THURSDAY AFTERNOON

I sat on the couch, about a foot away from my Father, who was sitting with Amy bouncing on his knee and looking over the maps. Amy was still holding the rabbit like her life depended on it. Mom was in the kitchen, feeding the people who had participated in the day’s search. Her Scottish accent had broken though Tuesday afternoon from the stress, and she hadn’t bothered to switch back, so when they were searching, she was shouting out orders in a Scottish-military fashion which was very hard to ignore. Everyone was afraid to go against any directions from her. I smiled faintly and got up, stretching and going into the kitchen. I didn’t bother going around anybody or anything, for I had discovered that I could go though anything at will. It felt strange, so I didn’t do it too often, but I was feeling especially guilty today so I went through everyone. I climbed up and sat on the counter next to the stove where Mom was cooking and talking with the volunteers. I watched her eyes, mouth, hair, and body move as she did her activities. She was friendly and upbeat despite the situation, and everyone else was a bit more solemn, but didn’t want to bring her down so laughed along with her.

No one had even found traces of me yet. They had discovered all the missing items, but not me. They were sent into a frenzy when they found the missing things. They hadn’t found the duffel bag, though. I had been sleeping in the Ford every night, and I had even managed to hide a blanket and pillow for me to sleep with. No developments had been made by me, the searchers, or the people in London helping me. I broke my train of thought and went into the garage, getting out the laptop and climbing into the back of the Ford like every other night. I got comfortable and turned it on, opening the email.

                “We found something.” Was the first thing I saw.

                “What?!”

                “A way to bypass –sort of- the Trial you are in.”

                “How?”

                “Well, it usually lasts four to eight weeks, and you have had it for only a few days. But, if you can skip ahead to the next Trial, then you should be able to handle that one much better.”

                “What’s the next one?”

                “The next one is where you get trapped in your mind, but there are a lot of drawbacks to this plan.”

                “Like what?”

                “The last person who went on to the next Trial never came out of her mind. She is still in even though she passed both Trials. And we would have to come and get your parents to agree to what we have to do to get you to the next one, and we would have to explain everything.”

                “Why can’t we?”

                “Once you’re in the Trial, you cannot speak to anyone.”

                “Which is why you would do it.”

                “We also don’t even know if it would work. No one has done this before.”

                “I’m willing to try anything. I just need someone to know that I am standing in front of them.”

                “But there is still the issue of your parents.”

                “Come when they’re out on a search.”

                “The process could take days, weeks even.”

                “I am okay with you taking more time.”

                “Are you sure? This is all up to you.”

                “Yes.”

                “Okay. Hang in there. You’re doing excellent.” I closed the laptop again, feeling the fatigue of being up for thirty-eight hours straight. I hid the laptop again and prepared to sleep.