Wreckage and two corpses wasnt all they found. Theyd recovered Kenjii, too, apparently. That wasnt tough to fakeno ones going to test a dog. But the article said theyd also recovered DNA evidence that confirmed the death of the seven teenagers on board.
But how the hell do you pull off something like that? Sam said.
They have our DNA, I said. They must have made it seem like the crash was worse than it was, that there wasnt
Much left of us, Daniel said. Enough to provide DNA, but not enough to show our parents.
Hold on, Corey said. Isnt there one massive flaw in this logic? The search team belonged to the St. Clouds. They have our DNA. They could convince our parents we were dead. But they arent the ones were running from and they arent the ones who found the wreck.
Theyve cut a deal, I said.
And cut us loose, Daniel murmured as he worked it out. There are other kids in this experiment. Probably our whole class. This Nast Cabal discovered the experiment. The St. Clouds realized it. So they negotiated.
I nodded. We die and the Nasts get to keep us, if they can find us. The St. Clouds get the rest of the kids. They already had one project blow up on them. They werent about to lose another.
So they negotiated? Corey said. Using us?
Apparently thats all we are to them. Assets. Valuable ones, but not worth sacrificing the whole experiment for.
So we cant go back to Salmon Creek, Sam said. If we do, theyll just turn us over.
The St. Clouds will. Our parents wont. I looked around. Does anyone doubt that?
Daniel said, carefully, Im not sure my dad wouldnt let them have me.
I dont believe that. I wasnt so sure, but I certainly wasnt saying so. But he wont be the one well approach. My parents would be bestIm sure they knew nothing about this. Coreys mom is fine, too. And Mrs. Tillson isnt going to hand over Sam and Nicole to the people who killed her husband.
Okay, so we still go back Corey began.
He stopped, wincing.
Headache? I said.
Yeah, just hold He doubled over with a sharp intake of breath.
I grasped his arm. Corey?
Bad one, he panted. Okay, just
He let out a howl, his head dropping forward, his hands clutching it. Then he retched. Another heave, and a geyser of Coke sprayed the bushes.
I gripped his arm and tugged him until he was sitting, knees up, headbetween them, panting hard.
Well, thats new, Corey muttered between gasps. And I dont think I like it.
He winced again, face screwed up against the pain as he doubled over.
Okay, I said. Just breathe and keep your eyes shut. The sunlights probably making it worse.
That would help if I wasnt seeing light even with them shut.
What?
Im getting flashes of A few panting breaths. Light. Color. Could use a sound track.
Youre seeing things?
He shook his head. You get visions. I just get random Another curse as the pain hit again. Flashes. Boring flashes.
Daniel knelt and held out a bottle. I thought it was pop, then saw the label.
Beer? I said.
It helps. I knew his meds had dissolved, so I grabbed a few from the store.
Corey took it and twisted off the cap. A few gulps. Then a deep breath as he relaxed. Another long drink, then a sidelong glance at me.
Yes, Im self-medicating with booze and I know thats not smart. I wouldnt do it if I had the meds.
So beer helps?
He shrugged. Not as good as the meds. Ive still got a killer headache. But it doesnt feel like an icepick driving into my skull.
I looked over at Daniel. His eyes were dark with worry. If these werent just migrainesif they were linked to the experimentswe had no idea how to handle them. No idea if they were a normal part of Corey getting his powers or a sign that something was wrong.
Corey finished the bottle, then closed his eyes. The puking was new. And the pain was worse. The flashing lights are a recent symptom. He opened one eye. See, I said I get all the cool powers. Raging migraines cured by booze. I really will be that guy in a bar
The sound of a revving engine made us all look up. Wed been walking parallel to the road. but deep enough in the bush not to be spotted by anyone driving past. This noise sounded like an ATV. We hid, and it passed, went a little farther, then stopped.
Moreno to base. Moreno to base.
Someone answered.
Moreno gave his coordinates, then said, Still no sign of the Morris girl. She cant have run far, though. Ill keep looking.
The ATV started up again.
Hayley escaped, Corey said.
You heard that? I said.
Um, yeah. We all did.
