Connor was in a swirling mist; the shadows and shapes were blurry and he couldn’t figure out which way was up. He felt like he was falling, but he could feel the ground at his back—or was it a wall? He couldn’t close his eyes. It was so dark.
Something grabbed at him from out of the darkness, and he struck out with a punch, pushing it back. His fist connected and it shrank back.
Light was coming.
A burning light was beyond his eyelids; he shielded his eyes with his arm and opened them.
Connor was lying on the ground, with someone coughing next to him. He started to sit up, but pain shot through his side and he fell back with a groan and closed his eyes again, wincing.
His eyes wouldn’t obey him. He couldn’t focus, and all he wanted to do was close them and sleep again to escape the pain.
“Ow…” came Miah’s voice, and he thought she was crying. Had he hit her?
He opened his eyes and looked at her, and saw that she was rubbing her shoulder. She coughed, “You sure pack quite a punch, Connor…”
He opened his mouth to apologize but his lips cracked and his voice wouldn’t cooperate. Connor blinked to clear his vision and saw Ben with a hand on Miah’s shoulder. Something sank inside him, seeing him, but he closed his eyes. Does she deserve him? the voice echoed in his head. He pushed it away. I don't need to think about that right now.
“Hi.” His was mouth dry. He licked his lips, and looked around. “Is there any water?”
Miah shook her head, and looked up and down the road. “We haven’t seen a car come by in hours, and there’s no water or food.”
“But we have a plan,” Ben quipped.
“You have a plan,” he parried.
Ben glared at Connor, and he glared back. “The plan is all in our best interests,” Ben explained, “and it’ll get us back to where we need to be.”
Connor looked at Miah’s worried face and wondered if it was in here best interest. Or if she was interested at all. “And where is that?”
He circled Connor, hands clasped behind his back as he spoke. “They obviously took Gail. We need to find where they are in order to attack and destroy their research and cripple their progress, and we can rescue her at the same time.”
“But what about me?” Miah cried. “What could I possibly do in a fight?”
“I don’t know,” Ben admitted.
“She couldn’t do anything, Ben.”
“But we would need someone to find Gail,” Ben added.
“Just take her out of the equation, Ben—she doesn’t want to be in this anymore.”
“But…” Miah stalled.
“But what?” Ben watched her face. Connor found the look threatening.
Miah looked down. “Can’t we just all go home? Let the police deal with this.” She looked at Connor, and he felt it was because she couldn’t stand to look at the one she was really speaking to. “I mean, come on. That’s what you all should have done in the first place. I don’t want myself or either of you to almost get killed again. Let’s just all go home; please.”
Connor sighed. He pushed himself up slowly and sat facing Miah. He was about to agree when Ben stomped his foot.
“No! We can’t. Miah, you don’t understand… You see sometimes, you have to fight to fix what you know is wrong—this is our battle. We started this.”
“Ben, I think she’s right,” he said warily.
He spun around and shouted to the nowhere surrounding them, “Is anyone here listening to me?”
Miah bit her lip and looked down, swallowing. Connor knew she was going to fall apart. “Ben, this isn’t about you.”
“Well it sure well isn’t about you, Connor,” he spat, turning to him.
He bit back the urge to hit him. “It's about those freaks out there who thought they could trap us and use us for their experiments—they treated us no better than lab rats! We tried to go up against them and only narrowly escaped. And then they came after us while we were helplessly lost. Ben, you’re a fool for thinking we could stand up to them. The last time you tried that you were captured. Don’t do it again. Miah’s right. We should just leave this to the cops.”
Ben turned his back and stared out at the mountains and the valley. “That won’t work, Connor.” Turning to face them he stared at him. “Are you for me or against me?”
1.15.2013
1.14.2013
Episode 53
They sat by the roadside until midday, and still Connor had not woken. Smoke still covered the sky, black from the wet foliage that had burned.
“What do we do if no cars come by?” Miah asked Ben, watching Connor sadly.
Ben sat up from where he had been lying down out of boredom. “Start walking, I guess…follow the road…hope we find a town or a phone or something…”
“Hmm…” Miah's thoughts were a world away, and Ben's voice continued in the back of her consciousness.
“What do we do if no cars come by?” Miah asked Ben, watching Connor sadly.
Ben sat up from where he had been lying down out of boredom. “Start walking, I guess…follow the road…hope we find a town or a phone or something…”
“Hmm…” Miah's thoughts were a world away, and Ben's voice continued in the back of her consciousness.
He was still breathing; he was alive, but they needed to get him to a hospital, fast. A gun wound wouldn't heal on its own, that she knew. It would only get worse out in the open like this, too. It would only be a matter of time before infection grew on the wound and spread to the rest of the body, taking its toll within days if the wound was bad enough.
They sat there by the edge of the road for ten more minutes, watching both directions. When no cars came, Miah sighed and lay back in the grass, looking up at the sky. She blinked as ash fluttered down, and Ben watched her.
She opened her eyes and looked at him. “What?”
He looked down, and then looked back at the road. Miah crossed her arms and sighed.
They sat there by the edge of the road for ten more minutes, watching both directions. When no cars came, Miah sighed and lay back in the grass, looking up at the sky. She blinked as ash fluttered down, and Ben watched her.
She opened her eyes and looked at him. “What?”
He looked down, and then looked back at the road. Miah crossed her arms and sighed.
1.13.2013
Episode 52
Ben was very quiet.
As they sat, Miah watched as he stared into the forest. Usually, in such an awkward silence, he would be trying to fill it with whatever he could. Miah was almost never driven to the point of having to find a subject.
Miah jumped, startled, when Ben suddenly turned at the sound of a bird screeching and flapping up out of the trees. He settled back down and cracked his neck, letting out his breath.
“You okay?” she asked, and he shook his head as if to shake away his thoughts.
“Mm.”
She had been wondering for a while, so she offered a question, “What happened after I went back for Connor?”
He looked at her, as if seeing her for the first time, and then sighed, “Well…” He looked down at his jeans, dusty and torn. He took a breath and shifted his position. “They came after me. Two or three men that I’d seen before at their headquarters…I turned around and they were there. We fought, and I managed to take one of their guns…”
Ben paused, looking away, and Miah questioned, “And…”
“I got away,” he muttered.
The way he wouldn’t look her in the eye or say it very loud made her doubt he was telling the truth.
She started to ask, “You g—”
He shot her a warning glance, and she stopped and looked down. What really happened?
“You okay?” she asked, and he shook his head as if to shake away his thoughts.
“Mm.”
She had been wondering for a while, so she offered a question, “What happened after I went back for Connor?”
He looked at her, as if seeing her for the first time, and then sighed, “Well…” He looked down at his jeans, dusty and torn. He took a breath and shifted his position. “They came after me. Two or three men that I’d seen before at their headquarters…I turned around and they were there. We fought, and I managed to take one of their guns…”
Ben paused, looking away, and Miah questioned, “And…”
“I got away,” he muttered.
The way he wouldn’t look her in the eye or say it very loud made her doubt he was telling the truth.
She started to ask, “You g—”
He shot her a warning glance, and she stopped and looked down. What really happened?
1.12.2013
Episode 51
“Miah—Miah, wake up! Miah!”
She didn’t want to open her eyes, and she groaned as someone shook her by the shoulders. “Leave me alone,” she murmured, and the person patted her face.
“Wake up!”
Miah opened her eyes, glaring at Ben. “Sorry, you just needed to wake up.” Miah rolled her eyes sleepily and pushed herself into a sitting position to look around.
“Is he okay?” she asked, crawling over to his side.
Ben shrugged, “He looks dead.”
She shot him an angry look, and he put his hands up. “Just saying.”
“Don’t say that,” she snapped as she tried to feel for his pulse. After a few tries, she found she could feel a steady beat, if slow. “He’s alive,” she sighed.
Ben looked around at the road. “Have you seen any cars go by?” he asked.
“No,” Miah shook her head. Looking over at him, she asked, “Do you think we should try walking further up the road?”
“With Connor?”
She looked down at him. “Well, it’s not like we could leave him here…we’ll just have to wait for a car to come by, I suppose.”
Ben sighed. “Okay.”
So they waited.
She didn’t want to open her eyes, and she groaned as someone shook her by the shoulders. “Leave me alone,” she murmured, and the person patted her face.
“Wake up!”
Miah opened her eyes, glaring at Ben. “Sorry, you just needed to wake up.” Miah rolled her eyes sleepily and pushed herself into a sitting position to look around.
Connor lay where she had seen him last, pale and still. She remembered the darkness the night before, and the smoke in her eyes...
“Is he okay?” she asked, crawling over to his side.
Ben shrugged, “He looks dead.”
She shot him an angry look, and he put his hands up. “Just saying.”
“Don’t say that,” she snapped as she tried to feel for his pulse. After a few tries, she found she could feel a steady beat, if slow. “He’s alive,” she sighed.
Ben looked around at the road. “Have you seen any cars go by?” he asked.
“No,” Miah shook her head. Looking over at him, she asked, “Do you think we should try walking further up the road?”
“With Connor?”
She looked down at him. “Well, it’s not like we could leave him here…we’ll just have to wait for a car to come by, I suppose.”
Ben sighed. “Okay.”
So they waited.
1.11.2013
Episode 50
Somehow, flames lit up the forest and smoke stung Miah’s eyes. She coughed, screaming Connor’s name as she ran, stumbling but not falling.
“Connor?” she yelled back, wiping her eyes.
“Miah!”
She ran toward the voice, and found Connor lying slumped against a tree. Her heart skipped a beat. Her eyes widened and she stumbled to his side.
“Connor?” she choked, and stared at his shirt. It was soaked with blood. His chest heaved with each breath, as if from either great effort or great pain. He clutched his side, and his other arm hung motionless along the dusty ground.
He lifted his head, and the flames behind her burned in his eyes. “Miah. What are you doing here?” he rasped, and reached his bloodied hand out to her arm.
She flinched at the touch, and he drew back with a pained expression, closing his eyes and breathing with effort.
“Connor…” She blinked away tears, angry at herself for them. Ben's words played in her head: 'He’s not who you think he is.' Bitterly she looked at Connor, who was struggling to push himself into a better position. Who is he, anyway?
Connor blinked and lifted his arm to rub at his eyes. “You have to get away from here…they’re looking for you…”
Miah swallowed. “I can’t leave you. You can't get out of here alone, and the forest is burning.”
“Miah—” he choked, and caught his breath— “I’m gone! Don’t waste your time on me! I'm not worth saving. Get yourself out of here at least.” He shut his eyes, swallowing hard.
She sniffed through unbidden tears and took his arm, pulling him up as gently as she could. “Come on, I’ve gotta get you out of here. Come on.”
Connor, the shock of his wound worse than the wound itself, fought her at first; but, finding he had the strength to walk, let her lift him from his position.
Miah put his arm around her shoulder and pulled him up, and he could at least support himself with his legs. She caught her breath and stood for a moment; spots flickered before her eyes and she twitched.
“You got me?”
Miah waited for a moment, and then the black spots faded. She nodded, and whispered, “I’ve got you.”
Through the burning forest, they made their way toward the crevice and followed it from a safe distance. Connor coughed once, but his eyes remained open, and Miah had hope that they would make it out alive.
After a few minutes, she paused to take a breath, lowering Connor to his knees, and sitting there beside him. She watched him, should he need more support. “I hope Ben waited for me…He’s probably around here somewhere…”
Connor nodded, and then asked, “Why didn’t he come with you?”
She sighed, “I don’t know…I don’t know.”
With a cough, Connor looked ahead at the darkness.
“Yeah, we should keep going,” Miah nodded, and turned to him. “You doing okay?”
He breathed deeply and shrugged a bit. “I’m...well, I’m trying to ignore the pain…”
She sighed, looking around at the smoke rising to the sky. “Why'd they have to set the forest on fire?” she asked.
Connor's eyes were closing and his head nodded.
“Come on, we've got to go.” She started to help him stand again.
Connor shook his head at her attempt and spoke. “You don’t have to, you know. You could just leave me here.”
He looked serious, which frightened her.
Miah stared at him. “Of course not! I won’t leave you. What kind of person would I be then?”
“Really…I want you to be able to get out of here alive…I might not even survive this bullet anyway…” Connor looked down to where he held his skin and bones together and at the large amount of blood he had already lost.
Miah shivered. “Don’t say things like that. I can do it; of course I'm going to get you out of here.” Straining with effort, she continued on, with Connor trying to lift himself up as much as he could.
When they reached the edge of the forest, Miah suddenly stumbled through a clump of bushes and into a wide open space. It was a road! Miah tripped in her surprise and fell to her knees, and Connor groaned as he fell. “No!” Miah gasped, panting and trying to help him up.
“It’s okay, Miah…” He sighed and lay on his back, closing his eyes.
“We made it to a road.” Breathing heavily, she collapsed beside him and he looked over.
“You did good…Thanks for getting me out of there.” He smiled the best he could, and Miah looked at his shirt.
“You gonna be okay?” she asked, worried.
He smiled, and the dying embers of the fire cast shadows on their faces. As he closed his eyes, Miah looked up at the sky. The stars were disappearing, and morning was coming.
Ashes drifted down from the sky, and she closed her eyes and listened to the wind.
“Miah!!!” she heard a voice scream.
“Connor?” she yelled back, wiping her eyes.
“Miah!”
She ran toward the voice, and found Connor lying slumped against a tree. Her heart skipped a beat. Her eyes widened and she stumbled to his side.
“Connor?” she choked, and stared at his shirt. It was soaked with blood. His chest heaved with each breath, as if from either great effort or great pain. He clutched his side, and his other arm hung motionless along the dusty ground.
He lifted his head, and the flames behind her burned in his eyes. “Miah. What are you doing here?” he rasped, and reached his bloodied hand out to her arm.
She flinched at the touch, and he drew back with a pained expression, closing his eyes and breathing with effort.
“Connor…” She blinked away tears, angry at herself for them. Ben's words played in her head: 'He’s not who you think he is.' Bitterly she looked at Connor, who was struggling to push himself into a better position. Who is he, anyway?
Connor blinked and lifted his arm to rub at his eyes. “You have to get away from here…they’re looking for you…”
Miah swallowed. “I can’t leave you. You can't get out of here alone, and the forest is burning.”
“Miah—” he choked, and caught his breath— “I’m gone! Don’t waste your time on me! I'm not worth saving. Get yourself out of here at least.” He shut his eyes, swallowing hard.
She sniffed through unbidden tears and took his arm, pulling him up as gently as she could. “Come on, I’ve gotta get you out of here. Come on.”
Connor, the shock of his wound worse than the wound itself, fought her at first; but, finding he had the strength to walk, let her lift him from his position.
Miah put his arm around her shoulder and pulled him up, and he could at least support himself with his legs. She caught her breath and stood for a moment; spots flickered before her eyes and she twitched.
“You got me?”
Miah waited for a moment, and then the black spots faded. She nodded, and whispered, “I’ve got you.”
Through the burning forest, they made their way toward the crevice and followed it from a safe distance. Connor coughed once, but his eyes remained open, and Miah had hope that they would make it out alive.
After a few minutes, she paused to take a breath, lowering Connor to his knees, and sitting there beside him. She watched him, should he need more support. “I hope Ben waited for me…He’s probably around here somewhere…”
Connor nodded, and then asked, “Why didn’t he come with you?”
She sighed, “I don’t know…I don’t know.”
With a cough, Connor looked ahead at the darkness.
“Yeah, we should keep going,” Miah nodded, and turned to him. “You doing okay?”
He breathed deeply and shrugged a bit. “I’m...well, I’m trying to ignore the pain…”
She sighed, looking around at the smoke rising to the sky. “Why'd they have to set the forest on fire?” she asked.
Connor's eyes were closing and his head nodded.
“Come on, we've got to go.” She started to help him stand again.
Connor shook his head at her attempt and spoke. “You don’t have to, you know. You could just leave me here.”
He looked serious, which frightened her.
Miah stared at him. “Of course not! I won’t leave you. What kind of person would I be then?”
“Really…I want you to be able to get out of here alive…I might not even survive this bullet anyway…” Connor looked down to where he held his skin and bones together and at the large amount of blood he had already lost.
Miah shivered. “Don’t say things like that. I can do it; of course I'm going to get you out of here.” Straining with effort, she continued on, with Connor trying to lift himself up as much as he could.
When they reached the edge of the forest, Miah suddenly stumbled through a clump of bushes and into a wide open space. It was a road! Miah tripped in her surprise and fell to her knees, and Connor groaned as he fell. “No!” Miah gasped, panting and trying to help him up.
