The Prisoner of Cell 25 (25 page)

Ostin was sitting in the back of the van with a bunch of metal trays stacked on a trolley. He lifted a lid. “Hmm. Chicken cordon bleu,” he said.

“Don’t steal food,” I said.

“We just stole their van,” Ostin said. “I don’t think they’ll care about a few leftovers. Besides, it might be my last meal.”

“He’s got a point,” Jack said. “If they don’t let us in the gate, we’re screwed.”

“What’s our story?” I asked.

“What do you mean?” Jack asked.

“I doubt they’re expecting the food service people back so soon.  We better have a story.”

“I’ve got one,” Ostin said. “Tell them we left a stack of trays with chicken cordon bleu in the kitchen and it will stink up the place if we don’t get it back.”

“Not bad,” I said. “I wonder if we’ll need ID.” I began looking around the van for paperwork or a badge but didn’t find anything.

“Nothing. All we’ve got is the story.”

“We can make it work,” Jack said. 

Ostin said, “Hey, look at these.” In a back compartment there was a stack of white food service smocks and a sack of paper serving hats.

“Uniforms.”

Ostin lifted the smocks and hats out of the drawer and handed one to me and two to Jack. Even the smallest smock looked like a dress on me, but I put it on anyway. We drove back to the gas station parking lot, where Wade hopped out of the Camaro and climbed into the front seat of the van.

“Put these on,” Jack said, handing Wade a smock and hat.

“Sweet,” Wade said.

We circled the block and headed for the school. “Ready for this?” Jack asked.

“Yeah.” I said from the back.

“No problem,” Ostin said, looking terrified.

Jack pulled into the driveway and slowly up to the guard shack.

The guard, a stern, powerful-looking man in a navy blue security uniform, wore a gun at his hip. “What’s up?”

Jack looked surprisingly calm. “Sorry, we left a couple trays of blue chicken in the kitchen.”

The guard’s brow furrowed. “What?”

“You know, blue chicken, delicious from the oven but give it an hour out of the refrigerator and it’s going to be stinkin’ to high  heaven. Stink up the kitchen, the dining area, the whole building.

That blue chicken is stinky. Whoo. Diaper stinky.”

The guard looked at him for a moment, then grinned. “All right. Go get your stinky chicken.”

“Thanks.”

The gate opened and we drove through.

“Blue chicken?” Ostin said. “It’s chicken cordon bleu.”

“Whatever,” Jack said. “It worked.”

He drove around the side of the building. We weren’t exactly sure where to go, but since there was only one open garage we pulled into it. In the back of it there was a door guarded by a man with a gun.

“Whoa,” I said. “We’ve got another guard.”

“Worse,” Ostin said. “See that plate by the door? It’s a magnetic switch. It’s like my dad’s office: you can’t get anywhere without a card. No card, no entry. You better find something.”

I looked through the glove compartment. “Nothing,” I said. 

“What do I do?” Jack asked. “Pull in?”

“We have to now,” I said, “or they’ll know something’s up.”

“Maybe we could offer the guy some food,” Ostin said.

“Do you think of anything else?” Wade said.

“Wait,” I said, “He might be on to something. We’ll carry the trays in and ask the guy to open the door for us.”

Ostin sneered at Wade.

“Whatever we’re doing,” Jack said, “we better do it fast. ’Cause we’re here.” 

36. A New Glow

“Taylor.”

Taylor slowly rolled over, again feeling the pain in her body. Ian was kneeling next to her.

“They’re listening to us, so talk softly. Do you know about the last electrochild?”

“What do you mean?”

“There were seventeen of us. They found all but two, you and one other.”

“Michael,” she said. “His name is Michael. Why?”

“There’s a new Glow outside the compound.”

“What does he look like?”

“He’s small, but the electricity around him is wild. Is he good or bad?”

“He’s good.”

Ian nodded. “Let’s hope he stays that way.”

“What’s he doing?”

“He’s with three other teenagers. I think they’re trying to find a way in.”

“We need to warn him that Hatch knows he’s coming. Can you warn him?”

Ian shook his head. “No. I can only see.”

Taylor covered her eyes. “I’ve failed him. I’ve failed everyone.”

“This isn’t your fault, Taylor. You’re a good person.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because you’re down here.”

