Experiment X-One-Six

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

Seth took the money and hopped out of the car with a glance at his watch. Douglas also looked at his own watch. Gina’s gaze followed Seth until he disappeared inside the pharmacy. Would he be back? He owed them nothing. And he didn’t know them well enough to risk his life for them. He could run. Call the police. Anything other than return to them.

Douglas glanced at his watch again before he looked pointedly at Gina. A fit of coughing had him doubling over. Gina watched as the g*n slid off his lap and landed on the floor. She tensed, her gaze drawn to the weapon. Her breath stopped as Douglas reached out and picked up the g*n. Her gaze followed it as he returned it to his lap. Slowly she looked up to find his gaze on her. She breathed in jerkily.

“What’s your name, girl?”

“Gina Lancione.” Her voice was a whisper.

“Don’t even think about trying to touch my g*n. Got it?”

Gina could only nod and was relieved when Douglas turned his feverish eyes on Connor.

“And you, boy. What’s your name?”

“C… C… Connor Davis.”

Douglas glanced at his watch. “Two minutes left.” He turned to Gina. “Any preferences to where you want the bullet?”

Gina stared at him. Fear twisted in her stomach. The fear that had sat in her stomach like a lead weight ever since Douglas had pulled his g*n on them. She spotted Seth running towards the car, a coloured paper bag in one hand, the logo of the pharmacy splashed across it. Relief rushed through her. She was glad she was sitting. Her entire body felt like wet spaghetti. It took every bit of effort to stay upright and not slide to the floor in a boneless puddle.

Seth opened the door and handed the paper bag through before he hopped in. “Your change is in the bag. There’s all sorts of stuff in there. Vitamin C, something to dry your nose up, cough suppressant, painkillers, whatever the woman thought you’d need. I wasn’t about to argue with her. I didn’t think you’d want me to take any longer than necessary.”

Douglas ignored Seth’s words to rip the bag open. He pulled out a box and fumbled with the plastic wrap. “What are you waiting for, Connor? The end of the world? Start driving or I’ll show you what it looks like.” He finally opened the packet and pressed two capsules out of the card. He swallowed them dry, running the back of his hand across his forehead.

Connor pulled out onto the street and narrowly missed another car. His knuckles showed white from how hard he gripped the steering wheel. “Where do you want me to take you?” He managed to speak the words without stuttering, but there was still a wobble in his voice.

“West. Pick a town. Any town. I don’t give a s**t. Just go west.” Douglas closed his eyes as another coughing fit wracked his body. He kept his eyes closed and pressed his head against the headrest once he’d stopped coughing. His right hand covered the g*n that lay in his lap.

Seth turned on the navigator that was installed above the stereo and keyed in Roma.

“What if he doesn’t want to go there?” Connor asked softly.

Seth shrugged. “At least it’ll get us out of the city and headed west. It was the first town that came to mind.”

Silence fell in the car. Thoughts rushed through Gina’s head. Of her family. Friends. The plans she had for the year. She alternated between hoping she’d get through the day and believing it was only a matter of time before Douglas shot them. She jumped as he jerked up straight beside her.

He glared warily at each of them, his hand tightening around the g*n. After a few seconds he relaxed his grip and his eyes became unfocused again. Silence filled the car until Seth turned in his seat to face Douglas. He was instantly alert, g*n aimed at Seth.

“Think we could call into a McDonald’s or something and get lunch? You certainly look like you need to get some food into you.”

“I wouldn’t choose that place if I wanted to eat.” Douglas lowered the g*n.

Seth shrugged. “Thought it’d be easiest. We can use the drive-through and you won’t have to risk letting us out in public. Doesn’t have to be Macca’s. Could be KFC or Red.” He shrugged again. “Any fast food place with a drive through would do. You also need something to drink. You don’t want to become dehydrated.”

