Fireworks (A Virals Fanfic)

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Tory’s POV

Ben’s revelation about Jess threw me. I admit I had always wondered if she had also been infected given the amount of time she spent with Coop. I just couldn’t believe that she could be a Viral and I was only learning it now.

“How come we never knew?” I asked still not believing it and not sure if I wanted to believe it.

“She started feeling sick right after she got sent to Mount Pleasant. She told me a week after we solved the Heaton murder. I wanted to tell you guys but she wanted to tell you herself. Figured it would be easier to believe.”

No way this is happening. On the other hand, she would probably figure it out eventually Viral or not. “Ok then. Now that that’s settled, let’s rejoin the welcome party.” I said heading back into the bunker.

Jess’s POV

 I was catching up with Hi and Shelton on their felonies and my months of eternal boredom when I noticed a stunning lack of Tory and my twin. “Where did Tory and Ben go?” I asked.

Shelton and Hi looked at each other not sure what to say. Which meant Tory was asking Ben why the heck I was here when they were conducting official Virals business. Since Ben was most likely telling Tory right this moment I figured why not tell them.

“Guys, I know how you were able to pull of solving the Heaton case, finding Anne Bonny’s treasure, and your multiple felonies. Ben told me-” I was then cut off by Hi.

“He told you!?! After we all agreed to keep it a secret? I know you’re his sister, but come on. We agreed to keep it between the four of us.” He thought a minute about what he just said. “Not that we don’t trust you.” He added. “It’s just something we don’t want anyone else to know.”

I paused to see if he would continue to rant. When it became apparent he was done I continued where I was cut off. “Ben told me because I’m Viral too.”

I might as well have said that I set off a nuclear bomb. I would have gotten the same result.  Shelton and Hi were speechless.  Their awestruck expressions on their faces were exactly the same. Eyes saucer wide, jaws practically on the floor.

I laughed as I said, “If you guys don’t close your mouths you’re going to catch flies or the more likely bet would be mosquitoes. “

They automatically closed their mouths, still in shock. Shelton recovered first. “How?”

“I spent a lot of time watching Coop while you guys were off having adventures. I caught the virus from him the same way you did.”

Hi finally recovered. “But you didn’t get sick.”

“I got sick after I got caught and sent to Mount Pleasant. I couldn’t call you guys because first I was grounded then you got grounded.”

Shelton took a turn at questioning me. “Why didn’t we learn this sooner? If Ben was able to tell you about us why couldn’t he tell us about you?”

“I wanted to tell you guys myself. Figured you wouldn’t believe it if I didn’t tell you myself.”

Shelton then for some reason looked relieved. “This is brilliant. Now maybe you can balance out Tory’s insanity. Every plan she comes up with involves felonies. Maybe with you around you can talk her out of the lunacy if all her plots.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Have we forgotten why I was grounded? And I’ve been pretty much mentally going along with every plan Tory came up with. Sure I would have given my own opinions on how things should have been done, but I totally would have gone with pretty much everything.”

As Shelton groaned and muttered something about being the only sane one around here Tory and Ben reentered the bunker. One look at my brother told me she knew.

“So now that you all know, now what?”

Tory took over. “We were meeting to do a little research on the virus. Trying to figure out what exactly happened and how things go from here.”

I nodded. “I took advantage of my months of empty time and did some research. I’m pretty sure I read every medical book that mentioned parvo in the Charleston library. When I figured out that Ben was sneaking out to the bunker to meet you guys I snagged my notes and annoyed him until he let me tag along. Thought you guys might want to see what I’ve got.”

Shelton had turned back to his computer screen, but Hi jumped up to take a look at what I had. Just as I was about to ask what they thought about what happened and how our flares worked Shelton’s shocked voice came from over at the computer. “Guys, you might want to take a look at this.”

We all gathered around and looked over his shoulders. What we saw was a cut from a news cast. A video clip of an explosion near a park. It was a really small scale explosion, but still seeing something blow up in an area you pass on the way home from school every day is freaky.

“When did this happen?” Tory asked.

“According to this news site, around 5 this morning.” Shelton said scanning the article below the video.

I did the math in my head. “That was five and a half hours ago.” Alright it was not super hard, but I finished before everyone else.

“Why would someone try to blow up a park?” Ben asked.

Hi tried to out question him. “How about, why would someone try to blow up anything?”

I wasn’t so sure about blowing things up being the point. “Shelton replay it for me please.” He complied. There was a small flash of light before a fire ignited. What no one would notice without looking at the sky was bright green and blue sparks that appeared with a loud crack.

I realized what I was looking at. “Guy’s blowing  the park up wasn’t the point. This guy used fireworks. Probably your average garden variety kind you buy when July rolls around.”

Brother mine looked skeptical. “As much as I know you know about dangerous explosives Jess, last time I check fireworks don’t normally set everything around them on fire when you light them. Not if you’re using them correctly.”

Ouch. Doubt really hurts a person. “You know your doubt in my abilities hurt. And he could have used an accelerant. Just light the fuse, toss the match, and run like hell.”

Tory nodded. “Possible, but still, what’s the point? Why is he doing this?”

We all tried to come up with a reason. Nothing fit. Maybe it was a statement but what was he trying to say?

As we continued our contemplation of this event Shelton glanced at Tory and started shaking his head. “No. No way. I’ve had enough of dealing with crazy people. We are leaving this one to the cops.”

Tory didn’t try to fight him, but she looked disappointed that we weren’t looking into it. “Chill Shelton. It’s one explosion. We can’t jump in without giving the cops a chance.”

I could tell by the look on her face she had something else up her sleeve. “Spill Brennan. What are you thinking?”

She rolled her eyes and said, “I’m thinking that if there’s an explosion number three we’ll jump in.”

The two of us grinned at each other while Shelton groaned.

So what do you guys think? Please let me know. Reviews make me smile.:~)