37. Discovery

Jack slowly pulled the van into the parking bay, put it in park, and killed the engine. The guard watched us intensely.

“Ready Ostin?” I asked.

“Yeah,” he said, looking very
unready
.

I slid open the side door and stepped out. I grabbed one of the metal containers, then started to the building’s entrance. The guard’s eyes were glued to me and his hand hovered above his gun. When I was a couple of yards from him he said, “Stop.”

I stopped. “Yes, sir.”

“Where’s your ID?” he asked.

I struggled to control my tics. “Sorry, it’s in my pocket. Would you mind getting the door for me?”

His expression didn’t change. “I need to see your ID.”

“You recognize me, don’t you? We talked last week.”

“I wasn’t here last week,” he said.

I gulped. “It must have been another guard. In those glasses you all look alike.”

“Your ID.”

I sighed. “Okay. Here, it’s just in my pocket. Hold this for one second.”

Jack opened his door and started to get out of the van. “Is there a problem?”

The guard turned to him, “Get back in the van. I need his ID and your ID.”

“I’m getting it,” I said. “Just give me a hand.” I pushed the tray toward the guard. He put his hands out, pushing back against the metal tray. “I’m not going to . . .”

I surged. His mouth opened but before he could make a sound he dropped to the ground unconscious. I set the tray on the ground.

“Whoa,” Jack said. “I’m glad you didn’t hit us with that much juice.”

“It was only half,” I said. “I’m getting more electric.”

Ostin jumped out of the van. “Good job, dude.”

“Don’t start high-fiving yet.” I took the lanyard from the man’s neck, then looked through his pockets for anything else we could use.

I pulled out a thick plastic card. “What’s this?”

“That’s a magnetic key,” Ostin said. I held up the lanyard. “Then what’s this?”

“Either a duplicate or you need two different keys.”

“Now what?” Jack asked.

“Tie him up in the van and get ready to roll. Ostin and I will go find my mom and Taylor and bring them here.”

“On it,” Jack said. “Good luck, dude.”

“Thanks for your help.”

“I wasn’t going to let you have all the fun.”

I took the magnetic key on his lanyard and swiped it across the black pad. The red diode turned green and the lock clicked. “We’re in.”

I pushed open the door. Inside was a long, brightly lit corridor with surveillance cameras on both ends. Ostin and I stepped inside.

“I’ve got the feeling we’re being watched,” Ostin said.

“Just act cool,” I said. “They’ll just think we’re food service guys.” I kept walking. “Where do you think she is?”

“Where does the dog hide the bone?”

“Just talk normal,” I said.

“Find an elevator.”

There was an elevator at the end of the hall. Inside the buttons were. 4-3-2-l-GL-D.

“What’s GL?” I asked.

“Ground level, or garden level if they’re being fancy. Push D.”

“What’s D?”

“I have no idea. But it’s below GL.”

I pushed the button but nothing happened. Outside I could hear footsteps coming down the hall.

“Look, it needs a key. Try yours.”

I shoved it in the slot but nothing happened. The footsteps got closer.

“Try the other key.”

I switched keys and the elevator door shut. “That’s it.”

The elevator began moving down. It stopped just a few seconds later and the door opened. I stuck my head out. We were in another corridor. The overhead lights must have been on dimmer switches because they were barely illuminated. Also there were thick metal doors spaced every fifteen or twenty feet that looked a little like the door to the refrigerated room in the back of the grocery store where my mom worked. There were metal boxes outside each door with bright green diodes. The hall was empty but there were security cameras mounted at each end of the hall. It was eerie being in such a large building and seeing no one.

“What’s with all the security cameras?” Ostin asked.

“Dallstrom would be in heaven,” I said. “We better hurry,” I said.  “I doubt the food service guys come down here.” We crept down the hall to the first door. The doors were thick metal with dark, mirrored glass in horizontal slits about four inches wide and a foot high.

I looked through the window on the first door. It was dark inside and I couldn’t see anything or anyone. I went to the next door and looked inside. It was also dark but I thought I could see a faint glow.

“I think there’s someone in this one.”

“Is it your mom?”

“No. Whoever it is, they’re glowing.”

“It could be Taylor,” Ostin said, “Try your keys.”

