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Chapter Three

Walter held his hand up to hail a cab.

“Oh, I have a car,” Melina said, pointing back toward the store. “I can drive us somewhere. Or, wait. Can’t you just teleport us?”

Walter walked over to the cab and opened the back door. “It’s part of your learning process.”

Melina’s eyes narrowed.

“Adelia may have said that the effects of the powers were more important, but you need to learn how to use the powers properly to survive the effects.” He motioned to the back seat of the cab.

Melina hesitated but quickly told herself to stop. She needed to come to grips with the reality of her situation. It was happening to her whether she liked it or not, and going along with Walter and listening to him was the only way for her to have any sort of chance. She let out a heavy breath and then slid into the back seat with Walter following close behind. He closed the door and then asked the cabdriver to take them to the art museum downtown.

“The art museum? What’s—”

“Shh.” Walter shushed her and then leaned over and whispered, “Listen.” He raised his hand and tapped his head with his finger.

Melina nodded slowly. It wasn’t long before she heard the low whispering sound in her mind again. She closed her eyes and tried to focus on the cabdriver’s thoughts, but once she actually started to hear his voice, it was all broken up like a bad cell phone connection. She started to get frustrated. Why couldn’t she hear what he was thinking? She heard Tessa’s thoughts clear as day. She opened her eyes and threw her head back while letting out a heavy sigh.

“Relax,” Walter whispered to her. “You want to focus on him, but not that intensely. Just let it happen. Try again.”

Melina gave him a small nod and then turned back to look at the driver. She tried to focus again, tried to hear his thoughts clearly, but they were still a jumbled mess. Frustrated, she closed her eyes, thinking it might help.
Why can’t I hear him? He’s just one person, and he’s right here in front of me. Are his thoughts that complex? Does he…

And then she heard it. The cabdriver’s voice rang clearly in her mind.

Nobody gives good tips anymore. They’ll probably give me a dollar a piece. Being laid off sucks. I’ve got to find something better. Laura and Timmy deserve better. I’m not sure how much longer we can make it.

Melina opened her eyes and looked over at Walter. He gave her an encouraging smile. She opened her mouth to say something when she felt the cab stop and heard the driver say, “Here we are.”

The meter on the dash read ten dollars even. She pulled her wallet out from her purse and flipped through it. There were a couple of ones, a five, a ten, and a twenty-dollar bill. She stared at the cash for a few seconds and then plucked the ten and twenty out and handed both bills to the driver. “Keep the change,” she said as she smiled at him.

“Thank you,” the driver said as he stared down at the money.

Melina nodded and then shoved her wallet back into her purse as she exited the cab. She shut the door and looked up to see Walter smiling at her.

“That was nice of you,” he said.

“It was the least I could do,” Melina said in a proud voice. “It felt nice to help him.”

“Yes, even small gestures help.”

Melina’s smile faded. “A small gesture? But I gave him a twenty dollar tip.”

“I’m not saying that your gesture wasn’t generous,” Walter said as he began to climb the steps to the museum’s entrance. “I’m trying to get you to think like a guiding angel. Yes, you helped him out with his financial struggles, but that’s not his main problem.”

Melina didn’t say anything as she followed him up the stairs. She simply looked at him, confused.

Walter continued. “The main thing that he’s struggling with is losing his job and having to take a cab-driving gig to get by.”

“But I heard his thoughts clearly. He was complaining about not having enough money.”

“Yes, and do you think he’ll be able to obtain a better job, one that will pay him anything close to the salary of his previous job, when he’s angry all the time? No matter how much he tries to hide it, his bitterness will show through in an interview. No, what he needs to improve his financial situation is help in changing his attitude and outlook. That’s what the majority of our charges need help with.”

“Of course,” Melina uttered as she shook her head. Changing people’s attitudes and outlooks. The answer was so obvious.
I’m going to fail.

“No you’re not,” Walter piped up. “You just need more practice. Shall we?” He opened the front door to the museum and ushered her inside.

