Chapter 15
I had the beginnings of a plan in my head, but I knew it wasn't elaborate enough, because I was missing a lot of vital information, like the exact location of the government's base of operations. But I couldn't ask Will, that was for sure. Especially since he'd been watching me since our fight, which I wasn't too happy about. So I was going to have to talk to Max, because I was sure he knew a lot of things or would find out easily, since he was a little genius.
I had the opportunity when Will took his shower. I quickly rushed to the office Max was in before my luck ran out.
"Hey Max, how's it going?" I asked him.
"Everything's fine and you?" the young man answered.
"I'm fine. I was wondering how to move forward with the research on Rachel."
"So far, I haven't found anything, and I've tried all the computer tricks I know, but nothing works," Max lamented.
"I'm sorry. I feel like it's all my fault," I said in a small voice.
"We all knew about the risks, Chloe," he said, turning to me and putting a reassuring hand on my arm.
"I know."
There was a silence, time for me to collect myself emotionally.
"So you didn't find anything? I'm sorry, but I don't believe you," I replied.
"What do you mean?" he asked me.
"A genius like you, you must have found at least their base, right?"
"Oh yes, a long time ago, that's how I can see when they move and in which direction they go, but nothing on Rachel and I've been through their surveillance cameras."
"Do you think they have another base?"
"That would be very plausible, indeed, but I've searched and I can't find it," said the young man, slightly disappointed.
"Maybe it is underground, like a cave or a bunker?"
"Yes, I thought about that and that would explain why I can't find it via the satellites," Max explained.
"Could I know where the base is?"
"Why?" he said, puzzled.
"I'm sure they have a bunker and it's not far from the base. Would it be possible to sweep the area around their base?"
"I'll see what I can do," said the young man, with a new glint of hope in his eyes. "I didn't know you were so smart."
"It's part of my charm," I said, laughing.
He laughed and I gladly joined in. You could tell we hadn't laughed in a while, and it felt good. Then Max got serious again and set about finding the bunker. He wrote some numbers on the computer, and suddenly the government base appeared on the screen. Exactly what I wanted. I moved closer and looked at the numbers at the top of the screen. 46° 33' 40.561" N 1° 2' 17.916" E. I just had to memorize them and figure out the route from here to there. I hoped it wasn't going to be a long way. Because once I left, Will would soon realize where I was going and catch me before I could complete my plan. I needed a diversion. And a big one. But the problem was, I had no idea how I was going to do that. And I was running out of time.
Chapter 16
Max had found a trace of a bunker near the government base and had informed Will. However, no one knew that I had taken the data, because normally only Max and Will had the right to know. Max because he was the one who found everything and Will because he was the leader of the group.
Even though my plan was starting to take shape, I could see that Will was not letting go of me and that pissed me off. I had started to gather things like warm clothes, a lighter and some food in a bag I had stashed in the basement. But I had to be quick, because I knew that someone would find it sooner or later. All I needed was a diversion. And that day came sooner than I thought. An opportunity served on a golden platter.
It was a quiet day, the calm before the storm as many would say. I was practicing hand-to-hand combat with Laura in the garden when suddenly I heard a siren. I turned towards her, my eyebrows furrowed, not understanding what it meant. For the ringing was coming from the house.
"That siren means that there is a stranger around," she informed me.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Max and Will have put sensors in the house to let us know if someone other than us is walking around, so we won't be taken by surprise," she explained.
"Yes, that does sound like Will. He's thought of everything, it seems."
As I said these words, I noticed that I was a little afraid of Will. Was he going to find out that I was going to run away? If he thought of everything, then maybe he would have thought of that possibility. I really had to be extra vigilant. Especially with a stranger around. But at the same time, I thought, this was an incredible opportunity.
Laura and I headed for the house, joining the others who were standing at Max's computer. Laura cuddled up to Liam and leaned over to look at the surveillance cameras. We could see a man in military garb. And that complicated a lot of things.
"Okay," Will said, sounding like a commander. "You know the procedure in these moments, so here we go. Chloe," he said, turning back to me, "since you don't know the plan, you stay here and prepare something to leave in a hurry for everyone. There may be several soldiers around, not just the one you see on the cameras."
And they all went outside, leaving me behind. Part of me wanted to know what the procedure was, but part of me was looking forward to the opportunity. And I wasn't going to let it go.
When I was sure no one was in the house, I rushed to the basement, grabbed my bag, already full of groceries, and went to the kitchen to fill it to the brim. I went to get Snow, who had been on guard since he heard the siren, put a leash on him, and we headed for the back. I took one last look behind me, soaking up the sense of security I had known here, and capturing the memories of the house in my mind. Then I closed the door and went into the woods, being careful to avoid Max's surveillance cameras. I didn't want him to find me. It was necessary! And we headed deeper and deeper into the woods, towards the government base.
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