One Wish Away (5 page)

I use the door to stop my momentum and pull, knowing full well it's going to be locked. In my next motion, I remove Dad's security badge from the back pocket of my jeans and swipe it across the keypad. He forgets it at home about every other day, anyway. He'll never suspect I took it.

With a click, the door unlocks and I throw it open.

Shadow covers my face and I freeze in the space I've entered, completely blind to my surroundings. Voices approach from the hallway on my left. I dive into the room on the right, and immediately recognize it as a cafeteria.

The room is empty, dark, the sound of my soft tennis shoes barely register in my ears. It looks a lot like our lunchroom, though I never eat there. The librarian, Ms. Shmikel, lets me bend the rules and eat lunch in one of the study rooms.

I weave between the rows of long tables. The blue chairs are all neatly pushed in, and the grey tabletops reflect the glow of florescent light. There are two doors leading out of the cafeteria, one on the left and one on the right. There's nothing to suggest which one I should try first, so I tiptoe to the closest one, on the left. I rest my fingers on the handle, peering for a place to hide.

I turn back to face the door and inhale deep. I need answers. I need to find out why Dad's in trouble.

Why he's lying to me.

My grip tightens on the handle and I again use my father's ID on the scanner. After the soft beep, I open the door a crack. With one more deep breath I pull it all the way, as my jaw goes slack.

I'm in outer space.

Stars.

Millions, trillions of stars surround me.

I lift my foot, look under it. There are planets and constellations. Galaxies. My finger rises to find the Milky Way. A meteor flies by me, masquerading as a shooting star. I close my eyes, afraid it's a dream.

But when I open them the whole universe shines back at me.

I take my first step, anticipation and pure joy tingling in my bones. It's like I'm flying, the thrill is too great to comprehend. This can't be outer space. I'd be dead if it were. My skin would burn from exposure to radiation. My body's moisture would evaporate leaving my mouth, eyes and soft tissue completely dry and my lungs would work in reverse.

It has to be a projection. I look around, trying to find the source, but can't. For once, I don't care about getting all the answers. The little bit of mystery makes this the most amazing thing I have ever seen.

I float among the stars, walk through them, around them. I chase after the meteor, run my hand through its train. And there's the moon! Earth and Mars are not far behind. And there's—

The Sombrero Galaxy. The light from its bright nucleus bounces around in my pupils as I trace along the dust lane in its inclined disk. I squat down, letting it rest on the top of my head.

I'm wearing the Sombrero Galaxy!

I stand and spin to get another look, still in utter disbelief that what was once a speck in my telescope is displayed before me. To have it in the palm of my hand… there are no words.

Another step back and I remember my purpose. Even in this living replica of the universe, Spica is gone.

Heat crawls up my back and I gaze through the stars wondering if there are searching eyes among them. The awe of standing in the midst of outer space made me forget why I'm here.

I search the universe for a way out, my eyes sifting through the galactic play land. The Sombrero Galaxy won't tell me anything so I move purposefully straight ahead, vowing not to stop walking until I meet a wall. When my palms hit something solid, I slide to the left, feeling for an escape.

Cold metal meets my fingers. I grab the door handle and check over my shoulder to see if I can peg a landmark. The constellation Gemini is close by.

I scan Dad's card and push. The space I enter is small and empty, with another door directly in front of me. Just as the first door slams shut, I reach for the next. A yelp escapes when I enter the second room and my feet fly above my head, my grip still locked around the door handle. There are no stars in this room, only padded walls. My grasp isn't being challenged, I'm not being pulled. But my feet are floating.

I'm looking upward, at the ceiling, feeling nothing. I chance letting one hand go and move it through a space without resistance. I can't believe this.

I grip the door handle that much harder. If I let go, I'll be floating around, stuck until someone finds me. Trapped by zero gravity. My fingers wrap around the doorframe and I pull myself down, crashing to the ground when I get back into the small room.

