by A. M. White
Timothy waved to me to slide into him. I clumsily landed at his feet. He pushed the hair from my eyes and kissed my forehead.
Cara had left the squirrels on a stone outside the alcove. She and Jason were already inside. Timothy and I tossed our packs by a wall and joined them.
Cara pulled the tube and paper from her shirt. “Not a word.” She warned Jason with a glance.
“You kept them in there the whole time?” Jason sputtered in surprise.
I laughed. “She thought they wouldn’t get much attention in there.” I couldn’t help myself, but to tell him.
Cara scrunched up her face at me.
“I wouldn’t say that. I thought you were pretty hot until I got to know your sparkling personality.” Jason teased her.
Timothy and I took a seat. I leaned against him.
“I said, not a word.” Cara unscrewed the cap and laid the pieces of paper on the dirt.
She waved at me to give her the tube I had in my boot. Cara frowned and turned the new slip over. There seemed to be writing on both sides.
“What does the new one say?” I craned my neck to see.
“I don’t understand it. One side is a continuation of the map. The other side has: Fatal flaw. The carrier will know what to do.” All eyes turned to me.
My eyes widened. “The carrier” must mean me. “I don’t know what to do. What does that mean?” I panicked. I hadn’t had any episodes that gave me some epiphany or instructions.
“That’s what it says.” Cara handed me the paper.
Timothy peered over my shoulder. I read it again and again.
“I have no idea. I swear it.” My face reddened with anger. The doctor believed I would remember something or have an episode that would reveal how to take down the machines. He gambled on me and lost.
“Well, you don’t know yet. Let’s leave it like that. You still might. I can’t accept that this is a dead end.” Timothy worried aloud.
I shrugged in frustration. “Why would he be so stupid to leave it like this? What if I don’t?”
“Alex, it’s okay. Obviously, the doctor knows something we don’t. It will come when the time is right.” Timothy pulled me to his side.
Jason flopped back on his bag and closed his eyes. Cara stomped out, grabbed her squirrels off the rock, and disappeared.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I was just as disappointed with myself as the others were with me.
Timothy moved to hold my hand and I jerked it away. He retracted his and spoke patiently. “Listen, maybe we are thinking about this the wrong way. You can recall the blue prints for the machine already. That is a step in the right direction. Have you had any dreams or visions that pertain to our mission?”
I peeked at Timothy from under my hair. “I had a dream last night. I was underground, but I don’t think it was anything important.”
Jason perked up and turned on his side to listen.
“Well, tell me about it anyway.” Timothy soothed.
“I woke up in an underground lab. There were two people talking about me. They had been running tests on me, to see if I was the best candidate for the capsule.” I rested my head on my knees to watch Timothy’s reaction. He might be on to something. “Apparently, I passed all the qualifications, except that I kept waking up, despite sedation.”
Timothy shifted on his haunches and thought carefully. Jason and I waited expectantly. “The dream doesn’t reveal anything to me yet. Maybe that was the beginning of memories that will play back in your head. It does seem realistic enough to be a memory.”
My head felt fuzzy all the sudden. I reached for Timothy’s arm. My vision blurred. Everything went dark.
“Alex!” Someone shook my shoulder.
My eyes rolled out of the back of my skull. I slumped to the side and was caught before I fell.
“Alex, I got you. It’s okay.” Timothy’s voice comforted me. He laid me on the ground.
My vision refocused. Timothy knelt beside me. He gently released my head to the sand.
Jason stood behind Timothy. His arms were crossed and he stared at the rock wall. “This one is more detailed than the drawing in the mill.”
“What?” I asked groggily.
“This time you drew on the wall with a piece of a small stone. We need to copy it in case you stop having the episodes. Jason, please go find Cara. She might have something we can use.” Timothy returned to the wall. Jason took one last look and headed out.
I rubbed my eyes. “It’s a better drawing?”
“Definitely, it’s almost as good as when you drew it with pencil.” He inspected the lines and followed them with his fingers like he wanted to memorize them.
“Will you help me stand?” I asked.
Timothy pulled me up. My legs were wobbly, but I managed to stand on my own. I shuffled over to the wall.
There was the machine again. This time, there were more wires and tubes that led away from the machine. More buttons and levers protruded from panels on the front. It did seem like a clearer version of the rough drawings I made prior.
“I am still in awe that a piece of metal with a bunch of buttons on it could bring a civilization to its knees.” I whispered.
“The easier it will be for us to bring it down. It’s just a hunk of metal.” Timothy smiled at me.
“Do you know what kind of metal it is made of?” I asked.
“I believe it is mostly iron. It was rumored to give off enough static electricity that anyone in the room with it has to wear rubber clothing.” Timothy propped himself against the wall.
I rubbed my temples. A headache started to flare up behind my eyes. “This seems familiar. I learned a little about how electricity behaves in school. I’ll think about it.”
Cara and Jason trotted back into the small opening. Cara dumped her pack. She found a small stub of a pencil in the mess. She held it up like a found treasure.
“Boy, you guys thought of everything.” Jason laughed.
