"Aaron. Leave, please." I tried to say as he stood at the doorway. This was Dooley's plan all along. Aaron was the only person on this planet that had taken the majority of the serum and Dooley was ready to hurt him for it. I could tell something was up the second he had told me to call Aaron. Not once, but twice. Wouldn't the kidnapper ensure that nobody knew where their victim was? And it only made sense that I was just the bait. He was after Aaron considering he kept insisting I call him.

I needed to protect him, but I wasn't sure if my calls were being listened to. So I tried calling Aaron after turning the shower and faucet water on at the same time, making loud sounds as I whispered on the phone.

"Violet." Aaron answered and warmth filled my entire body.

"Aaron, please listen I don't have much time. If you find my location, do not come here. It's a trap. He's after you. Please listen to me and stay far away." I had warned him.

"Violet! I don't want you getting hurt! Where the hell are you anyway? Are you okay?"

"Aaron I can't tell you where I am because I don't know where I am. I've been locked in a basement for three days. I'll be out of here soon, don't worry about me. I'll escape on my own. Just do not come here. Okay, he's setting you up. Don't come here." I had warned him, hoping the message would come across clearly enough.

"Violet. Please." He scoffed, "I can protect myself, where are you?" He asked. I missed his voice, his calm, deep voice as he continued to talk. I considered telling him where I was, but immediately thought against it. I didn't want to put him in danger. He was safer where he was and I knew my own father wouldn't kill me. "Violet," he said and I hadn't realized he had still been talking.

"I have to go Aaron." I said, hanging up and walking into the shower.

I quickly showered and wondered if I could leave through the bathroom window. Dooley's house only had one floor, but I didn't want to test my chances if he claimed to have installed a tracking device on me. I had been in and out of consciousness for God knows how long.

"Dad?" I asked, walking around the living room. He wasn't there. I walked downstairs to the basement. He wasn't there either. Good; he'd left. I rushed upstairs to keep my eye on the door as I pulled out my phone and dialed 911, the emergency line.

"911 what's your emergency?" A man picked up the phone immediately.

"I've been kidnapped. My dad knocked me out at his lab and has been trying to experiment on me. He's kept me in his basement; he just left right now please help me. His name is Dr. Robert Dooley. He works at the Institution as a professor and a researcher. Please send help; he isn't here right now but could be here soon and I am so scared."

"What's the address?"

"I don't know where he took me. He knocked me out and the next thing I knew I was in a basement tied to a table while he took blood samples from me. He's crazy!" I said as I saw the door knob move, "please hurry he's here, bring silent sirens or something! Help me out. He said he put a tracker in me that'll put a toxin through my blood if I try to leave. I'm so scared."

"Ma'am, please stay on the line while we try to locate your location." The man said as the door opened and Dr. Dooley walked in. I immediately ended the call, hoping they had enough time to locate me and deleted them from my recently called.

"We're you just on the phone?"

"Yes." I responded. I was far from afraid as he approached me.

"Well, help should get here soon then?" He smirked at me as I felt like my jaw was going to drop. Had he heard my phone call. "Relax, I know my own daughter wouldn't betray me like that. Besides, I trust you called your friend Aaron to help. You know he's welcome here anytime."

I nodded just as a knock arrived at the front door.

Please be the police.

I stood in the living room as Dooley walked over to the door and unlocked it.

Aaron. No! You fool!

"Aaron. Leave, please." I tried to say as he stood at the doorway. This was Dooley's plan all along. I could see the smug look on his face as he stared at Aaron. I was speechless at the sight of his disheveled hair and tears began streaming out of my eyes. I missed him so much.

"Welcome to my house Aaron. You must be here for Violet. Can I get you a drink?"

Don't take it. I thought, trying my hardest to direct it at Aaron as a thought entered my mind.

Relax, I got this. The police are outside surrounding the house, they escorted me here from the precinct. You're safe. I hadn't realized we could still communicate telepathically even though I couldn't hear people's thoughts anymore, he winked at me as he walked into Dooley's home.

"Sure! I'd love a drink." Aaron said as a repulsive smile on my fathers face made me want to gag him. He must've believed that Aaron had taken the bait. Dooley must have been high on drugs or something because he certainly was acting strange.

"Would you like some of my famous apple cider too, Violet?" He asked me as Aaron and I followed him to the kitchen. My heart was racing as Aaron reached for my hand momentarily before letting go. I love you. I thought as we made eye contact. He couldn't hear it and I was grateful. I was overjoyed at seeing him. I wanted to hug and kiss him and tell him how much I missed him.

"Yes." I said, following Aaron's lead.

