If you go up a couple from the bottom, to the first bright pink one, that’s Zambia. See that red dot, right near the border, the one that says Lusaka? That’s us. North-west for us as well.

The others watched as Felicitia stuck the pin in, then stood back for an overall view of the map.

Wow, Teresa said, giving voice to what they were all thinking. Somewhere between us in Canada, and you guys in the States, that’s where she last was. Do we just wait until she surfaces again?

No, Felicitia said, Teresa, Alex and Alice, you need to stay in Canada. Head to the border of Saskatchewan and Alberta. Kyle, Gesthimani and Jake, when your flight lands, head back to Utah and whatever large enough town is under your current flight path. The rest of you, stay where you are. One person in each group needs to be awake at all times, ready to triangulate her movements when she surfaces. We’ll do the same here, not that I think we’re going to make any difference. I guess I’ll stay awake now. It doesn’t look like any of the others heard you. I’ll fill them in when they’re up.

Gesthimani was a mask of calm on the outside, but inside she was excited, just as she used to be when Santa had left presents under the tree on Christmas Eve. It’s on the move again.

Yeah, Aly replied. Same general area as last time, before it disappeared.

Back home, Brooke had volunteered to take the graveyard shift for the week — midnight to six. They’d agreed that four shifts would prevent burnout. No one knew if it would take days or weeks to find Helena. She would move insanely fast, then disappear for a day or two, before resurfacing again. Has the direction changed for anyone?

Nope, came the replies.

Then we head further north, Gesthimani said, unless anyone has a better idea.