Enemyoffun

 

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Author's Note: Here's a short little Christmas tale based in the Center universe, I came up with it this morning and rushed to get it done so I could post it today. Its a sweet little tale and doesn't really add much to the overall Center universe but its kinda fun. I'd liked to thank djkauf for the editing and wish everyone a very Merry Christmas.

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The tone during the ride over was quiet but I guess I couldn’t blame them. It’s not every day that a team gets sent out with a freak like me. Yes, I called myself a freak, you would too if you knew me. You see I’m not exactly the first choice for a mission but apparently I was the best one for the job. Ok, so not really, but I was available and I needed to start somewhere. Yes there’s a story behind that and yes it’s interesting but I don’t think it’s necessary. No, not because I’m a bitch, well, I am I guess but the only reason I’m not telling is because its already been told. You see I’m not exactly what you’d call a good person; well, at least I wasn’t until a few months ago.

But Dr. Tipps has been helping me with that. She’s a good person, contrary to what some purple streaked people might think. When they brought me in, I was kind of a wreck. I think they called me Priority One or something. After arriving---unconscious---I might add, I was rushed straight to the medical wing. They kept me sedated, which I guess isn’t anything new to me. There were a lot of doctors; at least I think they were all doctors. You see I have this thing, I can hear people when I’m asleep. It’s kinda a cool little ability, I wish it was my only one. But unfortunately, that’s not really the case.

Now where was I, oh yeah, Dr. Tipps? I woke up a day after they brought me in and there was this woman there. She introduced herself as Dr. Tipps and told me she was there to help. But I didn’t really trust her. I’ve been with a lot of doctors in my life, hell, my Father was one. They all seemed nice at first, showering me with praise and gifts. Then things started to happen. At first, I had no control over it after I changed. I didn’t even know what I was doing until people started screaming. That’s when more tests came. I started out at Section Four---they called it that, I call it Hell Number One---I liked it there at first. There were kids my age, going through the same problems as me. Then they got scared of me, all of them. That’s when they moved me---they sedated me and took me to Section One---Hell Number Two.

I was happy there for a little bit. Then the tests came. I think that’s when I started to regress. You see I’m a normal sixteen year old girl now---real name Ethan Boone---new name, Abomination. No, just kidding but pretty close, actually. I’m not exactly normal either, not as far as girls my age go anyway. I was young when they first brought me in, too young to understand what was going on. When I got to Section One and the tests started, I regressed my image to all those around me. So even though I was X Years Old, I always made myself appear about six.

Kinda fitting I think, considering what I can do. I’ve been called a lot of names: Nightmare Queen, Scarecrow, Fear Monger. Officially, I was a Dominator, Class Three---by Center standards---the Syndicate called me Subject 0F02-Beta. My father, Dr. Phillips, called me Melanie. I gave myself the last name Crane, kinda fitting if you ask me. After all, they called me the Scarecrow a lot.

But here I am digressing once again.

Where was I---Oh yeah, Dr. Tipps? When I first met her, I wouldn’t even look at her. She talked, trying to get me to talk to her but all I wanted to do was stare out the window. That’s when she moved me from the Infirmary into my own private room---not sure how she swung that. She tried getting through to me there, too. But I still wasn’t ready to talk. I was afraid to open, afraid to let anyone in just in case something bad happened again. I don’t like people getting close because whenever they do they either go away or they betray me. Dr. Tipps tried her hardest to break my shell but I resisted. I mean how was I to know that these people weren’t the bad guys. After all, they captured me. Ok, I was a bit delusional and fearful. But that didn’t stop the good doctor. She kept coming day after day.

About a month later, she got through to me. She helped me see some things about myself. She helped me realize that the child persona that I projected was a defense mechanism. She helped me see past it all. Contrary to what I believed before, she helped me become a better person and showed me that the Center was a good place to live. I owe her my life, my new newer life that is. I think I’ve had more than one rebirth. After our mutual breakthrough, she convinced the Colonel and Mrs. Fine to allow me into the regular population.

That was two months ago. I’ve been taking life one step at a time ever since. Then Dr. Tipps came to me with a mission, one that I was meant for, her words not mine.

______________________

“A mission” I asked, “are you serious?”

Dr. Tipps smiled. She was sitting in the chair on the other side of my single bedroom, a folder on her lap. She was the only one who came to visit me. I had friends---ok, maybe only one, Marcus. Yep, that Marcus, the kid who was there that brought me. I think he figured we were kindred or something. He and I had a lot in common. He was a Telepath, a powerful one. He was the closest thing to a Dominator the Center had---I was the only one apparently.

I smiled as big as I could. I’d been wanting to go on a mission for a while now. Things around the Center were slow these days. After this and that----I don’t need to bore you with the details---but let’s just say the excitement was over. I was getting kinda bored actually, wondering when it was going to be my turn for some action. I think everyone was getting kinda tired of having me lounge around too. It turns out that labeling me a Fear Monger was a little immature. Yes, I was still a Dominator and yes, I could still get into other people’s heads, but fear wasn’t the only thing I could manifest. It turns out that I have a thing for illusions of all kind. So instead of just tapping into what terrifies someone the most, I can do other things as well.

Dr Tipps set the folder on my little table., pushing aside the stacks of books I had there. I’m a reader, a big one. That’s my father’s influence; he was a big reader too. She opened the folder, showing me a few pictures. My eyes widened, she smiled. “Yep, that’s what you think it is.”

“Santa’s Village?”

She laughed. “According to our precogs, the Emergence will happen here. There’s a possibility that a lot of people are going to get hurt.”

I nodded. I knew all about that, I’d done my fair share of hurting myself. I flipped a few pages. The picture of the kid staring back at me looked normal enough. He was a skinny kid, with lots of freckles and bright red hair. He looked like Ron Weasley a bit. It was hard to believe that this guy was going to cause so much destruction. I read the name underneath, Victor Cruise.

“What’s he going to do?”

“He’s a Cryokinetic”

I nodded. We had a few of those. In fact, I sat next to one in History class, her name is Gloria, she’s kinda cool. No pun intended. “Why do they need me?”

Ok I’ll be the first to admit it. I’m not a fighter. I can fire a gun---I’ve had some training here and at the Syndicate---but that’s the extent of it. With a power like mine, I don’t need a lot of combat training. I’m a weapon onto itself. But to bring me a long on something like this, that must have been desperate. I suppose I screw with the kid’s head but there were a lot of other people more qualified to do that, Marcus being one of them.

“I’m not going to lie to you. This being your first mission, they need you on crowd control.”

I sighed. So that was it. I guess I couldn’t blame them. After all what good could an illusion girl do in an actual fight, especially against a guy who could probably throw icicles or something. Ok, I could probably really mess him up but I made a vow to myself to never do anything like that again.

The rest of the folder contained details of the mission, including my team. I smiled when I saw who the team leader was…

___________________________

“You ok” asked Marcus, brushing his hand across my thigh.

I turned away from the window, snapping out of my many thoughts. I’d been watching the snow covered road go by, moving ever so slowly. My stomach was in knots and it was taking everything I could bring to bear not to throw up. To say I was nervous was an understatement. I mean the last time I was out and about was several months ago and the last time it’s been with other people had been years. So to say I was nervous was actually only a part of it. I was horrified. I didn’t know how to interact with people anymore, not normal ones anyway. Dr. Tipps gradually introduced me into the general population at the Center, first interacting with Marcus and the team who brought me and then with others.

I took a deep breath. “I don’t think I can do this.”

Marcus squeezed my hand. “You’re going to be Ok; you’ve come a long way.”

I nodded. I turned to him and smiled, my heart skipping a beat. Never in a million years would I have thought that any guy would make me feel this way. But I couldn’t help it. There was just something about those icy blue eyes of his that seemed to make me melt inside. I never knew what it was like to be a boy; I was six when I turned after all. So I’d spent the last ten years of my life living as a girl, growing up, as any girl should. Before they isolated me and then put me into a coma, I had the life that a normal little girl lived. I had dolls and tea parties and wore frilly pink dresses. Being a boy was something that I was but it wasn’t something that I really remembered being. Having him staring at me made something stir inside of me, something that I’d never felt before. I turned away quickly, so he wouldn’t see my blush.

“We’re coming up on our destination now, sir,” said the Private from the front seat.

“Thanks, Thomas” said Marcus, letting go of my hand.

I turned back to take a look at the rest of the team. There were six of us altogether, including the driver, Private Jones. I didn’t know the others well but Marcus had handpicked them specifically. The other two E’s---Becca’s word not mine---were both kinetics. They were both sitting behind us, looking like solemn sentinels, quiet and staring ahead. I knew Jessica but only from class. She was an Aerokinetic, which matched well with her wispy, white blonde hair. She had this little beady necklace that was currently in her hands, rolling the beads around in her fingers. Sitting next to her was Franklin---Frankie to his friends, I wasn’t one. He was tall and gangly and a real hothead. I don’t think you need to know his ability but just in case he was trying to show off by snapping his fingers, making a little flame appear on his fingertips.

We were unofficially the new Delta Team. The old one was the team that brought me in from Section One. Its original leader was Becca Howe but the team disbanded after she was given control of SIRS---Stealth Infiltration Reconnaissance Squad. Kris reorganized the team and gave leadership to Marcus. I’m not sure if this was going to be the regular team for every mission but the prospect kinda excited me. I think I could get used to going out on missions, helping people.

Frankie finally spoke. “C’mon this has to impress you,” he said, making the flames dance across his fingertips.

Jessica rolled her eyes. Then she leaned forward and blew. A small gust of wind filled the cramped SUV interior, blowing off his flames. Frankie frowned, Jessica and I laughed. Both of them turned as one, looking at me strangely.

“It speaks,” said Frankie, smirking. “We thought you were a mute.”

“Nope. Just the scary girl who can make you live out your greatest fear.” The color drained from his face. “Let me guess, everyone ignores you; right?”

Jessica laughed. Frankie frowned and turned away.

I smiled and turned around. Marcus looked at me and shook his head. I turned back to the window, watching as snow began to fall. I hate the snow; the last time I was in a snowstorm was on the streets. I don’t remember much of my parents. I know that my mother died in childbirth---that’s normal for people like us I guess. My father was kind of a deadbeat---my real dad I mean. He was a drunk who squandered whatever hard earned cash he made on booze. I’m not really sure when he abandoned me. I vaguely remember going to a supermarket and wandering down an aisle by myself. No one seemed to notice me. I ended up on the streets, in an alley. A few days later, I was in foster care. Because I was so young, things are kinda fuzzy though.

“Here we are” said Marcus, softly in my ear.

I looked ahead, over the heads of the two soldiers in the front seat. Sure enough, there was a winter wonderland laid out before us. When I saw the picture of the village in the folder, I thought it was some kind of joke but now that I saw it in person, there was nothing funny about it. It looked just like Santa’s Village should. There was a wall around it---brick probably, but made to look like gingerbread. Beyond that were a large castle---probably made of plywood---and several other smaller buildings around it. I never believed in Santa Claus, my father always thought things like that was foolish and frivolous. He was a man of science and as a man of science; he told me there was no point in filling my head with foolish things. He still gave me presents at Christmas but he never pretended they were from anyone but himself.

