How I Became The Baddest Girl In Clarksville Part 17: Finding ALex free porn video

How I Became the Baddest Girl in Clarksville Part 17: Finding Alex -That Episode of the X Files Where Muller and Scully Find the Little Girls with Their Eyes Burned Out Because of Angels- "It will be interesting to see how long the change takes to complete," said Swanson, extracting the needle from Austin's arm. They had strapped Austin to the wheeled bed in the center of the operating room under the multitude of lights. I'd also been confined to a bed, this one borrowed from the ICU. The head of my bed was raised, forcing me to watch Swanson inject one and then a second syringe of virus into Austin's arm. Mrs. Gartman stood behind me, her arms resting on my shoulders, making sure I didn't turn away while Swanson did his thing. She needn't have bothered. I was done playing the hero. I still had the keys hidden in my bra but I didn't see where they would do me any good. Not only were we being watched but now Austin was infected with the virus. When Bradley infected me I'd stumbled home, passed out on our doorstep and didn't wake up for days. If Austin reacted in any way similar we weren't getting away anytime soon. Even if I saw a chance to escape I wasn't going to leave him behind. We would stand or fall together. Austin looked pale. I could see beads of sweat on his forehead. This worried me. "Shouldn't you be monitoring his vital signs?" I asked Swanson. "You know like his heart and stuff. He looks like he's getting sick." Swanson glanced at Austin and then back at me. "I'm sure he's fine. He's just experiencing a little mental anguish," he said grinning wickedly. "He's about to embark on a life changing event. But don't worry. I've too much invested in this to let anything happen to young Master Myers. He will receive the best of care the next few days. He carries the future of the virus in his body now." "What exactly are you saying Charles?" asked Mrs. Gartman. "I assumed the culture would work quickly, a matter of hours like with Walter. Was I wrong?" "Walter was a special case, Sandra," Swanson replied coolly. "I am fairly certain that his condition caused the accelerated progression. Catherine took nearly a week to finish her transition. I suspect the Myers boy will fall somewhere in between, more prolonged than Walter but faster than Catherine." "Then it will have to be done without me," said Mrs. Gartman. "I need to get back to Clarksville. People will be asking where I am. I also need to check on my granddaughter. She'll be distraught to hear Alex is missing. I spent too many years building my cover to have it exposed because you needed a baby sitter for these two." "You're going to get caught," I said. "You can't hide us forever. Sooner or later someone is going to stumble on this place." "Have you forgotten the cameras, dear?" Mrs. Gartman asked. "We'll see anyone long before they discover us and we've contingency plans for any scenarios. As for you and Brett, you won't be with us much longer. Now that we've infected the Myer's boy we don't need you." "You're letting us go?" I couldn't believe this. Mrs. Gartman laughed. "Of course not. What in heavens gave you that idea? You're being sold to a very nice Arab gentleman. He deals in young girls. He was very taken with your picture. He mentioned possibly keeping you for himself." My head spun. They were selling us into slavery! Brett would never survive anything like that. I wasn't sure I would. Mrs. Gartman was more of a monster than I realized. "Are you okay with that?" I asked Swanson. It was more of a plea than anything else. Swanson turned away from Austin and smiled. "Of course I am. It solves the problem of what to do with you. In addition it finances our newest venture. We had to borrow heavily to get things up and running here and our investors want what we promised them. The money we'll receive for the two of you will help move things along." There was no way I was going to let myself be carried off by some sultan or emir or whatever the hell those people were. I hadn't let Swanson molest me and I wasn't going to let anyone else do it either. Walter vowed he could get me out of this place but hours had passed and nothing had changed. I was pretty sure I was on my own. Any chance to slip away would have to be quick. Dragging Brett along would be difficult enough. Now that he was infected, Austin would be unconscious and an unconscious Austin would make things impossible. I needed to rethink my promise not to leave without my friends. I might have to and then come back with the police. But what would the Rat Pack do when they found I'd escaped? I doubted they would stay here knowing I'd be back with the cops. They would move Brett and Austin somewhere else. Would we be able to find them when they did? There was no good way out of this. Mrs. Gartman checked her watch. It had a thin gold band and looked very feminine; obviously a woman's watch. I'd studied it many times over the last few months as well as the clothes she chose and how she wore her hair. Until the disguise had been ripped away, Mrs. Gartman had been a model for me to work from. Someone comfortable with her body, self assured, professional and all that other shit that came with the brand. Then I'd learned that like everything else about Sandra Gartman, the watch was only a part of a costume designed to hide the real person. The real Mrs. Gartman had no gender. It was a raving, power hungry monster that only cared about its own interests. "I need to go, Charles," said the monster. "I shouldn't be away too extremely long. I'll call if it looks like I'll be delayed." "How long is too long?" Swanson asked, sounding annoyed. "I really need you here. Why don't you call, make an excuse to Shelly about why you can't make it back right now. The girl's fourteen. She should be able to take care of herself." "Shelly is a special child, Charles. She needs a certain amount of attention only I can provide." Swanson snorted. "So you say. Tell me Sandra, now that we've reached the culmination of our project how are you going to explain all this to her. How is she going to react when she discovers who her grandmother really is, that everything she's been told is a lie. How will you deal with that?" Mrs. Gartman cast a cold eye in Swanson's direction. Even from where I sat it gave me chills. "I'd suggest you stick with what you know Charles and allow me to deal with my granddaughter in my own way. It's none of your concern really." "It's all our concern," said Frank busting through the door crossing the room with a stiff military stride. "What's going on here?" he asked looming over Austin. "Why does the kid look sick?" "He's fine," said Swanson. "Just a little anxiety. I'm keeping an eye on him." "Why in the hell is she here?" Frank asked pointing to me. "We may need her again," said Swanson. "It's easier if we have her on hand." Frank cupped his chin with his hand and grunted. "When's the last time anyone checked the cameras?" He asked. "I thought you were doing that," said Mrs. Gartman. "I've been dealing with other things," said Frank. "Well I'm afraid you'll have to take on that task as well." Swanson said. "I can't leave the boy until I'm sure the virus is taking effect." "I know that, asshole," Frank shot back. "I'm asking fucking when that will be: a fucking hour, a day, when?" "I'm not sure," Swanson muttered. "Christ, you're a piece of work," Frank grumbled. "How in the hell did I ever get mixed up with such a dumb shit." He turned on his heel and left. "I was thinking the same thing about you," Swanson said to the empty space where Frank had stood. I was watching the Rat Pack come apart. Maybe it was the strain of trying to do too much too quickly or maybe it was the clash of personalities. Either way the friction between them was heating up. I thought I could use this to my advantage. As long as they were