Miss No One Mark Ayre (children's books read aloud TXT) 📖

though he cared. Not for the first time, Abbie wondered if Ben had children. Was there a wife at home, children somewhere out there in the world? If Ben had a daughter, how would he feel if she was in Abbie's position?

Instead, she said, "I'm not the one threatening to let me serve jail time if I refuse to cut ties with my boyfriend. See how ridiculous you seem when I say that out loud."

Unfazed and unshamed, Ben said, "You may remember it was not us who blessed you with this gift of foresight, this ability to see those who will soon die should you not intervene in their circumstances. Nor is it our fault you are cursed with nightmares of the final moments of those you fail. These dreams preclude you from having a job and ensure you regularly face mortal danger and the threat of arrest. You might try to remember all this would be true whether we backed you or not. Working with us, the only difference is that money and imprisonment need no longer trouble you. We protect you wherever we can, and we don't believe we're asking too much in return."

"Just that I exist, rather than live."

Ben sighed. "I fear we're in danger of going in circles. See yourself as cursed rather than blessed if you want. Either way, some higher power or quirk of fate has bestowed great purpose upon you. It's not a purpose you can escape. With us or without us, you'll always end up alone, a slave to the missions your dreams provide you. Let us help where we can, and understand we know what we're talking about. We know what's best for you."

What's best for you.

What an infuriating statement. That alone was almost enough to make Abbie hang up. But she didn't. There was Bobby's smile again, hanging around in her mind. The smile asked nothing of her because Bobby never asked anything of Abbie other than that she be honest with him and that she be herself around him. Unlike Ben, Bobby would never offer her an ultimatum.

On the other hand, there was Isabella. Already in danger and Abbie's dream had given her a peek into what would happen to the child if Abbie didn't help. Or couldn't help.

"I'm sure there are things with which we can help you in terms of your latest mission," Ben said when Abbie let the conversation lull. "You must have questions that need answering. What can I do? You need only give me your word and ask away. As ever, we will be at your beck and call."

The toddler all but jumped from the swing into her father's arms. He spun her around. Both were laughing. Abbie realised she was on the verge of tears and decided this was not an ideal state in which to be.

"A young girl is missing," she said.

"We understand, and we want to help. Tell us how we can."

Did Abbie have a choice? Bobby's smile wouldn't go away, but how much did her happiness matter next to the life of an innocent child? Christine was right now putting her neck on the block because she'd decided her career and happiness were less significant than Isabella. That was the kind of example Abbie had always tried to follow and to set.

"You said you take saving lives seriously," she said, still unable to let go. "So do that. Help me now and stop using a little girl as a bargaining chip. That's all I ask."

"We've been through this," said Ben. "We're not only thinking about the now but the future. We can't only consider this one child, but everyone you will be called upon to save. We must ensure you'll be ready to act time and again. We must be firm on this. You must agree to end your relationship with Bobby."

Bobby.

Be safe. Come back to me.

"He's only one man," said Ben. "This is your destiny."

Be safe.

Destiny. The word entered Abbie's mind and rattled around, bouncing off the proverbial walls. Yes... destiny.

Come back to me.

It was that word—destiny—that made up her mind.

"Thank you," she said to Ben. "You're right. This is my destiny. For years, this has been my destiny."

"I'm glad you're coming around to our way of thinking."

"When I dream of someone in danger," Abbie went on, "I get in my car and drive. I never know where I'm going, but always I end up in the right place. In a new town, I wander into the night with no plan or clue of who I’ll run into. I don't even know the name of the person I've come to save."

"For years, we've been working together," said Ben. "I do know how your blessing works."

But he sounded nervous, and why shouldn't he? Abbie was on a roll.

"Despite this lack of knowledge and inability to plan, I always, without fail, run into the people I need to run into, get involved in the skirmishes I need to get involved in, and piss off the baddies I need to piss off. So far, my random wandering has never failed to yield results."

There was a pause, then Ben let out a long sigh.

"Would I be an old fool to imagine you're coming to some sort of point?"

"You call it destiny," said Abbie. "A blessing bequeathed to me by a higher power or quirk of fate. Whatever it is, it wants me to succeed. It intends for me to succeed."

She left a long pause for effect. She loved the long pause for effect.

"With or without you," she finished.

Another long pause, this time driven from Ben's end. Maybe he, too, intended this for effect. If so, he didn't hit the mark.

"Please don't be naive," he said at last. "You can't honestly fool yourself into thinking you don't need us? Do you know how many bodies we've cleaned up for you over the years?"

"And I've been ever so grateful."

Another pause. Abbie felt as though she'd said everything she needed to say.

"This is your last chance," said Ben. "I