Marcus gave orders to Private Jones. Our SUV pulled into the little parking lot, trying to find a place to park. It was jam packed with vehicles. We found a spot at the end, beating out a little car for it. A woman behind the wheel gave us a look and the finger. I scoffed, so much for Christmas Spirit. Jessica seemed to think the same because she made a nasty comment behind me.

Once we were all parked and set, Marcus laid down the plan. “According to our intel, the target will be emerging in about an hour. We’re going to break up into pairs.” He turned to Jessica. “You and Frankie are one, Private Thomas and Melanie will be another.” He looked at Jones. “I need you to stay with the truck.”

Jones and Thomas nodded. Jessica groaned.

“You’re really going to stick him with me,” she said, with a refined British accent.

How cool was that? Even though she was as American as you and I, she somehow picked up this really cool accent after she Emerged.

“What about you?” asked Frankie.

“I’m going to scan the crowd, seeing if I can find Victor before things get out of hand.”

After that, we broke up. Jessica and Frankie went off, arguing like a pair of siblings. I turned to Thomas. He was a tall guy, with a thick neck and closed cropped blonde hair. I suppose he was cute if you like that whole soldier thing. But I wasn’t Emma so he did nothing for me. He gave me a nod and I shrugged. I guess that was the only thing I was going to get out of him. So I started walking, he kept close to my heels. Our cover was as brother and sister, even though there was no way anyone would mistake him for my brother. Not that he looked all that odd or anything. I was the odd one. What with my long green hair and short stature, I’m barely five feet tall.

We slipped through the crowd, trying our best to mingle. I groaned. Everything was overwhelming. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been in a place with this many people. There were a lot of kids, too, bringing a pang to my heart. Until very recently, I’d been one of them. Ok, not really but everybody thought I was. Dr. Tipps said it was a defense mechanism, a way for me to hide behind my fear and anger. So I projected the image of me being a little girl to the rest of the world. Marcus and the other telepaths were the only ones who could see through it. Dr. Tipps spent a long time helping me getting over my fear and my “regression” as she called it.

I dropped the façade about a month ago. But it still pained me to see all these kids running around and not being one of them.

“Not a Christmas fan?” asked Thomas over my shoulder.

“Not a people fan, actually.”

He nodded. He didn’t say anymore after that.

The two of us had about an hour to spare so we disappeared into the crowd, keeping our eyes open too. All the workers wandering around were dressed in horrible Christmas sweaters with Santa hats and fake smiles. They were weaving through the crowds too, handing kids and adults alike candy canes and things like that. One of them passed one to me but when he looked at Thomas, he turned green and rushed off. Thomas frowned so I passed over mine. I’m not a sweets person. The Private was like a kid in a candy store, directing me to one Christmas themed booth after another. Me, I barely paid attention. But he was really into it. He bought some cotton candy and candy apple. There was a stall selling gingerbread cookies and he bought three of those and another stall giving away free hot apple cider, he took two cups and tried handing me one but I waved it off. There were game booths too. Stupid things meant for kids, like Pin the Tail on the Reindeer and Beanbag Toss through a wooden cut out of Santa’s Head.

But the main attraction of the whole place was Santa of course. There was a huge line of little kids waiting to see the big guy himself. Santa---who was probably a fat guy in a suit---was sitting in a little mock wooden structure, meant to resemble a castle or something. There was a large chair where the phony sat and a bunch of huge fake presents scattered about. Next to him was a giant Christmas tree and beside him was a huge velvet bag with little stuffed animals. After sitting on his lap and getting his picture taken, he would hand a stuffed toy to a little kid and then another would sit on his lap. I smirked. I thought elves were supposed to do those kinds of things.

I scanned the crowd, looking at all the delusional little brats. I was barely paying attention when I spotted him. At first, I wondered what a teenager would be doing in a line to see Santa until I saw the little red headed girl in front of him. She was cute in her little green velvet dress, white tights and pigtails. The file didn’t say Victor had a sister but I suppose there was a reason he was here, after all. There weren’t many teenagers except those who worked here and us, of course. I looked at Victor and I could the telltale signs of the Change already. He looked awful, sweating and fidgeting.

Damn it. I tapped my throat mike. “Marcus, I found him.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yep, same flaming red hair and freckles.”

He sighed. “Ok, don’t do anything. I’ll talk to whoever is in charge here; see if they can evacuate the area.”

“You think that’s a good idea?”

“You read the report, you know the alternative.”

I nodded. According to the file, when Victor emerges he sends a wave of ice in every direction around him, freezing hundreds of people. I looked at the happy little girl in front of him, dancing on the balls of her feet. There was no way I could allow that to happen. I bit my lip and moved closer. I know Marcus told me to stay put but I needed to get Victor away from all these little kids. I took a deep breath and slowly made my way through the throng of people, trying my hardest to get to them. Thomas was at my heels, his voice squawking in my earpiece. I ignored him. There was no way I was going to stand by and watch all these people die.

I was almost to them when someone stepped in front of me. He was an older guy, looking flustered. He gave me a once over and smiled. “Excuse me, Miss. I don’t mean to be a pest but could you do us the biggest favor ever?”

I groaned. I didn’t have time for this. “I’m kinda busy sir.”

He sighed. “Please, you’ll be doing us all a big favor, especially the kids.”

I groaned. “What do you need?”

“Well our usual Elf came down with the flu and we’re kinda swamped. You’re the only one I’ve seen that can fit her costume. Do you think you could fill in for her, at least until her replacement gets here.”

You’ve gotta be kidding me. I opened my mouth to tell him off but Thomas beat me too it. “She’d love to sir. My sister loves Christmas.”

The man smiled happily. I shot Thomas a big glare.

“Thank you so much, Miss,” said the man, gently taking my arm and leading the way to wherever.

“You’re so dead,” I mumbled into my throat mike, knowing that Thomas heard me.

_________________________

This is so embarrassing. I was standing in front of a floor length mirror, looking at myself in the tiniest green dress I’d ever seen. It had white fuzzy trim and I was wearing cute little bell shoes and a stupid hair. Mr. Spooner---the older guy from before---tried to get me to wear the fake ears but I drew the line there. It was bad enough that I wore the makeup that went along with it, making my cheeks look rosy and glittery. I groaned. There was no way I was going out there like this. As soon as everyone saw me, I’d be the laughing stock of the whole place.

But right now, I didn’t have time for that. I looked at the clock. There was only forty-five minutes left before Victor emerged. So far I had heard no announcement to get these people out of here. I bit my lip. If Marcus didn’t hurry up soon these kids were in serious trouble. That’s the only reason I was still here. I needed to be with these kids, I needed to make sure they were Ok. Ok so I’m a softy after all but there’s no way I can stand by and let little kids get turned into popsicles, especially Victor’s little sister.

There was a knock on the door. I groaned, tugging on the hem of the tiny dress.

Mr. Spooner opened the door. “Ah, I knew it would fit. C’mon, there’s a huge crowd outside.”

I nodded and slowly walked toward the entryway.

Once outside the little changing booth on the other side of the wooden cutout castle, I walked around the corner and sure enough, there was a huge crowd. The line was three times as long as before. Unfortunately, I couldn’t see Victor and his little sis anymore. They were really far down the line when I spotted them before but things were moving really slowly. I did see someone else, though or rather some ones. The whole team was there, lingering about. Jessica and Frankie looked at me, both of them trying to contain their laughter. Thomas had a big smile on his face; he even gave me a thumbs up. Marcus just stared at me with those piercing blue eyes of his, causing me to blush.

“Ho, ho ho” said Santa loudly and then under his breath said.

“Where the hell have you been, bitch, I’m dying here.”

You’ve gotta be kidding me. “Trouble at the North Pole, Santa”

“Don’t smart mouth me. Get you pretty little ass into gear and start handing out those things. The faster they go, the faster I can get these little bastards off my lap.”

What a jackass! I rolled my eyes and went to work. Things moved a lot faster with the two of us working. He talked to the kids; I smiled real big and passed out little stuffed toys. Every so often, I’d look to see if I could see Victor and his sister. I thought I spotted a bit of red but it was moving away. I bit my lip and tapped my mike.

“I think the subject is moving off.”

“He is” said Marcus in my ear. “Jessica, you and Frankie stay on him. I’ll go see what’s taking that Evac so long.”

I watched as my three teammates disappeared. I sighed. At least Victor was away from this crowd now. I relaxed a little and continued passing out little gifts. I actually started to get into it, smiling and laughing. I can’t say I was having a wonderful time but it was a lot better than I thought I was going to have. Things were going pretty well, too. We still had a lot of stuffed animals left and the line was moving a lot faster now. I scanned the line, trying to see who was next and then I saw her. It was Victor’s little sister, she kept looking worriedly over her shoulder. I bit my lip. Damn it. It was good that she was nowhere near him but she looked really scared.

“Ho, ho, ho” said Santa loudly, getting my attention. “My Elf, Smelly, will give you a toy now.”

I turned to a little boy standing patiently in front of me. I reached into the bag, grabbed a stuffed elephant and stuck it into his hands. The little boy smiled happily and ran off to his mother. I turned back to Victor’s sister but she was gone. Son of a bitch. I looked along the line and saw her or at least her retreating back. Of course, she’d go looking for her missing brother. I bit my lip and made a split decision. I took off after her, much to the chagrin of the fake Jackass Santa and all the little kids in line. I heard someone shout for me, I think it was Mr. Spooner. But I didn’t give a damn. That little girl’s safety was far more important than anything else.

As I was running, I heard a voice come over the loud speakers.

“Ladies and Gentlemen. We apologize for the inconvenience but Santa’s Village has to close earlier today.”

There were some moans from people around me. I looked at my watch; we only had about ten minutes left now. It’s amazing how quickly time flies when you’re handing little kids stuffed things next to a jackass. As I ran, people started pushing their way in front of me, moving toward the exits no doubt. I pushed through them, wishing I were a lot bigger than I really was. Someone stepped on my foot and I squealed, another person slammed into me, knocking me to my knees. Another person helped me up; I smiled and thanked him before running on.

Then I heard it, a little girl’s voice. “Victor, Victor where are you?”

I sighed and pushed my way ahead.

I found her a few feet ahead, standing on a bench, trying to see over the ground. She couldn’t have been more than six. There was a bunch of adults walking past her, completely ignoring her. What the hell kind of people ignore a child in distress. I groaned and pushed forward. The little girl was hopping up and down, trying to see over the throng of people. She continued to shout for her brother, I could see the tears in her eyes. I was almost to her when she jumped off the bench and disappeared into the crowd. Son of a bitch. I bit my lip and plowed on, shoving aside a young couple, apologizing quickly as I pushed through them.

I spotted her little red head bobbing through the crowd, making her way toward the center of the Village. There was a little Nativity scene set up there, coupled with real live animals. Unfortunately something else was there, too, Victor. It took me to stand on my tippy toes to see him and he didn’t look so good. He was on the ground, groaning, clutching his chest. I saw Jessica and Frankie there too, trying to talk to me, speaking reassuringly to him.

