Burden Of Blood by Wenona Hulsey Page B

Traffic had started to move forward.  “You need to take this seriously!” She swapped lanes moving around the big rig that had been annoying her for the past half hour.  The interstate was in sight now.
     
    “I am taking this seriously and I know I’ve put a lot on you.  I just thought that with you already upset about your dad and now this I would-” The Chevelle started to swerve cutting him off.
     
    “Oh no!” she gasped struggling to regain control barely able to avoid sideswiping the car beside her.  Her eyes were cloudy and unfocused.  Her body felt like it was running on autopilot.  “Dad has decided to chance it and run.  They are at the airport now and he’s looking for his opportunity to escape.”
     
    “Pull over.  You keep track of James and I’ll get us there.”
     
    Nicole knew without a doubt she could track her dad now.  She felt like there was a rope tying her to him.  She could hear his elevated heartbeat, smell the scents of the airport, and see clear flashes of the view through his eyes.  “Yes, you driving would be the safest for both of us.” She stopped the car in the emergency lane and slid over to the passenger side as Luke ran around to the driver’s side.  She leaned back into the seat and closed her eyes, letting her mind focus on her dad.
     
    “What’s happening” Luke asked as he steered the car back onto the interstate.
     
    “He is still with Ronald.  They are waiting for their flight to arrive.  He keeps looking at the security guards.  He’s very nervous.  I can feel the sweat beading on his face and the drumming of his fingers on the arm of his chair.  Man, this is so weird.” The fast movement of James’ head gave her vertigo for a moment.  Nicole could feel the pressure of fingers digging into her arm but she knew it was not happening to her.  This must have been what had James whipping his head around.
     
    “Don’t go getting any bright ideas.  You better remember my warning.  I don’t bluff.”
     
     Ronald’s annoyed voice echoed in her head.  She felt her dad’s heart sink as he thought about putting her life at risk.  “ She has been through enough.  I’m an old man and I’ve lived a good life.  I won’t do anything to get her hurt.” With that thought she felt her dad sink back into his chair.  The defeat was almost tangible in the air around him.
     
    Nicole watched through her dad’s blurred eyes as he nodded at Ronald, admitting defeat.  “I wasn’t planning anything.  I just need a bathroom, that’s all.” She observed the suspicion in Ronald’s eyes, as he gave James a hard look.  Nicole could feel herself cringing back from the weight of his stare.
     
    “You can wait until we are in the air.  I'm not going chance you trying to make a nuisance of yourself.” He sat back in his chair satisfied that his prisoner wasn’t going to try anything.
     
    “I don’t think he’s going to do anything.  Ronald has threatened to hurt me if he does.” Nicole said with a relieved sigh.  She wanted her dad away from that creep but she didn’t want him risking his own life to do it.
     
    “Just keep your mind on him.  We need to know exactly where he is so look for gate signs and anything that will help us to find him,” Luke said as he continued to maneuver the Chevelle around traffic.
     
    “No problem.  I wonder why it’s different this time.  I mean, last time I connected with him it was like I was a ghost in the room but this time I’m seeing everything through Dad’s eyes.”
     
    “I’m not real sure but it could have been because he was drugged before.  You couldn’t get a clear fix on his mind.  When you get a feel for all of your powers, you will be able to choose how you see things.  You have so much to learn Nicole, and that’s what I'm here to help you with.  You just have to trust me.”
     
    Nicole wasn’t sure how to respond so she just nodded and continued to keep her eyes