The Thirteenth (27 page)

“This isn’t enough, Jason, it’s not coming apart,” Val said. The couple looked at her, the panic on their faces growing. She did her best to smile back.

“Try harder. You need to shake the whole thing apart,” Jason replied tensely.

“I’m going to make it a little rougher, guys,” Val shouted back to the men.

Now Val pushed all her energy into her hands. The whole cart began to shake, slowly at first but as Val built up momentum, it became more violent. The woman was crying, but Val couldn’t stop. At last the cart started to come apart. Nut and bolts, and rivets rained down on the spectators below, who starting yelling angrily.

“Nearly there. Hold on.” Val warned, seeing that the cart was on the point of total disintegration. “Be ready to drag them up.” Val was beginning to feel faint from focusing her energy for such a long period of time. How much longer could she keep this up?

When she was on the point of exhaustion, there was a large bang and the cart started to fall. There were more screams from the crowd below and Val found herself and the couple hanging over the edge, held in mid-air by the two men.

Val let her arms hang loose as she took a breath. She could feel herself fading out of consciousness, but she knew she still had to touch the couple. As they all hung precariously above the onlookers, Val reached for the woman’s hand, which sparked. Then she turned to the man and tried to grab his hand. She couldn’t quite reach him. Looking up again, she noticed that one of the men who was holding them was smirking at her. “Damn!” Val thought as he let her go and pulled in the woman. Val slipped. The other man was also grinning in Val’s direction, and she knew her time was up. Two people to help; it added up that there were going to be two villains.

There was no way she was going to get out of this one. She was hanging mid-air and there had been no second blue spark. Then the second man released her waist and she began to fall. As she tumbled past him, the man who had been trapped in the cart just managed to grab her hand. She felt the second spark and, once again, started to fall.

Val landed violently on the hard tiles of the toilet floor. She opened her eyes to be greeted by Delta’s familiar smile.

“Hello Alien.”

“Hello Yankee. Miss me?” Val let her body relax for a second. “I’m lying on the floor of a public toilet, aren’t I?” Val said feeling completely grossed out.

“Yup,” Delta laughed.

“Uggggh!! OK, let’s get out of here.” Val stood up, then realised that Fran was keeping people out of the toilets by holding the door shut with her foot. “Oh! Hi.” Val said lamely. “It’s OK. She knows everything.” Delta walked past Val and tapped Fran on the arm. “She’s one of us now.”

Fran’s expression told a thousand words. She had just seen Val reappear through an electric rip in time and land on a toilet floor in front of her.

Val forced a smile. “Welcome on board.” Fran pulled her foot away from the door and a woman burst in. She looked at the girls, tutted and then disappeared into a cubicle.

“Are you OK?” Fran asked Val as they walked.

“If I’m honest, I could do with a rest.” Val’s shoulders slouched.

“Delta told me that they know where you are and that you can communicate with Jason.”

Val nodded. She hadn’t thought about how this would make Fran feel. The truth was Jason hadn’t told Fran about any of this and that must hurt.

“Fran, I’m sorry that Jason hasn’t told you about me. He was sworn to secrecy.” Val felt uncomfortable.

Fran grabbed Val’s hand. “It’s OK, Val,” she said warmly.

“Thank you.” Val knew it was going to be impossible to dislike Fran.

“Right, let’s go.” Delta waved the girls towards the lift.

“What time is it?” Val realised she needed to get back to work before she did anything else.

“One-thirty,” Fran replied.

“Great, I’m late.” Val pushed both girls into the opening lift.

They travelled back to the shop in silence. Val was aware that this was a lot for anyone to understand and she couldn’t think of anything to say to make it easier; it just was what it was.

“Shall we come with you?” Fran asked from the car as they pulled up.

“No, I just need a little time on my own, but I promise if anything happens I’ll call you, OK?” Val smiled.

The girls agreed to meet Val at Shane’s when she had closed. When she opened up, she was greeted by a phone ringing. Making her way behind the counter she found her mobile phone buzzing away, her mum’s name flashing on the front.

“Hi Mum,” Val chirped, thinking it was lucky that she had got there just in time to answer the phone.

“Don’t you dare ‘
hi Mum’
me, Valerie Sheridan Saunders,” Susan hissed. “What’s wrong?” Val was worried. Her mum never called her by her full name unless she was in serious trouble.

