Inspiration Point (23 page)

“And what, we try to sell him on the idea that this
discovery will make him rich and a worldwide hero?” Zeke asked.

“Pretty much,” Dad confirmed.

“We could probably use his brother as well, as long as
you think that won’t get Tyler into any trouble,” I added.

“I think we will have to try everything, and that is a
good idea,” Dad agreed.

“What’s this about Spencer’s brother?” Mum questioned.

“Tyler told us today that Spencer’s brother was the
other scientist who had been working on the strain.  He died from
pneumonia the day of the benefit. Spencer was extremely close to him. 
Maybe, if we add a sympathy angle, that might appeal to his better nature,” I
explained.

“Or it could infuriate him,” Emin said sounding
concerned.  “He’s not exactly stable.”

“I think your father and Hayln are right, we should
use whatever we can, to finish this,” Mum confirmed.

“Okay it’s settled then, let’s all gets some sleep and
pray that tomorrow might bring us all some peace,” Dad said as he stood to
leave.

We all followed him except Zeke, he and Emin were
still talking quietly.  I waited for him at the door, but their
conversation seemed pretty tense.  Emin stopped talking and looked at me
obviously wanting me to leave the room. Zeke turned and winked at me.

“Sweet dreams Hayl’s, I love you.”

I smiled back him, Emin was losing his patience – if
he had any to begin with.

“I love you too,” I said as I left the room.

I wasn’t sure if their conversation was to ensure I
went to my room alone, but if so, it worked.  I thought about their faces
when I went to bed, and began to think there was more too it.  They were
both extremely intense about something. 

I shook that image away as I was feeling confident about
what tomorrow would bring and then went to sleep praying that this would soon
be over.

My room was dull in the morning, clouds covering the
sky.  But nothing could ruin my mood today, I felt jubilant that this saga
was nearly over.  I decided to wear some lucky clothes.  I grabbed my
yellow bra that Zeke had admired whilst I was packing and my emerald green tank
that I wore the night he kissed me and headed to the bathroom.

With the towel strategically placed, I enjoyed a long
shower, releasing all the tension from my back.  It felt good to
relax.  I took my time to get dressed and do my hair, it had been days
since had paid any real attention to my appearance.

I nearly skipped to the kitchen, Davis watched me pass
the lounge with one eyebrow raised, suspicious of my mood.  I ignored him
and found my family in the kitchen eating breakfast.  I grabbed some bread
and put it in the toaster and turned to my family, they had barely noticed my
entrance all except Zeke who was watching me with a small smile.  I took
my toast to the table and sat next to him.

“You look really nice in that top.”  Of course,
he had seen me in it before, but I knew he was remembering our first night
together.

Emin groaned at his comment, which made me laugh, Zeke
joined in.

Davis entered the room, and we all went silent waiting
for him to say something. 

“Spencer will be here in an hour or so, he will want
you to be ready.”

No one replied as he left the room, we knew that all
our fates depending on what happened when he arrived.  I took my time with
breakfast and grabbed some rabbit food and went downstairs.  I checked on
all the rabbits but carefully watched over our test subject who seemed as
normal as the others.  I spent the extra time with Patch – I decided it
was as good a name as any for my favorite bunny.  He was responding well
to our training and was managing to reach for the food two out of three
times.  I was pleased.

It wasn’t long before Dad joined me also checking over
our test subject approvingly.  Then Mum, Emin and Zeke joined us
too.  I looked at them a little confused.

“We decided we should all be here just in case,” Emin
answered. 

I wondered if this had anything to do with last night.

We all sat together talking and playing with the
rabbits watching the time pass.  A couple of hours later just as I was
starting to get nervous we heard voices upstairs and then footsteps as they
made their way to the lab.  Now the nerves seriously kicked in – this was
it.

“Let me do the talking,” Dad said.  No one
argued.

All four of them entered the room.  Spencer with
a wild excitement in his eyes, whilst Tyler looked almost sick.  Davis and
Ian stood between us all, to ensure they could still control us if we tried
anything.  Then Dad spoke his words full of caution.

“Thank you for coming, Spencer.  We hope you will
be pleased with what we have done.”

“Of course Knox, I was very pleased to hear that you
had worked it out so quickly.”  He could hardly stand still he was so
excited.

“Actually, we haven’t been successful with your
request,” he paused Spencer held his breath looking more furious by the
minute. 

“We have, however, found something that might be more
beneficial to you.  Something that will earn you just as much
money.”  He paused again Spencer seemed content to let him continue.  “Not
only that, but you would most definitely be regarded as one of the most
influential men in history.”  This too perked his interest, I could feel
this working.  

“We were able to separate the strain.  Leaving us
with a way to make a person almost impervious to viruses, bacterial and
viral.  Of course, we have only done limited testing at this stage, but
all tests have been 100% positive.  You would be a hero Spencer – to the world.”
 
His expression changed a little, I thought we may have been
losing him.  Dad seemed to notice as well and continued.

“Think about it Spencer.  How many people’s lives
would be better with this creation?  Think about how much good you could
do.” 

It wasn’t working, he started pacing shaking his
head.  Tyler moved closer to me as if he could sense something.  Emin
and Zeke followed.

“Spencer this could have saved your brother – it could
save thousands – millions of people worldwide.  People who don’t need to
be sick or die.”

In this moment, I knew Emin was right – we shouldn’t
have used his brother.  He lost it.  He pulled his gun, Davis and Ian
did the same – I wasn’t sure where to look.  Spencer was pacing again with
his gun, we all watched him.

“Don’t speak about Christian!” He bellowed.

“I’m sorry,” Dad said taking a step towards Mum to put
himself in between her and Spencer.