“It’s okay, Miah…” He sighed and lay on his back, closing his eyes.
“We made it to a road.” Breathing heavily, she collapsed beside him and he looked over.
“You did good…Thanks for getting me out of there.” He smiled the best he could, and Miah looked at his shirt.
“You gonna be okay?” she asked, worried.
He smiled, and the dying embers of the fire cast shadows on their faces. As he closed his eyes, Miah looked up at the sky. The stars were disappearing, and morning was coming.
Ashes drifted down from the sky, and she closed her eyes and listened to the wind.
1.10.2013
Episode 49
Connor heard a twig snap and his eyes snapped open. Sitting up slowly, he saw that Gail was not where she had been; he stood and looked toward the tree where Ben and Miah had been.
Miah felt Ben shaking her awake. “Miah, we have to go, now!!”
“What—what is it?” He was pulling her, and she got to her feet. “Ben, wait—”
“Just run!!”
She clung to his arm, and he pulled her along, running a bit closer to the gaping crevice than she would have liked. She heard gunshots in the distance, coming closer.
And then it hit her.
“How did they find us?” she gasped.
“I have no idea. But Connor’s gone after them—we have to get away, now while we have the chance!”
“Connor’s back there?!?” She stopped, and Ben stumbled to a halt. “We have to help him!!” She ran back as best as she could, driven more through fear than courage.
“Miah!! You can’t go back, you’ll get killed!” Ben shouted back at her.
“Do you want Connor to be?” She looked back, and in the approaching dawn she could make out Ben’s frustrated face.
“He can handle them. You can’t. Please, he’s holding them back for you! Don’t go back, Miah!” He ran to her, his eyes pleading. “Please.”
Staring at him, she shook her head. “No.”
She turned to go, but Ben grabbed her wrist. “Miah. Forget him. He’s not who you think he is—”
Miah twisted away, crying, “He’s more than you think!”
“Miah!” he screamed, clutching his head in his hands.
Miah felt Ben shaking her awake. “Miah, we have to go, now!!”
“What—what is it?” He was pulling her, and she got to her feet. “Ben, wait—”
“Just run!!”
She clung to his arm, and he pulled her along, running a bit closer to the gaping crevice than she would have liked. She heard gunshots in the distance, coming closer.
And then it hit her.
“How did they find us?” she gasped.
“I have no idea. But Connor’s gone after them—we have to get away, now while we have the chance!”
“Connor’s back there?!?” She stopped, and Ben stumbled to a halt. “We have to help him!!” She ran back as best as she could, driven more through fear than courage.
“Miah!! You can’t go back, you’ll get killed!” Ben shouted back at her.
“Do you want Connor to be?” She looked back, and in the approaching dawn she could make out Ben’s frustrated face.
“He can handle them. You can’t. Please, he’s holding them back for you! Don’t go back, Miah!” He ran to her, his eyes pleading. “Please.”
Staring at him, she shook her head. “No.”
She turned to go, but Ben grabbed her wrist. “Miah. Forget him. He’s not who you think he is—”
Miah twisted away, crying, “He’s more than you think!”
“Miah!” he screamed, clutching his head in his hands.
1.09.2013
Episode 48
Connor mumbled in his sleep, his words incoherent, his occasional wild movement speaking of some terrible nightmare. Gail shuddered and scooted even further away from him. Ever since she had been lured from her little life as a sophomore in college, she had been forced into close proximity of people she barely knew.
She sat with her elbows on her knees against the tree, and then finally stood, walking into the moonlight where the stars were visible. The air was clearer here than in the city, and she took a deep breath.
It was cold in the open, so she walked by a thick growth of trees further away from the crevice where Miah had fallen. She needed to think and to clear her mind.
Something didn’t seem right.
She paused for a moment, listening, but could hear no unfamiliar sounds. She inhaled, and then thought she smelled cigarette smoke. Gail froze. She backed into the shadow of a nearby tree, stricken with fear.
Someone was following them.
She turned to hurry back to the others, to warn Connor and Ben, but then she stopped. They weren’t after her; they were after Ben and Connor, and maybe Miah. She decided to wait and watch.
It was cold in the open, so she walked by a thick growth of trees further away from the crevice where Miah had fallen. She needed to think and to clear her mind.
Something didn’t seem right.
She paused for a moment, listening, but could hear no unfamiliar sounds. She inhaled, and then thought she smelled cigarette smoke. Gail froze. She backed into the shadow of a nearby tree, stricken with fear.
Someone was following them.
She turned to hurry back to the others, to warn Connor and Ben, but then she stopped. They weren’t after her; they were after Ben and Connor, and maybe Miah. She decided to wait and watch.
1.08.2013
Episode 47
Something woke him in the night, a noise or sense of movement, and Ben felt for Miah's hand. It was cold.
“Well…” She tried to sit up, but then sank back, sucking in a quick breath, “my head hurts…”
“Yeah…just lie down for awhile, you’ll be okay.” He smiled.
“What time is it?” she asked, trying to find her watch.
“It's early. I’ve been awake for hours, just drifted off there for a few minutes. But I’m never falling asleep again,” he laughed bitterly.
She sighed. “It happened so fast…I couldn’t keep my balance anymore and I just…”
He shook his head, “It’s alright, I understand. I’m so sorry…”
“It wasn’t your fault.”
“But I was arguing with Connor—”
“That didn’t make me fall.”
“We all should have been more careful around the edge; if we had, we’d have noticed you about to fall and helped you…Gail was distracted…”
“Don’t blame yourself, Ben.” Miah closed her eyes, drifting off again.
Ben sighed. He looked out at the threatening crack in the skin of the earth and rubbed at his eyes. He looked back at Miah's sleeping form and whispered, “I just want you to be safe.”
What a horrible job he’d done so far.
He froze. He heard whispers, voices in the darkness, and as he tried to find her pulse, frantically searching her wrist for a beat, something brushed past his face. He gasped and shrunk back. Hideous laughter echoed through the trees, and the moon was shrouded in cloud.
She wasn’t moving. He tried to wake her, but she didn't move. He put his hand before her lips, but could feel no trace of a breath.
“Miah, don’t do this to me—Miah—”
He couldn’t feel her breathing. She had no pulse. She was cold, and she wasn’t moving. Ben screamed, “NO!!”
Ben woke from his sleep in a cold sweat, heart beating fast, eyes wide open. Was it a dream? Please let it be a dream… He reached for her hand, and felt her faintly squeeze it back. With a sigh of relief, he strained to see her face in the darkness.
“Ben, are you okay?” she murmured, rubbing her eyes.
“I’m fine....How are you feeling?”
“Miah, don’t do this to me—Miah—”
He couldn’t feel her breathing. She had no pulse. She was cold, and she wasn’t moving. Ben screamed, “NO!!”
Ben woke from his sleep in a cold sweat, heart beating fast, eyes wide open. Was it a dream? Please let it be a dream… He reached for her hand, and felt her faintly squeeze it back. With a sigh of relief, he strained to see her face in the darkness.
“Ben, are you okay?” she murmured, rubbing her eyes.
“I’m fine....How are you feeling?”
“Well…” She tried to sit up, but then sank back, sucking in a quick breath, “my head hurts…”
“Yeah…just lie down for awhile, you’ll be okay.” He smiled.
“What time is it?” she asked, trying to find her watch.
“It's early. I’ve been awake for hours, just drifted off there for a few minutes. But I’m never falling asleep again,” he laughed bitterly.
She sighed. “It happened so fast…I couldn’t keep my balance anymore and I just…”
He shook his head, “It’s alright, I understand. I’m so sorry…”
“It wasn’t your fault.”
“But I was arguing with Connor—”
“That didn’t make me fall.”
“We all should have been more careful around the edge; if we had, we’d have noticed you about to fall and helped you…Gail was distracted…”
“Don’t blame yourself, Ben.” Miah closed her eyes, drifting off again.
Ben sighed. He looked out at the threatening crack in the skin of the earth and rubbed at his eyes. He looked back at Miah's sleeping form and whispered, “I just want you to be safe.”
What a horrible job he’d done so far.
1.07.2013
Episode 46
Miah bit her lip and closed her eyes, and blinked when she found Ben beside her.
“Can you stand?” he asked, clinging to a nearby rotten log and looking down the crevice.
“I don’t want to fall—but...I think I can...” She reached out for his hand and he took hers, steadying himself as she found her balance.
He looked up at the edge where Gail and Connor leaned over, and then backward at the crack. “Okay…Can you climb up to that log there?” he pointed.
Miah looked, and then nodded hesitantly. He helped push her feet up further so that she could grab a hold of it and pull herself up higher. “That’s it.” He pointed to another foothold, and she climbed up further. He climbed after her, and she soon found another handhold, slowly pulling herself up toward the edge.
But when she was eight feet from the top, she couldn’t figure out how to get up. “What do I do now?”
“Here, can you reach my hand?” Connor reached down.
Gail bit her lip. “Careful—”
Miah reached up, almost fell back, and clung to the cliff side in terror. “I can’t reach—”
“Gail, hold onto my feet.” Connor lowered himself over the edge even further, and Gail gasped and grabbed his legs.
“Just keep breathing…keep breathing...” He closed his eyes tightly and whispered, “Please don’t have anything wrong with you, please don’t…”
She gulped in air, and he held her tighter. “Don’t die, Miah.”
Miah sobbed and felt the darkness overcoming her vision. “I can’t see—”
Barely able to see himself through the tears blurring his vision, Ben lifted her from the ground and walked to the shelter of a tree where the pine needles made a soft bed. He lay her down and tied the cloth around her head. “Please be okay…please be okay…”
Miah sighed and closed her eyes, slowly falling asleep. Ben sobbed into his hands, cursing himself for his lack of attention, his selfishness, his pride; as the day grew dark, he sat by her side, waiting for her to open her eyes.
Gail and Connor sat a distance away, knowing neither of them could truly do anything. Connor blamed Ben in his heart for the whole misadventure, and for a second wished Miah would die, if only to punish him. But at the horrible thought of Miah’s death, he took it back, clenching his fists. It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t fair.
“Don’t die,” he whispered, and Gail looked up from where she sat staring at the ground.
“There’s nothing we can do now but wait,” she said to Connor, wiping her eyes. “And pray.”
The night closed in on them all, and Connor promised God he would do anything if only Miah could live.
And then all was dark.
“Can you stand?” he asked, clinging to a nearby rotten log and looking down the crevice.
“I don’t want to fall—but...I think I can...” She reached out for his hand and he took hers, steadying himself as she found her balance.
He looked up at the edge where Gail and Connor leaned over, and then backward at the crack. “Okay…Can you climb up to that log there?” he pointed.
Miah looked, and then nodded hesitantly. He helped push her feet up further so that she could grab a hold of it and pull herself up higher. “That’s it.” He pointed to another foothold, and she climbed up further. He climbed after her, and she soon found another handhold, slowly pulling herself up toward the edge.
But when she was eight feet from the top, she couldn’t figure out how to get up. “What do I do now?”
“Here, can you reach my hand?” Connor reached down.
Gail bit her lip. “Careful—”
Miah reached up, almost fell back, and clung to the cliff side in terror. “I can’t reach—”
“Gail, hold onto my feet.” Connor lowered himself over the edge even further, and Gail gasped and grabbed his legs.
“Connor!” Miah cried, reaching as far as she could.
He grabbed hold of Miah’s arms. “I’ve got her! Pull me up!”
Gail pulled as hard as she could, and Connor struggled to keep hold of Miah.
“Don’t drop me!” she cried, holding on as tight as she could.
Pulling her over the edge, Connor gasped, “Alright, let go.”
They stood, and helped Miah to her feet. There were black specks before her eyes, and she blinked. They wouldn’t go away, and she swayed, unbalanced; Gail took her arm and steadied her. Ben clambered over the edge, and put a hand on her shoulder. “You okay?”
She touched the back of her head gingerly and brought her hand back, covered in blood. “Ben…” She gaped at her trembling hand.
He grit his teeth and said, “Lay down. Lay down on the grass.”
Gail covered her mouth as she saw the trickle of blood running down Miah’s neck. Ben pulled his shirt off, putting it under her head and holding it there. “I’m so sorry…”
Miah found tears in her eyes, and it only clouded her vision further. His eyes spoke sorrow, and she blinked to keep hers open. He kept his gaze locked on hers to keep her eyes open and held the cloth to her head to stop the bleeding.
He grabbed hold of Miah’s arms. “I’ve got her! Pull me up!”
Gail pulled as hard as she could, and Connor struggled to keep hold of Miah.
“Don’t drop me!” she cried, holding on as tight as she could.
Pulling her over the edge, Connor gasped, “Alright, let go.”
They stood, and helped Miah to her feet. There were black specks before her eyes, and she blinked. They wouldn’t go away, and she swayed, unbalanced; Gail took her arm and steadied her. Ben clambered over the edge, and put a hand on her shoulder. “You okay?”
She touched the back of her head gingerly and brought her hand back, covered in blood. “Ben…” She gaped at her trembling hand.
He grit his teeth and said, “Lay down. Lay down on the grass.”
Gail covered her mouth as she saw the trickle of blood running down Miah’s neck. Ben pulled his shirt off, putting it under her head and holding it there. “I’m so sorry…”
Miah found tears in her eyes, and it only clouded her vision further. His eyes spoke sorrow, and she blinked to keep hers open. He kept his gaze locked on hers to keep her eyes open and held the cloth to her head to stop the bleeding.
She couldn’t feel the ground beneath her; she put a hand out to feel the grass. “I feel like I’m still falling,” she whispered. “I’m falling.”
“No,” Ben pulled her close, gently, “you’re not falling, see.” He smoothed her hair from her face. “You’re here, you’re safe. I won’t let you go.” He held her tight, and she closed her eyes, but the black specks remained. She shivered, taking a shuddering breath.
“No,” Ben pulled her close, gently, “you’re not falling, see.” He smoothed her hair from her face. “You’re here, you’re safe. I won’t let you go.” He held her tight, and she closed her eyes, but the black specks remained. She shivered, taking a shuddering breath.
“Just keep breathing…keep breathing...” He closed his eyes tightly and whispered, “Please don’t have anything wrong with you, please don’t…”
She gulped in air, and he held her tighter. “Don’t die, Miah.”
Miah sobbed and felt the darkness overcoming her vision. “I can’t see—”
Barely able to see himself through the tears blurring his vision, Ben lifted her from the ground and walked to the shelter of a tree where the pine needles made a soft bed. He lay her down and tied the cloth around her head. “Please be okay…please be okay…”
Miah sighed and closed her eyes, slowly falling asleep. Ben sobbed into his hands, cursing himself for his lack of attention, his selfishness, his pride; as the day grew dark, he sat by her side, waiting for her to open her eyes.
Gail and Connor sat a distance away, knowing neither of them could truly do anything. Connor blamed Ben in his heart for the whole misadventure, and for a second wished Miah would die, if only to punish him. But at the horrible thought of Miah’s death, he took it back, clenching his fists. It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t fair.
“Don’t die,” he whispered, and Gail looked up from where she sat staring at the ground.
“There’s nothing we can do now but wait,” she said to Connor, wiping her eyes. “And pray.”
The night closed in on them all, and Connor promised God he would do anything if only Miah could live.
And then all was dark.
1.06.2013
Episode 45
“Ben! Stop!”
“Let me go!” He struggled, and almost pulled Connor over the edge. Gail screamed and pulled them back, and they all collapsed in a pile.
“Wait—” Connor panted, pushing himself into a sitting position— “we need to think this through.”
“Miah, are you okay?” Gail cried out, looking over the edge, biting her lip in fear.
She didn’t respond.
She looked to be about twenty feet down, and Gail saw that her head was bleeding. “Oh dear God…please let her be okay…” Gail choked down a sob and put her hand over her mouth.
Ben leaned over the edge and clenched his fists. “If only we had a rope…you could lower me down, I could get her and you could pull me back up…”
“Well, could we find a vine or something?” Gail asked.
Connor looked around and sighed, “There aren’t any vines in a pine forest, though.”
“But what if we could climb down and back out?”
“Carrying her? I think not.”
“But we have to try—unless you can think of something else.”
“Miah!!” Gail cried, and the three watched breathless. Miah moved her hand, and her eyelids fluttered.
“Miah! Don’t move—” Connor called, putting a hand out as if to stop her. “You’re on the edge.”
She opened her eyes and turned her head to them, and then gasped, putting her arms out to feel her position. When a hand touched only empty space, her eyes widened and she almost lost her balance. “Guys...”
