by Jaymin Eve
But as I stepped closer, straining against the barrier, I realized it was a piece of paper. Right at the base of the statue.
Chapter 4
Leaning out, I scraped the edge of the red paper with my fingertips, pulling it back toward me. As I straightened, note in hand, Brad made his way to my side. “What did you find?” he asked, eyes locked on the note in my hand.
I quickly opened the folded sheet and we silently read it together.
13 steps toward the sun. 13 steps toward the east. A broken shoelace will not hurt. A gilded cage of the sea.
Brad’s brow furrowed, but I let out a low chuckle. “Tell me you know what the hell that means…” he said, frustrated.
I nodded. “This is a poem I made up when I was seven. It was a class project. They gave us a list of five words and we had to use them in a poem. Mine made no sense at all, but my mom laughed and said it was perfect. She put it on the fridge.” My hand tightened in the paper. “Then one day, it was gone. Dad told me he took it to his work and put it up on the wall as a reminder of everything he had at home. A reminder of his funny, smart, and silly daughter.”
Don’t cry, damn it.
“What does it mean, though?” Brad said, and I swallowed my emotions down.
“I don’t know.” I cleared my throat. “I guess that he was here, and that … his work is here somewhere. Maybe he wants me to go to his work…”
Only I had no idea where it was.
“Maiz,” Brad said, urgency in his tone. I flipped my head up and looked at him. He was pointing toward another red flash. I hadn’t seen it in my haste to read the first letter.
He reached out, scooping it up and handing it to me. I opened it and held the letter so we could both read it.
Hansel and Gretel.
Brad growled. “I still don’t know what he’s trying to tell us.”
I blinked a few times, a thought coming to me. “What if he’s telling us to follow the breadcrumbs? Hansel and Gretel style.” I reread the first note, looking for clues. “There’s no sun right now, so it has to be the east thing. But where is the starting point?” A direction was no good if we didn’t have a starting point. “Which way is east in general?” My sense of direction was terrible. I couldn’t read a map. During orientation at school I’d gotten my entire team so lost they had to bring in trackers to find us.
Brad turned in a circle once, stopping and pointing. “I think that way.” We started to walk, counting the steps. We were still in the memorial at thirteen and my confusion was growing. Why couldn’t my dad just make this easy on me? I was tired, stressed, scared, freezing. I didn’t have time for riddles.
“Found it,” Brad said, startling me from my moment of feeling sorry for myself. The note had been wedged into a small space just across from us.
Opening it, I read the next cryptic clue.
A president’s job is never fun. Eighty-seven steps down and you’re almost done.
Well, that was at least a little clearer.
Brad and I wasted no more time. We rushed out of the building and took the steps all the way down to the reflecting pool. It was barely visible in the dark, and I took care not to overstep into the water. On the last step there was another red note:
Take a left and then a right. Find a bush that looks like spike.
“Spike, your old dog?” Brad asked.
I nodded. “Has to be.”
We hurried left first, and then when we reached the end of the water, turned right. There were no signs of any people around, but I was worried that our strange behavior might draw the attention of security. Sooner or later, someone was going to investigate.
As we moved, I kept an eye out for something that might look like a dog.
“There?” Brad asked, sounding unsure.
He was pointing at a plant, huge and bushy, and almost completely hidden in the darkness. But there were a few pinpoints of light behind it that sort of gave it a canine shape.
“I hope so,” I said breathlessly as we changed directions and went further into the shadows.
Our steps slowed as we got closer, and I was holding my breath, silently hoping that this was the last stop. I couldn’t handle the suspense any longer. As we crept around the edge of the bush, a shadow straightened from where it had been crouched.
“Dad!” I exclaimed, managing to keep my voice low even though my tone was excited and relieved.
I threw myself at him and he wrapped his arms around me.
“Where’s Mom?” I asked as I pulled back.
He pressed a finger to my lips, before his eyes darted up to Brad. They exchanged a look and my best friend nodded, not saying a word. Holding my hand tightly, Dad led us through the Mall, always looking over his shoulder. He was acting paranoid – but I hadn’t forgotten my very recent kidnap attempt, so I understood.
We continued ducking in and out of buildings, moving randomly, before we left the Mall and crossed into a street. I knew we were heading away from the White House, but other than that I’d never have been able to retrace our steps.
There were lots of fancy buildings around us, the kind with an abundance of character: stone and marble fronts, small detailing etched into their front doors, and lots of metal accents. I’d never been here before, and in the dark I couldn’t tell if they were houses or condos, but either way, there was some serious money here. You couldn’t live this close to the White House without being in the billionaire club.
A cold breeze hit me, the temperature dropping the closer we got to sunrise. I shivered violently and my father let go of my hand to shuck off his jacket, wrapping it around me. He wore a sweater beneath, blue and striped, so I gratefully accepted his coat. My skin prickled and hurt as the warmth seeped into it, and I realized how close I had come to being seriously frozen.
