The Bag - Anna

Malcolm's heart filled with dread. Anna was standing in front of him and her face was full of shock and bewilderment. Being a Perceptive meant that she was more sensitive than most. He had such guilt attached to her and who she was. He was trying to be a better father to her, now that they were away from danger.

He had had a feeling that it would catch up with them eventually. He had become too complacent.

"Anna," he said.

She was gazing off into the distance with that look in her eyes which spoke of otherness, its gleaning and her seeking of it.

"Is there a problem with the shield, Dad?"

Malcolm scrambled. He was not expecting that. In the corner of his workshop was a panel, controlling the waves that protected Anna from Disruption, the waves that he had discovered, the waves that he had tamed.

Putting his glasses on, he examined it keenly. All seemed to be in order.

"The shield is intact, Anna. So what is it? What can you feel?"

Anna's face relaxed a little and then, adopted an expression of concentration as she navigated her unique consciousness to find the source of...what? She wasn't sure. But something was different.

"I...I..." she stuttered. She searched, her brain receptive to signals that were beyond the ordinary. She was tentative in her approach, but bent and weaved her way through thoughts and impressions, nuances and signals, tasting and examining them, evaluating.

And then, she found it.

*

The Master was grateful for whatever was going on which was not drawing attention to him. Because there had to be something happening, otherwise he reckoned he'd have been taken by now. Something was occupying His time.

He'd shipped Marshall off to hospital in a taxi, the driver startled but willing once he'd been paid well. He hoped that Marshall would be okay. And live. That He wouldn't get him.

The drones were stationary still. He prayed he could get to Mother in time.

*

Jason touched Ella.

He was moving towards them.

Jason was scared and he had no idea what he was doing.

But when the door blew out, he thought they had a chance.

***

366 words

I can't turn "bold" off. That's just as an aside to explain my formatting. Weird.

Anyway, I've got rid of one of the confusing 'M' characters to help with keeping track. There are now: Jason, Ella, Anna - no 'M's'. Then The Master, Mother, Malcolm. The Master will soon be known as his first name if he can get to his mother, that is, and then there will just be Malcolm with Anna in the wilderness, hiding out.

And, of course, Him.

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