I wasn’t the only one who spotted him though. “Victor” shouted the little girl, pushing her way through a sea of legs to reach her brother.

NO!

I ran as fast as I could. I was almost to her when Marcus stepped in, sweeping her into his arms. He spun around and saw me, passing the struggling little girl into my arms. “Get her out of here, quickly.”

The girl kicked and squirmed. “I need my brother. Daddy said not to leave him. He’s supposed to be watching me today.”

“Its ok, sweetie” I said, she started to cry. “Your brother is going to be fine.”

I carried her away from the center of the village. I went back the way I came, finding it easier going now that all the crowd was gone. I found the bench she was standing on before and sat down, slipping her out of my arms. She finally looked up at me and her eyes widened.

“Are you a real Elf?”

I smiled. “Of course I am,” I said, showing her my hair. “How many normal people do you see with long green hair?”

She grabbed a little bit of it, running it through her fingers. “It’s real pretty.”

I bipped her nose with my finger. “You’re really pretty. What’s your name, Princess?”

“Daisy” she said in the cutest voice possible.

I smiled. “That’s a pretty name. What do you want for Christmas, Daisy?”

She opened her mouth to tell me then frowned. “I can’t tell you. I wrote a letter to Santa.” Then something seemed to dawn on her. “Oh no my letter, I was going to give it to him.”

She reached into her pocket; taking out a folded red envelope, on the outside was words scrawled in crayon. She clasped it in her fingers and cried. I stood up, trying to pull her close. But she pushed away and took off running. Damn she was fast. I gave chase, knowing very well where she was going. It didn’t take her long. I was right before her but when I got there; I found her standing in front of the empty chair, crying her eyes out, the letter on the ground.
She turned to me, bawling. “I missed him. He was right here and I missed him.”

I walked over to her and hugged her. “It’s ok sweetie. Why don’t you give me the letter and I’ll give it to him for you.”

She shook her head. “I need to give it to him or else I won’t get what I want.”

I nodded. She was right. I didn’t know much about Santa Claus but that sounded about right. I looked around, making sure there was no else in the area. But the place was deserted. That bastard Santa Claus was probably the first person to flee. He was definitely getting coal in his stocking this year. I bit my lip; yeah, I know I do that a lot. But what I was about to do was serious stuff and I had to make sure that I was going to do it right. So I checked once again that we were alone then closed my eyes. I concentrated as hard as I could and then reopened my eyes.

I pointed to the chair, Daisy looked too. There was a sparkle of red and green sparks then slowly Santa Claus appeared on the seat, laughing and smiling. Daisy’s mouth fell open. It was a good likeness, the best one I could conjure. Daisy scooped up her letter and ran for the chair, jumping onto his lap. I found if I concentrated hard enough I could make the illusions tangible as long as the person didn’t move too much. So little Daisy was actually able to sit on Santa’s lap.

“Hello, Daisy” he said, in a rumbling jovial voice. “I see you’ve been a very good girl this year.”

Daisy nodded, awestruck. “I have a letter for you, Santa.”

My illusionary Claus reached out and took the letter from her tiny fingers. I turned away, allowing the little girl to talk to him in private. I tapped my throat mike. “How are things over there?”

Marcus came on a few seconds later. “Situation contained. The new Victor is unconscious but she’s doing fine. How’s the little girl?”
I turned around. Daisy was giggling and laughing with Santa, having a good time. “She’s good.”

Marcus sighed. “Give us a few minutes then we can wrap things up.”

I smiled. “Take your time.”

___________________________

When the authorities arrived, Daisy was reunited with her father and mother---Victor’s Stepmother. I stood nearby but not too close in case she saw me. She told them all about the green haired elf and Santa Claus. Her mother held her gently, crying. Apparently, the police were looking for their teenage son. It was a sad sort of business but it was necessary I guess. I hated the fact that this little girl was going to grow up without her big brother but maybe one day she’d get to meet her new big sister. I knew it was kind of a stretch but it was the only thing that was keeping me from crying.

I sighed as Marcus came sidling up to me. “I think she’s going to be ok.”

I nodded. “What’s going to happen now?”

“We’ll have to send someone to adjust her memories, make it so her brother wandered off and left her here.”

I gasped. “You can’t do that.”

He sighed. “We don’t really have much of a choice. She saw what you did, even if she didn’t understand it. It was a sweet thing but there’s no other way.”

I shook my head. “I’m not going to let anyone do anything to that little girl.”

He nodded. “We’ll discuss this on the way back.”

“You can’t let that little girl think her brother abandoned her.”

He nodded then looked at the red envelope in my hand. “What’s that?”

I lifted the envelope. After Daisy was done talking to Santa, I led her over to the entrance of the Village. I found a security man and left her with him, telling him I found her alone in the Village. He nodded. Then I went back to the Santa chair. My illusion disappeared as soon as I stopped concentrating on it but her letter was still there. I didn’t have the heart to open it but I did anyway. It was a sweet letter, written in crayon. Daisy asked for a doll and some coloring books and for her brother to stop being so mean to her. I cried as I read it but at the same time, it warmed my heart.

“It’s Daisy’s letter to Santa” I said, clasping it to my chest.

He nodded. “Did you read it?”

I shook my head. “That would be cheating.”

He smiled. “I am a mind reader you know.”

I nodded. We left the discussion at that. We both wandered over to the SUV where the rest of the team was waiting. Frankie was rubbing his arm; apparently, he got a little freezer burn. I smiled at that, anything to cool off his hot head. Jones was in the back, making sure the new Victor was secure. She looked a lot like her old self, except with less freckles and redder hair of course. In fact, she looked a lot like her sister, maybe ten years older.

“Can we stay a little bit, have some fun?” asked Jessica with pleading eyes.

Marcus sighed and shook his head. “We gotta go, the plane is waiting.”

I climbed into the SUV. Before I got all the way inside, warmth filled me. Earlier today, I thought this place was a joke but now I saw it for what it was, it was a wonderland of dreams and happy thoughts. I closed my eyes and when I opened them, Santa’s sleigh and his reindeer appeared above the sky for all the crowd to see. Everyone gasped and pointed. I saw little Daisy waving.

Hey, Christmas comes once a year. Why not have a little fun with it?

Enemyoffun

 

---

 
 

Author's Note: I thought seeing as it was April Fool's Day, I might take a stab at another Melanie Crane story. There isn't really much to this one, just a bit of fun on my part. I don't expect it to get high praise or accolades like the last. I thought it up this morning. And no its not a joke, its the true thing, so yes it is in line with all my other stories. I'd like to thank djkauf for the great editing

-----

You’re kidding right,” I said as Kris and I walked down the hall.

She stopped and turned to me. “Does this look like the face of someone who’s kidding?”

I shook my head. But why did it have to be there. “Isn’t there anyone else?”

Kris sighed. “Due to the nature of the situation, Melanie, I think you’re the best person suited for this kind of job.”

I nodded. This had to be some kind of horrible hazing ritual, mess with the new girl. First, it was Santa’s village a few months ago and now this, it was clear someone was punishing me. Ok, so maybe not really but it seemed awfully convenient that I was the only girl they could get to do this job. After I got back with the new girl---Victoria---formerly Victor Cruise, people praised me. It sure helped with my tarnished reputation after all. What reputation you ask, well there was this little problem about me being a big bad Dominator and hurting a lot of people. Hey, I’m getting counseling now and things are going so much better.

Things were going better for me too, all thanks to Santa. Well, not him personally but it did help. After the Village, I opened up a lot more. Our team, Delta, had been a trial thing before the mission. After it was successful, Kris made us a full team. We were sorta what she liked to call Special Circumstances, meaning that we were brought in on the really bizarre ones. I guess that’s what you get when your team leader is a wicked strong Telepath and I’m a Dominator, reformed of course. But being SC---my word, not Becca’s---meant that we didn’t always get to go out. I think the team was itching for something, I know I was but I just didn’t expect something like this.

“So when do we leave?”

Kris started walking again. “As soon as I find your other team mates.”

“I think I might know where they are.”

She nodded. “Good, it saves me from getting someone to look for them. Once you have them, meet in the debriefing room, you’ve got one hour.”

“Yes ma’am” I said, giving her a sloppy salute.

She smirked. “You don’t salute me you know.”

“I know”

She shook her head and walked off, leaving me standing there.

As soon as she was out of sight down the hall, I took off in search of the others. I didn’t need to look for Privates Jones and Thomas; both of them would either be in the Cafeteria or the Firing Range, that’s the only place they liked to hang out. There was a Barracks for the soldiers too, but I was unauthorized to go there. I also had a pretty good idea where to find Marcus too. He spent most of his free time in his room meditating, he said it helped him relax and channel his abilities. He tried to get me to join in whenever possible but all I wanted to do was fool around. Yep, you guessed it; the two of us are now officially an item. I know what you’re thinking but he’s good for me.

We hooked up the night after we got back, he was a little shy and awkward, me I was terrified. We had dinner together and then he took me to a private screening of some new Tom Cruise movie. I’m not sure how he got the Entertainment Room for just us but it was so cool. The whole thing was a bit weird at first but after a few misses, we connected. It helped that I kinda took the initiative and climbed on top of him halfway through it. We made out through the rest of the movie and I must say I’m not really sure what happened in the movie. The two of us have been together since, pretty hot and heavy too.
But enough with the mushy stuff.

I took off down the hall, heading toward where I knew I’d find two of my last three team members. Yep, two because we had a third member now as well. Seeing as she was our first pickup, Marcus petitioned to put Victoria on the team too. Kris was a little reluctant to do so at first, seeing as Vicky was sorta new to the club as it were. But Becca went to bat for her---saying she’d help Vicky train and make her a valued member of the team. The coolest thing, the two of us have gotten awfully close. I guess it helps that I did so much for her little sis. How could I not, Daisy was after all the sweetest little thing in the world.

They were actually my first stop. I didn’t take me long to get to the dormitories, the girls dorm together and the boys dorm together. I guess it helps to keep us all separated, what with all the raging hormones and things like that. I think I was one of the few on this floor who didn’t have a roommate, at least not yet. Things like that have a tendency to change really quick. Even though a lot of us were now at Beta and Gamma, there were still kids coming here every day. Vicky decided to stay here, what with circumstances being what they were.

I knocked on her door. There was a giggle and scramble from behind it. Then the door was yanked open. I smiled at the bundle of energy on the other side. Daisy smiled up at me too then threw herself at me, wrapping her arms around my waist. Yep, Daisy as in Vicky’s kid sister. It was kinda a sad story really. After we took her brother---now sister---from Santa’s Village, there was an accident. Both her parents died in a horrible car crash. Daisy would have ended up in foster care, what with her not having any other relatives. But the Colonel pulled some strings, it helped that their father had a lot of pull when he was still alive---i.e. Pentagon type pull.

So now little Daisy was the Center’s first ankle biter. She was an amazing little kid, so cute and innocent. It didn’t take her long to adjust to the fact that her older brother was now her sister. The fact that the two of them didn’t look anything alike anymore---Daisy had flaming red hair that she always wore in pigtails---didn’t seem to bother her in the least.

