The Post Sunday Experiment | COMPLETED 2020

Chapter 24

It was dark by the time Eric reached Washington DC. Just as the tires of his red pick-up truck drove around to the front of the Pentagon that glowed in the dark, he realized the stupidity of his actions. After he'd gotten the text message from Mae, he'd acted instantly. He hadn't stopped to think.

Shaking his head back and forth, he pulled the car farther down the road. He decided to rethink his plan in the daylight so as to not act out of rash anger. His mind had begun to wander in a fearful haze when he noticed a figure walking down the road in a sweatshirt. Though he didn't have much to go on in the way of details, he recognized the boy to the side of the road.

In a black sweatshirt and dark jeans, Ody Winter walked down the concrete sidewalk as he tried to hide from prying eyes. As soon as the red pickup slowed and pulled over besides the boy, he looked up. Eric's eyes met Ody's.

There was a moment where neither said a word. Ody, taking Eric's cue, climbed into the passenger seat of the van. Eric didn't ask questions—he was good about that—Ody didn't speak either.

They drove through the city in silence, admiring the lights that twinkled and sparkled in the moonlight. It didn't take long for Eric to find a hotel. The two climbed into a room, showered, and changed back into the only set of clothes they had brought. They laid back on the comfortable queen beds.

"So... what are you doing here?" Ody hesitated as he turned to face Eric.

"They took her," the man said bluntly. Ody wasn't familiar with such a mellow tone coming from Eric's lips.

"Who?"

"Mae—uh—your mother. They took her away and I don't know why."

"Hm," was all Ody could reply with. He was not surprised. He assumed his mother had followed her children, found out the PSE, and that's why they'd taken her. But what did he know? For all he knew, his mother was somehow wrapped up in his father's mess, too.

"What about you? How the heck did you end up down here?" Eric began.

"It's a long story." Ody rolled over and shook his head.

That night, the two of them fell asleep to the hum of questions rattling about their heads and the fear in their hearts for what the following day would bring them. As the stars rose above the city and the many lights outside their window slowly faded to darkness, there was a fire inside them both that would not be put out by fear.

***

The morning sunlight greeted both their faces through the open window. They grabbed breakfast at a little café not too far away from their hotel, which was run by an old man and his nephew Carter.

In the café booth, they laid out their ideas and planned their route. Apparently, Eric had interned at the Pentagon during his undergrad in college. In fact, that's how he met Ody's father years ago. This meant he still remembered the floor plans.

As Eric vocalized his ideas, Ody couldn't help but see a spark in the man's eyes every time he mentioned his mother. Ody didn't approve of the attention Eric paid his mother. He liked the man for sure, but his father had just passed. How could anyone be done grieving? His suspicion towards Eric's motivations gave way to disdain.

"...now if we take the three o'clock tour, we can make it through the security. When they take us past that elevator you talked about, we can punch in the code and make it to the fifth basement where the PSE is located-"

"How do you know the code?" Ody interrupted with confusion, a hint of suspicion in his voice. There was a pause before Eric sighed and began.

"Ody..."

"Don't 'Ody' me! How do you know it?" Ody's words were harsh as he tensed. He wondered if he should leave the booth to give them both some distance.

"They- I-" Sighing, Eric gathered his thoughts and began, "They offered me a job with the PSE. They want me to- to be their next botanist."

"And you took it? You willingly replaced my father?" Ody spoke as he stood from the booth to look into Eric's eyes with disgust. Eric grabbed the boy's wrist so that he couldn't run before he finished. Eric looked Ody dead in the eyes and continued.

"I didn't know the situation was so huge. I didn't know they abducted people just to keep the secret secure. I don't know what it is they're hiding entirely but now I am on the inside and I intend to find out."

"How do I know... I can trust you? And did you not have to agree not to speak of the organization?"

"Yes, I did give my word that I would keep it secret from public ears but, Ody, you and I already know it exists. I gave my word not to tell anyone, but you already know so it's nothing new."

"I guess... but how do I know you won't just give me back to them as soon as we get in there?"

There was another pause. The only sound was the soft clattering of dishes and the hum of quiet conversations. Eric picked up his coffee, stared at it, then sighed.

"Ody, I swear I'm on your side on this by Devlin Winter's grave. I'm your father's friend, therefore I'm now yours. I don't care if I become an enemy to this, I am doing what is right for your family and that is more important."

"But why do you care so much about my family? Why do they matter to you?"

"Because, son, Penny was always a daughter to me, Mae a best friend, and even though I didn't know you well, I could always clearly see a bit of myself in you."

"I'm not your son. Don't call me that."

"Ody... I know what happened to my family and no matter the cost, I won't allow that to happen to yours. Please, trust me enough to help you."