The Secret by Taryn A. Taylor Read Free Book Online

between the original seven, and, if need be, their kids. But we didn’t know names.
    Reed put his hand on Marsha’s shoulder, a loud laugh barking out of him. “They don’t think they can talk about it…with us.” He turned to Jake, his laugh getting even more hysterical. He grabbed his stomach and doubled over in laughter.
    Rob’s jaw tensed and his eyes flitted to Karen. “What?”
    Karen’s dark eyes were sad. “All we know is that there were seven. And…now we know that five of the seven are dead.” Looking at me, she asked, “Your dad is dead, right, Lanie?”
    Taking the coin from Rob’s hand, I nodded, the shock of it all beginning to sink in. My dad’s coin?
    Rob grabbed it back, gripping it in his fist. “No!” Turning in a circle of rage, he threw the coin across the room.
    “Rob!”
    Glaring at me, he looked possessed, his hair sticking up and his glasses crooked on his face. “He was there, Lanie. That proves he was there… He was there . He knew what Luth was doing to you.”
    Swirling silver and black began to move around me, and loud white noise started to ring in my ears. No, no—it couldn’t be. Rob held my eyes, the heinous truth trickling down my neck and wrapping swirling red hands around my heart.
    Rob nodded. “Dad. It was dad’s coin.”

Episode 7: The Foundation – Part II

    “No…Dad always carried his coin with him.”
    Rob dropped his head, redness instantly forming around the edges of his eyes. “Yes…he did.”
    Shaking my head, I felt like I’d been sucker punched.
    Rob clenched his jaw and stepped forward, pushing Jake in the chest, hard. “You’re a liar. I don’t believe you.”
    Jake took the hit, moving back a few steps.
    Reed stepped forward. “Dude!”
    But Jake put his hand up. “It’s fine.” His voice was low.
    Marsha shoved her way toward me, face suddenly before mine, but her voice was soft, accusing. “You’ve got your powers—we don’t.” She glanced at Jake. “Why do you think that is?”
    I shook my head, feeling the energy come back into me. She thought I had something to do with this?
    Jake stepped back toward us. “Come on, Marsha.”
    I pushed forward, getting in Marsha’s face as she had done to me, tired of her accusations and anger. “You don’t know what happened to me in there, Marsha. Back off!”
    She roared back at me. “Our powers disappeared the night we tried to help you. Poof—they were gone!” She pointed at me. “You were there, and then all that was left was that crummy coin. So you tell me. Where are our powers?”
    I rocked back, suddenly dizzy.
    “Go!” Jake roared back at Marsha, moving in closer to help me stand upright. “Give her some space.”
    My throat felt like it was closing. “I don’t have your powers, Marsha.” I could hardly get the words out.  “I don’t.”
    “We don’t know it was his…” Rob looked at me, defiant. Then he quickly walked to the front door, gruffly opening it and slamming it shut behind him.
    I turned for the door to go after him.
    Reed huffed and gave me a little push out of the way. “I’ll go. You stay here and talk to Jake.”
    Marsha silently followed him.
    Worried, Karen looked at me. “I better go with them.” She scampered after Reed and Marsha, shutting the door more softly.
    Before I could even attempt to follow the others, Jake stepped in front of me, blocking my path. We were alone now. His eyes were sad, yet fierce. “They won’t let him leave, don’t worry.”
    Frustrated, I turned away from him and sank down onto the couch.  “What, Jake? What do you want?” I couldn’t think. This didn’t make sense. Nothing made sense.
    Jake sat down across from me in a red wicker rocking chair. “I’m sorry, Lanie.”
    I looked across the room where Rob had thrown the other coin, thinking about my father. The only thing that had kept me going through those months with Dr. Luth was knowing that my father would kill him when I got out.
    I shuddered,