Dawnpoint

Chapter 3

"You've been there for a week."

"I know," he replied, pinching the bridge of his nose. "We have something-"

"Tell me then," Wesley's voice rang through the speaker, a high-pitched whine that had him gritting his teeth.

He took a breath before looking back over his shoulder where Kato, Alex, and Levi were loading the car. "We'll have more tonight."

"I don't want tonight," Wesley growled. "I want now."

"Hey, Micah!" Kato shouted with a wave. "You coming?"

Wesley's annoying call came again. "Don't forget you're putting her job on the line as well."

Hanging up the phone, he stormed over to the car and climbed into the driver's seat. Alex shared a look with her brother as they got into the back with their equipment, moving the bags so they could sit as comfortably as possible in such a small space, not trusting Micah's driving to not damage it if it were in the boot.

Kato climbed into the passenger side and sent a questioning gaze to her best friend. "What did he want?"

"Answers," came his short reply as he started the engine and pulled off the street so fast the car jerked.

Kato simply nodded and watched the roads as they drove to their destination, occasionally asking about Alex and Levi's life and career choices. They were simple beings, she learned: Alex worked at a local restaurant and Levi was doing voluntary work at schools until he could find an opening for a full-time teacher.

When the mansion was in sight, Micah continued driving, catching Kato's attention. "Where are you going?"

"It's broad daylight," he answered and headed toward a fast-approaching forest just behind the grounds.

She sighed, knowing she wasn't going to get any useful responses from him. Once he had pulled into a small clearing on the edge of the tree-line, he threw the keys to her and immediately headed for the boot, pulling out one of the radiation suits. The other three followed and took in their surroundings. The forest stretched further than they could see, yet it was a good spot for them to change that was out of sight from anyone who could pass by the mansion and far enough away for them to not be exposed to mass amounts of radiation.

All having adorned their suits, Alex pulled out a device from one of the duffel bags and turned it on. It made a few beeping noises before falling silent; she hummed.

"What? Micah questioned, already walking to her side to stare at the device. "What's that?"

"A radiation detector." She messed with a few more buttons, still having no sound emit from the box. "Apparently there's no radiation here."

"We're less than five meters away from the mansion, though," Levi piped up, midway through slinging a camera around his neck.

"I know." Alex continued messing with it before attaching the device to the strap of her first-aid bag and throwing it over her shoulder. "I'm sure it'll pick up once we're there."

Micah took a few of the bags and led them to the site, headgear already fogging up. The twigs and leaves crunched under their feet as they walked down the slight hill after making sure the car had been locked. They each took the time to take in the sight before them, admiring the wildlife blooming and blossoming through the thick vines and debris.

"There's still nothing," Alex said. She twisted the device so she could see the screen and furrowed her eyebrows.

"It must be broken, then," Kato muttered as she stepped over a log, entering one of the completely demolished rooms, only a square of bricks and planks left to resemble anything of the sort.