“Why? She’s asleep,” he said pointing at her.
The girl had lain back down and shut her eyes.
“She’s faking. She was just up, and Abi said she’s using telepathy to scream for help.”
I grasped the sides of my head. “Hurry up and make her stop.” It was as if her madness was filling my head, making me go crazy.
“All right,” he agreed, going with the flow.
He filled up the syringe and stepped to the side of the girl. As soon as he stuck the needle in her, her eyes went wide. She jerked her arm, thrashing her body around, screaming violently.
“Dammit! She snapped the needle off in her arm.” He held up the needleless syringe.
“How much did she get?” the Sarge asked.
“A third, and I only have enough for one more dose.”
I couldn’t handle her screaming anymore. It felt like whatever she was doing was eating away at my brain.
“Shut up!” I screamed, feeling a surge of energy leave my body.
Her body went limp, and the screaming in my head fell silent.
“Oh my God,” I exhaled. “Is she dead?” I hoped I hadn’t killed her.
Keanu checked her pulse. “She’s alive. You must’ve knocked her out.”
“Finally, something shut her up.” I sighed.
Keanu’s eyes went wide. “You’re…” His hand gestured toward his nose.
As soon as he did, I could smell and feel blood drip from my nose. Dr. Simon came to my aid with a handkerchief. He always seemed to have one handy, and I felt bad making a bloody mess of his previous ones.
“Come, Abi” Dr. Simon put his arm on my shoulder and led me out of the room.
I was thankful he was here. His kindness was soothing, making me believe there were still kind and genuine people in the world, who despite any circumstance, remained constant and true.
“Dr. Simon?” I questioned. “Why do you think the girl didn’t respond to me the first time?”
He assisted me down the stairs and took a seat. “You’re still weak and recovering.”
“I don’t feel as weak as before.” I assessed myself. “But she seemed like she was possessed.”
Dr. Simon nodded. “It could very well be her mental illness blocking your gift. It appears as if her mind is broken, and sometimes when that happens, the mind hides things from itself. Also, unbeknownst to its host, the mind cries for help. Those cries were probably what you’ve been hearing.
“She’s clearly suffered a terrible pain with the loss of a child. That, compiled with solitary confinement, and a possible genetic predisposition, is enough to make a mind go mad. Hell, just one of those things is enough to make anyone crazy.”
“Do you think her telepathy was something she was born with, or received from the Arvy bite?”
“I’m not sure, and unless she can tell us herself, I don’t think we will get a definite answer.”
Great, more unanswered questions. I had a feeling this girl was going to be my kryptonite.
“Go back to sleep, Abi. You’re still weak.”
“I don’t know if I can,” I exhaled. “My mind is spinning, trying to find answers.”
“Take this,” he said, pulling a pill from his pocket.
I pushed his hand away. “No, thank you. I can’t let my mind be weak, especially with her here.” I turned back and watched Keanu extract the broken needle from her arm using tweezers. She didn’t move. The blanket swaddling the child’s corpse was right next to her.
“I’ll try and get some sleep. I’m still exhausted.”
“The sun will be up in a few hours,” Sergeant Hawkins noted. “You could sleep on the covered porch so it’ll keep the morning sun off if you don’t want to be in the house.”
“I think I’ll do that,” I said. “Thank you.”
Dr. Simon patted my shoulder. “Sleep well, Abi.”
“You too.”
HOURS LATER, AS THE SUN peeked over the horizon, I woke hearing Stevens and Jones on the porch.
“I think she’s awake,” Stevens whispered loudly.
Opening one eye, I caught Jones shaking his head as he replied, “Your loud mouth woke her, dumb ass.”
“It’s fine. I’m awake.” I stretched my achy limbs and laughed. “Why are you guys down here?”
“We just had some breakfast bars, and were going to check the perimeter,” Stevens answered.
Chase climbed down the ladder. “Hey, guys.”
“Hey,” I replied.
“How long have I been asleep?” He stretched his arms into the air when he reached the ground.
