Chapter One

“It’s just a normal day, only normal. I’m going to walk outside, and nothing will be wrong. No one’s in danger, just a normal day.”

At least, that’s what I told my reflection every morning. It never really worked that way, but it wasn’t wrong to hope right? I mean, it’s not like everything will go wrong in one day.

So, I get on with my morning, I brush my hair and my teeth, and wash my face. I’m already dressed, which I guess is odd for some people. Also, I don’t wear makeup, I mean really what’s the point? My mom always called it war paint, but why would I want to cover my face? I don’t look that bad I don’t think, a little average maybe. My dark brown eyes stare blankly back at me from the mirror. I quickly put my blue hair up in a ponytail, thinking I should really touch-up my roots. The brown-black hair taunting me with its length. Or maybe I should just change the color, I thought absently. It has been a while since I changed it last. I sigh, turning away from the mirror, knowing my reflection won’t follow me. It hasn’t since I was 11, and my mother left. No, it’s not haunted, it’s not magical either, for me it’s normal. 

Oh! Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself, that was rude. Hi! My name is Harley, and I guess I’m a freak? I’m not sure what you’d call it really, I’m gifted maybe? I don’t know, it’s just kind of normal to me now, I don’t really think about it. Anyway, I’m 16 and I live with my dad, though most people think I live alone. Don’t get me wrong I love him, but a man isn’t the best fit to raise a teenage girl. He never remarried after mom left, and in some ways, I wish he had. Do you know how awkward it is to have your father explain puberty? Or how mortifying it can be to call him from the girl’s bathroom because you finally got your first period in the middle of a store?

I’m not saying it was all bad though, don’t get me wrong. When I was younger, I used to go out and work with him in the garage. He taught me how to weld, wood working, and how to fix cars. I know, I’m a tomboy, but honestly, I think it was more I just wanted to spend time with him. He used to be in the army, and when he was home, he worked all day, and I wouldn’t get to see him if I didn’t go out there. Mom worked too, but she was home when we got back from school. Dad wouldn’t get home until dinner time. Now he still works all day, and it feels like I never see him anymore. I’ve become very independent these last few years, and today I start my first job. It’s not big, just a stockers position at the local store. But Dad told me if I got the job, he would get me a car. He did, but he was disappointed in the car I chose.

See he expected me to pick a newer car, something like a Mustang. What I picked was a banged up ‘77 Pontiac blue Firebird. Over the last few days, I fixed it up a bit, and it runs well, but the paint is chipped, and it needs a new gas gauge. Once I save enough money, I’m going to fix it up right, repaint it gold, and trade cars with him. It’s his favorite car, but he doesn’t have the time to fix it up anymore. So, I decided I’d get one and fix it for him, hopefully it will be done by his birthday. I go downstairs to get some breakfast, Dad left another note on the fridge. It’s always the same, but this time he added an extra line.

Got called into work again, I’ll see.

 you at dinner tonight.

Good luck on your first day.

Short I know, but at least he shows he cares, in his own rushed way. I sigh once again and grab a breakfast bar from the top of the fridge, and an energy drink from the top shelf, the breakfast of champions. I sit down at the island and look over the newspaper he left open. Three new girls went missing this week, disappeared from their homes in the middle of the night. I guess John’s at it again, I’m not surprised, he took a break for a while this year. The girls will show up again by Friday, and all three will have a tattoo on the back of their necks, just like last time. I keep telling him they will catch him one of these days, but he either ignores me or doesn’t care.

See John’s like me, gifted, he can summon you from anywhere as long as he knows what you look like. He won’t hurt you, but it’s rather terrifying when it happens. He likes to call it giving you a vacation from life, he will set you in a coma for one week, and let your mind create the perfect life and show you how to make it come true. He took me when I was 12 but was a little mad at first when his gift didn’t work on me. But in the end, we found out our gifts don’t work on other gifted people. The tattoo is a side effect of the transportation, and it’s always the same symbol, an hourglass inside the circle of a snake eating its tail. He said if you ever get to your perfect life it will disappear, but so far only two people have achieved it.