at each others throat they weren't thinking clearly and that was the first step in making a mistake. I glanced at Austin. He didn't look any worse than he had minutes before, but he didn't look any better either. I still worried about him. The virus Swanson had injected him with wasn't the same as Bradley used on me. I didn't think Swanson was sure what the results would be. What if Austin ended up a monster like Walter? What kind of life would he have? He'd be a side show freak. But even if he transitioned into a normal girl I wasn't sure he could handle it? "I need you to check on Edwards," said Swanson. "No one has looked in on him for some time. I have to stay here and monitor the boy." Mrs Gartman drew herself up as if Swanson had attempted to usurp her position as boss. "I told you Charles, I don't have time to play nurse. I have to get back to Clarksville to check on Shelly. The last thing I need is for her to call around looking for me. That could lead to questions we might not have answers for. I'm sure if we lock the doors and seal off the floor they'll be here when I return. The boy is certainly not going anywhere. As for Alex, as clever as she is, I doubt she'll be able to get past a locked door. Remember this building was designed to keep those inside in and outsiders out." Swanson huffed. "You're determined to leave." "It's a matter of necessity, Charles, not something I particularly want to do. It's something I have to do. There's no way around it." "Very well," he said. "I suppose there's no stopping you." "I'll be as quick as I can," said the old woman stepping into the hall, closing the door behind her. Swanson glanced at the vacant space where Gartman stood moments before, then at me, his eyes lingering for an uncomfortably long moment on my body. I felt myself cringe; afraid now that we were alone he might decide to finish what he'd started in the hospital lobby. Strapped to the bed I couldn't fight him off, and I doubted Frank would show up to save me. "I have no choice but to leave you and your young man unattended," he said loosening the straps that held me. "But before I go let me warn you. Austin's condition is precarious at the moment. The virus is unstable. How it might react inside him is unpredictable. If you should get it into your head to try and slip away during the few minutes I'll be gone you will put your friend in serious danger. If he should show any sign of instability, swelling of hands and feet, a sudden rash or difficulty breathing, you must notify me at once. If you fail to do that he could die. Do you understand what I am saying, Catherine?" "Yeah," I said. "Excellent," said Swanson. "I believe you. However, as confident as I am you will be on your best behavior, I am still going to take the precaution of locking the door. If the boy should show any signs of anxiety, struggle or change of complexion, press the button on the wall behind the desk. It will sound an alarm. I'll know to stop what I am doing and return here." He walked over to the door. "I shouldn't be long," he said. "I'm only going across the hall." He slipped out and I heard the click of the lock being thrown. I looked over at Austin. He'd opened his eyes and was looking at me. I could see the worry in his face. "Is he gone?" Austin asked, his voice shaky. "Yeah," I said. "How are you feeling?" He attempted a smile. "Okay I guess. I mean I'm not hurting." "Can I get you anything?" I asked and then realized there wasn't anything to get, I wasn't like I was at home where I could just dip in the fridge for a drink or the closet for a blanket. He shook his head. "I'm good." "Austin," I began. "I'm really sorry about ... everything." "No," he said, his voice surprisingly strong. "I am. I mean none of this is your fault. I got myself into it. And the stuff I said about you not telling me ... I can't say I was happy about it, but if I'd been in your place I wouldn't have told either." He paused. I could see he was struggling with something. He opened his mouth then closed it, reconsidering what he was going to say. "I hope this is not too personal," he began, "but I'm scared Alex. I have to ask. Was it ... it hard learning to ...you know ... learning to be a girl." Normally, I would have found that question offensive but the way Austin asked it made me smile. Not out of amusement, but because he asked it so innocently. "No matter what happens, it will be okay," I said. "I promise it will. And I'll be there for you if ever you need me. That's a promise too." "Not really an answer but thanks," he said. The door opened and Swanson pushed a wheel chair into the room. He looked angry. "We're moving you to the second floor," he said, steering the chair to where Austin lay in the bed. "Help me get him into the chair," Swanson said to me. I helped Austin into the chair while Swanson held it. "You push," he told me. "That way there's less chance of you trying to run." "I'm not going to run," I said. "I'm not going to leave Austin." "That's so touching." Swanson's tone was sarcastic. "Why are we being moved, anyway?" I asked. "Why indeed," Swanson said, "It appears your uncle is missing. The question is how this happened? He was at death's door only an hour ago. There is no way he would have had the strength to even get out of bed let alone out of the ICU ward. He must have had help, yet the only people here are Nurse Abbot, Col Swartz, Sandra and myself. It's quite the conundrum isn't it, Catherine. Now the question is, why do I think you might know how it happened?" He reached into his pocket and drew out a syringe. The cylinder was stained with a thin red film. "I found this on the floor by the bed," he said. "It obviously held someone's blood. I wonder whom, surely not you. So you won't mind if I remove the dressing covering the needle marks on your arm and count them. According to my recollection there should be three. However, if there should be more, then Catherine, I promise you will regret what you have done very much." He started forward and I backed away. Prepared to fight, my eyes flicked from side to side looking for something I could use as a weapon. Just as my back struck the wall the door to the surgery room opened and Frank strode in. "Swanson," he yelled. "We don't have time for whatever the hell your doing. We need to find Edwards before someone else does and we have the cops swarming this place." "Why can't you do it alone?" Swanson snarled, his eyes on me. "I'm busy." "Because with that crazy nurse gone on one of your stupid errands, you're the only one that can administer whatever the hell it is you calm that creature with. Don't you remember the problems we had earlier? Call Abbot and tell her what's going on and to get her ass back here. Then help me get these two back into their room." Swanson glared at me. "This is not over girl," he growled fishing his cell out of his pocket. "You will wish you never crossed me." Then he turned to Frank. "Let's get this over with." "I don't know how he did it but Edwards managed to switch on the elevators," Frank said. We were standing in the hall. "We'll leave them working for now until we get him back up to ICU. I'm not in the mood to do a fireman's carry." We rode down to the second floor in silence. I'd expected Frank to give me a lecture of some kind but he didn't. He stared straight ahead as if he was puzzling something out. The elevator bumped to a stop, the doors slid open. I wheeled Austin into the hall. Stopping at the room where we'd been held I waited for Frank to unlock the door. "Inside," Frank said dryly. I pushed Austin's chair inside. Swanson followed and lowered the back of the couch into a bed. I helped Austin lie down while Swanson took his pulse and checked his temperature. "This will have to do for now," he said. "Let's just hope his condition remains stable until we get back." He studied Austin a few moments more before following Frank