“Melanie, are you here to play with me?”

I shook my head. “Not today, kiddo.”

She frowned. “Aww.”

I patted her on the head and she took my hand, leading me into the room. I was often Daisy’s companion whenever I had the time. It helped that I was so used to being a kid myself. Before all this started, I spent a good portion of my time masquerading as a ten year old. How you ask? Well I’m an Illusionist, I can create things that aren’t really there. It’s something to do with entering the mind and changing people’s perceptions. One of those things I used to do was make people see me as a ten year old. Dr. Tipps says it was a coping mechanism. She helped me break myself of it. But after Daisy showed up here two months ago, I saw how sad she was. It was kinda hard on her–what with her being the only kid---so I played kid with her.

“Sissy, Mel’s here” said Daisy, letting go of my hand and huffing over to her bed.

There room was a mishmash of styles. On one side it looked like it belonged to a teenager, all decked out like a teen girl might have it. On the other side, it looked like something a five year old would decorate. The Center had been very accommodating. I smiled as I looked at the clashing elements, Vicky’s pastel blue did not go at all with Daisy’s bright pink and kitty motif.

Vicky was sitting at the desk; she turned around with a smile. We were the best of friends, doing practically everything together now. Dr. Tipps said we were the best thing for each other. It helped that I was sorta socially awkward and she was the new girl. But to look at us, you would never be able to tell that we had anything in common. Me, I was the short girl with green hair and she was the tall Nordic beauty. And I mean tall. She was at least six four, towering over almost every other person here. She was also a far cry from what she used to be too. Victor used to have flaming red hair like his little sis but Vicky could have been from Sweden. She had the long blonde hair---well, it was almost white and her eyes were the iciest blue I’d ever seen.

She smiled. “Mel, what’s up?”

I looked at Daisy, then mouthed “mission.”

Vicky’s face lit up. She fist pumped then said quietly. “Let me put my game face on.”

Daisy was sitting on her bed, brushing the hair of one of her dolls. “Are you two going somewhere?”

“I have to go out for a bit but I’m going to find someone to watch you why you’re gone.”

“Mattie?”

I laughed, besides me, Mattie was the only other person that Daisy wanted to be around. It helped that Mattie was pretty much a child herself. No, I’m not insulting her; she says the same thing all the time. Mattie and I are doing better too. Before she was a little scared of me, on the basis that the two of us have known each other longer than most people here. It’s a long and jaded history and I don’t want to get into it. Suffice to say, I did some bad things to her and I’ve been trying to make up for it every single day. At least she’s gotten as far as being in the same room with me on occasion which is a big start.

“We’ll see,” said Vicky with a laugh. “It might be Emma or Brad too.”

Daisy lit up. “Do you think they’ll let me play with Klondike?”

“I think that’s a big possibility.”

Daisy started to bounce up and down. Vicky and I laughed then I left. I started back down the hall, knowing where my next stop would be.

______________________________

“Stop being so damn insufferable”

“Well I’ll stop being insufferable if you pull that stick out of your ass.”

A gust of wind buffeted me as soon as I walked into the Gym. It whipped my hair and threatened to flip my skirt up, giving everyone a nice view of my panties. I quickly pushed my skirt down before anyone looked my way. Then I marched into the room just as Frankie burst into flames. Jessica was standing ten feet away now, a whirlwind of air whipping around her body. There were several other kids in the room, most of who were running in all directions to get away from the carnage. I don’t know why Jessica and Frankie insisted on going to Gym together. Every time they did Frankie always said something stupid---usually a sexist remark---and Jessica always lost her temper. The destruction the two of them usually caused cost thousands of dollars. It looked like today was going to be another whopper. Not that I had time for that.

I stomped over, looking to see if there was anything I could use to break the two of them up. I didn’t find something but someone---a girl, I couldn’t remember her name---but she was a hydrokinetic. I snapped my fingers and pointed at the two of them. She smirked and nodded. She walked over to stand in-between the two of them, pointing her hands out. I turned my head away as I heard my two teammates scream. When I turned back around, a group of kids were gathered around laughing. Jessica and Frankie were drenched.

I finished walking over to them. “You two done bickering?”

Jessica looked at me, frowning. She was only wearing a skimpy t-shirt and a pair of short bicycle shorts, suffice to say being all wet things showed. “That wasn’t funny.”

But Frankie thought it was. “I can see your…”

“If you say the last thing you’re about to say so help me God I’ll spin you around until you’re sick.”

He shut up quickly. Someone had run off to get them towels and was now just running back. I followed the two of them as they grumbled over to the benches. As they were drying off, I told them about our mission. Jessica raised an eyebrow and Frankie smiled. Of course, he’d smile; he was going to fit right in there. When they were done drying off I followed a still grumbling Jessica into the girl’s locker room so she could change out of her wet stuff.

“That guy infuriates the hell out of me.”

I nodded. It was obviously to me and everyone else that the two of them were in love with one another. The only people who weren’t in on it were Jessica and Frankie. But with all their bickering and constant power fights, you’d think the two of them would just get over it and take the plunge. Not that I’d ever tell either one of them that. Jessica was a wicked Aerokinetic that allowed her temper to rule her and Frankie was an ass but he was a damn good pyro. The two of them were the backbone to our team, kinetics were almost a must now, especially after what happened to Becca and her team in England. Now---according to the rules---no team was allowed to go out into the field without at least one kinetic present or one in backup.

I waited until she got dressed in her horrible gray uniform then the two of us went to retrieve Frankie. He was already waiting for us. I checked my watch, wondering if it was enough time. I led the two of them out of the Gym and toward the Briefing Room. I’m not going to bore you with the details to how to get there. Instead, I’ll just say that the three of us were a bit earlier. Vicky was standing outside, leaning against the wall. When she turned and saw us, I rolled my eyes. Vicky’s idea of her game face was actually blue makeup, electric blue to be exact. Her lips, eyes and nails now all matched, fitting in nicely with her whole cryokineticness. That’s a new word as far as the Center standards go.

“That’s so cute,” said Jessica, indicating Vicky’s creativity.

She wiggled her fingers. “I couldn’t resist.”

Jessica turned to me. “We should take Mel and make her match that hair of hers.”

I stuck my tongue out as the two of them laughed.

We only had to wait in the hall for a few more minutes, then the door opened. When the four of us went inside, Marcus was already sitting at the table. Private Thomas was there as well as Dani. Marcus looked over at me and smiled, I blushed. I took the seat next to him, Vicky sat next to me. Jessica and Frankie sat at opposite ends of the table. Kris rolled her eyes at them, Dani just shook her head. Even the two of them knew that there was something going on there. After we were all seated and situated, Kris started the briefing. This was the part I was dreading. You see I had this thing about Circuses, ok not so much circuses but some of the things that went on there. I felt Marcus reach over and take my hand. He knew about my apprehension, the two of us shared all our little secrets.

“We’re going to the Circus?” asked Frankie, “you’re serious?”

Kris nodded. “This isn’t for recreation, Frank,” she said, being one of the only people who called him Frank.

She addressed the rest of us by clicking her remote, bringing up a picture of a girl on the screen. “This is Marcia Eggert, age sixteen, this is the target.”

I nodded. “What’s her thing?”

Dani answered. “We’re not sure, only that by the time you get there, she’ll have already emerged.”

“Is there urgency involved?” asked Jessica.

Kris nodded. “We have reason to believe that a rival organization will try to move in on her. We need Delta Squad to go in as quietly as possible, intercept Marcia and get her out of there before this becomes a situation that we can’t even handle.”

“It’s not them is it?” I asked, referring to the Syndicate.

I couldn’t even bring myself to say the name. If it was them, they were in a load of hurt. I’ve been waiting a long time to come face to face with those bastards again.

“We’ve not sure who it is but just be on your guard, they’re highly organized.”

“What’s the time frame?” asked Frankie.

“Five hours” said Dani “like I said before when you guys get there she’ll have already changed so this picture is pretty much useless. Your best bet is to canvas the place and look for anything out of the ordinary.”

“Out of the ordinary?” I asked “at a Circus.”

Marcus squeezed my hand tighter.

____________________________

We took the jet; it took about four hours to get to our destination. We landed in a little airstrip where an SUV was waiting. It was dark green this time; I think the Center was trying to add a little more color to their ops. Jones took the driver’s seat again while Thomas rode shotgun. I got into the second row with Jessica and Marcus while Vicky and Frankie sat behind us. Marcus held my hand the whole time, trying to reassure me that everything was going to be ok. But I knew better. Things were not going to be ok at all. It wasn’t just the people either; the people were only a part of it. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m still a little wary around big crowds. People kinda scare me, what with me being locked up and sedated for so long. It still takes quite a bit for me to go out and be around them.

But Dr. Tipps was helping me get over some of that. Marcus was helping now too. Just last week, he was able to convince Kris to allot us some R&R time in the city. We even got her to let us bring Vicky and Daisy. The four of us had a pretty good day just being normal---well the three of us, Daisy is pretty normal as far as little kids go. I think they were trying to help me adjust and it worked but I’m still not one hundred percent when there’s a lot of people. So that’s one of my biggest problems about the Circus, the other I don’t even want to think about.

When the SUV stopped in front of the circus, I groaned. There was a picket fence centered around a huge colorful tent with other smaller tents around it. There were metal trailers off in the distance and lots of noise. I looked around the parking lot, seeing all the cars. So many people. Marcus still held my hand, making sure I didn’t freak. He helped me out of the vehicle, still holding my hand. I wanted to kiss him but I wasn’t sure how awkward that would make anyone else.

“Do you think we can look around a bit after?”

I turned to Frankie but Marcus beat me to it. “We’re not here for fun. There’s a girl…I mean a guy here…that’s in trouble. Why don’t we concentrate on the mission first?”

The frown on Frankie’s face reminded me of the one that Daisy often wore when something didn’t go her way. That wasn’t the only similarity between the two, trust me.

Marcus then addressed the others, Jones stayed with the SUV again. “We’re going to split up in teams of two again.” He pointed to Jessica, no doubt about to pair her with Frankie but she gave him a look. He rolled his eyes too. “Jessie, you and Mel, Frankie you and Vicky.”

Vicky groaned, Frankie pumped the air with his fist.

“You touch her I’m going to break your fingers” snapped Jessica.

“I didn’t think you cared, babe.”

“Don’t call me that, pig.”

“If you don’t like it you can always shut me up with your lips.”

Marcus groaned. “Children, please.”

Jessica and Frankie shot each other looks again. Marcus split them up then told us to get going. I took Jessica by the arm, dragging her toward the ticket booth. We were all dressed in civvies, trying to look like normal teens out doing what normal teens do. I was wearing a t-shirt, jeans and a light jacket. Jessica---ever the fashionista show off---was wearing a tank top and short jean skirt, accentuated by her knee high leather boots and over abundance of makeup. When we paid for our tickets, the pimple-faced freak behind the counter leered at us. His looks made my skin crawl.

