Beyond What We Know [COMPLETED]

CHAPTER 15 - Answers and More Questions

A few days have gone by, but nothing has changed. Thing is, I don't know if I should be happy or worried about that...

It's getting increasingly colder, so we're not outside as much anymore and spend our time in the house much more often. An example of that is me helping Erica clean the kitchen.

"Alright, all done", I informed as I stepped down from the stool I used to reach the highest cupboards.

Erica had left for a few minutes empty-handed, but came back with a book. "Hey, Ella, since you're already here", she showed me the book. "I didn't know yer uncle was so into science and technology. That's pretty neat."

As soon as I laid my eyes on the cover, I lifted them back up to look at Erica as lost as ever. "Where did you find that?"

"In the garage, the other day. I've been reading it, I hope ye don't mind", she handed me the book.

The garage...? "No, I don't mind. It's just that I've never seen that book in my life."

"You haven't?"

I shook my head. "Not only that, but Uncle Tom wasn't into science at all."

There was a long moment of silence before Erica suggested, "Maybe it belongs to one of us?"

Possible, but I wouldn't bet on it. Then again, that's just me and apparently I've been wrong before... I examined the book; both front and back looked unfamiliar. I then tried shuffling through the pages, and nothing jogged my memory. The title, however... "The History of Scientific Research in America", that sounded very familiar. It was uncanny, almost.

"Don't lose sight of this", I handed the book back to Erica. "We'll show it to everyone later during dinner and see if they recognise it."

I'm not lying when I say I've never seen that book in my life, nor did I know it even existed. But I can say with certainty that I've seen the title somewhere. I must have, otherwise how would it feel this familiar? There was no visible author name or photo anywhere in the book, so that made it all the weirder. At dinner, it became worse.

As soon as we finished our food, Erica and I instantly looked at each other, then nodded and pushed our plates away.

"So, I found this book in the garage the other day", Erica placed the mysterious book on the table and everyone went silent, diverting their attention to it.

"And what about it?" It was Rico the one to actually speak, but the others were just as unaware of this book's enigmatic existence. And that immediately confirmed that it didn't belong to any of us. If it did, the owner would've claimed it.

"Well", I began answering, "this book isn't mine, nor my uncle's, nor my aunt's. And by the looks on your faces, it doesn't belong to any of you either."

"Therefore, our question is: does anyone know how this book got here, or where it came from?" Erica finished for me. Her question was followed by a concoction of shaking heads, raised eyebrows and "no's", "nope's" and "nah's".

Erica turned her head to me and I asked them another question, "Does anything about it seem familiar to you?"

The book was passed around, and this time everybody agreed on the title. The damn title seemed familiar to everyone, though no one knew anything about this book. They have to start believing me now, right? I mean, no way they don't find this ominous.

"Not to sound... out of my mind, but I wanna ask all of you not to forget that this book is here with us in the farm. It might be a sign of something bigger, and we should be prepared. It'll stay with Erica for now, until something is decided. Or until something happens."

I think they're starting to open their eyes to the messed up things that keep happening to us; we spent the rest of dinnertime in complete silence, safe of course for silverware noises. Usually, they resume their conversations, but not this time. Maybe it hit them. Maybe it hit them that something isn't right.

Later that night, while I was adding this new discovery to my notes, I heard something fall and instantly break down in the kitchen. It might've been my instincts, or maybe it was residual fear of everything we've gone through, but as soon as I heard it I sprinted downstairs. As I stopped in the doorway, the first thing I saw was Erica with both hands placed on Lee's shoulders. Then, I noticed a plate shattered on the floor and the book opened on the table. "What's wrong?" I approached them, avoiding the shards.

"Lee was drying the plates and I was reading this, right? Lee kept looking over and asking me what it was saying, and when I turned to that page, they just froze and, well, ye can see the aftermath for yourself."

I walked over to the book. Both pages had photographs of some kind of lab, a research center. It didn't exactly surprise me, given the title of the book, but I still asked Lee for some clarification on what had happened.

"That's it. That's... That's the building from my dreams. I-I'm sure of it...!" Lee stuttered and kept looking at the book over Erica's shoulders.

"Can you leave us?" Erica nodded and left the kitchen. I picked up the book to take a closer look. "You're sure this is the place?" Lee nodded. It this wasn't creepy before, it officially is now. And to top it all off, Locke came down to join us.

"Is everything alright?" His eyes widened with furrowed brows when he saw Lee's pale face.

I handed him the book. "That's the place we're looking for. Any idea where it might be?"

Locke took his time to scan the photographs and short descriptions before shaking his head. "No, but Brett might be able to help. He used to know practically everyone in the city. Well, mostly the rats, but you know what I mean. Erica's been reading this, right?" I nodded. "Her and I will take it and go talk to Brett tomorrow. Mind if I keep this?"

"Not at all."

Locke wished goodnight and walked back out. I walked out with Lee just minutes later.

Since the next morning was too chilly for Locke and Erica to go to the market, I asked him for the book so I could take a look at the other chapters and any information it might have about that building. I also took the chance to ask Locke to check the ruins for me; I'm not letting go of that bone. I know I said I would, but I can't.

I took the book to my room and lied on my back on the bed, opening it back on those pages. "Scientific Research Center, huh? Oddly ambiguous in this context, if you ask me..." I muttered to myself as I read the small descriptions under each photograph. They were all so vague, though. "Scientific research", "one of the most prestigious in the country", "affiliated with the government for logistics reasons", that doesn't tell me anything, nor does it help me in any way. And the photographs weren't new to me either: white corridors, a ceiling full of tubes, metal grids and ventilation, tighter grids making up the floor, random computers and folders with tons of paperwork; all things Lee had already described to me. I tried looking for anything about the author in case I had missed it by accident last time, but I hadn't; nothing of the sorts existed in any part of the book. The other chapters contained pictures of other research centers and building, such as universities and libraries, things like Harvard, Oxford and Stanford.

Strangely enough, however, the pages about the center from Lee's nightmares didn't cite any name or owner. I really hope Brett's able to help on that; maybe it even still exists and we can try to get to it.

After lunch, I returned the book to Locke and Erica just before they left. As Locke was about to close the truck's door, I approached him. "How's Lee?"

"Better. Didn't have an enjoyable night, but it's all good now. Anything new about the book?"

I shook my head. Locke looked over at the book, which Erica had in her hands, then back at me. "That's fine. Let's see what Brett says."

Locke closed the door, started the truck and drove away. They were back just as quickly as they left; either Brett was of no help, or there was very little to say about this book and this "research center". I was standing outside to be the first to hear the news, and walked closer as Locke parked the truck.

"So, did Brett know anything?"