out. I heard the lock click. Brett watched from where she was hunkered down by the window. When Swanson was out the room she rushed over and hugged me. "Gawd, I missed you, Alex," she cried gripping me so hard it was difficult for me to breathe. "I was scared that doctor guy would see me and ..."she glanced over to where Austin was looking on with interest. "You know." "Yeah," I said. "But it's okay. I'm getting us out of here." "What?" Brett looked at me like she wasn't sure of what she heard. "We're leaving," I said. "If we don't do it now we might not get another chance." I glanced at Austin. "Do you think you can walk?" I asked him. Austin eased himself up until he was sitting erect. Then he swung his feet slowly to the floor. "I think so," he said. "Take my hand," I said moving to where he sat. His grip was shaky but firm. I helped him stand, holding on to him until I was sure he had his balance. "I think I'll be okay," he said releasing me, standing on his own. "But how are we going to get out of here?" "Yeah?" Brett echoed. I grinned and then dipped a hand into my bra. "With these," I said dangling the keys in front of them. "I don't know how the hell you did it," Brett said, locking me in another of her smothering embraces. "But I love you Alex Tetras." -Honey this Mirror Ain't Big Enough for the Two of Us- "Where'd you get the key?" Austin asked, following me over to the door. He seemed steady enough on his feet now. "I found it in the desk drawer in the lab where they took my blood." "Do you think it will fit?" he asked. "Not if you jinx it," I said, wishing he would be quiet. If it didn't fit then we were done for. "Sorry," he said in that little boy voice, causing my heart to ache for the good times we'd had. It was hard to accept that it was over. I forced myself to focus on what I was doing. I slipped the key into the dead bolt. It went in easily. I glanced at Austin and we both smiled. The smiles faded when I tried to twist the key and it wouldn't turn. "Maybe I don't have it in the right place," I said wiggling it in the slot. I tired to turn the lock again with the same result. The second key was also a dud. None of the other keys were the right size. The room seemed to spin as the reality of what this meant sank in. I stumbled over to an empty chair and slumped onto it Walter had given us our chance by luring the Rat Pack away and we were trapped in this stupid room. Eventually they would be back with my uncle. There would be no point in even thinking of escaping after that. We would be on super lockdown or worse. Austin went back to the window. His back was to me hiding his expression but I had a pretty good idea what he as thinking. It was directed my way and it wasn't complementary. What does it matter, I told myself, now that we lost and they won. Brett and I were about to be carried off by some Arab and I'd never see Austin again. I glanced at Brett. She'd watched us try the keys in the door with the same excitement Austin had shown. Now that we'd failed, she'd settled on the couch and stared down at the floor. After a few minutes I leapt to my feet. No matter how hopeless, I couldn't give up this easily. There had to be something I'd overlooked, something I'd missed. How much time did we have, an hour, maybe two to find a way out? Before I could decided where to go from there, the door opened and Nurse Abbot rushed inside. Her face was flush, her eyes excited. "Let's go," she said pausing to breathe between each word as if she'd sprinted here and was winded. "We only have a few minutes before they come back." No one moved, all of us frozen like statues. "Let's go," she repeated, this time with authority. "I'm getting you out of here," she added when we still didn't move. "You want to go home don't you?" Austin and Brett looked at me their faces question marks. Walter said there was someone helping him. It was Abbot. He's come through after all. "Come on," I said. "I think we can trust her." Abbot led us down the hall to the elevator. "The elevators are working again," she said herding us in. "I switched them on earlier. They're faster than the stairs. I don't know how long we have and we need every minute." We reached the ground floor. Abbot stepped out, took a quick look around and then signaled us to join her. "We're going to cross the lobby as a group. Understand?" She waited for us to all say we did before continuing. "I'm parked right outside. You two." She pointed to Austin and Brett. "You'll get in the back. There are no seats so you'll have to sit on the floor." She looked at me. "You'll sit up front with me." I nodded. "Good," she said. "Glad we got that straight. Let's' go." She led us across the lobby. I could see the jeep just outside the glass doors. Past that, the fence gates stood open. It was a wonderful sight. We reached the jeep and Abbot hustled us in before taking her place in the driver's seat. "I thought this jeep belonged to Frank," I said. "Frank?" Abbot looked confused. "Oh! You mean the Colonel. Naw, it's mine. I'm a big outdoor freak. The Colonel drives a Mercedes. He keeps it parked in the hospital garage next to Dr. Swanson's Buick." She twisted around to where Austin and Brett found spots in the back. "I didn't have time to put up the canvas so it's going to be a cold ride," she said as she shifted into first. "Bundle up the best you can." We sped out of the compound into the street. I'd made several trips to Pine Grove and didn't remember ever going in the direction Abbot was taking us. "Do you know where you're going?" I asked. "Trust me kid," said Abbot. "I know exactly where I'm going." "But the road that goes to Clarksville is that way," I said pointing back to the way we'd come. "We're taking a back way," she said. "When Swanson and the others realize you're missing they're going to sound an alarm. And where do you think they're going to look first, the main road to Clarksville, the one you said we should take. They won't think to look for us my way. There's a county road a few miles from here that loops back and will take us into Clarksville from the South, past the fertilizer plant. That should buy us enough time to get you home and tip off the cops." Her explanation made sense. I felt a little easier. "They were doing some crazy shit back there weren't they," said Abbot as if she weren't a part of it. We were cruising past wide grassy fields separated by small patches of woods. I hadn't seen another car since we'd left and I wondered how far off the beaten path we were. "And what they did to Dr. Edwards. It was like Frankenstein's laboratory or something. You guys ought to be glad you're away from that." "Yeah, we are," I said giving her a sidelong glance. She was almost too chatty. I began to think something wasn't right. "So where is my Uncle? You were helping him too, right?" "Your uncle?" "Dr. Edwards," I said thinking she should know that. "Oh, Dr. Edwards. Yeah. Let's just say he's somewhere safe. The less you know, the less you can tell, you feel me?" "I guess," I said. "So how old are you, anyway?" Abbot asked. "I'm guessing twelve." "Fourteen," I said. I wondered why it mattered. "All of us are fourteen." "Yeah, I can see the boy is about that and maybe the girl but you look younger." "Sorry," I said. "Naw, kid, you got it wrong," she said. "In a few years you'll be happy you look younger than you are. Once you hit thirty and the wrinkles start, it's all down hill." "How did you get involved with them?" I asked. "I worked with Dr. Swanson years ago, when he had a pediatrics practice in Kansas City. I was just out of nursing school and he offered me a job. He seemed a lot different then. I never suspected what he really was until now." "What was he?" I asked. I heard Brett shift in her seat behind me. She must have been listening. "What do you think?" Abbot asked sounding peeved. "He's a fucking pervert, a pedophile. If I had known that and what