“Dude, you’ve slept more than all of us. At least six hours,” Jimenez replied, climbing down after him. Keanu came down last, looking exhausted.
“Did you get any sleep, Abi?” Chase raised his brow at me.
“Enough,” I replied. I could have slept the entire day. My body was begging me to, but I knew it was going to warm up pretty quickly on the roof. I was glad the girl downstairs hadn’t woken up because I’d barely had a few hours of sleep.
“Here, the breakfast of champions,” Keanu said, tossing me a bar, and then one to Chase.
“Are we staying here today?” Chase asked.
“Yes, unless you feel like dying today. It’ll get upward of 125 degrees,” Keanu said. “We should be heading into the house soon. At least we don’t have to worry about Arvies traveling across the desert.
“Is the crazy chick still in the house?” Chase asked.
“She’s knocked out,” Keanu replied. “I gave her the last of the tranquilizer about an hour ago.”
“What happens when it runs out?”
Keanu shrugged. “We’re screwed.”
As we made our way inside the house, Dr. Simon motioned us toward the kitchen area. All the windows in the entire home had been opened, allowing air to flow freely, taking out most of the stench. A dirty blanket was thrown over the blood stains, and someone had set up a table and chairs.
“Come, sit,” he said taking a seat at the table.
The sergeant walked past us and nodded as he ducked outside.
The soldiers followed him out.
Dr. Simon placed his elbows on the table and leaned forward. “I think I know of a way we can help that girl or at least try and quiet the part of her mind that seems to be crying out for help.”
“How?” I asked.
He looked me directly in the eye, and it made me feel uneasy. Whatever it was would be dangerous.
“We’ll need to enter her mind and find that part of her, the part which is being protected, and help it.”
“How are we supposed to help,” Chase questioned. “We’re not shrinks.”
I completely agreed with him. “She could be schizophrenic. Do we even know what the inside of her mind will be like? Will it be safe? What are the risks?”
Chase crossed his arms over his chest. “What is the likelihood of us being injured or killed?”
“There is always a risk when entering someone’s mind, and I don’t have any answers to those questions. I’m sorry. This is something I’ve never done, but it’s our most promising option. I can only imagine a mentally ill mind will be a scary and potentially dangerous place, but because of her unusual situation, we have to keep her with us. Dragging an unconscious body across the desert will slow us down, putting us at greater risk. If she can walk on her own, and her brain is not screaming for help, I think we’ll stand a chance.”
“How will we do this?” I asked. “We’ll have to be monitored, and what happens if anything goes wrong?”
“Sergeant Hawkins and Keanu have agreed to monitor our vitals and protect us. If anything happens, they will inject us with adrenaline, which should bring us back.”
“What if it doesn’t work?” Chase asked.
“We’ve always found an exit from our minds,” Dr. Simon replied.
Chase sighed. “Yes, but our minds are not chaotic like hers. They’re easy to enter and leav
e.”
He was right. Too bad I couldn’t pull her into my mind. I had no doubt she’d feel comfortable in my garden, where it was bright and cheery and smelled sweet.
“When are we doing this?” I asked.
“Sergeant Hawkins is talking to his men now. They will have to monitor each of us closely and also the girl. We’ll take advantage of the sun being at its highest point. We have nothing else to do while we wait for nightfall.”
This was a horrible idea, but if it were the only way to keep her quiet, then we’d have to do it.
“How are we supposed to get inside of her mind?”
Dr. Simon gave a disconcerting look. He didn’t know either. We were going in blind.
WHEN THE SUN WAS DIRECTLY above us, we carried our chairs into the girl’s room and placed them side by side at the foot of her bed. Dr. Simon was in the middle, and Chase sat to his right, only after they removed the baby’s corpse. I was glad it was his only demand because it creeped me out too.
The plan was to meet in Dr. Simon’s mind, then travel together into hers, hoping it would be quick and easy. It sounded simple enough. We just had no idea what we would encounter.
