Maxine lay on her stomach in the forest clearing, her body half-hidden by the undergrowth. Through the binoculars, she kept a watchful eye on the entrance to the laboratory, scanning for any signs of movement. The sun filtered through the trees, casting dappled shadows on the ground, but her focus remained unbroken.
A few feet away, Garan sat on a fallen log, the cold metal of the pistol resting in his lap. His gaze shifted between the two guards they had restrained and the surroundings, his expression a mix of exhaustion and vigilance. The guards, their hands and feet bound securely, squirmed uncomfortably, their muffled groans barely audible through the socks stuffed in their mouths.
Evelyn, dressed in an oversized raincoat that reached her ankles, marched around the clearing in a steady, rhythmic pattern. She counted each step aloud, her voice clear and unwavering.
“One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight,” she chanted, turning sharply on her heel when she reached eight and then retracing her steps.
Her routine was almost hypnotic, a child’s game in stark contrast to the current circumstance. Garan, his eyes heavy with fatigue, felt his head start to droop. The weight of exhaustion bore down on him, pulling him to the edge of sleep. Just as his body began to slump, Maxine’s sharp voice cut through the stillness, jolting him awake.
“There they are!” she exclaimed.
Garan snapped to attention, his hand instinctively tightening around the pistol as he rose to his feet. His heart pounding in his chest, he followed Maxine’s line of sight, his mind racing with possibilities. But before he could process what she had seen, a deafening explosion shattered the tranquility of the forest.
The ground trembled beneath their feet as a thick plume of smoke billowed up from the direction of the laboratory. The blast sent birds screeching into the sky, their wings beating frantically as they fled the chaos below.
“Oh my god, the lab just exploded!” Maxine cried, her voice laced with disbelief.
“Are you serious?” Garan asked, his voice strained as he tried to comprehend the sudden devastation.
Maxine pushed the binoculars into his hands, her face pale with shock. She turned her gaze back to the lab, now obscured by smoke and debris. Garan raised the binoculars to his eyes, his heart sinking as he saw the once formidable structure reduced to a smoldering pile of rubble. The lab was gone—nothing but twisted metal and ash remained.
He lowered the binoculars and turned to Maxine, his expression grim. “Is everyone okay?”
“I don’t know,” Maxine replied, her voice barely above a whisper. “I didn’t see Steven or Stefon.”
“What about Buck and Katherine?”
Maxine shook her head, uncertainty clouding her features. “I’m not sure. I think they were far enough away when the explosion happened, but I don’t know.”
Garan’s mind raced as he processed her words. “Then I guess we wait and find out,” he said, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside him.
Maxine nodded, though her hands trembled slightly as she began to gather their equipment. The urgency of the situation snapped her out of her shock, and she moved with purpose, preparing for their departure. Evelyn, having finished her marching routine, was now carefully folding the raincoat and tucking it back into the backpack.
“Thanks, Evelyn,” Maxine said as she glanced over at the young girl that was finally starting to warm up to her.
“You’re welcome, Tweety Bird,” Evelyn replied with a small smile, bringing a fleeting moment of warmth to the anxious atmosphere.
Maxine placed the pistol into the front pocket of the backpack, her movements quick and precise. She slung the pack over her shoulders, securing it in place. Garan approached her, unzipping the top of the backpack to carefully place the binoculars inside. Once everything was secure, he zipped it up again.
The sound of footsteps pounding through the forest reached them before Buck and Katherine appeared, their faces flushed with exertion. Buck’s eyes quickly scanned the clearing, taking in the tied-up guards and the readiness of his companions.
“Nice job,” Buck said, a hint of approval in his voice.
Maxine, still processing the enormity of what had just happened, looked at him with a mixture of fear and hope. “What happened to Steven and Stefon?” she asked, her voice trembling.
Buck’s expression darkened, the reality of their loss evident in his eyes. “They didn’t make it.”
Maxine’s breath caught in her throat, and she stared at Buck, the world tilting on its axis. Evelyn, sensing the change in the adults’ demeanor, moved closer to Garan and wrapped her arms around his leg. Garan bent down, lifting her into his arms as he tried to comprehend what Buck was saying.
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“What do you mean?” Garan asked, his voice thick with dread.
“We lost Stefon, and Steven became unleashed,” Buck explained, his voice heavy with sorrow. “He turned into a human fusion reactor. They saved us.”
The words hung in the air, a bitter truth that neither Maxine nor Garan wanted to accept. Maxine’s eyes filled with tears as she looked down at the ground, unable to find the words to express her grief. Garan held Evelyn closer, her small arms tightening around his neck as if she could sense the sadness enveloping them all.
“I’m sorry,” Buck said softly, the weight of their loss evident in his tone. “But we have to go. That explosion’s going to draw some attention. I’ll carry Evelyn.”