they were doing I might not have signed up even though the money they were offering was hard to turn down. I should have known it was too good to be true." "What do you mean?" I asked. Abbot glanced at me and she frowned. "I heard talk when they didn't know I was listening. Once they recreated the virus, they were gonna pull up stakes and leave me to take the blame for all of this. They never planned on paying me one cent. They were double crossing your Uncle too. When Dr. Edwards refused to do any more work on the formula, Swanson experimented on him. He claimed he was trying to save your uncle from what ever was killing him but that was a lie. "We cooked up a plan to escape but before we could Swanson kidnapped her." Abbot jabbed a thumb to where Brett was huddle in the back. "And then you and the boy. That complicated things. Now I had to figure how to get four people out instead of just the one. "My break came when Gartman packed up and left. With the Colonel and Swanson busy doing their own thing, it was easy to smuggle Dr. Edwards into the elevator and down to my jeep. "How did you get him down the hall without being spotted? I asked. "The elevators are outside the emergency room." "There's one in the I.C.U. I used it," she said. "You probably took it for a closet when you were there. It's not very wide but it's deep. It was designed to fit a stretcher along with a medical team." "I was supposed to pick up lunch so no one thought anything about me being gone. I drove Dr. Edwards to a motel and rented a room where I left him. I was at Kentucky Fried when Swanson called. That way I had an alibi if there were questions. Colonel Swartz is like that. He doesn't trust anyone." "Tell me about it," I said, remembering my experiences with Frank. "I waited until I got the call Dr. Edwards was missing to go back to the V.A. My big fear was they wanted me to help with the search but it turned out they needed me to watch over things while they were gone. It couldn't have worked out more perfect. I parked on a side street where I could watch them leave. As soon as they were out of the gate I went inside and got all of you." "Thank you," I said, grateful that she had. Abbot said nothing. She'd been following a GPS in her lap. Now she held it in her free hand dividing her attention between it and the road. With no explanation she slowed the jeep and pulled off the road. We were parked in an empty field of knee high grass. I could see a thick growth of trees in the distance. "Why are we stopping?" I asked. "I need to check on the boy," said Abbot. "He's been quiet and I need to make sure he hasn't gone into shock. He really needs to be somewhere they can monitor him." I turned around in my seat and Austin smiled at me. "I'm fine," he said, "Just a little lightheaded." Abbot bent over him and placed a hand on his head, checked his eyes and then took his pulse. "You need to eat something," she said. "That'll help with the lightheadedness. Actually we all should eat. It might be a while before we get another chance and we may need our strength. We're not out of this yet." "Open that cooler next to you," she told Brett. "There's a bucket of KFC and drinks in there. They were for Swanson and the others but tough shit for them, right? Get you a piece of chicken and one of the drinks and then pass the rest and the bucket around to the others." Brett lifted out the bucket, choose a chicken breast. After she passed the bucket to Austin she fished out the drinks and handed them out. They were in paper cups with lids. I watched as she gobbled at the chicken between noisy slurps. Austin took a drink wedged it between his legs and then dug through the bucket nabbing a drumstick. When he was done Abbot grabbed the bucket and pressed it against me. "Get you some chicken," she said. "Aren't you going to eat?" I asked resting the bucket in my lap. "I'll get something in a minute," she said. She slipped out of the jeep. Reaching over Austin who was busy feeding his face she extracted the last drink out of the cooler and handed it to me. "Here," she said. "It's Pepsi, not coke, but it's all they had. " She started away from the jeep. "Where are you going?" I said. "Nature's calling, kid. Be back in a sec. Eat up." She slipped into the brush I reached into the bucket selected a breast, looked at it and then put it back. I wasn't hungry, not for food anyway. I wanted to be on the road home, not sitting around chomping on cold chicken. I also needed to empty my bladder. I looked around for a place to go. The thicket Abbot picked to do her job looked large enough for both of us. "I'm going to pee," I told Brett. "I'll be back in a minute." "Hand me back the chicken if you're not going to get a piece," she said. "I'm starved." I passed her the bucket but kept some of the napkins. I needed them to wipe with. Launching myself into the bushes, I found a spot, dropped my pants and squatted. I was pulling my panties up when I heard a voice. It was Abbot. She was hidden by the trees but I could make out what she said clearly enough. "Yeah, I left them alone. What are they going to do get out and walk? We're in the middle of nowhere. Besides they trust me. They think I'm bringing them back to their parents." She paused as if she were listening. She had to be on her cell. "They'll be out cold when you get here with the van. I spiked their drinks so they'll sleep for a couple of hours. Make sure you have the mon --" She broke off and I picked up the faint voice of whoever was on the other end of the call. They were yelling. "Calm down," Abbot said in a cool tone. "I don't trust anybody after the shit Swanson and the others tried to pull. Just be fucking glad your lab is getting them and not someone else. The blonde girl's a fucking DNA miracle and the boy's been infected with the same shit that made her. What I'm charging is a bargain." Another pause and then Abbot gave our location. "We're just north of mile marker 5 on route 30. Ring me when you're close and I'll make sure I'm standing by the road." We'd escaped one trap to fall into another. We needed to get away. I began to creep back toward the jeep when I stepped on a fallen branch. It snapped with a loud crack. "Hang on," said Abbot. "I heard something." I didn't wait around. I broke into a sprint. "Hey kid," Abbot cried behind me. "I see you. Running's not going to help. I will catch you and when I do it's going to be hell to pay. You hear me you little bitch!" I ignored her, focusing on reaching the jeep. As I neared I saw I was too late. Both Austin and Brett were slumped forward, the bucket of chicken on its side, spilled pieces scattered between them. Switching to plan "B" I swerved toward the thick stand of trees I'd spotted earlier. If I could reach them before Abbot caught me I had a chance of getting away and calling for help. Abbot was right behind me and the woman was fast. It would be close. Being small had provided me with one advantage. I had learned how to dodge. Every time Abbot gained on me I changed directions causing her to break stride, keeping her from actually catching me. The problem was this wasn't helping me reach the trees. I was wasting way too much energy. As I closed in on the forest I hit a stretch of dead trees. Their broken off upper trunks littered the ground. This was mixed with a carpet of limbs and branches making footing unsure. I was forced to slow down to skirt around them giving Abbot the advantage. I could hear her breathy gasps right behind me. Any moment I would feel one of her substantial hands on my shoulder just before she flung me to the ground. I needed to do something. I had an idea but my timing would have to be perfect. When I was around ten, all us kids in the neighborhood would play tag. Whoever was "it" chased the other kids around. If you could make it to a designated place like a tree or lamp post (depending on what we could all agree on) you