The Karma Study

Chapter 10 - Circadian Rhythms

Brandon

The analyst has had the mystery skull for almost twenty-four hours and we should be getting an answer soon. I haven't slept a wink since the night before Zoe was taken from us. At least I don't think I have. I think I've started subconsciously falling asleep with my eyes open; peeled open staring at these monitors trying to find a way to tap into any more cameras in the vicinity of the first one we tapped. I think I found four more, but my system is taking forever to boot, and whatever firewalls they have in place honestly are some of the most complex I've ever seen.

Another routine sting burns across retina's and I go to reach for my eyedrops when Max enters my den. Naturally my brother eyes the pileup of energy drinks and the newest unhinged addition of pee bottles collecting in the corner. He decides better of it, and doesn't comment on them; only giving me a withering look of concern, but when I glare at him in warning he wipes it away.

"You've started smoking again." Max comments, but it's clear it's not a question.

"And you've lost control." I jab back, not capable of holding back my agitation from the sleep deprivation.

He ignores my jab and still approaches my set-up, careful to avoid any part of my floor that might be blemished with imperfection. Max doesn't speak as I drop some of my Visine into my eyes and blink away the excess.

Max clears his throat, "Has there been any progress?"

I knew he'd be back to business, lately it's the safest topic to talk to me about. Either my anxiety peaks at the thought of not already having my princess back in my clutches, or overwhelming guilt presses down on my very being and I lose the will to breathe a moment longer.

"Some." I sigh and move closer to the monitor in my chair. "I believe I found a few more cameras within their network, I'm just working on breaking into the firewall without alerting them of my presence."

"Good work." It's a clipped compliment, but a compliment nonetheless.

I fear that I'm disappointing all of them, but truly I am working my damned hardest and it's still just not enough. I need to do more, work faster, and think harder. I finish off another energy drink and toss the empty can across the room.

Just then a flicker in the top right corner of one of my monitors catches my attention. a few more taps and I have clear vision of an empty room, but it seems like a closeup into a dog kennel of sorts.

"What the—." I start, but as soon as I voice it the memories come back. "Max, look." Max was still eyeing the pile of empty cans across the room when he fixed his attention back on my screen.

"No." He says with enough power, you'd think that the image on my screen was a lie. "Is there any way to rewind this footage?" He asks, desperation clear in his tone.

We all remember what type of kennel this truly is, the way it tilted our Teddy into the dark side, to never see the light again. The fear radiating from Max is thick enough in the air that it's starting to multiply into something more pungent than rage.

I work with the footage for a moment and I rewind until I spot movement,however the movement we see is the last thing we'd ever want. I quickly adjust the audio like Drake did the last time we tapped the cameras, and eventually we have sound.

"Are you sure you want to watch this?" I ask him, my previous aggravation abandoned and replaced with genuine concern.

"Yes." He says. "If she has to live through it, we have to be strong enough to watch it. I'll grab the others." He glides out of the room, and it's just now that I realize he has showered and changed into yet another impeccable suit, I look down at my hands and find grave dirt still picked underneath my nails. Fuck, I need to shower. I should sleep, and possibly eat something that on wouldn't be able to find in a vending machine.