Melina didn’t come here often, but now she regretted the decision. The paintings that lined the walls were beautiful and intriguing, but the place itself was spectacular. Majestic stone pillars flanked each room, and the black-and-white marble floors were as sleek as glass. She stood in awe of the place until she was interrupted by the sound of Walter’s voice behind her.

“It’s breathtaking, isn’t it?”

“Oh yes,” Melina replied as she turned back to him.

“Unfortunately, though, I didn’t bring you here to enjoy the view. The museum is perfect to hone your mind-reading skills. You’ve mastered it with one person, but now we’re going to try it out with various numbers of people. That way you can try blocking out people’s thoughts as well. Some exhibits will be crowded, and some will only have a handful of people around them. Let’s start with the less-crowded and work our way up.” He gestured over to his right where two elderly couples were admiring a landscape painting.

“Okay.” Melina nodded as she followed him over toward the couples.

“It will also help to strengthen your visions.”

Melina paused for a moment. The visions. How could she have forgotten about them? She let out a low groan as she rubbed her left wrist. The one vision she did have was awful enough. She didn’t want to think about how they’d be once she had strengthened them.

As they approached the couples, the murmuring started up again in Melina’s mind. The voices eventually turned into loud chatter, but it was difficult to make out what any of them were thinking since she was hearing all four of them at once. She closed her eyes, trying to focus, when Walter leaned over and whispered in her ear.

“It’s impossible to make out what they’re all thinking at once. We can’t even do that.”

Melina opened her eyes and turned to look at Walter.

“You need to learn to tune the others out and try to focus on one at a time. It shouldn’t be too difficult with only four of them. Once you’ve figured it out, tell me which one is the most troubled.”

Melina turned back to the couples and started with the man who was closest to her. What seemed to work before with the cabdriver was thinking about him. Maybe thinking about what the old man looked like would help even more to single out his thoughts from the others. She began to list off details of his appearance in her mind.
Average height, thin build, gray hair combed over to the side, mustache, hazel eyes…

The other voices slowly started to fade into a low background like sound as the man’s thoughts were amplified. Her eyes narrowed as she took a step closer.

I wonder who the artist is? Where are my reading glasses?

The man started to pat around on his jacket. Melina moved on to the woman next to him, presumably his wife.
Short and plump, curly white hair, dark brown eyes…

It happened the same way as before, with the woman’s thoughts slowly projecting over all the others.

I have no idea what to make for dinner tonight. Maybe George will want to go to bingo with me. Then we can eat there.

Melina smiled a little and then turned her gaze on the second couple. She started with the man again.
Tall, very skinny, wispy white hair, pale skin, light blue eyes…

Again, it took a little while for her to tune out the other three, but she eventually honed in on what the man was thinking.

Maybe it was my fault that he left. I only wanted what was best for him. I didn’t want to push him away. I’ve got to call him and make it right. He’s my son for goodness' sake.

Melina frowned and hesitantly moved on to the woman, again probably his wife.
Very tall for a woman, slender build, brownish-gray hair that comes down to her chin, blue eyes…

The first couple’s thoughts began to fade away, but for some reason it was difficult for her to ignore the second man’s thoughts. She started to rattle off more descriptions of the woman.
Dark red sweater, black slacks, long black coat, red nail polish…

The man’s voice wouldn’t completely fade, but she was able to hear the woman’s thoughts a bit clearer now.

It’s been over a month now since they’ve talked. I thought coming here with Olivia and George would give us a distraction, but… Oh, I miss my James. Rick needs to reach out to him and fix everything. As the father, he needs to be the bigger man and apologize.

Melina’s forehead creased as she continued to frown.

“What is it?” Walter whispered. “Have you figured it out?”

She slowly turned toward him, still looking a bit sad and confused. “It’s both of them.”

“Very good.”

“Is that why I had a hard time shutting out her husband’s thoughts when I was trying to hear hers?”

