Mania Page 18

  Then the other effects hit me with the force of a semi on the freeway.

  The room around me slanted slightly one way and then back the other. Everything around me looked deeply shadowed in unnatural ways. I focused on Cooper’s face, trying to understand what was happening.

  “What did you just do to me?” My voice echoed oddly, my words slurred.

  Cooper laughed. “Your dad might have caused a lot of problems, but he was also a genius. He had this theory, you see, that the different kinds of Night Walkers really aren’t all that different biologically.”

  My body felt like I wasn’t inside of it anymore. I was floating above it, but I heard my garbled voice speak. “Biologically?”

  “Yes.” Cooper smiled wide and gestured to Dr. Rivera, then squatted down beside me. “The doc here isn’t even a Night Walker. He’s just an average doctor who, nine years back, got caught up in one of your dad’s schemes. Your dad asked him strange questions about chemical differences in the brain—what things could be changed without damaging brain tissue, what kind of effects different chemicals would have. Eventually, your dad told Dr. Rivera our big secret.”

  My dad didn’t work with this awful doctor. The thought echoed back at me a million times, like I was standing at the mouth of a cave and screaming it. I hadn’t actually spoken, but I was definitely trying.

  “No.” Finally the word worked its way from my brain, down my face, and out of my mouth, but it was barely recognizable.

  “Yes, Parker.” Cooper grinned and leaned down over my slumping body. “It’s taken Dr. Rivera time to learn to understand us, but now he more than understands. He’s learning to manipulate our brains. Your dear old dad’s research really did help him quite a bit, though. The dad you always think of as such a hero actually worked with Dr. Rivera to try to test his hypothesis that Night Walkers are biologically mostly the same. The main differences they noted were related to elevations of various hormone levels and accelerated activity in different areas of the brain. They were even able to isolate the differences they found, down to a few select chemicals, and so believed that if you found the right way to do it, you could flip a switch inside our brains. They thought that with different drugs, you could turn one type of Night Walker into another—permanently.”

  Cooper reached into Dr. Rivera’s coat pocket and pulled out the almost-empty bottle of black goo. He held it out before my vacantly staring eyes. “And if we could find the right drug for each specific type of change, we could all choose what we wanted to be. All we’d have to do is flip—that—switch … ”

  His last word echoed to me as if from far away … itch—itch—itch—

  I tried to understand what he was saying, but my brain was foggy and Cooper seemed very far away. I couldn’t make sense of things the way I wanted to. Nothing in my body or mind was working right. One thought floated through like a passing idea on a breeze, and I heard my lips mumbling the words: “Watchers could become Builders to survive.”

  My voice strained, like the words mattered so much, but I wasn’t entirely sure I was the one speaking them. Everything was incredibly fuzzy and full of echoes. My body felt numb from head to toe. “And Takers could, too … and Takers, like you, could … ”

  “Become something less than we are meant to be? Just to live?” Cooper said, spitting out the last word hard like the taste in his mouth was bitter. “We’re better than that.”

  Dr. Rivera brought over a stethoscope and was listening to my chest, but I couldn’t feel the pressure I should feel as he pushed it against my skin. I couldn’t see through my eyes anymore. It was like I was floating above them instead of watching them. I stared at my body, crumpled in a ball on the floor, and tried to make sense of it.

  “But then your dad had a another breakthrough. He found a formula that would help the Takers survive as Takers: Eclipse. It helped us in a different way—a better way.” Cooper recited the words as though they were a memorized story. “But instead of giving it to us, he turned on the Night Walkers, betraying us all and taking the only solution the Takers had to save their lives with him.”

  Part of me wanted to argue with him. I knew this was not the story Jack had told me. I knew my dad was good—I just couldn’t remember any of the reasons why I knew this. Arguing was too hard. Not right now … later. I’d defend Dad later …

  Cooper spoke again, but this time much of the bravado was gone. He was talking to Dr. Rivera, not to me.

