Chapter Two: Connections:

Look up if you can hear me.

I lifted my head, looking around. “Who said that?” I whispered. Everyone else was sound asleep in the back of the van. My eyes shifted around.

Can you hear me?

Was I going crazy? “Who is talking to me?”

Can anyone hear me?

Yes. Now who are you?

Look over to your left.

I turned my head and found myself in for a shock. A girl closed to my age sat on the opposite of van in prison scrubs. She kept her eyes down as her handcuffed hands. What’s a girl doing on a van to an all-male prison?

Are you…

Yes.

But how are you talking to me in my head?

I was born with this ability, I guess.

You guess?

Yes.

So… what are you in for?

Excuse me?

What are you going to prison for?

The girl held her hands together and began trembling. I didn’t do anything!

I made an odd face. Are you kidding me?

No.

Oh come on. You must have done something really bad in order to end up in this van.

I’m innocent.

Stop jerking me around.

I’m not!

Then why are you here?

She sat back and silently sighed. They think I killed somebody.

I tilted my head. And you didn’t do it?

No.

And… why should I believe you?

They are scared of me.

What? Why?

They want to lock me away because of my powers.

Because you are talking to me like this?

I can do more. I wish I could show you but… She held up her shackled hands.

I frowned as I tried to see where this was going. Okay… So framed you because they think you are a monster with your powers. Why are you telling me this?

I need your help to escape.

I about fell back where I sat. What?!

If I end up in prison, they will kidnap my baby brother and use him for experiments!

Already, I’m having a hard time believing any of this. Okay, she could talk to me through my mind or telepathically as those people on the TVs in the electric stores would say. Nobody goes to prison for no reason. She must have done something really bad if she here in the van. Maybe she was a mass murderer and used her powers as the weapon. Maybe she was a skilled thief with her gifts.

I’m not a thief or a murderer.

I whipped my head around. You heard all of that?

I can hear thoughts.

Okay, this is weird. Anyway, why me?

You’re the only one who responded to me in here. My powers are getting weaker shackled like this.

I looked around at all of the soon-to-be convicts. Everyone else was sound asleep.  I could barely hear her voice in my head as it was. My eyes shifted back to the female convict. Who are you?

Sayuri. We don’t have much time.

Why is that?

In about an hour, this van will be in a crash. We can escape then.

I tilted my head, puzzled. What? Are you serious?

Yes.

How do you know this?

I foresaw this before I reached out to you.

I sat back, snorting. Right…

I know you don’t believe me. Please wait and you will see.

Uh-huh. I listened outside as the van drove along the road. Everything sounded just fine with the van. This was a sturdy vehicle. I doubted it would fall about at random. Sayuri seemed so sure that we would get into an accident. I didn.t believe her, but I decided that I would humor this girl. I fell asleep while I waited.

I awoke to a loud crash about an hour later. I lifted my head, looking around. The van ended up on its side with the doors wide open. People were screaming and crawling out. Some of the prisoners were running in opposite directions. The guards who were still alive and conscious ran after them. Before I could ask what happened, someone grabbed me by my cuffed wrists and dragged me out.

“What the hell?!” I asked. My cuffs fell away with the click of one key. I looked up and saw Sayuri looking down at me.

We don’t have time! Let’s go!

“Huh?” I asked. She and I took off running in the woods. I only got one look behind us and figuring out what exactly happened. The prison van must have swerved to miss something, probably a large animal, and hit a tree. Now, smoke floated from the hood while one remaining guard tried to call for help. My jaw dropped. Sayuri was right? How did she…? Who was this girl? I turned my head as I ran with Sayuri.

“How did you know?” I asked. Sayuri glanced over her shoulder, smiling.

I told you. I foresaw this coming.