“Where have you been for the past few hours?” Susan yelled between sobs and shouting.

“At work,” Val replied.

“Don’t you lie to me!” Val could hear her mum’s voice cracking. “Your father is going to collect you as soon as he can get there. Don’t you dare leave the building. Do you understand me?” Susan shouted.

“Mum, please tell me what’s wrong?” Val was close to tears. She couldn’t remember a time in her life when she had heard her mum so mad.

“I’m watching you on TV. Valerie. Girl falls from rollercoaster and disappears. So now do you want to tell me why my daughter, and I know it was you, is being filmed falling off a rollercoaster in God-forsaken Skegness?”

Val could hear her mum sobbing on the other end of the phone. She couldn’t lie any longer. Val knew there would be repercussions to this but how could she hide the truth from her own mother?

“You’re right, it was me. We need to talk.” Val knew this wasn’t going to be easy but it had to be done. “Mum, I’m closing the shop now and heading home. I will explain everything, I promise.” Val’s throat had tightened up and she didn’t feel that she could say another word.

“You had better have a good explanation,” Susan said. Then, after a short pause she asked, in a softer tone, “Are you OK? Did you get hurt? It looked painful. What was that shaking thing you were doing? How did you get to Skegness and back so quickly? Is it my fault?”

“No Mum, this isn’t your fault. There is so much to tell you. I’m fine, a little tired and I could do with some food.” Val knew this would soften the blow. “So I’ll see you in about forty-five minutes, OK?”

“Alright Val. I love you.” Susan was crying again.

“And I love you too, Mum, to the stars.” Val closed her phone and stood in silence, trying to imagine what it was going to be like explaining everything to her parents.

She locked the shop. She didn’t care about books today, and she definitely didn’t care about what Mr Gallymore might say. She grabbed her things, but as she left the shop, she decided she needed to see Shane before she went home, just to explain that she might never see the light of day again.

As she arrived at the tattoo parlour, she was greeted by Delta’s mini and Jason’s bike. She took a deep breath and headed in. There was no sign of the girls and Shane was just taking some money from a client. Val gave him a feeble wave and went to rest on one of the waiting area chairs. Shane ushered the large and hairy customer towards the door and locked up behind him.

“Well, you are definitely news today.” Shane walked over to Val who had her head down. “Come on, I have someone I want you to meet.” Shane grabbed her hand and pulled her up.

“I can’t stop long. I have to get home to my mum. They know what they saw on TV so I have to tell them the truth.” Val sighed thinking how odd it was that Shane wanted her to meet someone at a time like this. Well, she would be a rat in a lab as soon as someone outside her family recognised her, so what difference would one more person make?

Shane walked in first and Val was greeted enthusiastically by Delta and Fran, who grabbed her, one on each side, giggling like little girls.

“You guys, I’m not really in the mood for fun. I have to go home and explain everything to my parents,” Val told them.

“They will be fine, and you’re not leaving until you meet our new friend.” Delta pulled Val along, grinning disturbingly from ear to ear. “How could they be so oblivious to my situation?” Val thought, walking into the gym where Jason was waiting with a serious expression on his face.

“I know you want me to meet someone, so can we just get on with it,” Val said wearily. “I really need to go home.” “I just wanted to know how you are. Are you OK?” Jason seemed taken aback by Val’s attitude.

“Forget about moody boy and come over here.” Delta pulled Val towards the laptop. Val didn’t spot the head until she was nearly on top of it and the stranger stood up. Val felt her breath catch in her chest.

“Hello Val. I’m Sam.” He held out his hand. She hadn’t pictured him this way. She had assumed that because he was Shane’s friend he would be old. He wasn’t old, and he was the most gorgeous man Val had ever seen. No wonder Delta and Fran were almost skipping. Val held her hand out towards him. He grabbed it, shaking it powerfully. Val just stared at him. He was Italian looking; with perfectly gelled spiky jet-black hair; his eyes looked completely black, if that was possible, and his lips said
kiss me now
. Sam smiled at Val as he gently let her hand go. Val’s arm slapped against her side bringing her back into reality.

“Well hello, I’m pleased to meet you,” Val said, still unable to get her breath out or in.

