Chapter 1.18 A Reason To Die

“This is the back entrance of Room 232,” Braden told me as we went through a door at the end of the corridor.
 “How come nobody notices that all this is abandoned or that the base is way bigger than anyone is ever told?” I asking, wondering how I had never noticed.
 “People have a bad habit in believing what their told, sometimes they forget to be curious,” he replied. We kept walking and I was left wondering how we were going to see Nicholas without him knowing we were there. Braden stopped suddenly in front of a door and I nearly walked into him.
 “Just agree with everything I say,” Braden whispered before he walked through the door, I followed him. 

The room was an office and in it was Victoria and Nicholas and it looked like we had interrupted their reunion.

 Victoria stepped back and said, “Braden, I didn’t think you would be so quick.”
 “Well I was, so is everything ready?” he asked giving me a look.
 Nicholas nodded, looking me up and down, “As long as she’s ready?”
 Braden was looking at me and I knew I was expected to say something so I muttered, “I am.”
 “Then we’ll prepare Project Air for full-scale exposure, to be honest I didn’t think you would get her to agree,” Victoria said.

 Braden nodded, “Me either, let’s go.”
 Nicholas shook his head and smiled, “You go; I just want to talk to Angel for a bit.”

 If Braden was worried he didn’t show it, just nodded and walked out with Victoria. As for me I was freaking out considering I had no idea what was happening.

 “So how’s my brother he certainly doesn’t know about this. He has such concern for people and I hear I have a niece and nephew,” he said, all I was thinking was I don’t want to be here.
Why should I even trust Braden, but I did that was the problem. From the moment I meet him, I trusted him completely.
 “No he doesn’t know,” I said, refusing to talk about Drea and Leon with him.

 “So why are you here? I know for a fact you’re not here for the reason Victoria thinks. So do let me in on the secret, I won’t tell anyone I promise,” he said and I started feeling sick. There was something about him that I just couldn’t take.
 Since I had no idea why I was even here, I decided to tell him the truth. “Because I trust Braden,” I told him.
 “Interesting,” then he grabbed my arm, pulling me out the door, forcefully.
 “Let go of me,” I cried. What did he think he was doing anyway?

 He didn’t seem to hear me at all, just kept pulling me. The more I struggled the harder he held me. He pulled a door open and then pushed me into a room; I fell down against the wall hard. Nicholas slammed the door shut, I ran up to the door screaming and hitting the door with me fists.

 Finally I decided just to wait, I sat down. It seemed like hours had gone by, but in truth I didn’t really know. I shook my head waking up, I didn’t even realise I had been asleep. How long had it been? I really hoped the twins were fine, where was Braden wasn’t it time he came and saved me, from wherever I am.

 The door opened and I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw that it was Alexander at the door and not anyone else.
 He came over and hugged me, “Angel I’ve been worried all night.”

 “You and me both,” I muttered.
 “Braden said we have to go meet him. He told me what was happening last night, about the full-scale exposure and stuff,” Alexander said.
 “Wait, I’m confused, why was I locked up. What do they mean full-scale exposure?” I said trying to process exactly what was happening.
 “According to Braden Nicholas said you were a liability and that he would do your job. So he locked you up so you didn’t warn me. As for full-scale exposure, that’s what Nicholas and Victoria have been working on. They are going to expose everyone in the base; apparently Nicholas is convinced that if lots are people are exposed, it’ll work. Braden on the other hand, said it’ll kill everyone, and I’m inclined to agree,” Alexander explained.

 “What was my job?” I asked him.
 “You were meant to open the cage that holds Project Air before everyone came in. Braden really didn’t tell you anything did he?” Alexander said.
 “No that big circle opens?” I asked.

 “Yeah but we have to go now, before Nicholas opens it Braden has already starting getting everyone out of the base, then he’ll meet us. Though if Nicholas opens it, someone has to close it in the room,” Alexander said and I got the point that person would end up being exposed.

