The P.U.L.L || #Wattys2017

Chapter 5: Quiller corp.

Rick and Emma quickly ran down the flight of steps towards the first floor. They didn't know what had happened to Joshua but they were glad that he wasn't kidnapped. Emma kept on thinking how he managed to do it but there he was, right behind the door, knocking continuously. 

Rick managed to grab the handles first. He opened the huge wooden door without thinking. Then, it came.

Both of them held their noses while Joshua came in. They finally realized what he had gone through as the horrible smell reach them. He looked exhausted and pretty much not human at all. Both of them were scared at the close-up sight of him at first. 

"The shower room is that way." Emma finally said, after regaining her composure. "Feel free to borrow a change of clothes in the dressing room. My dad left them, and no one uses them anymore."

Joshua headed to the shower room without saying another word. Emma ran towards their kitchen to turn on the exhaust fan. The horrible smell has taken over the entire living room. Rick, however, just stood there, contemplating at the situation while admiring the exquisite interior of the house. He looked at the two huge staircases leading to the second floor, then he quickly admired the chandelier hanging on the ceiling. Bookshelves fill all the sides of the living room, and huge windows draped on royally curtains are just right above it. 

He suddenly saw Emma, gazing right at him, and that's when he remembered everything that had happened.

"Emma, my mind's telling me that you know a lot of stuff revolving around these accidents. And how did you know that my mom, I mean, my mom and Joshua's will get kidnapped?"

I'll tell you everything later, let's just wait for Joshua because I don't want repeating myself. But I can tell you that I am someone you can both trust. Just continue what you're doing, I won't disturb you" Emma explained.

Well, I got no choice, seems like I can't trust anyone right now. But still, I don't trust her, knowing that she knows a lot more than we do. Rick thought. Right now, I should probably stick to both of them since I got nowhere else to go.

A few moments later, Joshua rejoined them. He managed to wash his uniform at the same time, he didn't like the thought of throwing it just because it got soaked in the sewers. Emma smiled at him as she turned off the exhaust. The horrifying smell has disappeared. But the thought of him looking like a swamp monster made both Rick and Emma to start laughing.

"Come on guys, that wasn't funny at all. I almost got run over by a car. I got shot by a dart gun, and I swam through the sewers during my escape." Joshua finally said.

"So, what happened after I left you? Looks like you had it rough right out there." Rick asked, trying hard not to laugh.

"I'll tell you next time but before that, Emma, tell us everything you know.  It seems to me that you're somehow connected to these accidents and kidnappings. If you want me to trust you, that is." Joshua seriously said.

"Fair enough then," Emma said. "I assume you already know everything about Quiller corp. "

"Wait, what was that?" Rick asked.

"It's the corporation that made advancements in the PULL, the invisible secret weapon. I don't know it's specs but it must be really good, considering that the media paid attention to it." Joshua responded."I'm surprised you don't know that Rick, it's all over the news all the time."

"The PULLs are the ones attacking us," Emma said.

Rick and Joshua stared at her. It's all coming to pieces now, but still, it couldn't explain the fact that they're being attacked for no apparent reason. And it didn't explain the kidnappings either.

"Wait, but the media said Mr. and Mrs. Quiller disappeared without a trace. And the project mysteriously stopped right after that!" Joshua exclaimed.

"Yeah, that's right. But they overlooked one thing. Mr. and Mrs. Quiller has a daughter. Her name is Gladiola Quiller." Emma told them.

"And she knows you or something like that?" Rick asked her.

"We're best friends. I forgot to tell you, I came from England." Emma said.

"Okay, just tell us everything. I think our time's running out as we speak. Just tell us everything and we'll try not to interrupt." Joshua impatiently said.

Okay, she began.

"As I told you before, I came from England. My Parents and Gladiola's parents were quite good friends and they became partners in making the Quiller corp. possible. Mr. Gladiola taught Gladiola and me everything about computers: things as coding, programming, and hacking. We became good friends and we usually challenge ourselves by hacking the main servers of the corporation. Then, one day, we stumbled upon the PULL's blueprints and weaponization. We kept it a secret of course. Our parents found out sooner than later and we were told to hush it up. The Quillers suggested that we children should stay out of it. We didn't realize the dangers we were in and we didn't know that our parents were hiding the fact that we are their children. That's when my parents got kidnapped. The Quillers went to great extents hiding me. They even gave me a false birth certificate, send me to the other side of the earth, and deleted everything about me on the internet and replaced it with false information. Still, that didn't stop Gladiola and me from contacting each other, let's just say, we became pen pals. One day, I experienced the accidents we are experiencing right now and I told Gladiola all about it. She suddenly told me to hack the main servers of the company once again but no matter how advanced I am, I couldn't do it. I was able to hack one of the branches though, and it warns me of the coming accidents. It also tells me where they'd be at that certain time, helping me determine their weak spot: A wire that can be cut using a special pocket knife, the ones we have right now. But then, just recently, Gladiola stopped contacting me, and her last message was to go to their place immediately. Apparently, she couldn't tell me anything, due to the fact that our messages could be easily intercepted by the wrong hands. Do you believe me now? Or you still don't trust me?

"Well, that explains it," Ricky said, standing up and stretching his legs.

"So, you mean to say that all our parents, and perhaps, this Gladiola were all kidnapped by the same person?" Joshua asked.

"I guess so, and I think the reason behind the kidnappings is to continue the PULL project," Emma concluded.

"Yeah, because they can't continue it without the intel of those behind the PULL project. Now, that makes perfect sense." Rick added. " So, what do we do?"

"Simple, we need to go to England. As far as we know, Gladiola might be the key to it all." Joshua stated. "If she's already kidnapped, she might be smart enough to leave a clue for us."

"I was thinking of doing that, but we're still minors, and how could we even get there? It's on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean!" Emma reacted.

"Simple, we board a plane. " Joshua responded. 

"And how do you intend to do that, bro?" Rick asked.

Joshua got up and stretched his legs, adjourning the discussion. "You'll know soon enough." He winked.