Three weeks had passed since Ethan woke up in the Hive.
They had not seen Mr. Christie again and they had no idea why they had been brought here.
The group had discovered that the locked door did not lead to the outside. Instead it led into a huge, six-sided room, completely open, without windows. The high ceiling was blanketed in skylights that let in natural light, but didn't give them a clue as to where they were being kept.
A running/walking track circled the room. Gym equipment littered one side of the room and a makeshift learning area filled the rest of the space.
Kate and Rudy expected them to exercise every morning.
Ethan preferred to pound the punching bag that hung from the ceiling on a chain. Rufus with his lean, lanky build was a natural runner. Georgie grudgingly trudged around the track only when Kate or Rudy insisted. He slowed his pace and wobbled around each time Rufus came up behind him. Angry, Rufus would shout and threaten until Rudy was forced to intervene.
Lucy spent her time atop the stationary bike, pedaling furiously, tears running down her cheeks. Her naturally slight build was now skeletal. Rufus and Ethan tried to force extra food on her at meal times, but she refused. Yesterday Rudy sauntered into the room, a box in his hands. He stood in front of Lucy, waiting patiently. Slowly her pace let up. She lifted her gaze.
Rudy smiled. "Look what I found." He lifted the lid of the box. A squeaky meow escaped. Lucy jumped off the bike. "Lemme see."
Lucy reached in the box and pulled out a black and white kitten. The cat was a scrawny, feline version of Lucy. She cooed and rubbed the kitten's fur across her cheek.
"Her name is Twiskers." Rudy waited, then smiled at Lucy's giggle.
Lucy held the little cat out for Ethan to see. Beside it's tiny nose the kitten had only two whiskers. He smiled.
After lunch they would take a seat around the long table in the teaching area. The table had three chairs tucked under each side. Ethan found it odd that they only learned three subjects. Kate stood at one end in front of a white board when the lesson for the day was history or languages. Rudy took her spot if they were to study Geography.
This afternoon Kate was teaching.
Ethan sat nearest her, Lucy was to Ethan's left, Twiskers sleeping in a box at her feet. Rufus lounged in the final spot. Georgie sat opposite flanked by two empty chairs.
"Today we will be talking about Abraham Lincoln. Ethan?"
"Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States. Born 1809 in Kentucky. Shot April 14th 1865, died April 15th 1865."
"Thank you. Now, here is a fact you may not know. Lincoln was almost murdered before his inauguration in March, 1861. He had been traveling by train to Washington when an armed man snuck on board. Lincoln was shot. The wound was fatal"
Ethan shook his head. "It would have been impossible to keep that a secret and where was he wounded? How did he recover? How is it that no historians have ever mentioned this?"
Kate's smile was gentle. "Because we kept it a secret."
"We?" Now all four were skeptical.
"The Hive kept the secret. Here's the story. Lincoln was known to have visions, including premonitions." Ethan listened spellbound. He had heard before about Lincoln's strong belief in dreams and visions. Lincoln had a dream where he saw people mourning just before his assassination in 1865.
"In the 1860's the Hive had a powerful Precognitive, named Roland Hays." Kate ignored Georgie's snort.
Hays saw Lincoln shot in a vision. He knew neither the date or who the assassin was, but he could tell it was on a train. Factoring in that Hays could see no more than 3 days ahead of time, it was reasoned the attempt would take place on the train taking Lincoln to Washington for his inauguration. The Hive was able to send a team with a healer to Lincoln's train.
"Then why didn't the Hive stop the second lethal assassination at Ford Theater?" Georgie's skepticism was heavily tinged with sarcasm.
Kate smiled. "Because Lincoln had achieved what he needed to and, honestly, his assassination did more to unify the country than separate it."
"Maybe I'm a healer." Georgie puffed up his chest importantly. "Or a Precognitive."
"Not likely." Rufus scoffed.
"You don't know me!"
"I know you are an insensitive, selfish jerk. Hardly healer material."
"Shut up. You're the jerk."
"Get your finger out of my face."
"Or what, tough guy?"
Rufus swatted at Georgie's hand.
Lightning sparked from Rufus' fingers and a loud bang knocked Georgie backward. His chair flipped over throwing him on the floor. He clasped his hand to his chest, whimpering.
Rufus ran to his side.
"Get away from me, you murderer!"
"You're not dead." Rufus leaned back on his heels, his face genuinely contrite. "I'm sorry. I don't know what happened."
"Let me see." Lucy reached for Georgie's hand. His right hand was an angry red and already blistering. He whined.
Cradling his hands gently between her tiny ones, Lucy hummed. Ethan watched intently as Georgie's eyes closed. Kate stayed at the head of the table.
Lucy laid his hand gently on his chest. "Better? "Georgie looked sleepily at his hand and nodded. It appeared a bit pink, but otherwise normal.
"I guess we know who the healer is." Ethan smiled at Lucy. "But what the heck is Rufus?"