“Don’t move! We’ll get you out!” Ben called, and slowly lowered himself over the edge to the gravel and dirt below. He started to slide, but Connor grabbed his hand.
“Be careful,” he cautioned, and Ben nodded with a gulp.
1.05.2013
Episode 44
Connor groaned. “We can’t. There’s no way.”
“Surely there must be some way—” Gail protested.
“We’re trapped on this side! It’s impossible.”
“We could try to find a log that spans the gap,” Ben spoke out. “We could drag it over and push it onto the other side, or find a dead tree close to the edge that we could push over. It'd be easy; even a kid could do it.”
“It wouldn't be easy, there's no trees around here. They thin out in the valley. We'd have to drag it from way up there,” Connor pointed back to the mountain, thick with pines.
“No,” Ben continued, shifting his feet, “but if we went along the fault here we could find a tree closer to it, see?” Ben raised an eyebrow at Connor, sure that he wasn't understanding.
Connor huffed, “We can’t. It's not possible. We need to figure something else out, Ben.”
Ben illustrated his statements with big arm movements, overexaggerating his facial expressions. “There are trees near the fault, though, because how would ones have fallen in? Just find a tree next to it! Gosh!”
“Where would we find one of those?” Connor demanded, hands on his hips and temper officially lost. “I’ve had enough of your smart comments. Stop talking to me like I was stupid enough to be responsible for this whole mess.”
Ben clenched his teeth and turned to the fault, staring down into its depths. “This is not my fault.”
“Yes, it is, Ben! If you hadn’t insisted on seeing Miah, she never would have gotten sucked into this, and our cover wouldn’t have been blown. It’s your own selfish fault for not thinking that they would target her, too! You never think about anyone but yourself!” he shouted, pulling Ben to face him.
“That’s a lie!” he yelled into Connor's face.
Gail’s hesitant voice sliced into the tension. “Guys—”
“You had to drag her along with you, bringing her even deeper into trouble everywhere you went!”
“You let yourself get caught, and wrecked the car, twice! You never think before you do things!”
“Guys!!” Gail shouted, “Where’s Miah?” Suddenly everyone panicked.
Ben froze. Connor gasped, looking around. “She’s not here!”
Ben grabbed Gail’s arm. “Did you see her? Where is she?”
“I—I helped her over to the edge where we all were, and I don’t know what happened—we have to find her!!”
Connor ran to where she had been standing, looking down into the ravine. Ben ran to his side and looked over. “This is all your fault!!” Connor hissed, clenching his fist.
Ben bit his tongue and looked over the edge.
“Oh my gosh—oh—oh, I can see her!” Gail cried, pointing down at something in the clods of dirt below where they stood. They could barely make it out, but it was Miah: unmoving, white as a ghost.
“Surely there must be some way—” Gail protested.
“We’re trapped on this side! It’s impossible.”
“We could try to find a log that spans the gap,” Ben spoke out. “We could drag it over and push it onto the other side, or find a dead tree close to the edge that we could push over. It'd be easy; even a kid could do it.”
“It wouldn't be easy, there's no trees around here. They thin out in the valley. We'd have to drag it from way up there,” Connor pointed back to the mountain, thick with pines.
“No,” Ben continued, shifting his feet, “but if we went along the fault here we could find a tree closer to it, see?” Ben raised an eyebrow at Connor, sure that he wasn't understanding.
Connor huffed, “We can’t. It's not possible. We need to figure something else out, Ben.”
Ben illustrated his statements with big arm movements, overexaggerating his facial expressions. “There are trees near the fault, though, because how would ones have fallen in? Just find a tree next to it! Gosh!”
“Where would we find one of those?” Connor demanded, hands on his hips and temper officially lost. “I’ve had enough of your smart comments. Stop talking to me like I was stupid enough to be responsible for this whole mess.”
Ben clenched his teeth and turned to the fault, staring down into its depths. “This is not my fault.”
“Yes, it is, Ben! If you hadn’t insisted on seeing Miah, she never would have gotten sucked into this, and our cover wouldn’t have been blown. It’s your own selfish fault for not thinking that they would target her, too! You never think about anyone but yourself!” he shouted, pulling Ben to face him.
“That’s a lie!” he yelled into Connor's face.
Gail’s hesitant voice sliced into the tension. “Guys—”
“You had to drag her along with you, bringing her even deeper into trouble everywhere you went!”
“You let yourself get caught, and wrecked the car, twice! You never think before you do things!”
“Guys!!” Gail shouted, “Where’s Miah?” Suddenly everyone panicked.
Ben froze. Connor gasped, looking around. “She’s not here!”
Ben grabbed Gail’s arm. “Did you see her? Where is she?”
“I—I helped her over to the edge where we all were, and I don’t know what happened—we have to find her!!”
Connor ran to where she had been standing, looking down into the ravine. Ben ran to his side and looked over. “This is all your fault!!” Connor hissed, clenching his fist.
Ben bit his tongue and looked over the edge.
“Oh my gosh—oh—oh, I can see her!” Gail cried, pointing down at something in the clods of dirt below where they stood. They could barely make it out, but it was Miah: unmoving, white as a ghost.
1.04.2013
Episode 43
At about noon, Miah thought her head was going to split. The pounding, pounding, pounding of her legs against the ground was like a hammer in her head, crunching her brain stem and traveling up and down her spine to torture the nerves at her every move.
She stumbled to a tree and leaned against it, trying to catch her breath. They’d been going at a relatively slow pace, but she was still out of breath and could not go on. Her legs didn't ache at all: and she would rather that be the case than for this painful outcome.
“Are you okay?” Gail asked, walking up to her.
Miah nodded, took a deep breath, and looked around. As Ben walked over, she asked, her voice low, “How much longer do we have to go?”
Ben gestured toward the gap they were heading for and sighed, “We can't stop now. You can make it, anyone could walk this distance in a day. But we can't keep stopping like this.”
Miah was too overcome to protest, and held her head as she leaned against the tree. Gail glared at Ben. “Do you have any idea what she—”
Connor, who was ahead, turned and shouted back, “Hey, guys! Come see this!”
Gail shot Ben an angry look and gently took Miah’s arm, guiding her over to where Connor stood.
“Are you okay?” Gail asked, walking up to her.
Miah nodded, took a deep breath, and looked around. As Ben walked over, she asked, her voice low, “How much longer do we have to go?”
Ben gestured toward the gap they were heading for and sighed, “We can't stop now. You can make it, anyone could walk this distance in a day. But we can't keep stopping like this.”
Miah was too overcome to protest, and held her head as she leaned against the tree. Gail glared at Ben. “Do you have any idea what she—”
“You think I don't understand? You don't even know what your experiments did to me. What they're still doing to me.”
Taking his arm and pulling him down to her height, she enunciated every word, “She went for two whole days with torn tendons, basically useless knees and ankles, and then she woke up with metal—”
Connor, who was ahead, turned and shouted back, “Hey, guys! Come see this!”
Gail shot Ben an angry look and gently took Miah’s arm, guiding her over to where Connor stood.
Ben rolled his eyes and walked up to them. “What is it? I…Oh.”
They stared, eyes wide.
Before their feet was a seemingly bottomless fissure in the earth; a crack that ran as far as they could see, running into the mountains on either side of the valley. It was far too wide to jump across and to attempt climbing down and out on the other side was unthinkable; sharp rocks and crumbling dirt were mixed with slippery, rotting tree trunks and splintered branches.
Gail looked at Connor. “How are we going to get there now?”
Before their feet was a seemingly bottomless fissure in the earth; a crack that ran as far as they could see, running into the mountains on either side of the valley. It was far too wide to jump across and to attempt climbing down and out on the other side was unthinkable; sharp rocks and crumbling dirt were mixed with slippery, rotting tree trunks and splintered branches.
Gail looked at Connor. “How are we going to get there now?”
1.03.2013
Episode 42
When the ground began to level out, Ben had slowed down. Surveying the mountains around, a bit of a plan was forming in his head. He looked around at the thinning forest before them, and then looked back at the others. He saw Miah standing directly behind him, looking around. He blinked; she had walked up so quietly.
“Do you think we’re close?” she asked, scratching her arm.
Ben took a deep breath of the pine forest air and looked out at the mountains around the valley. “Maybe. But if a road cut through here, it would pass through that gap over there—” he pointed to a point where the mountains separated to reveal the clouded sky— “so we should head in more or less that direction.”
She nodded, looking around. “And then what?” He turned to her, and she looked down. “Like…after we find the road, do we just…wait for someone to drive by?”
He looked back at the gap. “We have to find a road first.”
Miah sighed. “Yes.”
Connor caught up with them, looking around at the mountains from their position. “So, do we have our trajectory?”
Ben rolled his eyes at his vocabulary boasting long hours watching action movies and nodded toward the gap. “Toward there—most likely place they’d build a road around here. And if there isn’t a road, we’ll be able to get out of this valley through the gap.”
Connor nodded slowly, summing up the distance. “We might run out of food by the time we’ve walked all that way.”
“Then let’s pray there’s a road,” Ben murmured.
Gail soon caught up with them, and they continued along the sloping valley floor, hoping they would find a road in time.
“Do you think we’re close?” she asked, scratching her arm.
Ben took a deep breath of the pine forest air and looked out at the mountains around the valley. “Maybe. But if a road cut through here, it would pass through that gap over there—” he pointed to a point where the mountains separated to reveal the clouded sky— “so we should head in more or less that direction.”
She nodded, looking around. “And then what?” He turned to her, and she looked down. “Like…after we find the road, do we just…wait for someone to drive by?”
He looked back at the gap. “We have to find a road first.”
Miah sighed. “Yes.”
Connor caught up with them, looking around at the mountains from their position. “So, do we have our trajectory?”
Ben rolled his eyes at his vocabulary boasting long hours watching action movies and nodded toward the gap. “Toward there—most likely place they’d build a road around here. And if there isn’t a road, we’ll be able to get out of this valley through the gap.”
Connor nodded slowly, summing up the distance. “We might run out of food by the time we’ve walked all that way.”
“Then let’s pray there’s a road,” Ben murmured.
Gail soon caught up with them, and they continued along the sloping valley floor, hoping they would find a road in time.
1.02.2013
Episode 41
The next day, the four of them set off down the mountainside and into the valley. Miah had woken up to find him sitting with his back to her on the other side of the fire, and when she'd stood and walked over beside him, he hadn't responded. She'd looked around and had seen Gail opening the backpack and eating another granola bar, so she joined her.
The walk downhill wore on her after a time. The pain wasn't in her legs, as it would have been if she had walked for hours downhill a week ago, but now, the pain was in the back of her head. The walking was easy, but she felt like she was getting a migraine, and it could only go away if she stopped moving.
Ben seemed changed somehow; Miah couldn’t tell how, but something was different. When Connor fell into step beside her and said hi, she tried to smile.
“You doing okay?” he asked in a friendly, if slightly gruff, manner.
She shrugged and nodded. “Besides…you know.”
He looked at her feet and gave a nod of understanding. “Yeah.”
They walked on in silence, picking their way down the slight slope. He didn’t make any conversation, and Miah wanted to glare at him. She felt positively hopeless, and the fact that no one had gotten much sleep the night before made finding someone to comfort her a useless attempt.
Gail kept to herself, staring down at her feet and stumbling occasionally. Ben struck out ahead as if to get there first, wherever “there” was, or to show them which way to go; Miah could sense only spite in everything he did.
About eleven, the sun went behind some clouds, and Miah couldn’t help shivering. Gail's sweater wasn't made for keeping the wind out, and it seemed as if every empty space in the knit fabric let in a cold blast of air. She was hungry, she was tired, no one would talk to her, and she wished that none of this had ever happened. She wanted to sit right down and refuse to move. She wanted to kick something.
But they had to keep walking if they were ever going to get help, upon which their survival depended.
“You doing okay?” he asked in a friendly, if slightly gruff, manner.
She shrugged and nodded. “Besides…you know.”
He looked at her feet and gave a nod of understanding. “Yeah.”
They walked on in silence, picking their way down the slight slope. He didn’t make any conversation, and Miah wanted to glare at him. She felt positively hopeless, and the fact that no one had gotten much sleep the night before made finding someone to comfort her a useless attempt.
Gail kept to herself, staring down at her feet and stumbling occasionally. Ben struck out ahead as if to get there first, wherever “there” was, or to show them which way to go; Miah could sense only spite in everything he did.
About eleven, the sun went behind some clouds, and Miah couldn’t help shivering. Gail's sweater wasn't made for keeping the wind out, and it seemed as if every empty space in the knit fabric let in a cold blast of air. She was hungry, she was tired, no one would talk to her, and she wished that none of this had ever happened. She wanted to sit right down and refuse to move. She wanted to kick something.
But they had to keep walking if they were ever going to get help, upon which their survival depended.
1.01.2013
Episode 40
Miah sat back against the tree, and Ben stood at the firelight’s edge, looking into the flames. “What is it?” she asked, hugging her knees to her chest.
He looked at her, taking a breath, and then shook his head. “Nothing. Just…tired, I guess.”
“That's the worst excuse in the world. Tired could mean anything,” Miah smiled.
He sat down beside her, leaning his elbows on his knees and looking down. “Well, I do feel a bit weird...just one of those things that passes. Like an itch or something.”
“Ah.” Miah bit her lip and looked out at the moon.
Ben sighed, “I’m fine...I'll be okay.” She nodded and looked up at him, and he looked down at her, his eyes changing from a troubled look to a small smile. “I’m just worried, I guess,” he sighed, looking into the fire once more. “What if we never get out of here? What will we do even if we do get out of here?” He let out his breath and scratched his head.
Miah looked down. It seemed hopeless. “I guess I thought...I thought that when you came back, everything would be better, that I would know what was going on, and that I wouldn't have to worry.”
He looked at her, taking a breath, and then shook his head. “Nothing. Just…tired, I guess.”
“That's the worst excuse in the world. Tired could mean anything,” Miah smiled.
He sat down beside her, leaning his elbows on his knees and looking down. “Well, I do feel a bit weird...just one of those things that passes. Like an itch or something.”
“Ah.” Miah bit her lip and looked out at the moon.
Ben sighed, “I’m fine...I'll be okay.” She nodded and looked up at him, and he looked down at her, his eyes changing from a troubled look to a small smile. “I’m just worried, I guess,” he sighed, looking into the fire once more. “What if we never get out of here? What will we do even if we do get out of here?” He let out his breath and scratched his head.
Miah looked down. It seemed hopeless. “I guess I thought...I thought that when you came back, everything would be better, that I would know what was going on, and that I wouldn't have to worry.”
Ben gave her a wry smile and shook his head. “Sorry to disappoint you.”
She shrugged and looked out into the darkness. “I’m scared, Ben.”
He took her hand and gave her fingers a squeeze. “I know. We'll get everything sorted out soon, though, okay? I won’t leave you; don’t be afraid.”
He kissed her forehead, and she closed her eyes. “I just want to be safe again.”
“I’ve got you, Miah.” He looked up at the night sky. “I’ve got you.”
He took her hand and gave her fingers a squeeze. “I know. We'll get everything sorted out soon, though, okay? I won’t leave you; don’t be afraid.”
He kissed her forehead, and she closed her eyes. “I just want to be safe again.”
“I’ve got you, Miah.” He looked up at the night sky. “I’ve got you.”
12.31.2012
Episode 39
Miah woke with a jump in the middle of the night to find that the fire was gone.
There were noises and sounds and things flashing and running, and she was alone. “Ben?!” she called out. She was freezing cold, and she couldn’t see anything in the dark.
“Miah!” she heard somewhere. Then there was a gunshot, and some more scuffling.
“Ben?” She stood and tried to go forward, but something shoved her back and she almost fell to the ground. “Ben, where are you?” she cried, wondering if it was all a dream. “Ben, help!”
She heard another shot, and the bone-chilling sound of Gail’s ear-piercing scream. The shifting shadows and muffled noises in the dark ceased, and there was a deathly silence. Miah stood up against the tree, shivering unstoppably, and closed her eyes tight, hoping it would end.
“I got it,” she heard Ben’s voice.
“Ben?” she called out, her voice cracking.
“Miah, are you okay?” he called to her.
“Yes,” she answered, and walked cautiously forward, step by step, looking around. “Where are you?”
Connor’s voice came from her right, a sigh. “That was close.”
“Gail?” Ben called.
“I—I’m fine,” she replied.
Miah put her hands out, feeling around. “I can’t see anything!”
“I’m right here, Miah,” said Ben.
She blinked, and in the darkness could barely make out his form. She walked up to him, almost tripping over something in the dark.
“Whoa—”
“Careful.”