“That’s not the first time I’ve heard that.” Cara winked at me. She found one of the maps that didn’t have any writing on the back and went to the wall to copy the drawing.
I sat down and rested my head on the cool surface of the rock. It calmed my headache. I closed my eyes and drifted to sleep.
I was moved. The musty smell of the dirt around me wafted over me. I bumped along on my hospital bed.
Four people in lab coats walked next to me. I couldn’t see any of their faces. I assumed they were to deliver me to surgery.
I opened my mouth to call out. At that moment, one of their heads turned and he made eye contact with me. He wore a doctor’s mask, but there was no denying that it was Dr. Jameson. I tried to push out a scream. Nothing came out.
My body thrashed awake. I kicked and punched into the air.
“Relax! Timothy asked me to wake you for dinner. I’m sorry if I scared you.” Jason held me by the arms. Luckily, I hadn’t landed a strike or I doubted he would still have ahold of me.
“It’s okay. I’m sorry.” I regained my wits.
“Were you dreaming?” Jason asked eagerly.
“Yes, I have to tell Cara and Timothy. He was there; I saw him there!” I exclaimed.
“Who was there?” Jason helped me up.
“Doctor Jameson, our doctor, I saw him!” I strode out into the open.
Cara and Timothy kicked sand over the cooking fire.
“I saw him! I saw the doctor in my dream!” I was exasperated.
They stopped abruptly. Timothy raised his eyebrows.
“He was there. He walked me into surgery. He told us he assisted in the surgery. He knew I had been underground, because he was there. Why didn’t he tell us?” I felt frantic. I had no idea how the doctor knew I would remember, but I did.
“What else happened?” Cara prompted.
“I woke up.” I shrugged.
Again, the morale withered among the others. Jason and Cara’s excitement melted.
Timothy interjected. “Wait, this is a good thing! Alex is remembering things. It’s going to take a little time, but she is recalling memories in her dreams. I know she is going to put the last pieces together.”
Cara groaned irritably. “Timothy, come on, don’t you think it’s a little weird that we just got that last message and all of the sudden Alex is tuning in to these memories. It is too convenient.”
“The doctor knew about the procedure she went through. He was there and assisted in the implantation. There are many things that he might have left out.” Timothy kicked another flame out. “All I’m saying is that there might be more to all of this than he had time to explain. He had access to our medicines and technology.”
Cara pulled her hair back into a pony tail. She pursed her lips. “Besides, time is something we don’t have. You know they have to be working on how to bypass the missing information.”
Jason slumped onto the sand. “At this point, I have to have faith that this doctor dude knew what he was doing. I can’t let Finn’s death be for nothing.”
I sympathized with Jason. I couldn’t let all of this be for nothing either. We had come too far and had been through too much for this to be the end.
Chapter Seventeen
It was a solemn meal. Everyone was preoccupied with personal thoughts and feelings. The day had taken its toll. There was a tense cloud that hung over the group. I was glad the day would soon come to an end.
Cara picked at the meat with her fingers. She had to be hungry, but she ate as though she was disinterested.
Jason turned his back on the group. Sniffles gave away his silent tears.
Timothy and I took bites directly off the bone. I was far too hungry for it to be a delicate procedure.
As soon as he finished, Jason stood and carried his bones to a little pile made in the center of our group. Timothy decided we would need to dispose of them in the river, to not draw the attention of predators. Jason wiped his nose with the sleeve of his shirt and went back inside.
I patted Timothy’s knee and followed Jason. He had already laid to face the wall, his head pillowed with Finn’s pack.
I sat against the wall. “Are you going to be okay?” I picked up a pebble and rolled it between my fingers.
He exhaled loudly. “I will be. I made it after I lost everyone else.” His voice cracked.
I nodded to myself. It dawned on me that when the Roars first came, he and Finn must’ve been children. My chest tightened at the thought.
“I can’t imagine dealing with that so young.” I admitted sadly.
He shrugged. “It was what it was. My parents would have wanted me to try and live. I survived.”
“We lost someone older than you before. When we were going to the village, we met Max. His father and sister died the day we found them. He didn’t come back from it. He took his own life. I guess I am telling you that, because I am worried about you. Finn was like a brother to you.” I left out some of the sordid details, but wanted him to understand why I checked on him.
Jason scooted onto his back. “I am different from Max. I’ve lost so much. This isn’t the first time and I doubt it will be the last.”
He sounded much older than when I first met him. That was only last night. Under the silly teenage façade, Jason had been forced to grow up quickly.
“Just promise me, I don’t need to worry and I will stop bothering you.” I tossed the pebble across the small enclosure.
“You don’t have to worry about me doing anything stupid to myself. I won’t allow everything I have been through to mean nothing. I meant that.” I caught a glimpse of a tear as it trickled down his cheek and he rolled back over.
Back outside, I interrupted a fervent conversation between Cara and Timothy.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea to get too far without all of the information we need.” Cara kicked at the sand.
“The closer we are, the faster we can get down there and actually do something.” Timothy paced.
“What is this about?” I asked. “Looks like you guys need a tie breaker.” I plopped down next to Cara.