Walter nodded.

“How do you determine which one needs more help?”

“You don’t,” said Walter. “They both need equal amounts of help.”

“You have to help more than one person at a time?” Melina asked.

“We usually just have one person that needs us, but it happens from time to time. Especially in family situations.”

Melina looked back to the couple, pondering what Walter had said, when the other man standing closest to her started backing toward her. A short gasp escaped her as she tried to step back as well, but she wasn’t quick enough. She closed her eyes as the man bumped into her, waiting for it to happen… but it didn’t.

“Oh, pardon me,” said the man as he turned to look at Melina.

“Excuse me,” she replied. She smiled briefly and then turned to walk away.

“What was that about?” asked Walter as he followed her.

Melina didn’t answer immediately. She was glad she hadn't had another vision, but yet she was confused as to why she hadn't. “I was a little scared that when the man touched me, I would have another vision.”

“They don’t happen every time you come into contact with someone,” Walter said as he caught up with her. “But why are you scared of having a vision?”

She stopped in a deserted corner and then turned to look at Walter. “The one I had earlier today was so real and emotional and… painful.”

“Ah yes,” Walter said. “When we experience visions, we feel everything that the person in the vision is feeling. I’m sorry your first vision was such a painful one, but I can teach you how to lessen that pain. I can tell the vision really bothered you, that it still bothers you. Why don’t you explain it to me.”

Melina lowered her gaze to the ground as she began to speak. “I bumped into a man when I was leaving the coffee shop this morning, and the vision just sprung into my head. He was standing in front of a sink, crying, and then suddenly he grabbed a knife and plunged it into his left wrist. It was a very deep cut. I could tell not just by looking at it, but I could actually feel the pain in my own wrist.” She reached down and clutched at her wrist again.

“It was excruciating at first, but it eventually faded away. I was so scared that I didn’t even say anything to the man before I ran out.” She looked up at Walter with panicked eyes. “I should’ve tried to help him. What if…”

“Melina, I’m sure he already has one of us helping him, especially if he’s that bad. You were scared and confused. Your reaction was perfectly normal.” He walked up to her and placed his hand on her wrist.

Shaking her head, she lowered her face into her hand as she pulled her other arm into her body. She didn't think she could do this. Walter said that the man at the coffee shop probably already had an angel helping him, but she still should’ve done something. Even if she was scared and confused. She kept her hand over her face as she softly started to cry.

After a minute or so, she stopped crying and wiped the tears from her cheeks. She turned around to look at Walter and noticed he was now standing a few feet away with his back turned to her. He was trying to give her some space, which she appreciated, but space from him wasn’t what she needed right now. She needed space from everything else. Without saying anything, she turned back to the front of the building and made a beeline for the exit.

Chapter Four

“Melina, wait!” Walter yelled.

Melina didn’t stop but turned her head briefly to see Walter rushing out the museum door, trying to catch up to her.

“Melina,” he said as he caught her at the bottom of the steps. “Where are you going?”

“Someplace where I can be alone, where it’s quiet.” She turned to her right and walked briskly down the sidewalk.

Walter hurried after her.

She didn’t know where she was going, but she wasn’t going to stop until she found a place where she could be away from everyone. Well, except Walter. She really didn’t want to be away from him. Other people in her shoes might be angry at him and blame him, but she didn’t feel that way. He hadn't given the powers to her. She'd absorbed them from him. It would’ve happened sooner or later, and he was here to help her.

Melina walked another couple of blocks and found herself across the street from the park. There were plenty of people there, but she knew a spot where no one would be. She checked for traffic and then jogged across the street. Upon entering the park, the walking path split in three directions. She slowed her pace and took the path to the left.

A few minutes later she found her spot — a lone park bench, old, weathered, and hidden behind a patch of spruce trees. As she walked closer, though, she saw that it wasn’t vacant. There sat a young man who didn’t appear to be much older than her, with his elbows on his legs and his chin resting in his cupped hands.