The Rise of Isaac, Books 1-3, page 74
"Redecorating?" Ely mused.
"Ha, yes, I thought it was about time," Wallace said, running a hand through his mop of hair. Oliver couldn't help but think it was about time Wallace started taking a little more care of himself. He had been wearing the same grey stained t-shirt since they had arrived.
At one end of the room was a metal trolley with a sheet laid on top of it, beyond which, was the stack of empty animal cages. Wallace patted the sheet encouragingly.
"Where are the rats?" May asked warily.
"They're fine, not to worry," Wallace said, waving a hand.
"You broke the link between them?" Oliver asked hopefully.
"Yes, yes," Wallace said, turning away.
"Successfully?" Ely asked.
Wallace nodded as May climbed onto the trolley and laid down.
Rogan and Anna hovered by the stairs.
Where are the rats then?" Anna asked.
Wallace ignored her, strapping May's arms to the trolley with leather buckles.
"Is that really necessary?" Rogan asked, approaching them slowly.
"She once scratched her neck to shreds because of the link," Oliver muttered to him quietly.
He nodded in understanding.
"Step back please," Wallace said. "Give me some room to work."
Oliver backed away with Rogan, joining Anna by a workbench a few feet away.
"I don't like this," Anna whispered to Oliver.
His skin prickled with doubt but he shook it off. "He said he broke the link."
"Then where are the rats?" Anna hissed.
Oliver frowned at her then looked back at May. "It doesn't matter. Wallace can save her." He gritted his teeth, determined to believe his own words. He had to save her. Wallace could be her last chance.
Ely stood guard by May's head. "I can offer any magical assistance you need."
Wallace nodded then focused his attention on May. "I'm just going to undo the top buttons of your shirt, okay?"
May nodded awkwardly, her wrists and ankles bound tightly. Wallace undid the top three buttons, revealing the black mark above her heart.
"Now, don't be alarmed. I'm just going to place a Moth vark over this area. It's quite contained. Quite safe," Wallace said, walking over to a cabinet in the back wall and retrieving something.
"Wait, what?" Oliver asked.
"A vark?" May asked in alarm, tugging at the binds that held her.
"Trust me," Wallace said, turning to reveal a blue sphere pulsing with electricity. It was hollow and a shadow flitted around inside it. Oliver felt more than heard the hum of the creature, resonating inside him.
Anna gripped Oliver's arm, her nails digging into his skin. His attention stayed with May as Wallace held the sphere above her.
"It won't hurt," he said, wetting his lips.
May nodded and Ely tensed, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
Wallace positioned the sphere over the mark and moved his hand above it repeatedly, sending flashes of coloured light bouncing around within it.
When the light turned red, May screamed. The sound filled the whole room, reverberating off of the walls.
Oliver gasped and ran to her but was blocked by Wallace. He held the ball firmly, his fingers moving rapidly and his eyes rolling up into his head as he concentrated on the magic.
"Ely?" Oliver called to him.
"It's alright. Give it a moment longer," Ely said, his expression one of anguish as he held May's shoulders down while she writhed and screamed.
Wallace stopped and removed the ball. May's hands curled tightly into fists and the leather straps stretched against her skin.
May fell silent and her eyes shut.
Oliver rushed around to her head and cupped her cheek. "May? Wake up." Fear inched into his chest.
Her eyes burst open, the pupils consumed by darkness.
"What have you done to her!?" Oliver roared at Wallace.
He shied away, gazing at the black eyes as if he had never seen anything quite like it.
"I can hear...it's in my head!" May cried. "It's inside my mind. Stop! Stop! No! Get it out! Please!" May squeezed her eyes shut, concealing the darkness beneath the lids.
"May? What's wrong? What's happening?" Oliver asked close to her ear.
"Olly-" she said in a strained voice. Then she screamed again, writhing uncontrollably. Oliver made a pained noise in his throat. He didn't know what to do. He couldn't help her.