 We found Braden waiting for us, just up the hall. “Nicholas doesn’t know I’ve evacuated the base, but he will. Victoria’s already gone to call them in for the meeting. Sorry the quickest way is to go through Room 232,” he explained quickly.

I was confused, weren’t we already in Room 232 but when we entered through the door I understood everything. I think the first thing that I heard was the noise I held my ears it was so loud. People screamed from beds where they were being held down. Braden headed through it and I keep my head down. Who were these people? When we finally made it out I breathed a sigh of relief, but I wasn’t happy to come face to face with Nicholas and Victoria. 

“Who were those people?” Alexander exploded. Victoria answered,

“They were merely homeless people, whom we gave a reason to die too.”

 “You’re sick,” I said disgusted.
 “No you are for ruining my plan, but don’t worry payback comes back easily. It’s opening,” Nicholas said shooting us all an evil stare.

 “It will shut after it’s fully open,” Braden said looking down.
 “Too bad, you’re twins are in their to be exposed. You taught them to be far too trusting,” Nicholas said. No, that can’t be right. My sweet innocent twins couldn’t end up like that.

 “Someone has to turn it off,” Braden said.
 “I’ll go,” Alexander said without thought.
 “You can’t, I can’t lose you,” I said.
 “I’m the only who knows how to do it, I love you,” he said giving me a kiss, and then he was gone.

 “No,” I cried but it was far too late.

Chapter 1.17 To Guide, Never To Change

After we had dropped off the twins and me repeatedly telling them not to go anywhere and that I’d be back soon, I was glad they were going to start school next week. Braden lead me to a part of the base I had never been before, it looked completely empty. Even the walls were bare I had tried asking Braden where we were going but he hadn’t answered.

Although to be completely honest, I sort of knew he wasn’t going to answer.
 “Okay this is it,” he declared standing in front of one of the many doors we had passed.

 “I really hope this still works,” he muttered more to himself as he put in a key. He smiled to himself when the door opened. 
I followed him in; confused the room was bare except for a cheap chair and a bookshelf. Braden when straight to the bookshelf, shifting through the various titles.

Finally he found what he was looking for; he pulled out a brown book and handed it over to me.
 “What am I looking at?” I asked him staring at the book in my hand, it had no title and it seemed well really old.
 “Angel, you ever get that feeling that your whole life was decided for you. I do, still do although my reasons are a lot clearer than yours would be. What I’m saying is you’re going to read that and then well the rest is up to you,” with that he sat down on the floor burying his face in his hands. I didn’t understand what he was talking about but I decided to trust him. I sank down on the chair, and opened the book.

  The Origins of Project Air Though it is firmly believed by those who have studied Project Air that it is from this world. I’m sure from my study of the radiation that it emits, that it is not of this world. In my personal study, I have determined that because of how strong it is, it comes from a place where they have learnt to effectively control and use the radiation. Not to be immortal though, but to gain other powers from it. In explanation a thing this powerful that can kill people this suddenly, must have more power than simply killing someone or allowing them to live on until someone kills them. I believe that if people were exposed to Project Air in smaller doses that it would lay dormant in their mind. The people who have died due to exposure, not only did their blood change suddenly but an unknown substance was found in the brain. In my thoughts I think that this was the cause of their death, if on the other hand they were exposed to only a small bit of Project Air it would not kill them. It would also not have the power to do anything else either. Though it is possible that it would make them immune to Project Air and later on they would be able to be exposed to the full thing. Not only do think I this is possible, but I think that it has happened before. 
From studies around the world, I have found several objects that had the same or very similar radiation to that of Project Air. To the others who studied Project Air this has served to prove that it is of this world. In my opinion this only tells me that wherever Project Air comes from it and the people who know it have been here for a very long time. These opinions have not come though without thought, but already hundreds of died while we have tried to chase this futile dream of leaving forever. How then have others in history been able to take pieces of Project Air and insert them into objects such as necklaces and other sorts of unimportant objects.