She looked down at the large form stretched out on the ground.
“What is it?”
“It’s a bear. I’m pretty sure it’s dead,” he added.
She looked up at him. “You’re sure?”
He kicked it with his foot. “Yeah, I’m sure.”
Miah sighed and stepped over it gingerly. “You guys had me totally freaked out.”
Connor laughed. “Sorry.”
Ben sighed, “Well, thanks to you, Connor, we now have no fire.”
“Hey! I had the right idea!”
“You nearly got us killed!”
Miah rubbed her arms in the cold. “Guys, let’s just try to light it again, okay? I’m freezing. Especially my knees.”
The metal joints that met at her knees felt like ice, making any attempt at warming up a useless venture without warming them up.
“I’m sorry,” Ben added, putting a hand on her shoulder. “Let’s try again.”
They slowly made their way to where their fire had been, guided by the smell of smoke and a slight glow from the dying embers.
“You think we need to ignite it again, or just blow on the coals?”
“We should get some more pine leaves,” Ben suggested.
“Yeah.” Connor felt around for awhile and soon came back with a large handful. “Okay.” He pulled the rock out of his pocket, and Miah sighed and kneeled beside the fire, sticking her foot out. He struck the metal and lit the needles, and he and Ben soon had coaxed the fire to its former blaze.
“You keep watch this time,” Connor pointed to Ben. “I’m getting some sleep.
“Fine with me,” Ben answered.
“Miah!” she heard somewhere. Then there was a gunshot, and some more scuffling.
“Ben?” She stood and tried to go forward, but something shoved her back and she almost fell to the ground. “Ben, where are you?” she cried, wondering if it was all a dream. “Ben, help!”
She heard another shot, and the bone-chilling sound of Gail’s ear-piercing scream. The shifting shadows and muffled noises in the dark ceased, and there was a deathly silence. Miah stood up against the tree, shivering unstoppably, and closed her eyes tight, hoping it would end.
“I got it,” she heard Ben’s voice.
“Ben?” she called out, her voice cracking.
“Miah, are you okay?” he called to her.
“Yes,” she answered, and walked cautiously forward, step by step, looking around. “Where are you?”
Connor’s voice came from her right, a sigh. “That was close.”
“Gail?” Ben called.
“I—I’m fine,” she replied.
Miah put her hands out, feeling around. “I can’t see anything!”
“I’m right here, Miah,” said Ben.
She blinked, and in the darkness could barely make out his form. She walked up to him, almost tripping over something in the dark.
“Whoa—”
“Careful.”
She looked down at the large form stretched out on the ground.
“What is it?”
“It’s a bear. I’m pretty sure it’s dead,” he added.
She looked up at him. “You’re sure?”
He kicked it with his foot. “Yeah, I’m sure.”
Miah sighed and stepped over it gingerly. “You guys had me totally freaked out.”
Connor laughed. “Sorry.”
Ben sighed, “Well, thanks to you, Connor, we now have no fire.”
“Hey! I had the right idea!”
“You nearly got us killed!”
Miah rubbed her arms in the cold. “Guys, let’s just try to light it again, okay? I’m freezing. Especially my knees.”
The metal joints that met at her knees felt like ice, making any attempt at warming up a useless venture without warming them up.
“I’m sorry,” Ben added, putting a hand on her shoulder. “Let’s try again.”
They slowly made their way to where their fire had been, guided by the smell of smoke and a slight glow from the dying embers.
“You think we need to ignite it again, or just blow on the coals?”
“We should get some more pine leaves,” Ben suggested.
“Yeah.” Connor felt around for awhile and soon came back with a large handful. “Okay.” He pulled the rock out of his pocket, and Miah sighed and kneeled beside the fire, sticking her foot out. He struck the metal and lit the needles, and he and Ben soon had coaxed the fire to its former blaze.
“You keep watch this time,” Connor pointed to Ben. “I’m getting some sleep.
“Fine with me,” Ben answered.
12.30.2012
Episode 38
It was getting dark, so Connor and Ben decided to stop and try to light a fire. There were plenty of pine needles, but most of them were wet; they looked for brushwood or needles that were dry under the trees that had been covered from the rain and ended up with a good amount of fuel stacked beside a tree that had kept the ground mostly dry.
“How will we light it, though?” Gail asked. “No one has matches.”
Ben stared at the pile of pine needles and sticks. “If we had the right rocks to strike against each other to make a spark…that might ignite the pine needles…”
Miah sighed. “You could try striking a rock or something against one of my boots,” she suggested, still not admitting that they were her legs, even to herself. “It is metal, so it's a good starting point. But good luck finding the right kind of rock to strike it with,” she added.
“Well, that's a good idea.” Ben dug through some of the needles on the ground, pulling back a wet mat of them to find dirt. There were a couple rocks, so he took them. Connor watched. Ben tried hitting them against each other close to the pine needles.
“Here, you’re doing it wrong,” Connor said as he reached for the rocks.
He shrugged and handed them to Connor, who held one rock stationary while hitting the other against it quickly.
Nothing happened.
“Well, try this then.” Miah pushed her leg near the pile, and Connor held it in place as he struck the rock against the ankle, which caught the last light of the sun as it slid down behind the far mountains at the end of the valley. They all watched as the light faded, and Connor took a deep breath and struck the rock against her ankle.
There was a sudden spark, but it did not ignite the pine needles.
“You need to get closer,” Connor recommended.
She scooted forward, and Connor leaned in and scooped a small pile of needles next to her ankle, striking it with the rock again. There was another spark, and they thought they imagined a puff of smoke. Connor bent down to the needles and blew gently. There was a small flame, and more needles caught afire.
“Put a twig in there,” he told Ben.
Ben took some twigs from the pile of fuel and held them to the flame, and Miah pulled back slowly. He sat against the tree and watched it ignite.
Soon, they had a fire well kindled, and they added the larger logs they’d found to the flame. The four of them sat with their faces to the fire, holding their hands out to its warmth.
“Thanks, guys.” Gail smiled at Connor, and he nodded and returned the smile.
Miah scooted closer to Ben and yawned. “I feel a lot better now, even if we're in the middle of nowhere. I’m so tired.”
Ben put an arm around her shoulder. “Get some rest, then.”
She smiled and closed her eyes. “Okay.”
As she drifted off, the sun left the world, and with it left its warmth. Their fire burned brightly, and Connor sat with his back to it, on the watch. Gail fell asleep, and Ben soon closed his eyes, resting against the trunk of the tree with Miah’s head on his shoulder.
“How will we light it, though?” Gail asked. “No one has matches.”
Ben stared at the pile of pine needles and sticks. “If we had the right rocks to strike against each other to make a spark…that might ignite the pine needles…”
Miah sighed. “You could try striking a rock or something against one of my boots,” she suggested, still not admitting that they were her legs, even to herself. “It is metal, so it's a good starting point. But good luck finding the right kind of rock to strike it with,” she added.
“Well, that's a good idea.” Ben dug through some of the needles on the ground, pulling back a wet mat of them to find dirt. There were a couple rocks, so he took them. Connor watched. Ben tried hitting them against each other close to the pine needles.
“Here, you’re doing it wrong,” Connor said as he reached for the rocks.
He shrugged and handed them to Connor, who held one rock stationary while hitting the other against it quickly.
Nothing happened.
“Well, try this then.” Miah pushed her leg near the pile, and Connor held it in place as he struck the rock against the ankle, which caught the last light of the sun as it slid down behind the far mountains at the end of the valley. They all watched as the light faded, and Connor took a deep breath and struck the rock against her ankle.
There was a sudden spark, but it did not ignite the pine needles.
“You need to get closer,” Connor recommended.
She scooted forward, and Connor leaned in and scooped a small pile of needles next to her ankle, striking it with the rock again. There was another spark, and they thought they imagined a puff of smoke. Connor bent down to the needles and blew gently. There was a small flame, and more needles caught afire.
“Put a twig in there,” he told Ben.
Ben took some twigs from the pile of fuel and held them to the flame, and Miah pulled back slowly. He sat against the tree and watched it ignite.
Soon, they had a fire well kindled, and they added the larger logs they’d found to the flame. The four of them sat with their faces to the fire, holding their hands out to its warmth.
“Thanks, guys.” Gail smiled at Connor, and he nodded and returned the smile.
Miah scooted closer to Ben and yawned. “I feel a lot better now, even if we're in the middle of nowhere. I’m so tired.”
Ben put an arm around her shoulder. “Get some rest, then.”
She smiled and closed her eyes. “Okay.”
As she drifted off, the sun left the world, and with it left its warmth. Their fire burned brightly, and Connor sat with his back to it, on the watch. Gail fell asleep, and Ben soon closed his eyes, resting against the trunk of the tree with Miah’s head on his shoulder.
12.29.2012
Episode 37
“Ben?” Connor blinked. It was like when Jesus came back from the dead—Miah now know exactly how his disciples had felt when he'd walked through the locked door and appeared to them the first time.
Ben smiled bashfully and scratched his head, finding all eyes on him.
Connor walked up to him and searched his face, and then sighed, “It’s good to have you back, man.”
He nodded, looking at Miah with a smile. Then he asked Connor, “How long have I been out?”
Counting on his fingers, Connor figured, “Two or three days…well, to tell the truth, I’ve started to lose count...At least two, unless you count the day that we weren't there.”
Gail walked over, and Connor said, “Oh—Ben, this is Gail.”
Ben nodded, and Gail gave a smile.
Connor looked around at the forest they’d fallen in, and at the state of their car. “Well, I don’t suppose we could hitchhike our way out of here; that hill’s too steep to climb.”
“So we’re stuck here?” Miah asked dejectedly. All the excitement of Ben being alive had driven the thought of their car crash from her mind.
He sighed. “Looks like it.” He looked up at the sky, which had stopped raining, but was still overcast. “Does anyone have a watch?”
Miah nodded. “It’s five twenty.” She could feel her stomach grumbling. “And I’m still hungry.”
“There's food in the backpack, as I said before.”
Ben smiled bashfully and scratched his head, finding all eyes on him.
Connor walked up to him and searched his face, and then sighed, “It’s good to have you back, man.”
He nodded, looking at Miah with a smile. Then he asked Connor, “How long have I been out?”
Counting on his fingers, Connor figured, “Two or three days…well, to tell the truth, I’ve started to lose count...At least two, unless you count the day that we weren't there.”
Gail walked over, and Connor said, “Oh—Ben, this is Gail.”
Ben nodded, and Gail gave a smile.
Connor looked around at the forest they’d fallen in, and at the state of their car. “Well, I don’t suppose we could hitchhike our way out of here; that hill’s too steep to climb.”
“So we’re stuck here?” Miah asked dejectedly. All the excitement of Ben being alive had driven the thought of their car crash from her mind.
He sighed. “Looks like it.” He looked up at the sky, which had stopped raining, but was still overcast. “Does anyone have a watch?”
Miah nodded. “It’s five twenty.” She could feel her stomach grumbling. “And I’m still hungry.”
“There's food in the backpack, as I said before.”
“Right.” Miah headed over to the car to fish it out.
“We should find shelter,” Ben thought aloud. “It gets cold in the mountains.”
Connor nodded, and the four of them decided to head downhill; it was the only direction left to go. With any luck, they’d come across a road and hitch a ride to the nearest city.
“We should find shelter,” Ben thought aloud. “It gets cold in the mountains.”
Connor nodded, and the four of them decided to head downhill; it was the only direction left to go. With any luck, they’d come across a road and hitch a ride to the nearest city.
12.28.2012
Episode 36
They ran as fast as they could through the heavy underbrush and bushes. Connor looked back and watched as the boulder rolled down the mountain, still not able to relax, even though he knew he was out of its path. Their safety could shift at any moment.
But then Miah stopped and cried, “Ben!!! He’s still in the car!”
She dashed back, but Connor grabbed her. “No!”
It was rolling, tumbling down the hill, bouncing, and somewhere Gail was screaming.
Miah yelled, “Let me go!!” and elbowed Connor hard in the stomach, but he didn’t let go. She kicked and struggled, trying to wrestle herself out of his grip, but he was far too strong. She could only watch helplessly as the boulder bounced high into the air and then slammed into the car. It crushed the car in a horrible noise of grinding metal and shattering glass, and then it stopped, held in place by the squashed metal.
Miah stood speechless, staring.
Ben was gone.
Connor let her go, and she stumbled forward, putting her hands against the car and falling to her knees. She couldn't believe it. It was impossible. “No.” She closed her eyes and leaned her head against the car, clenching her fists. “You're not gone...I just got you back...”
Connor gaped at the boulder. It was too fast. Gail walked up and choked back a sob. “It's my fault. I didn't get him out fast enough.” She cried and hid her face, collapsing to a heap on the ground. “I’m so sorry, so sorry, so sorry…”
Miah cried to the overcast sky, “NO!!!”
All this hoping that they could save his life, all this effort, in vain... It was too much for tears. She couldn't breathe. Couldn't think.
Finally she took a breath and swallowed, standing up and turning to Connor and Gail. “I—” she stuttered, and stopped. She heard something.
She turned, and footsteps came through the leaves and a face appeared, bewildered, but smiling when he saw her; suddenly his arms were around her and she gasped in utter surprise.
Ben pulled back and looked her in the eye. “You okay?”
She tried to speak, gasped a sob, and then burst into tears of joy and confusion. He hugged her and she cried, “I thought you were dead—” and laughed.
He was alive; he had awoken from his coma just in time to escape, and he was here, with her, and she was here, with him, and everything was going to be alright. She wiped her tears and smiled, tears still streaming down her cheeks. Ben was alive.
But then Miah stopped and cried, “Ben!!! He’s still in the car!”
She dashed back, but Connor grabbed her. “No!”
It was rolling, tumbling down the hill, bouncing, and somewhere Gail was screaming.
Miah yelled, “Let me go!!” and elbowed Connor hard in the stomach, but he didn’t let go. She kicked and struggled, trying to wrestle herself out of his grip, but he was far too strong. She could only watch helplessly as the boulder bounced high into the air and then slammed into the car. It crushed the car in a horrible noise of grinding metal and shattering glass, and then it stopped, held in place by the squashed metal.
Miah stood speechless, staring.
Ben was gone.
Connor let her go, and she stumbled forward, putting her hands against the car and falling to her knees. She couldn't believe it. It was impossible. “No.” She closed her eyes and leaned her head against the car, clenching her fists. “You're not gone...I just got you back...”
Connor gaped at the boulder. It was too fast. Gail walked up and choked back a sob. “It's my fault. I didn't get him out fast enough.” She cried and hid her face, collapsing to a heap on the ground. “I’m so sorry, so sorry, so sorry…”
Miah cried to the overcast sky, “NO!!!”
All this hoping that they could save his life, all this effort, in vain... It was too much for tears. She couldn't breathe. Couldn't think.
Finally she took a breath and swallowed, standing up and turning to Connor and Gail. “I—” she stuttered, and stopped. She heard something.
She turned, and footsteps came through the leaves and a face appeared, bewildered, but smiling when he saw her; suddenly his arms were around her and she gasped in utter surprise.
Ben pulled back and looked her in the eye. “You okay?”
She tried to speak, gasped a sob, and then burst into tears of joy and confusion. He hugged her and she cried, “I thought you were dead—” and laughed.
He was alive; he had awoken from his coma just in time to escape, and he was here, with her, and she was here, with him, and everything was going to be alright. She wiped her tears and smiled, tears still streaming down her cheeks. Ben was alive.
12.27.2012
Episode 35
“Ow my head—ow, ow, ow—” Miah groaned as she unbuckled her seatbelt and pushed herself into a sitting position, more comfortable than hanging upside down in the overturned car. She looked over at Connor, and there was blood dripping from his head. “Connor?!” she cried.
He opened his eyes and blinked. “Ugh—” He wiped at his face and head, and untangled himself from his seatbelt to sit on the ceiling of the upside-down car. “Nosebleed,” he shrugged, rolling his shoulders and looking out the window.
“Gail?”
They looked to the back of the car to find Gail propping Ben up. She sighed. “He’s breathing again.”
“Well…” Miah looked around. “What do we do?”
“We need to get out of the car somehow,” Connor said, still plugging his nose. “And I need a tissue.”
“Hm.” Miah looked out the window—then she laughed. “We’re like three feet from the ground.”
Connor scoffed. “Seriously?” He shook his head and pushed his door open. “Time to get out, kiddies.”
Miah rolled her eyes and opened her door. Gail pushed hers open and hopped out. She looked around at where they’d ended up and then screamed, “Guys!”