“Hang in there, babe,” said Marcus’ reassuring voice in my head.

Dating a telepath had its advantage. I closed my eyes, sending him good, warm thoughts.

Jessica and I started at the entrance and made our way around the circle. Everything was centered around the main tent, where all the noise and laughter was coming from. There was a big line trying to get in there but I had no intention of going in there. Just thinking about what might be inside made me shudder. Instead, I concentrated on searching the faces, trying desperately to find one that looked scared or out of place. But the problem was that to me everyone looked out of place. I looked at Jessica and she frowned, apparently, she was having no such luck either.

“Let’s try some of the smaller tents,” she said, leading the way.

I followed, the two of us weaving our way through the crowd. This was just like my first mission except this time there was a little more danger. No, we were dealing with an already Emerged target and hostiles that could be anywhere. It was a scary thought indeed, a lot more scary than anything I used to be able to conjure up.

When we got to the closest tent, she went in first. I was about to follow when I felt a tug on my pant leg. I looked around, and then down. There was a little girl there, holding a pink balloon. She couldn’t have been much older than Daisy. I groaned inwardly, wondering how it was I seemed to attract them. I smiled big and bent down so that I was eye level.

“How can I help you, sweetie?”

She looked scared. “Are you a clown?”

The color drained from my face. “Why would you think that?”

She smiled. “You have clown hair.”

“Susie” said a woman, walking over and taking the girl’s hand. She gave me a look and sneered a bit. “You leave this nice girl alone.”

My hair had that effect on a lot of adults. I think they thought I did it myself, that I was either Goth or Emo. The truth was that this was my real hair, no dye job of cheap wig. It happens to the best of us I guess. At the Center, we had a rainbow of color as far as hair went, eye colors were the same. I’m not really sure why. I stood up as the mother dragged little Susie away, she shyly waved to me as they disappeared into the ground. When she was gone, I shuddered. How could she mistake me for one of those things? Yes, if you haven’t guessed it already I have this thing about clowns.

And when I say thing I don’t mean fetish either. I mean, well, don’t laugh. But clowns scare the hell out of me. Yes, this out of the self proclaimed Fear Mongers mouth. Not that I go by that title anymore but the point is that sometimes the things you fear most are the scariest things of all. That’s why Batman chose to be called Batman because he was scared of bats---at least according to that movie. I always felt a little like him actually, except of course for the whole billionaire thing. My comparison was more along the lines of two dark loners, looking for an outlet for our pain. Not that I was looking for an outlet, not anymore.

I looked around, realizing that Jessica was way ahead of me now.

I groaned and pushed my way into the tent. I groaned as soon as I got through the crowd, now realizing why the little girl thought I was a clown. I stopped dead in my tracks, there were clowns everywhere. A cold chill went over my body. I saw little Susie getting her face painted by a pink haired clown while another clown made balloon animals. I looked for Jessica and not to my surprise, some guy was chatting her up. I wanted to walk over but she caught eyes with me and shook her head. You have to be kidding me. I tried to motion her over to me with her eyes but she shook her head. I frowned and rolled my eyes.

Just like Jessica. I left her to it, decided to let Marcus reprimand her about it later. I scanned the tent but there weren’t many people here over the height of two feet, except maybe bored parents. So I turned and decided to search on my own. I left Jessica to do her thing---whatever that was. I wandered about the other pavilions, hoping maybe something would draw my attention. I’m not sure what I was looking for exactly. I didn’t know what people looked like after they emerged. My own Emergence I was unconscious for, I came to several days later in a bed. I wasn’t as shocked as most people I guess, I was always kinda girly to begin with. But I couldn’t imagine going from that pretty blonde girl, I saw in that picture into a hairy guy.

Something very similar happened to Marcus. He was once blonde and beautiful, a beauty pageant queen actually. When his parents saw their princess turned into a tall black boy, they freaked to say the least. It took him a long time and lots of therapy to get over it. So maybe that’s what I should be looking for, a freaked guy, possibly one in clothes that didn’t quite fit him. I guess that shouldn’t be too hard to find in a place like this.

I continued looking, wandering a lot longer than I should have been. I was getting a little annoyed. Then I heard some running and panting. I turned and saw a group of kids. I groaned, what was it now. I bent down so they were eye level. “What’s the matter?”

“Are you one of the clowns?”

I groaned. “Why not, sure.”

The little boy in the lead---there were four boys and a girl---nodded. “We saw a bunch of clowns take a guy.”

That piqued my interest. Clowns taking a guy huh? “Where did they take him?”

The little boy pointed toward the trailers. I smiled, patted him on the head and took off at a brisk walk. It was a little hard going, what with all the people. I pushed and shoved my way through, getting a lot of curses and grunts. I ignored them, finally coming to a spot where I could run. As soon as I was far enough, I tapped my throat mike.

“I think I’ve found him,” I said.

Marcus’s voice came in my ear: “Mel, do not engage, wait for back up.”

I shook my head. “They have him already. You guys will not get here in time.”

Marcus sighed. “Ok but let Jessica do all the work.”

I clicked off, not bothering to tell him that Jessie wasn’t with me.

I charged toward the trailers, weaving through the maze of them. I had a good idea where they might be going. It was kinda a pain moving in and around the damn things but when I finally got through them; I saw the group that the kid mentioned. They had a black SUV, parked by a little bush. There were at least six of them, all of them dressed as clowns. I stopped dead, my skin going cold. Why did it have to be clowns? I looked past them the two rough looking clowns, who looked like guards. One of the clowns got into the driver seat while the other three were trying to stuff a struggling boy in the back. I knew it had to be Marcia because he was in a crop top and skirt. If it wasn’t for the situation, I might even laugh.

He kicked and struggled, trying to break free. Why they didn’t sedate him was beyond me. Clearly, these guys were amateurs, which gave me a great idea. I closed my eyes and when I opened them, nothing had changed. At least nothing to me had changed. But to everyone else they’d see---well they’d see a little girl that looked a lot like Daisy. I plastered a big smile on my face and started humming as I skipped over.

The two thuggish looking clowns frowned at me. The two stuffing “Marcia” into the SUV stopped what they were doing, dropping him on the ground. He rubbed his wrists, looking confused. I could see he’d been crying.

“Why aren’t you guys with the other clowns back there?” I asked in a sweet innocent voice.

“Beat it kid,” grumbled one of the thug clowns.

I ignored him. “Did that boy do something bad, is that why you’re taking him?”

One of the clowns by the SUV stepped forward, looking annoyed. “How much did you see sweetie?”

I played innocent. “I saw the clowns and the elephants and the juggler and…”

The Thug Clown cut me off. “This is shit, just grab her.”

“Aww, you said a bad word.”

He groaned angrily and reached for me, grabbing my shoulder. The problem with my illusions is just that. Most of them are just make believe, like my child glamour. Others are a bit stronger---tangible even---like that Santa that I made, the one that Daisy was able to interact with. But when this guy grabbed my shoulder, touch usually broke the spell. You see they weren’t real at all, just in the mind. I was the only one who labeled myself an Illusionist; the Center categorized me as a Level Three Dominator.

“What the fuck?” said the guy, realizing that I wasn’t a little girl after all?

The Leader Clown spoke. “She’s one of those Center brats, put a bullet in her.”

“Yes, let’s shot the nasty Dominator” I said as men with guns appeared behind me, pointing them at the Clowns.

The Thug Clown took a step back, scared. “What the…”

“They’re not real,” said the Leader again. “It’s all in your head.”

The Thug didn’t look convinced. He shook his head, dropped his gun and ran. I smirked. The Leader didn’t look so amused. He picked up the gun and whipped it around, catching me off guard. It clipped me under the chin, sending me sprawling. I hit the pavement; my fake soldiers disappeared because I lost my hold on everyone’s minds. He stepped toward me, pointing the gun.

“You stupid little bitch, why couldn’t you have left well enough alone.”

I closed my eyes, waiting for him to shoot but he didn’t. Instead, he started laughing. I opened my eyes, he was laughing so hard that he dropped the gun in my lap. The other started laughing too, they were laughing so hard that they were doubling over in pain. I looked around, wondering who could be doing…then I looked at “Marcia”. She was glaring angrily at them, a look of murder in his eyes. This was it, this was his power. Somehow, he could make people laugh.

What was that old expression…oh yeah, “die laughing.”

The guys were now on the ground, laughing and rolling about. The Leader was whimpering, blood coming from his nose and mouth.

‘Make it stop, please make it stop”.

I looked past them at him. “Marcia, you have to stop or you’ll kill them.”

He shook his head. “They were going to take me; they were going to drag me off somewhere.”

I nodded. “But they’re not now. I’m here to help you but you’ve got to stop.”

I’m not sure why his power wasn’t working on me, maybe I was immune. It didn’t matter; if I didn’t get him to stop, he was going to kill them. And as much as I’d like to see that happen, the others might frown upon it a bit. So I took a cautious step toward, holding up my hands to show I wasn’t going to hurt him. He looked at me, crying.

“Stay back” he shouted “or I’ll…I’ll…”

“You saw what I did,” I asked, he nodded. “I’m just like you. I come from a place where there’s people just like you. We can help you but you’ve gotta stop.”

“Melanie” said Marcus’ voice in my ear. “We’re on the way.”

I pushed my throat mike. “No, stay there. Marcia can induce laughter; if you get too close you’ll get caught up in it too.”

“Laughter?’” came Frankie’s voice. “That’s so awesome; he’s going to be the life of the party.”

“Shut up you idiot.”

Marcus groaned. “Guys stay back. Melanie this is on you.”

I nodded and looked at “Marcia”; the clowns were still writhing in delightful pain on the ground. “Let them go and I promise I won’t hurt you.”
He shook his head. I closed my eyes and transformed back into the little girl. “I’m not going to hurt you, Mister. I’m only trying to help.”

That seemed to do it, for whatever it’s worth. I’m not sure what happened but one minute the guys were laughing and the next they weren’t. I smiled and walked over, taking his hand and helping him up. I transformed back into myself and he collapsed into my arms, crying. I held him, trying my best to comfort him. I looked at the thugs lying around me, none of them were moving but they were panting so at least they were alive. Not that it made much of a difference to me.

I tapped my mike. “I’ve handled the situation, everything’s in the clear.”

Marcus sighed. “So no more laughing?”

I laughed. “Only on the inside.”

A few minutes later, the others showed up, including Jessica. She looked around and mouthed “sorry”. I smiled and nodded. Thomas pulled the goons to their feet, securing each of their hands with plaster ties. Vicky took “Marcia” from me. Frankie tried to talk to him but Jessica elbowed him in the ribs. Marcus wandered over to me with a smile.

“What the hell took you guys so long?” I asked.

He smirked. “You know us, just clowning around.”

I smirked. “Not funny.”

He kissed me on the forehead. I rest my head against his chest, closing my eyes. He held me as he led me away. When I opened my eyes again, a clown tried to hand me a balloon. I gave him a dirty look and he ran off. Marcus laughed; I elbowed him in the ribs.

God I hate clowns.