  “Do you think it worked?”

  “We have to wait and see,” the doctor said, packing up the medicine and syringe. He used a remote to turn off some of the work lights in the room. “It may not work the first time. For now, though, you should let him rest for at least a few hours or he won’t survive it.”

  Cooper nodded. “We may not have Eclipse yet, but if this works … ”

  As he followed Dr. Rivera out the door, Cooper paused and hit a switch in the hall, turning off the only remaining fluorescent light in the room. His final muttered words echoed to me through the darkness: “I’m sure Jack will be much more motivated to help us once we can tell him for certain that his dear little brother has become just like us.”

  Then they left me all alone in a brand new nightmare.

  Twenty-Three

  Jack

  An hour later, we left Parker’s house and hit the road again. We now had food, clothing, supplies, and money. More importantly, I’d convinced Mrs. Chipp to go with Addie and Mia to one of Dad’s safe houses for the next week or so until I could fix this mess. Dad had two safe houses left when he died; each was under a different name, everything paid for in advance and in cash. There were no phone or Internet lines there that could be used to track anything back to the addresses. The houses were the most boring, non-noteworthy homes he could find … and for now that was exactly what I needed

  I’d worried that Parker’s mom wouldn’t be able to leave her work as a realtor behind. I’d seen for myself how much effort she put into her job.

  “It’s important you not contact anyone but me,” I explained as I gave her a burner phone. “Including work.”

  “I couldn’t work right now anyway, not when I’m this worried about Parker.” She shook her head. “It won’t be a problem. Don’t worry about me—just get him back safe. Please.”

  “I will.”

  With Addie and Mia, it had taken some serious convincing from Finn, but he managed to persuade them that the place they could help Parker the most was watching out for his mom. This was true, but mostly, I just couldn’t put anyone else at risk—and I felt better knowing they would all keep an eye on each other.

  “You text me every day.” Addie’s eyes were full of tears, but she was too busy giving Finn orders to cry. “Don’t you dare get hurt, and you have to—have to get all of you back here safe, Finn. Promise me.”

  “I promise.” Finn pulled her into a tight hug, and for once he didn’t make any kind of joke.

  I fought my impatience as Finn said goodbye to Mia in the backyard. She looked scared, but he held her hand and whispered to her. I decided to wait in the car, because this definitely seemed like one conversation I shouldn’t be eavesdropping on.

  As much as I knew they all loved Parker and wanted to help, my main focus was on keeping them safe. That was the very least I could do for my brother right now.

  I hoped that since Cooper had Parker he wouldn’t need to bother with anyone else—but there was nothing I’d put past him.

  The first Veronica we checked out, Veronica O. Nelson, lived in a nice apartment building we had to be buzzed into. I pressed the button next to her name and waited … after thirty seconds, I pressed it again. Still no answer. Almost a full minute later, as I turned toward the others to discuss our next step, an older female voice came through the speaker.

  “Yes?”

  “Is this Veronica?” I spun around and sp
oke quickly into the intercom.

  “Yes … what can I help you with?” She already sounded annoyed.

  I blurted out my next words before she could disconnect from me. “I hoped you might have a minute to talk. I think you might have known my father—”

  “I doubt it.” She was curt, bordering on rude, and it was obvious I wasn’t getting anywhere.

  Libby tapped me on the shoulder and whispered in my ear. “Maybe a girl voice will set her at ease.”

  I moved back from the intercom and she stepped forward to take my place. “Hi, Veronica? My name is Libby. The guy you were just talking to is Jack, and we’re sorry to interrupt you, but—”

  “You are interrupting, and I really don’t have time for this,” Veronica huffed. “I’m sure I don’t know his father. Please leave me alone.”

  “But how can you know that? We haven’t even told you his nam—” Libby said quickly, but it didn’t matter. There was a buzzing sound as Veronica turned her intercom off.