A gigantic boulder was rolling down the slope right toward their car!
He opened his eyes and blinked. “Ugh—” He wiped at his face and head, and untangled himself from his seatbelt to sit on the ceiling of the upside-down car. “Nosebleed,” he shrugged, rolling his shoulders and looking out the window.
“Gail?”
They looked to the back of the car to find Gail propping Ben up. She sighed. “He’s breathing again.”
“Well…” Miah looked around. “What do we do?”
“We need to get out of the car somehow,” Connor said, still plugging his nose. “And I need a tissue.”
“Hm.” Miah looked out the window—then she laughed. “We’re like three feet from the ground.”
Connor scoffed. “Seriously?” He shook his head and pushed his door open. “Time to get out, kiddies.”
Miah rolled her eyes and opened her door. Gail pushed hers open and hopped out. She looked around at where they’d ended up and then screamed, “Guys!”
A gigantic boulder was rolling down the slope right toward their car!
12.26.2012
Episode 34
“Great. This is the second wreck I’ve gotten in this week with you driving.”
“Second??” Gail looked in surprise at Connor, and then at Miah. “Why didn't you tell me about that before I got in?”
Connor gripped the steering wheel tightly and clenched his jaw. Miah crossed her arms and looked out the windshield.
The car had stopped moving, and that was a relief. Gail looked down, hoping they wouldn't fall any further. Suspended by the boughs of pine trees, the car hung precariously high above the ground and swayed when either of them moved.
“I’m sorry.” Connor rubbed his nose, which he noticed was bleeding, the blood staining his shirt and getting all over his hand. “I didn’t mean to.” He pinched his nose and leaned his head back, closing his eyes.
“If you weren’t the only person who was any good at driving, you’d be sitting in the back seat. You keep nearly getting us killed! And at least this time it wasn't on purpose.”
He sighed and let her continue to rail and complain, giving no word in his defense. He did deserve it in a way.
In the back seat, Gail tried to feel for Ben’s pulse.
Exasperated, Miah ended with, “Men!” and huffed, looking out the window.
Gail bit her lip and tried again.
Connor looked back and saw her anxiety. “Gail, what is it?”
“I can’t feel his pulse—and I can’t tell if he’s breathing—”
“No!” Miah gasped, and tried to turn around. With her sudden motion, the whole car slid forward.
The car had stopped moving, and that was a relief. Gail looked down, hoping they wouldn't fall any further. Suspended by the boughs of pine trees, the car hung precariously high above the ground and swayed when either of them moved.
“I’m sorry.” Connor rubbed his nose, which he noticed was bleeding, the blood staining his shirt and getting all over his hand. “I didn’t mean to.” He pinched his nose and leaned his head back, closing his eyes.
“If you weren’t the only person who was any good at driving, you’d be sitting in the back seat. You keep nearly getting us killed! And at least this time it wasn't on purpose.”
He sighed and let her continue to rail and complain, giving no word in his defense. He did deserve it in a way.
In the back seat, Gail tried to feel for Ben’s pulse.
Exasperated, Miah ended with, “Men!” and huffed, looking out the window.
Gail bit her lip and tried again.
Connor looked back and saw her anxiety. “Gail, what is it?”
“I can’t feel his pulse—and I can’t tell if he’s breathing—”
“No!” Miah gasped, and tried to turn around. With her sudden motion, the whole car slid forward.
12.25.2012
Episode 33
The road wound through hills and mountains, into valleys and across a river. They kept losing a radio station, and finally Connor just switched it off after all they could find was static.
“I’m hungry.” Miah looked out at the valley below them that looked exactly like the last one. And the one before that. And before that.
Connor kept his eyes on the foggy road and murmured back, “There's a ton of food in the backpack that we bought at that gas station.”
“I’m hungry.” Miah looked out at the valley below them that looked exactly like the last one. And the one before that. And before that.
Connor kept his eyes on the foggy road and murmured back, “There's a ton of food in the backpack that we bought at that gas station.”
Miah sighed and pulled out the backpack, choosing a granola bar.
“I’m cold,” Gail called.
“Then turn the AC down back there.”
“It’s off. It’s coming from up there.”
He grumbled, “Fine,” and turned down the AC in the front. “Better?”
She nodded, and replied, “Yes, a little.”
Connor watched the road as the fog around them thickened. When it began to drizzle, it was even harder to see, and Miah grew uneasy. He wasn’t speeding, but he wasn’t going very slowly, either.
“Connor, slow down a bit, or you’re gonna get us killed.”
“Relax. I know how to drive.”
“Connor…” Gail cautioned.
“Please slow down—” they passed a ‘Watch For Falling Rocks’ sign and Miah grew more anxious. “This is a dangerous road. And it’s raining. Just slow down a bit—no one’s following us, there’s no reason to rush. Please?”
He turned to her. “Miah. Look. With all these twists and turns in the road, how do we know they’re not just following us from a distance? And I’ve driven in the rain before! Gosh, Miah, I could handle them if they were chasing us, stop worrying! I—”
“Connor, look!” Gail screamed.
He looked ahead, but it was too late.
The three of them screamed as their car toppled off the edge of the cliff and into the valley below.
“I’m cold,” Gail called.
“Then turn the AC down back there.”
“It’s off. It’s coming from up there.”
He grumbled, “Fine,” and turned down the AC in the front. “Better?”
She nodded, and replied, “Yes, a little.”
Connor watched the road as the fog around them thickened. When it began to drizzle, it was even harder to see, and Miah grew uneasy. He wasn’t speeding, but he wasn’t going very slowly, either.
“Connor, slow down a bit, or you’re gonna get us killed.”
“Relax. I know how to drive.”
“Connor…” Gail cautioned.
“Please slow down—” they passed a ‘Watch For Falling Rocks’ sign and Miah grew more anxious. “This is a dangerous road. And it’s raining. Just slow down a bit—no one’s following us, there’s no reason to rush. Please?”
He turned to her. “Miah. Look. With all these twists and turns in the road, how do we know they’re not just following us from a distance? And I’ve driven in the rain before! Gosh, Miah, I could handle them if they were chasing us, stop worrying! I—”
“Connor, look!” Gail screamed.
He looked ahead, but it was too late.
The three of them screamed as their car toppled off the edge of the cliff and into the valley below.
12.24.2012
Episode 32
Miah opened her eyes to find she’d fallen asleep in the corner with Gail's sweater covering her. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and looked over. Gail had inserted an IV into Ben’s hand, but she had left already. She groaned as she stretched out her legs. Would the pain ever stop? It was almost as bad as before, when her legs were injured.
She chose to ignore it and pushed herself off the floor, standing up and stretching her arms. Miah’s mouth felt disgusting. She wished there was a place to brush her teeth, but that would have to wait. Ugh.
As she walked slowly around the room, she wondered if Gail would come back, and what had happened to Connor. She sat back down against the wall beside Ben's comatose body and sighed. “Guess it’s just you and me.”
At that moment, the door unlocked swiftly and Gail burst in. “Miah. We have to get Ben and go.”
“How—”
“There’s a stretcher in this closet.” She opened it and pulled out a long stretcher, and the two of them pulled him onto it. They lifted him with some effort, and Miah winced as she felt the biting pain in her head.
“Where’s Connor?” she asked as they carried the stretcher through the door.
“He’ll meet us at the entrance,” she replied. “Sorry it took so long. But we have to hurry now, or this won’t work.”
“You’re coming with us?”
Gail smiled. “Oh yes. I’d do almost anything to get out of here.”
Miah looked around and wondered if they had hidden cameras anywhere. She sure didn’t want to get caught and accidentally drop Ben….
They reached a wide hall where they heard raised voices coming from an open doorway. Three or four men were arguing loudly, and they couldn’t sneak past them without being noticed, for sure.
“What do we do?” Gail whispered.
“You’re asking me?” Miah looked around. “Isn’t there another way there? One that doesn’t go past this door?”
“No, there’s not,” Gail replied.
“Well, we’ll have to take the chance that they’re paying too much attention to their debate than to the people in the hallway. Come on.” Miah got a better grip on the stretcher handles and kept walking.
They looked straight ahead and hoped they wouldn’t be stopped.
“Hey!” one of them shouted, and Gail jumped. Miah pushed her forward as the man kept yelling at another. They didn’t notice!
They soon reached the outer door, and Gail pushed it open with an elbow. They saw Connor run around the corner outside, carrying a key ring. “Hey guys!” he called.
Miah rolled her eyes. “How are you this lovely day?” she called back.
“Oh, you know, the usual.” He grinned and unlocked a black sports car and hopped in. “How are you?”
“Haven’t been better. A bit stiff-jointed, perhaps, though.”
He winked and started up the engine. “Let’s go!”
As they pulled away, Miah leaned back in the seat, closed her eyes, and sighed in fervent relief.
She chose to ignore it and pushed herself off the floor, standing up and stretching her arms. Miah’s mouth felt disgusting. She wished there was a place to brush her teeth, but that would have to wait. Ugh.
As she walked slowly around the room, she wondered if Gail would come back, and what had happened to Connor. She sat back down against the wall beside Ben's comatose body and sighed. “Guess it’s just you and me.”
At that moment, the door unlocked swiftly and Gail burst in. “Miah. We have to get Ben and go.”
“How—”
“There’s a stretcher in this closet.” She opened it and pulled out a long stretcher, and the two of them pulled him onto it. They lifted him with some effort, and Miah winced as she felt the biting pain in her head.
“Where’s Connor?” she asked as they carried the stretcher through the door.
“He’ll meet us at the entrance,” she replied. “Sorry it took so long. But we have to hurry now, or this won’t work.”
“You’re coming with us?”
Gail smiled. “Oh yes. I’d do almost anything to get out of here.”
Miah looked around and wondered if they had hidden cameras anywhere. She sure didn’t want to get caught and accidentally drop Ben….
They reached a wide hall where they heard raised voices coming from an open doorway. Three or four men were arguing loudly, and they couldn’t sneak past them without being noticed, for sure.
“What do we do?” Gail whispered.
“You’re asking me?” Miah looked around. “Isn’t there another way there? One that doesn’t go past this door?”
“No, there’s not,” Gail replied.
“Well, we’ll have to take the chance that they’re paying too much attention to their debate than to the people in the hallway. Come on.” Miah got a better grip on the stretcher handles and kept walking.
They looked straight ahead and hoped they wouldn’t be stopped.
“Hey!” one of them shouted, and Gail jumped. Miah pushed her forward as the man kept yelling at another. They didn’t notice!
They soon reached the outer door, and Gail pushed it open with an elbow. They saw Connor run around the corner outside, carrying a key ring. “Hey guys!” he called.
Miah rolled her eyes. “How are you this lovely day?” she called back.
“Oh, you know, the usual.” He grinned and unlocked a black sports car and hopped in. “How are you?”
“Haven’t been better. A bit stiff-jointed, perhaps, though.”
He winked and started up the engine. “Let’s go!”
As they pulled away, Miah leaned back in the seat, closed her eyes, and sighed in fervent relief.
12.23.2012
Episode 31
It was the first day of camp, and she was fifteen. Her mother had driven her here to the campus, and before she pulled away, she called, “Make some friends, Miah! I love you!”
“I love you too, Mom!” she called back. As she watched her mother’s car drive away, she looked around at the groups of girls and boys and wondered what kind of week she was in for.
A rather short girl walked over to where she stood looking down the road. “Hi!” the girl smiled. “My name’s Gwen.”
“I’m Miah,” she said as the girls smiled at each other.
“Which cabin are you in?” she asked. “I’m in Cabin C.”
“So am I!” Miah grinned.
Gwen laughed and they walked off together.
Throughout the week there at camp they found that they shared many common interests, especially in music. Gwen played just about any stringed instrument you could imagine, as well as the clarinet, which she played in her school band. Miah was inspired to learn more instruments by the way Gwen seemed to look for the most difficult instrument to play and take on the challenge with joy. The two girls became great friends, and Gwen introduced Miah to all her friends at the camp, including a boy named Ben.
Miah didn’t think she’d ever had as much fun with anyone before she’d met Ben. He was a year older than her, but you never would have known. He made her laugh, she made him laugh, and their friends loved hanging out with them. A few jokes floated around about them being ‘perfect for each other’ but neither of them thought of each other that way. At least, they didn't admit it themselves.
When camp ended that week, they exchanged email addresses and promised to keep in touch. Miah had moved houses again because of her dad’s job, and they didn’t meet again in person for another year, but kept in contact online.
As the years slowly passed, Miah found herself a senior, and Ben was in his first year of college. Even though he was hundreds of miles away, he still came to visit as often as he could. Sometimes she would visit him, too. They’d get together with their friends one weekend and go to Sea World, or they’d go hiking and camping. They kept up the friendship the best they could.
Miah was used to changing schools as often as her family moved, but it was a comfort to know that she’d always be able to keep in touch with the people she left behind.
“I love you too, Mom!” she called back. As she watched her mother’s car drive away, she looked around at the groups of girls and boys and wondered what kind of week she was in for.
A rather short girl walked over to where she stood looking down the road. “Hi!” the girl smiled. “My name’s Gwen.”
“I’m Miah,” she said as the girls smiled at each other.
“Which cabin are you in?” she asked. “I’m in Cabin C.”
“So am I!” Miah grinned.
Gwen laughed and they walked off together.
Throughout the week there at camp they found that they shared many common interests, especially in music. Gwen played just about any stringed instrument you could imagine, as well as the clarinet, which she played in her school band. Miah was inspired to learn more instruments by the way Gwen seemed to look for the most difficult instrument to play and take on the challenge with joy. The two girls became great friends, and Gwen introduced Miah to all her friends at the camp, including a boy named Ben.
Miah didn’t think she’d ever had as much fun with anyone before she’d met Ben. He was a year older than her, but you never would have known. He made her laugh, she made him laugh, and their friends loved hanging out with them. A few jokes floated around about them being ‘perfect for each other’ but neither of them thought of each other that way. At least, they didn't admit it themselves.
When camp ended that week, they exchanged email addresses and promised to keep in touch. Miah had moved houses again because of her dad’s job, and they didn’t meet again in person for another year, but kept in contact online.
As the years slowly passed, Miah found herself a senior, and Ben was in his first year of college. Even though he was hundreds of miles away, he still came to visit as often as he could. Sometimes she would visit him, too. They’d get together with their friends one weekend and go to Sea World, or they’d go hiking and camping. They kept up the friendship the best they could.
Miah was used to changing schools as often as her family moved, but it was a comfort to know that she’d always be able to keep in touch with the people she left behind.
12.22.2012
Episode 30
Gail paced back and forth in her room. She stopped before her door, looking at it anxiously, but then paced quickly back again, arguing with herself. “It may work out just fine...but...no, what if it doesn’t? And—what if I could stop it?” She stopped before the door again, and made up her mind, taking a deep breath. “I’m going. I don't care. I have to go.”
She pulled the door open and walked out quickly before she could change her convince herself not to.
Miah turned as she heard the door unlocking. It opened, and Gail rushed in. “Miah,” she panted.
“Gail!” She stood and steadied herself, waiting for her head to clear. “I....What are we going to do?”
The blonde walked to the bedside. “He might come out of it.”
“Might?” She searched Gail’s face for an answer.
“There’s nothing we can do for a coma, Miah. He needs an IV, though.”
Miah nodded. “I’ll stay here.”
She laughed. “Yes. You do that.”
The girl left the room, and Miah lowered herself to the floor where she sat against the wall and sighed.
“Wake up…” she whispered, putting a hand on his shoulder. “I'm surrounded by people I don't know, except for you...please, wake up, so I can know what's going on.”
She pulled the door open and walked out quickly before she could change her convince herself not to.
Miah turned as she heard the door unlocking. It opened, and Gail rushed in. “Miah,” she panted.
“Gail!” She stood and steadied herself, waiting for her head to clear. “I....What are we going to do?”
The blonde walked to the bedside. “He might come out of it.”
“Might?” She searched Gail’s face for an answer.
“There’s nothing we can do for a coma, Miah. He needs an IV, though.”
Miah nodded. “I’ll stay here.”
She laughed. “Yes. You do that.”
The girl left the room, and Miah lowered herself to the floor where she sat against the wall and sighed.
“Wake up…” she whispered, putting a hand on his shoulder. “I'm surrounded by people I don't know, except for you...please, wake up, so I can know what's going on.”
