Chapter 24
Sorcia nodded as they leaped out of the SUV and hurried into the lab. Melanie was waiting for them in the hallway, the door to her workspace already propped open. Her expression was one of barely-contained excitement as she motioned for them to follow her.
“Here’s the thing,” Melanie began as soon as Sorcia and Marcus pushed through to her lab, her tone eager, “I’ll spare you the technical jargon—though trust me, the lyophilic compounds and tributyltin oxide I found are fascinating in their own right.
” She smirked at her own enthusiasm, then moved to a computer and turned the monitor toward them.
The screen displayed a bar chart with a series of ominous-looking spikes.
“These,” Melanie said, pointing to the symbols beneath each spike, “are the heavy metals present in the sample. Every single one of them is toxic—lead, cadmium, arsenic, chromium, and mercury. They’re at levels that would make anyone’s hair stand on end. ”
She clicked to another screen, which displayed a government report.
“This,” Melanie continued, “is an article about how the EPA fined a group of companies for dumping toxic metals in this area. And it doesn’t stop there.
” Another click revealed a news article with a bizarre headline.
“This one,” she said, her grin widening, “is about the workers who claimed the trees were kicking them, whacking them with branches, and throwing leaves in their faces.”
Melanie shook her head, clearly both amused and exasperated.
“Now, while that sounds like a bad horror movie, it’s more likely that the workers were inhaling the metals while they dug, which can cause major hallucinations.
Toxic exposure can mess with your brain chemistry in some truly terrifying ways. ”
She turned to them, her pride evident. “Pretty fascinating stuff, huh?”
Marcus nodded appreciatively, then glanced at Sorcia. “You think it’s hallucinations? Or something more?”
Sorcia shook her head, her brow furrowing as she tapped a spot on the monitor. “Here,” she said, pointing to a section of the map Melanie had pulled up. It was about a mile from where they’d collected their soil sample. “I remember seeing something strange in this area just before we left.”
Marcus’s lips curled into a determined smile. “Let’s check it out.”
Melanie blinked, confused. “But…that’s not the dump site,” she called after them as they made their way to the door.
Marcus turned briefly, his eyes glinting. “We’re going to fix this,” he assured her before hurrying after Sorcia.
Sorcia instinctively headed toward the main exit, but Marcus tugged her hand, redirecting her. “This way,” he said, leading her down a side corridor.
They moved quickly, almost at a run, until Marcus pulled them into what appeared to be a supply closet. Sorcia raised an eyebrow in confusion, but Marcus pushed past a row of shelves, revealing a hidden exit.
Sorcia grinned, her admiration shining. “You’re brilliant!” she exclaimed, snapping her fingers. Instantly, she was dressed in her warm clothes and goggles. Marcus was ready a moment later, his own gear materializing with a single wave of his hand.
They exchanged a triumphant look, their shared determination palpable. Without another word, they launched into the air, cutting through the chilly spring air with precision and purpose. The winds whipped around them, but their focus remained unwavering—this was their best lead yet.