were "safe' and couldn't be tagged. I was fast and when it was my turn to be "it", I almost always tagged someone before they could reach the safety. One day I was chasing a new kid who had just moved onto our street. I think his name was Robbie. He was the only one that hadn't reached the safety. I was about to tag him when he suddenly dropped to the ground in front of me. I tripped over him and fell flat on my face. While I was laying there recovering Robbie jumped up and ran to the safety. Later I asked him about what he'd done and he said it was a "body block" and was a great trick to use when you couldn't outrun someone. After that we made body blocks illegal in our games but I'd never forgotten how Robbie dropped me that day. Speed was a key in pulling off my plan. I needed a clear stretch of ground. I spotted a place up ahead that would give me maybe twenty-five to thirty feet before a large chunk of tree trunk blocked me from going any further. The trunk was massive. If I didn't pull this off before I reached it I'd be trapped. I hit the stretch of clear ground and poured on speed hoping Abbot was doing the same. Just before I reached the fallen trunk I dropped, Abbot stumbled into me almost before I hit the ground. She landed with a thud. I leapt to my feet and snatched it up a broken limb the size of a small bat. I was ready to strike her across her head the moment she tried to rise. When she made no move to get up I knelt beside her. A thin trickle of blood leaked from beneath the side of her head. She must have struck the fallen trunk when she fell. She seemed to be breathing normally. I didn't think she would be out too long. I needed to get Brett and Austin away before she came to. My friends were still out when I got back. I tried shaking Brett awake but she only flopped around like a life-size rag doll. I gave up and circled to where Austin lay. He was running a high fever. It had to be the virus. He needed medical help which meant getting him to a hospital. I would have to take the jeep. There was no key in the ignition. I checked the floorboard. I found the GPS beside the gear shift but no key. I put the GPS in the passenger's seat. I would need it once we were on our way if I could... I let the thought fade, there was no if. I had to find a way to start this thing. After a thorough search including the surrounding area I realized Abbot had taken the key with her. But why should that surprise me? She would have been stupid to leave the key with us. We could have driven away like I was trying to do now. I'd have to go back and search her. Unless... I pulled the keys I'd found out of my pocket and studied them. One was obviously an ignition key. If the coat belonged to Abbot then maybe this was a spare key. I heard a sound, something between a groan and a roar. I raised my head. Staggering out of the trees was Abbot. Her balance was off kilter but her eyes were focused on me and filled hate. As she lumbered toward me she roared again, this time louder. I wasted no time. I jammed the key into the ignition, turned it and the engine erupted into life. I'd never driven a jeep. My driving experience was limited to my tenth grade year when I took Drivers Ed as John. Most of the cars were automatic but our instructor, Mr. Kimbrough was old school and kept an old ford with a stick shift in the back parking lot. All of his students were required to learn to operate a clutch and a manual transmission. I hated that old Ford but right now I was glad it had been there. The shifting pattern was printed on the gear-shift knob. It was the same standard "H" pattern, the Ford had used. Keeping my eye on Abbot I slid the seat forward so I could reach the pedals. The nurse was moving faster now, her movement more steady. She was getting dangerously close. I shifted into first, pressed the gas pedal while letting up on the clutch, the way Mr. Kimbrough taught us. The jeep jerked forward, bucked and threatened to stall. Abbot grinned, she was almost on us. If the engine died she'd reach me before I could get it cranked again. I depressed the clutch; fed the jeep more gas and tried again. This time the transmission engaged smoothly and we were off. -The Fun Machine Took a Shit and Died- I sat in one of the chairs I'd hauled out of the room the hospital provided us. Mom's chair sat empty beside me. She'd gone with Tyler to the cafeteria. She'd invited me but I'd declined. I didn't think I would have an appetite until I was sure Austin was okay. Two doors down was the room where he was being treated. My dad, along with a team of medical personnel, was inside, monitoring the virus's progression. Two 'restricted access' signs were mounted on stands near the nurses' station by the stairwell. This entire floor had been emptied, all the patients moved to the floor below. We'd been asked to wait up here away from the general population. Project E.D.E.N. was still secret and the government intended to keep it that way. While I waited for news about Austin I thought back on the last twenty- four hours. I'd flown past Abbot nearly running her over as I fought to steer the jeep onto the road without flipping it. Once I was on the asphalt things became a little easier and I began to gain confidence in my driving ability. When I'd put enough distance between myself and mile marker 5 I pulled over to check on Austin. His fever was raging and he was starting to shake. Brett was still out and no help. I covered him with some of the of the jeep's canvas. Then I climbed back behind the wheel and programmed the hospital into the GPS. Austin needed medical help soon. I hoped I could get him that help in time. Forty minutes later we passed the Pine Grove city limits sign. "We may pull this off yet," I said to the back seat knowing neither Brett nor Austin was conscious and could hear me. I followed the GPS down traffic infested streets ignoring the odd looks I received from other drivers. Several blew their horns or shouted at me, all of them wondering what a kid was doing behind the wheel of a jeep. I ignored them keeping my focus on the GPS. Finally the Pine Grove Municipal Hospital appeared ahead. I steered onto the section of driveway marked "emergencies" and followed it the rest of the way. There was an ambulance parked in front of the emergency room entrance with its lights flashing and the rear doors open. I pulled behind it and switched off the engine. "Hey kid," yelled a man's voice as I got out. I looked in the direction of the voice. Two cops were standing a few feet away, paper cups of steaming coffee in their hands. One of the cops handed his cup to his partner and strode toward where I was standing. "Were you driving that jeep? How old are you?" "I've got a sick boy in the back. He needs a doctor and the girl has been drugged," I said, the words rushing out. "And I need a phone. People are looking for me. I need to call my parents and tell them I'm okay. We were kidnapped." The cop turned to his partner. "Andy, get some medical people out to this jeep. I'll deal with the girl." I sat in the back of his car while the cop radioed my name into headquarters and waited for a reply. Austin and Brett and been placed on gurneys and taken inside the hospital. After a moment the radio spat a long string of code. The cop listened, replied with a 10-4 and then turned in his seat to face me and smiled. "What did they say?" I asked studying his face for clues. He was young with short black hair and kind eyes. "We wait," was the reply. He slipped from behind the wheel and opened my door. "I'm not supposed to do this," he said. "But I'm going to let you sit up front with me where it's warmer. You okay with that?" I nodded. After I climbed into my side of the car and settled in he handed me his cell phone. "Call your folks," he said. "And tell them where you are. Someone is going to want to talk to them." I was taken to a room I thought might