Enemyoffun

 

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Author's Note: Its holiday time again which means I had another inspiration to write more into Melanie Crane's interesting time. This time I spun an interesting Easter tale. I'd like to thank djkauf for the wonderful editing. Happy Easter everyone and enjoy :)

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The braying of my hounds was the only thing I could hear. They had this distinctive bark, loud and particularly annoying. It drowned out most of the rest of the noise in the forest, including the comm. chatter. I suppose all I had to do was wave my hand and they’d disappear but I kinda needed them at the moment. For the first time, we were sent off alone. It kinda surprised me actually, what with Marcus’ thing about splitting us up into pairs. But unlike the previous missions of Delta Squad, this wasn’t a Pick Up. It was a Seek the Enemy and Bring Him Back Unharmed type of mission. Why Delta and not one of the other teams, like Alpha or even Beta. Well, it was all our fault. Ok, so not our fault per se. It was actually my fault.

A rustle in the nearby bushes snapped me from my thoughts. I turned in the general direction. I thought about bringing one of my hounds back but if it was anything too dangerous, I could always conjure up some protection. Besides, I had a gun. I put my hand on my side holster, slowly creeping toward the bush. My heart was pounding a mile a minute in my chest. Whatever was in there had to be something worth scaring me. I crept closer, wetting my lips. My palms got sweaty and I thought about conjuring a big ass bear just for safety. But I shook that thought away---too much overkill. I nudged the brush with my foot and got the biggest fright of my life. Something brown hopped out, practically landing on my sneaker. I would have screamed if I hadn’t seen it first: it was a bunny. It stared up at me for a second then darted back into the woods. I cracked a smile, it was kinda poetic actually.

A stupid rabbit was half of the reason we were in this mess.

We were about ten miles from Beta site, in the dense wilderness. It had been almost a month since our last mission---a successful pick up---but Kris felt we needed to learn to work as a team some more. So she sent us to Colorado to work on team building. It was Delta plus one---the plus one being Daisy. It hadn’t been our idea to bring the kid along but Vicky didn’t want to leave her, I couldn’t blame her really. So we managed to get permission to bring her along just as long as she stayed out of the way. She was pretty good about it, too. It helped that Mattie agreed to come along as a babysitter. So while the team was out practicing our team building skills, Mattie and Daisy were back at camp braiding each other’s hair---not that Mattie’s was long enough to do much with.

Things didn’t go bad until Daisy started to fidget. It turns out that Kris scheduled our exercise a bit too close to a certain holiday. I’m not one for holidays. I didn’t exactly celebrate them when I was with my father, what with being in a coma for a good portion of the time. Easter was a weird one though too because it never fell on the same day. I think we were all too caught up in other things to notice, but not Daisy. Daisy knew everything. When she found out that the Easter Bunny might not be able to find her out here in the woods she put up quite a little fit.

Marcus came up with a beneficial solution: we were going to have to give Daisy some semblance of Easter. We only had the one truck---a Humvee---but it was enough. We knew from the map that we were about a mile and half from the nearest road, another mile or two from the nearest town. So Marcus, Frankie and Mattie stayed back at camp with Daisy while Thompson took Vicky, Jessica and me into town. The plan was simple: find some candy, maybe some cheap plastic eggs and figure out a way to create a good time for Daisy. We left while Mattie kept the kid preoccupied---if she knew we were going somewhere she’d want to tag along so we snuck off. What is it they say about the best laid plans? Well suffice to say, from the moment we left camp, things didn’t go very well.

_____________________________________

“What’s wrong?” I asked from the back seat as Thompson cursed.

“There’s a roadblock I think,” said the Corporal, drumming his fingers on the stirring wheel.

I tried to look over the back of the seat to see what he meant. I couldn’t see much because of all the traffic but I could just make out the flashing lights of the police cruiser up ahead. I sighed and dropped back into my seat. This was supposed to be a quick drive into town, an hour or maybe two, tops. But with the roadblock up ahead things were going to be really difficult. I had half a mind to conjure up a solution but that would have only made people mad. I have excellent control now, better than even before. The incident at the Circus had really opened things up for me. In the last month, I’d been working with Marcus to help center my gift. Stella was able to talk Marnie into helping me, too. I never thought I’d be one of those yoga kind of girls but breathing exercises were really good for concentration.

Dr. Tipps and I talked about my abilities too. In the past, I’ve misused them more than once. So it was all about finding a need for the things I do. “Small things, Melanie” she told me time and time again. She liked to be present for my power training, just to make sure I wasn’t going overboard. She didn’t mind me turning myself into a little girl to play with Daisy---she was actually happy that I was trying to make the Center’s first child feel welcome---but it was other things that bothered her. Like last Thursday. There’s this guy---Brady---in my Trig class, he’s a real ass. I’m not sure what his thing is, maybe it’s super powered annoyance. Anyway, he was talking crap in the back of the room so I conjured up this really big spider. He totaled freaked out, he fell back in his chair, knocked over a shelf of books and wet himself.

The whole class burst into laughter. It felt great to knock the prick down a peg but of course, the teacher knew it was me. After all, I’m the only Dominator in the whole place. Not that I call myself that---I prefer Illusionist. Ms. Fine prefers “Grade A Nuisance”. Not that she ever called me that but it was the look she gave me when the teacher sent me to Kris’ office. I got a stern scolding from Ms. F and urinal duty from Kris---the boy’s bathroom, trust me it’s the worst punishment. Dr. T wasn’t too happy either. She went on and on about such progress and then disaster. She thought about scratching my name from the forest exercise but Kris made it mandatory.

We set out for Colorado two days later. We’d been in the forest for a couple of days before Daisy sprang Easter on us.

“Can we go around it?” asked Jessie from the passenger seat.

Thompson shook his head. “I don’t want to risk it. But don’t worry I’m sure it’s nothing.”

Worry, who was worrying? It took us a bit to get moving, traffic was slow and nearly bumper-to-bumper. It surprised me that there were this many cars on a mountain road like this one. When it was almost our turn, I got a look out the window at the cruiser. It was a big tan SUV painted to look like a local police car. I guess it made sense, considering the roads up here. A big vehicle like that was ideal for traipsing around up here. There were two officers, on either side of the vehicle in front of us. The one on the right was looking in the back window while the one on the left was talking to the driver. The conversation didn’t last long then it was our turn.

Thompson pulled up slowly and cut the engine. The officer that came to his window was tall, broad and had a thin mustache. He and his partner were dressed in tan and had wide brim hats. They looked more like Sheriff’s Deputies than police officers. Thompson rolled down the window, making sure he had his creds. I’m not sure which cover story he was about to pull but I was guessing it was a pretty good one.

“What seems to be the problem, officer?”

The guy looked at him for a second then at Jess. The other officer looked into the back seat at the two of us, Vicky smiled sweetly at him. I think her icy blue eyes gave him pause but they were nothing too out of the ordinary. It was a good thing that I remembered to bring a hoodie, having my green hair covered helped a lot. There was no way I was going to be mistaken for a clown ever again. I suppose I could have made these guys think it was any color I wanted but it was easier just to cover my head.

“Is it just the four of you?” asked the officer at the window.

Thompson shook his head. “My partner is back at camp with the rest of the kids. We’re a Christian Youth Group on a Retreat for the week. I have the paperwork if you want to see it.”

He reached over to the glove compartment but the officer shook his head. “That won’t be necessary.”

Thompson smiled.”Suit yourself.”

I had to wonder if he really had paperwork in there. Knowing the Center, they were pretty thorough with their cover stories. When Becca and her team went to England, they went all out to make sure they were as authentic as possible. We were all briefed about the Cover before the exercise started. We even had t-shirts printed up just in case, not that any of us were wearing them. All of the girls in the group agreed last night that yellow was not our color; Jessie even went so far as to burn hers. Marcus wasn’t too happy about that but Frank helped. He burned his too. Marcus couldn’t argue about that, seeing as the two of them were getting along on something. I thought about letting her burn mine too, but I needed to stand by my man. He was the boss and what he said goes. If he wanted me to keep my ugly yellow shirt then I was more than happy too. There was just no way in hell that I was going to wear it.

Thompson did hand over his wallet though, showing the guy his fake ID. I’m not sure how good the cop was at detecting things like that but whoever did ours was a literal genius. Becca showed me her’s---the one she used in England---I even believed she was this other girl. When the officer looked at Thompson’s card, he stared a bit longer than I would have liked. I bit my lip, wishing that Marcus was here. I could read fear but that was all. It helped in my line of work, getting into people’s heads that way. I suppose I could do more too but I was afraid to dwell deeper. Marcus said the mind was a dangerous thing to go poking around in. An untrained person could get in serious trouble if they did it wrong. He offered to help me but I’m not ready for the hardcore stuff yet.

My Illusions were like mind control but it was mainly on the surface. I didn’t go any further than needed.

The officer handed back the card. He looked a little worried. “I think you should come into town for a day or two. We have a bit of a situation and it might be best if you and your group not be in the forest for the a few days.”

“Did something happen?”

The officer looked at his partner. The other man shrugged. The officer sighed. “We have reason to believe that a person of interest in a few bank robberies might be hiding out in the woods somewhere. Have you been watching the news?” Thompson shook his head.

“”Well the media is calling him the Easter Bunny Bandit. He holds the bank up wearing a bunny mask.”

You’ve gotta be kidding me. I guess it takes all kinds.

“Is he dangerous?”

The officer sighed. “He hasn’t hurt anyone yet but he is armed.”

“Are you evacuating other campers from the woods?”

“Not presently but…”

Thompson cut him off. “We’re far enough into it that I don’t think we’ll run into him. I have a radio and sat. phone. If we run into any problems, I can give you a call.”

The officer didn’t look too happy but he agreed. He gave Thompson a card. Then promised to come up and check on us as soon as he was done making the rounds down here. Thompson thanked him for allowing us to continue. Then the officer waved us on. I stared at him as we drove off, his face burned into my memory.
_______________________________________

The buzzing of a voice in my ear drew me back to the present.

“Mel, what’s your current position?”

It was Marcus, checking in. It’d been the third time in the last hour. I looked at the GPS indicator on my watch and gave him my coordinates.

“What’s up this time?”

Marcus sighed. “I found the truck.”

The truck in question was the one I saw at the roadblock yesterday. True to his word, after Deputy Meadows---thin mustache guy---made his patrol, he went into the woods to check on us. We knew didn’t know he was missing until Thompson picked it up on the police band. I guess that should have been our first indicator that something was wrong. But none of us were too worried about it back then. I guess we should have been because we might have been prepared.

I sighed. “Is there anyone in it?”

Marcus came back after a few seconds. I could hear him shuffling around. He sighed. “Its clean, his shotgun’s missing too.”

I cursed. It was one thing for the deputy to be missing but he’d been packing some firepower. That was going to complicate things a great deal. I thought about turning back. I looked up into the sky, night was starting to fall. I sighed heavily. If I turned back, now then it was pointless. I closed my eyes and envisioned the face of Meadows in my head. Like I said, it was burned into my memory. When I reopened my eyes I couldn’t help but see another face there too, one that was much closer to me than Deputy Meadows. I made my decision.

