by Lynn Moon
Marty thought of her mother and sister. She thought of David’s parents and realized they must have gone through hell after her disappearance. Not to mention her daughters hadn’t seen their grandparents in months. Why did she go along with everything so easily?
Lizzie lay on the blanket smiling as her sisters talked to her and handed her toys. Marty loved her girls but missed her husband. It was time for her to go home and take her babies with her. Marty knew they were no longer safe here. How dare these people tamper with her child without her knowledge… how dare they.
* * * * * *
Marty took only the necessary items she could carry—one change of clothing for each, two blankets and other small items. The girls used their school backpacks and Marty grabbed her exercise duffle bag. She did, however, take as much powdered formula and water as she could carry. The evening was cool so they wore light jackets. Since she never left the compound, Marty wasn’t sure what she would find. But it was something she would have to risk to save what was left of her family.
It felt wonderful to be in the cool night air without someone hovering over her. She’d forgotten what it felt like to be alone. She still didn’t understand why it took so long for the remorse to hit her. Why didn’t any of them think of David? It just didn’t make any sense.
She locked up her house and they left through the back yard. Owls hooted as they strolled down the path through the tall pines. A full moon was out so their way was well lit. Little Lizzie slept peacefully in her harness strapped to her mother’s chest. The girls didn’t ask where they were going or why. They simply followed their mother’s instructions.
The small family walked for what seemed like miles before Marty realized they never came to a fence of any kind. She could hear running water in the distance but other than that, complete silence. Why wasn’t anyone coming after her? It was a strange sensation, but felt wonderful to be free and have her children close to her. Marty felt she was in control of her family for the first time in months.
Marty and her girls hiked up the mountain path until their legs could go no further.
“Mommy,” Eliza asked as she dropped her small backpack onto the damp forest floor. “I’m tired.”
“Me too,” Macie stated, pulling little Lizzie from her mother’s carrier.
“All right, girls,” Marty said. “We rest here. We don’t have a tent, but I brought a couple blankets. “ Marty smiled at her girls and dropped her pack onto the ground. “Macie… are you okay with Lizzie while I make a fire?”
“I’m fine,” Macie said, sitting on a small blanket she laid out for them.
Lizzie reached for her sister. Macie hugged her and kissed her cheek.
“She’s growing so fast,” Eliza said brushing the curls from Lizzie’s face.
“I know,” Macie added smiling at her little sister.
Lizzie cooed and drooled as her two sisters laughed. Lizzie was happy.
Chapter 76
LACEY WAS THE first to see it coming and screamed. Carrie turned just in time to see the large wooly hands reaching out from the darkness and grabbing Lacey around the face. As she reached for her gun, Carrie felt a strong grip pull on her arms.
“Carrie!” Lacey screamed.
Carrie couldn’t move. She was on her stomach with someone or some thing sitting on her back. Lacey’s screams were muffled, and Carrie could tell she was panicking. Struggling seemed useless and a waste of energy so Carrie relaxed her muscles and rested her head on the carpet. The more she relaxed, the less her attacker tried to restrain her. The room was a pitched black except for the wobbling light from the fallen flashlights.
“Who are you and what do you want?” a strange-sounding voice asked from somewhere in the room. It was female from what Carrie could tell, but something was wrong with it.
“We fell through a rotted ceiling and have no way to get out. We were searching for a way to leave,” Carrie said as calmly as she could. “We mean you no harm and we don’t want anything.”
The room brightened by several desk lamps. Carrie still could not see who or what was restraining her, nor could she see who had talked.
“What are you names?” the voice asked.
“I’m Carrie Clarke and that’s Lacey Brighten,” Carrie said. “We’re hikers.”
“Hikers?” the voice asked.
“Yes hikers,” Carrie answered.
“Hikers?” the voice asked again.
“Yes… hikers,” Carrie repeated.
“I know no hikers,” the voice replied.
“If you’ll get off me,” Carrie said, “perhaps we could introduce ourselves properly.”
The person restraining Carrie hesitated for a few moments before releasing his or her grip and backed away. Carrie waited a second before sitting up. But what greeted her eyes terrified and amazed her. Lacey ran to Carrie’s side as soon as she was released and snuggled as close to her as she could. Horror griped them as they stared into the faces of creatures they never knew existed.
“You Carrie?” the female voice asked. “I’m Learl.”
A beautiful but strange woman’s face smiled at Carrie. She wasn’t young, but she wasn’t old either. She was only about four feet in height and was hairless with round pink eyes and a flat dark nose. Black lips framed her large smile. Sharp teeth protruded from her lips where flat teeth should have been. Her hands were small and her fingers were half the size of a normal human’s. Pinkish-brown and wrinkled skin framed her small body.
“Hi Learl,” Carrie said smiling.
Carrie and Lacey stood up at the same time. Lacey maintained a firm grip on Carrie’s arm. Other strange creatures emerged from the dark corners of the room. Their faces resembled humans but with oddities that skewed their features in one way or another.
“Do you live here?” Carrie asked.