She sighed and pulled her knees up under her chin and watched him sleep.
 |
| © December 2012 Ashley Spence |
12.21.2012
Episode 29
Miah was dragged from the surgical chamber and down a hall, and was locked in a small room. She beat on the door, screaming for them to let her out, but it was of no use. She sat against the door and took deep breaths, trying to sort out the racing thoughts in her head. “Ben’s gone. Connor’s gone. I’m all messed up—” she choked back a sob— “and no one knows where—”
She froze, sure she had heard something. She stood up slowly, wincing at the pain, and looked toward the back of the room, where she hadn't taken a good look at yet. There was a sheet on the floor, and someone lay there, motionless.
Miah took a few hesitant steps toward the body, and then gasped, “Ben!”
She froze, sure she had heard something. She stood up slowly, wincing at the pain, and looked toward the back of the room, where she hadn't taken a good look at yet. There was a sheet on the floor, and someone lay there, motionless.
Miah took a few hesitant steps toward the body, and then gasped, “Ben!”
She ran to the bedside and fell to her knees. The back of her head was killing her with every step, but she bit her lip and ignored it. “Ben…”
His eyes were closed and he was barely breathing. She brushed the hair from his face and felt his forehead. “I’m here; it’s going to be okay…We can fix you…” She sniffed back a tear and took a shuddering breath. In a coma, Gail had said. What did one do for a coma?
Nothing.
Nothing.
12.20.2012
Episode 28
“Miah!” he shouted, and she turned and ran toward him.
“Connor—” Her footsteps were too wide, too quick, and she stumbled into him. He put his hands out to catch her and asked, “Are you alright? Tell me, what happened?” He tried to look into her eyes, but she was having trouble focusing.
She was breathing heavily and didn’t seem to understand what he was saying. She squeezed her eyes tight and tried to pull away.
“Miah—” He sighed and pulled her close, and tried to soften his tone. “What’s wrong?”
She took a shaky breath and whispered, “I don’t know. But I can walk. And it hurts.”
Tears were welling up in her eyes, but she still didn't understand. “They put these things on them. I can’t get them off. And my head—it hurts when I move my legs.”
“There were things up on the wall in that room, I thought they were guns or equipment...but they weren't.”
“Connor—” Her footsteps were too wide, too quick, and she stumbled into him. He put his hands out to catch her and asked, “Are you alright? Tell me, what happened?” He tried to look into her eyes, but she was having trouble focusing.
She was breathing heavily and didn’t seem to understand what he was saying. She squeezed her eyes tight and tried to pull away.
“Miah—” He sighed and pulled her close, and tried to soften his tone. “What’s wrong?”
She took a shaky breath and whispered, “I don’t know. But I can walk. And it hurts.”
“You can walk?” Connor wasn’t thinking clear enough, and he took a deep breath. “But Miah, your legs are fine, your...” He stopped. “You can walk...and you couldn’t before...” He frowned and looked at her face. “Miah. How can you walk?”
Tears were welling up in her eyes, but she still didn't understand. “They put these things on them. I can’t get them off. And my head—it hurts when I move my legs.”
“There were things up on the wall in that room, I thought they were guns or equipment...but they weren't.”
Miah tugged slightly, confused and tired. “Connor, what's going on...”
“They replaced your legs.” He let go of her and she swayed, and then caught her balance. Miah looked down at her feet.
“Replaced my…” her voice trailed off. She swallowed. “What?”
“Replaced my…” her voice trailed off. She swallowed. “What?”
“They made mechanical legs and replaced them with yours. It must have been part of their plan.”
Still not comprehending the entirety of what he was saying, she sighed, “Connor, we have to find Ben...we're getting out of here, right?” She looked up at him.
He looked into her eyes. “Miah…” She doesn't understand.
She looked away. “I can walk....Let’s go.” She shakily pulled the door open and peered into the room beyond. “Come on.”
He looked into her eyes. “Miah…” She doesn't understand.
She looked away. “I can walk....Let’s go.” She shakily pulled the door open and peered into the room beyond. “Come on.”
Connor sighed and followed her.
Before he knew what was happening, he was knocked to the floor from behind. Miah cried out, “Connor! Help!”
It was a trap, he thought with a groan. “Run, Miah!” he yelled, and tried to get up. As he stood, he felt a stabbing pain in his back and saw the room tilt before him. He hit the ground hard and closed his eyes.
Before he knew what was happening, he was knocked to the floor from behind. Miah cried out, “Connor! Help!”
It was a trap, he thought with a groan. “Run, Miah!” he yelled, and tried to get up. As he stood, he felt a stabbing pain in his back and saw the room tilt before him. He hit the ground hard and closed his eyes.
12.19.2012
Episode 27
Connor barely stopped himself before he ran into the end of a hallway. He had been running for what felt like hours, and he had come to a dead end. He groaned and darted back the direction he had come. At that end, he found another door, which he assumed he'd come through on his way, though he didn't recall it. When he tried to open it, but it opened to a blank wall. He stopped and looked back at the other dead end, which now seemed closer, and thought for a moment that his mind was playing tricks on him.
“No. They’re playing tricks on my mind.” He took a deep breath and waited. When nothing happened, he called out, clenching his fist, “Okay, you’ve got me! What do you want?”
A door opened at the other end of the hall, and a man in a lab coat stepped out. “You’re looking for the girl,” he stated, and it wasn't a question.
Connor nodded slowly, taking a step forward. The man gestured toward the open door, keeping eye contact.
“Bring her to me,” Connor demanded.
The man shrugged and silently left through the door.
Connor crossed his arms. “It's a trap,” he said under his breath. Walking up to the door, he stood to one side of it and waited.
When heavy footsteps approached the door and it opened, Connor grabbed the door and banged it into the guard’s head. The man fell to the floor, knocked out. “You're not getting me, not this time,” he growled.
He stepped over the man and headed into the hall beyond. It was shadowy, with very few lights. A door was cracked open at the end of the passage, and Connor walked quickly and quietly toward it. He listened at the door for a moment, and, hearing nothing, walked in.
The room he stepped into looked half like a demented surgery facility and half like an electronics armory. An operating table equipped with an overhead light stood in the center of the room, whose light was the only one in the room. A stainless steel table poked out of a dark, curtained area in the corner, and he walked over to it. On the table were surgical tools and a large plastic case with small electrical wire inside, wound up and tossed in carelessly. Along the walls were brackets that looked to have supported two large pieces of equipment, but they were gone.
There must have been some kind of crazy operation, he thought. Connor examined the operating table. The sheet had been removed, and there was no trace of blood. What could they have done to her?
There was another door near the curtain. He opened it and looked into a bright white room.
And there was Miah.
“No. They’re playing tricks on my mind.” He took a deep breath and waited. When nothing happened, he called out, clenching his fist, “Okay, you’ve got me! What do you want?”
A door opened at the other end of the hall, and a man in a lab coat stepped out. “You’re looking for the girl,” he stated, and it wasn't a question.
Connor nodded slowly, taking a step forward. The man gestured toward the open door, keeping eye contact.
“Bring her to me,” Connor demanded.
The man shrugged and silently left through the door.
Connor crossed his arms. “It's a trap,” he said under his breath. Walking up to the door, he stood to one side of it and waited.
When heavy footsteps approached the door and it opened, Connor grabbed the door and banged it into the guard’s head. The man fell to the floor, knocked out. “You're not getting me, not this time,” he growled.
He stepped over the man and headed into the hall beyond. It was shadowy, with very few lights. A door was cracked open at the end of the passage, and Connor walked quickly and quietly toward it. He listened at the door for a moment, and, hearing nothing, walked in.
The room he stepped into looked half like a demented surgery facility and half like an electronics armory. An operating table equipped with an overhead light stood in the center of the room, whose light was the only one in the room. A stainless steel table poked out of a dark, curtained area in the corner, and he walked over to it. On the table were surgical tools and a large plastic case with small electrical wire inside, wound up and tossed in carelessly. Along the walls were brackets that looked to have supported two large pieces of equipment, but they were gone.
There must have been some kind of crazy operation, he thought. Connor examined the operating table. The sheet had been removed, and there was no trace of blood. What could they have done to her?
There was another door near the curtain. He opened it and looked into a bright white room.
And there was Miah.
12.18.2012
Episode 26
In the dark room, two men sat in deep thought and watched the girl walk around the room, searching for a door. She kept feeling the back of her head.
“Conrad, what are your thoughts?” one man asked, turning to his colleague.
Conrad turned from his gaze into the room and replied after a moment’s reflection, “She doesn’t seem to realize it yet. You are sure none of her brain cells were damaged?”
The man laughed quietly. “Brain cells were damaged. It’s unavoidable. But no serious damage, not so much as to hamper the processes of her mind.”
They both turned to watch the girl as she crossed her arms and leaned against the wall. She was shivering.
“I told you we should have experimented on the other one.”
Conrad shook his head. “No, I believe this was the best choice.”
The other man stood. “Well, this is your field, Conrad. I’m sure you know what you’re doing.”
He nodded. “I do indeed.”
“And, what of the other? Connor Wilhelmson? Have you anything planned?”
“Mm. Preparations have been made quite in advance. We shall see how this experiment goes first.”
At that moment, someone burst through the door. “Sir!” the man called.
“Yes?” Conrad stood.
“He’s escaped!”
“What?!” the man gasped.
“And he’s headed this way!” The messenger caught his breath and left.
“Well?” the other man asked.
Conrad looked into the window again. “This test has gone well enough. Let us conduct our next experiment, shall we?”
The other man nodded and walked out of the room with a sly grin.
“Conrad, what are your thoughts?” one man asked, turning to his colleague.
Conrad turned from his gaze into the room and replied after a moment’s reflection, “She doesn’t seem to realize it yet. You are sure none of her brain cells were damaged?”
The man laughed quietly. “Brain cells were damaged. It’s unavoidable. But no serious damage, not so much as to hamper the processes of her mind.”
They both turned to watch the girl as she crossed her arms and leaned against the wall. She was shivering.
“I told you we should have experimented on the other one.”
Conrad shook his head. “No, I believe this was the best choice.”
The other man stood. “Well, this is your field, Conrad. I’m sure you know what you’re doing.”
He nodded. “I do indeed.”
“And, what of the other? Connor Wilhelmson? Have you anything planned?”
“Mm. Preparations have been made quite in advance. We shall see how this experiment goes first.”
At that moment, someone burst through the door. “Sir!” the man called.
“Yes?” Conrad stood.
“He’s escaped!”
“What?!” the man gasped.
“And he’s headed this way!” The messenger caught his breath and left.
“Well?” the other man asked.
Conrad looked into the window again. “This test has gone well enough. Let us conduct our next experiment, shall we?”
The other man nodded and walked out of the room with a sly grin.
12.17.2012
Episode 25
The girl opened her eyes. She felt like she was lying on a freezing cold sheet of metal. She was wearing some kind of hospital robe. Blinking, she tried to sit up. She froze when she saw her legs.
What in the world…?
She reached down and touched her knees, which were covered in a shiny metal plate. Her legs were bound in a black material and on her feet were black, grey, and silvery boots. She moved them, and felt a strange pinching sensation in the back of her head. She shook her head and rubbed her scalp, and found that there was a small bald section in the back of her head.
The girl’s eyes widened. There was something underneath the skin. She looked down at her legs and moved her foot up again. The pinching feeling bit her head again, and she winced. When she stopped moving, the pain eased a bit.
What’s going on here…She clutched a hand to the back of her head as she used her other arm to steady herself. Leaning against the wall, she swayed for a few seconds, and then stood still. She looked down at her legs again and felt taller. The boots look like heels, she thought.
She looked around at the walls and saw a mirror. The girl walked up to it slowly, finding balance strangely hard, and placed her hands on the mirror. Was it really a window? She tried hard to look in. When she couldn’t see anything, she looked at herself. She looked thin and pale, and her eyes had dark circles under them. There was a bandage on the back of her hand, and she suspected she’d had an IV in. Am I in a hospital? Nothing was making sense.
What in the world…?
She reached down and touched her knees, which were covered in a shiny metal plate. Her legs were bound in a black material and on her feet were black, grey, and silvery boots. She moved them, and felt a strange pinching sensation in the back of her head. She shook her head and rubbed her scalp, and found that there was a small bald section in the back of her head.
The girl’s eyes widened. There was something underneath the skin. She looked down at her legs and moved her foot up again. The pinching feeling bit her head again, and she winced. When she stopped moving, the pain eased a bit.
What’s going on here…She clutched a hand to the back of her head as she used her other arm to steady herself. Leaning against the wall, she swayed for a few seconds, and then stood still. She looked down at her legs again and felt taller. The boots look like heels, she thought.
She looked around at the walls and saw a mirror. The girl walked up to it slowly, finding balance strangely hard, and placed her hands on the mirror. Was it really a window? She tried hard to look in. When she couldn’t see anything, she looked at herself. She looked thin and pale, and her eyes had dark circles under them. There was a bandage on the back of her hand, and she suspected she’d had an IV in. Am I in a hospital? Nothing was making sense.
12.16.2012
Episode 24
Some time in the night, Miah heard a noise. She closed her eyes and tried to fall asleep again, but then she heard footsteps right behind her. She rolled over, “Connor—”
Suddenly, someone grabbed her, and something was held against her mouth. She struggled and tried to call out, but the room began to fade into a mist of sleep.
Connor jumped up from the corner where he had been trying to fall asleep. “Miah!” he gasped, and ran at the guards. “Stop!” He tried to get to her, but two men held him back. He struggled, but they threw him to the ground and left the room.
Gasping for breath, Connor picked himself up off the floor and walked to the door, stopping it just before it closed. He ran through and looked for the men who had carried her away. Seeing no one, he paused to catch his breath and then hurried through a hallway that looked promising. And ran.
Suddenly, someone grabbed her, and something was held against her mouth. She struggled and tried to call out, but the room began to fade into a mist of sleep.
Connor jumped up from the corner where he had been trying to fall asleep. “Miah!” he gasped, and ran at the guards. “Stop!” He tried to get to her, but two men held him back. He struggled, but they threw him to the ground and left the room.
Gasping for breath, Connor picked himself up off the floor and walked to the door, stopping it just before it closed. He ran through and looked for the men who had carried her away. Seeing no one, he paused to catch his breath and then hurried through a hallway that looked promising. And ran.
12.15.2012
Episode 23
They were taken back to their room after they had finished eating, and Connor seized the chance to ask Gail about bandages for Miah. She told him she would try to get her some, and then hurried out.
As Miah settled back down to her place in the corner, she looked up at the ceiling. Connor sat himself down beside her. “So. What are you thinking?”
“Nothing...nothing at all...”
“Ha. You’re thinking about something.” Connor gave a smile and readjusted his position.
Miah turned away from him. “So what?”
“So, I was just wondering what you were thinking about.”
She leaned against the wall and closed her eyes. “It's really nothing, Connor.” She didn't use his name often, and he should have gotten the hint that she was just tired and didn't want to talk.
He walked to the corner across from her and sat down, leaning his head against the wall next to it like she was. “I’m working on it. I know I’m not the greatest guy to get stuck with, but I’m trying.”
Miah opened her eyes and stared at him. “You think you can take Ben’s place now that he’s gone, but you need to know that it’s not happening.”
Connor opened his mouth and then closed it again. “That’s not what I meant. All I meant was that, since we’re stuck here, we might as well be friends. Act civil to each other at least. I asked you a friendly question, the least you could do is answer. If we have no way to escape, we don’t need to make each other miserable.”
“You’re making me miserable. Stop talking to me.” She hid her face in her arms and huffed.
Connor stood and walked to the other side of the room, and then walked back. “You know, really,” he started, and Miah looked up. “Really, when you act like that, all I want is to get away from you. You can’t just say things like that.”
“Well, leave, then.” She crossed her arms.
Connor clenched his fists and walked to the other wall again. He walked back. “If I could, let me assure you, you’d never see my face again.”
Miah scowled. “I’d like nothing better.”
He walked to the other wall and put his head against it, and then slowly turned to her, smiling coldly. “If Ben were here, you’d be happy.”
Miah frowned. “If you had stayed behind instead of Ben, none of this would have happened.”
“If Ben hadn’t even met you in the first place, my life wouldn’t have been ruined.”
“Oh! So you’re blaming me for the choice you made to step into that 'forbidden door'?”
His voice rose as he came closer. “You’re saying you have nothing to do with it?”
Miah closed her eyes and cried, “Yes! I haven’t done anything to make this happen!” Hitting the floor, she punctuated each last word. “It’s all your fault!”
Connor took one more step forward, a bit more aggressively than he meant, and Miah flinched. He started to speak, but then closed his mouth and walked back over to his corner of the wall and sat down with a huff.
Miah swallowed a sob and leaned against the wall, terrified and miserable. Where is my life going, anyway?