 The rest of the book went to go on about the objects and the reading of the radiation compared to Project Air. I was more interested in the fact that whoever wrote it was right about it not having an effect in smaller doses.
 “Why did you get me to read this?” I asked him.
 “I wanted you to know about Project Air, before we moved on from here,” he told me, taking the book from me and putting it back on the shelf.
 “The person who wrote this knew about the smaller doses. So Nicholas ad Victoria knew it probably wouldn’t have an effect on me,” I said.

 “The man who wrote this was before their time, he studied it when Project Air was somewhere else. He was removed from Project Air and then he came to work here. This was his old office, Nicholas and Victoria won’t even know about this. Though in my opinion he was the only one who knew what he was talking about,” Braden said.
 “So you believe it’s not of this world?” I asked nervously.
 “I’m not sure but I do believe that people have been able to manipulate it, what Nicholas did was just goes to prove that,” Braden told me.

 “So Nicholas is back?” I asked him.
 “Are you sure you want to know that? Once I tell you the answer to that, you’re going to get the answer to everything,” Braden said.
 “If I decide I don’t want to know, what will you do?” I asked, already I already knew what I was going to do in my mind.
 “I’ll work here for a few months then leave again,” he said shrugging.
 “So I have to do something but you don’t,” I said a little annoyed.
 “Angel, my job will always be to guide, never to change,” he told me.

 I didn’t understand what he was saying and I don’t think I ever would. Yet I knew this was important, otherwise he wouldn’t have come all this way.
 “I want to know….everything,” I said, slowly. “I know you do, so follow me again. Just remember you chose this not me, I can guide you but never force you. The choices you and those around you make have nothing to do with me."

Chapter 1.16 The Book Never Lies

Every Saturday was a picnic day and it had been for the last few years. It was hard to believe the twins are four, nearly five. Together they loved to make trouble and they annoyed Alexander and I to breaking point. Separately their personalities had bloomed. Drea is and I think always will be daddy’s little girl. Every night he has to read her a bedtime story and if he doesn’t do it, then she won’t sleep.

She is the thinker but is rather nervous around strangers; she walked early and started talking early. She also has an amazing memory like no one I’ve ever seen. Leon on the other hand, is my little boy. Each night before bed we have to play games.

He is the bravery and strength, loves people but took a little longer to walk and talk than Drea. Though I love them both the same.

Nothing new has happened life continues on as it always. Well, add a few promotions and its basically the same. Of course Drea and Leon’s blood test came out fine as we all thought they would. “No eating grass, Leon,” I called over to him as Alexander and Drea played over by the stream. “Mummy come get me,” he said with a smile on his face.
I ran over and grabbed him, “Got you ,you little rascal,” I said tickling him.

                                                               
“Sorry, sorry,” he screamed between laughs. I laughed kissing him on the forehead and picked up my phone as it rang.
“Hello,” I asked, trying not to laugh.

“Good, Angel I got you,” said a voice I recognized as Victoria’s, I struggled to keep myself from groaning, “Anyway I want to let you know that Braden Smith is now working for us. He asked if he could live with you and I told him it was fine. Expect him tomorrow morning, that is all,” she said curtly and then the line went dead. She didn’t even give me a chance to say no, plus she knew tomorrow was the twins fifth birthday.

“So, are you okay with it?” Alexander asked me as I told him about Braden after we had put the twins to bed.
“Well,” I began wondering how I was going to go about it. The truth was since the last time I saw him I had been dreading when he was going to come back. I knew I needed to talk him if he did, but what if what he told me was something I didn’t want to hear.
“I guess its fine,” I finished; I couldn’t exactly tell him he wasn’t allowed here.

“Okay I’ll guess we’ll see him tomorrow morning,” Alexander said.
“Thanks,” I said.
“For what?” he asked.
“Everything,” I replied, giving him a kiss.

“I feel awful, you know I wouldn’t have come until Monday if I’d known you were having the twin’s birthday,” Braden said, as he finished unpacking.
“It’s fine, you would have been invited anyway,” I assured him.