Learl gave Carrie an odd stare then nodded.
“How many of you live here?”
Again, Learl looked as if she didn’t understand.
“We live here,” Learl replied. “This is our home.”
Carrie glanced around at the frightened faces. Her arm ached from Lacey’s strong grip.
“Lacey, loosen up will yah?” Carrie whined. “Can’t you see they’re more afraid of us than we are of them?”
“I don’t understand,” Lacey cried. “What… who are these people? How did they get here?”
“We have always been here,” Learl answered.
“Who takes care of you? Who brings you food?” Carrie asked.
“What do you mean?” Learl replied. “You hungry? You need food?”
Carrie glanced over at Lacey and then nodded. “Yes, we could use some food about now.”
Chapter 77
EARLY PACED HER cell. She was anxious to hear back from Drake. He left several days ago to research the invetro fertilization doctors in Washington—by himself. If anything happened to him, who would there be to help her? If anything happened to him, everyone would probably blame her. Early was tired of being blamed for something she had nothing to do with. The more she thought about everything that happened over the last several months, the more everything bothered her and the more she wanted less to do with anyone, including herself.
“Ms. Sutton?” a guard shouted. “Please come with me.”
Early stared blankly at the guard and said, “Where’s my lawyer?”
“Please come with me,” the guard demanded again.
Early didn’t recall ever seeing this guard before. Fear was growing inside her. As she followed the man down the hall, there were no other guards in sight. Even the other inmates’ cells were empty. Something was going on and Early didn’t like it.
* * * * * *
Drake stood by the window of his hotel room enjoying the view of the colorful mountain terrain. If nothing else, at least the beautiful landscape was worth the trip. As he watched the birds soar among the trees, there was a knock. Not having any reason to feel his life was in danger, Drake op
ened his door with a smile.
“Drake Anderson?” It was a man just a little over six feet and in his late fifties or early sixties.
“Yes, and you are?”
“The name’s Edwards, Nathaniel Edwards.” Nate held out his hand and Drake shook it. “Most call me Nate.”
Drake nodded but didn’t speak.
“I understand you’ve been inquiring about the doctors at Barker Institute.” Nate said in a calm tone.
“Yes, is there a problem with that?” Drake asked. He was annoyed the doctors were so protected and guarded.
“Not really,” Nate replied. “May I come in? We should talk.”
Drake normally would be reluctant to invite a stranger into his room; however, since his recent case was anything but usual, he decided to take the chance.
“Mr. Anderson, why is one of the lawyers from the amnesia murders here in Washington to speak to one of our doctors?”
“Is that what they’re calling it these days?” Drake asked with a slight chuckle. “The amnesia murders? Sounds like a title of a good mystery novel doesn’t it?”
“Perhaps, but that’s what the press named them,” Nate replied choosing a seat by the window.
“Who wants to know why I’m here?” Drake asked.
“Let’s just say we have a mutual friend, a Dr. Barnes.”
“I see,” Drake replied feeling betrayed.
Nate explained The Agency and Barnes’s relationship. For over twenty minutes, Drake tumbled into a world centered on undercover agents fighting corrupt government officials. He realized to his horror these people practiced the art of exploiting justifiable homicide. It was a world Drake knew nothing about when he first met Early Sutton, but one that scared him to death.
“So as you see, I don’t quite understand how you believe Barker Institute is involved,” Nate added.
“My client, Early Sutton, had invetro fertilization at a clinic that wasn’t actually a clinic. I traced the tests results back to this company. I’m hoping to find the doctors who worked at her clinic.”
“I see,” Nate said with a frown. “But I’m afraid the people you seek are not at the Barker Institute. It’s simply a biological research facility that does intensive tests on DNA samples. We have checked out the company and they’re on the up and up. Not to mention my niece is one of their top scientists. By the way, that is how I found you. She gave me your card.”
“Oh?” Drake replied. “So that nice young woman I met out front, that’s your niece?”
“Yes,” Nate answered.
“Mr. Edwards,” Drake said.
“Please call me Nate.”
“Nate,” Drake repeated. “It’s important I find the doctors from the fake clinic. It’s the only way I can help my client.”
“We have been asked to protect your client as well as the others who are still alive. The Agency agreed because we believe there is more going on than what we know.”
“And do you know what’s going on?” Drake asked.
“Honestly,” Nate replied. “We have no idea.”
Chapter 78
THE FOOD WAS eatable but stale. Army rations stacked in cartons reached the ceiling and ran wall to wall. Carrie surmised there was enough food to feed a hundred people for years. Carrie and Lacey were so hungry they couldn’t stuff their mouths fast enough. The fuller their stomachs got, the more they wanted to know about these subterranean strangers.
“I’m sorry we frightened you,” Carrie said as she gulped her water.
“And we’re sorry we frightened you,” Learl replied.
Carrie walked out of the food room patting her stomach. It felt good to not be hungry. From where she stood, the room could only be described as a make-shift common area. Several odd-looking individuals sat in awe with questioning eyes. Carrie glanced around and realized there were three other doors she had not noticed before.