As Miah settled back down to her place in the corner, she looked up at the ceiling. Connor sat himself down beside her. “So. What are you thinking?”
“Nothing...nothing at all...”
“Ha. You’re thinking about something.” Connor gave a smile and readjusted his position.
Miah turned away from him. “So what?”
“So, I was just wondering what you were thinking about.”
She leaned against the wall and closed her eyes. “It's really nothing, Connor.” She didn't use his name often, and he should have gotten the hint that she was just tired and didn't want to talk.
He walked to the corner across from her and sat down, leaning his head against the wall next to it like she was. “I’m working on it. I know I’m not the greatest guy to get stuck with, but I’m trying.”
Miah opened her eyes and stared at him. “You think you can take Ben’s place now that he’s gone, but you need to know that it’s not happening.”
Connor opened his mouth and then closed it again. “That’s not what I meant. All I meant was that, since we’re stuck here, we might as well be friends. Act civil to each other at least. I asked you a friendly question, the least you could do is answer. If we have no way to escape, we don’t need to make each other miserable.”
“You’re making me miserable. Stop talking to me.” She hid her face in her arms and huffed.
Connor stood and walked to the other side of the room, and then walked back. “You know, really,” he started, and Miah looked up. “Really, when you act like that, all I want is to get away from you. You can’t just say things like that.”
“Well, leave, then.” She crossed her arms.
Connor clenched his fists and walked to the other wall again. He walked back. “If I could, let me assure you, you’d never see my face again.”
Miah scowled. “I’d like nothing better.”
He walked to the other wall and put his head against it, and then slowly turned to her, smiling coldly. “If Ben were here, you’d be happy.”
Miah frowned. “If you had stayed behind instead of Ben, none of this would have happened.”
“If Ben hadn’t even met you in the first place, my life wouldn’t have been ruined.”
“Oh! So you’re blaming me for the choice you made to step into that 'forbidden door'?”
His voice rose as he came closer. “You’re saying you have nothing to do with it?”
Miah closed her eyes and cried, “Yes! I haven’t done anything to make this happen!” Hitting the floor, she punctuated each last word. “It’s all your fault!”
Connor took one more step forward, a bit more aggressively than he meant, and Miah flinched. He started to speak, but then closed his mouth and walked back over to his corner of the wall and sat down with a huff.
Miah swallowed a sob and leaned against the wall, terrified and miserable. Where is my life going, anyway?
12.14.2012
Episode 22
They were led to a room with two chairs and a table with two plates of bread, a tiny portion of over-cooked chicken breasts, and carrot sticks. The strangeness of a meal cooked for prisoners was soon overcome by their hunger, and they sat down. Connor set Miah down and sat across from her, and after a quick and thankful prayer, they ate. Miah hadn’t realized how hungry she had been until she took a bite of the chicken; though it wasn’t exceptionally good, to her hunger it was the most delicious thing she’d ever eaten.
There were three guards watching them, but it seemed too quiet. Connor felt as though they were trying to trick him into trying to escape; but he would not spring their trap. Instead, he looked around at the room. He saw a fire alarm on one wall and took note of this. There was another door besides the one they had entered from, and he wondered where it led.
“That was so good,” Miah sighed, pushing her plate away and leaning her elbows on the table.
“Yeah,” he replied absentmindedly. “Miah, how are your feet feeling?”
She looked down at them. “My knees are bruised, but the cuts are healing…I must have twisted my ankles or something. They still hurt when I move them.”
“It’s too bad we don’t have ace bandages to wrap around them—they’d heal faster that way.”
Miah sighed and nodded. “What if you ask Gail if she could get us some?”
“That’s a good idea—I wonder if she would, though?”
“There’s no harm in asking. And she seems nice. I have a feeling that she was brought here and made to work on this experiment against her will—she knows it’s wrong. You can tell it in her face,” she whispered, glancing at the guards to make sure they couldn't hear.
Connor sighed, looking around at the room. “I wonder how she can bear it to work here.”
She shook her head. “I don’t know...but if we do escape, I think we should bring her with us.”
He looked at her. “That would be more difficult than you think…difficult to coordinate…and then she’d just be in danger like the rest of us. Besides the possibility that her 'nervous girl' is just an act, and she's trying to fool us into trusting her.”
“What??”
There were three guards watching them, but it seemed too quiet. Connor felt as though they were trying to trick him into trying to escape; but he would not spring their trap. Instead, he looked around at the room. He saw a fire alarm on one wall and took note of this. There was another door besides the one they had entered from, and he wondered where it led.
“That was so good,” Miah sighed, pushing her plate away and leaning her elbows on the table.
“Yeah,” he replied absentmindedly. “Miah, how are your feet feeling?”
She looked down at them. “My knees are bruised, but the cuts are healing…I must have twisted my ankles or something. They still hurt when I move them.”
“It’s too bad we don’t have ace bandages to wrap around them—they’d heal faster that way.”
Miah sighed and nodded. “What if you ask Gail if she could get us some?”
“That’s a good idea—I wonder if she would, though?”
“There’s no harm in asking. And she seems nice. I have a feeling that she was brought here and made to work on this experiment against her will—she knows it’s wrong. You can tell it in her face,” she whispered, glancing at the guards to make sure they couldn't hear.
Connor sighed, looking around at the room. “I wonder how she can bear it to work here.”
She shook her head. “I don’t know...but if we do escape, I think we should bring her with us.”
He looked at her. “That would be more difficult than you think…difficult to coordinate…and then she’d just be in danger like the rest of us. Besides the possibility that her 'nervous girl' is just an act, and she's trying to fool us into trusting her.”
“What??”
Connor looked at her as if to say that she must have been thinking the same thing.
“Well...possibly, yes, but…don’t you think she wants to get away from here?”
He nodded slowly, but added, “I’m not going to guarantee that we’ll be able to bring her, too. Things may end up differently.”
“Well, at least you’ll try, right?”
“Yeahhh.” Connor looked away. He couldn’t make another promise to her that he couldn’t keep.
He nodded slowly, but added, “I’m not going to guarantee that we’ll be able to bring her, too. Things may end up differently.”
“Well, at least you’ll try, right?”
“Yeahhh.” Connor looked away. He couldn’t make another promise to her that he couldn’t keep.
12.13.2012
Episode 21
“Do you think they’ll bring us food?” Miah asked.
Connor paced the floor, thinking. “Mm…well, they can’t starve us, can they? We’re valuable to them.”
“True.”
Connor looked up at the window, which was over ten feet high. “If only I could jump up and try to see out…”
“It’s too small for you to fit through, even if you could get up to it,” Miah sighed, rubbing her knee.
“But…agh, you’re right. Well, the window wouldn’t work.”
“Let’s not try to get out just yet, okay? Let’s wait until I can walk again.”
“But what if you don’t? You should have been brought to the emergency room the minute you got out of that car. Nurses would know if you needed a cast, or if it could get infected, or if you needed a splint or something. There’s nothing we can do about it here; there’s nothing in this room but what we brought with us.”
“By the way, what had been your plan to get out with Ben?”
Connor shook his head. “Never mind that. It can’t help us now.”
Miah shrugged. “Fine with me.”
He sat down against the wall of the window and looked at her. “Well, it seems we’ll be stuck here for awhile.”
She nodded. “No action for awhile, I guess.”
“Yeah.” Connor rolled his eyes. “Unless we think of a subject, this is going to be one boring day.” He thought for a moment, and then asked, “What do you like to do?”
Miah smiled. “Hm. I like music.”
“Oh? Listening to music, playing it, or singing?”
“Pretty much all three.” She grinned. “I’ve been taking harp lessons.”
“That’s cool. My dad once tried to teach me guitar, but I failed miserably. I...suppose that's not exactly my thing.”
She laughed, “I guess. You into music much?”
“Nah. I was more into my karate class and video games than music.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, not very much. I like listening to music, I just can’t play anything.” Connor looked up at the wall, thinking back.
“Can you sing?” she asked hopefully.
“Can a fish fly?” he smirked.
Miah smiled knowingly, “Well actually, there is a fish—”
Connor shook his head and laughed. “Psh, you know-it-all.”
“Well...”
There was a creak, and they both jerked and looked at the door, which opened wide. Gail walked in.
“Follow me, you’re going to eat out here.”
12.12.2012
Episode 20
A few hours later, the door opened. Connor jumped to his feet, and Miah looked up, startled.
A girl in a white lab coat with unkempt blonde hair walked in and looked at the two of them, and then back at her clipboard. She seemed to hide behind it, as if it could protect her from the prisoners. She appeared to be their age, possibly younger. Miah stared at her, surprised that such a young person could survive in a horrible place like this.
The door stood open. Connor took a step toward it, but the girl suddenly got braver and looked him in the eye. “Don’t try to get out,” she said, shaking her head. “It’s a bad idea.”
“What happened to Ben?” Miah asked.
She looked back down at her clipboard, again shrinking into a nervous girl in a lab coat. “The experiment didn’t work out the way it was supposed to...they’re adjusting the formula. Your friend is in a coma.”
Shocked, Miah tried to stand, but pain shot up her leg and she fell back to the floor. She had almost forgotten her injury. “Can we see him?”
“I don’t think so,” the girl answered. “You’re supposed to be kept here until they need another subject for the next experiment.”
Connor crossed his arms, letting out a frustrated sigh. “I knew it.”
“But I don’t think they’ll be ready for a long time,” she hastily added. “It took them a long time to get up to this point, and they’d used mostly rats and alley cats in prior experiments. They didn't expect any of this to happen; they’ll have to start over from scratch almost.”
“Who are you?” Miah asked.
“I'm just one of their geneticists...” The girl looked down at her clipboard and swallowed. “I wish I could help you.”
“Could you?”
She shook her head. “I couldn’t possibly. They’d suspect anything I tried to do.”
Connor stepped forward, intimidation on his mind. “But tell me something. Are we being filmed or recorded in here?”
“Oh no,” she answered, holding her clipboard to her chest and giving a slight smile, “this room isn’t watched in any way. If they had wanted to watch you, you would have known.”
Miah asked, “But what’s your name?”
The girl sighed and looked at her. “Gail. My name is Gail.”
Miah smiled a little, and was about to say something when Gail looked at her watch. “Oh, I have to go!” she exclaimed and ran out of the room.
The door shut and locked, and Connor stood staring at it.
A girl in a white lab coat with unkempt blonde hair walked in and looked at the two of them, and then back at her clipboard. She seemed to hide behind it, as if it could protect her from the prisoners. She appeared to be their age, possibly younger. Miah stared at her, surprised that such a young person could survive in a horrible place like this.
The door stood open. Connor took a step toward it, but the girl suddenly got braver and looked him in the eye. “Don’t try to get out,” she said, shaking her head. “It’s a bad idea.”
“What happened to Ben?” Miah asked.
She looked back down at her clipboard, again shrinking into a nervous girl in a lab coat. “The experiment didn’t work out the way it was supposed to...they’re adjusting the formula. Your friend is in a coma.”
Shocked, Miah tried to stand, but pain shot up her leg and she fell back to the floor. She had almost forgotten her injury. “Can we see him?”
“I don’t think so,” the girl answered. “You’re supposed to be kept here until they need another subject for the next experiment.”
Connor crossed his arms, letting out a frustrated sigh. “I knew it.”
“But I don’t think they’ll be ready for a long time,” she hastily added. “It took them a long time to get up to this point, and they’d used mostly rats and alley cats in prior experiments. They didn't expect any of this to happen; they’ll have to start over from scratch almost.”
“Who are you?” Miah asked.
“I'm just one of their geneticists...” The girl looked down at her clipboard and swallowed. “I wish I could help you.”
“Could you?”
She shook her head. “I couldn’t possibly. They’d suspect anything I tried to do.”
Connor stepped forward, intimidation on his mind. “But tell me something. Are we being filmed or recorded in here?”
“Oh no,” she answered, holding her clipboard to her chest and giving a slight smile, “this room isn’t watched in any way. If they had wanted to watch you, you would have known.”
Miah asked, “But what’s your name?”
The girl sighed and looked at her. “Gail. My name is Gail.”
Miah smiled a little, and was about to say something when Gail looked at her watch. “Oh, I have to go!” she exclaimed and ran out of the room.
The door shut and locked, and Connor stood staring at it.
12.11.2012
Episode 19
Miah sat against the wall staring at the floor. Her eyes still hurt from crying herself to sleep. She had woken in the morning to light shining in the small window high up on the wall. The light only showed the hopelessness of their escape, and she felt sick to her stomach. The feeling made her want to lie there motionless until she died, but soon her curiosity and fear drove her to open her eyes again and look around her to assess her situation.
She saw Connor sitting at the far end of the room with his elbows on his knees, his head bowed. He’d already tried to break the door down the night before, which Miah remembered murkily as if it had been a dream, but the door had been sealed tightly and wouldn’t budge. By the looks of it, it was still in that state this morning, despite the surprisingly deep scratches on both sides of the wooden frame. Miah sensed that same spark of fear she had felt when she had asked him if he had ever killed anyone.
Connor felt lost and confused; none of his plans had worked the way he had expected. The shock that they could have done such a thing to Ben still stuck a cold lump in his stomach that wouldn't go away. It was inhuman, and didn't make any sense to him. How could anyone want to mutilate a human being and make it less than it was? He sighed and lifted his head, and then noticed that Miah was awake.
Looking away from him, she asked, “Do you think he’s dead?”
Connor cracked his neck, as if to come up with a good answer, or a solution to something, but none came and he sighed, “I don’t know…”
Miah looked at him and cupped her face in her hands, her elbows resting on her knees like him. “Are they going to do the same thing to us?”
“They might.” Connor was starting to get restless.
She sighed. “There’s nothing we can do, is there?”
“Not right now,” Connor told her, wishing she would be quiet. She couldn't do any good by answering questions.
Looking away from him, she asked, “Do you think he’s dead?”
Connor cracked his neck, as if to come up with a good answer, or a solution to something, but none came and he sighed, “I don’t know…”
Miah looked at him and cupped her face in her hands, her elbows resting on her knees like him. “Are they going to do the same thing to us?”
“They might.” Connor was starting to get restless.
She sighed. “There’s nothing we can do, is there?”
“Not right now,” Connor told her, wishing she would be quiet. She couldn't do any good by answering questions.
He looked at the door again, and then shook his head. “We’ll have to wait until they come to give us food to escape. That's about our only chance.”
Miah looked around. “Don’t you think they’re monitoring this room?”
“I can’t see any cameras or anything.”
“There could be something in the ceiling that we can’t see.”
“It really doesn’t make much of a difference. They’ll know everything soon enough.” He was sure an interrogation was in order, but he was content to wait until it came to him instead of rushing it. And making her even more nervous will only make things worse, he told himself.
She looked up at the window, a far-off look in her eyes. “I thought we would be able to save him. It happened too fast.”
Connor pushed himself up off the floor and walked over to sit down next to her. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t do anything…I could have fought the man. I should have tried to stop him.”
Miah looked around. “Don’t you think they’re monitoring this room?”
“I can’t see any cameras or anything.”
“There could be something in the ceiling that we can’t see.”
“It really doesn’t make much of a difference. They’ll know everything soon enough.” He was sure an interrogation was in order, but he was content to wait until it came to him instead of rushing it. And making her even more nervous will only make things worse, he told himself.
She looked up at the window, a far-off look in her eyes. “I thought we would be able to save him. It happened too fast.”
Connor pushed himself up off the floor and walked over to sit down next to her. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t do anything…I could have fought the man. I should have tried to stop him.”
“You were carrying me. You couldn’t have.”
“But if I hadn’t been so stupid and gotten us wrecked, you would have been perfectly able to walk. It’s all my fault—it was my idea to get caught anyways.”
“But you couldn’t have known they’d do this to him.”
“I shouldn’t have taken that risk. I never should take that kind of risk.”
Miah put a hand on his arm. “It’s not your fault, Connor.”
“Yes it is!” he said, raising his voice and pulling his arm away. Miah shrank back. "I'm sorry."
She shook her head, looking down. Crossing her arms and turning toward the door, she muttered, “I only hope it doesn’t hurt.”
12.10.2012
Episode 18
There was an alarm blaring somewhere. The lights were still flashing, but they flashed faster now. Ben wasn’t moving.
The first thing Miah could think of to do was to somehow break the glass. To get in there. To physically stop the thing and take Ben away from that horrible place. She beat her fists against the glass, watching as the needle inched closer and closer to his head and yelled, “Connor!!! Help me!!!”
He held her back, saying, “Miah. The glass is too thick!”
“No!”
