Chapter IX

SHOVING AWAY SOME BRUSH in their way, Skipper held it back as the girls stepped out among the tree into an area of rocky terrain.

Joey gawked at the view of a massive waterfall gushing from the side of a humongous rock formation that poured into a large pool of water contained in its stone bowl in the ground. The last bit of sunlight reflected off the fall, sparkling off the trees and rocks surrounding them. She was stunned by its beauty.

The first Dome was beautiful for a place stained with the blood of thousands.

"Where are we?" she asked in one breath.

"How's your climbing skills?" Michelle leaned all her weight on one foot and folded her arms across her chest with a smirk. Joey shot her a quizzical look, and Michelle gestured with her head towards the fall. "Our hideout is hidden behind the fall."

"Only way to get to it is up," Skipper explained, inclining his arm to be more specific.

"I don't see anything behind the fall," Heather said, relaxing her scrunched face.

"That's exactly what we want Agcorp to think," Michelle continued. "They have cameras hidden throughout the Domes, but the only place they don't..." She clicked her tongue and pointed at the ground. "Is here."

"Why?" Joey asked, turning from the mountain to the Michelle. "Wouldn't that just raise suspicions?"

A grin curled Michelle's lips. "No, because there's no cameras at all in the wolves territory."

"They keep eating them!" Skipper bursted with laughter.

Michelle smacked his bicep with the back of her hand. "Honestly, you'd have to be pretty stupid to think hiding here was a good plan. Many have tried. Many have died." She looked off to the side. "Guess Agcorp's experiments didn't go quite as they had hoped."

"Experiments?" Heather asked before Joey had the chance.

Michelle glanced between Joey and Heather with a dumb look in her eyes. "The animals are mutated." When no one said anything she rolled her eyes. "Did no one teach yo—" She cut herself off and pinched the bridge of her nose with her index finger and thumb. Then she interlocked her fingers. "They merged animals DNA with—whatever they cooked up in those labs—to create monsters."

Heather snorted. "Please. A few animals don't scare me. You'd think Agcorp could do better. I've already killed one of their soldiers. What's a few animals?"

"Dude," Skipper said lowly, his brow pulled together and shaking his head.

Joey's blood ran cold hearing how murdering another human being seemed to have no affect on Heather, and she guessed that must have been why Heather could attack a "friend" so easily... Because Heather simply felt nothing.

"Oh, you should be scared. You should be very scared." Michelle's words sent bumps crawling up Joey's arms. "See, these monsters aren't the pathetic fairy tales you read about in bedtime stories. They're smart, cunning, and will do anything for their next meal. So, next time you see a cute little bunny, I'd think twice before bending down to pet it. One bite or scratch is all it takes here in the Dome. You never know how dangerous a creature is until it's too late."

"And what's Claire's favorite toy?" Skipper said, his lips pressing into a thin line. "Poison."

Frozen, Joey noticed beads of sweat dampen her brow. She looked down, placing a hand on her chest as the oxygen grew thin, and she found it unexpectedly getting harder to breathe. Closing her eyes, she drew in a few long and focused breaths. As much as being in the Dome frightened her, she had to stay in control. She couldn't lose it in the middle of a dangerous situation if she wanted to survive. Letting out one final breath, she glanced at Michelle and Skipper, who stared at her with a look of confusion.

Michelle then threw a thumb over her shoulder towards the left side of the fall. "Over there, underneath all that moss on the side, are some grooves you can fit your hands into."

"Is it safe?" Joey asked in a hurry.

Michelle shrugged. "I'll admit it's not easy, but you'll survive. When you get halfway to the top, there will be a small hole in the mountain that you'll have to crawl through. We found it on a hunt two years ago and covered it with brush so neither Agcorp nor the animals could track us, and thankfully, the smell of moss and algae masks our scent."

"Ladies—and newbies—first." Skipper dramatically bowed and swooped his arm towards the wall.

Heather shoved Joey's shoulder. She stumbled forward, a twinge pinching her side and she cringed. She shot Heather a glare before turning her gaze back to the massive wall she'd have to somehow figure out how to climb.

She gulped and took small steps. She had never been good at climbing and wasn't very strong either. Depriving herself of sleep and food had a way of making her body extremely weak and frail, but she never had upper body strength to begin with. Silently, she prayed she would be able to make it to the top without falling because oddly enough, "you'll survive" wasn't very reassuring.

She released a quick puff of air, pushed some of the algae aside until she found what looked like the best foothold, and placed one foot in the hole that only fit the tip of her boot. She grabbed a handful of moss in the opposite hand and began her ascend, placing one hand after the other. She struggled her way to the top, but she never looked down, knowing that if she did any courage in her body would be zapped away

It took strength to keep herself going when all she wanted to do was return to the ground. Her legs and arms shook and her muscles ached, begging for relief from this never ending climb. She let out a low grunt in frustration quickly taking a glance around. This hole Michelle spoke of didn't appear to exist.

Reaching up to grasp another patch of moss, her foot suddenly slipped on the wet rock. She dug her long nails into the dirt to keep from falling, and bit her tongue refusing to scream. She wasn't sure how much more she could do. Her strength was quickly leaving her. Even now, she was afraid her fingers and biceps would lock up and drop her.

