Hidden and Silent (SpyxFamily)

Ch. 1: Part Five

 Damian watched the buildings zoom by as they entered town and the morning sunlight painted the scenery warmer than he felt. He wasn't physically cold, the heat was on, but he was colder than when they were in the woods.

Damian grasped his shins as he rested against the seat's back and his mental state was somewhat frayed. He'd felt in the dark for a while, and ever since that cryptic, earlier conversation, it'd only made it worse. He was the only one out of the loop and Mr. Forger alluded to something big going on he couldn't talk about. Or didn't want to.

What was he supposed to think? Demetrius was a subject. Their father. . .their father had. . he'd caused it. . . and Damian was about to be next. . .

He struggled to really accept it, he didn't want to. His father had always been distant, but this. . .

No, no, no. He didn't want to think about it. He'd just calmed down again.

Damian peeked over at his brother half asleep beside him and none of this felt real. All his life Demetrius had practically been a stranger and his sudden concern for Damian's well-being honestly freaked him out a little.

A subject.

Like Forger.

What was going on? Why wouldn't they tell him? It was more than Forger, it was her whole family, and now even Demetrius. It must have to do with the experiments. Or maybe the organization that conducted them. Was that really something they had to keep from him? Why? It made him angry they wouldn't say, but he was also too tired to argue.

Damian squinted against the sun that flashed from behind a house and continued to intermittently burn his retinas, popping in and out from trees and buildings.

Damian didn't know anything anymore. His family didn't make sense. They were shrouded in secrets and lies, laid over with more lies to cover the other lies.

What was real then? Did his father really never care for him? What about his mother? She seemed to, but maybe that was an act. What about Demetrius? Damian thought with another glance. What did he come for? He'd never shown interest in him before . . . but why else would he come if not because he cared?

This was too confusing.

Mr. Forger slowed the vehicle and turned into the police station's parking lot. He turned off the ignition and faced the boys after freeing himself from the seatbelt.

"Here's the deal." He started. "Yesterday at the zoo, You and Anya got separated from the group. You heard something in the woods and you got lost. Demetrius went out to search for you and found you far away from the zoo. That way it makes sense the search parties didn't find you in the area. Demetrius then called to alert us, and we brought you guys here. Got it?"

Damian nodded and was reminded of the first time they met at the school. Mr. Forger seemed so different now and yet the same.

"Good. Hopefully you won't have to say much. Let's go." Mr. Forger left the car and the others followed. He led them inside and the the officer at the information desk gestured he noticed them. He finished his conversation over the phone and hung up.

"Hey, there. What's brought you in?" He asked. His name tag read J. Brighten.

Mr. Forger spoke with Brighten and the group was directed to the waiting area until an officer could address them. Damian peeked over at Forger. She'd been awfully quiet this whole time and had kept her face half buried in her mother's shoulder. Her eyes were half-lidded, focused on nothing, and he wondered if she even realized what was going on. He thought she was okay at first when she showed up with Mr. Forger, but now he was noticing how. . . off. . . she felt.