Gildersleeve - False Alarm

Copyright 2015 Greg Gildersleeve

Cover art by amygdaladesign.net

ISBN-13:

978-1499591170

ISBN-10:

1499591179

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, by any means whatsoever, except for front cover art and a brief excerpt of the text for review purposes, without the express written consent of the author.

This work is fictional. Any resemblance to real persons living or dead is either coincidental or the product of some as yet undiscovered power.

First edition: July 2015

Thanks again to the Monday Night Writers Group for their encouragement, accountability, and friendship, especially Lorna Dempster, Rachel Ellyn, Kara Hoffmann, Kenneth Hursh, Kristin McTiernan, Susan Grace Napier, Dave Whitaker, and Dennis Young. They are the true power club.

Also by Greg Gildersleeve:

The Power Club

ISBN-13: 978-1480218796

ISBN-10: 1480218790

The tiny spider inched its way across the bathroom sink, up the faucet, down the faucet. It circled the drain twice before stopping in its tracks.

Denise placed her hand in front of the spider. Dont be afraid, she whispered. I wont hurt you. She could feel its tiny legs on her palm, like little mechanical arms, even though the spider hadnt touched her yet.

Who are you talking to? came a voice from outside the open bathroom door. Ooh, sick!

A gust of wind circled past Denise, blowing her hair into her face.

SLAM!

When she looked for the spider again, all she saw was an ugly black mark on the porcelain counter.

VEE! she shouted. How could you?

The gust of wind halted in the doorway and slowed down, transforming into a brown-haired boy with a wide grin. It was just a spider! I saved you from getting bitten.

It wasnt going to bite me, Denise said, angry.

How do you know? Vee challenged her.

Denise rolled her eyes. She just knew. But there was no sense in explaining it to him. She strolled past him and headed for the kitchen.

Vee, not one to let matters drop, followed. How come youre not scared of spiders like normal girls?

Denise spun around and faced him. I am normal. Im not a freak like you! As soon as he said it, she regretted it.

Hey! Dont call me a freak! Vee shouted, his feelings clearly hurt. Its not my fault I can do this. He blurred and raced to the other side of the house and back in a split second. The huge grin on his face told Denise he wasnt really upset about being able to run super-fast.

Its your fault we have to live in the district, Denise shot back. If it wasnt for you, wed be living in a much bigger house, like we used to before you got your power.

Denise, what was the other house like? Vee asked, wide-eyed.

I told you before, she said. She couldnt believe he had forgotten the huge house overlooking the bluffs. They even had a maid and many rooms, including a kitchen with stainless steel countertops. The kitchen of their current house was modest by comparison: It was half the size, and Vee couldnt run around in it without knocking things over. The white stove and white refrigerator seemed old-fashioned, but it was the biggest house the district had available when they moved in.

They couldnt take the maid with themonly immediate family members were allowedand, since Denises mom and dad both worked, there was no one to take her shopping for new clothes on a regular basis. Denise fit right in with the other kids at her school by wearing jeans and a pullover, but she missed the new skirts and dresses she used to be able to get.

Vee followed her into the kitchen, where bowls and silverware had been set out for them by their mother before she left for work. Vee plopped himself down in a seat at the table, as if he were a tornado trying to contain itself. Denise pulled out a box of cereal out of the pantry.

She didnt really mind waiting on Vee. Their parents had to be at work early, so it was left up to Denise to make sure Vee got up and got around in time to run to schoolless than two blocks awaya run he could make in a few seconds. As a result, Vee tended to dawdle until it was almost too late.

Denise didnt have the luxury of dawdling. She had to be ready for the bus to pick her up at 6:15 sharp. But at least she got to leave the district for several hours each day and see other parts of the city.

She understood why the government wanted kids with powers to live in a place where they were safe and to live normal lives. And it wasnt Vees fault that he had a power. No one knew who would develop a power and when they would develop one. But Denise felt her own life had been turned upside down because normal involved the parents and brothers and sisters having to live in the district, as well.

She sat the box of cereal on the table and watched as Vee grabbed it and poured its contents into his bowl and all over the table. She rolled her eyes. This was also why her mother asked her to look after Veehe was not only lazy but sloppy!

Stop! Youre making a mess, she scolded him.

Vee ignored her as he picked up his spoon. Wheres the milk?

Denise let out a deep sigh as she turned and stomped toward the refrigerator. She opened it, and as she reached for the plastic jug of milk, she couldnt feel the cool air of the refrigerator nor the cold of the jug as she touched it. She felt as if her arm were at her side, and she heard her brothers voice as plain as if he were standing right in front of her.

No, you cant go to Kyles house after school, she replied. You have to come home and do chores.

She pulled the jug of milk from the refrigerator and turned to face her brother. He looked a puzzled look as he shoved a spoonful of dry cereal in his mouth. He hadnt said a word.

Howd you know what I was going to ask? he said through a mouth full of cereal.

Denise held the jug until her fingers turned numb. She didnt know the answer.

So, you just guessed what he was going to say, said Sheila Torvald, who sat next to Denise on the bus. Sheila was rail-thin and fragile, but she was Denises best friend, and Denise told her about the strange experience as soon as the bus came.

But it was so weird, Denise said quietly, hoping no one else would hear her. It was like I heard him say it before he was going to say it. And he asked me how I knew the spider wasnt going to bite me. I just knew.

Billy Underwood, who sat in front of Denise, raised up and turned around. Sounds to me like youre getting a power! he said with one eyebrow cocked, like a detective fingering a suspect.

I am not! Denise said. She should have known better than to say something with Billy so close by. If anybody on the bus had a power, it was probably him with his large ears.

The bus stopped at the district checkpoint as it did every day before going into the city. The doors hissed open to admit a lone police officer who would check to see if any powered kids were trying to stow away. Denise strained from her seat in the middle of the bus to see if it was the officer she hoped it would be, and it was.

Look, Denise! Sheila announced. Its Officer Hernandez, the one you have a crush on.

I do not! Denise responded, and then allowed herself a guilty smile, something she would permit only Sheila to see.

Hey, Denise! Youd better hide, whispered Billy from over his shoulder.

Why? Denise asked, expecting him to make some retort about her having a crush on the handsome officer.

Instead, Billy said, cause if youre getting a power, hell yank you off the bus and put you in jail!

Before Denise could respond, Billy whipped around and faced forward just as Officer Hernandez approached his row. The officer stared intently at each child.

Do you think its true what they say, Sheila whispered, that he has a power that detects other powers?