Forgotten Pines: The Chronicle of the Kodnikado

Part 4; research labs

Part 4; research labs

Donny
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"Where are we going again?" I wondered aloud as Uncle Gavin turned us onto the main street. Instead of going towards town he drove away from it.

"We are visiting my friend".

"You have a friend who doesn't live in town?"

"Yeah".

"Who is this friend?"

"He's an old work buddy of mine".

I frowned at uncle Gavin."You had a job? I thought you became a novelist right after highschool?"

"Nope".

"What was this job?"

"Why do you ask so many questions?"

"Because". I smacked my hand against where the radio should have been, "You don't have a radio. I need to occupy my brain".

"Don't you have ear buds?"

"No. Forgot them".

"Why don't you talk to your brother then?"

I glanced at Max who was leaning against the window with his hood up, and his eyes shut.

"He's not in a very talkative mood".

He was probably pissed off about having to come with.

"How about I ask the questions?" Uncle Gavin propositioned with a side glance in my direction.

I shrugged. "Fine with me".

"Alright". He tapped both his thumbs on the steering wheel as he thought. "What's your favourite season?"

"Fall".

"Fall is nice".

"It's the spooky season".

"You like Halloween".

"You wanna hear something funny?"

The truck rolled to a stop and Uncle Gavin turned down a private road.

"Sure kiddo". He answered after a long pause of silence.

"A couple years ago Max, Cemre, and I dressed up as each other for our school's halloween dance."

"Uha". He hummed.

I wasn't actually sure if he was listening or not, but I went on to tell the tale nonetheless. "Cemre was me. I was Max. And Max was Cemre. We used some cheap ass spray on hair paint. Anyways the teachers didn't even notice. They thought we were lying when we told them".

"That's pretty funny". He said with a light laugh. "You guys ever play tricks on my brother?"

"A few times".

"So what's your natural hair colour anyways? Black or Blonde?"

"Blonde".

I'm a full on blonde just like Max.

"Why half and half?" He ruffled my hair.

"Blonde was boring. And I wasnt about to go full on black cuz Cemre is boring. So I went halfzies".

"Why not green or blue?"

I would have done blue if it weren't for dad.
"Dad wouldn't let me do anything but a natural colour".

"Bummer".

The scenery on the left side of the road had changed from wooded land to open fields surrounded by tall fences with sharp barbed wire at the tops. Like those gates you see in prison movies.

"Are we going to a prison Uncle Gavin?" I questioned.

"No".

A building came into view, and I pointed it out to Uncle Gavin. "Is that where we're going?"

"It is".

"It looks like a prison".

He chuckled then gently shoved me into Max. "It's not a prison. It's a research facility".

The private drive we were driving on came to a turn that led up to a road block with two small buildings on either side.

"They have a security check?"

When we pulled up to the road block Uncle Gavin rolled down his window as two guys came out.

"Henry. Dave. How's life?"

"Wives are good. So life's good". The bigger man of the two replied. He was a giant. I doubt I could have wrapped my arms around his waist. His head was shaven and he was wearing a utility belt across his chest. I shrunk a little in my seat when his eyes flashed over to Max and I.

"These are my nephews". Gavin said to the man.

The giant gave me a friendly smile. "Nice to meet you kiddo".

"I-ugh."I swallowed. "Yeah".

"You here for the boss man?" The guy asked.

Uncle Gavin nodded.

The man spoke into the walkie on his belt and a moment later the gate block lifted and we were clear to pass.

"Thanks Dave". Gavin said before he slowly pulled up.

The road twisted up ahead then ended in a cul-de-sac parking lot.

I nudged Max's arm and when he didn't respond I figured that he was asleep. I pulled his hood down and took out his ear bud.

Leaning close to his ear I shouted. "Wake up Max!"

His entire body jerked as his eyes flew open. "What the hell Donny!"

"We're here".

He glanced around and frowned. "Where-"

"Uncle Gavin says it's a research facility". I explained.

Now that we were nearer to the building I could see that it looked far too nice to be a prison. It's exterior was white cement with one of those fancy glass door entrances. A little ways right of the door was a large company insignia. It was a big black circle with a Y strung in the middle.

"Come on boys". Uncle Gavin said before undoing his seatbelt and getting out.

I all but shoved Max out of the truck when he had the door open.

"If this place is a research facility do they have hazmat suits?" I asked as we walked across the gravel lot.

"Yes".

"Sweet".

When we reached the door Uncle Gavin held it open for us. A gust of cold air slammed into me when we stepped inside, and I couldn't keep my shiver down.

Inside the doorway was a small Salle port room. Like those security sections they keep in prison. The only way to get past the second door was by talking to a women behind a glass panel. Or using a card key.

Since Uncle Gavin wasn't in possession of such a thing he had to talk to the women; who seemed to know who he was.

After waiting for a few minutes the second door buzzed and we went inside.