Rogan shoved Wallace in the chest. "HELP HER!" he commanded, spit flying from his mouth.
Wallace nodded, his eyes wide with fright. He took away the sphere and began casting light over the mark, again and again until May finally fell still.
Oliver gazed at her eyelids, desperately wanting to see the familiar sea-green of her irises that should lie beneath them.
"Open your eyes," he whispered, touching her arm.
She did and the shadow receded into her pupils like a fading mist. Her eyes returned to normal and she let out a shuddering breath.
"Are you okay?" Rogan asked, pushing past Wallace and leaning over her. He gently brushed a few blonde strands away from her face and healing light shone beneath his fingertips.
May nodded, then tears slid from her eyes. She tugged at her hands, clearly wanting to escape. "Let me free," she snapped.
Anna ran to Oliver's side, pressing up against him to get close to May. She undid the buckles at her feet and Oliver and Rogan released her arms. May rolled towards Oliver, hiding her face. He rested a hand on her shoulder, his heartbeat still hammering in his chest.
"What did you do to her?" Ely barked at Wallace.
He shook his head in dismay. "I'm sorry," he whispered.
"Give her some space," Ely demanded, storming towards Wallace. "I want a word with you upstairs."
Wallace nodded and hurried ahead of Ely like a dog scurrying from its master.
The door clicked shut and May peeped up, blinking hard to stop herself from crying. She swallowed and pushed herself into a sitting position, pulling her knees to her chest.
"What happened?" Anna asked gently.
"I heard, someone. Or something. It wasn't human. It was in my head." May's breaths came out shakily.
"What did it say?" Oliver asked, burying his anger at Wallace for the time being.
"It wanted to kill me. It said its master Kogure wanted me dead. It hurt me. It was like being surrounded by needles, every way I turned, they buried deeper into my skin." Her voice broke and she hid her face once more.
In the quiet, a scratching, squeaking noise sounded. Anna searched for the source and opened a cupboard. "That explains why Wallace was acting so suspicious. The rats are right here. He hasn't broken the link at all, I can see the mark on the cream one."
"Maybe he still will?" Oliver suggested desperately.
Rogan folded his arms.
"No," May said firmly, her expression turning cold. "I want to leave. I don't want to be here anymore."
Oliver went to argue but met her determined gaze and the relief at seeing her bright green eyes melted his resolve. "Whatever you want. He can send us a message when he makes progress."
"If," May corrected, looking hopeless.
Oliver nodded, though his thoughts were in turmoil.
15
Outcast
After hurriedly packing his things, Oliver headed to the kitchen to find Ely.
He dropped his backpack down on a worktop and folded his arms. "Why did Wallace do that? What was he thinking?"
Ely sighed heavily. "He got impatient. He said he tried the experiment out on the rats and thought it made some difference. He said he was confident it would break the link on May if he tweaked the experiment slightly."
"But he didn't try it out on the rats first?" he asked, outraged. "He could have killed her!"
"He knows that now. Trust me, I'm as furious as you are."
"I was so sure he'd be able to help," Oliver said in dismay. "I never really considered that he wouldn't be able to after everything we went through to get here."
"I know, my boy. But we mustn't give up on him yet. Wallace isn't going to stop trying."
"But where can we go now?"
Footsteps approached in the hallway and Rogan, May and Anna stepped into the kitchen. Wallace floated in behind them, looking lost.
"We'll head to Eugene," Ely said.
Oliver nodded slowly. "Maybe he was there when Rimori and May were linked to each other?"
"Precisely," Ely said with a nod.
"Take my yacht. It's the least I can do," Wallace said. "I'm so sorry May."
May nodded stiffly. "Just keep trying to break the link. Please."
He smiled and nodded. "Of course."
May turned to Rogan and Anna. "You should go back to Barlin. Help Larkin look for Quinn."
"It's okay. He's probably found her by now. We can come with you," Rogan insisted.
"The less people that visit Eugene the better, Rogan," Ely said. "I've heard he is rather fragile since his release."