Douglas pulled his wallet out again. He handed a fifty dollar note over this time. “First place we come to. But you try and pull any stunts and I will shoot. All of you. Understand?”

Seth nodded as he took the money. “Perfectly.”

Within minutes they were at a McDonald’s drive through. Connor ordered a burger and coke and Seth ordered more food than Gina thought necessary. He turned to her. “What about you?”

Gina shook her head. “I couldn’t eat.” She still couldn’t manage more than a whisper. “My parents must be worried sick by now. They’ve probably called the cops.” She glanced nervously at Douglas when he snarled.

“Four boxes of cookies,” Seth called out as he leaned across Connor to be heard clearer.

“Will that… all?” a voice crackled over the speaker.

“Yeah. Thanks.”

“That will… please… the… window.” The crackle distorted the words, leaving only a few understandable.

Connor slowly drove forward, pulling up at the open window to be greeted by a smiling girl. She took the money he handed her and leaned against the windowsill once she’d given him his change and drinks. “You planning on a party? I love parties.”

Connor smiled weakly. “Not really. Just big eaters.”

The girl pouted theatrically, the smile still in her eyes. “If you want help getting a party together-”

Seth leaned in front of Connor. An easy smile flashed across his lips. “We’ve got other plans for tonight. We’re going on holiday with our father.” He gestured into the back seat with another easy grin. Douglas had his backpack on his lap to hide the g*n.

“Oh, that’s too bad.” The girl turned and took the three paper bags she was handed and held them out one at a time for Connor to take. “Maybe you’ll call back in here on your way home.” Her gaze lingered on Connor.

Connor forced another smile and slowly drove forward. He pressed the button to put his window up and glanced up the road before he pulled onto it.

Seth held a burger out to Douglas who shook his head. “What about fries?”

Douglas waved him away, doubling over with another coughing fit.

Seth frowned. “Maybe you should have some of that cough suppressant. You sound like you’re about to lose a lung.”

Douglas only grunted, but he did rummage around in the bag from the pharmacy and pulled out a bottle. He gave it a shake before he broke the seal, opened it and had a mouthful. He grimaced and replaced the cap.

Seth held a packet of fries out to Gina. “You want some?”

Gina shook her head, the smell of food making her stomach heave. She pressed the window button in her door until it was down a few centimetres. “Maybe later.” She didn’t think so. Her stomach was already crowded with fear. There wasn’t room for food too.

“Pull up at the next public phone. You kids can ring home. I don’t care what you tell your parents. Make something up. I don’t want anyone looking for you yet.” Douglas eyed each of them. “And I’ll be standing beside you while you ring. One wrong word and it’s all over.”

Gina’s mind whirled. How was she meant to explain this to her parents? She was never allowed anywhere unless her parents had thoroughly checked out every aspect of it. Even new friends were subjected to major questioning before she could hang out with them. She shuddered as she recalled the last time she’d brought a new friend home.

Her parents, her grandparents, one of her uncles, two older cousins and both her sisters had been there. Michelle, the girl she’d taken home, had been peppered with so many questions she’d avoided Gina ever since. Gina often wondered what Michelle had told her other friends about the afternoon, but guessed she was probably better off not knowing.

They reached a public phone before Gina could think of a plausible reason for having run out on her sister. There was none. How could she even think of ringing her parents when she didn’t know what to tell them?

“Get out. All of you. Seth. You ring home first.” Douglas shoved the g*n in his pocket and held his hand out to Connor. “The car keys.”

Connor’s hand shook as he handed them over. He lurched out of the car and stood by the phone as Seth pushed the coin Douglas had given him, into the slot.

“Hey Dad… nah, haven’t been home all day… not very observant are you?” Seth laughed softly. “Anyway, just wanted to let you know I’d be away for a few days… yeah…. Giving a mate a hand to move… I know… sure… okay, I’ll see you when I’m home… take care of yourself and say hello to Lucy for me…yeah… bye.” He hung up the phone and turned to face Douglas, his smile gone. “Happy?”

