Page 68 of Come Fill Me

“Then you accept my promise,” Zeke said.

The man’s broad shoulders slumped.

Zeke knew how he felt but pretended to have it all together. “I know this is a difficult time. However, I give you my word, I won’t let anyone down. Don’t either of you do that to me. Someone’s guarding the entrance, correct?”

Both men nodded.

“Where’s Jacob?” Zeke asked. He hadn’t seen his brother since they’d argued in the hall with Kele hearing them. That was hours ago. Thankfully, Jacob hadn’t tried to return to his bedroom and Liz.

“The last I saw him, he was outside with the children,” Aaron said then made a face. “He kept looking around like he was expecting someone to sucker punch him.”

Kele, no doubt. Jacob must have heeded Zeke’s earlier advice and spoken with her. “Have either of you seen Kele?”

“I haven’t since breakfast,” Aaron offered. “You?” he asked Ike.

The man’s face flushed.

His reaction reminded Zeke of when they were boys and Ike had been sweet on one of the girls in their class. It also brought back the time their fourth-grade teacher had caught Ike cheating on a test.

“Have you been with Kele today?” Zeke asked.

Ike looked offended. “Excuse me?”

“Have you talked with her?” he amended. Maybe Kele had gone to Ike for comfort after Jacob had told her the score.

“Only to make a date for tonight,” he said.

Aaron blurted, “You and Kele? Together?”

No shit. That was exactly what Zeke was thinking. Kele couldn’t have moved on that quickly. It didn’t make sense.

“Yeah, her and me,” Ike growled at Aaron. “You got a problem with that?”

“Hey, man, don’t get pissed at me. I thought she was tight with Jacob.”

Zeke left them arguing in the hall. Once he delivered the snacks to Liz, he’d locate Kele and find out what she was up to. Something wasn’t right. He sensed it.

Could feel it.

The vision came without warning as they always did, stopping him outside the door to Jacob’s room.

Noises receded beneath a steady hiss. Colors faded next, the gleaming wood walls turning gray then white.

It was as though he’d floated up to the ceiling and was looking down on himself. His body faced the closed door—at least where it’d been before fading away—however, his attention remained to the left. It was nothing but blinding light.

The hiss increased.

Zeke watched his hands flying up, the bags of food hitting the sides of his face as he covered his ears. The absence of color made the white unbearable. He saw himself turning his face away, not wanting to look, afraid to know.

He hated his gift. It brought him nothing but pain.

This time was no different.

He was no longer outside himself, looking down. Instead, he was deep into his mind. Within it, images flashed super-fast, reminiscent of hyper music videos aimed at teens. He saw the tunnel’s entrance, the first of several vehicles approaching it, tires stirring up dust. Next, a woman’s hand filled his thoughts.

Liz?

No. Couldn’t be. A man’s hand held the woman’s, pressing her palm to the control panel outside. Zeke stared, trying to seefaces, but his vision wouldn’t allow it, taking away the images in a flash of white, replaced by a deep-red color.

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