“I won’t do another mission for the CIA.” Kevin says to Anish. “I want to leave this place.”
Anish nods. “I get that.”
“You were right. It didn’t take them long to take advantage of my ability to violate people’s rights. And that’s not as bad as accidentally killing people, but it’s not great either. I really think it’s time to leave. And I want to take the mind reader with me.”
Anish is surprised at the sudden change in Kevin’s attitude toward the work he was doing. “You want to take the mind reader?”
“I have to. We can’t leave her here to be used the way that she is. And you know that I’m right.”
Anish knows that he is right. She had planned to resign her position with CIA, not help two of their assets escape. She didn’t even know how she could help with that.
“I don’t know how you plan to escape a spy agency, and I don’t know how I can help you.”
“You forget,” Kevin says with a smile, “I’m the magician. I just need you to keep the colonel occupied.”
“Well, I was planning to resign. I have a meeting with him in a couple hours.”
“That will have to work.” Kevin says. “Do you know where they keep the mind reader?”
“Not exactly but I imagine she’s in one the restricted rooms towards the back of the facility, but there’s a lot of security back there,” Anish warns. “Like lethal security, they have guns.”
“I guess we’ll find out how good they are at their jobs.” Kevin says. “I’m gonna see what I can find out, let me know when you’re going to your meeting.”
The Alia is a woman named Alia. The ‘The’ was added for the sake of drama, or because the manifestation of her mind reading ability is the standard by which others are compared to determine if they have the same neurological configurations that allows for the abilities. She is held in the secure back rooms of the facility and the only member of the staff allowed in to see her is Dr. Eakran, who has been at the facility for much of the year. He is with Alia as Kevin talks to Anish.
“I would think that after all of this time, you would have warmed up to me.” Eakran says. He sits in a chair making notes next to Alia who is strapped to a bed.
“I do what you ask me. What more do you want?” Alia asks.
“We could be friends.”
Alia smiles. “I can’t be friends with someone who lies to me.”
“You won’t let go of that alien thing will you?” Eakran says smiling and showing his teeth.
“The truth, you mean. I won’t let go of the truth, no.”
“Even if I am, I’ve proven myself trustworthy right?”
Alia shrugs. “It won’t matter for much longer anyway.”
“And why is that?”
“Because I won’t be here much longer.”
Eakran laughs. “Where are you going, if I may ask.”
“You may not.” Alia says.
Kevin has no problem finding the rooms of the facility that are increased security. Armed guards pace the hallway in front and Kevin knows that he can take care of them easily. When Anish let’s him know that she is going to her meeting with the colonel, Kevin readies himself to find the mind reader. Anish had been more sentimental in her goodbye than Kevin expected, but they were friends and he would miss her. They hugged and he thanked her for her friendship.
The facility is full of surveillance cameras, so Kevin knows that he must work fast, and he does. He starts by imagining all of the armed security guards bound and gagged and then he imagines a battering ram that he uses to break down the doors. When he spots Alia on the other side of one, he is surprised to see the alien that he had encountered before.
“It’s you!” Eakran says with delight. “I’ve been here for months, I wondered when we’d get to see each other.”
Kevin throws the battering ram at Eakran and it knocks him across the room.
“Are you the mind reader?” He asks Alia.
“Quick, undo the restraints. We have to get out here.” She says.
Kevin frees Alia and as he breaks down a wall to the outside of the facility, he hears Eakran behind him.
“There is nowhere that you can go that we can’t find you.”
When they are outside, Kevin imagines a car that the two drive as far and fast away from the facility as they can manage.
The facility after Kevin and Alia’s departure is a buzz of activity. The colonel is so mad that his face his beet red. He detains Anish, sure that she knows where Kevin has fled to.
“Where are they agent?” The colonel asks soberly.
“I really have no idea sir. If I did I might have gone with them.”
There is a knock at the door and the colonel steps out.
“Doctor, glad you’re well after everything.” The colonel says to Eakran who appears to be in good spirits despite the ordeal.
“I’m a durable man. I’m going to go back to GA in light of the breakout. Colonel, I can’t stress this enough, you will find my Alia and you will return her to me. I will wait for your call.”
The colonel looks scared as Eakran exits.
Kevin and Alia drive until they find another car that Kevin hotwires. When they are on the road again, they talk to one another for the first time.
“Where should I take you?” Kevin asks.
“Home. Our home. To North Carolina.” Alia says.
“How do you know…well, you are a mind reader I guess.”
“I’m more than that. And so are you.” Alia says. “We’ve got a lot of important things to do.” She touches his hand on the steering wheel and Kevin looks at her briefly. “I apologize for the future we may have together.” A single tear falls down her cheek.
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