I swiped both of them over the keypad but nothing happened.

“It’s not opening.” I looked up and down the hall, feeling more nervous by the second.

“I bet it’s a magnetic lock,” Ostin said, looking it over. “You might be able to counter it with your electricity.” He crouched down to examine it, then nodded. “The secondary magnetic coil should be about here. Let me see your hand. Don’t shock me.”

I held it out. He guided it to one side of the lock and backed away. “Okay, now.”

I pulsed. There was a slight crackle of electricity but nothing happened.

“Give it more,” he said.

“Okay.” This time I pulsed with everything. The light in the hallway flickered and there was the clicking sound of movement. “Are you done?” Ostin asked.

“Yeah.”

Ostin grabbed the door and pulled it open. “It worked.”

“All right,” I said. I stepped into the room. It was dark except for the dim light coming from the hallway. I looked around, waiting for my eyes to adjust.

“Michael,” a voice said, “It’s me.”

There was a girl lying on the floor in the corner of the room. Even in the darkness I knew who she was.

“Taylor,” I said. “We found you.”  

38. Michael’s Induction

Taylor was barely able to move. I knelt down on the floor next to her. “What have they done to you?”

She started crying. “I’m so sorry I led them to you.”

I put my hand on her shoulder. “It’s going to be okay, Taylor. We’re going to get you out of here. Have you seen my mother?”

“No. But they told me they have her.”

“Did they say where?” Ostin asked.

“No.”

“Taylor, what kind of school is this?”

“It’s not a school. It’s a laboratory.”

“A laboratory? For what?”

Another voice came from the darkness. “To learn how to make more of us.”

I spun around to see a young man standing on the other side of the cell. He looked about my age but was a full six inches taller. He was African-American and glowing. Standing behind him were two teenage girls, one Chinese, the other a tall blonde, who were both glowing as well. I’m not surprised that I hadn’t seen them, as they were in the opposite corner of the cell and I was only focused on Taylor. “I’m Ian,” the boy said. “I’ve been watching you and your friends since you arrived this morning.”

“From down here?”

“I see through electrolocation. I can see through the walls.”

“Like electric eels,” Ostin said. “That’s cool.”

“Why are you down here?” I asked.

“Around here you either do what Hatch says or you end up in the dungeon.”

“What’s a Hatch?” I asked.

“Hopefully you’ll never find out,” the Chinese girl said, walking toward us. “I’m McKenna.”

The other said, “And I’m Abigail.”

“I’m Michael,” I said. “Do you also have powers?”

McKenna nodded. “I can make light and heat. Abigail can take away pain.”

“Electric nerve stimulation,” Ostin said. “Very interesting.”

I turned back to Ian. “Do you know who else is down here?”

“I can see everyone in the building,” he said.

“Do you know if my mother is here? They kidnapped her.”

“How long ago did they take her?”

“Just a week or so.”

Ian shook his head. “The only female prisoners are on the next floor up and they’ve all been here for more than a year.”

My heart fell.

Ian suddenly looked up toward the corner of the room. “Oh no,” he said. “The two guys you came here with are being taken away by the guards.” He turned back toward me. “How did you get in here? In this room?”

“Michael demagnetized the door,” Ostin said. “With his electricity.”

Ian shook his head. “That’s impossible. The locks aren’t magnetic.

The sliding bolts are made of resin and work pneumatically. Everyone here has electrical gifts, so they prepared for that.” Ian looked back up. 

“They’re coming.”

“Who’s coming?” I said.

Ian didn’t answer. He grabbed the girls and stepped away from the door, back to the corner of the room.

“If I didn’t open the door,” I asked, “then who did?”

A voice boomed from an unseen speaker. “That would be me, Michael. We’ve been expecting you. Welcome to Elgen Academy.”

There was suddenly a loud screech in my head and I felt dizzy, just as I had in the parking lot when my mother was taken. I fell against the wall, covering my ears. Everyone in the room groaned except Ostin, who looked around curiously at us. “What’s happening?”

“It’s Nichelle,” Ian said.

“What’s a Nichelle?” Ostin asked.

The cell door opened. The man I had seen outside the pizza parlor was standing there next to the creepy girl.

“Hello, Michael,” the man said. “I see the group has been reunited.” He stepped inside the room.