I reenter the universe room, and continue my counterclockwise circle, trying to stop my jaw from hanging open after each new galactic wonder. Not all of the parts of the universe are visible in this projection. The galaxies that are farther away fade into nothingness. Still a mystery. An area for exploration. The thought sends goose bumps of excitement and possibility up and down my arms. But I have to stay focused. I can't let the wonders before me steer me away from the reason I'm here.

Most doors I unlock lead to rooms with lab benches. I see telescopes, scales, GPC, FTIR, electrodes, and many instruments I don't recognize. With each lab I open, I'm tempted to enter and play. To tinker with the tools and discover everything they can do. But what I'm searching for can't be found in these labs. Though fun, these things are ordinary. I'm looking for something extraordinary.

With each passing room, a headache grows. I'm running out of time. I can't get Darren in trouble. There has to be an answer in here somewhere.

As my fingers close around another door handle, voices rise up behind me. It's the low mumble of genteel conversation. Small talk amongst colleagues.

“I thought the seminar was a waste of time, personally,” a voice says.

“I don't know. I learned something new.”

“Learned something new? It's just a theory.”

“We learned about a new theory then.”

The rest of their conversation is drowned out by the people filing in behind them, each winding their way without issue to a door along the perimeter. This explains why there was no one in the labs or the cafeteria. Every employee was in a seminar.

They're getting closer, and while it's very dark and they probably couldn't tell I don't belong, I can't take the chance. Another pass with Dad's badge and I throw open the door next to me, freezing at the discussion coming from inside. Of course, after all the empty rooms I encountered, I pick an occupied one.

Then I hear his voice, my father's voice.

I dive into the room and tumble behind the closest piece of machinery, hitting my shoulder on the way down. I bite back a hiss as the pain vibrates down my arm and flex my fingers to make sure they still work.

“If that's what you think, you're the boss,” I hear Dad's voice through the pain pulsing in my arm.

“David, the machine you've created. Astounding. Fantastic. But I still need that explanation from your team. We have to tell the public something.” The voice is gruff. Old. Entitled.

“Yes, sir.”

The way Dad says “sir” makes me think of the phone call in his office. I'd bet money this is the “sir” he was talking to.

The pain from my shoulder moves to my neck. I try and massage it out without making noise.

“How did we not predict this? Why did everyone notice it missing?” the entitled man asks, the clopping of shoes paces the room.

“We're not sure, sir. All experiments and projections suggested the public wouldn't be aware the star was missing. I have a theory as to why they do notice its absence. I'll explain it to you during the meeting.” A voice that has to be my aunt continues. “But, aside from that, the first trial went very well. Those within the perimeter of SEAD are aware of what was altered, but no one else. We conducted the experiment at night. Only David, Iris and myself were here. But we did as you suggested and changed something minor. Insignificant really.”

Changed something?

“Not even I know what was changed?” The clopping of feet stops, thankfully even further away from my hiding space.

“Correct, Secretary Morgan.”

“Care to enlighten me?”

There's a moment of silence. I crawl on my fingers and knees and chance a peek through the nearest crack.

The Secretary's dressed in a black suit and holds his collar as if he's a man of prestige, strutting around and nodding in understanding.

“Excuse me?” A beautiful, dark-skinned woman walks in, her hips swaying with each step. Short black hair with each wave purposefully placed. “Dr. Altair?” Both my aunt and father turn to look. “Some of the astronomers were wondering if you were going to attend the meeting.” The woman looks at the Secretary and she gives him a small smile.

“Yes. Thank you, Iris,” my aunt answers. “Secretary, would you like to join us? We'll update you further afterwards?”

“Most definitely.”

The four file out, Iris leading the way. When the door closes the only sound in the room is the pitter-patter of my heart.

What did they do?

My knees crack as I stand, protesting the half-bent, frozen position. Even though I know the room is empty, I hover behind my metal wall, seeking out cameras or other hidden eyes.