“Why didn’t you do what I told you to – you knew the
consequences,” he said still yelling.

“Please consider this Spencer – you will make just as
much money, and it won’t hurt anyone – you will be saving people.”

“You don’t get it, you idiot.  Do you have any
idea how much money people, certain people, would pay for these superpowers you
could create?  Do you know how much power I would have?”

He was ranting, I started to get scared about what
would happen next.

“And you don’t care what these people would do with
their powers, how many people might die or get hurt from them?” Dad pleaded.

“What I do and don’t care about is not your
concern.  Neither is what I do with the strain once you have created
it.”  He was pressing the sides of his temples now clearly under pressure.
 
“What you should be worried about it what is going to happen
to your family now that you have wasted all this time.”

“Spencer be reasonable, you’re asking me to create
something evil.  I don’t think I can do it.”

“Are you prepared to let your family suffer while you
decide?”

His arms stopped shaking now, and he held the gun
firmly pointed in my direction.  My father’s shoulders slumped in defeat.

“You don’t have to hurt anyone Spencer, I’ll do what
you ask.”  I saw Mum take Dad’s hand in hers.  

“Very good Knox, but I’m afraid someone will still
have to pay for this mistake.”

“What?” My father said confused and desperate.

“You need to understand what’s at stake here Knox, I
warned you, but you didn’t listen.  Now you might.”

I knew this was how this man had treated Tyler for
years. This is why he looked sick as he entered the lab any why he moved to my
side earlier.  He was afraid for us.  Before I could even finish
collecting my thoughts Spencer drew his arm back, he was going to hit me. 
Several things then happened at once. 

I could hear my parents pleading desperately with him
to stop.  I saw Davis and Ian viciously restrain Emin and Zeke as they
lunged towards me.  Finally, Tyler stood in front of me, catching
Spencer’s hand inches before it connected with my face.

Spencer looked at him incredulously.  Tyler kept
his cool, after all he had been in this situation before.

“I’m sorry Sir, but it seems to me like we will need
Hayln fit and well to help her father.  I am pretty sure it was her who
separated the strain.”

Tyler let go of Spencer’s arm.  He rubbed where
Tyler had gripped it, thinking about what he had said. 

“You might be right, one of them then.” He said
signaling towards Emin and Zeke.

“No,” I screamed.  Tyler’s arms were now
restraining me, his strength was incredible.

“I think we should take lover boy,” Davis
suggested.  “He was happy for a fight a few days ago.”

“Whatever,” Spencer said dismissing them. “Take him
away to do it, but not too far, I want them to hear.”

Tears were pouring down my cheeks now as Spencer held
a gun to Emin’s head while Davis and Ian pulled Zeke upstairs.

“Hopefully this will keep you focused Knox, but if not
we still have your son and wife.”

I slumped to the floor, sobbing.  Dad and Mum
were embracing each other, and Emin was standing defiantly, glaring at
Spencer.  Almost willing him to take the shot.  Then they started.

They must have only taken him to the hall because we
could hear the noise above us.  I could tell he was trying not yell or
scream for our benefit.  But whatever they were doing to him left
agonizing sounds coming from upstairs.  Each thud and crash was heartache to
me.  I could hear his body resisting the beating – I could feel myself
starting to be physically ill.  I covered my ears, it was unbearable and
then after what seemed like forever Zeke’s cry’s slowed and then stopped
altogether, I prayed it was over, and he was still alive.

“It’s over Hayln,” Tyler whispered to me.  “He’s
strong, he will be okay.”

Mum and I were still sobbing when I heard them moving
upstairs.  Tyler was right they had finished. 

Davis walked down to the bottom of the stairs, gun
drawn.  Spencer signaled for Emin and Mum to leave the lab, I wanted to go
to, but he insisted I stay. 

Emin looked at me seeing how much pain I was in and
knew I wanted to be with Zeke.  He held his hand up to tell me to
stay.  I knew he and Mum would do all they could for him, but that didn’t
stop my yearning to be by his side.  It was my fault he was in this mess,
in the first place.

I couldn’t move from the floor, I couldn’t do
anything.  How could my perfect day have gone so wrong?  Tyler and
Dad were the only ones left in the lab now, and I could hear them whispering,
as I lay on the floor.

“I’m sorry Professor.”

“This isn’t your fault Tyler, we knew there was a risk
in doing what we did.  I just wish that was me upstairs and not Zeke, he’s
innocent in all this.”

“So what are you going to do now?” 

He walked over to join Tyler and me on the
floor.  They both carefully helped me up and carried me to the chair at
the window.

“I don’t have a choice anymore, I won’t let that
happen again to anyone I love.”

He brushed the hair away my eyes and spoke softly to
me, trying to ease the tears.  I took some deep breaths looking at his
face.  He needed me now, they all did, and I had to pull myself
together.  After a few moments, I spoke to Tyler.

“You knew didn’t you,” I paused to look at him and
knew I was right.  “You knew what we were doing and what he would do to
us.”

“Yes and no,” he began.  “I knew you were working
on something other than what he had asked you to, but I didn’t know what. 
I couldn’t fully understand your notes.  I guessed what his reaction would
be though, he doesn’t like to think he’s not in control, but I hoped.  I
hoped you had found a way out of this.”  He sighed.  “I’m sorry
Hayln, I should have stopped you.”

I didn’t speak for a moment trying to get my thoughts
together.

“Dad’s right Tyler, this isn’t your fault, and we
probably would have still tried anyway.”

“I just wished it worked.  What you both created
Hayln was truly phenomenal.”

I looked at Dad now knowing what was ahead of us, but knowing
I couldn’t do it – not yet.