Page 3 of Hidden Monsters

Sitting at the luncheon now, Orly happily ignored Russell on stage and turned her attention to the stranger’s voice in her head.

Fuck. The word sailed into her mind abruptly, laced with fear, desperation, and a hint of determination. Okay, God. Shit, I can’t remember the last time I did this. But if you can hear me, now would be a good time to help a fella out.

Orly understood why they always talked to God. After all, it wasn’t like any of them knew who she was. She was no one really. Just a woman who heard strangers’ cries for help in her mind. She fidgeted with a corner of the cloth napkin draped over her lap but kept her gaze on the stage.

Even with her sunglasses on, Russell would know if she took her eyes off him, and he’d made it clear on several occasions that when he was talking, her eyes were to be on him and only him. She wasn’t allowed to check her phone, talk to someone else at her table, or even put a piece of food in her mouth. He’d said it was because he wanted her complete attention, but she knew it was all for show. He just wanted all his colleagues to think he had her full support because he was making some controversial proposals, and they’d all taken a liking to her since he’d started bringing her around after they got engaged. Russell hoped if they saw she approved, they’d be more likely to agree as well.

Fuck. I’m never getting out of here alive.The stranger’s thoughts came through again. Harsher, yet softer, like he was growing frustrated with his own weakness and inability to help himself.

Orly felt bad for him. She had no idea who this guy was, but if she was hearing his pleas, he was in serious trouble. She focused in on him, pushing her own thoughts into his mind. Hey, It’s okay. I can help you. Where are you?

The man stilled. Confusion and anger filled his mind. He started questioning his sanity, but Orly ignored his thoughts for the moment, simply relieved she’d managed to connect with him without drawing any attention to herself. Now to convince him she was real and not a figment of his imagination. I promise you, I am real. Talk to me, she urged. I want to help you.

Russell was still talking and getting a few laughs from the people around her. She smiled as though she too found whatever he’d said amusing, despite not hearing a single word. Orly pressed deeper into the stranger’s mind, having no idea what she was immersing herself into when she connected with someone like this. It was a risk, but she braved it every time because helping people wasn’t just important to her. It was who she was.To connect with another person telepathically though, she had to open her mind to them. And that meant she wouldn’t just hear their thoughts. She would see what they saw, and feel what they felt. She had to be careful and keep the connection one way. Otherwise, the other person could pick up on her thoughts and what she felt. That was the last thing she wanted.

To Orly’s surprise, the stranger’s thoughts turned hostile. Not at her, but at himself. What the fuck? I’m hearing voices now? As if this shit wasn’t bad enough, now I’ve gone insane.

Orly rushed to comfort him. No, it’s okay. I told you, I am real. We can talk like this, telepathically. I can help you. She’d done this enough times to know when she was losing someone. This guy was two seconds away from shutting down. That would make it ten times harder for her to get him to open up again.

She nodded at Russell as he gestured with his hands while speaking, giving him the impression she was in full agreement with his proposal. He’d recited it to her at least half a dozen times in the last week, but she didn’t care one iota about anything he was saying and hadn’t actually paid enough attention when he’d rehearsed his speech to even know what it was really about. It wasn’t that she didn’t care about or support the police - she did. But if Russell said anything she didn’t like or disagreed with, he’d pick up on that and it would start a fight, which usually led to him hitting her. It was why Orly did her best to appease him these days, reminding herself that she just had to be patient a little bit longer. But even being on her best behavior often wasn’t enough to keep the peace.

The stranger’s thoughts continued to permeate the outskirts of her mind, even though he wasn’t actually saying anything useful. He didn’t believe in psychics…superpowers were for comic book heroes….he was losing his mind…this wasn’t real…he’d been drugged…

Orly sighed, her patience waning. Stop. I am real, and I could be your only chance of getting out of the mess you’re in. Tell me where you are. She wasn’t normally a bossy person, but sometimes the only way to get someone in this situation to stop wasting time was to be assertive.

His breaths came out jagged and harsh. Beads of sweat covered his forehead, and for the first time, Orly felt the tightness of ropes binding his wrists and ankles. His whole body felt like one big bruise.

