The Iso-Stasis Experiment (The Experiments) (29 page)

All Dr. Jefferson wanted to do was enjoy his McDonald’s coffee while it was too hot to drink, eat his take out breakfast sandwich and watch a little of the night’s activity.

What he didn’t expect to hear about was the disruption in his very own control room up at the experiment, a disruption that caused immediate concern for him. After rubbing the tip of his nose that was burned from the steam that seeped through the hole in the lid, Dr. Jefferson did something he had never had to do before.

A memo was immediately issued, handwritten in black marker. There would be no delay. The controllers, unlike the participants, were not visually monitored. So for safety’s sake and peace of mind, Dr. Jefferson wanted his monitors to do hourly check-ins with the controller in Canada. No matter how much of an annoyance that seemed, it was necessary. A certain amount of fear was brewing in Dr. Jefferson. And it was the first time he ever could recall in his whole involvement with the
Iso
-Stasis that he actually feared for the wellbeing of his people.

Cal, hands freezing, fingers turning numb, stood next to Jake looking down the hill. “I don’t understand this. We worked out this morning. It’s really cold, Jake.”

“No, it is not. You’ll warm up. Besides, I needed some alone time with you. Our time has been limited since Rickie moved in.” Jake held up his hand. “Not that I mind. He doesn’t get on my nerves as much.”

“Rickie is not the same.”

“Did you think he would be?” Jake asked.

“I hoped.”

“He’s doing better, Cal.” Jake touched her back. “You’ve done good. You’ve been there for him.” Jake gave a single clap of his hands. “So . . . you ready to compete. We haven’t done the chase in a while.”

“No we haven’t. I get stuck with clean up all the time.” Cal said agitated.

“I was hoping we’d wager something different.” He stood in front of her.

“Jake, you have this weird look in your eye. What is it?”

“OK, Cal . . . I think we should closely re-examine the physical situation between the two of us.”

Cal laughed loudly at him, stepping back. “You want to have sex.”

“I’m ready to concede. You can do that torture thing you’ve been doing to get to me.”

“No way.”

“No way?” Jake’s head snapped back.

“You held off for two weeks just to prove you could. Tough, Jake, now that you’ve won that bet, there’s no fun in torturing you anymore.”

“I can still concede.”

“Nah.” Cal waved him off. “It’s too late. I’m used to being broke up now. Sorry.”

“You’re kidding, right?” Jake asked.

“No, not at all. I kind of like being the free woman again.”

“Stop it. You’re being facetious.”

“But you waited until the two weeks were up before conceding because you didn’t want to lose. Sorry, you’ve lost.” Cal moved away from him. “Now, are you ready to do this or not?” She placed her hands on her hips. “We’ll chase for . . . the bed. If I win, you stay on the floor. If you win, you can have the bed tonight.”

“How about this, if I win . . . you sleep in bed with me tonight?”

“You’re on.”

“Good.” Jake clapped his hands then rubbed them. “I’ll even give you a fifteen second head start.” He glanced down at his watch. “Ready . . . go.” With eyes going from Cal to the second hand, Jake gave her exactly fifteen seconds and then he did his normal thing. He went the route she never knew he took, the route that always brought him out ahead of her. Intent on cinching his victory, Jake sped through his route. This was a bet he had no intention of losing.

Emerging from the deep brush, Jake leaped out expecting to see Cal coming down the path with that ‘oh shit’ look on her face she always gave him. As he flung himself into her path he saw nothing. No Cal. Not a sound was heard, no footsteps, no running. Quickly he turned back looking down the hill. He didn’t see her running. He knew Cal wasn’t fast enough to have made it to the buildings.

Where was she? Jake could feel his heart start to beat faster. “Cal!” he called out. “Cal!” He didn’t see her. “All right!” he yelled in his loudest voice. “I concede! You win this one. Come on out!” He listened . . . nothing. “Cal! This isn’t funny.” No sounds. “Cal, goddamn it, come out!” The only thing he heard was his own voice as it echoed back at him through the deadness of the woods. “Shit!” He ran his hand over his head. Something wasn’t right.

The building, he thought. Before he went looking in the woods for her, he had to check the building. As fast as he could, he ran down there and opened the door calling out her name. “Cal!”

Jennifer looked up from her book. “She’s not in here.”

“Are you sure?” Jake headed toward the hallway. “Maybe you didn’t see her.”

“I’ve been sitting here an hour.”

“Thanks.
 
. . . Cal!” He raced down the hall and opened his door. “Cal!”

Rickie stood up from the floor. “Sarge, what’s wrong? You look weird.”

“Have you seen Cal?” Jake grabbed Rickie’s shoulders. His words rushed. “We were racing. I can’t find her. Did she come back?”

“No . . . shit.”

“I have to find her.” He raced to Cal’s room and pulled his duffle bag out from under the bed. He grabbed his revolver and checked to make sure it was loaded. “I’ll be back.”

“I’ll help you. What if there’s trouble?”

“You’re right.” Jake stopped at the door, went back, reached in the duffle bag he had left on the bed and grabbed a rifle. “It’s loaded.” He removed the safety and handed it to Rickie. “Don’t shoot it unless you know what you’re shooting at.”

“You think something got her? Like an animal or something?”

“I don’t know. Let’s go. We’ve wasted enough time.” Jake took off, Rickie following close behind.

Outside they charged up the hillside. Calling Cal’s name, over and over they received no response.

Jake looked at his watch. “Five minutes. She’s been gone five minutes . . . Cal!”

“Sarge, I don’t have a good feeling. What if something’s happened to her?”

