Drifting

Chapter 3

Getting Chase to understand the ins and outs of being a drifter wasn't as hard as I initially thought it would be. He was a rather accepting guy. Though, I suppose it's not like he has a choice. While allowing the information to sink into his brain fully, we hear the ding of a seat belt sign coming on and we were brought back to the plane. Chase only looks at me. I point to his seat belt, "Buckle up, you're gonna see your parents." He shakes his head and we're back in my dingy hotel room. "How am I gonna keep this from them? I mean I've already got one huge secret that I was having a hard time keeping before, but now there's this? I'm gonna go crazy!" he almost screams, throwing his hands into the air before they land in his lap in defeat. "Chase, you can't tell anyone about this. It's safer for you to keep it to yourself. For now, anyways." He looks at me and I can tell he wants to ask why it would be safer, but a loud knocking on the door stops him. We both stand. "Were you expecting company?" he asks but he already knows the answer. "Chase, go back on the plane," I say, pushing him slightly. "I'm not going to leave you! What if it's one of the people who took Robert?" he says, pushing out his chest as if that'd protect me. "Then that's who it is, and you wouldn't be any help me because you're on a plane," I say as the knocking continues. The look on his face tells me he doesn't want to leave me but I urge him to go. "I'll be fine, promise. But Chase, you can't drift to me until I drift to you first, okay? If I get under the control of a Whisperer you'll be taken and we'll all be fucked, understand?" He nods his head and I watch as he vanishes, his final thought being Stay safe.

I look through the peep hole and see a short bald man holding a small package. I open the door slowly and he looks up at me. "Annaliese?" he asks. I nod my head tentatively. "Well I don't have all day, take your damn package." I take the package from him and he turns to leave before looking over his shoulder and saying, "Robert sends his regards." I slam the door shut and fall to the ground. Robert. I did everything he told me to do. I even went to the states so I'd be safe. I tear the package open and what I see inside makes me choke on a sob. Its pictures of Robert. He's strapped to a table in what looks like a lab. His whole body has needles and tubes sticking out of it. He looks dead. I feel sick. I run to the bathroom and empty my stomach of what little I've eaten. I shuffle through the pictures. They're all more or less the same. Robert, being poked and prodded in a lab somewhere while I'm here, not helping him. I feel my face become wet with tears and I throw the pictures on the ground. I should be there.

And like that I'm in the lab. I hear the beating of Robert's heart on a monitor and I slowly walk towards him. He looks like he's sleeping, but his heart rate tells a different story. I've been on his chest while he sleeps enough to know that this is irregular. I go to the machine and when I go to touch it, a hand grabs my wrist. I look at Robert and his bloodshot eyes look at me. "Rob," I whisper, but he's too far gone to hear me, as his eyes roll to the back of his head and his arm falls limp to his side. I run my fingers through his curly hair on his sweating forehead and I hold back a sob. What are they doing to you? I think, hoping he can still hear me.

Annaliese. He thinks and I feel my heartbeat quicken. It's been so long since I've heard his voice.

What are they doing to you? Where are you? Is there any way I can get you out? I ask but I feel that he's already gone. At this point the heart machine goes off the charts with beeping, but I don't care about that. I fall to the floor and put my head in my hands. He's so doped up I can't even take control of him to get the damn IV's out. Then, a man comes in. he's wearing glasses and a lab coat.

"Robert," He says. His voice sends shivers down my spine and I know he's responsible for what's happening. He walks over to Rob and he touches one of the IV bags, lowering the dosage. After a few minutes, Robert comes to. As soon as he opens his eyes, he quickly snaps them shut. "Oh, Robbie," The man says, pulling up a chair I hadn't even noticed. "Now we can do this the easy way, or the hard way. It's all up to you." I see Rob's hands balled up in anger. I lightly brush my hand over his and for a moment his anger gives out, and his walls come down. The fear he feels is overwhelming but I hold my breath so he doesn't know how it's affecting me. "Robert, is someone here with us?" the man asks.

Annaliese, please, go. Rob thinks, but I can't leave him. Not with this man.