Chapter 26

Josiphina

    “Ahhh!” I shrieked, dropping the flesh on the floor. I didn’t dare look up. Who knew what Gary could be now?

    “I’m sorry that couldn’t of been less gross for you.”

    It was a new voice. Instead of a low, gruff voice Gary always had, it was replaced by something that couldn’t have been more opposite. The voice was much younger, slightly high-pitched, and with a hint of a british accent. I looked up into the young (supremely handsome) face.

    “Who-Who are you,” was I was able to stutter.

    The new man threw back his head and laughed. “I’m sure as hell not Gary Clark.”

    CJ started laughing too. A sound that, again I did not recognize.

    “Who are you,” I asked staring at CJ.

    “Still CJ, but much younger.” The old Gary laughed at that.

    “How old are you?”

    “I’m 19,” the old Gary said, “and he’s 22. I’m still in charge though.”

    “But who-”

    “No more questions ‘till we get to the car,” he said, “But to answer that, I’m Zach.”

    Zach and CJ sat in the front seat of the car while I squeezed in the back. It wasn’t that comfortable, but I still let out a tiny cheer that I was riding a Corvette. Zach put his hands on the wheel.

    “Oh, I almost forgot!”

    “I suppose those come off too,” I asked, pointing to his hands.

    “Yep.” He pulled off the fake wrinkled hands and started driving again. CJ started to take off his face and hands too, and I saw that he wasn’t Mexican at all. He was very black.

“You too,” I groaned, “has the world gone crazy?”

“Not yet,” Zach said, a little too quickly.

“Why, is that your job,” I asked, “Are you going to turn the world upside down? What is your job anyway? Are you one of them? Is that your connection?”

“I knew that would happen,” Zach said leaning over to CJ.

We pulled up in front of a tall building lined with armed soldiers. Zach and CJ stepped out, so I followed. Zach showed an identity to one of the guards who stepped aside.

“Top floor all the way to the left.” The guard mumbled.

CJ was scanning the area, and his eyes stopped on a boy with blond hair falling into his eyes. He whispered to Zach who suddenly grabbed my wrist and shouted.

“Hey, Davey boy. Lookin’ for this?”

David turned around, and locked eyes with Zach.

“Let her go.”

“Not so easily,” Zach shouted, “You’ll have to get her yourself.”

I tried to break free of his strong grip, but he only held my wrist tighter.

“Let go,” I said.

“Huh,” he cocked his eyebrow and flicked his dark brown hair out of his eyes. He let go, but I didn’t run away. I stood where I was, gripping my sides and trying to get feeling back in my arm. David narrowed his eyes even more at the arrogant Zach, and Zach tilted his head as if in a challenge. I backed away, but didn’t see CJ until he grabbed my shoulders and nearly frightened me to death.

“We’ll be in here,” Zach gestured to the building, “if you wanna come along.”

CJ started dragging me to the doors, but I dragged my feet to stall and tell David one last thing. Even though I knew he wouldn’t understand, I looked up into his eyes full of heartbreak.

“You were right.” I said.

Chapter 27

David

I was right? The first thing that popped into my brain was a strange dream I had weeks before. We were standing on a cliff and I trying to warn Josiphina about Zach and Caleb, who went by CJ. How would she know about that? It was my dream wasn’t it? I watched her disappear through the doors and let out a simple plead. Zach, by all means, don’t hurt her more than you’ll regret.