  Libby sputtered and then growled as she lifted her hand to punch her finger into the button again. I caught her hand before she could.

  “No use. Talking to her over the intercom isn’t good enough. I need to see her eyes.”

  Stepping back from the building, I looked for a way to get Veronica to come out. If I could find a back entry that wasn’t locked, at a loading dock, maybe … or some external way to set off the fire alarm would work. Some way for me to make this stubborn Veronica woman come to me.

  “Libby, come around the back with me and we’ll check for another way in.” We started to walk away, but I looked back when I realized Chloe had stopped. She rolled her eyes, tucked her arm through Finn’s, and then limped back to the front door of the building. By the time she rapped her knuckles against the door, her eyes were wet with tears and I could hear her whimpering.

  Finn stood beside her, looking shocked, which only added to the effect.

  After the second time she knocked, a doorman came to the door and opened it. His gold nametag was hanging at an angle, and printed in nice letters was the name Brandon.

  “Can I help you?” He looked down at her with obvious concern and then stifled a yawn.

  Chloe blinked her pretty gray eyes up at him. “I think I sprained my ankle. Do you have anywhere I could sit down so I can rest it?”

  “I’m sorry, miss.” Brandon was genuinely upset by what he had to say. “The building rules don’t permit me to let anyone in unless one of the residents puts in a request or buzzes them in … ”

  “Oh, that’s okay. I thought you probably couldn’t.” Chloe swatted at Finn. “See? I told you he wouldn’t be able to help. I’ll be okay.” She tested some weight on her supposedly injured ankle and winced.

  Finn looked from her to Brandon and back. An exaggerated frown spread across his face. “I’d hoped he could do something … ”

  “Do you need me to call for an ambulance? Or I—I could get you some ice?” Brandon seemed eager to find a way to help. Next to me, Libby scowled. I covered my smile with my hand as we watched Chloe work him. Was she going to be able to get us into the building this easily? Once we were in, I should be able to knock poor Brandon out pretty quickly, and then …

  “I don’t think I need an ambulance, but ice would be great. Thank you!”

  I frowned. Okay … now what?

  Brandon ducked back inside while Finn helped Chloe to a bench nearby. Reaching into her bag, she pulled out the dark sunglasses, and then I understood. She was going to take him over, like she did with Wendy’s husband. I still wasn’t sure how comfortable I was with using her abilities, but I couldn’t deny how useful they could be.

  After Brandon brought her the ice, Chloe thanked him and said she thought she was actually feeling a little better. She rested her hand on his neck and gave him a quick peck him on the cheek. Brandon stepped back into the building, blushing, rubbing the back of his neck, and looking like he fully believed he’d saved the day.

  After he was gone, Libby and I walked back over to them.

  “Okay,” I said. “So … we have to wait until tonight for him to go home and fall asleep—”

  “Please. I know we don’t have that kind of time.” Chloe laughed and shook her head before letting Finn “help” her toward the van.

  “Then how?” I frowned.

  “He was probably napping when I knocked on the door. It took him a minute to respond.” Chloe shook her head at me like I should pay better attention. She lowered her voice. “Plus, I might have given him a little extra help for insurance.”

  I grabbed her arm and pulled her around to face me, fighting to keep from arguing with her until I knew for certain what she’d done. “What does that mean?”

  Chloe kept her eyes down, but she extended her hand, and I realized that a small ring on her pinky finger was twisted upside down. It bore the infinity symbol, which was now turned toward the inside of her hand. When she lifted it for me to see, I noticed a tiny needle poking out of the metal. As I watched, she pushed one end of the symbol and the metal slid down. The needle disappeared from view, and she turned the ring back around until it faced outward again.

  “You poked him in the neck and drugged him?” Libby snarled from beside me, looking surprisingly dangerous.

