Things didn’t feel same in the house. We couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was out there. Avan grew more suspicious every day and Josh grew more irritable.
“I’m just worried that you’re not safe here.” he says when I confront him about it in the yard one afternoon. “If they’re watching then they’ll come to take you away from me. I can’t let that happen.”
“Josh, you can’t escape the inevitable. If they’re watching, let them watch. There’s not much they can do and they can’t get onto the grounds without Avan’s approval.” Reasoning with him won’t work.
“Kailah, they’ll storm in here whether they have approval or not. They’re the government not the local police.” Josh gets angrier with every word. “They want to stop you. If you can start the project then they’re basically screwed. It can’t be stopped once it gets going.”
“I’m only sixteen. I’m prone to screw it up.”
“You’re a lot stronger than you think. You’re definitely smart enough to trick them. You proved that when you ran for the train.” Josh seems to believe in what he’s saying. I can’t be so sure about it.
We sit there for a while until Jacob yells at us from his window.
“Awww little love birds in the garden!” he shouts. Josh leaps up and storms into the house and I walk behind him. I walk into Jacob’s room to see Josh punching Jacob in the gut.
“Stop it!” I shout and run over to pull Josh off of his brother. Surprisingly, Jacob laughs.
“We’re just kidding around, Kailah.” Josh chuckles and turns around, wrapping his arms around me.
“Aww was Kailah worried?” he says teasingly, tickling my ribs.
“No,” I say, slapping his hand away, “I just didn’t want to miss the fun.” And with that I jump on Jacob and tickling him until Josh picks me up and runs away with me.
“Jacob!” I shout, giggling away. “Help me!”
“Don’t worry, Kailah! I’ll save you!” I see him start running in slow motion, like time itself has slowed down.
“Not on my watch!” Josh chuckles and speeds up a bit. Eventually he makes his way out to the garden and hides behind a white rose bush, telling me to be quiet.
“He-” I try to scream but he covers my mouth.
“Kailah?” Jacob calls. I peer out from behind a bunch of roses. He looks like a lost puppy trying to find his way home.
We sit in silence for a couple of minutes before I feel a hand on my shoulder. But it’s not Jacob.
“Run!” I scream and Josh hauls me off the ground and pulls me to the house. Jacob holds the door open and we skid to a halt inside as Jacob locks the door.
“Who the hell was that?” Josh demands.
“It was a MOD, I’m guessing.” I say, gasping for air.
“Then that proves it. They know where we are.” Jacob voices what we’ve all been thinking.
We’re not safe anymore, but then again, were we ever?
