Generation Next The Lost Chapters

There's What in the Attic, Exactly?

A crack of thunder sent Melissa running across the room, where she threw herself onto the couch, head first, and buried her face behind Ziva’s back. Where she stayed, whimpering in fear.

“Problem there Melissa?” Ziva asked with a little snicker.

“I don’t like rain storms!” she answered, fear sounding in her voice from where she remained crammed behind Ziva’s back.

Lightning flashed and thunder boomed again, sounding much closer this time. Melissa shrieked and tried to wiggle further behind Ziva.

“Ow! Jeez Melissa it’s just a rain storm, it can’t get you in here.”

“Yeah, there’s nothing to be afraid of,” Stevie told her from where he lounged on a chair adjacent to the couch.

Another flash of lightning and boom of thunder, the lights in the school flickered and went out. Melissa screamed loudly and wrapped her arms around Ziva’s waist in a death grip. “We’re all gonna die!” she screamed.

“We are not going to die,” A’Cadia told her reasonably, as she stood and headed for the door to go find some flashlights. There was a loud thump. “Ow dammit, stupid wall. I’ll be right back as soon as I find a couple of flashlights. Just stay here.”

“Stevie are you all right over there, you sound like you’re gonna hyper ventilate?” Ziva asked him.

“Fine, fine, it’s just that the backup generator should have kicked in. Why isn’t it kicking in? It should have kicked in by now!”

“I don’t know. Maybe there was a power surge when the lights flashed and it fried something. I’m sure everything will be fine. A’Cadia will find some flashlights and it will be okay,” Ziva told him calmly.

“But without the power there’s nothing to keep the attic door locked! The lock is electronic,” he said in a panicky voice.

“So? There’s probably nothing up there but some old furniture and books and stuff. I wouldn’t worry about it. I wonder why that door is kept locked anyway.” She shrugged in the darkness.

“Right, old stuff, sure no need for a lock,” he muttered under his breath, although he still sounded panicked.

The beam of a flashlight bounced down the hallway and into the room, followed by A’Cadia. “I’m baaaaack! I found a couple of flashlights in the kitchen and I also bounced off two walls on the way.”

“Good to have you back, want to peel the munchkin out from behind me now?”

A’Cadia chuckled. “Not particularly.”

“Nice, thanks bunches. Appreciate it.” She reached behind her and shoved Melissa to the opposite end of the couch, where she curled into a ball and whimpered.

A’Cadia crossed the room and handed Melissa a flashlight.

“Thanks A’Cadia!” She clutched it to her chest like a lifeline.

Ziva suddenly sat up straighter and cocked her head to the side. “Did you hear that?”

A’Cadia frowned at her. “Hear what?”

“I’m not sure; it was sort of like, um, murmuring I guess. Not really talking. Weird.”

“Crap. Crap. Crap.” Stevie was rapid typing on his iPad. “Stupid backup generator!”

“Stevie … what is going on?” Ziva was batting at something unseen and weird symbols were appearing on her arms.

“Kravena! Kravena stop drawing on Ziva this minute!” He jumped up from his chair and rushed over to Ziva.