I looked at the clock on the stove, and realized I need to get going before I’m late for my first day. I slip my old boots on, Steele toe of course, grab my bag, and my keys off the hook. I give Ella, our golden retriever, a scratch behind the ear as I walk out the door. As always, I stop for a second on the front porch and take a deep breath. “Nothing is going to go wrong today,” I tell myself before walking down the steps and getting into my car.

I pull into a parking spot at the back of the lot, the spaces reserved for employees. I turned off my car, and once again took a deep breath before grabbing my bag and getting out. Locking the doors, I head inside to find Elizabeth, the training manager. I get my uniform vest, and all my employee information and clock in to my first day. She has me sit at the computer and log into the online safety courses. Looks like my first day will be spent in the office.

“Alright so just try to get through the tests and videos today before you leave. I’ll come and get you for your breaks and your lunch. Good luck and welcome to our family,” Elizabeth says with a smile. So, it’s one of those stores, the ones who call themselves a big Happy family. I used to make fun of those, now look at me, granted I only plan to have this job until graduation.

“Thanks! I’ll do my best,” I tell her, turning back to the computer, and clicking on the first link. As I start taking the tests, I feel like they think I’m stupid. Like really a whole test on how to clean up a water spill? I know everyone has to take these tests, but who was the idiot without common sense that made these necessary? Who is born without an ounce of common Sense? I scoff my way through almost two and a half hours of these tests before Elizabeth comes back in to get me for break. We walk across the small hallway into the break room, and I’m introduced to a few of the other stockers I’ll be working with.

“Okay Harley, these are the other night shift stockers, Leila, Kiara, Jack, Stan, and Jesse. Guys this is the new member Harley, she will be joining you when she’s done with the safety course.” I gave a small wave, and it was returned by almost everyone. Jack being the only one who didn’t wave back, instead he stood up and walked over to me, his eyes glued to mine. I blinked and looked at everyone else around the room, only to notice they were all frozen in a waving pose. Well shit, another gifted, this is so not what I needed today. I need another energy drink, stat.

“How are you not frozen?” Jack asks, a mixture of awe and fear on his face, as I turn my head away from him.

“You want the long or the short version?” I ask him tiredly.

“Short version for now, we can cover the rest later.” Huh, guess he’s smarter than John was.

“To put it simply, I’m just like you, both of us were born with ‘gifts’ that set us apart from the normal. There’s more of us out there, and you only find them when your ‘gift’ works on everyone but them. And no, we don’t all have the same ‘gift’ or whatever you decide to call it. But the few I’ve met, call us ‘The Gifted’.” I watch him as I tell him all of this, watching as the fear is completely smothered by awe and excitement. I can see him practically vibrating on his feet, can feel the questions shouted at me from his mind.

“Look we can talk about this on lunch break, or maybe after work, but if I don’t get some caffeine, I’m more likely to kill you than help you.” I tell him rubbing at my forehead where a headache is building.

“Yeah, right, we will talk at lunch! Okay back in- no wait you didn’t move… okay give me a second.” He scrambles back to his chair, tripping twice on his own feet in his rush to sit down. A second later everyone is moving again, and Jack stands to leave the room. 

“Can I go get a drink, or are they not allowed in the office?” I ask Elizabeth after turning to her.

“As long as it has a lid, you can have it in the office.” Great, that greatly limits my choices, oh well, better than nothing. I give her a smile and walk back out to the floor. I go to the register and grab a blue bottle of orange NOS. Not the best but it will work for now, I don’t really like it. Something about the taste is off. As I scan it, I can see Jack step up behind me, a Monster in his hand, one of the big ones with a cap. If there’s one thing I know, it’s that we could get along well with our drinks. I pay for mine and start to walk back to the break room, when I hear Jack call out to me. He jerks his head in the direction of the door, with another sigh I follow him. Huh, I’m sighing a lot today. 

I followed him to the side of the building, where he turned and lit a cigarette. I took a...