Jason sighed loudly and rolled his eyes. “Yes, this is Sam and you are Val. Now, let’s talk about what happened on the rollercoaster.” “Oh…Yes…OK,” Val got her head together and followed Jason back to the others, who were now drinking coffees and cokes at the table.

“So Val, do you like our new boy?” Delta winked at Fran and the pair dissolved into helpless giggles.

“I have to admit he is very nice.” Val said, flushing a deep, glowing red.

“OK, girls, we need to talk” Shane said. They all managed to calm down before Sam dragged his chair over and joined them.

“Right, Val’s face has been all over the news. We need to keep her safe until this dies down a little,” Sam said. Everyone nodded in agreement.

“I know you all have my best interests at heart, but I’m not so worried about the daylight episodes; it’s what happens to me in my dreams that concerns me. This thing is hurting me in a time and space I can’t control, and in a way the government wouldn’t even think of.” Val looked to the others for some reaction, but they all looked as blank as Val felt.

“Maybe this will help you.” Sam held out a bound manuscript to Val.

“What is it?” Val asked.

“It’s a translated copy of your book.” Sam also gave her the zodiac book. “I managed to make a program to translate the pages from Theban to English,” Sam said.

The girls all looked suitably impressed by Sam’s impressive skills, while Jason huffed into his coffee.

“Thank you. I really can’t thank you enough for everything you have done for me.” Val placed both books into her bag. Her pocket started to vibrate; Val pulled out her mobile “It’s a text from my dad; I really do need to go home. My mum and dad have seen the news too and they are worried sick. I’ve got some serious explaining to do. Can you take me Delta?”

Delta nodded her head.

“Can I talk to you again?” Sam asked.

“Will you still be here tomorrow?” Val responded, hoping he would say yes.

“Yes, I’ll stick around for a few days. I’ve got a new gadget for you too.”

Val felt her heart skip and then the buzz at the excitement of receiving more goodies.

“Right, see you here tomorrow then, if I haven’t been taken to area 51.” Val walked towards the door with Delta in tow.

“You have training tomorrow, Val,” Jason piped up, passing Val a cap. “Hide your face for now.”

“Thanks, and I’m sure I can do both,
mate.
“ Val waved back at Jason. As she walked away, she felt a slight feeling of satisfaction.

Delta did what Val expected and got her home faster than the bus, actually probably faster than an F-16 jet. She made her way towards her front door ready for a strained evening.

Susan opened the door before Val could get her fingers on the knob. “Get in now.” Susan looked up and down the street.

“Mum, there is no one out here.” Val rolled her eyes taking off her cap.

“Not yet.” Susan grabbed Val by the arm and led her into the lounge where her dad was sitting in his chair nursing a whisky and looking rather pale. “Hi Dad.” Val sat where Susan positioned her.

“Hello honey. You OK?” Mike broke his trance-like stare to make eye contact with his daughter.

“The truth,” demanded Susan, “that’s what I want. Are you taking drugs or mixing with the wrong sort of people or what? How the hell did you get to Skegness and how did you disappear? Was it a TV stunt?” Susan took a breath and Val knew it was now or never.

“Mum, please let me speak, it will make all of this quicker and easier for all of us.”

Susan grabbed her drink, glared at Val, then said, “Go on then, but the truth, Val. Make sure it’s the truth.”

“It all started a few weeks ago. I had these strange dreams and then, on the day before my birthday…” Val proceeded to tell them everything: the shop the book and even the tattoo. She didn’t hide a thing and it felt liberating. It took almost an hour to explain. Nonetheless, Susan and Mike listened in silence until Val had finished.

“Show me your arm.” Susan said. Val showed her mum the three symbols left on her arm.

“Why you, and why now?” Mike chipped in as Susan tried with her tea towel and a little spit to rub the tattoo off.

“Dad, I don’t know. I can’t tell you anything more than I already have.”

“Why didn’t you trust us enough to tell us before now?” Mike asked.

“Why did you go to a stranger?” Susan pitched in.

After all she had told them, Val realised they seemed more upset that she hadn’t felt she could speak to them from the start.

“Because I wanted to keep you safe,” Val answered.

“That’s not your job, Val. It’s our job, as your parents, to keep you safe,” Susan said and Val knew she was right.