Dissolve (32 page)

As soon as I pulled my final piece of clothing on, Noah was there, his arms moving to embrace me. This time I let him and I just sobbed until there were no more tears to cry.

“I’m so sorry Cora. I love you,” Nessa said as she wiped at my tear stained cheeks.

“I know, I love you too,” I replied, still sniffling.

“Not to break up the party, but we have some serious problems. There are pictures of the seven of us. We all have chemical formulas on the back of these pictures, but it is too dark to read them very well,” Shane said.

“What does that mean?” Mia said.

I am guessing it is the formula of the gene they bound to our DNA and some sort of equation as to how we would respond. That seems suspicious to me,” Noah said.

“There is also a map on the wall. According to the stars, half of the US is scheduled to be demolished. The other half has two stars, each in a different color so I am not sure what that means,” Shane added.

“What else is up there?” I asked.

“There is also a concentration of dots assembled around the string of islands in North Carolina as well as Minneapolis, Minnesota. I wish I knew what all of this means, but I don’t.” Shane said.

Nessa moved in closer and shuffled through the pile of pictures until Shane tried to restrain her. She just pushed him off and continued through them. A look of horror crossed her face and she raised her hand to her mouth as if she was going to be sick.

Noah was about to speak up, but I stopped him. I knew what she found and now she understood my sadness at losing Tom. I didn’t think we needed to see anymore murder scenes right now.

Nobody needed to relive Stephan’s death again; it was awful the first time. I gently tugged at her and she pulled into my arms in tears. I wanted to make the vision go away, but I knew she could read it on everyone’s minds.

“Even the murders were photographed and in the stack. It all just doesn’t make sense,” Mia said.

Finally Vienna started to stir and Mia was there to give her a hug and assure her things would be okay. Then we returned to the conversation at hand.

“Don’t forget the million dollar question. Where the hell are we?” I asked. “When I dissolved, I tried to get out of the room but with no luck. My particles bounced off the ceiling and walls like ping pong balls. That is what snapped me back to reform again.”

“I can mind read, but that isn’t much help here in this situation. In addition, Noah’s shape shifting abilities would be useless as well as Mia’s catlike reflexes. Shane can heal us but can’t get us out. Vienna is smart, but I don’t think any amount of smart could help here. That just leaves Liam, and there are no guarantees that he can get out of here either,” Nessa said.

“Maybe if I can get out of here, I can possess someone long enough to let us out. It is worth a try,” Liam suggested.

“What if there is no one around for miles? You can’t possess anyone long enough to get back here. Not to mention that you don’t have a key or anything to get us out,” Noah responded.

“Thanks for that, the glass is half empty way of thinking. We have to try, it could be our only option, and I don’t want to die in here. No offense, but I don’t want to die in here without ever feeling the sun on me again,” Liam said.

“Look, there is a radio,” I said pointing towards the corner of the table. I turned on the radio, but it was nothing but fuzz. I was about to turn away in dismay, when I popped open the CD player. Inside, the player was a blank CD. I shut the lid and pressed play. “Thirty seconds to Mars
This is War
” spilled out the speakers. I pressed advance and just got the same song over and over.

“I guess this really is war,” Noah said.

“Speaking of that, what is in those crates?” I asked curiously.

We all made our way over to the crates. Noah and Shane carefully lifted one of them and placed it on the floor in front of us. We looked at one another in part worry, part anticipation. Fear of the unknown crept through me and I shuddered. I just hoped it wasn’t something awful.

I didn’t have to ponder things for long, because Noah and Shane pried at it with their hands until they pulled the lid off. We all looked down to see the contents. Mia gasped as she recognized what was inside. Shakily, I reached down to find a note. There wasn’t just one note; there was a box full of them. I felt chilled suddenly as I opened the letter on top to read aloud.

Who can you trust? Life is changing all around you-

I turned the note over to find the raised emblem with the words
Ashes to Ashes Life Evolves.
I cracked the emblem to find a tracking chip in it just like the others. I peeled it out and dropped it to the ground before stomping on it with force to break it. Then I looked up to see everyone’s solemn expressions. The worst part was that the box was packed full of notes.

I pulled another one out and opened it gently. The next note read the same as the first one. They were all identical. If that was true, there were tracking chips in each and every one. That was too many to destroy.

“Anyone have any comments? What do you think this means?” I asked.

“We are in way over our heads. There could be many more of us. What if there are groups of us, going through the same thing? It is chilling to think about that. Clearly these people are powerful. They don’t mess around, if this is any indication,” Noah said.

“It also means we might be in here to keep us from stopping them,” Nessa commented.

“I am scared to see what is in the rest of the crates now,” Mia said, her voice trembling.

“I think we have to now. This is too serious to ignore,” Shane replied.

I bent my head in dismay, knowing Shane was right. No matter how much I dreaded what was in those crates, we had an obligation to find out, for our safety. I nodded to Noah and he and Shane went to pick up another crate. There was only three in total so one would be left after we opened this one.

After they managed to pry this one opened, we wasted no time staring down into the contents. I frowned when I saw what was in this one. The box was completely full of folded up maps.

“They are maps. Why would there be a box full of maps? Do they read something special?” Nessa asked.

“I don’t know, but there is only one way to find out. Here goes nothing,” Liam said as he pulled a map out and unfolded it.

We all stared down at the map, stunned. After looking at the map, it was clear and we could read it alright. The map had a numbering system in the order of the states that have and haven’t been decimated. Despair settled over the room as we realized what that meant. These people planned to decimate all of North America.

“We better hold on to one of these,” Noah said after grabbing one out of the box and placing it in his back pocket.