“I’m still going, there’s still some daylight left.”

“Me too” said Jessie.

Frank: “Ditto.”

Vicky: “Do you even need to ask?”

Marcus sighed. “Ok guys but the window is closing” There was a long pause. “I’m sorry Vick but you know the odds.”

Vicky said nothing. I wish he’d allowed me to go with her like I wanted. But Marcus insisted we’d cove more ground if we split up. I guess I couldn’t fault him for his logic but Vicky was a wreck right now. I so wanted to be there to comfort her, to reassure her that everything was going to be all right. Especially seeing how excited she was about all this yesterday. The whole thing had been her idea really. She wanted to make it special and she was damn sure to make it right.

__________________________________________

“Why do I have to be the Bunny, again?”

Vicky and Jess laughed. We were in this tiny little shop. It was one of many in town, situated along this quaint little street. After the roadblock and the traffic, it didn’t take us long to get into town. Thompson stayed in the truck while us three girls did some serious power shopping. First, we found this little Dollar Store that was selling a whole bunch of Easter crap half price. We loaded up our cart with candy and crap like that. Vicky made sure she found this cute little Easter basket and Jess found these plastic eggs. The two of them were kinda excited about it, swapping childhood Easter stories. I felt kinda left out but I busied myself by looking for some jellybeans. They were the only true thing I knew about Easter. I’m not sure why but I just knew kids were supposed to have jellybeans.

We spent an hour in the dollar store getting all the crap. I thought we were done but the girls had one more place they wanted to check out. On the way into town, we noticed a costume shop on the corner. It looked kinda out of place what with all the other stories being specific things. A novelty shop in this town seemed kinda odd, especially something that sold seasonal things. I could see it getting a lot of business around Halloween but the rest of the year business must have been really tight. When we went inside---the little bell above the door dinging---I think the guy behind the counter was happy to have customers. When he saw it was three hot teenage girls his face lit up.

That’s when we started browsing. I had no idea what we were looking for but apparently Vicky did. She pulled me right over to the bunny costumes. She found this sleek and sexy one piece suit, it was a like a giant rabbit skin that someone could step into. It was really freaky. The only thing that didn’t seem to make it more freaky was the cartoonish looking head. It was a Bunny caricature, a female one but still a caricature nonetheless.

That’s when they practically pushed me into the dressing room. Then they threw the costume at me. I tried to protest but as soon as I pulled back the curtain, they had a riot. They laughed at my expense. I didn’t even have the head on but I felt ridiculous.
I told them so, too.

“You look adorable,” said Vick with a laugh.

“Like a sexy Bugs” added Jess.

I frowned. “Why me again?”

Vick sighed. “Because you’re the only one who can fit in the suit. Besides, Daisy is going to freak when she sees you. You’re going to make her day.”

I sighed. That did it for me. Vicky knew I couldn’t resist making her little sis happy. So when I nodded and agreed, the two of them squealed, jumping up and down. Then they pushed me back into the dressing room. I took off the costume and the two of them paid for it. The guy at the counter frowned when he saw I wasn’t going to wear it out of the story. What a fricken perv. After that, we did some other shopping. We hit a little grocery store to buy some big people food---we were sick of the MRE’s that Thompson packed. In the end, we were in town for about two and half hours. On the way back to camp, the road was pretty much deserted. When we got to the spot where the roadblock was, there was nothing. So we were pretty confident they caught whoever it was they were looking for. It took us another hour and a half to get back to camp. Daisy was asleep by the time we got there which was a good thing. We roped the guys into helping us create Easter---Mattie jumped at the opportunity to help.

It took us nearly three hours to fill those stupid plastic eggs with candy and hide them. When we were done, all of us practically fell asleep right on the spot. When I finally crawled into my sleeping bag, I had a smile on my face, happy that I’d done something good.

________________________________________

The dogs stopped barking. I’m not sure if that was a good thing or not. I’d designed them specifically to pick up any signs of trouble. They were supposed to bark when they found something. I was so caught up in my own thoughts I didn’t even notice. Now the forest was deathly quiet, I couldn’t even hear the normal sounds. That sent a shiver up my spine. I closed my eyes and concentrated on them. There were three, created from my memories of dogs from the movies. All were bloodhounds but smarter than any real dogs. If they were not barking, it meant something was terribly wrong. I took a deep breath and reached out with my mind.

Though I wouldn’t let Marcus teach me any advanced telekinetic stuff, I did know some things. Of course, I didn’t do those things intentionally. When Becca and the original Delta team hit Section One, I’d been awake for a very short period of time. I was cold and alone and really scared. I had no idea what was going on or where I was. I’d been awake sporadically during my time there, mostly when I first got there. Every time I’d wakened in the past, my father was there waiting for me. When I woke up at that time, he was gone. I didn’t find out until much later that my father was dead, killed by Declan St. James. Whereas Becca had a grudge against that bastard Dekker, Declan was number one on my list. My father may have done something horrible things---putting me in a drug induced coma---but he was the only person who ever cared about me.

My earpiece buzzed to life again, Marcus checking in. “Mel, it’s too quiet.”

I sighed, touching my throat mike. “You noticed too.”

I made the dogs loud enough so even the others could hear them.

Frank piped in: “It was kinda peaceful, you know. I was getting used to the doggies.”

Jessie: “Speak for yourself, Match Head.”

Frank probably would have come back with something but Marcus cut him off. “Not now you two, concentrate.” There was a pair of sighs. Then he spoke to me. “I’m doubling back toward camp to rendezvous with Thompson, he and Mattie were able to get through to the Center finally.”

With all the dense foliage, communication was spotty at best. We knew that coming into this place, it was one of the reasons we chose this area. The earpieces and the throat mikes were low band, able to penetrate the trees because we had a nice transmitter. But to contact base we needed to use our antenna to relay with a satellite. With passing cloud cover and the trees, that wasn’t easy. We had initial contact with them yesterday, Thompson having apprised them of the situation about the bank robber. Luce said she had a team on standby in case things got out of hand. But that was hours ago and we haven’t been able to radio in since.

“Are they sending the team?”

Marcus sighed. “They’re coming but it might be a while. There’s a storm moving in---it’s supposed to be kinda bad. It might be a bit choppy to fly the helicopter so they’re going to have to come in on the ground.”

He didn’t need to finish that sentence. It took us hours to get to this spot on foot. It didn’t take a genius to figure out that we were on our own. But it was nice that they were on the way. The others chimed in on the situation, grumbling a bit. Vicky was really quiet but I knew she was still there because her GPS marker was active and moving. We all had markers, built into our watches. All of us, except Daisy. It was the newest thing that the Center was implementing. Once again, it was all thanks to Becca. After England when she was captured, The Colonel and Kris thought it might be a good idea to keep track of us when we were out in the field. The markers were a good idea. I just wish we’d thought of putting one on Daisy.

Marcus spoke again, switching to another channel. I heard him only in my left ear: “You ok?”

I knew why he was asking. There were only two reasons that the dogs would have stopped barking. The first being they were physically attacked. My dogs were only illusions after all, not tangible like the Santa Claus I created for Daisy. If someone were to say shoot them, they’d disappear quickly enough. The other reason was all on me. They would also disappear if I lost my hold on them.

I sighed. “This is all my fault. If I hadn’t left her alone…”

Marcus cut me off. “No one’s blaming you Mel. She was sitting by that tree when you left. You were only gone for a few minutes; kids have a tendency to wander off.”

I sighed. Easy for him to say, he didn’t lose his best friend’s little sister.

__________________________________

“Sweetie, I’ll be right back,” I told Daisy, letting go of her hand. “You wait right here, I’m going to look for the Easter Bunny.”

Her face lit up. “Do you really think he’s here?”

I smiled. “It’s the forest, where else would a bunny be.”

She got really excited about that. It felt good to see such joy on her face. When she woke up this morning, I think they heard her squeal all the way back in the town. We put her little basket in the tent with her, filled with all the chocolates and candies we bought yesterday. Her joyful squeal woke us all up. Thompson actually came running in his boxers, holding a Glock. It kinda scared all of us. I wasn’t the first one to the tent, that was Vicky. When I got there though Daisy was jumping up and down, happy that the Easter Bunny hadn’t forgotten her after all. It leaves a warm feeling in the pit of your stomach knowing that you’d done something good for a child. Seeing her so happy made me happy.

After Vicky and I got her to calm down, we got her dressed. Vicky bought her a pretty pink Easter dress when we were out yesterday. Daisy was so excited---bouncing up and down---it took the two of us to put her in it. After that, we took her by the hands and led her out of the tent. That’s when we told her what we “saw”. We filled all the plastic eggs with jellybeans and hid them throughout the surrounding area. We made sure not to put them too far from camp so she didn’t wander all over the place. The plan was that no matter where she was, one of us would either be with her or be able to see her.

I went with her on the hunt. There were twenty-four eggs scattered about. Over the course of an hour, we’d found all of them. Which was my cue to slip off and “look” for the Easter Bunny. I left her sitting by a tree, making her promise not to go anywhere while I slipped away. I doubled back toward camp, heading straight toward my tent. When I walked inside, I saw that someone had the costume already laid out for me. I frowned. It was probably Jess; she was having fun on my behalf. I made a mental note to do something awful to her in return. It didn’t take me long to get on though I was a little reluctant to put on that giant cartoonish head.

“Wow, looking real sexy” said Marcus as he stepped inside the tent.

I turned around---glad the tents were tall enough to stand in---and struck the sexiest pose I could think of. Ok, there was one advantage of dressing like this; it made my boyfriend’s pulse race. So that’s an added plus. “Tell me you’re not one of those creepy guys who have bunny girl fetishes?”

He smiled. “No but seeing you like that I think I might be a convert.”

I leaned forward and playfully punched him before we shared a kiss. We were officially one of the stranger couples at the Center. What with him being tall dark and handsome and me being the short, green haired girl who liked to make pretty pictures. At least that’s how I saw things. Our kiss turned a little something more. Before I knew the two of us were on the ground, he was fumbling around behind me trying to find the damn zipper. We hadn’t gone very far in our relationship, only kissing. Everyone knew we were a couple but that’s all they knew. We kept our relationship on the down low because we weren’t ready for anything too serious. There’s a lot of baggage dating me---the Dominator---and he was still getting over his first boyfriend, the one he had back when he was wearing the skirts.

I finally pushed him up, laughing. “I can’t do this now; I’m supposed to be out there with Daisy.”

He frowned. “Ok but when you’re done you’re wearing that costume tonight and sneaking into my tent?”

I smiled. “Is that an order, sir?”

He laughed then got to his feet, pulling down his shirt. Yeah, I can try to take off his clothes too. Then he reached out and pulled me to my feet. We kissed again then I slipped by him. He smacked my butt as I was leaving. I pulled the big head over my own and wandered through the camp. Vicky whistled, I struck another sexy pose then disappeared into the woods. I retraced my steps back to where I’d left Daisy. I couldn’t wait to see her face when I came walking up like this. I was so excited that I thought I went to the wrong spot. I looked around but Daisy wasn’t sitting where I left her. So I looked behind the tree then starting looking in the bushes. I knew it was this spot because I could see a few jellybeans in the grass.

