Wake Up Missing by Kate Messner

Author:Kate Messner
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Mystery, Science Fiction, Young Adult, Suspense, Adventure
ISBN: 9780802735478
Publisher: Walker & Company
Published: 2012-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

It was after the sun came up—almost six thirty—when I heard the door next to mine open and close. I rushed to my door but hesitated to open it. Would Dr. Ames still be waiting there, watching?

But the footsteps were quieter, softer than his. I opened the door.

Quentin stood in the hallway, hovering between my door and Sarah’s as if he were afraid to knock on either one, afraid a monster might pop out. But the monster was gone—he’d crept away sometime during the night while I lay there, not sleeping, in my room. The coffee mug next to his chair was empty, too.

“We need to get everyone together,” I whispered to Quentin, “and then we need to—”

“Good morning!” Dr. Ames called down the hallway. He’d emerged from his office, briefcase slung over his shoulder and—was that a rolling suitcase behind him?

I looked at Quentin and made a fast decision; we had to pretend everything was fine.

“Good morning, Dr. Ames.” I tried to make my voice relax. “Sorry about last night. I guess we were kind of dumb.”

“Well, kids will be kids.” He walked up to us and parked his suitcase as Sarah and Ben joined us in the hallway. Sarah was still in her sweatpants and T-shirt, but Ben was dressed like he might have been going to school. “Oh good,” Dr. Ames said. “Since you’re all together, I need to talk with you about today.” He took a deep breath, then looked from Ben to Sarah to Quentin to me. Was he trying to decide who to call into the lab? Who did he want to “change” first? It felt like we were standing in the path of an oncoming train with nowhere to go.

Dr. Ames let out his breath in a big whoosh. “I know we’d planned on moving forward with your treatment today, but there’s been an issue with funding for the clinic.”

“Oh,” Quentin said. “So there’s . . . a delay?” I could almost see the thoughts churning behind his brown eyes. What did that mean? Was it even true? Would we have more time? Enough to escape?

“No.” Dr. Ames shook his head, and my heart sank. We wouldn’t have more time. The train was coming for us, and there was nowhere to—

“I’m afraid the project has been discontinued,” Dr. Ames said. He gave a sad smile and shrugged. “You’re going home.”

“We are?” Sarah’s eyes lit up.

“When?” Quentin asked.

Dr. Ames looked at his watch. “Soon.” He adjusted the briefcase over his shoulder and grabbed the handle of his suitcase. “Pack your things right after breakfast. We’ll have a boat waiting at the dock to take you to Everglades City, and from there, you’ll take a van to Miami. We’ve already called your families, and they’ll be flying in tonight to meet you at the airport.”

“But this is so quick! What about our treatment?” Quentin asked. His voice was bursting with questions, but that was the only one he asked aloud.

Dr. Ames sighed. “It’s been a long time coming, I’m sad to say.

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