a unique individual.” I think he had meant to whisper the last bit, but I’d heard it as clearly as if he had said it over a loudspeaker.
***
Weeks passed, and I was unable to communicate with my angel friends or enemies. I’d not been attacked, and even Remi and Emeria in Jenny’s body had obviously given up on me. No one came to visit. I’d begun to think as Mr. Rocket and my other Group mates thought. Perhaps I’d made the whole thing up.
TV and radio were off limits, as was the newspaper. There were constant updates on the charges against Gavin, and they thought my seeing him or hearing his name would send me over the edge. At least that’s how Wanda put it. She was the only one I spoke to. Her penchant for “keeping it real” was refreshing. She also happened to believe that she was a descendent of the ruler of the planet Mercury, cast down to Earth for forming an army to defeat her uncle, the king. Who the heck was I to judge her?
I couldn’t even go outside since the facility was across the street from the yard where the guys in lockup spent a few hours each day. It truly sucked being me.
“You know why they don’t let you out, right?” Wanda passed me a french fry and smiled. I didn’t even have to answer, ’cause I knew she couldn’t wait to tell me. Her left dimple was twitching.
“Why is that?” I grabbed the fry, drowned it in ketchup, and popped it into my mouth.
Wanda glanced quickly over my shoulder, leaned in toward me, and whispered, “’Cause Gavin Vault is over there. You might see him and fling yourself at the gates!” She wailed.
I couldn’t believe she was actually laughing at me.
“I’m not laughing at you,” Wanda said.
Wait. Had she heard my thoughts?
“How did you do that?” I leaned forward so only she could hear me. There were a ton of little gossipers who ate lunch all around us. Well, they pretended to eat while they listened in on conversations. They took note of whatever they could use against someone.
“Do what?” Wanda appeared thoroughly perplexed.
“Read my thoughts!”
But then Wanda looked at me like I had suddenly turned into a mermaid and was flapping my gills and swinging my tail due to the lack of water.
Crap. She hadn’t heard me at all. She just knew me very well. Or I was predictable. Either way, I got all worked up for nothing.
“Gavin’s in that jail? Across the street?”
“Yep, and for some reason, according to Channel Six, they can’t move him. He must stay there until his second trial.”
I think my eyes must have bulged out of my head. “His what?”
“His second trial, silly. You act like you’re the one from Mercury. I’m just now learning about your judicial system.”
I grabbed Wanda’s arms and, against my better judgment, held her and said, “Wanda. Tell me what’s going on. Why is Gavin across the street from here?”
She took one of my hands and shoved it off her, rolled her eyes, made a stink face, then flung the other one off.
“Calm down. No wonder they have you on all those pills!”
“Will you just tell me already? Sorry for grabbing you. I’ll get you anything you want. Just tell me.”
A relaxed smiled presented itself on Wanda’s face, and she said, “His first trial? There was a miscarriage. So they’re doing it again.”
“Miscarriage?”
“Yeah. Some buffoon was on the news talking about how it was a miscarriage of justice and what not. He has to be tried all over again.”
She meant a mistrial, but I didn’t correct her. I thanked her, ate the rest of my food, then walked briskly to my room.
I knew it. I flipping knew it. I searched my room for the copy of Praefatio I’d hidden, but after three hours found nothing. Ugh.
***
I spent the next few weeks listening to Wanda report the news of Gavin’s impending trial. One night she teased me about some big news she’d gotten ahold of, but the details, being sketchy, would have to wait until the next day, when she would know more. She said I’d be excited.
I entered the lunchroom to the usual stares and giggles. The air felt thicker than usual, almost electric. Wanda wasn’t in our usual spot. A few of the orderlies watched me as I placed my tray on the table and sat slowly down. I tried to shake the feeling of dread I had growing