***
The yacht had an inbuilt Flash Screen that could be programmed with locations via Flash Thought. It sped along, cutting through the waves towards Barlin. The yacht wasn't a hovercraft like most of the other boats in Brinatin. Instead, huge white sails automatically shifted to steer them, the clanking and clanging of the mast occasionally perforating the peace.
Oliver sat with Anna at the back of the boat, sunning themselves in the midday heat.
"Quinn would've loved this," Anna said, flexing her toes as she relished the warmth. "Knowing her, she's probably laid out on a beach somewhere right now."
"Yeah," Oliver said vaguely, leaning back on his elbows and tilting his chin towards the sky.
The occasional, light spray of water showered them as the yacht hit a large wave.
"Are you alright?" Anna asked, nudging the bare skin on his side.
Oliver sat up, fiddling with his top that lay discarded on the deck in front of him. "I don't think we should be leaving. How can we put pressure on Wallace if we aren't around him?"
Anna moved closer and laced her fingers into his to stop him fiddling. He looked at her and a smile tugged at one side of his mouth.
"He's not going to give up. Despite May, this is his life's work. That'll drive him as much as she will," Anna said.
Oliver's mood brightened marginally at her words. "I guess."
Anna's wavy hair flew around her shoulders in the breeze. Oliver brushed it back from her face and kissed her. Their moments alone together were sparse but he treasured them. Rogan, May and Ely were taking shade inside the cabin beneath the deck. He didn't have to worry about feeling guilty. He knew all his attention should be on May but, right then, all he wanted was a few care-free moments with Anna.
He drew away from her an inch but kept a hand in her hair. "When all of this is over I'm going to take you out on a real date."
She grinned. "Oh yeah? And where will you take me?"
Oliver thought about it for a moment. "How about Earth?"
She laughed. "Me go to Earth? I'd need to get a key...but that does sound kinda fun. I'd have to pretend I'm from there too. Will you teach me?"
Oliver laughed. "Yeah. Just ask people if they're on Facebook."
"On what?" she frowned in confusion.
Oliver laughed again and kissed her. "This could be fun."
"Are you two finished smooching?" May called from the cabin.
Oliver drew away from Anna, his face falling. He stood up. "Yeah, what's up?"
"Nothing. Just thought you might be hungry?" May offered.
Oliver turned to help Anna to her feet. She looked only a little disheartened.
"Famished," Anna said with a smile, though it didn't quite light up her features.
***
The boat pulled into the busy harbour at Barlin, trundling slowly up to a jetty where Rogan and Anna could disembark.
Rogan jumped down heavily onto the wooden pier, almost sending a woman flying into the water. He steadied her apologetically then turned to help Anna down.
Oliver caught her hand and pulled her into a tight hug before letting her go.
"I'll see you soon," Anna said, kissing him on the cheek. She turned and took Rogan's hand to steady herself as she dropped over the edge of the boat.
"Use the hotel's Flash Thought screen to contact us," Ely called, fishing out a silver token from his pocket. "This is the symbol connected to my device."
Rogan caught the object as Ely threw it to him. He and Anna waved and walked away down the jetty, disappearing amongst the crowd in the harbour.
Ely entered the cabin where he could input new coordinates.
The yacht floated slowly backwards then turned out to sea as space became available around it. Soon they were speeding along towards their new destination. Oliver's heart wrenched a little at being parted from Anna, missing her already.
"I wonder what Eugene will be like," May said, seating herself on the deck.
Oliver dropped down beside her. "Probably weird. Everyone we meet is weird."
May laughed, craning her head back to look up at the azure sky. Oliver rested his head on the deck, the boat vibrating his skull so his vision wobbled around the edges. A gull swept low over them in a flash of white, catching the sun on its outstretched wings.
***
Ely led the way along a steep, narrow track that wound up the island. Shrubs and bushes overhung the path as if no one had walked on it in years. Thorns snagged at Oliver's skin, brushing against his bare shins and arms.