He said I can't leave the house. He put a tracker in me that is supposed to release kill me if I try to leave. I thought as Aaron glanced at me.

"So Dr. Dooley, what have you been up to recently. I heard the you haven't been to classes in a couple weeks. Your students have all gotten sick at the same time too which is a little strange." Aaron asked.

"Oh, nothing, I've just been busy."

"Have you gotten into any new technology. I heard the Fird lab is working to develop a tracker that you can put on people like a shock collar so they can't go anywhere." Aaron said, making conversation as Dooley handed us each a cup of his 'apple cider.'

"Oh I haven't heard of that," Dooley said, watching us eagerly. We weren't stupid; clearly he had put something in our drinks.

"Yeah, dad, didn't you say you put one of those in me." I asked, picking the cup up, just to watch the anticipation on Dooley's face and then placing it back on the table. His reaction was rather comical.

I felt safe now that Aaron was here, protected and like I could conquer the world.

He lied. He didn't put anything in you. Aaron sent to me as I put my hand under the kitchen island to reach for his. I missed the comfort of him.

Oh! Thank God. Aaron, on the count of three, we toss our drinks at him and make a run for the door. I thought back.

He's booby trapped his house. I've got a better idea. Spill your drink and go on the floor. Aaron thought as I picked up the drink and watched Dooley eye us carefully.

I accidentally poured some on the table and dropped the glass cup on the floor.

"Oh my gosh dad! I'm so sorry. I can pick that up." I said, quickly getting under the table and sitting beside the glass.

Now what? I asked.

Cover your eyes. Aaron thought as I could imagine him smirking.

"You know Doctor Dooley, I've always been intrigued by your research. Can you show me some of it?" Aaron asked as Dooley's feet shifted under the table. I sat still and quietly as they spoke.

And suddenly, the table was floating as was Dooley. I stood up to see that Aaron had tossed him across the room, ensuring he hit the door.

From over six feet away, Aaron lifted Dooley up again and slammed him into the door. I watched in shock as the world spun around me. The front door was knocked to the ground as sirens roared in the distance.

I stood up, turning to look at Aaron whose eyes had turned an electric blue and dead set on Dr. Dooley; his hands were moving things that were not within arms length. Well, by golly, he actually did it. He must've been the reason we had floated all those weeks ago. It was a new power and he didn't know how to use it back then. But now, he was a master of his craft. I watched with admiration as officers approached the house, grabbing an angry, stupid Dooley as Aaron turned to face me.

I was in shock. It all had happened so fast.

"You have a new power!? When were you going to tell me?" I exclaimed as he wrapped his arms around me and picked me up. He held me close against himself.

"I thought you were dead Vy," he whispered, pulling back so we were face to face, "I... I didn't know what to do. Violet, I...," he began, but I shut my eyes and leaned into his hug. He was so tall, so warm, so caring. He was the complete opposite of the person I had envisioned him to be a couple months ago.

I watched as Dooley was handcuffed and screamed at the twenty officers surrounding him.

"What is wrong with you people?? I am a world renowned scientist! You can not arrest me."

"Dr. Robert Dooley, you are under arrest for the kidnap of Violet Veowsalot. We have reason to believe that you have been performing illegal and unprecedented research under the institution of which you work. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law."

"I didn't do anything! All my subjects volunteered!" He shouted, turning to glare at me as I looked away. He wasn't worth the time of day: an absentee father and a literal psycho. Good riddance. I rolled my eyes as they dragged him away, still holding onto Aaron like he was my life line.

"Aaron, thank you." I whispered as he hugged me tightly.

"They're going to have a field day when they see what poison he tried to drug us with." Aaron said, setting me back on my feet.

"Wait till they find what's in the basement." I joked as Aaron reached for my hand and kissed it.

"I'm so glad you're safe. I don't know what I would've done without you."

"Don't get all mushy with me," I laughed as tears streamed down my cheeks. I hadn't had time to process what had happened, but I knew, with Aaron by my side, I could handle anything.

We walked outside as Dooley continued to yell at the police. The sun was shining bright and Dooley's darkness was stuffed into the vehicle. I looked up at Aaron who was staring right back at me.

And I knew everything would be alright.

♥️🤪

In case you're interested in getting the totally edited/revised/changed paperback version of this book:

https://www.amazon.com/Boy-Who-Read-Minds-ebook/dp/B08RYV11F2/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=veronica+Soliman&qid=1609863783&sr=8-3

The Boy Who Read Minds (completed!)

. The Boy Who Solved Crimes

Bailey's Story (Butterflies of Gold)

. Joseph's Story (An Era Away)

Anya (Tyler's Story)