“No. Now Gina, you ring home. Then Connor.” Douglas held out a coin to Gina.

She reluctantly took it and turned to use the phone when a voice had her whirling around. Her fingers closed tightly on the coin, her heart speeding up. It was a girl with blond hair and green eyes. Gina took a deep breath and hoped the girl would say nothing to upset Douglas.

“Excuse me. I seem to be a bit lost. Even though it’s been less than a year since I was last here. Are any of you locals?” The girl smiled, glancing around the circle they formed.

Seth grinned. “We’re not from here, but we happen to have a navigator. Hey, Dad.” He turned towards Douglas. “Let’s give her a hand to find where she needs to go.” His gaze clashed with Douglas’. “We’d be happy to do it.”

With a pointed look at Gina, Douglas opened up the front passenger door of the car and slid in. Seth turned towards Gina and mouthed the word ‘ring’ before he ushered the girl over to the vehicle.

Gina needed no more urging. She dropped the coin into the slot and rang home.

“Hello?”

“Mama.” Her voice broke on the word.

“Gina! Where are you? What’s going on? Your sister rang here, hysterical. What’s happening, bambina?”

“He has a g*n. I can’t talk long. He forced us to go with him. From the shop.”

“g*n!”

“Shh. I don’t know where he’s taking us. Connor Davis from school is with me. And Seth Lilly. I don’t know him.”

“Talk up, Gina. I can barely hear you.”

“I can’t.” Tears started to track down her cheeks, cold against her warm skin as soon as the breeze touched them.

“Where is he? Where are you?”

“I don’t know. But you can’t call the police. His name is Douglas Finney. If he was to find out… I don’t… oh Mama, I don’t know what to do.”

“Gina.”

Connor whispered in her ear. “Tell her my car can be tracked.”

“Connor’s car can be tracked. Get a hold of his parents. They’re doctors.”

A touch on Gina’s shoulder made her turn to face Connor. He glanced back to where Douglas was getting out of the car. A shudder went through Gina and she turned her back on him. “I’m sorry I took off like that, Mum. I’m staying with friends.”

“He’s there?”

“I’m not sure when I’ll be home. I love you, Mama.” Gina hung up the phone, spun away and ran into Seth. He steadied her as she wiped the back of her hand across her eyes. Pulling away from him, she blinked her eyes until her vision was no longer blurred. A glance around told her the girl was gone.

“You better not have told them anything,” Douglas warned.

Gina shook her head. She sniffed, wishing she had a tissue.

Douglas turned to Connor. “Your turn.”

Connor took the coin Douglas held out and picked up the phone. He tapped his fingers on the top of the phone as he waited. “Mum, I know I said I’d be home tomorrow night for your birthday, but something came up. It’s the last week of the school holidays so I didn’t think you’d mind. Anyway, I won’t be home for a few days. Have a good birthday tomorrow.” He hung up the phone and turned to face Douglas. “Answering machine.”

“Get back in the car. All of you.” Douglas waited until they were seated before he hopped in the back and handed the keys to Connor. “Now drive.”

Silence filled the vehicle and Gina stared out the window, the scene a blur as she fought back tears. Her family laughed and cried easily. But she wasn’t going to give Douglas the satisfaction of seeing her tears. Not when he’d know they were from fear. As they were leaving the city behind, a noise made Gina turn towards Douglas. She watched as he took another swig of the medicine. She looked away, hoping he overdosed on it. Her jaw tightened, anger and fear filling her. Why did she have to be at the shop today? She wasn’t meant to have been there. Right this moment she should have been lying on the beach, half asleep after a morning spent in the water. It should have been someone else. For a moment she thought it would have been the girl who’d rung in sick. But what if it hadn’t been? What if it had been her sister instead? No. Absolutely not. She couldn’t even think it. Emptying her mind, she stared out the window.