Cara rolled her eyes and pointed at Timothy. “He thinks we should follow the map toward the entrance tomorrow.”
“Come on Cara. That is not all I said.” Timothy argued. “I think we should start that way. You will still have time for things to become clearer, once it does we will be able to plan, and make it happen.”
I scratched my head. “I kind of agree with Timothy. I mean, we can get closer so we won’t just be waiting to start.”
“What about Jason? Is he in any shape to start this? I don’t want him to end up getting himself killed, because he is too emotional.” Cara reasoned.
I shook my head. “There is more to him than we give him credit for. I just talked to him and he will be all right. He has been through a lot in the past few years and has learned how to handle death. I believe him. He isn’t the obnoxious kid we met yesterday, inside.”
Cara bowed her head and sniffled. “I hope you are right. I hope you both know what you are doing, because right now, I have no idea what to do.”
“We will continue to give him the chance to opt out.” Timothy offered.
“I truly don’t feel like we should just wait around.” I said gently.
“Well, then it’s settled.” Cara rose. “I’m going to try and get some sleep.” She stormed away.
Timothy picked up the bones from dinner. “Want to go for a walk with me?”
“Sure.” I held out a hand for his help.
He offered his back to me and cocked an eyebrow. “For old time’s sake?”
I smirked. “Well, that’s not much of a walk.”
“Just get on.” He rolled his eyes and chuckled.
I jumped and he hoisted me to hip level. My arms wrapped around his chest. He leapt onto the rocks above.
His strength and agility took my breath away, as always. Timothy bounded over the stones. It had been a while since he carried me like that.
I had to admit, I liked it. Not because of the demonstration of his strength, when I held onto him; I felt safe, exhilarated, and so close to him. My fingers grasped his shirt and I pushed against his back. I missed this.
The brisk air flowed over both of us. Timothy didn’t run at full speed. His movements were fluid. I believed that he savored our moment together, too.
I heard the rush of the river as we grew near. Timothy landed on the riverbank as gently as possible. I slid down his back. He threw the bones into the river and washed his hands quickly.
Before I had time to catch my breath, he was upon me. His mouth was pressed to mine, his arms around my waist. I gave him my weight and he lifted me. My hands clung to the back of his neck. As my breath calmed, his became stronger. I felt the pull of emotion as we sank into rhythm. My body flushed with the heat of love and lust.
He backed away first. His eyes fluttered open.
“Wow, I don’t think you’ve kissed me like that before.” I blushed.
“Maybe once.” He said as he caressed my face. “The first time you told me you loved me.”
I nodded. “It’s been a while.”
“I know. I hope that wasn’t too forward.” Timothy peered at me from beneath his dark hair.
“Of course not.” I whispered. I took his hand and pressed it to my lips.
He exhaled. Then he pulled me back to him. We kissed with such force that I thought we would meld together. It was as if our souls breathed each other’s.
Eventually, I took his face in my hands. I pushed back so that I could look in to his eyes. He held my gaze. I loved when he looked at me that way, with those dark eyes.
“Do you remember when I told you that I wanted you to live more than I ever wanted anyone to live?” His hands ran down my back.
“I do.” My skin felt aflame.
“I need that more and more every day. I don’t just love you. I need you.” He caressed my cheek.
“
I love you.” I bit my bottom lip. I still tasted him.
“We better go back, before we find trouble.” He entwined his fingers in mine.
I laughed and ran my fingers through my hair. “Sounds like a plan.”
It was almost fully dark now. I lost track of time with him. It would be best to be back in the safety of the alcove.
Timothy carried me back. The trip was much faster. He had an air of urgency about him.
Inside the rocks, Cara and Jason were already asleep. We felt around for space to lie. Timothy lay so that I could curl up beside him and rest my head on his chest. I listened to his heart as I drifted off.
A heart beat pinged on a machine. I realized it was my own.
I was underground again. I could tell by the smell. The room was different. It was fully constructed with concrete blocks that were painted white.
I felt a tug on my leg. I mustered enough strength to move my head, so that I could see. There were several people dressed in sterile suits. They hovered around my lower half. Only one of them paid any attention to my upper torso. He turned and saw my eyes were open.
“Good, now begin implantation.” It was Dr. Jameson’s voice. “I need to wipe my brow.”
None of the other doctors lifted their heads. Dr. Jameson walked toward my head. The pace of my heart picked up on the monitor. A few of the doctors let out a groan.
“I’ll get it.” Jameson announced.
I opened my mouth to scream, but a hand covered it. My eyes popped open. Timothy was pressed against me. He pointed to the opening of the small cave and put a finger to his lips. Timothy guided me to the back wall. Cara and Jason were already huddled there.
“I don’t understand how they did it.” A voice carried from outside.
“Two of them are very well trained. If they have been teaching the girl, she may be a threat as well. I also don’t doubt they have a few recruits by now.” Another voice explained.
“You want to check it out down there?” The first asked.
“I don’t see any sign of them here. If we go poking around in there we might stir up a bear. If we get down there, it won’t be easy to get out fast.” The second voice insisted.