Maxine, still reeling from the news, nodded slowly. Garan handed Evelyn over to Buck, who cradled her gently but firmly in his arms. Garan took one last look around the clearing making sure they left nothing else behind.
As they prepared to leave, the hybrid guard in white, still tied to the tree, managed to mumble a few words through his gag. “Good luck, guys,” he said, his voice muffled but sincere.
Buck looked at the restrained guard and tried not to laugh. He shook his head slightly, then turned and began to walk briskly back towards the campsite. Katherine, Maxine, and Garan followed close behind, their footsteps swift and determined.
***
Katherine was the first to reach the campsite. Her sharp eyes scanned the area as she began to walk the perimeter, ensuring that everything was as it should be. The silent unease from the forest clung to the air, as the recent chaos settled into reality.
A few minutes later, Garan appeared, his breathing labored from the brisk pace he had maintained through the woods. He leaned against the truck, trying to catch his breath, the weight of recent events pressing heavily on his shoulders. As he rested, the physical toll of the journey became more evident.
Maxine, Buck, and Evelyn arrived shortly after, their footsteps slower but determined. As they reached the clearing, Buck gently set Evelyn down, her small feet barely making a sound as they touched the ground. Without wasting a moment, he moved to the back of the car and opened the trunk. Maxine followed him closely, slipping off the backpack and placing it inside before closing the trunk with a solid click.
Buck, his voice steady despite the underlying urgency, spoke up. “Okay, I’ll drive the car and take Garan and Evelyn. Max and Katherine can take the truck.”
Maxine’s frustration flared up, and she couldn’t hold back any longer. “Damn it, Daniel. Can we take a minute to process?”
Buck paused, his eyes sweeping over the campsite. The reality of what they had just endured was settling in, and the exhaustion was evident on everyone’s faces. He glanced at Katherine, who had momentarily halted her patrol to listen.
Katherine met his gaze and gave a small nod of understanding.
Buck relented, his tone softer now. “Yeah, okay. We can rest a bit.”
Maxine walked over to the front of the truck and leaned against it beside Garan. They stood there in silence, the weight of everything they had just been through hanging heavily between them. Buck, seeking a brief respite, perched himself on the hood of the car, his eyes distant as he processed the recent events.
Katherine resumed her patrol, eyes sweeping the campsite with feline precision. She was thorough, ensuring their temporary refuge remained secure.
Evelyn, sensing the heavy atmosphere, approached Garan and gently tugged on his pant leg. Her soft voice broke through the silence. “We should go back. Grandfather needs us.”
Garan looked down at her, his expression a mix of exhaustion and curiosity. “I’m sure Avery is doing fine without us,” he said, trying to reassure her, though his own doubts lingered.
Evelyn, however, was insistent. “No. Grandfather needs our help.”
Garan crouched down to her level, intrigued by her certainty. “Why do you think that?” he asked, his tone gentle but probing.
“Evie told me,” Evelyn replied, her voice calm and matter-of-fact.
Garan’s head tilted in confusion. “Who’s Evie?”
“The girl that tells me things,” Evelyn explained with the simplicity of a child who believed her words to be entirely reasonable.
Garan exchanged a puzzled look with Maxine, who was listening intently. The two adults shared a moment of silent communication, trying to make sense of Evelyn’s words. Maxine shrugged, a small gesture that conveyed her own confusion.
“Imaginary friend?” Maxine suggested, her voice ringing with uncertainty.
Garan shook his head, not entirely convinced. He turned his attention back to Evelyn, the question still lingering in his mind. “Evelyn, is Evie the girl that was talking to Angelo?”
“Yes,” Evelyn confirmed without hesitation. “Evie knows things.”
Garan’s concern deepened. “Does Evie think Avery is in danger?”
Evelyn nodded, her expression serious. “Yes. Grandfather needs our help.”
The conviction in her voice was undeniable, and Garan could no longer dismiss her words as mere child’s play. He bent down and lifted Evelyn into his arms, the decision already made. The urgency in Evelyn’s voice had sparked a new wave of concern within him.
“Buck,” Garan called out, his tone leaving no room for hesitation.
“I heard. Let’s go,” Buck replied, immediately rising from his seat on the hood of the car. His expression was resolute as he prepared to leave, understanding the gravity of the situation without needing further explanation.
Buck took a final glance around the campsite, ensuring nothing was left behind. There was a sense of urgency in the air, and he knew they couldn’t afford to waste any more time.
“Katherine!” Buck’s voice was firm as he called out to her.
Katherine, who had just finished her sweep of the area, looked up. She saw the seriousness in Buck’s expression and nodded in acknowledgment. Without a word, she walked over to the vehicles, her steps quick and purposeful.