"You should have chiseled in footholds or something!" Joey joked, shouting over the raging water.

"Right," came Michelle's sarcastic response. "I'll put that on my to-do list along with a neon sign painted 'we're here!' Keep moving!" Joey felt a slap on her ankle causing her to slip again, and this time she couldn't contain the yelp. Sucking in a deep breath and willing herself to go on, she continued to scale the wall.

It felt like an eternity had passed when she discovered the hole, and a smile donned her face as relief filled her aching muscles seeing that her climbing journey had reached its end. Shoving the branches and leaves to the side, she slipped headfirst into the hole, but the ache in her arms received no relief as she now had to crawl her way through a hole barely her size—it was a wonder how any man fit through here.

Claustrophobia set in and if she wasn't already panting from the climb, she definitely was now. She twisted her head to find dirt encasing her entire body, envisioning the tunnel collapsing with her inside. Shaking her head, she closed her eyes and began to army crawl, keeping the intrusive thoughts on a leash.

After a few seconds of crawling, her fingers brushed against something on the ground that mixed with the soft dirt. As she fingered it more carefully, she came to the conclusion that it was chips of stone. She felt a hard smack on the bottom of her boot, and she opened her eyes. Twisting her head to the right to rebuke the person behind her, her forehead smacked the side of the tunnel and she scolded herself. Dummy.

Wiggling her way through dirt and rock, she squinted as a dim light filtered in through what she assumed had to be the exit. Excitement rushed through her every being, ready to be free from her constricting prison, and she quickened her army crawl. Following the light, she inevitably found the ground underneath her disappear and she toppled forward out of the hole with a flip.

Her back smacked the hard surface, stealing the oxygen from her lungs. A sharp pain shot through her abdomen and she cringed but held back the scream that billowed in her throat. Her hand made its way to her sore ribs, cursing Heather's thick boot.

She relaxed her face and stared towards the ceiling with wide eyes as two faces towered over her; two young, identical faces. One held a torch while the other a broadsword with its tip under her chin at the top of her neck. Slowly, she raised her hands to show that she meant no harm but they shook uncontrollably, feeling almost too heavy to lift. Her eyes shifted from one boy to the next, wondering if this was Michelle's plan all along, and as stupid as Joey was, she had fallen prey to the trap.

"Rufus. Brutus." Michelle emerged from the hole, though, unlike Joey, she landed on her feet after rolling through a somersault. Puffing out a breath of air, she placed her hands on her knees. "There's no need. She's with us."

"Whoa, guys!" Skipper appeared out of no where, shoving both the boys aside and out of Joey's face. "You knew we were going to pick up the newbies."

"We?" the one with the sword asked, giving Skipper the death glare as he sheathed his broadsword. His accent was strange, and Joey could easily tell that he wasn't from any of the cities she had visited.

The other boy holding the torch mirrored the others expression perfected. "You were told to stay behind just like the rest of us."

Skipper shrugged. "What can I say? Adventure calls me."

"Death," the boy with the sword said as he stared at Skipper blankly. "Death calls you."

Skipper waved him off. "Come on. You guys are young. You gotta live a little before Claire has her way with you."

At that, neither boy replied.

The boy with the torch looked Joey's way. "Sorry about that." He extended his free hand as the boy also lended a hand.

At first, she didn't respond but cautiously accepted their hands. Together, the boys hoisted her to her feet. Now taller than the two and able to see them more clearly, she studied them curiously. They were a few inches shorter than her, but there was no mistaking their resemblance. "Twins?"

"If you want to know the difference between them..." Michelle began, helping Heather out of the hole. "Rufus has green eyes and Brutus's are blue."

Joey squinted to see, and Skipper smacked his lips. "Here." He held out a hand and it began to glow. Light from the torch in one of the twins hands grew brighter, illuminating the dark surroundings. Now brighter, Joey could clearly see that the twins eyes were, in fact, different.

Rumbling came from behind, and Joey turned towards the hole in the wall. A cold fog seeped from the dark hole like snakes slithering down the stone, enveloping everyone in the cave as it heavily layered the floor. Joey shivered, bumps crawling up her arms.

"Wow! That's cold!" Skipper lowered his hand, the light dimming, as he rubbed his arms.

Joey's pulse quickened and her eyes slightly widened as she stared into the dark hole. There was only one person she knew who could make a room this cold. One person who she could use a good squeeze from. As time passed, the vapor filled the whole chamber like a sea of smoke, and a minute later, a yelp along with a thud caused her stomach to drop.

She stood frozen in place. Unsure if it was the cold keeping her still, or the face that met hers amongst the fog.

"Joey? Joey is that you?"

Her heart felt like it would stop as her best friend, his hair blonde and lips blue, stepped through the vapor to stand in front of her. "David!" Her voice came out a mere whisper.

Without waiting for him to make the first move, she threw herself into his arms, tears welling her eyes as her bare arms touched his cold skin. He returned her hug, squeezing her so tight around the ribs that she thought another one might crack, but she bit her bottom lip and held back the urge to shove him away. She never wanted this hug to end.