be used for conferences. It was in the sealed off section of the hospital designed to give doctors and surgeons some space away from people worried about sick family members. A private elevator was located outside the door. The room was furnished with a long table of dark polished wood and a half dozen large lusciously padded leather chairs. I sat at one end next to the only other person there, a slightly overweight woman with graying hair and bright red lipstick. She'd introduced herself as Major Beverly Larson, Army intelligence. She wore a blue skirt and jacket over a cream colored blouse. She sat with her hands folded in front of her and spoke in a soft voice. "I know about your background and Project E.D.E.N. Alex," she said, her voice gentle, non-threatening. "So there is no need to hide anything. I'm here to help you and your family but I can only do that if you tell me exactly what happened, starting from the beginning." I had no reason to hold anything back, not anymore, so I recounted everything, beginning with Brett's stealing the E.D.E.N. documents and Swanson's phone call. She smiled slyly when I confessed to sneaking Austin into my room and then raised her eyebrows when I described Mrs. Gartman's drugging me and my mother and subsequently drugging Austin as well. "You're quite a brave girl," she said. "And loyal. Your friends are fortunate that you were there for them. Someone else might not have risked as much as you did." I didn't feel brave. If anything I felt guilty I'd gotten Austin caught up in all of this. His life would be changed when the virus finished its work. It was my fault. I hoped he could adjust. I'd had the help of my father but I seriously doubted Austin would get any support from Mr. Myers. If anything Myers would despise him even more. "I'm so sorry Austin," I whispered. Major Larson looked up from the lap top she been typing into. "Did you say something, sweetie?" she asked. "I was just thinking out loud," I said. "Everything okay?" "Yeah," I said even though it wasn't. She smiled and went back to punching keys. "I think I have everything I need," she said pushing her chair back. "I imagine you want to see your parents. They're waiting for you on the fourth floor." "Can I see Austin and Brett too?" I asked. Major Larson frowned. "The girl left for home with her parents nearly an hour ago. I thought you knew." "How? I asked. "You couldn't have debriefed her this soon." "We couldn't," said Major Larson pausing to load her laptop into its padded case and zip it closed. "She has amnesia, possibly from being drugged. She has no memory of project E.D.E.N. or how she got to Clarksville from Atlanta. We examined her but other than not being able to remember the past few days she appears to be fine. We thought it best to leave her that way. She would be a serious liability otherwise." I wondered if Brett had help forgetting. Her memory loss was a little too convenient. I kept this to myself. It was probably for the best. Brett had stirred up enough trouble. "What about Austin?" I asked. "Can I see him?" I wanted to add "Or does he have amnesia too?" but didn't. Major Larson's expression changed. I could tell what she was about to say wasn't good. "Your friend Austin is in Intensive Care. He's being treated on the same floor where your parents are but I can't promise the doctors will let you see him." "I want to try and see him anyway," I said, Major Larson reached in to her shoulder bag and lifted out a hospital pass attached to a lanyard. "They've equipped a room at the end of the hall to treat him. You'll need this to get through security," she said, slipping it around my neck. I followed her to the elevator. She inserted her own pass in a slot in the outside panel and the elevator doors slid open. We stepped in and she punched a button on the console. The doors closed and we began to rise. "We've emptied the fourth floor and sealed it off. We couldn't risk civilians up there while Austin is being treated. Even though Project E.D.E.N. is now officially discontinued we can't risk anyone even suspecting it may have existed. You know first hand what can happen if someone were to go rogue. "There's no waiting room on the fourth so we've made one of the empty rooms available for your family. That way you'll have a bathroom and you'll have television to watch. It might be a while before we know anything." The elevator reached the end of it journey, the doors opened and we were greeted by two men in dark suits. Major Larson flashed her ID and they stepped to the side. Major Larson glanced at me. "Keep your hospital pass visible." She warned nodding in the direction of the two men. "The public elevators will only go to the fourth floor if they read a security pass. If you leave -- say to go down to the cafeteria-- you'll have to use your pass to get back up here." "Yes ma'am," I said. "I have a question though." She looked at me with raised eyebrows. "Yes?" "Why didn't you just use the old V.A. Hospital to treat Austin? They had everything you need there and you wouldn't have had to go through all this security." She sighed. "That would have been ideal but we have an investigation going on there. The people that kidnapped you are still free. We're hoping they left something there to indicate where they went." She guided me past the vacant nurses' station to an intersecting hallway. Larson pointed to where two men dressed similar to the ones at the elevator stood in front of a closed door. "Your friend is being treated in there," she said. "I'll instruct security to notify you as soon as he is allowed visitors." "What's going to happen to him when the ...you know... when the virus gets finished?" I asked. "You know what it does to boys." "Yes I know," she said softly, almost tenderly. "We'll do whatever is necessary to ease her transition into her new...uh...life. We have psychologist and therapist standing by." She paused. "Alex, I know you and he were close and this is hard for you, but I promise she will be okay." "Thank you," I said fighting off tears. My mother must have heard us talking because she rushed out of the room next to where we were standing and swept me up in her arms, practically lifting me off the floor. "Alex!" she cried, tears running down her face. "Thank God you're okay. Your father and I were so worried." "I'm sorry I fought with you, Momma," I said my face buried against her chest. "I love you." She held me with one arm the other stroking my hair like she'd done so many times to comfort me. "It's okay, honey. You're safe now. And I love you too, so much. I'll always love you, no matter what." Major Larson turned to my mother. "I told Alex we might need to detain her for a while in case we have more questions." "That's fine," my mother said, eyeing me with a stern look. "That will give me an opportunity to spend some time with my daughter. Alex and I have quite a lot to talk about. It seems she's kept a few things from us." I noticed Tyler standing to the side. When Mom turned me loose he circled his arms around me in an awkward hug. "You scared the crap out of us. I thought you might be dead or something." I kissed him on his cheek. "I missed you too," I said. "Ewwww" he cried pulling away, wiping his cheek with his hand. "I didn't say I missed you." "But you did," I laughed. "I just didn't want to do all the chores by myself." He protested. "If you were dead or something I'd have to do yours as well as mine." He looked around. "I'm going to find something to watch on TV," he said. "They have more channels in this hospital than we get at home. I don't want to waste them." He skipped back into the room. A moment later my ears picked up the Family Feud theme spilling into the hall. "Where's Dad?" I asked. "Did he go downstairs?" "He's helping the doctors treat Austin," said my mother. "They sent for him as soon as we arrived. He's the only person that's had any experience