You’re tied up. I’m sorry. Tell me who you are. Who’s got you? Where are you? Keeping her own hands in her lap where Russell couldn’t see them, Orly rubbed at her wrists, trying to alleviate the pressure that was coming from the stranger’s bindings. This kind of discomfort she could handle, but if someone hit him, there was no way Orly could hide the feeling of being struck.

Some would call her ability a gift, but most days it felt like a curse. It had cost her many good foster homes, a few decent friendships, and now it had ruined the only real relationship she’d ever had with a man. Maybe Russell wasn’t such a good guy, but if it wasn’t for her ability, perhaps she’d never know what he’d done. They could’ve been happy together.

Instead, every time she looked at her fiancé now, all she thought about was that poor woman, begging for her life, and how he’d killed her.And she didn’t have to wonder what he saw every time he looked at her. Contempt. Disgust. The worst was disappointment. Even though he’d killed an innocent woman, Russell somehow managed to turn it all around and make her the bad guy in all this.

She pushed the sunglasses up the bridge of her nose, letting her finger gently brush over the concealed bruise. It didn’t hurt anymore, but she was very much aware of it. She’d long since given up getting her old Russell back, but this man he’d turned into -

The name's Harmon. Luke Harmon. His words came out on a huff like the man had resigned to answering her simply because he had nothing else to do. There was strength in his thoughts though, an intensity she wasn’t expecting from a man who’d been tied up for who knows how long.

Grateful for the distraction from her own thoughts and relieved he finally said something useful, she replied. Hi, Luke. Can you tell me where you are?

His thoughts turned to images of him being dragged. His blindfold had come loose just as a large burly man carried him inside somewhere. I’m in a warehouse. South Dallas, The one with the big red doors and the white graffiti on the west wall. Who are you? How can you do this?

She ignored his questions. Telling him anything about herself wasn’t in the cards. Where did they find you? How did they get you? After a moment of tentative silence, and feeling his hesitancy to share any more information with her, Orly pressed harder with her thoughts. I can’t help you if you’re not honest with me. Is this a case you’re working on? Are you with the Dallas Police? The more details she had, the more she could tell the tip line when she made her anonymous call.

At Luke’s nod, Orly drew in a shallow gasp while keeping a straight face. As awful as Russell was, she knew for a fact that most police officers were good and decent people just trying to do their jobs and enforce the laws. She hated the idea of anyone being held against their will, but a police officer was even worse. She was surrounded by at least a hundred officers right now and she knew most of them were kind people with spouses, kids, and pets. Luke probably had a family that was worried sick about him. Right there and then, Orly decided she would help him get back to the people he loved, no matter what.

Luke sighed heavily and the pain that licked up his side made Orly wince.She needed to get out of his head before Russell saw what she was doing, but she wouldn’t leave Luke without sending help first.

It was my day off. My informant, Ricky Bellario, asked to meet regarding The Vultures. It’s a gang here in Dallas. But he never showed. Then I had a sack thrown over my head and was knocked out. Woke up as they dragged me into this place almost three days ago but I was still too out of it to put up much of a fight.

Orly couldn’t imagine being in those conditions for three minutes let alone three days. I’ll reach out to the Dallas P.D. and tell them what you’ve told me. Hopefully that will be enough for them to find you.

Who are you? His question was sent with a determined calmness she hadn’t felt from him since he first slipped into her mind.

It doesn’t matter. I’ll do what I can to help you.Orly didn’t add that she would have to wait until Russell finished his speech. Luckily, he was delivering his final thoughts. As soon as he was done, everyone rose to applaud him. Orly stood and clapped with a huge smile, giving Russell the support he’d demanded of her. He smiled broadly and nodded his thanks to everyone before stepping away from the podium, only to be surrounded by his fellow officers.

Seizing her moment, Orly pulled out her cell phone and Googled the number for the Dallas Police Department tip line. Excusing herself from the table, she hurried to the restroom area where she’d spotted a rare relic earlier - a payphone. Hoping it was in working order, she pulled out some quarters she always carried in her purse for occasions just like this. At the sound of a dial tone, she inserted the change and made the call.

She relayed all the information Luke gave her but when the guy on the other end of the line didn’t sound like he believed her, she lied and told him she was one of the gang member’s girlfriends. Then hung up. It was all she could do.

---