Her fists were doing nothing. Her knuckles and palms and fingers throbbed in pain, and she was sobbing. She buried her face in Connor’s shoulder. She couldn’t look.
Connor shut his eyes and held Miah tight. He wanted to scream. He wanted to break something. But to hold Miah and close his eyes was all that he could do.
Instead of the evil laugh Miah that expected she would hear, the man’s cold stare toward his subject ignored all else in its deliberation. He knew he could get away with this—he had already gotten away with this. It all seemed to pass too quickly for Miah to do anything, and she screamed in protest, anger, frustration, and sheer terror.
And then there was silence.
The first thing Miah could think of to do was to somehow break the glass. To get in there. To physically stop the thing and take Ben away from that horrible place. She beat her fists against the glass, watching as the needle inched closer and closer to his head and yelled, “Connor!!! Help me!!!”
He held her back, saying, “Miah. The glass is too thick!”
“No!”
Her fists were doing nothing. Her knuckles and palms and fingers throbbed in pain, and she was sobbing. She buried her face in Connor’s shoulder. She couldn’t look.
Connor shut his eyes and held Miah tight. He wanted to scream. He wanted to break something. But to hold Miah and close his eyes was all that he could do.
Instead of the evil laugh Miah that expected she would hear, the man’s cold stare toward his subject ignored all else in its deliberation. He knew he could get away with this—he had already gotten away with this. It all seemed to pass too quickly for Miah to do anything, and she screamed in protest, anger, frustration, and sheer terror.
The screech of the siren rang in their ears. A motor whirred as the needle moved and pierced Ben’s skin, injecting a benign-looking clear liquid into his brain stem. A light burned through Connor’s eyelids, and he looked away and squeezed his eyes tight.
And then there was silence.
12.09.2012
Episode 17
The blood drained from Connor’s face and he suddenly felt weak. How could I have been so foolish?
He looked almost dead. Miah could see him, she knew he was there, but his head hung limp and his wrists had been cuffed to the metal wall behind him. They were red, swollen, as if he had struggled and the metal had chafed his arms. His shirt was drenched with sweat, but he wasn’t moving. She couldn’t even tell if he was breathing.
“Would you like to see him?” the man asked, gloating over her terror.
Connor walked forward and stepped into the room. Miah placed her hand on the glass, cried out his name, but the glass was thick; she felt further away from him than she had ever been. Then, red lights began to flash from within.
“You may not know,” the man in the suit spoke as he walked up to Connor’s side, “that we do not experiment in only computer viruses. You see, as long as we have worked here, the greatest obstacle, the deepest gap, our worst enemy, was the human mind.”
Miah gasped as a white robotic arm came out of the wall. On the end was a syringe. She gripped Connor’s shoulder and breathed, “No…”
“The human mind was always infinitely superior to computers; no matter what computers could do, the mind was creative and was never held back by what it was programmed or not programmed to do.”
Connor thought he might have exaggerated a bit, but said nothing as he stared at his friend’s limp form.
“If we could reduce the human brain to the power of a computer, well, then! Then computers could lord over humans, and those who were still superior to them would have supreme control.”
Connor shook his head. “It’s impossible.”
“Oh?” The man was grinning.
The arm twisted, and the needle moved closer to Ben’s head.
“It’s physically impossible—the body could not function or survive without the brain!”
Miah screamed, “You’re going to kill him!”
“We have already performed the surgery to implant the computer chip into his right frontal lobe—we need only to inject the solution that will complete the process. This shall be our first experimentation on a human subject!”
“No, you can’t!” Connor shouted. “No! NO!!!”
He looked almost dead. Miah could see him, she knew he was there, but his head hung limp and his wrists had been cuffed to the metal wall behind him. They were red, swollen, as if he had struggled and the metal had chafed his arms. His shirt was drenched with sweat, but he wasn’t moving. She couldn’t even tell if he was breathing.
“Would you like to see him?” the man asked, gloating over her terror.
Connor walked forward and stepped into the room. Miah placed her hand on the glass, cried out his name, but the glass was thick; she felt further away from him than she had ever been. Then, red lights began to flash from within.
“You may not know,” the man in the suit spoke as he walked up to Connor’s side, “that we do not experiment in only computer viruses. You see, as long as we have worked here, the greatest obstacle, the deepest gap, our worst enemy, was the human mind.”
Miah gasped as a white robotic arm came out of the wall. On the end was a syringe. She gripped Connor’s shoulder and breathed, “No…”
“The human mind was always infinitely superior to computers; no matter what computers could do, the mind was creative and was never held back by what it was programmed or not programmed to do.”
Connor thought he might have exaggerated a bit, but said nothing as he stared at his friend’s limp form.
“If we could reduce the human brain to the power of a computer, well, then! Then computers could lord over humans, and those who were still superior to them would have supreme control.”
Connor shook his head. “It’s impossible.”
“Oh?” The man was grinning.
The arm twisted, and the needle moved closer to Ben’s head.
“It’s physically impossible—the body could not function or survive without the brain!”
Miah screamed, “You’re going to kill him!”
“We have already performed the surgery to implant the computer chip into his right frontal lobe—we need only to inject the solution that will complete the process. This shall be our first experimentation on a human subject!”
“No, you can’t!” Connor shouted. “No! NO!!!”
12.08.2012
Episode 16
Connor set Miah in the black car indicated by men dressed in black and got in the other door. Miah leaned her head back seat and closed her eyes, trying to keep herself from completely falling apart.
The car they rode in, which had been chasing them before, followed the large van down the highway, and they were soon driving back north again. Miah’s thoughts whirled around in her head too quickly to tell where they were going or anything other than what had just happened; and that she was still barely able to grasp.
“Are you feeling alright?” Connor whispered, his tone without much of the concern he’d used before.
What a jerk, she thought. Miah refused to speak to him.
He sighed, looking out his window at the passing hills. “I’m so sorry you got hurt. I didn’t mean for it to happen this way.” A touch of true regret came into his voice, but Miah crossed her arms and looked away.
“You’re hopeless,” he grumbled, giving up. Looking ahead at the road, he noted the signs they passed and the exit they took. If he could remember all the turns, he’d be able to get them away much quicker. As they passed a firehouse, a plan started forming in his head.
Their vehicle soon pulled up behind the black van in a parking lot. They were ushered out, and Connor hurried over to Miah’s door.
“Still can’t walk?” he asked, trying again to get a verbal response.
She shook her head exasperatedly, and lifted the leg of her jeans to reveal her skinned ankles, blood beginning to dry around her shoes. The rips in her knees showed the deep gashes in both legs, and the torn material was also stained with blood.
“Eeh.” His sympathetic mumble was lost on her stubbornness, so he lifted her out of the car and walked along with the rest of the people entering a building. “I hope it heals soon,” he added as a last shot.
“Me too,” she sighed. Connor allowed himself a small smile.
The men who loaded out of the van pushed and prodded them through the door of the building next to the parking lot. It looked like an abandoned factory of some kind. The walls were filthy, and the floors desperately needed to be mopped. There were holes in the ceiling and pieces of plaster all over the floor. Many of the lights overhead were burned out, and of the few doors they passed, many appeared to have been broken into.
It slightly reminded Miah of her school building. The thought of what had happened to her suddenly hit home. “I’m going to miss school!” she gasped quietly, and then wondered what her parents were thinking. She wondered if they had told the police, and if they were looking for her. What is Connor’s plan? she thought. I can’t ask him now, not with all these people around…
“You worried about school?” Connor whispered, with a slight grin. “Ben told me you were an overachiever.”
Miah rolled her eyes, aggravated that he’d heard her. “I’m tired, okay?” She yawned, proving her point. “I can’t think straight.”
Connor nodded. “Sure. But won’t you have a lot of homework when you get back? I mean, aren’t there exams at the end of the year?”
“Man, you’re right…” Her anxiety disappeared in a scowl when she realized he was just messing with her. “You—!”
“Shh,” he whispered, keeping himself from laughing surprisingly well. They were coming into a mostly empty room with a couple doors. The lighting was dim, and Miah squinted, trying to adjust.
“Ah, Connor Wilhelmson.” A balding man in a brown suit and tie with a black mustache crossed his arms and looked the two of them over. His accent and attire seemed European. “It’s a pleasure.”
Connor didn’t so much as twitch.
“You thought you could make off with the stolen plans and just get away with it, did you?” When this failed to bring any response, he went on. “Well, as I’m sure you know by now, there is nowhere you can go where we will not find you. Our advanced technology can perform feats that you cannot imagine.”
“I know I can imagine you behind bars,” Connor growled.
The man simply smiled. “By the time you have a chance to tell the world of our infamy, it will be too late.”
Miah couldn’t stand it any longer. “Where did you take Ben?” she demanded.
The man’s eyes lit up. “Oh, did you want to see him?” His tone made her shiver. He grinned, “Yes, of course… We should show you our newest achievement.”
Miah’s lip trembled, and her grip on Connor’s shoulder tightened. “What have you done to him?” she managed.
With a smug smile, the suited man nodded to one of the men, who walked to one of the doors and opened it.
Miah’s eyes opened wide with horror and she screamed, “BEN!”
The car they rode in, which had been chasing them before, followed the large van down the highway, and they were soon driving back north again. Miah’s thoughts whirled around in her head too quickly to tell where they were going or anything other than what had just happened; and that she was still barely able to grasp.
“Are you feeling alright?” Connor whispered, his tone without much of the concern he’d used before.
What a jerk, she thought. Miah refused to speak to him.
He sighed, looking out his window at the passing hills. “I’m so sorry you got hurt. I didn’t mean for it to happen this way.” A touch of true regret came into his voice, but Miah crossed her arms and looked away.
“You’re hopeless,” he grumbled, giving up. Looking ahead at the road, he noted the signs they passed and the exit they took. If he could remember all the turns, he’d be able to get them away much quicker. As they passed a firehouse, a plan started forming in his head.
Their vehicle soon pulled up behind the black van in a parking lot. They were ushered out, and Connor hurried over to Miah’s door.
“Still can’t walk?” he asked, trying again to get a verbal response.
She shook her head exasperatedly, and lifted the leg of her jeans to reveal her skinned ankles, blood beginning to dry around her shoes. The rips in her knees showed the deep gashes in both legs, and the torn material was also stained with blood.
“Eeh.” His sympathetic mumble was lost on her stubbornness, so he lifted her out of the car and walked along with the rest of the people entering a building. “I hope it heals soon,” he added as a last shot.
“Me too,” she sighed. Connor allowed himself a small smile.
The men who loaded out of the van pushed and prodded them through the door of the building next to the parking lot. It looked like an abandoned factory of some kind. The walls were filthy, and the floors desperately needed to be mopped. There were holes in the ceiling and pieces of plaster all over the floor. Many of the lights overhead were burned out, and of the few doors they passed, many appeared to have been broken into.
It slightly reminded Miah of her school building. The thought of what had happened to her suddenly hit home. “I’m going to miss school!” she gasped quietly, and then wondered what her parents were thinking. She wondered if they had told the police, and if they were looking for her. What is Connor’s plan? she thought. I can’t ask him now, not with all these people around…
“You worried about school?” Connor whispered, with a slight grin. “Ben told me you were an overachiever.”
Miah rolled her eyes, aggravated that he’d heard her. “I’m tired, okay?” She yawned, proving her point. “I can’t think straight.”
Connor nodded. “Sure. But won’t you have a lot of homework when you get back? I mean, aren’t there exams at the end of the year?”
“Man, you’re right…” Her anxiety disappeared in a scowl when she realized he was just messing with her. “You—!”
“Shh,” he whispered, keeping himself from laughing surprisingly well. They were coming into a mostly empty room with a couple doors. The lighting was dim, and Miah squinted, trying to adjust.
“Ah, Connor Wilhelmson.” A balding man in a brown suit and tie with a black mustache crossed his arms and looked the two of them over. His accent and attire seemed European. “It’s a pleasure.”
Connor didn’t so much as twitch.
“You thought you could make off with the stolen plans and just get away with it, did you?” When this failed to bring any response, he went on. “Well, as I’m sure you know by now, there is nowhere you can go where we will not find you. Our advanced technology can perform feats that you cannot imagine.”
“I know I can imagine you behind bars,” Connor growled.
The man simply smiled. “By the time you have a chance to tell the world of our infamy, it will be too late.”
Miah couldn’t stand it any longer. “Where did you take Ben?” she demanded.
The man’s eyes lit up. “Oh, did you want to see him?” His tone made her shiver. He grinned, “Yes, of course… We should show you our newest achievement.”
Miah’s lip trembled, and her grip on Connor’s shoulder tightened. “What have you done to him?” she managed.
With a smug smile, the suited man nodded to one of the men, who walked to one of the doors and opened it.
Miah’s eyes opened wide with horror and she screamed, “BEN!”
12.07.2012
Episode 15
The man took a step forward as if to threaten her further, and Miah flinched: but then Connor moved again. “Miah?” The sound of his voice was like music to her ears.
Despite her relief at his awakening, she did not know what to think of him.
“Hey!” the man on his side shouted. “He’s awake, sir.”
The white haired man walked around to Connor’s side.
“Are you alright?” Miah chanced to whisper, turning to him slowly, trying not to further pain her knees beneath the dashboard.
“Yes…just bumped my head, that’s all.” He reached back to feel his scalp, grimacing at the bump he felt there. How dare he only suffer a scratch, when it was his fault!
The man in white stepped up to Connor’s door and opened it; it was unlocked, and he ordered Connor to get out.
Miah closed her eyes and tried not to cry. Too many things that she couldn’t understand were fighting for her thoughts at once. Connor’s harebrained scheme had gone completely wrong; they weren’t supposed to get hurt. Ben was being kept somewhere, but what if she and Connor weren’t contained in the same place as he was once they were captured? What if she and Connor were separated and he couldn’t get to her when they made their supposed escape? They were getting even deeper and deeper into this mess she hadn’t even known about until yesterday.
Connor stepped out of the car and cracked his neck, stretching his arms. He rubbed a cut on his shoulder and looked at the damage done to his car, seemingly oblivious to the fact that he was about to be taken captive. Miah held back the urge to roll her eyes at this guy.
Impatient, the man pointed at Miah angrily. “Your friend can’t walk. Carry her.”
Connor folded his arms and stared at the man, openly defying him.
“Now!” the man yelled. Miah’s ears rung, and she grit her teeth, tears streaming unbidden down her cheeks.
The younger man shoved Connor forward, and he went back around the car to Miah’s side.
“Can’t walk?” The concern in Connor’s voice brought fresh tears to her eyes, and she shook her head, unable to speak.
With a nod, Connor put an arm under her knees and the other by her back, lifting her out of the car. She hesitantly put an arm on his shoulder, and he carried her up the hill and back onto the road where a black car waited.
Despite her relief at his awakening, she did not know what to think of him.
“Hey!” the man on his side shouted. “He’s awake, sir.”
The white haired man walked around to Connor’s side.
“Are you alright?” Miah chanced to whisper, turning to him slowly, trying not to further pain her knees beneath the dashboard.
“Yes…just bumped my head, that’s all.” He reached back to feel his scalp, grimacing at the bump he felt there. How dare he only suffer a scratch, when it was his fault!
The man in white stepped up to Connor’s door and opened it; it was unlocked, and he ordered Connor to get out.
Miah closed her eyes and tried not to cry. Too many things that she couldn’t understand were fighting for her thoughts at once. Connor’s harebrained scheme had gone completely wrong; they weren’t supposed to get hurt. Ben was being kept somewhere, but what if she and Connor weren’t contained in the same place as he was once they were captured? What if she and Connor were separated and he couldn’t get to her when they made their supposed escape? They were getting even deeper and deeper into this mess she hadn’t even known about until yesterday.
Connor stepped out of the car and cracked his neck, stretching his arms. He rubbed a cut on his shoulder and looked at the damage done to his car, seemingly oblivious to the fact that he was about to be taken captive. Miah held back the urge to roll her eyes at this guy.
Impatient, the man pointed at Miah angrily. “Your friend can’t walk. Carry her.”
Connor folded his arms and stared at the man, openly defying him.
“Now!” the man yelled. Miah’s ears rung, and she grit her teeth, tears streaming unbidden down her cheeks.
The younger man shoved Connor forward, and he went back around the car to Miah’s side.
“Can’t walk?” The concern in Connor’s voice brought fresh tears to her eyes, and she shook her head, unable to speak.
With a nod, Connor put an arm under her knees and the other by her back, lifting her out of the car. She hesitantly put an arm on his shoulder, and he carried her up the hill and back onto the road where a black car waited.
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