We resumed our fast walk again, staying in the shadows. When my dad stopped abruptly, I almost crashed into him. He entered a front yard and led us to a set of stairs that seemed to disappear into darkness. If I didn’t trust my father immensely, there was no way I would step one foot on those creepy concrete stairs. But I knew he would not lead me into danger, so down we went. My eyes adjusted, and as we neared the last step, I saw the door.
It was black. Simple looking. My dad reached into his pocket and pulled out a key. As he fit it into a keyhole – the only thing on the door – there was a click, and I almost gasped as a panel opened up. It was like a huge peephole with a computer screen on the other side.
My father leaned forward and there was a flash. I blinked, waiting for my vision to clear. When it did, I saw another flash, but this time I realized what was happening.
The machine was scanning his eyes. After that it was his palm, then there was a small shelf that slid out and he pressed his fingertip down onto a small pin.
Shut up! Well, I was definitely forming a complete picture of what “top secret” really meant. When all the identity confirmation was done, he reached for me, pulling me forward and positioning me in front of the screen, which had to tilt down to see me. I got the same treatment as my father, and as soon as my eyes were scanned, all of my details appeared on the screen. My full name, date of birth, address, phone number, and blood type.
Speaking of blood … I flinched at the prick of the pin, but it really didn’t hurt too much. The anticipation was worse than the reality. Then it was Brad’s turn, and when he was done the door finally slid open.
Stepping into the warm building, I could have cried with relief. After being cold for so long, the heat felt like a luxury. Dad wasted no time striding forward, along the plain hallway. He led us toward an elevator at the end of the hall. A man was sitting in a chair just in front of the silver doors, wearing a suit and dark glasses.
“Good morning, Sam,” the guard greeted my father, acting like he was legit right out of a Will Smith movie.
My dad nodded in return, but no other words were exchanged. The guard didn’t ask what Brad and I were doing here, and it fel
t slightly awkward as we all waited in silence for the elevator to arrive. How that was going to happen when there was no button on the outside to press was anyone’s guess. I jumped when it dinged, and then the silver doors slid open. As we filed inside, I met Brad’s eye. He pulled his “what the hell is going on here” face, and I returned it with one of my own.
I had no idea what was going on, outside of the fact that I’d had to run for my life tonight.
“You can talk.” My father’s somewhat amused voice startled me so much that I almost stumbled into the wall. Only Brad’s arm, which shot out quickly, stopped me.
“What the freak is going on, Dad?” I asked as I straightened, finally letting my fear and anger loose.
His expression turned forlorn. The moment I saw that look, the rage coursing through me lessened. I never could stay mad at my parents, no matter how much they hurt me.
“I’m so sorry that we’ve kept you in the dark for so long,” he said slowly. “I know you won’t believe this, but we were preparing to tell you everything within the next few months – closer to the end of high school. We held off as long as we could, but you’re eighteen now, and the responsibility of your world is something you will have to deal with.”
Say what now? This was about me? My world?
“What does that mean?” Brad asked with bite to his words, his arm still wrapped around me. He probably sensed I needed the support.
My dad shot him a measured look. “It means that Maya is not fully aware of her life and destiny. That her mother and I undertake this work here so that we can keep her as protected as possible. And that everything we feared has come to pass.”
“Protected from what?” I stepped out from under Brad’s arm and closer to my father. I wanted to see his face when he answered. Before he said anything though, there was another ding and the elevator stopped moving.
The doors opened. On the other side there was another security guard sitting in the same position as the one before. Same suit. Same glasses. Same greeting to my father.
“Good morning, Sam. They’re waiting for you in conference room one.”
My dad nodded, and we trailed after him along a short hall to a door. He ushered us through, and as I stepped to the other side, I gasped, far louder than I would have liked. But … seriously. The room was huge and well lit, with what looked like at least thirty desks spread out around it. There were big screens flashing numbers and images, and despite the very early hour, people were everywhere. After so much quiet and dark, this was incredibly disconcerting to step into.
“Definitely government,” Brad said with a snort. “Always the same décor, no matter what department you work in.”
Since he occasionally got to visit his parents at work, he’d know better than me.
“Come on, your mom is waiting.” My dad inclined his head to the right. “She wants to be there when you find out.”
We ended up in a long glass-walled room. It was set up like a conference room: huge table, at least fifty chairs spread out around it. There were half a dozen people waiting at the far end from us.
I ran toward my mom; she stood to greet me. She was smaller than me, barely topping five foot. In my heels I had to bend down to wrap my arms around her.
“Little one,” she said, squeezing me tightly. She was strong; her hugs always made me feel special. “I have been so worried about you.”
My mom had no accent, having been tutored by Americans. Her parents had wanted her to integrate in every way possible while still maintaining their Japanese values. When we finally pulled apart, she led me to a chair next to the one she’d been sitting in. With a relieved sigh, I sank down and tried to shrug off everything that had happened that night.
Easier said than done, unfortunately. It was too big to just bury.
Brad and my father took two chairs on the opposite side of the table to us, and then my dad leaned forward. “Maya, it’s time for you to learn what we do here,” he said, before gesturing to an older, gray-haired man at the head of the table. “This is Peter Mattinson. He’s the head of our division.”