"Um, excuse me?"

Joey pulled away from David's chest and the two looked over at Skipper who waved at them.

"Yeah, sorry," he said. "Hate to break up the reunion, but some of us are freezing."

David swept his head from side to side. "Oh, sorry!" He released Joey, and held out his hands at his side. The mist filling the chamber opened his command, and was sucked back through David's fingers. Instantly, the warmth from the crowded bodies in a confined area returned.

David's gaze returned to hers, and she noticed that she hadn't taken her eyes off him. His eyebrows pull together, the lines appearing on his forehead with concern, as his gaze ventured away from her eyes. He tenderly rubbed her neck, his fingers chilling her skin. She reached up with the opposite hand wondering what he was feeling for and winced as her touch burned. Her fingers traced a small indention—kind of like a ring—around her neck, and when she pulled her hand away, the faint scent of copper entered her nostrils despite being unable to see any blood.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice thickened with worry. She felt his fingers rubbing against the thin dent. "Did they do this to you?"

Her gaze narrowed ever so slightly. "No, it wasn't them. It was—" She cut herself off, pursing her lips. She could tell him about what happened between her and Heather, but if they were going to survive then she couldn't risk a rift between the two. She gave a slight shrug along with a forced grin, and pulled his hand away. "Never mind. I handled the situation."

He frowned and stared at her for what felt like the longest time. She wondered if anyone else standing nearby would speak to break the awkwardness, or if they were standing by enjoying the show.

"I'm so sorry I wasn't able to protect you," he whispered. "I should've saved you."

She shook her head. "You did everything you could, but..." She let out a sigh, glancing down at her boots. Her cargo boots. The shoes she hadn't been wearing when Agcorp took them. "In the end, we both knew this was were we'd end up." She looked back up into his electrifying blue eyes. "We can't run forever."

"David?"

David's attention shifted over her shoulder, and Joey turned around as Heather cautiously strode forward. She stepped to the side so he and Heather were standing directly in front of one another. "Heather?" David gasped, staring at her shocked. "What are you doing here?"

"What is this?" she asked, ignoring his question. She scanned him from head to toe, and tears glistened in her eyes from the nearby torch. "You're...you're one of them?"

David glanced down at his appearance and, as quick as flipping a light switch, he reverted to his brown hair and olive skin. "I can explain." He took a step forward.

"Please do." Heather took a step back, her voice cracking with the obvious appearance of betrayal. "Please tell me you haven't been one of them all this time."

For a minute David was silent; collecting his thoughts. "I was six when it happened," he continued, and Joey stayed silent as she listened to his story. "I was taken to the hospital because of a high fever. It was actually so high that my parents were told I wasn't going to make it. Agcorp had halted all medicines to the Slums hospitals." He glanced down for a second, his voice softening, and he shot Joey a quick glance from the corner of his eye. "They...later found out that I had Ignisha." Nearly everyone in the chamber gasped. "It was in my bloodstream. That's what was making me so sick. The next day I woke up looking like—" he paused "—well, like, what you just saw. Blonde hair, blue lips, cold skin... My dad was there. He somehow calmed me down and I changed back before anyone noticed." He shrugged. "After that, I was fine. They ran tests, took blood samples, but they couldn't find the virus or even traces of high enough Toxicoma to suggest I had an ability. They wrote it down as some miracle and sent me home after a few days of confinement, and my parents arguing that I wouldn't be their test subject. After I went home, I still found that I could change into... Into this." He transformed back into his ice form at a much slower pace to give Heather the chance to process. "My dad helped me keep it a secret. Even from our family. He's the one who taught me to fight with it."

Joey twisted around as she heard chuckling from behind. Skipper folded his arms. "I'm gonna guess you're immune to the virus."

"No wonder they wouldn't wanted you as a test subject," one of the twins followed.

"It must've been a traumatic experience for a six year old," Joey whispered to herself. The key to discovering an ability. It's to suffer something traumatic.

Heather shook her head. "All this time?" her voice heightened and cracked. "All this time and you didn't tell me? Me?" She raised her voice as anger twisted her features. "I thought we told each other everything?!"

"Heather, I wanted to," David explained. "I really did! But, I...I was afraid of what you'd do if you found out." His voice came out just as equally hurt. "You always agreed with what Agcorp was doing, and I didn't want you turning me in. I'm..." He paused. "I'm sorry, Heather. I didn't—"

"You didn't trust me," she whispered, and David didn't respond. Eyeing Joey, Joey froze afraid that Heather was about to take out all her anger on her. Instead, Joey was shocked to hear, "Looks like he was never my best friend after all." Heather walked away to the other end of the cave, and David didn't stop her.

Joey averted her gaze, tears welling in the corners of her eyes. She couldn't imagine how betrayed Heather must have felt. How much it had to hurt David to never tell his friend.

Even through Heather's rage, Joey could see the brokenness in her eyes and knew how it felt to have the world collapse in on you.

And that wasn't a feeling she'd wish on even her enemy.