Because we were supposed to, Daniel said. He was talking too loud. He even turned off the ATV so his voice would carry better.
But how the hell do you pull off something like that? Sam said.
They have our DNA, I said. They must have made it seem like the crash was worse than it was, that there wasnt
Much left of us, Daniel said. Enough to provide DNA, but not enough to show our parents.
Hold on, Corey said. Isnt there one massive flaw in this logic? The search team belonged to the St. Clouds. They have our DNA. They could convince our parents we were dead. But they arent the ones were running from and they arent the ones who found the wreck.
Theyve cut a deal, I said.
And cut us loose, Daniel murmured as he worked it out. There are other kids in this experiment. Probably our whole class. This Nast Cabal discovered the experiment. The St. Clouds realized it. So they negotiated.
I nodded. We die and the Nasts get to keep us, if they can find us. The St. Clouds get the rest of the kids. They already had one project blow up on them. They werent about to lose another.
So they negotiated? Corey said. Using us?
Apparently thats all we are to them. Assets. Valuable ones, but not worth sacrificing the whole experiment for.
So we cant go back to Salmon Creek, Sam said. If we do, theyll just turn us over.
The St. Clouds will. Our parents wont. I looked around. Does anyone doubt that?
Daniel said, carefully, Im not sure my dad wouldnt let them have me.
I dont believe that. I wasnt so sure, but I certainly wasnt saying so. But he wont be the one well approach. My parents would be bestIm sure they knew nothing about this. Coreys mom is fine, too. And Mrs. Tillson isnt going to hand over Sam and Nicole to the people who killed her husband.
Okay, so we still go back Corey began.
He stopped, wincing.
Headache? I said.
Yeah, just hold He doubled over with a sharp intake of breath.
I grasped his arm. Corey?
Bad one, he panted. Okay, just
He let out a howl, his head dropping forward, his hands clutching it. Then he retched. Another heave, and a geyser of Coke sprayed the bushes.
I gripped his arm and tugged him until he was sitting, knees up, headbetween them, panting hard.
Well, thats new, Corey muttered between gasps. And I dont think I like it.
He winced again, face screwed up against the pain as he doubled over.
Okay, I said. Just breathe and keep your eyes shut. The sunlights probably making it worse.
That would help if I wasnt seeing light even with them shut.
What?
Im getting flashes of A few panting breaths. Light. Color. Could use a sound track.
Youre seeing things?
He shook his head. You get visions. I just get random Another curse as the pain hit again. Flashes. Boring flashes.
Daniel knelt and held out a bottle. I thought it was pop, then saw the label.
Beer? I said.
It helps. I knew his meds had dissolved, so I grabbed a few from the store.
Corey took it and twisted off the cap. A few gulps. Then a deep breath as he relaxed. Another long drink, then a sidelong glance at me.
Yes, Im self-medicating with booze and I know thats not smart. I wouldnt do it if I had the meds.
So beer helps?
He shrugged. Not as good as the meds. Ive still got a killer headache. But it doesnt feel like an icepick driving into my skull.
I looked over at Daniel. His eyes were dark with worry. If these werent just migrainesif they were linked to the experimentswe had no idea how to handle them. No idea if they were a normal part of Corey getting his powers or a sign that something was wrong.
Corey finished the bottle, then closed his eyes. The puking was new. And the pain was worse. The flashing lights are a recent symptom. He opened one eye. See, I said I get all the cool powers. Raging migraines cured by booze. I really will be that guy in a bar
The sound of a revving engine made us all look up. Wed been walking parallel to the road. but deep enough in the bush not to be spotted by anyone driving past. This noise sounded like an ATV. We hid, and it passed, went a little farther, then stopped.
Moreno to base. Moreno to base.
Someone answered.
Moreno gave his coordinates, then said, Still no sign of the Morris girl. She cant have run far, though. Ill keep looking.
The ATV started up again.
Hayley escaped, Corey said.
You heard that? I said.
Um, yeah. We all did.
Because we were supposed to, Daniel said. He was talking too loud. He even turned off the ATV so his voice would carry better.