I pulled off my head, tossing it aside. I took a deep breath. Don’t panic Mel. I pulled off the clothes too and rushed about, looking all over the surrounding area. But it was no use. Wherever Daisy was it was far enough away that I couldn’t find her. I bit my lip and panicked then.

I’d just lost my best friend’s sister.

_____________________________________

We’d been searching for her the last four hours.

After I discovered she’d been missing I rushed back to the camp and told the others. It didn’t take us long to scramble a search party. Things were made worse by the fact that Deputy Meadows was missing. That seemed to push us all into rapid motion. I tried to apologize again and again to Vicky but she knew it wasn’t my fault. In fact, Daisy had a tendency to do this. Apparently, she was always wandering off. She used to do it to their parents all the time. Now that I think about it, when Daisy wasn’t in their room, she was always wandering the halls of the Center. It was usually I or one of the other girls who brought her back. But this time was different. We weren’t in a safe place and there wasn’t some nut wandering around out there with a gun.

That’s when I conjured the hounds too, making sure I cued them in with Daisy. She was enough away that neither Marcus nor I could find her telepathically. But I was able to fuse what I remembered of her mind into the hounds, making them able to track her and only her. Then I sent them out, hoping against hope that they’d find her. Now they too had failed. This whole situation sucked. The only thing that would have made it worse is if I’d actually worn the costume to go looking for her. But that was the first thing I stripped out of. I don’t think a bright white suit was the proper thing to be stealthy in. Why stealthy because there’s a guy out there with a gun. Not that I didn’t have one too but I wanted to keep the casualties down to a minimum. Besides I’d never shot anyone before. I’d shot a lot of paper targets and dummies but never a real person. I wasn’t too bad at it now, getting better according to Becca. But I still had a long way to go before actually drawing my gun on anyone.

I closed my eyes. My last conversation with Marcus was about twenty minutes ago. I thought about reconjuring the hounds but he was right: I couldn’t concentrate. I knew this was all my fault. If I hadn’t gotten so carried away with being sexy for him I would have been back there to stop her from wandering. Both Marcus and Vicky said it wasn’t my fault but both of them knew it was. It kinda pissed me off that I could be so fricken stupid. I made a promise to myself when I was redressing that I was never going to allow my personal life get in the way of what was important. So when I was on a mission it was going to be all business and nothing else. Marcus and I could fool around in our rooms but nowhere else.

I pushed on. I was trying to utilize some of the tracking skills that Lara was teaching me and some of the other girls. Kris thought it a good idea that some of us had a wide range of abilities. I was chosen because of my lack of combat skills. Mattie, Clara and several others were in that group too. I was using some of my newfound skills now, keeping low to the ground, trying to think like Daisy. I thought about turning myself into a child but that only worked if there were others around me. Besides, it would have been another distraction. So instead I kept as low to the ground as possible, looking for any signs that someone might have gone this way.

It was pretty pointless because so far I’d found nothing. Three hours of trudging through the forest and I was about to give up too. I almost did when I spotted it. It was one of those things that you don’t normally find in a forest---unless of course it’s Easter. I smiled as I reached into the grass and picked up the yellow jellybean. A few feet away I found another one then another. I smiled. I’m not sure how or why but Daisy was dropping jellybeans. I tried to think if I’d seen anymore but I couldn’t remember. I was so guilt ridden I hadn’t bothered to look.

I tapped my throat. “I have a trail.”

There was a collective sigh of responses.

Marcus was the first to speak. “Did you find her?”

“No but I’ve got a trail of jellybeans.”

“Jellybeans?”

Vicky came on. “Bread crumbs. I’ve been reading her Grimm’s fairy tales at night. Hansel and Gretel left a trail of bread crumbs when they got lost, remember?”

I shook my head. I vaguely remembered the story. But I smiled nonetheless. Daisy was by far one of the smartest children I knew.

So I followed her trail of “breadcrumbs”. I just hoped she wouldn’t run out. But considering how many of those damn things we bought her it was safe to say that her trail would go on for a while. I kept close to the ground as I moved, picking up each one as I went. There was no way I was going to give them back---they were on the ground---but I made a promise to myself to buy her as many jellybeans as she wanted for as long as she lived. I tried to think of how many other kids would have been smart enough to leave something like this behind. I couldn’t think of any. Not that I knew any more kids but it was the thought that counted. But it was the fact that Daisy was clever enough at her age to come up with a way to keep her from getting lost.

I followed the trail to a clearing. At first I was about to run in, half expecting to see her sitting there. I wasn’t too far off because I heard a giggle. When I heard that I wanted to cry. I was definitely about to charge in then. But the giggle was followed by a laugh. It was a deep one, a laugh of a man. I stopped dead in my tracks, my heart hammering in my chest. Please God let it be Deputy Meadows. I crept slowing to the clearing, putting a large tree between myself and it. I peered slowly around the tree and saw the familiar of a tan uniform. I sighed with relief, it was a deputy. I took a deep breath and stepped into the clearing.

“Thank you so much for finding…”

My words caught in my mouth. Deputy Meadows was there all right but he wasn’t the one that laughed. In fact was laying against one of the other trees, the front of his uniform red with blood. Daisy was sitting a few feet away, not seeming to notice. Sitting across from her was a large man in a bunny mask. Daisy was giggling with him, eating jellybeans from her basket. For a second the man and I locked eyes. He and I both looked at the shotgun. It was too far away for each of us to reach but there was a knife in his waistband.

Daisy turned and saw me. Her face lit up. “Mel, look I found the Easter Bunny.”

I smiled and nodded, reaching up to brush my neck gently, turning the mike on. “That’s really good sweetie. Now why don’t you step away from the nice man in the bunny mask and come over here.”

Daisy frowned. “I don’t want too. We’re having fun.”

I frowned. Leave it to her to not want to leave. I smiled bigger. “But everyone is worried about you. You shouldn’t wander away from camp like that.”

I looked at the man in the mask. I could only see his eyes. They were dark and piercing. It was clear that like me, he was trying to figure out what to do. He had two options. I could see those options as well as I could. I just hoped he’d choose the latter and take off. Hell, I’d even give him a head start. Neither of us said a thing for a while. Then I nodded my head toward Meadows.

I cleared my throat. “I won’t tell anyone about that if you just give me the girl now and take off.”

Daisy put a finger to her mouth. “Shhh, the police man is sleeping.”

I smiled and nodded. “Then why don’t you come over to me and we’ll leave him to sleep here with the nice Easter Bunny.”

Daisy looked like he was thinking about it. She made her decision quickly enough. She started to get up and that’s when he made his move. He didn’t choose the latter. He lashed out, grabbing her wrist and pulling her into his chest. He didn’t need to use his knife with her. She was small enough that all he had to do was put his hand on her throat and start to squeeze. It wouldn’t take him long to snuff out her life. Daisy dropped her basket and started crying. Me, I was frozen in fear. He could see my gun; he could see there was no way I was going to let him walk out of her alive. He had the option of running but now that option was off the table.

“Throw the gun away, now,” he said angrily, his gun muffled by the mask.

I nodded and tossed the pistol. “Let her go.”

“You think I’m stupid,” he laughed, taking a step back. “This little lady is my ticket out of here.”

I shook my head. “I’m not the only one here you know. We’re all armed and the others…well, trust me when I saw this, you do not want them after you.”

He laughed again. “I’ve been watching you. Besides the big Army like guy, you’re a bunch of kids. What the hell are you going to do to me, nag me with your annoying teen drama?”

I smirked. Clearly, he hadn’t been watching us long enough.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, reaching into his mind. It didn’t take me long to find what I was looking for. I smirked when I saw it. Some people had some really elaborate fears while others were simple things. I liked the simple things so much better, they were much easier to manifest. When I opened my eyes again, I looked up to the tree behind him. At first there was nothing then slowly the biggest snake I’d ever seen started to slither its way down the tree trunk. I didn’t go overboard with it but it was pretty huge.

“Tell me, Mr. Bunny Bandit, what terrifies you more than anything else in the world?”

He looked at me like I was nuts, taking a step away. “What the hell are you talking about?”

I smiled. “What scares you?”

He stuttered. “Going to prison I guess.”

I smirked. “Really, well then I guess that giant snake behind you won’t be a problem.”

I saw the color drain from his face. At that particular moment, my snake chose to wind its way around his ankles. He let go of Daisy in a panic and looked down. As soon as he did, he let out a bloodcurdling scream. I guess I couldn’t really blame him; it was a big snake after all. He kicked and turned, trying to get it off of him. But the snake slowly started to wind its way up his body. I saw the look of sheer terror in his eyes. But I ignored him as he fell to the ground. Instead, I held out my arms as Daisy came running into my outstretched arms. She cried into my chest as I turned away from him. He was screaming and kicking.

I carried her away. Five minutes later---the guy still screaming---I ran into Marcus and Vicky. Both of them were running in a panic, huffing and out of breath. When Vicky saw Daisy in my arms, she broke down. I set Vicky on the ground and she ran to her sister, crying. I gave them their moment and turned to Marcus, pointing over my shoulder.

“He’s back there.”

Marcus raised an eyebrow. “What did you do to make him scream like that?”

I shook my head. “No one messes with my girl.”

He smiled and walked off in the direction of the clearing.

I walked over to where Vicky and Daisy were hugging each other. Daisy was sniffling but she looked better. “That was a bad Easter Bunny.”

Vicky kissed her on the head. “Its ok, he’s not going to hurt you anymore.”

Vicky and I shared a look. It was clear that when she was done he wasn’t going to hurt anyone ever again. I’m sure the world wouldn’t mind one less scumbag. I reached out and took Daisy from her arms. Vicky nodded, her icy blue eyes flashed as she too walked off toward the clearing.

I hefted Daisy, getting her as far away as possible. I’m not sure how far we got before I heard what sounded like a scream abruptly caught off in mid-holler. I pulled her close to my chest, burying her face in it. I wanted to make sure that she didn’t hear what I heard. WE got about halfway to camp when Jessie and Frank showed up. They both looked relieved to see Daisy in my arms. I pointed behind me and they ran off in that direction. I closed my eyes and set Daisy down. There was one thing I still wanted to do for her, one thing I’d failed to do earlier.

When I reopened my eyes, the largest rabbit I’d ever seen was standing before us. I crouched down and let it go off. She was still sniffling. “I’m sorry about before, Daisy; I should have never left you alone.”

She wiped her tears. ‘Its ok, Mel. I thought I could find the Easter Bunny and bring him to meet you.”

I smiled. “I think he’s found you.”

She turned her head and when she saw the big white bunny---complete with yellow bow tie---her eyes bugged out. I let her go and she slowly walked over, patting him on the head. I smiled and stood up. Happy Easter, Daisy.

Author’s note: As I’m sure all of you know, comments are life blood to an author. I’m not begging or demanding, but I certainly would appreciate anything you have to say (or ask). It doesn’t have to be long and involved, just give me your reaction to the story. Thanks in advance...EOF