Daniel grabbed my shoulder and turned me around.
A snarl, louder now, and I glanced over to see the dogs watching us. Two more came running from between the buildings.
Holy hell, Corey whispered.
Can we go now? Daniel said.
Corey nodded and turned to run, but Daniel stopped him.
Slowly, I said. Dont turn your back on them. Canines are all about dominance. You run, theyll chase. Back away slowly. Stay together.
We did that. One of the dogs started toward us. Another took a tentative step.
And if they attack anyway? Corey whispered.
Then we run.
The two dogs took a few more steps our way. Then the smallest one dove for the bloody bundle of fur, snatched it up, and raced off. The other three tore after it. We breathed sighs of relief and hightailed it back to Coreys house.
After we told Sam what wed found, Daniel said, Theyre clearing out the town.
That doesnt make sense, she said.
Doesnt it? I said. The Nasts know about the experiment, so Salmon Creek isnt a secret anymore. Between the fire and the crash, the St. Clouds have an excuse for pulling up stakes.
So now what? Corey said. No ones here. We have no idea where anyone went. Were just as screwed as we were this morning.
I shook my head. We have food, water, and transportation. Thats a lot more than we had this morning. All we need is a way to track down our parents. We might find that at my placewe have shortwave radios.
It was just the excuse Id been waiting for. With every step wed taken, I ached to go home, but there was still the risk of getting there, and I hadnt dared without a good reason.
We might not need to go all that way, Sam said. If we can get to my place, my cell phones there.
You have a cell phone? Corey said.
Every teen has a cell phone. Or so my aunt andher voice caughtuncle thought. I told them I didnt have anyone to call, but I think they figured that would change if I had one. Its in my room.
Daniels hand went to the small of my back as he leaned down. Well get the phone, then were going to your place. I promise.
I nodded. We got Kenjii and headed out.
TWENTY-EGHT
AGAIN, WE SNUCK IN the rear. Thats the advantage of living in a forestevery yard in Salmon Creek backs up to it.
The Tillson place was only half empty. The St. Clouds must have been working in stages, first taking what people wanted mostpersonal itemsthen coming back to remove the rest and clean up.
The movers were stillworking on the upstairs, apparently. It really didnt look much different from what I remembered from visits with Nicole. I suppose thats because the only person whose personal belongings had to be taken was Mrs. Tillson.
I thought about that. I guess I hadnt realized it before. Mrs. Tillson thought her entire family was gone. Her husband dead, only child killed in the same crash, along with the niece shed been raising.
She took my stuff, Sam said.
Hmm? I turned.
My stuffs gone.
Well, yeah, Corey said. She didnt expect youd want it.
No, I mean
Sam shook her head and looked away, and I understood what she meant. Mrs. Tillson had removed mementos of Sam, just as she had her own daughters. I could see in Sams face that it meant a lot.
She found her phone hidden under her bed, turned off. Im going to call her. Sorry, guys, you can go next
Yes, you go first. Well I motioned the guys out. Ill get washed up.
The guys had already cleaned up. Or done the best they could with a quick wash and teeth brushing at Coreys. There hadnt been any spare toothbrushes, so Id done mine with my finger and tried not to look in the mirror. One glance had told me that no amount of touch-ups was going to help. I needed a twenty-minute shower.
And this clothing is getting burned, I said as I raked a comb through my tangled hair.
Theres a fireplace downstairs, Corey said. Ill take it for you right now.
I gave him a look. Once I have something to wear.
Grab a shirt from Nics room, Daniel said. She wont mind. It might be a little small but
Thats fine, Corey said with a grin. I wont mind either.
It was good to see him grinning, even if there was a hint of desperation in his goofing around. We were all on the edge of panic, trying not to think about what happened in Salmon Creek, what happened to our parents, where wed go from here.
Still, there was no way I was wearing anything of Nicoles. Id sooner put on Sams stuff, even if black really wasnt my color.
I was about to ask Sam if I could borrow something when she came out, phone in hand. Her expression said she hadnt talked to her aunt.
Theres a signal, isnt there? I said. They cant block the whole town.
No, Ive got a signal but She looked up. Her cell numbers been disconnected. I tried a few times.