“According to the map, what state is due to be decimated next?” Nessa inquired.

“It looks like either Missouri or Arkansas, I can’t remember which number we are on,” Noah replied.

“Okay, what is going to be in crate number three?” I asked, switching the conversation. “After these two crates, there is no telling. The more we find, the more I want to get the heck out of here.”

Nodding to each other, Noah and Shane once again lifted the final crate. They placed it in the center of the room next to the others. Prying it open, they tossed the lid aside so we could see what was inside. As with the other two crates, it was not what any of us were expecting. The box was full of old fashioned barrel keys with a blue ribbon tied around each key loop.

“Keys, really?” Mia asked.

“Maybe this key leads us out of here,” I suggested hopefully.

“That would be good, because I really don’t want to have to possess anybody after this. It gives me the willies,” Liam said.

“Well, there is no time like the present, let’s find a door and give it a try,” Noah said imploring.

We all turned, scouring the room for any way out. It was still hard to see in the tint of red light. I squinted, but couldn’t see any way out. It was nearly five minutes before anyone managed to find anything.

“Over here, there is a door in the ceiling just above the table. We just have to figure out how to get it opened,” Shane said.

“I can stand on Nessa’s shoulders and try the key,” Mia suggested. “I used to be a cheerleader in high school.”

“Nessa, is that alright with you?” Shane asked.

“It is as good of a plan as any,” Nessa replied.

Nessa walked over to the table and placed her hands on her leg, for Mia to pop up on. Mia was fast and efficient. She popped up and onto Nessa’s shoulders like a professional. Mia pushed at the door, but it didn’t budge. She searched for a keyhole and hollered when she found it. She slid the key into the lock and it opened with a snick. She pushed it open with all her force, letting the sunlight shine in on us.

Relieved, I moved toward Nessa as we watched Mia lift herself out and into the warm summer day. Nessa gave me a smile and gestured for me to follow Mia. I was hesitant, but need for freedom gave way and I gave it a try. I was slightly wobbly on Nessa’s shoulders, but managed to grab onto the edges of the door and Mia helped pull me up the rest of the way as Noah pushed from below. I sank to the grassy ground and sighed in relief.

Next, the guys had pushed Nessa up and we helped her out and too her feet. Vienna came next without trouble. Now we just had to get the guys out. All three of us had to pull as Liam came up. He looked relieved to be back into the sunshine once again. He helped Shane up and out of the basement hole next. Then Noah stood on the table and raised his hands. Liam and Shane reached down and grasped him under his armpits and up.

Once we all made it out of the hole, I sighed in relief. Now we just had to find out where the heck we were. I turned, hand covering my eyes from the sun and looked around. Instantly I froze as a pair of eyes matched mine and a man began to stride forward. Somehow, I knew this wasn’t a good thing.

And so, I was correct. The man with dark brown hair wearing aviator sunglasses flashed a badge before approaching us. I winced; knowing I was probably still in troubled for Tom’s murder. There didn’t seem like a way out of this. My heart beat faster as I tried to separate my jumbled thoughts, though it was futile.

“FBI, I have some questions for you. I am afraid that I have to take you all in for questioning.”

“What did we do officer?” Noah asked, sparing me a reply.

“I am an FBI agent, not a police officer,” he said, clearly irritated by the remark. “My name is agent Harris and you are breaching state boundaries from a decimated state. We are taking these terrorist attacks very seriously.”

“We were just driving through,” Shane attempted.

“If that is so, then where is your car?”

He turned his sharp gaze on mine and I shrunk back under his scrutiny. “We were looking for some gas, and we fell in a trap of some sort,” I tried.

“I don’t buy that, I am a trained professional of the law. I know bullshit when I hear it. I am taking you in for questioning and that is not negotiable,” he said as another man approached. This man was blonde and his blue eyes squinted against the bright sun.

“This is my partner, agent Shanti. He will be helping me bring you all in and back up is on the way. You won’t get very far,” he added with the tone of a poorly veiled threat.

Sweat began to perforate just above my brow, though I didn’t know if it was from the warm summer day or the intensity of the situation. Either way, it stung as it rolled down and slipped into my eyes. I blinked, trying to stop the burning and swiped at them with my forearm.

I knew that I could dissolve and leave them standing there in a cloud of dirt, but I also knew that I couldn’t leave the others behind to hold the blame. My eyes fell on Nessa’s and I noticed for the first time the tears that had begun to stream down her glistening cheeks. My heart skipped a beat at the thought of Nessa going down for any crime I incurred.

“I will go with you willingly as long as you let the rest go. They are innocent. I am the one you want,” I said as I came forward with false bravado.

“Nice try miss, but I am taking you all in, that is not a compromise I am willing to succumb to,” he said as he grasped my hands behind me and snapped on the cool metal cuffs.

I mentally crumpled in defeat and my head hung now. Agent Shanti ushered me forward, towards the nondescript black car and placed me carefully in the back seat. He shut the door, and turned back towards his partner.

I looked up to see Noah stepping forward, his eyes trained on me with determination. “I will gladly go with you, as long as you keep me with her,” he said as he pointed towards me.

“Why not, let’s go,” agent Harris said as he cuffed Noah and guided him towards the car I was seated in. I slid over and was relieved when the door opened and Noah slipped in.

Agent Harris shut the car door and headed back towards the others. He was approaching Nessa and I winced in guilt for getting her involved in this mess in the first place. Then, Noah leaned in, discretely.

“Remain silent, and don’t give them anything. These terrorists will not let us rot in prison with their plans. I bet the state is decimated by nightfall. You just need to bide your time until that happens. Stay strong Cora, I promise everything will be ok,” he said as his eyes met mine.