[Ganzfield 2] Adversary by Kate Kaynak

sound of his mind from Ganzfield—Drew’s cousin, Grant. We’d come to the right place.
    The other man came toward us around the barricade. Flames reflected off the metal of his shotgun as he approached with slow, wary steps. Firelight back-lit his red hair and wide-set shoulders. Must be a McFee. He looked older, perhaps in his forties. I felt the bright recognition in Drew’s mind. He threw open the driver’s door to jump out, and then froze with his hand half-extended. He’d needed to stop the gun from firing.
    “Geez! Uncle Jim, don’t shoot!”
    Jim McFee’s face mirrored the horror in his mind. “Drew? Is that really you?”
    “Yeah, it’s me! You gonna lower that shotgun now?”
    Jim pointed the weapon at the ground as he pulled his nephew into a tight, one-armed hug. The rest of us piled out of the van. “The minder said you were dead.”
    “Dr. Williamson said we were dead?” I asked, surprised. Why would he—?
    “Not Williamson. The other one, just a kid, really…”
    “Seth?” I asked.
    “Yeah.” Uncle Jim nodded. “Williamson was killed. Ambushed outside of North Conway.”
    The world tilted sickeningly.
    No, no, no.
    That couldn’t be true. Dr. Williamson was dead? I’d thought—I’d assumed—he’d have come here. He’d be in charge. He’d know what to do.
    And everything would be okay…
    The horror of the entire day came to a terrible head. I’d just lost the closest thing I’d known to a father. My whole body shook uncontrollably and couldn’t seem to get enough air. A strangled sob escaped from me and my hands flew up to cover my mouth. Trevor caught me as my legs gave out.
    Grant and Uncle Jim pulled the barricade aside. Drew rolled the van between the flaming barrels into the inky blackness beyond. When the paved road ran out, we pulled to a stop next to the other two Ganzfield vans in front of a large, barn-like building. Silhouettes appeared at the lighted windows, drawn by the sound of our engine.
    The door of the lodge flung open with a high-pitched cry. I recognized Drew’s mother—a McFee-sized blonde woman—as she ran to the driver’s door of the van and yanked Drew into a hug. Drew’s brother, Harrison, descended on us, as well. The brightness of their joy shone in contrast to the emotional tone of the others here. I closed my eyes and took a shuddering breath.
    You’re not dead. I felt the familiar mental voice distantly in my mind—Seth.
    I never said I was. Why did you? We usually picked at each other like siblings but we were both too traumatized to make much more of an effort at it tonight.
    One of the guys we captured said his people had killed you on the road to town. Something that felt like a tortured scream filled Seth’s mind.
    False memory. The new charm’s good at it. A sliver of hope stabbed through my consciousness. Wait—did these same guys tell you they got Dr. Williamson, too?
    Yeah. The same thought occurred to him. That RV still with you?
    I was already on it. “Rachel!” My shout interrupted a rather demonstrative reunion with Sean. He poured a series of exuberant, passionate kisses on her that she ardently returned. “Rachel! RACHEL!” Geez. RACHEL! Calling her name directly into her skull finally got her attention. “We need you to find Dr. Williamson. Right now!”
    Please, God. I really hoped I wasn’t about to give her a head full of images of his mangled corpse.
    Her golden threads found Dr. Williamson, pacing in some kind of holding cell.
    Thank you, God!
    I started crying again as I saw the vision in her mind.
    Seth saw it, too. A small sense of order fell across his thoughts with this new piece of welcome data. It looks official. Good.
    Official? Why does that matter? Dr. Williamson’s alive!
    “He’s alive?” asked Trevor. Was I leaking thoughts to him again?
    I met his eyes through my tears and nodded.
    “Who’s alive?” asked Hannah.
    “Dr. Williamson,” Rachel answered. Nearly thirty people had gathered