He smirks. “How will you know I’ve actually turned it off?”
“Do you really want to suffer the consequences for lying to me about that?” I put my hands on my hips. “Because it would be ugly.”
His shoulders slump, and I realize he’s not just trying to get a free view. He’s honestly scared. “Just…be careful, okay?”
I hug him tightly. “Of course. You forget this isn’t my first time.”
“Yeah.” He blinks rapidly, and then cringes. “It’s off, and it’s really weird not to see you.”
That’s how I feel all the time. I go for my shirt, but this wave of embarrassment washes over me. “Turn around.”
He gives me an incredulous look. “I just said I can’t see you!”
“It’s still weird!” And secretly I’m afraid he’s lying. I mean, what guy would miss a chance to see his girlfriend naked? He rolls his eyes, but turns around. “Thank you.”
I peel off my running gear quickly and place it in a pile. My skin crawls with insecurity—this is the first time I’ve been completely invisible outside my bathroom since I found out Seth could see me. It used to be so easy, but now I feel too exposed. “Watch my clothes. I’ll be back soon.”
“You better be.” Seth turns around, his eyes flitting back and forth in a panic. I guess he really did turn it off.
“I’m hurrying.” I head to the spot in the cliff where you can climb down to the valley. It’s almost like a ramp, though not as smooth or safe. I have to force myself to focus on the rocks right in front of me and not the view. If I can’t see how far away the bottom of the gulch is, then I’ll survive my fear of heights.
When I get to the bottom, I follow the creek up to where the pond forms. There are armed guards everywhere, which seems odd against something as simple as a small pool of water. But at least it’s not Juan’s people—I’m more afraid of what The Phantom would do to me than the Army’s punishments. I creep closer, squinting against the bright lights near the waterfall. It looks like there’s a table and lab equipment there, plus that blond girl in a lab coat I saw the day the Army arrived. Major Norton stands over her, surveying everything.
I have to see what they’re up to.
Adrenaline courses through me as I approach the guards. They don’t seem to notice me, but I need to be careful because the ground has become soft under my feet. Even in the darkness, surely they’d see my footprints appear out of nowhere. That’d be a dead giveaway.
I step on every rock I can, stay away from the pond’s edge, and creep past the closest pair of guards unnoticed. After I maneuver through another set, I’m close enough to the lights to see and hear clearly, so I settle near the cliff wall where no one should run into me.
“How long will it take to know?” Major Norton asks the blond girl. At a closer look, it’s hard to believe she’s a scientist because she doesn’t look much older than a teen, with a sweet face and hair pulled into a long ponytail. Early twenties at most. She must be some kind of science savant.
“Now that I’ve added the necessary chemicals, it shouldn’t be more than a few minutes,” the blond girl says.
“Good.” Major Norton seems excited. “Either we’ll have our match, or we’ll be able to rule out one place in this godforsaken desert.”
“It’s a good lead, sir, according to the formula.” The girl picks up some papers, and my heart about leaps from my chest. “See here? The element should be in liquid form in Earth’s temperature range, so there may be traces in the desert water.”
My brow pinches together in confusion. I pictured some kind of metal, but if they’re looking for an element that’s liquid…
The pools.
No. The caves are so far away from the factory! Why would the element be so far out and hidden in a place that doesn’t look manmade? Did the factory owners hide it there? It seems strange that they wouldn’t keep it right under their thumb at the plant. Then something clicks. Maybe the element naturally occurs in the cave—and they built the factory in a place close but not so close to reveal its location. That makes more sense.
And dear, sweet, too-strong-for-his-own-good Brady just had to find it. That place means the world to him and Seth. If that’s really what everyone’s after, I can’t let anyone find it. We need to know if the element really is at our secret pools, which means we need the formula.
I stare at the scientist girl, watch her talk to the Major and flip through papers that have to be the formula. My fingers tingle with the urge to steal it, and I’m afraid to listen to that impulse. As much as I want to pore over that document, I don’t exactly have a place to put it. Maybe it’d fit in my mouth with some creative folding, but I’d need a significant distraction to pull it off.
No, I can’t steal again. This time it wouldn’t even be for my dad, but would be my own choice to break the law. I can’t do that. As much as I wish I had the power, I’m not stupid enough to think I can stand up to Juan and the Army all on my own. The priority is to lie low so I can keep my quiet, perfect life, even if that means Radiasure is produced again.
My stomach turns at the thought. How can I let that happen if I have a chance to stop it? Am I that big a coward?
Major Norton nods. “Yes, this could be it. I knew that Seth Mitchell boy was suspicious—he was the only one who didn’t pass the lie examination. We’ll have to start pulling in parents next, see if we can get more.”
My eyes go wide. I knew it. The government is just another word for syndicate, except they’re under the delusion that they still have claim to the entire country. If they’re playing dirty, too, then why feel bad about stealing from them? Gritting my teeth, I stand and silently close in on my prey.
That formula is mine.
Chapter 11
I sure hope Seth has kept his word about not watching me, because he’d freak over how close I am to the lab table. Even my hands shake at each step I take. The scientist is so close I could reach out and touch her. I still have no idea how I’ll be able to take the papers without anyone seeing, but maybe I can get close enough to read some of it.
“Almost ready,” the blond girl says as she stares at a test tube filled with what looks like pond water. “If it glows and increases in viscosity, we have it.”
Glowing? This makes me worry even more.
Major Norton stares at the vial, looking oddly childish in his anticipation. I use the opportunity to tiptoe even closer to the pile of papers resting at the edge of the table. I only notice I’m holding my breath when my lungs start to burn, but out of habit I let the air out slowly and silently. With how bright the lights are, it’s easy to see the bold lettering at the top of the first page.
TOP SECRET: Undisclosed Formula and Production Methods for Radiasure.
I only get a few lines in before the words make no sense. Chemistry is almost as horrible as math for me. Seth might be able to make sense of all this gibberish if I can get it out of here.
The blond girl lets out a long sigh. “It doesn’t look good, sir. This isn’t it.”
Major Norton nods. “If it was this easy, someone would have been able to reproduce it years ago. It’s not over yet.”
“I know.” The girl grabs the papers, and I bite back a curse. “It’s just hard not to want it right now when I’ve been searching for so long. This has been my whole life.”
He puts his hand on her shoulder in a fatherly way. “That’s why we asked you to help the Army with this mission.”
I stare at the girl, wondering what her seemingly perfect façade hides. She doesn’t look like she has an evil bone in her body, but I know better than most that appearances can be deceiving. What would make someone like her so bent on producing Radiasure again?