Moon Angel

Chapter 26: A Hidden Message

A/N: Before this chapter, I'd just like to say sorry that this chapter took so long. I had major writer's block and couldn't quite get it right. Also the term has been very busy at school so I haven't had much time, but we have holidays now, so more chapters will be coming.Enjoy :)

Chapter 26: A Hidden Message:

It still bothered me that Em's room had been emptied. Where had they put all her stuff? Had they thrown it out? Given it away?

I went to Mr Carter's office to ask.

"We put everything into storage, Selene," he said.

"Would I be able to have it?" I asked.

He looked at me curiously. "Now, why would you need Emelia's belongings?"

"I would like to have something to remember her by," I said.

"Okay," he answered. "Come with me. I'll try and find the box."

I followed Mr Carter down the hallway to an unmarked door. He opened the door, turning on the lights. The room was filled with shelves, the shelves lined with boxes and containers. He walked over to a shelf across the back wall and found a brown cardboard box.

"This is everything," he said, handing it to me.

"Thank you," I replied.

I left the room and walked back down the hallway.As I looked at the small box in my arms, I realised how little we had that was our own. Everything else had been given to us by Omega.I put the box on my desk once I had reached my room. I felt a twinge of pain in my chest at the thought that this small box was all I had left of her. This, and the memories I held.I opened the lid and began sorting through it. There were a few reading books, her laptop, and a pencil case among other things.

A small box sat in the bottom. I couldn't remember what she kept in it. Curious, I opened it. Inside sat a red fabric rose about the size of my palm. I remember seeing her wear it in her hair a few times. I picked it out, fingering the delicate petals.

It was heavier than I thought it would be.

In fact, there seemed to be something buried in the middle. A small metal rectangle.

If I hadn't taken the rose out of the box, I'd never have noticed.I parted the petals and pulled it out from the centre.

A USB stick.

I remember that the rose meant something to Em, but I can't remember exactly what. She had a rose charm on the bracelet she always wore:

"What's the rose for?" I asked, trying to change the subject."It represents secrets," she said, lowering her voice as if letting me in on a secret that very minute. "In Ancient Rome, they used to place a wild rose on the door of the room where secrets were discussed. I like it, because it represents the secrets that we have to keep, like our powers."

Everything surrounding this seemed a little strange. Why would she hide something inside a decorative hair tie, unless she didn't think someone would look for it there?

Was it a coincidence that the symbol that had represented secrets to Em had hidden a mysterious USB stick?

Curious, I opened up my laptop, slotting the USB into the side.There were multiple files on it. A video file was at the top of the list labelled "For Ellie."It seemed like I was meant to find it.

I clicked on the file. A box sprung to life in the middle of the screen.

The camera was pointed at a small room.

A familiar room.

Em's room.

Em's face came into view. My breath caught sharply in my throat and the familiar pain tightened my chest.The image shook slightly as Em re-positioned the camera. She looked flustered and worried as she stared at me. I wondered how old this video was.

"Something's happened, Ellie. I'm sorry that I couldn't tell you in person but it's become too dangerous.Omega is not what it seems. There is something sinister going on here, something I don't fully understand yet. I found some documents, documents that I'm not meant to have. You see, the adults who run Omega have been keeping things from us since we started. I would rather not know. I would rather that I'd never found out, that I could just continue as normal, but I can't. I can't make myself forget. I'm scared, Ellie. I'm scared that they know that I've found out. I'm scared that they will kill me. They've killed before."

She goes silent for a while, as if she doesn't know what to say next.

"I don't know who to trust anymore. But I trust you, Ellie. I think that you deserve to know the truth. You deserve to know everything. Everyone does. I didn't want you to get mixed up in this mess, but I didn't know what else to do. I have placed the files in the USB. On them is everything I have.I don't know how much longer I'll be around. I hope I'm just being paranoid but I can't be sure. I can't be certain of anything anymore."Em pauses, taking a breath as if to compose herself, before continuing, "If I don't get a chance to say it, you're my best friend, Ellie. No one can, or ever will, replace you, or the memories we've made. Thank you."

She reaches towards the camera and the image turns black.

I sit for a minute and stare at the blank screen.What was it that had her so spooked? What was so dangerous that she couldn't tell me in person? I had never seen her this way before.

I link the file down. She said there were other files on the USB, the files that had made her so scared.As I look down the list of files, the date at the end of the video message catches my eye. January 29th. Two days before the mission. Two days before the explosion in the warehouse. Two days before Em had died. Something told me that it wasn't a coincidence. Em sends me a message of distress and then two days later what she feared comes true. It can't be a coincidence. Her words from the video haunt me, "I'm scared that they'll kill me." It seemed like she was right, but who were 'they'? My mouse hovers over the next file on the list. I know I shouldn't open it. I know that whatever is in the files was enough to get Em killed. But I can't stop myself, and my mouse clicks the first file on the list before it can be stopped...

-A/N- What did you think? Please vote and review :) Thank you to all those who've been reading all the chapters and following the story

and a special thanks to BrightnessWings19 for reviewing the last chapter. I have taken your input on board and am going about making some changes :)

 I love you all :)

Thanks, B.