They had left the yacht at a single pier that led to the start of the stony path. The island was just off the shore of another where a large town was located. They were so close to it that the sounds of people laughing and children playing were carried across the water.
Oliver lost his footing as a rock slipped beneath his shoe. He grabbed a bush nearby to support himself and was rewarded with a fistful of prickles. He cursed loudly, picking the sharp thorns out of his skin before continuing upwards.
“Are you sure he lives up here?” May called, catching up on him from behind.
Oliver glanced back just as a thorny branch untangled itself from his t-shirt and snapped back towards her. She jumped backwards, missing it by centimetres and scowled at him.
“Sorry,” Oliver said, fighting a grin.
May pursed her lips. “That's it. I'm going ahead of you. Not all of us are tall enough to walk with their head above thorn height!”
Oliver laughed as she ducked under his arm and pushed her way past him.
“Ely seems to be managing and he's shorter than you are,” Oliver said as he started forward after May.
“I'm using magic though,” Ely called back with a chuckle.
“Got any to spare?” May asked, failing to hide her irritation.
Ely turned and a wave of white light swept over them, pushing the bushes to either side as if an invisible giant had moved them.
“And you couldn't have done that any sooner?” May asked, blowing loose tendrils of hair out of her face then storming ahead. She swerved past Ely and disappeared out of sight.
Ely frowned. “Oh dear, have I upset her?”
Oliver laughed. “She'll get over it. I think she's just still angry about what Wallace did."
Ely half-smiled then looked on after May thoughtfully. Oliver stepped forwards but his grandfather didn't move.
“You alright?” Oliver asked, noticing anxious lines appearing on Ely's forehead.
Ely wet his lips and continued to gaze up the hill. “I've not seen Eugene since, well, since it all happened.”
Oliver let out a slow breath and followed Ely's gaze up the path. “Best to get it over with then.” He turned to his grandfather with raised eyebrows.
Ely met his eye at last and softened. “Yes, you're right of course.” He took in a breath that made his shoulders rise and fall then continued walking up the hill. “You get that look from your mother, you know?”
“What look?” Oliver asked, following him.
“The one that makes it hard to disagree with you.”
Oliver smiled to himself.
As they approached the top of the hill they were met with a vast area of weeds that clung to the wall of an old cottage.
May was gazing at the stone with a sad look in her eyes, all bravado abandoned. Oliver joined her and observed the cracking wall.
Words were graffitied across it, some old and some fresh. He read them, his insides constricting uncomfortably in response. Monster, Gateway Traitor, and Murderer were amongst the least offensive. But the word that was repeated the most frequently, and somehow held the most power in its simplicity, was the word Liar.
Ely halted at the crest of the hill. His face paled as he took in the wall.
“Ely?” Oliver said softly.
Ely snapped out of his reverie and nodded briefly at Oliver before walking past them and around the cottage.
As Oliver went to move, May gripped his wrist. Her green eyes blazed emotion at him. “Is this really a good idea? We don't know what state Eugene is going to be in.”
“State?” Oliver asked with a frown.
“Yeah, as in mental state? What would all this hate do to you if you lived on an island on your own after years in prison?”
An ominous feeling washed over Oliver as he understood. “Maybe you're right.”
BANG.
An explosion sounded from somewhere nearby and Oliver instinctively shielded May behind him. She gripped both of his shoulders and peered around him.
“ELY?” Oliver shouted.
“I'm al-right,” he spluttered, coughing wildly.
They ran around to the front of the house and found the door in pieces on the floor, smoke billowing from its hinges.
Ely waved a hand and a flash of light cleared the haze.
As it disappeared, a figure was revealed. He stood in the doorway, gazing around at them with an expression of shock and fear.
He had a mop of unkempt, black hair that curled at the nape of his neck. He was tall and overly slender, his plain clothes hanging off of his body. He pushed his rectangular spectacles up onto the bridge of his long nose and closed his gaping mouth.
“D-dad?” he stuttered in a hushed voice, his hands trembling.
