Not Just Another Number

Underneath Our Noses

Sarah's POV

Dustin plays the recording over and over as Robin, Christine, and I try to decipher it. Robin paces back and forth while Christine and I sit next to Dustin. Christine attempts to mouth the words as she listens. Dustin replays the recording one more time, before Robin hears something.

She turns around and point at him. "Wait, that last part, just one more time." Dustin nods and rewinds. She lets it play, before stopping him at the end. "That word. It's pronounced...'dly-nna-ya'."

"Dly-nna-ya." Dustin repeats.

"Which is spelled..."

Christine hops up and walks over to the board. "D! The chair looking one!" Robin writes that down with a smile on her face. Okay, first letter down! She sounds out the rest of the word and figures it out. "The week is long." She says.

I nod and walk over to the divider. I push it open and clear my throat, getting Steve's attention. "Got the first sentence." He turns around, a surprised look on his face. "Seriously?"

I smile. "Yup. 'The week is long'." I say in a horrible Russian accent. He chuckles at the accent and rolls his eyes. "Well that's thrilling."

"Well, it's progress." I lean forward and kiss him on the lips. "I'll come help you out here in a minute. Okay?"

He nods with a dopey smile. Before turning, I look over his shoulder to see who he's serving. My eyes widen at the two girls. "El? What are you doing out?" I ask. El, who's accompanied by Max, pales at being caught.

"Don't tell Dad." She says as Steve gives her and Max their ice-creams. Seriously, she think's I'll rat her out? I shake my head. "I'm not a snitch. About time you left that shack. Just be safe you two. I mean it." I say, pointing at the two of them.

They smile and nod before skipping away to be the chaotic kids they are. I wave goodbye to Steve and go back into the break room.

The rest of the group is still trying to decode the recording, writing down words that they solve. I move over to my bag and sneak my pack of cigarettes from the side pocket. While they're figuring out that code, might as well go figure out my shit.

I walk to the back door, leading to the hallway in the back, saying a little 'be back' over my shoulder. I get hums in return. I push the door open and walk over to the wall across from it. I lean against the wall and slide down to a sitting position.

I pull a cigarette out of the pack and place it in my mouth. I put the pack in my pocket and raise my right hand to the cigarette. I light my thumb on fire and use it to light my cigarette.

I breathe deeply, relishing in the way the smoke fills my lungs. I blow out gently, letting the smoke billow in front of me. I close my eyes and focus on the feeling.

Why am I seeing visions of Billy? Did something happen to him? And what was that thing that grabbed him? I flick the cigarette, letting ash fall off the end, as my thought consume me.

I feel the air shift around me as I blow out more smoke. I open my eyes at the shift. I notice that the smoke isn't disappearing, instead it's hanging in mid air.

"Great, what now?" I ask out loud, gritting my teeth. I feel an energy wash over my body. I don't recognize it. It's like a strong pull, pulling me to something. "Like hell I'm following that shit right now." I laugh bitterly.

I raise my head. "If you're trying to show me something, why now? And maybe, tell me instead of show me." I say, raising my voice. "C'mon Mom." I plead. Ever since last Winter, Mom hasn't appeared. If this is something she's trying to show me, why can't she just be here? Why'd she have to disappear?