with the virus." The door to the stairwell burst open; Corbin Myers rushed through into the hall. He was blocked by the two men in dark suits. "Where the hell is my boy?" he cried. "What the hell is going on?" He swung his head from side to side like a wild predator daring to intrude into another animal's territory. Then his eyes settled on me. "Alice," he growled, attempting to lunge at me. The two security men grabbed his arms pulling him back, pinning him against the wall. "Goddamn you," He cried trying to break loose. "I should have known you were part of this, Alice. What's going on girl? What did you do to my boy?" I shrank back. My mother stepped in front of me, shielding me in case he broke free. "Don't answer him, Alex," Major Larson cautioned. "I'll handle this." "You must be Corbin Myers," said Major Larson in a relaxed voice as if Myers had simply strolled in and offered a friendly hello. "I'm Caroline Larson. We were just asking when we might expect you." Myers eyes narrowed, his frown deepening as if he suspected a trap. "Why wouldn't the elevator take me to this floor? I had to take the fucking stairs. And who are these thugs? What kind of racket are you running, Larson? Where's my son?" "I intend to answer all your questions and I will," Larson said sweetly "Austin is in intensive care. Don't look so shocked Mr. Myers. A team of the finest doctors in the state are working to help him recover and we have ever reason to believe he will." "Recover from what?" Myers growled. "He was fine the other day. You haven't told me a damn thing." Major Larson sighed. "It's complicated, Mr. Myers." She closed the distance between them. "It's' okay, gentlemen," she said. "I've got this." The two guards released Myers arms and stepped aside leaving Larson and Myers facing each other. I noticed Larson was almost as tall as Myers though his bulk exceeded hers several times over. "Mr. Myers," she said. "If you will allow me, I'd like for us to go down to my office and discuss this over a cup of coffee. I promise I'll answer any questions you have. I'll also supply you with a floor pass that will enable you to return here without hindrance. I also promise that as soon as the doctors allow it, you will be the first person to see your son. Are you agreeable to that?" "For just a few minutes you say." "Yes sir," said Larson. "Only long enough to discuss your son's condition in a civil manner over coffee. I'm sure you could use some. I know I could." "Coffee would be nice," Myers said, mellowing a little. "Good," said Larson. "Follow me please." She led him to the elevator. As the doors closed Myers shot me the most the hateful glare yet. "Mom said it was Shelly's grandmother that kidnapped you?" Tyler asked. "Was that for real?" I'd just come out of the bathroom after empting my bladder. "Yeah," I said. "The whole grandma thing was just an act. She's like crazy scary and I'm worried about Shelly. I don't think she knows." "Wow." Tyler shook his head. "That is some crazy shit." "Yeah," I agreed, "Crazy." The elevator's ding brought me back around to the present. Once again I was sitting in the chair in the hall waiting for news about Austin. I was also aware of my stomach beginning to rumble. Now I wished I'd gone to the cafeteria with Mom and Tyler. I was sure this was them. I hoped Mom was bringing me lunch. But when the elevator doors opened it was Myers that got off followed by Major Larson. I got to my feet ready to run to the safety of the security men. "Alice..." he began. "Alex," Larson corrected from behind. "I'm sorry, Alex," he said. "Can we talk?" I was dumbstruck. Mr. Myers was asking permission, that wasn't like him at all. I glanced at Larson and she nodded. "Yeah, sure," I said not sounding sure at all. He crossed the hall, angling toward the empty chair next to mine. "May I?" he asked. I nodded. As he eased himself into it I caught a slight tremble in his hands. "Please," he said motioning for me to sit as well. "I owe you an apology," he said after I'd taken my seat. "You saved my son's life. Major Larson told me how you brought him here after fighting off those...those people." He shook his head. "They were using my boy for some kind of experiment. And selling girls like you and that other child to slavers to pay for it. It's ...it's like something out of a cheap science fiction novel but it really happened...didn't it." I nodded. "Yes." I heard him exhale a long sigh. "Alice...Alex. I've been rough on you and Austin. What I'm trying to say is I was wrong. I lost my wife a few years ago. She was killed in a bank robbery. After that everything changed. Something in me died. I lost my ability to feel. I lived in a world without color or beauty. All I saw was shades of gray. I even lost affection for my son. I became a lustful, heartless, man, everything Ruth hated. I drove Austin away. And now I might lose him." He dropped his head. I could see he was hurting. "All I want is for my son to be okay," he said facing me, his eyes moist. "That's all I want." "My dad is in there with the doctors," I said. "If anyone can help Austin it's him." "I know," said Myers. "Major Larson told me. Your father is a good man. I appreciate his willingness to help. I partially blamed your father when we got the news you and Austin were missing. I told him I'd decided there was no place for him at Myers Industries. I didn't speak to him at all on the flight back. I upgraded my ticket to first class so I wouldn't have to look at him. I'm ashamed for how I acted. I hope one day he can forgive me." "Mr. Myers we've prepared a room for you if you would like to rest. I know all this has been very trying for you," Major Larson said. "Yes," said Myers rising slowly to his feet. "It's right here," Larson said, taking his arm, escorting him to the room next to ours. "The bed had been freshly made, there's a bathroom and television should you want to watch the news." "Thank you," said Myers. "For some reason I feel very tired." He went inside and Larson pulled the door closed behind him. "That went nicely," she smiled, returning to me. "I put a sedative in his coffee and it seems to have worked." "You drugged him." That was wrong to do even to Myers. "He was overwrought," she said, the smile fading, "attracting too much attention. We couldn't have that. I did what I had to do." "Then what he said wasn't real. It was just the kind of stuff drunk people say." Larson considered this. "I'm not sure it was all "drunken talk," she said. "He really does care for his son but he has difficulty expressing those feelings. The sedative allowed him to say how he feels." I thought Larson might be right. My dad had the same problem dealing with me as his daughter. He'd avoided me until Mom had arranged for the two of us to spend a day together. He'd given me the bracelet that day after he struggled to tell me how he really felt. It had been one of the best days of my life and changed our relationship forever. Thinking back on it now made me feel warm inside. Maybe Mr. Myer's would accept Austin as his daughter when the virus was done and love her as much as my dad did me. I hoped so. * * * Mom did bring me lunch before she and Tyler left again for the gift shop. Tyler wanted to hunt for puzzle books to help while away the time as none of us knew how long we would be here. Even I had given up. I figured it might be days before I saw Austin. I was flicking through the channels on the TV, nibbling on the few fries that escaped consumption with my burger when I heard my dad's voice behind me. "Doing okay, princess?" "Daddy!" I cried jumping off the bed. I rushed into his arms and we hugged. "Daddy, I'm so happy to see you," I said, drinking in his smell. "How's Austin?" "He's awake," Dad said. "The virus has pretty much run its course. I don't think he's going to experience any more changes." "Changes? What kind of changes?" I asked, already knowing