The Extinction Trials(58)

“Maya—”

“Please, Owen. You felt that we should come here. You were right. There’s something here. We know this was an ARC vessel—it’s got all the parts for the stations. I sense that there is something else here. ARC moved the hands of time on the watch. It’s a message. I know it. They brought us to the future, and they left us a clue about what we’re supposed to find.”

“We’re bringing the boat around,” Will said over the radio. “You really must hurry. Time truly is running out. The leading edge of the storm will be here imminently.”

Owen stared at Maya.

“Please, Owen.”

Slowly, he nodded his head. “Okay. Let’s find it.”

They raced through the maze of containers, stopping at each row to read the number of the first container. Luckily, the rows continued to be in ascending order. When they found a number higher than 48151, they backed up to the row before and raced down it, reading the numbers as they went.

“Wait,” Owen said, skidding to a halt on the metal deck. His head titled back, and he peered up, squinting as he read the numbers.

Maya got a sinking feeling as she followed his gaze. The container they were looking for, 48151, was sitting atop two containers, its door handles at least four times her height in the air.

Without a word, Owen planted a foot on the container behind them and then set his hands on the container ahead. To Maya’s shock and amazement, he shimmied upward, breathing heavily over the radio but making astounding progress.

When he reached the container, he grabbed the handle and let his feet swing into the base of it. Quickly, he turned the metal handle and swung the door out, the creaking metal calling out in the narrow alley of containers.

Still holding the container door with one hand, he drew his flashlight with the other, clicked it on, and swiped it back and forth.

“What do you see?” Maya called.

“Two duffel bags and a tablet.”

He swung inside the container and was back at the opening a moment later, one of the duffel bags in hand.

Quickly, he laid flat on the floor of the container and lowered the bag as much as he could. Maya reached up for it and caught it when he dropped it. She immediately yanked it open and found dozens of ration packs inside.

That would solve their food problem—for a while anyway.

Owen dropped the other duffel bag, and Maya quickly pulled the cord on the top and found the same thing: ARC rations.

By the time she had finished searching the two bags—and confirming there was nothing else inside—Owen had climbed down. He reached under his sweater and drew out an ARC tablet similar to the one they had found in the station.

“Let’s get out of here,” he said.

Moments later, they were descending the rope ladder that flapped against the ship’s hull. The wind was already starting to pick up, the sea growing choppy. Alister and Will were waiting on the deck, ready to catch Maya when she made the small jump from the ladder.

Owen tossed the duffel bags down next, and the moment his feet hit the deck, Will raced to the cockpit and maneuvered them away at top speed, desperately trying to escape the storm.

Maya didn’t know if it was the fatigue from staying up almost all night or the exertion and stress and adrenaline from exploring the ship, but she felt absolutely drained.

She went below decks and lay down, and despite the ship’s rocking and the propeller’s scream, sleep overtook her instantly.





When she woke, she found the group having lunch on the deck. Everyone seemed anxious, as if afraid.

Something had happened while she slept.

“What did I miss?” she asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

Owen rose from the couch. “We were waiting on you to watch the video.”

“Video?”

Will held up the ARC tablet. “There are six videos on here.”

Maya scanned the list:

1_Genesis ………………………… [16]

2_ARC Technologies … [23]

3_Revelation ………………… [90]

4_Dark ………………………………… [30]

5_Exit ………………………………… [32]

6_Next ………………………………… [51]





“The numbers at the beginning,” Maya said. “I assume that’s the order we should watch the videos in?”

“I think so,” Owen replied.

“What are the numbers at the end?” Maya asked.

“Just the video length,” Will said.

That seemed to catch Owen’s attention. He walked over and studied the screen. Maya thought he was going to say something, but he merely nodded at Will, who tapped the tablet.

The first video began with a proctor that looked like Bryce, standing on the bridge of the ship near where Owen and Maya had found someone who looked similar. His voice was serene, his eyes unblinking.

“Hello. You have found the emergency message for Station 91. I am an ARC PI who was previously charged with logistical support for The Extinction Trials project. As of today, my primary mission has ended, and I will be stationed here to provide ancillary support as further instructed.”