Unravelled

Before I can shake it I sense someone behind me. The light-skinned one with the curls has materialised at my side. I jump, startled. “Where did you come from?”

He doesn’t even glance my way. “Duma, didn’t I ask you to get me a drink?”

“In a second,” says the kid, grinning at me. “I was just saying hi to – ”

“Now,” the other boy insists.

I look at him. “Let me guess. You’re the big brother.”

“Cousin, but he acts like he owns me,” Duma grumbles. “He’s Elias, by the way.”

“Nice to meet you, Elias.”

“Ja, hi.” He hasn’t taken his eyes off Duma. “Drink. Now.”

Duma mutters something incoherent and turns away. “See you later, Conyza.”

“Call me Connie,” I call out.

He turns around and beams, then vanishes into the crowd.

“And what exactly is your – ” But Elias is gone, leaving me baffled and a little annoyed. Why did he have to be so rude? Does he think I was making moves on his cousin, or is he just worried that I’ll figure out he’s gifted? Too late. And how did Duma know my name? Did he ask around because he sensed that I’m gifted, too?

I glance around for Rapunzel and Hulk, but they’ve disappeared as well so I head back to my corner. Wiki pulls out his earphones and gives me an enquiring look.

“This party is turning out to be interesting,” I report, taking my place beside him.

His eyes widen when I tell him what happened. “You think all of them are gifted?”

“I don’t know. At least four. That Elias moved like a cat. Definitely gifted.”

Wiki frowns. “That’s odd. A group of gifted relatives, hanging around together like some kind of…”

“Gang? Pop group? Coven?”

“You tell me.”

I shrug. “Being gifted doesn’t mean they’re trouble. You know what bugs me?” I lean close to him. “I’ve never heard of an entire family of freaks.”

“Doesn’t the power get passed on, like you and your grandfather?”

“Yes, but not always. Rakwena got his gift from his dad, but Ntatemogolo and I have different gifts, and we’re the only gifted in our family. It’s just…weird.”

Wiki frowns at his laptop, radiating concern. “So what happens now?”

“I need to know more about them, and since Duma seems to be more sociable than the rest, I’ll have to try to get him alone.”

“Maybe I should come…”

I pat his knee gently. “He might not talk in front of an ungifted. And you’re in the middle of an episode.” I pick up a biscuit, finish the rest of my drink and get to my feet.

“Good luck. And be careful!”

I wink at him and head back into the thick of the party. I spot Tshiamo near the door, but the minute he sees me he bolts. And I’m supposed to be the weird one. The loud music and densely packed bodies are starting to give me a headache. Number six finally makes an appearance at the far end of the room. Spencer. Lebz didn’t exaggerate – the boy’s a walking dream. In jeans that fit like magic and a T-shirt that shows off a ripped torso, he has a face so pretty it makes me want to cry. Poor Kelly didn’t stand a chance.

Unfortunately, the effect is hampered by the fact that Spencer is drunk, and if the cup in his hand is anything to go by, he’s not done yet. He leans against the wall, looking self-satisfied and ignoring the gaggle of girls giggling nearby. A moment later he’s joined by Kelly, and I’m struck by how good they look together. If they procreate, the world is in big trouble.

It seems they’re eager to get cracking on that; Kelly plasters herself against him and kisses him with abandon. He drops the cup, unconcerned about the amber puddle at his feet, and wraps his arms around her so tight I feel suffocated. They’re not kissing, they’re trying to swallow each other whole.

For a moment all I can do is stare. I’ve seen Kelly play the game of seduction countless times, but I’ve never seen her like this. She’s clinging to Spencer with a desperation that borders on terror, as if they’ll die if they let go. When it comes to boys, Kelly always has the upper hand.

When she and Spencer finally pull apart, I can tell by the dazed expression on her face that the tables have been turned. She’s fallen, hard, and the realisation sends wild tendrils of panic shooting through my head. That look on her face doesn’t make me feel warm and fuzzy, and it’s not because of the antagonism between us. Even I wouldn’t begrudge Kelly the thrill of true love – but this isn’t it. This is something else. Something dangerous. Something wrong.

Spencer keeps his arm possessively around Kelly, and they vanish into the crowd. I try to follow, but I have no idea where they went. Her room, maybe. The thought fills me with dread. I search the room for them, and instead catch a glimpse of Elias’s twin dancing with a girl. They’re pressed so close to each other it’s a miracle they can breathe. Elias isn’t far away; I spot him chatting up a girl near the window. These boys are taking full advantage of their effect on girls. If they were regular boys I’d just be disgusted, but they’re gifted, and that changes everything.

I keep moving, heading towards the door, and stop abruptly when I see Thuli, Hulk and Rapunzel. Thuli is chattering away, but neither Hulk nor Rapunzel seem interested in his monologue. Spencer appears again, emerging from the crowd to stand at Hulk’s side. Kelly’s not with him.

He leans in to whisper in Hulk’s ear, barely able to keep himself from swaying. Beneath the haze of alcohol, he looks upset. Hulk pulls Spencer aside. They have a brief, terse discussion, and then Hulk beckons to Rapunzel and the three of them head for the door. Thuli starts to follow, then seems to change his mind. I, on the other hand, have no qualms about sticking my nose in the Cresta Crew’s business. I’m almost at the door when Lebz appears with Amantle right behind her.

“Connie! There you are – have you seen Kelly?”

As soon as Lebz’s hand touches my arm, my body stiffens. My eyes burn, my pulse races and panic fills my throat, almost choking me. The feeling fades instantly and there are no images to accompany it, but I don’t need a diagram.

Lebz inhales sharply, recognising the symptoms. “What did you see?”

I don’t answer. I push my way back through the crowd, following the thin, disintegrating thread of my premonition. Across the room, through the corridor, past the toilet where a queue has formed, past the staircase, past the kitchen and into another corridor. A door is ajar; I push it open and find myself in what must be the garage. It’s pitch dark.

“Kelly?” I look around, adjusting to the darkness. I can make out the shape of a car, the backdoor wide open, but a quick glance inside reveals nothing but an abandoned pair of high heels. “Kelly!”

Lebz and Amantle take up the call as the three of us comb the garage, but there’s no sign of her. Then I see another door, leading to what looks like a small storeroom. I run towards it.

“Here!” I yell to the others, stopping short of falling over the inert figure on the floor.

Kelly’s legs are in the doorway, her body slumped on the floor. She’s unconscious, but apparently uninjured. Her clothes are rumpled but intact. I kneel down beside her, tapping her cheeks with my palms. “Kelly. Kelly!”

“Oh, God!” gasps Lebz. “What happened?”

“Was it Spencer?” demands Amantle. “Did he…”

“I don’t know. Maybe she just had too much to drink.”

“But how could he leave her like this?” cries Lebz in horror. “All alone in the dark – he could have at least taken her to her room!”

Kelly starts to moan and her eyelids flutter open. “Spencer?”

“Gone,” I tell her, helping her sit up. “Are you OK?”

She rubs her temple and frowns. “I feel…sick.” Her eyes roll back in her head and she sags against the wall.