Dissimulants

Up through her preteen years, Geli had made her parents nervous, even though they pretended not to be. Her mom said she had an active imagination. Her dad called it daydreaming. Neither of them wanted to deal with it, and Geli learned to keep quiet. So, to the unfounded relief of her parents, she grew out of a phase. That was partially true; the accidents had stopped, but the complete truth was that she had learned to control how and when her alternate realties came — and how to end them when they needed to end. It was her secret life, which she learned to keep secret. One night, two years ago, that changed. Geli met an old lady who taught her about Dissimulants. All her life Geli knew she was different; after that night, she wasn't alone.

Parks, on the other hand, was a rough — a Dissimulant who had no knowledge of his abilities. That was the reason Geli had come here, to help Parks understand what he was. Circumstances had changed her plan. Surviving this night had become the new priority.

Geli had been through this several times, and once even got them completely away from the Slot. But details had changed. Parks forgetting his skateboard — that wasn't right. And the last attempt, which ended in death, felt very close to a real end. Geli was certain they were running out of chances; that any of the next attempts could be the last. She wouldn't know until it was too late. Then none of what she'd gone through in the last two years would have mattered to anyone.

"No," she whispered. "That isn't what happens." She was alive, back once again in the fire escape stairwell at the Slot.

The blur of colors she held pinched between her thumb and finger, sharpened to distinct swirls. The pink and blue marble really had no magic; she knew that. Magical powers had left a long time ago. Logic and reason replaced the magic of all her childhood things. But she used the marble anyhow. It, like many of her objects, gave her a point of focus. It let her see past the light and shadow of the normal world, and into hidden places. The marble was a window, a door, and a crutch. Geli wasn't ready to do without it.

Parks had just left, on his way back to get his skateboard from his room. Geli made up her mind that they would not use the basement; they would make the escape through the front entrance. She knew that the Crown Vic, parked out front earlier, had now moved to the parking lot at the back. She also knew that when the agents arrived they would all climb the stairs to get to Parks' room, except one. One agent would remain in the lobby. Dealing with her was necessary to save Parks. Geli knew that too. She pressed her ear against the fire door, and waited for it to start.