Chapter 1 - The Touch
The old man was halfway through his steak when a dirty boy dropped to his knees beside the table.
The boy could not have been older than twelve. His sweatshirt was torn at one elbow. His cheek was bruised. In his arms, wrapped in a gray blanket, slept a baby.
Two younger children stood behind him.
Hungry.
Terrified.
Ready to run.
Elias lowered his fork.
"What are you doing?"
The boy lifted the baby carefully.
"She can heal your legs."
For one second, Elias stared.
Then he laughed.
It came out harder than he meant it to.
"You expect me to believe that?"
The smallest child flinched.
The boy did not.
His eyes were wet, but his voice stayed steady.
"Just let her touch you."
Elias looked down at the useless legs beneath the table.
"Go away," Elias said.
"We haven't eaten since yesterday."
"Then ask for food. Don't sell miracles."
"I'm not selling anything."
The boy's jaw tightened.
"I'm asking you to help us after."
"After what?"
"After she proves it."
The baby stirred.
One tiny hand slid from the blanket.
Elias hated himself for looking at it.
"What is her name?"
"Grace."
"And yours?"
"Mateo."
Elias leaned back.
"Who told you I couldn't walk?"
Mateo glanced at the folded wheelchair beside the cafe chair, then at Elias's dead-still legs.
"I'm twelve. I'm not stupid."
That almost made Elias smile.
Almost.
Mateo moved closer.
"She did it once before."
The words changed something.
Elias's fingers tightened around the edge of the table.
"To who?"
"Our brother."
The older girl grabbed Mateo's sleeve.
"Don't."
But it was too late.
Elias looked at the baby.
Grace's eyes opened.
Gray.
Calm.
Too calm for a child surrounded by strangers.
Mateo whispered, "Please."
Elias could have called security.
Could have handed the children fifty dollars and sent them away.
Instead, against every piece of sense he had left, he nodded.
"One touch."
Mateo brought Grace closer.
Her small fingers brushed Elias's right knee.
Nothing happened.
Then heat moved under his skin.
Not pain.
Memory.
His foot jerked beneath the table.
Elias gasped.
The fork fell from his hand.
The cafe went quiet.
His right foot moved again.
Once.
Twice.
The girl behind Mateo covered her mouth.
Elias grabbed the table so hard his knuckles whitened.
"What did you do?"
Mateo was crying now.
"I told you."
Elias stared at the baby.
Then a black SUV stopped across the street.
Mateo's face changed.
"Run."
The children turned.
Elias caught his sleeve.
"Who's in that car?"
May you like
Mateo looked at him with pure fear.
"The people who want her back."