“We’ll find her . . . Cal!” Holding his revolver tightly, Jake paused to think. “Rickie, you go over that way by towards the stream. I’m going to scour this hillside again.”

“Got it.” Rickie took off running. He headed in the direction he was told, calling out Cal’s name. As he raced, he heard bubbling watery sounds ahead of him and Jake’s calling voice began to grow faint.

Jake marched up the hill, moving his foot through every brush, searching, and calling. Fear began to grow in him, an emotion he was not accustomed to feeling. Headstrong to find her, he continued until he heard Rickie yelling.

“Sarge!” Rickie’s distant voice screamed. “Oh, God, Sarge!”

“No.” Jake spun in that direction. There was something about the sound of Rickie’s voice. “No.”

“Sarge! Oh, God!”

Please. Please, nothing be wrong
, Jake’s mind pleaded as he made it to the stream. Coming out of the woods, his heart sank deeper as he saw Rickie.

Rickie looked up. “Sarge?”

“No,” Jake screamed. “No!” He raced over to where Rickie knelt above Cal untying her hands which were bound behind her back. Her hair was wet, as she lay motionless on her side in the mud. “No!” Jake cried out with all his heart as he dropped to his knees before her.

With tear filled eyes, Rickie turned to him. “She’s dead.”

“Oh, God.” Jake lifted her into his arms. “Cal.” He grabbed her chin shaking her head. “Cal.” He felt for a pulse. Nothing. “Cal. Please.” He pressed his lips to her cheek, holding her. She didn’t respond. Raising his head up, holding her tight, Jake let out an emotional cry from the depths of his heart and soul. It was a bellow that rang through the woods and shot its way through the trees, echoing over and over again through the distance. “No.” He laid her on the ground. “You will not die on me. You will not.” He tilted her head back and began mouth to mouth, giving his all to resuscitate her. He’d breathe and then listen. Nothing. “Come on.” Again he tried. “Cal, please don’t do this.”

“Sarge, she’s . . .”

Jake ignored Rickie. He kept trying to revive her; his mind totally focused on what he was doing so.

“Sarge.”

“No.” As he brought his lips down to hers for his final attempt, he felt Cal jolt violently. Her back arched up and water shot from her mouth. “Thank God.” Jake quickly tilted her head to the side.

Cal began to cough uncontrollably. Water coming from her lungs with each cleansing cough she took. Finally, her eyes rolled and her head fell back.

“Cal.” Jake lifted her up. Pressing his lips hard to her cheek, he pulled her to his chest.

Cal gasped, opening her mouth to take in the air. She coughed again and grabbed on to him.

Jake, feet sinking in the mud, picked up his revolver, lifted himself up, and holding Cal in his arms. “Rickie, I have to get her back. Run to the building, get the shower hot and ready. Hurry.”

“Right away, Sarge.” Rickie ran his hand across Cal’s arm and took off.

“Then just go ahead. Give me a moment.”

“You got it.” Rickie pointed and ran, he wanted to tell everyone what Jake had done.

Jake walked slow back to the buildings, holding Cal, never taking his eyes off her.

Opening eyes that were hard to control, Cal rested her head on his chest. Her arms clung to his neck. “I watched you.” Cal felt her body bounce as he carried her. “I watched you save my life . . . thank you.”

“Cal, who . . .” Jake looked down at her. She had passed out.

^^^^

“Watch out.” Jake kicked Cal’s door wider with his foot. “I have to get you out of these clothes . . . Rickie.”

Rickie ran from the bathroom. “I have the shower going. Water’s hot.” He handed Jake a towel.

Jake laid Cal on the bed, his eyes not leaving her.
 
He brought the towel to her face and began to wipe the mud from her. “Cal. Cal. Wake up.”

Cal opened her eyes.

“Cal. Who did this to you? Tell me. Who did this to you?”

Cal coughed her voice raspy. “Griff.”

Jake raised his eyes to Rickie, and Rickie saw it. Complete rage. Slipping his arms from under Cal, Jake stood up. He closed his eyes, adjusted Cal on the bed and looked at his weapon. Speaking no words, he reached into his duffle bag and pulled out what he needed. Holding his revolver tightly, he walked to the door.

“Sarge,” Rickie called out to him. “What are you doing?”

With absolutely no emotion, Jake grabbed the door knob as he stepped into the hall. “I’ll be right back. Stay with her.” He pulled the door closed and calmly walked down the hall and stopped at
Griff’s
door.

With eerie calmness he turned the knob. The door was unlocked. Before he walked in, Jake placed the silencer on the barrel of his revolver and then slowly pushed open the door.

Griff sat on his bed, back facing the door. A smile was on his face as he turned and stood up looking at Jake. “I’ve been waiting for you.”

It was the first time Jake had heard his voice, a voice that Griff wasn’t supposed to have. Pushing the door closed, Jake locked it. Never losing eye contact, he stepped closer to Griff and extended his arm. Clicking back the hammer, not allowing himself time to think, he fired and kept firing until the only sound Jake heard was that of an empty chamber.

Taking one more look at the bloodied body, seemingly torn apart, Jake lifted his head, took a deep breath and left
Griff’s
room, locking the door once more.

^^^^

The feeling of water, warm water coming down at her snapped Cal from the semi-conscious state she was in, to a nightmarish reality. She gasped as she woke her body jolting.

Jake whispered in her ear, “I have you.”

Cal’s eyes opened and she saw where she was at. The spraying shower nozzle, the tan tile, all was still blurry. “Jake?” She felt his arms wrapped around her from behind. He held her tight against him.

“I need to warm you up. I don’t want you getting sick on me.” He reached outward for a wash cloth and began to wipe her off.