Inside My Head (Silent Moment Series: Book 6)

Chapter 8

 As I cautiously navigated the room, my attention was drawn to an abandoned pack lying on the floor. It was a stark reminder of the hasty evacuation the inhabitants must have experienced. Curiosity piqued, I slung the bag over my shoulder, moving towards a nearby table to investigate its contents. With a sense of trepidation, I unzipped the pack and peered inside. My hand reached in, grasping a cylindrical object. Pulling it out, I realized it was a smoke grenade. The discovery sent a shiver down my spine. What the hell? The presence of such a military-grade item in a civilian setting was deeply unsettling. I set the smoke grenade down on the table, my mind racing with the implications. Radiation fences, smoke grenades, and now an air toxin causing psychotic behavior – this place was a labyrinth of dangers and mysteries. Each discovery seemed to add another layer to the already complex and frightening situation we had found ourselves in.

The realization that we were not just dealing with environmental hazards, but potentially with a place prepared for conflict or emergency situations, was alarming. It made me question the true nature of this settlement and its inhabitants. Who were these people? What were they preparing for or protecting themselves against? My gaze swept across the room, taking in the personal belongings left in haste, each item a silent witness to a story we had yet to understand. The juxtaposition of domestic life with these ominous discoveries only added to the sense of unease. As I continued to rummage through the pack, I found myself bracing for more unsettling finds. Each item I pulled out was a potential clue to the puzzle of this place, but also a reminder of the dangers lurking around every corner. With the pack in tow, I knew I needed to regroup with the others and share this discovery. But first, I had to ensure it was safe to venture back outside. The situation was evolving rapidly, and the need for caution had never been greater.

The sound of my mom's voice crackling through the radio was a lifeline in the midst of chaos. "Kegan? Kegan, can you hear me?"

Frantically, I dug through the contents of the pack until my fingers grasped the radio. "Mom? Are you okay?" I asked, my voice tinged with both relief and worry.

Her response was a mix of concern and urgency. "Yes. Raven finally figured out the radios. What's happened? I was so scared when you didn't come back."

Taking a deep breath, I tried to explain the unbelievable situation. "Mom, it's not safe down here. The eclipse causes the plants to release a toxin that affects our nervous system."

"Toxin?" She sounded confused, skeptical. "Kegan, are you sure it's not just you?"

Her question caught me off guard. "No. No. It affects all of us. Some of us are worse than others," I insisted.

But her words took a turn, delving into a deeper, more painful accusation. "You don't understand. I'm not saying you're imagining it. I'm saying the toxin is you. Think about it. No one is safe around you because the only people you won't kill die anyway, trying to protect you. Max and Ella died because they needed their little boy to know they were good people. Your sister died for the same reason. And Lexa... well, she died for the simple act of falling in love with you. You infect people, Kegan. Raven and Madi are next."

Her words hit me like a physical blow, each one a piercing reminder of my past and the losses I had endured. The suggestion that I was somehow the common denominator in all these tragedies was devastating. I fought back tears, the weight of her words suffocating.

"No. No. I won't let that happen," I choked out, my voice barely above a whisper. The thought of Raven and Madi suffering the same fate as those I had lost was unbearable.

As I clutched the radio, a sense of resolve washed over me. I couldn't let my mother's words define me or dictate my actions. I had to prove her wrong, to protect those I cared about. I had to find a way to overcome the challenges we faced, both from the environment and within myself. The path forward was unclear, but I was determined to do everything in my power to prevent any more loss and to protect those who were still depending on me.