Keanu, Jones, and Sergeant Hawkins would be in the room, monitoring and making sure we were safe. Stevens and Jimenez would be keeping our perimeter safe.
Per Dr. Simon’s suggestion, we each took a sleeping pill a half-hour earlier, as it was the only thing they had to put us in a sleep state.
“How are you feeling?” Keanu asked.
“A little anxious,” I said truthfully, glancing at the girl sleeping peacefully on the bed. I couldn’t help but remember how crazed she’d looked. I was glad the sleeping pill was taking the edge off.
Keanu patted my arm. “Jones and I will be watching and checking your pulses regularly. I have a four Epinephrine shots on hand, just in case.”
“That’s the last resort,” Dr. Simon said, pushing his glasses up onto the bridge of his nose.
“Of course,” Keanu replied.
As the meds kicked in I was feeling very relaxed. We were all ordered to close our eyes. It was the first time I had ever been in Dr. Simon’s mind. My excitement mixed with my anxiety. Anyway this went, it would be an adventure.
THE MEETING IN ONE MIND turned out to be easier than expected, maybe because we were right next to each other. Dr. Simon’s mind was different than anything I’d ever seen. We were inside a beautiful home. It looked like an old Victorian style home, furnished with the most exquisite, antique furniture. The kind I’d seen while fingering through some of the home decor magazines in the hive. The floors were hardwood, and the walls almost a warm rust color. An elaborate wood staircase zigzagged toward the upper floor.
A cool breeze blew through a wide, open window behind us, making the gossamer curtains flutter. Beyond the window, I could see the sky. It was bright, the lightest color of blue, clean and untainted, with billowy white clouds.
“Go ahead, look out the window,” Dr. Simon suggested.
Chase and I glanced at each other, then hurried over to the window. As we got closer, I could smell the salty air wafting through the window. It was distinct, unlike anything I’d smelled in my thirteen years underground. Reaching the window, I witnessed the most beautiful sight. The ocean. Spread out as far as the eye could see, limitless and majestic. White fine sand expanded across the bank.
Soft waves rolled in and out, frothing across the shoreline. The water was a clear turquoise, specks of light glinting off its surface like crystals. The wet taupe sand looked like velvet, soft and shimmering in the sun. In the distance was a grove of palm trees, their fronds dancing in the light breeze. This was paradise.
“What is this place?” I asked, turning toward Dr. Simon.
“This was once my home,” Dr. Simon replied. “Before the apocalypse.”
“It’s so beautiful,” I breathed, soaking in the scenery.
Chase was quiet, and his eyes wide with wonder. “What’s up?” I asked, elbowing him.
“This is the first time I’ve seen the ocean.” The corners of his lips rose. “I wouldn’t want to leave my mind if it looked like this.”
“It’s something, isn’t it?” Dr. Simon joined us and glanced out the window.
“Many times I’ve wished I could stay. But I can't.”
“Why not?” Chase asked.
He turned to him and smiled, placing his hand on his shoulder. “Because there are people in the real world who depend on me. One day my job will be over, and I’m hoping I’ll get to retire here.”
“Won’t it be lonely, though,” Chase added.
“No,” he breathed, looking out over the horizon. “I believe when my time is up, I will get to see all those I love who have passed on. Hopefully, they’ll come and visit me here.”
I smiled. After all that Dr. Simon had done for me, Chase, Chloe and countless others, I deeply hope his wish would be granted.
“We should start,” I said. “I’d like to find her before she wakes up.”
"All right. We need to concentrate," Dr. Simon said pointing out the window. "Do you see the dark cloud across the ocean, just above the horizon?”
“Yes,” Chase and I answered.
“That’s where we need to go.” He grabbed each of our hands and held on. “The key will be staying together. Hold on and don’t let go.”
“I forgot my umbrella,” Chase chuckled.
“I’m afraid we will need much more than an umbrella,” Dr. Simon laughed.
We all stepped back, holding hands, and then ran toward the window and crashed through. Dr. Simon led, pulling us with him.
