The Institute ~Completed~

Chapter Twenty-Eight: The cold hard truth.

Jessica couldn't believe Cotton said what she just did. Jessica felt as if she is frozen. She couldn't move or speak. She was staring at the little girl in her arms as if Cotton was the ghost. Cotton was just as speechless as Jessica. There were no words to speak. Nothing to say. Nothing to describe. "Um Did I hear you say something about 'Everyone being dead' ?" Asks Kaleb. Cotton just stares at the floor.  "Yes why?"

"Because you're right. Everyone is dead.'' Kaleb agrees with her.

Jessica at that moment unfroze herself and ran. She ran back to the house. Her breath was out the moment she sat Cotton down. "Mum!!! Are you okay?" Cotton asks. "Why did you say everyone is dead?" She asks not caring about her breath at all. ''Because everyone is, no one is alive." Cotton presses. Jake overheard from the kitchen and walks in with a confused look on his face. "What are you talking about?" He asks.

Cotton just looks at the ground again. "My brother was in an accident as soon as they got him into the hospital. I went into a coping magnetism and I freaked out and scared everyone. A voice in my head keeps telling me 'Everyone is dead'. And this boy who I assume is admitted in the hospital told me I was right everyone is dead." Cotton explains fastly. "I am not sure what to believe in anymore. Everything seems so real but surreal at the same time. I don't understand this."

Jake looks at Jessica. "Neither do we. Maybe we should consult with your grandfather Cotton." Jake says. "Do you think he'd help?" Asks Cotton. "I'm sure he can. If not we'll have to take you to someone who can." Jessica says.

--
Three weeks later

Cotton snuck out of the house in search of answers. She knew she wasn't going to find inside the town. She ran into the woods. And was grabbed by a familiar but strange person. He shoves her to the ground. Pinning her down was easy in his mind. "Let me go!" She says as she regains her vision. "I can't." Says a voice she wasn't to familiar with. "Why? Wait aren't you the boy who told me I was right about everyone being dead?" Cotton asks as she recognizes the boy. "Yes I am and I was told to bring you to my father." Kaleb says with a sheepish smile.

"Who's your father?" Asks Cotton. Kaleb lifts his weight off of Cotton and helps her up. "You'll have to see, he has the answers you seek." Kaleb says as he guides her towards a small yet well taken care of cabin. "Is this where your father is?" Cotton asks. Kaleb just nods and walks up to the front door. He takes some keys out of his pocket and puts a key in the keyhole on the doorknob. It unlocks and opens the door.  A sweet flavorful scent swept out and into their noses. Cotton found the scent so pleasant she wanted to see what it is so she steps in the house without warning an arrow shot at her but she dodges it. "Yea you might want to wait for me." Kaleb whispers in her ear.

Cotton gulps and agrees as Kaleb guides her to the kitchen. Where the scent came from. She saw a man, a woman, Jada and a dinner set out on the table. "Have a seat you two?" Said the man. Cotton took a place next to Jada and Kaleb next to her. ''So your Ace?" Asks Cotton. Ace nods and looks to Nadia. "Dish her out a plate." Nadia did. She placed a neatly organized plate of food in front of Cotton. ''Thank you." Cotton says to Nadia. Nadia just nods.

"So I hear you're looking for answers?" Ace asks...

"I am."