I spot a large glass dome, at least the size of my bedroom, in the back. A glow, like a nightlight, shines from the center. With another quick look around, I sprint to the other side, the sound of every step echoing off the walls.

The glass of the dome feels warm to the touch, almost to the point where I have to pull my hand away.

Almost.

But I can't. I can't pull away.

In the middle of the dome is what looks like a dental chair, with a cloth over the top, a pillow resting on the seat.

It barely registers I'm circling as I analyze the contents within, never removing my hand from the warm, smooth surface. When the wall stops, I almost fall in.

My momentum has brought me to stand inside, sweat already forming on my brow. I walk toward the chair and take the cotton blanket in my hand. Nothing special. The pillow is ordinary as well. Next to the chair is a table with a helmet sitting on it.

I pick it up and grunt at its weight. There are wires coming out the back that I follow to the machine standing at attention next to the table. It's probably something Darren could comprehend.

I put the helmet back and focus on the armrests of the chair. They look ordinary aside from where the hands rest. Straps of Velcro wind around and there are places for each finger. I wish I knew what all this meant.

“Well, who do we have here?”

Secretary Morgan, the Secretary of Defense, looms in the entryway of the dome, a smirk on his face. Fear grips my throat as I stare into his calculating eyes.

With a flick of his head, three men rush toward me, weapons raised.

“Wait! Please! I didn't do anything! I don't know anything!”

One large hand wraps around each arm, lifting me off the ground and carrying me out of the dome to the center of the room. I kick. I scream. I beg.

“I swear I don't know anything. I don't know anything!”

Cuffs lock my wrists behind my back, twisting the shoulder that already throbs. I'm thrust down onto the hard linoleum, tears mixing with saliva spill out at the Secretary's feet.

“Sir, please. I don't know anything, I swear.”

“You keep saying that, which makes me think you know something.” His eyebrow rises, sending a stabbing pain through my stomach.

“You have trespassed on private property. Where did you come from?”

“The road.”

“The road?”

I snap my mouth shut. That was stupid.
Just don't say anything
.

The way he stands there, his arms wrapped over his chest, looking down his nose. He's not the understanding type. He's the freaking Secretary of Defense!

“What are you doing in here? What were you looking for?” the Secretary continues his inquisition.

I grind my jaw, determined not to incriminate myself anymore.

“Nothing?” The Secretary bends down so his face is closer to mine. “Fine. We'll continue this questioning somewhere else.” He looks at the men surrounding me. “Bring her to my vehicle out back. Tell the Altairs I'll have to miss the meeting and they can fill me in later.”

The men lift me from the ground and start walking toward the door. I push my feet into the slick floor, my shoes squealing against the pressure. My voice breaks through the knot in my throat.

“I want to talk to my Dad. David Altair.”

The Secretary's bushy eyebrows shoot upwards. The guards holding my shoulders, guns pointed at the back of my head, inhale.

“You're David Altair's daughter?” Morgan's dark eyes sweep over my hair, my body, and rest on my face. “I think you might be,” he concludes. He waves his hand. I'm lifted off the ground, forced to the door.

“I want to see my father!” I yell, wrenching my wrists and twisting my shoulders. Silence surrounds me and every blood vessel in my body freezes. They're not going to let me see my dad. The Secretary exchanges low whispers with one of the guards who sprints off in front of us.

What are they going to do to me? I try to scream as the door opens, but a hand clasps over my mouth. The Secretary whispers in my ear, “Calm down, girl. You're making a scene.”

We emerge into the universe room. The stars, galaxies and planets don't look as special now. Tears emerge again, bigger, faster, sobs shaking my body.

“What's going on here?”

Dad!

A new surge of energy pumps through me and I flail and squirm with all my might. It's dark, aside from the glow of the stars, and impossible to make out anything but his silhouette. But it's him. I know it's him. I need him to see me.

I bite down as hard as I can on the guard's hand.