“Do you mind if I take a look around Learl?” Carrie asked.
“Look around?” Learl replied.
Carrie realized the woman had no idea what she was talking about. Although her English was good, her comprehension was not.
“Those doors,” Carrie asked, “where do they go?”
“Sleeping,” Learl answered. “And office, but we don’t go in there.”
“Office?” Lacey repeated.
“I show,” Learl replied.
The office was actually a file room. There were no desks or tables, only several filing cabinets. Carrie pulled out a drawer and grabbed a folder at random. It was a case history of a person. There was an eight-by-ten color portrait of the individual along with their genetic code and an ancestral chart. Also in the documents were a medical overview and date of death. She pulled out several other files and they were all in the same format.
“Only deceased people in this cabinet,” Carrie said closing the drawer.
“I’ve hit pay dirt,” Lacey exclaimed. “Well, I mean I found Learl’s file.”
“Oh?” Carrie replied grabbing the papers from Lacey’s hand.
A quick scan of the pages gave Carrie a view into Learl’s family lineage. A picture of her mother and father were glued to the inside front cover. They were human and, from all appearances, perfectly normal. The file did contain an explanation to the strange appearance of the woman.
“We are not allowed in here,” Learl explained. “We must leave now.”
Carrie reached out and touched Learl on the shoulder. “I think we’re okay for now.”
“But…”
“It’s okay,” Carrie said trying to reassure her.
As she read, Carrie discovered Learl’s DNA was spliced with pig DNA. She had been altered, which explained the dark strange skin and the thick lips and nose. It dawned on Carrie as to what may be taking place with these people. She gave the file back to Lacey who replaced it and closed the drawer. Carrie pulled Lacey from the room.
“What?” Lacey asked. “You’re always pushing me around, what’s up with you anyway?”
“Shhh,” Carrie whispered. “Watch and learn.”
* * * * * *
“Where are all the doctors and workers?” Carrie asked.
“They’ll come back,” Learl answered.
“No they do not come back.” A man covered with light yellow fur yelled from across the room.
“Seith!” Learl screamed. “They will come back. They promised.”
“No,” Seith yelled. “Too long.”
“How long has it been?” Carrie asked Learl.
Learl paused for a few seconds before she answered, “Long time.”
“Months,” a woman with long red and black hair answered from the other side of the room. Her arms and legs were long and skinny with sparse little white hair. She had the blackest skin Carrie ever saw on a person. There was not an ounce of fat on her body anywhere. Her eyes were red with streaks of black, and she wobbled as she tried to walk. Her balance was off.
“There’s been no contact at all?” Lacey asked.
“None,” Seith cried. “They leave us to die.”
“Is there a way out of here?” Carrie asked.
“Just the trains,” Seith answered.
“We go there we die!” Learl screamed.
Seith and Learl started to argue. Others joined in and before Carrie could stop it, everyone was screaming and yelling at each other.
“Stop it!” Carrie shouted. “Shut up!”
The room became quiet. All eyes were now focused on Carrie.
“Just stop it okay?” Carrie said in a calmer voice. “Let me think for a minute.”
“We need to review those records again,” Lacey urged.
“Don’t you think I know that? Go and look through those files. I’m going to talk with Learl and Seith. Will you be okay in there by yourself?”
“I guess so,” Lacey answered glancing around at the strange creatures who were just sitting and staring at the new strangers who invaded their private world. “But whatever happened
to watch and learn? I’m watching, but I’m definitely not learning.”
* * * * * *
The small office was secretly harboring a door to the outside world. As several of the inhabitants moved the cabinets from the wall, Learl took a chain from around her neck.
“I was told never to allow anyone to leave this place,” Learl warned.
“Traps,” Seith added.
“Traps?” Carrie asked. Her voice quivering.
Seith nodded.
“Maybe Seith go with you,” Learl suggested. “He spends nights exploring beyond this door.”
“Oh?” Lacey asked.
“Yes,” Learl answered. “We look for them to return.”
“But they never come back,” the strange looking skinny black woman said.
Carrie nodded. The door creaked as Learl pulled it opened. Expecting darkness, Carrie was surprised the tunnel beyond was well lit.
“If I don’t return in…” Carrie started to say.
“Don’t even go there,” Lacey grunted with a grimaced face.
Chapter 79
“MADAM PRESIDENT,” TINA announced through the speaker. “Dr. Trabolinie from the USGS is here to see you.”
“USGS?”
“United States Geological Survey,” Tina replied. “It’s one of your Agencies ma’am.”
“Do I have him on my calendar?”
“No, he just dropped by. But he says it’s important,” Tina whispered as loud as she could.
“Would you please come in here first.”
Tina entered and shut the door behind her.
“Ma’am,” Tina said as she approached Strickland, “he came running down the hall saying it’s of the utmost importance he sees you right away.”
“Is he for real?”
“The guards let him in. So I guess so.”
“Never heard of the USGS,” Strickland said.
“They are on the list, ma’am.”
“Show him in,” Strickland replied, reluctantly.