              
“Well, in all fairness I wouldn’t have had to come if you had done your job,” he said, giving me a hard stare.

                                          
“Excuse me?” I said stepping back a little shocked. What in the world was he talking about?
“You’re excused,” he told me as he headed up the stairs to talk to Alexander and see the twins I assumed. I didn’t know what he was talking about and I wasn’t quite sure I wanted to either. I went back to packing up the things to take to their party.

It was being held in our spot. “You know you are the handsomest five year old I ever saw,” I told Leon, giving him a hug.

                       
“You have to say that mum,” he said rolling his eyes.
“Doesn’t mean it’s a lie,” I told him.

Again he rolled his eyes and went back to play with Drea and Daniel. Victoria of course had been too busy to come in fact, nobody hardly ever saw Victoria anymore. Her twins spent most of the time with both their grandparents, poor girls.

Braden came up to me and smiled saying, “You did well with them, honestly.”
“Thanks, but you and me we need to talk, about everything,” I said, hoping he wasn’t going to try speaking in riddles again.

                               
“Why else would I take the job, well that and another problem that’s going to touch down tomorrow sometime,” he said looking at his watch.
“What do you mean?” I asked, just a little confused.
“Don’t worry, because we’re not going to talk. I’m going to show you and then you’re going to do your job. For that I’m saying sorry in advance, because this was never going to end well,” he whispered miserably.

That sounded bad, I was about to ask him what he meant but he walked away muttering to himself, “The book never lies.” Now he had me worried, but I decided I could start worrying, when something bad happens, after all Braden was slightly crazy right.

  “You ready to go?” Braden says appearing almost out of nowhere the next day. Alexander had gone to work and I hadn’t because Victoria had called me mysteriously saying I had the day off. Now I could kind of guess why.

                
“Where?” I asked.
“Were you not listening yesterday, I’m going to show you the answers to all of your questions. Also my problem arrives exactly where we’re going, so it’s like what’s that saying, killing two birds with one stone,” he rambled, walking towards the door.

                                                                   
“Wait, what about the twins?” I asked, knowing they were upstairs and I couldn’t leave them by themselves.

 “Already told them to come down, we’ll drop them off at their old playroom. That’s where they were going before right?” he asks.
“Yes, so what’s your problem anyway?” I asked, waiting for the twins to come downstairs.
“You know him, goes by the name of Nicholas,” he called.
 I gulped; I was really hoping that didn’t mean Nicholas was back.

Chapter 1.15 A Recommendation

Drea and Leon, my two darlings.

Alexander and I had decided to give them names that both meant courage. Sometimes I wonder if I deserved the two of them at all, they were both so good. Right from the start they slept right through the night. After my maternity leave was up, Victoria said I could take them into the base with me. She had a nursery there for her twins, so she saw no reason that Drea and Leon couldn’t use it as well. According to Ariel it was Victoria’s version of an apology, I didn’t believe that, since before she had the guts to ask if she could have blood from the two of them.

“I’ve been talking to Victoria,” Alexander said, as were we going to pick up Drea and Leon.                           “What about?” I questioned.                                                                                                                                             “About testing them for signs of exposure to Project Air. Before you say anything, I think it’s a good idea just to test them. Sometimes you need to know things, just to make sure,” he said, frowning as he held Drea.

                                                                                                                                                                           I was going to shout at him but then I stopped myself he had obviously put a lot of thought into it and maybe he was right. If they were affected I would want to know, I doubted it but then again if Victoria had asked, Nicholas probably thought it was possible they were.                                                                                    ”When their a year old, and just one blood test,” I told him.

“Deal,” he agreed.                       

“Victoria, Mayflower needs to talk to you,” I said, walking into her office. She wasn’t there; I looked around, noticing a pen on the ground. I went over to pick it up, and something on her computer caught my eye. I know it was a bad thing to do, but it’s not like I purposely saw it in the first place.

