Elusion(36)

“I asked her to tell me how they were hijacking the signal, but she wouldn’t,” he went on. “Nora did say they had hit some kind of wall in the Escapes and they wanted to get behind it. To see what was there and how it would feel.”

I know exactly what wall he’s talking about, and that all it does is block hackers and act as a boundary within the Escape network. But instead of interrupting, I just listen to him closely, hoping the anxiety building inside me will stop.

“We got into this huge fight; then her friends ganged up on me and kicked me out.”

“Is she okay?”

“No idea.” He bows his head and rubs at the base of his neck. “I stayed outside for a couple hours, waiting for her to leave. When she didn’t, I went back in and everyone was gone. Must have slipped out the back door. Haven’t seen or heard from her since. I knew I couldn’t return to school . . .”

“Until you find her?” I ask.

He nods. “The only thing she left behind was this.”

Josh hands me a piece of scrap paper with a strange phrase written on it at least fifty times.

HATE OUR NEW LAND

Scrawled over and over, as if done by a crazy person.

“How do you know this was Nora’s?” I ask, concerned.

“It’s her handwriting.”

“What does it mean?” I ask him.

“I don’t know.” Josh takes a few steps away from me and sits down on the closest mattress. He covers his face with his hands for a second and then begins to rub his temples. “At first I thought it might be some kind of message, but maybe I’m just losing it. ”

I walk over to Josh and take a seat next to him, handing him the paper. Once he takes it, he wraps his fingers gently around my wrist. I understand how he’s feeling—the shock, the confusion, everything—because I’ve felt it too. I want to tell Josh about my insane experience with Elusion and my father and the firewall, but I keep hearing Patrick’s voice, ringing in my ears, and I hesitate.

You have to promise me.

I try to focus my thoughts by glancing at the floor, and I notice that one of the IV bags is inches away from my foot. I trap it with the bottom of my shoe and drag it within reach. I slowly let go of Josh’s hand and pick it up, flipping it over to read the small type on the back.

TPN—Total Parenteral Nutrition.

The formula lists nutrients like glucose, amino acids, lipids, and dietary vitamins and minerals.

“They’re using this to keep themselves hydrated and fed,” I say.

You have to promise me.

What were the emotions behind my best friend’s words? Fear? Guilt? Shame?

My eyes dart around the room and connect with a blue prescription bottle that’s lying near the head of the mattress right next to us. I stretch backward and try to snatch it quickly, not caring that I can feel my skirt riding up my legs. When I have it in my grasp, I lean back up and read the label, but some of the information has worn off. All I can see is that the drug type begins with Zo, and the last name of the patient ends with an L.

“What do you think that’s for?” Josh asks.

“I don’t know,” I say, squinting hard so I can make out the faint traces of lettering. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work.

“Maybe it relieves pain or something.”

“My mom’s a nurse-practitioner; I could ask her,” I offer.

Then again, that could lead to all sorts of questions—questions I’m not sure I can answer, or should.

Josh grins a little. “Thanks.”

We sit there silently for a moment, both of us registering these pieces of evidence. When tallied together, they seem to point to one conclusion: Elusion has been compromised, and we have to do something about it.

Before anyone else disappears. Or worse.

“Maybe we should call Patrick,” I say, half listening to an instinct that I never doubted until now.

“He knows.” Josh stands abruptly and crosses his arms over his chest. “Talked to him this morning, told him everything I saw.”

“What did he say?”

“He said I misinterpreted what was going on,” Josh says, rolling his eyes. “Then I asked him to meet me here after school. Guess he doesn’t plan on showing up.”

Don’t tell anyone what happened . . . You have to promise me.

“That’s why I came to you. I was hoping you could help convince Patrick to take me seriously,” Josh adds, his voice cracking a little.

I’m simultaneously touched and terrified by what he just said.

He wants me to help him. My thoughts return to Patrick, the most helpful, concerned person I’ve ever known. How could he completely blow Josh off like this, especially when he knows firsthand that strange things are happening with Elusion? And while he and Josh haven’t really been friends over the past few years, the Patrick I know would go out of his way to be there for someone in need, even a stranger.

What has gotten into him?

“There’s also your dad. He taught you everything about Elusion, right?” Josh asks, almost willing that question into a yes. “I’m hoping you know something . . . anything that can give me a jump on Nora’s friends.”

I immediately cast my eyes away, because I can’t bring myself to tell him the truth—that while I understand the general mechanics behind Elusion, Patrick was Dad’s protégé.