Within These Walls

Life After Dark: 17 (WTW Sequel)

(Sorry for the wait! The chapter was going to be half as long, but I decided to spend some more time to keep writing the next plot point. I hope you enjoy it!)

It's around two-thirty in the morning and we've been driving aimlessly for the past hour. Our goal at first is simply to put as much distance between us and the strange cave, but at some point, we realize we need a new destination. We need a new objective. We need to refocus and figure out what to do, because not having a game plan means having to face our terrifying reality: we're way out of our element.

Jones argues we should head for the ocean, where there can't possibly be any mysterious caves, and Pablo says something about hiding out in the Alaskan wilderness until we figure out our odds. Marcus opts for staying and doing something about the army of Blanks we're leaving behind. It's loud and messy in the van, and I'm tempted to shove my head through the window, before Hermes sends us a text that creates a whole different kind of chaos.

The nest has moved deeper underground, but their Source is still on the surface and is heading south. Cut off the beast's head and the rest of the body might have a chance to recover.

"Their Source?" Jones exclaims, fidgeting anxiously next to me. "I thought there was only one Source!"

Janie is sitting behind me, half of her body practically hanging over my backrest as she reads the text message for herself. "The rest of the body might have a chance to recover. The rest of the body means the Blanks, right? Does this mean—wait, is he saying we can turn people back to normal if we kill the Source?"

"Damn," Marcus says, mirroring my own shock. Carson. This could save him.

"But he's the Source, right?" Jones says. "Why would he tell us to kill him?"

Janie rubs his hair affectionately. "God, you're dumb. Hermes is our Source because he made us this way. The text message from Hermes says there's another Source, which means this other alien dude is the one responsible for making all those people blank. By killing him, they would be free from his mind control."

"Maybe," Pablo says skeptically from the front passenger seat.

"Wait, but if Hermes is our Source, does that mean he's mind controlling us?" Jones asks.

"I think the term Source is used arbitrarily," I say. "Hermes is the Source of our abilities. This other being is the Source of the mind control." I frown. "At least, specifically in this case. Hermes called it a nest. That implies there is more than one—each one with its own Source."

Jones groans so loud my ear hurts. "Seriously!"

"It would explain the disappearances across the country," Janie murmurs. "They're taking people, aren't they?"

I shiver at the thought of more Blanks out there. "It seems very likely."

"We should follow the lead," Marcus says.

Jones sits up straighter. "What? No. Hell no! We need to be going in the opposite direction, man." He looks around at the rest of us. "Am I the only one who thinks it's crazy to take on one of them?"

"It's not like he or she can make you guys blank," I point out. "Once you flip, you become immune, remember?"

"You think that matters? For all we know, these guys can blow us up with their minds. Or make us throw up all of the blood in our bodies." He makes a gushing-water gesture near his ears. "Or imagine gallons of blood pouring out of your ears. How does that sound to you?"