Our bodies were jettisoned through time and space. We were flying over the water, and toward the dark clouds. In seconds, we’d made the journey, flying straight into the center of the storm.
I couldn’t see a thing, only felt Dr. Simon’s hand grasped tightly around mine. The air was thick and damp, reeking of death.
We finally broke through the dense cloud, and our feet touched the ground in a place which I could only describe as dark and twisted. Jagged, onyx rocks jutted up from the ground, some reaching up as far as the eye could see. Dead vines with thorns at least three inches long, clung tight to the rocks, coiling around them like snakes ready to bite. Above us were razor-sharp stalactites, hanging like sharp daggers. We were in a maze of the most treacherous terrain imaginable.
A loud rumble was followed by the ground quaking. Above, a razor sharp stalactite cracked in half and plummeted toward us. I pushed Dr. Simon back and dropped, covering my face as it crashed between us, missing him by inches. Shards of black rock shattered everywhere.
Chase cursed. “What the hell is this place?”
“It’s what the mind of a mad person looks like,” Dr. Simon answered. “Whatever you do, stay close. It wants to separate us.”
“No,” I breathed. “It wants to kill us.”
“I think you’re both right,” Chase agreed.
“How are we supposed to find her in this?” I questioned. “This is more dangerous than being in the real world. I think we stand a better chance with the Arvies.”
“We’ll have to be extra careful, move forward slowly, and pray we find her. She’s in here somewhere, but her mind is trying to keep us away.
The ground shook again, twisting Chase’s ankle as the rocks shifted and broke. Dr. Simon caught his arm, stopping him from being impaled on the massive, razor sharp stalagmite that had risen up, like a stake aiming for his heart.
Chase paled. Panting he put his hand on Dr. Simon’s shoulder to stand upright. “I could have died right there.”
“I don’t think we can die,” Dr. Simon said. “I’m hoping that if anything happens to us here, they can pull us out quick enough, back into the real world.”
“Are you sure about that?” Chase questioned.
“Not entirely.”
“Well, that sucks,” he puffed. “Just don’t go disappearing and leaving us alone in this pl
ace. I swear I’ll end up falling onto that stalagmite just to test your theory.”
This terrain was treacherous.
I slipped, grabbing hold of a sharp rock next to me, slicing my palm. I watched the blood drip from my hand. “Are you sure we can’t die in here?” I asked. “These injuries feel real.”
“Abi, let me look at that,” Dr. Simon said.
“I’m fine,” I replied, tearing a piece off the bottom of my shirt and wrapped it around my hand.
This wasn't working, and we couldn't keep walking aimlessly through this hellish environment.
I decided to try something. In my mind’s mind, I called out to her.
“Hello?” I murmured, having no idea if this would even work. “I heard you calling for help. My name is Abi, and I’ve come to help you.” There was no answer, so I tried again. “Hello. Are you here? We’re having trouble finding you.”
And then I heard a faint response. “I’m here,” she whimpered.
“Where? I said, looking in all directions. “You have to give us a sign. Some way to let us know where you are.”
“I’m in a room. It’s dark and cold. Help me. Please come and find me,” the soft voice pleaded.
I stopped and turned to Dr. Simon. “I think I’ve made contact with her.”
“How?” he said, sidestepping some stray debris falling from above.
I pointed to my head. “I can talk to her. She wants help. She wants to be found.”
“Where is she?” Chase asked.
A small beam of light shot upward, about three hundred yards away, illuminating the darkness.
“There,” I said, pointing. “We found her.”
Her brain must have known as well because the entire ground shook. “Run!” I yelled as stalactites disengaged from their roosts, crashing downward all around us.
“Run? We can’t run through this!” Chase yelled back.
“Then haul ass and follow me,” I said, taking the lead. I grabbed hold of Dr. Simon’s arm and dragged him with me, pushing and pulling him, trying to keep him away from all the sharp falling objects.
Chase stayed inches behind, his eyes wide with fright. My pants were torn, and I could feel stinging all up and down my legs. I knew they were cut, but I kept on.