Ataxia

thirty-three

I left the car with my group of friends, trying to prepare myself for anything. Of course I could never be prepared for charging into the world's top facility. But even so, I was going to bust in and do all I can to save August.

We didn't park directly in front of the facility. We stopped at a gate that surrounded the place. What disturbed me was a sign that said PRIVATE PROPERTY: TRESPASSERS WILL BE SHOT. These guys were serious about anyone not finding out about what they were doing here.

Wynn stepped out of the car and once his eyes fell on the gate, it was like he was caught in a trance. He just kept staring at the fence, unblinking.

"Wynn?" I waved my hand in front of his face and he shook his head. "You okay?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine."

"How are we going to get inside? It's an electric fence so we can't climb over it." Orion said. "Too bad I didn't bring my pliers."

I shuddered a little bit. Why would he carry pliers around exactly?

"Johnnay," Wynn said, glancing towards her. "Can't you control metal or something like that?"

"Um, kinda," she rubbed the back of her neck, twiddling with her feet. "I can sorta create magnetic fields. But it has to be between two conductors. Which is why I always carry around things like silverware." She dug through her backpack and pulled out a spoon. "Like this adorable tiny spoon."

Johnnay held out the spoon in her hand and part of the fence shook a little, and so did the spoon. And then, like magic, little pieces of fence tore away from the gate and towards the spoon. She put it on the ground as the fence collected onto the silverware. When a hole that was big enough to duck through, the creaking noises stopped.

"That is so cool!" I held up my fist. "I seriously doubted you at first. But that was awesome." She bumped my fist with hers.

"Thanks."

Orion shot me a "told you so" look and I rolled my eyes.

"Something is wrong here," Wynn stopped our celebration of high fives. "The alarms should be going off."

"Couldn't you mention earlier that there are alarms?" I exclaimed. "Before we actually created a hole in the fence? You have really bad timing."

"Sorry," he said, looking up at the tiny camera perched on the fence. "But I didn't say anything because the camera is off. Which means that the security system is off. So I didn't say anything."

"Oh, gosh, you're right," Johnnay pointed at the camera. "The camera is off."

"Okay, weird," Orion said. "The adults might have already beaten us and turned off the system. So you think we should just charge in with no fear?"

I nodded. "Let's do this thing."

After about a mile of walking, we reached the towering building. I saw Andy's car parked out front. I wonder how he got in with a direct approach. And when we entered inside, it wasn't as scary as I thought it would be.

It looked like everyone just up and left. We even searched offices. The mug of coffee on the table was still a little warm and papers were scattered everywhere. A laptop was still open but the screen was off.

We decided to search the place and we went by twos in case we ran into trouble we would have help. And guess who volunteered to go with me? Wynn.

I was so nervous I couldn't describe it. It was even more nerve-racking than walking up to this facility. But whoever said I liked him? All I ever thought was that he was cute.

Okay. I admit.

I maybe kind of sorta possibly have a small chance of liking him.

The walk through the second floor was silent. I couldn't think of anything to say since Wynn usually kept his thoughts to himself. I mean, how do you start a conversation with someone who doesn't speak?

"Um, Wynn, so --"

"You don't have to talk to me to be polite, Des," he looked up at me, his adorable coffee brown eyes looking innocent and trusting. "I don't care much about manners anyway."

Okay. Well at least he spoke to me. It's better than him not talking to me at all. "Well, I was actually going to ask you how you saw that car earlier." The question was improv and I'm proud of myself for thinking of it on the spot.

"Well," he dug his hands deeper into his hoodie pockets. "You can say I have enhanced senses. But not in the way you're thinking of. I think the simplest way I can say it, because it's pretty complicated, is that I can shapeshift."

My brain exploded. "That is so amazing!" I said. "How do you do it? 'Cause you said it's complicated, right?"

"Well, yeah," he muttered something about being flattered too much, "I need the DNA of the thing I need to change into first. I've never done it on a non-living thing. But I can shift into animals. I can turn into a panther, a dove, and a red-eared turtle." He said, counting three of his fingers.

"That is so cool!" I said, feeling all fangirly. "All I can do is make my hands catch fire. It's not as cool as yours, though."

"Trust me," he said, smiling. "You're lucky to have such a useful ability." He paused, pointing to a door. "Let's just look through my dad's office. I'm sure we'll find something there."

He turned the doorknob to Radcliffe's office. Just like all the other rooms, it was empty. I silently cursed.

Wynn turned. "He's not here."

"Well, no duh," I said sarcastically, following him.

He didn't reply. Probably because I sounded really rude. Crud, should I apologize?

And a yell from above us broke the silence. I gasped, breaking into a run towards the stairs since the elevator was out.

"What's wrong?" Wynn called, running after me.

"That was Andy!" I shouted back. "He's my dad!"

I rarely called Andy "dad." I don't know why. I think it felt weird somehow to me to call my non-birth father dad. So when I call him dad, it's a special occasion.

Wynn wordlessly trailed behind me. Eventually he caught up with me and he was surprisingly a fast-paced runner. Probably because he was half panther or something (which is SO awesome). Taking deep and rooted breaths, I tumbled up the stairs.

If I were to be completely honest, while I was running up those steps, I was terrified. I knew Andy and Mr. Watson and their little rescue party were here and I'm sure they were fine. But if Andy started yelling out in pain, I'm pretty worried something awful must have happened.

Wynn led the way and glanced at the doors on the third floor hastily, tracking down where the yell came from. He stopped in front of a pair of steel doors that were about midway down the hallway.

"Oh no," he said, staring at the doors. "Why the heck did they go in there? It's a stupid idea!" I was figuring he was talking to himself so I didn't say anything. He tried to bust the door open.

We both charged at one door at the same time and the door broke open and one of the hinges broke. The room was wide and echoey and very dark. I could barely see my hand in front of me.

"Who's there?" Mr. Watson's voice shouted as he edged closer to us in the light, holding up a gun. He looked very scruffy and dirty. His tight and curly hair that reminded me of August was very dirty and more frizzy than usual. Then his eyes widened. "What're you kids doing here? Get out! Now!"

"Des, we should go," Wynn pulled on my arm. "We shouldn't even be in this room."

I stepped forward, ignoring their warnings. "Andy!" I shouted, running around blindly. "Andy, where are you?"

There was no answer.

"Andy!" I shouted again.

No reply.

"Andy!"

Silence.

Oh, no.