Under His Influence

“Anna’s psychic link is the human version. She only hears me when I choose her to. Rixxar One only has access to my mind when I allow it. The other way, though, is different.”

“But he made contact with you! You were asleep.”

“If Anna is in profound danger or distress, her link will reach me.” John was running now, dragging Mimi along in his footsteps, towards Haverstock Hill. All around them, people stood in clusters, staring wonderingly at the new-made sky.

“So what can we do about Rixxar One? How can we get him out of Anna?”

They piled into a passing cab and sat behind the scratched Perspex screen, their hands joined, white at the knuckles.

“There will be a way,” avowed John. “We will find it.”

Liam watched helplessly as the paramedics tried to ascertain what had caused Anna’s collapse.

“I can’t understand it,” one of them said, glancing up at him. “She seems fine. Are you sure she isn’t faking it? Does she want to go wherever you’re going?”

“Could be psychological—it’s the only thing I can think of,” added his colleague.

“She’s had a rough time lately,” Liam offered. “Marriage breakup. And, like I said, she’s pregnant. Early stages.”

“Well, I thought it was low blood pressure when you told me that,” the first paramedic said, frowning. “But the cuff reading is normal.”

“She isn’t narcoleptic, by any chance?” hazarded his colleague.

Liam shook his head.

“Well, maybe a stress-related thing then. If your problems are so bad you have to cross the world to avoid them…”

“They are pretty bad. Husband’s shacked up with her best friend. And they keep telling us that she’s in danger. She’s quite freaked out.”

“Not surprised. Husband sounds like a prize. I guess she’s better off out of it, though. What shall we do?”

This last question was addressed to the fellow paramedic, who replaced her equipment in her bag and folded her arms, her face a picture of confusion.

“I dunno. Something’s up with her, isn’t it? And if she’s pregnant, we ought to stay on the safe side. Admit her to A&E?”

“You think she needs to go to hospital? But our flight—”

Anna suddenly sat bolt upright, her eyelids flying open.

“We stay here,” she rasped, in a voice Liam didn’t recognise.

“Anna…?”

“I am well. Leave me. We must wait here. No flight.”

Liam looked over at the paramedics, who seemed fascinated by Anna’s demeanour.

“She isn’t herself,” he whispered.

“I am myself!” Anna exclaimed. “I am my full and entire self. You are Liam. You must stay with me. These others must go.”

The paramedics lingered, seemingly waiting for something to convince them to stay until Anna’s fierce expression drove them off.

The first one shrugged.

“Well, she’s healthy. Give us a shout if it happens again.”

“Couldn’t find any indications of unfitness to travel,” added his colleague. “But watch for any stomach cramping or blood loss. And make sure you both get plenty of leg movement. Don’t want any deep vein thrombosis, do you?”