  “Only a little.” Chloe shrugged. “It won’t hurt him, and it’s very short term. He’ll be back asleep in five minutes and it only lasts for about a half an hour—”

  “That doesn’t matter! We can’t go around drugging innocent people. What if he has a bad reaction to it? Or loses his job for sleeping in the middle of the day?” Libby turned to face me. “Right, Jack?”

  “Well, I think he was already sleeping in the middle of the day,” Chloe muttered, half under her breath.

  I looked from Chloe to Libby and back. As much as I normally would have agreed with Libby, how different was this from me sneaking in and knocking him out? This could technically be considered even less damaging to him. But I really didn’t want to disagree with Libby in front of Chloe … not right now, when Libby needed me. Before I had a chance to speak, Chloe saved me.

  “It doesn’t matter what you guys think. I wanted to help and I’m going to make sure I take advantage of this chance.” She climbed into the van, then stopped and looked out at Finn. “You know I’m not trying to hurt him—I just want to help Parker while he still might have a chance. I’m going to sleep. Please, Finn. Go to the front of the building so someone will be there for Brandon-me to let in.”

  Finn shrugged, then turned and walked toward the front of the building.

  Chloe closed the van door softly without another word, and I turned to see Libby watching me with a frown. “She’s a Taker, Jack. You can’t trust her. I hope you aren’t forgetting that.”

  I pushed my hands into my hair and then met Libby’s eyes. “I hope she’s telling us the truth … but I’m prepared for the fact she might not be.”

  “Good.” Libby nodded, but she didn’t look entirely convinced.

  Libby and I followed Finn back to the front of the building, and it only took about two minutes for Brandon-Chloe to open the door to us. She led the way to the elevator. “Hurry. It won’t be too long before he wakes up.”

  “I only need to see Veronica long enough to make eye contact,” I stated a bit gruffly. I couldn’t decide whether I was mad that Chloe hadn’t waited for me to agree with her plan before taking this kind of action, or impressed that she’d come up with it and executed it perfectly all on her own.

  Either way, I had to admit that she was right. Having a Taker on our side was definitely proving to be more helpful than I’d expected.

  “I know. Good luck,” was her only reply as she walked back to Brandon’s desk. We got on the elevator and pressed the button for the eleventh floor.

  Finn knocked on Veronica’s apartment doo
r, on the off chance that she might recognize my voice from before. When she answered, I wasn’t surprised at all to find she was thin and very severe. Everything about her was hard.

  “Yes?” she asked. I faked a loud cough until she looked over at me and made the eye contact I needed. Then Finn stepped in.

  “Oh … do we have the wrong apartment?” He shook his head in confusion and leaned back to look at the placard next to her door, which was clearly marked with Apt. 11B. “Is this where Mr. Williams lives?”

  She shook her head quickly and already had the door half closed as she replied, “Wrong floor. He’s in 12B.”

  “My mistake. Sorry.”

  Libby raised her eyebrows at Finn as we turned back toward the elevator. “How did you know to ask for Williams?”

  “I saw it on the directory outside and thought it might come in handy.” Finn smiled, looking quite proud of himself. I knew exactly where he’d learned it, but I was impressed he’d remembered it all the same.

  “Smart.” Libby smiled and let him lead the way to the elevator. As soon as he was a couple feet ahead of us, she nudged me with her elbow and whispered, “Looks like you’re starting to rub off on your brother’s friends. Let’s hope Parker has picked up a few things from you too.”

  I tilted my head, not sure if that was a compliment or not.

  “Don’t worry. I’m saying it’s a good thing.” Libby put one hand on my arm and rested her head against my shoulder. Her actions comforted me even as her words made me feel cold inside. “If he did, I guarantee it will increase his chances of making it through this alive.”

  All that work ended up being for nothing. When I went to sleep that night, there was no sign that there’d ever been a Night Walker of any kind in the dreams of Veronica #1. My effort to pull out any memories of Dad came up with nothing. This Veronica had never even met him.