A snarl, louder now, and I glanced over to see the dogs watching us. Two more came running from between the buildings.
Holy hell, Corey whispered.
Can we go now? Daniel said.
Corey nodded and turned to run, but Daniel stopped him.
Slowly, I said. Dont turn your back on them. Canines are all about dominance. You run, theyll chase. Back away slowly. Stay together.
We did that. One of the dogs started toward us. Another took a tentative step.
And if they attack anyway? Corey whispered.
Then we run.
The two dogs took a few more steps our way. Then the smallest one dove for the bloody bundle of fur, snatched it up, and raced off. The other three tore after it. We breathed sighs of relief and hightailed it back to Coreys house.
After we told Sam what wed found, Daniel said, Theyre clearing out the town.
That doesnt make sense, she said.
Doesnt it? I said. The Nasts know about the experiment, so Salmon Creek isnt a secret anymore. Between the fire and the crash, the St. Clouds have an excuse for pulling up stakes.
So now what? Corey said. No ones here. We have no idea where anyone went. Were just as screwed as we were this morning.
I shook my head. We have food, water, and transportation. Thats a lot more than we had this morning. All we need is a way to track down our parents. We might find that at my placewe have shortwave radios.
It was just the excuse Id been waiting for. With every step wed taken, I ached to go home, but there was still the risk of getting there, and I hadnt dared without a good reason.
We might not need to go all that way, Sam said. If we can get to my place, my cell phones there.
You have a cell phone? Corey said.
Every teen has a cell phone. Or so my aunt andher voice caughtuncle thought. I told them I didnt have anyone to call, but I think they figured that would change if I had one. Its in my room.
Daniels hand went to the small of my back as he leaned down. Well get the phone, then were going to your place. I promise.
I nodded. We got Kenjii and headed out.
TWENTY-EGHT
AGAIN, WE SNUCK IN the rear. Thats the advantage of living in a forestevery yard in Salmon Creek backs up to it.
The Tillson place was only half empty. The St. Clouds must have been working in stages, first taking what people wanted mostpersonal itemsthen coming back to remove the rest and clean up.
The movers were stillworking on the upstairs, apparently. It really didnt look much different from what I remembered from visits with Nicole. I suppose thats because the only person whose personal belongings had to be taken was Mrs. Tillson.
I thought about that. I guess I hadnt realized it before. Mrs. Tillson thought her entire family was gone. Her husband dead, only child killed in the same crash, along with the niece shed been raising.
She took my stuff, Sam said.
Hmm? I turned.
My stuffs gone.
Well, yeah, Corey said. She didnt expect youd want it.
No, I mean
Sam shook her head and looked away, and I understood what she meant. Mrs. Tillson had removed mementos of Sam, just as she had her own daughters. I could see in Sams face that it meant a lot.
She found her phone hidden under her bed, turned off. Im going to call her. Sorry, guys, you can go next
Yes, you go first. Well I motioned the guys out. Ill get washed up.
The guys had already cleaned up. Or done the best they could with a quick wash and teeth brushing at Coreys. There hadnt been any spare toothbrushes, so Id done mine with my finger and tried not to look in the mirror. One glance had told me that no amount of touch-ups was going to help. I needed a twenty-minute shower.
And this clothing is getting burned, I said as I raked a comb through my tangled hair.
Theres a fireplace downstairs, Corey said. Ill take it for you right now.
I gave him a look. Once I have something to wear.
Grab a shirt from Nics room, Daniel said. She wont mind. It might be a little small but
Thats fine, Corey said with a grin. I wont mind either.
It was good to see him grinning, even if there was a hint of desperation in his goofing around. We were all on the edge of panic, trying not to think about what happened in Salmon Creek, what happened to our parents, where wed go from here.
Still, there was no way I was wearing anything of Nicoles. Id sooner put on Sams stuff, even if black really wasnt my color.
I was about to ask Sam if I could borrow something when she came out, phone in hand. Her expression said she hadnt talked to her aunt.
Theres a signal, isnt there? I said. They cant block the whole town.
No, Ive got a signal but She looked up. Her cell numbers been disconnected. I tried a few times.