the answer. Dad frowned. "I think you better see for yourself." I broke away from my father and raced into the hall toward Austin's room, dreading what I'd find when I got there. It was one thing to lose him because I'd kept my past from him. I deserved that. But to lose him like this, because the virus wiped away his manhood, that wasn't right. The two men in dark suits blocked my way when I approached. "It's alright," said my dad behind me. "She's allowed in." They stepped aside leaving me to open the door and go inside. I don't know exactly what I expected to see when I entered the room but what greeted me from the bed was beyond anything I thought possible. Austin looked completely normal. "Austin," I cried. "You're still you." I started toward him wanting to hold him, to tell him how worried I'd been but my dad pulled me back. "No, Princess," he said softly. Austin's brow furrowed, the corners of his mouth turned down. "Do I know you?" he asked. I opened my mouth to say, "Of course you do." Was this supposed to be some kind of joke? "This is my daughter, Alex," said my father. "She heard you were ill. She wanted to tell you she hoped you'd get better soon." "Thanks, Alex," Austin said. "That was a nice thing for you to do. By the way your father's really cool. He saved my life." "Yeah," I said confused. "We're going to let you get some rest," Dad said. "Come on, honey." He nudged me toward the door. "What did they do to him?" I cried when we were back in the hall. "Why did you let them, Daddy?" I was trying not to cry. Dad guided me away from the security guards before answering in a low voice. "They didn't do anything to him, Princess. I think it was the combination of whatever he was drugged with and the fever. It killed the virus but it also did something to him mentally. He doesn't remember anything." * * * We'd spent the next three days at the Pine Grove Arms, one of the nicer hotels in Pine Grove. Major Larson had warned us to stay in town rather than go back to Clarkville. The people there were being "sanitized", the government's term for having select memories wiped by adding an undisclosed agent to the water supply. "We have to," she'd said, "Project E.D.E.N. is too sensitive a subject. We can't take a chance the Golding girl didn't share what she learned from the documents she stole. You said Chrissy Allen might have been told some things." Larson had arranged rooms for us at the hospital but I'd had enough of that. After the shock of Austin not remembering me all I wanted was to get away. My brother agreed. He said he was tired of being surrounded by sick people. He was even willing to give up the extra channels the hospital had provided on the TV. The results of my last blood test had come back. My Uncle Walter had been right. The results were negative; there was no trace of the Adam to Eve virus inside me. The news should have cheered me a least a little. Without the virus in me, I was of no value to anyone. Yet all I could think about was the way Austin looked at me, as if I were a total stranger. "It's like I never existed to him, Momma," I said. We had our suitcases on the bed and were packing our things for the trip home. Mom cleared a spot and had me sit. She took my hands in hers, her eyes softly probing mine. "Alex, honey," she began, carefully choosing her words. "If there was really something between you and Austin it's still there. It doesn't matter that he doesn't remember. If you were meant to be together it will happen." "Do you really think so?" I asked. She nodded. I hugged her. "Thanks Mom." She kissed my forehead. "Let's go home." Epilogue -Girl in Progress- It was the day after Christmas. I followed the horseshoe shaped drive to the Barnes House. The knee high grass had been tamed with bush hogs and lawn mowers, promising what should be a finely manicured stretch of green this spring. The house wore an undercoat of primer, waiting expectantly for a final coat of whatever color the renovators chose to finish the job. The broken windows were repaired and glazed, warped boards replaced and a new roof was in the process of being laid. Like me, the Barnes House was being completely made over. Austin and Mr. Myers had come for Christmas dinner and surprised us with presents. "Since we were having dinner at your house I got you something for Christmas," Austin said handing me a small box wrapped in bright red paper and tied with a green ribbon. "I hope that wasn't too forward after just meeting you." "No, I don't think that at all," I said feeling the hurt that he didn't remember me all over again. I opened the box and lifted out a silver chain bearing a pair of entwined hearts. They were embedded with tiny diamond chips. "It's a friendship necklace," he said as I slipped it around my neck. "I hope we can be friends." "It's beautiful," I said, feeling myself tearing up. "I should give you something too." "You don't have to do that," he said. I smiled. "I want to." I knew just the gift. I went upstairs to my room and found the little biker bear. When I returned to the living room I handed it to him. He looked at it and then at me in surprise delight. "He's a biker like me. How did you know I ride a motorcycle?" I shrugged, turning my head so he wouldn't see my grin. "Someone very special gave that to me long ago," I said. "I want you to have it." "Thanks, Alex. I promise I'll treasure it." He paused. "Would you like to go for a walk?" "Sure," I said trying not to sound too eager. We spent the rest of the day getting to know each other again. We were moving to Buffalo. Mr. Myers, never one to waste a minute, wanted everyone settled in before the New Year which was why the movers were here this morning. Myers had scrapped plans to keep the Fertilizer Plant as part of Myers Industries. Even though Major Larson's team had done their work and he only remembered his son had been very sick, the town made him uneasy, like there was something covert here, something he wanted no part of. This sentiment seemed to be shared with much of Clarkville's population. All over town for-sale signs had gone up and over a dozen stores in the mall had closed. Myer's had sold the plant to some businessmen in South Korea and with the fertilizer plant under new management and looking to hire, new faces were popping up to replace the loss in population. Clarksville would be just fine. Mr. Myers, aware my father had been the key person in bringing Austin back to health, wanted Dad more than ever as his new head of research. He'd gone so far as to place down payments on a house for each of our families in one of Buffalo's finest neighborhoods. "Consider it your signing bonus," he's told Dad. "My gift for what you did for my son." Austin and I would be neighbors and finish high school together. The only person not happy with the move was my brother, but even he was warming up to the idea when he realized the possibilities a large city offered. Things couldn't have been more perfect. I'd gone upstairs after breakfast and put on my parka then headed outside, past the movers loading our furniture, across the street. I couldn't leave Clarksville until I said goodbye to the place where it all began. As I mounted the steps to the porch I noticed the front door stood open, welcoming me in. More than likely, workmen anxious to start their holiday had rushed off at quitting time and not bothered to pull it closed. I saw it as the house's invitation for one last visit, an opportunity to make peace. I glided pass the saw horses and sawed planks scattered around and peeped inside. A new staircase replaced the broken one, the walls wore new plaster and the smell of fresh paint was heavy in the air. My footfalls echoed in the large empty room as I crossed the newly refinished floor to the staircase. It was an elegant affair curving gently as it rose to the second floor. Someone was putting an immense amount of time and money into