The name Jayden Smith caught my eye and then the fact Angel Darvill was underneath it.  The document was dated back to when I had started at the base. I only got to read one line before I heard a sound. Angel Darvill carries the recommendation of Jayden Smith, to work with Project Air.  I quickly put the pen in its place and turned to face Victoria.                                                                                                
“Angel, what are you doing?” she asked suspiciously.

                                                                                                      
“Mayflower wanted to see you and I just put a pen back it was on the floor,” I explained.                                              “I see,” she said pushing pass me, “you can tell her I’m on my way.”                                                                            

I nodded and headed out, but the questions were buzzing around in my head. Had I been recommended to work here and why by Jayden Smith? If he was my mother’s friend, how would he know I wanted to work at the base? He didn’t have to I realized, there were lots of doctors here. Though why Project Air? It was obviously dangerous, but Braden had pushed me towards the dangerous as well. They had both wanted me to know about Project Air, but I didn’t have a clue why.  I need to stop I realized, I had made a promise and I wasn’t going to change that now.

“So you were serious when you said small,” Ariel said as she came in.

“Yes, maybe on their 5th birthday I’ll go big,” I told her.

  Drea and Leon were turning one and I had only invited Ariel, Livvy, Issac and Daniel. It seemed weird they had been around for a year. Life had basically progressed the same, I guess since I refused to break my promise to Alexander.                                                                                                                                 “That’s a deal now,” she said.                                                                                                                                                

“So its all done,” I said holding a screaming Leon to me.

They had just had their blood test and well Drea didn't notice it at all, for Leon having a blood test was the end of the world.                                            
Angelica nodded, “I’ll call you when I get the results back. Though to be honest I think this is Nicholas grasping at straws.”

                                                                                                                                                                        Alexander frowned and said, “He’s not getting anywhere that’s why he’s using Victoria isn’t it.”                             “I guess Project Air doesn’t work in small doses,” Angelica told him nodding.                                                                  

Alexander muttered, “Sometimes I wish he had died,” then walked out.                                                              I mouthed sorry to Angelica and then followed him.                                                                                                                        

“What was that?” I asked when we got home.                                                                                                                    “I’m just sick of this all and I’m worried. If Nicholas isn’t getting anywhere then  he’ll want to use Victoria to do something bad,” Alexander said.                                                                                    
“What happened when you saw Nicholas?” I asked slowly.

                                                                                                
“He just yelled at me, like it was my fault. He’s crazy, he’s lost his mind. He’s obsessed with finding a way to live forever. I don’t even know who he is anymore,” Alexander said annoyed.                                                                This worried me through it all Alexander stayed calm. I’d never seen him like this, was it even possible that someone that was supposed to be dead could cause this much trouble?                                          
“I’m taking my job back at Project Air,” he said finally.
“But I thought,” I started but Alexander interrupted me ,” Victorias up to something and it needs to stop.”                                                                                                                                                                                                 ”But I thought we weren't looking into it,” I said confused.

                                                                                                                                  
“No you’re not I am,” Alexander said and the way he said made me decide not to argue.

I wasn’t happy with being excluded out of this Project Air thing, so I decided to ask Angelica the question that had been bugging me.                                                                                                                               “Was I recommended to work here by Jayden Smith?” I asked, Angelica stopped a little shocked.                                                                                                                                                                She sighed and said, “You know you’ve got a really bad knack for finding things out that you shouldn’t. Yes and that’s all I’m going to say.”                                                                                                                   “Okay, that’s all I want to know,” I said, although it was a lie, there were lots of things I now wanted to know. Yet, I refrained deciding that if Braden Smith ever came back I would ask him about everything. I knew how unlikely that was so I didn’t have a problem with making that promise to myself.

Ariel was upset with having to work on the normal side, but she thought it was good that Alexander and Victoria would be able to talk again. I felt bad about the fact that they were probably never going to be friends again. Which I found sad, when I everyone talked about how close they use to be. Another thing Nicholas had messed up I guessed.