I examined Peter, wondering if I’d seen him at the house before. His face wasn’t familiar, but there was no hiding he was government. From the well-fitted and expensive dark suit to the face completely devoid of all emotions, the high-up government officials always appeared the same: efficient, controlled, and sticklers for rules.
“It’s nice to meet you, Ms. Lewis,” Peter said smoothly. “As your father said, I’m the director of this sector. We deal in Daelighter and Human relations.” He pressed his fingertips together in front of him like a steeple. “Sorry to drag you in here like this, Ms. Lewis, but there have been some breaches in our sector, so for your safety, there was no other option.”
Okay, then… “What exactly does Daelighter and Human relations refer to?”
I didn’t like the use of “human” in that title, because that made me think Daelighter was something non-human. There was a beat of silence. None of the other members of the team spoke either.
Peter straightened, his hands coming down to rest flat against the wood desk. “I can’t say anything until we get clearance on your friend. You have already been vetted, but we are waiting on Mr. Thornton.”
All eyes turned to Brad. His face was devoid of expression. He didn’t seem surprised by what was going on. Meanwhile I thought I was going to burst not knowing what this sector of the government dealt with. And how it all involved me.
Brad’s clearance took two hours. Apparently it had to be vetted by the Secretary of Defense or someone high up in the Oval Office. While we waited, I contacted Gracie, assuring her I was fine, and mentioned that my parents had gotten me and were taking me on their next trip. I could tell she thought this was strange, but after speaking with Mom and Dad, she seemed to accept it without too much fuss. My father suggested she take that holiday back home, with full pay, and for once she didn’t argue with us.
During the wait I also had a chance to change my clothes – my parents luckily had some of my stuff in their cars. I was now in jeans, a white shirt that hung long over my pants, and my Converse. Casual with style, as I called it.
By the time we retook our place around the long table, I was munching on a sandwich and feeling somewhat more normal. “I can’t believe you were so close to being taken,” my mom said for the tenth time, before she reached out and grasped my hand tightly. “We should never have let it go so long without filling you in. We just wanted you to have a normal life for as long as possible.”
Using my free hand, I shoved the last of the peanut butter bread in my mouth before leaning forward to hug her. “I know you were just looking out for me, and while it was really scary tonight, I’m happy to finally be learning more about your world…”
I was cut off when Peter breezed through the door announcing that Brad’s clearance was through. Within thirty seconds, the rest of the suits were back as well, all of them taking the same seats as before.
“This is going to be difficult for you to believe, what we have to tell you,” Peter started, his eyes locked on mine. “But … aliens are real.” He let that statement hang in the air for a beat. “They exist, and some of them walk among us on Earth.”
It felt like I stared at him for ten hours while I tried to process my thoughts. I was a big fan of sci-fi. It was my go-to in books and movies, and while the concept of aliens was something Brad and I had discussed ad nauseum, I wasn’t sure I’d ever actually believed they “walked among us.” Hearing him confirm it so bluntly, the very real fact that we were not alone, hit me hard in the chest. I braced myself against the table, knuckles white as I clutched the side.
I knew my parents were watching me, but I couldn’t bring myself to look away from the director. “Sources are murky,” he continued, “on the date that Daelighters first started to explore our world, but we believe they have been coming here in peace for hundreds, if not thousands, of years.”
In peac
e. Two of the best words I’d heard in a long time. But … I’d been attacked. My father said we were in danger. Someone wasn’t in on the “peace” thing.
“In 1875 we formed a mutually-beneficial treaty with the Daelighters. They needed energy from Earth to power Overworld, their planet, and we needed something – a stone from their world – to calm Earth’s unstable weather. It was a crisis point for both of us.”
“That was over a hundred years ago,” I said slowly. “What has changed now? Why are we being attacked? Do they want their stone back?”
My mother made a small sound next to me, and I turned to find her staring down at her hands.
“Yes,” Peter replied, and it took me a beat to remember what he was answering.
“They want the stone back?” I breathed. “Why?”
He leaned closer to me, his dark eyes glinting in the illumination of the fluorescent lighting. “There is a rogue Daelighter, one who’s managed to amass power and followers. He’s the one leading this mission to get their stone back.”
“Can we just give it to them?” I asked. Yes, I was stating the obvious, but it was my opinion that sometimes the government liked to “win” for the sake of it. “Do we know our weather is going to spiral out of control again? It might have stabilized on its own.”
Surely they had a million scientists looking into this. I mean, it was the simplest and easiest of solutions.
He nodded. “There is a possibility that we could survive without the stone. But it’s only a possibility. More importantly, we don’t know where the stone is, even if we wanted to return it to them.”
My face furrowed as I wrinkled my nose in his direction. “You don’t know where it is? You lost it!”
Of course they would lose it. Morons.
Brad flashed me a grin from across the table, followed by an eye roll. Yeah, we weren’t the biggest fans of the government. They pretty much stole all of our parents’ attention and time. All the while making really bad decisions for the average American citizen.
