For the first three minutes, Clark and I could not speak to one another. We were staring out opposing widows, in shock at what we had done. Finally, we turned to one another and burst out laughing. It was hysterical and half-filled with fear, but we could not stop laughing.
“I can’t believe…” he shook his head, catching his breath.
“I know,” I gasped. “How many do you have left?”
He fished in his pocket and pulled out five. I showed him the two I still had.
“This is really…exhilarating,” he chuckled. “Or am I crazy?”
“No, it is,” I nodded quickly. I heaved a deep breath and started laughing breathlessly again. “I guess I’m turning into an adrenaline junkie.”
We could not make conversation the rest of the drive. We were only able to laugh and shake our heads at what we had done and what it meant for our future. Even though a part of me believed that we could succeed if we were careful enough, there was another part of me that was simply happy we were doing something, regardless of if it would work or not. I should have been frightened of that bold part of me, but I could only smile and enjoy the feeling as it slowly ebbed and the high wore off.
As we pulled up in front of my house, Clark turned to me.
“So, I was thinking that you could come to my house on Sunday morning and we can go from there.”
“Sounds good,” I nodded, knowing what he was talking about. “Where do you live?”
“I’ll text it to you.”
“Hey Clark, thanks for agreeing to this…” I said sincerely. “I really appreciate it.”
“You’re not the only one who feels that way,” he grinned.
Mark parked the car and got out, walking to open my door for me as I untied Clark’s cloak and gathered the skirt and mask.
“Clark?” I started. “Do you think this is insane? What we’re doing?”
“Completely,” he said strongly. I chuckled, nodding.
“Just wanted to make sure we’re on the same page.”
* *** *
The Saturday meeting at the Commission was not what I expected. Nothing strange happened, other than the fact that the leader of the Commission of the People was not present.
Clark’s mother did not offer any explanation as to Dana’s absence when she told the members he would not be attending, but it did get me curious. There were so many possibilities about what he was doing that I spent the entire meeting trying to think up the most probable answer. The fact that Sean was also gone raised the probability that Dana was out of the Commission entirely, maybe even meeting with Leader Simon.
Whatever he was doing, the meeting passed quietly without him.
The next morning, I took the bus to Clark’s house, which was not at all far from mine, but it was in the most expensive end of the neighborhood. Even my house was dwarfed in comparison to the mansions on Clark’s street.
Clark’s house was beautiful with an expansive green lawn and columns on the front of the house, making the white structure seem even taller. I stared for a moment, glancing back at my phone to be sure that I was at the correct address before I started up the gravel driveway to the front door. I saw the two cars parked out front, recognizing one as the one Mark drove with the small, white “88” painted on the back bumper. There was no one out front, making the approach to the house unnerving.
I walked up the three stairs onto the front porch before hesitantly ringing the doorbell. I heard the bells ringing inside, but no other noise followed. My anxiety worsened. I had met Clark’s mother, but I had never formally met his father, and I did not know if there were other people in the house besides Mark. An estate so large probably needed maids and guards at all times, but there was no activity on the premises.
The door clicked open and a woman in a simple black dress smiled at me.
“Are you Miss Lily Sandover?”
“Yes.”
“Please, come in.”
I had been right with my assumption about the maids.
I stepped into the foyer and looked around the two-storied cavernous room. I felt as though I had stepped into a movie with the grandeur of the paintings on the walls and the ornate railing of the swooping staircase in front of me.
“Clark will be down in a moment,” the maid said.
When another person entered the foyer from the passageway under the stairs, I jumped, but relaxed when I saw that the man in a suit and sunglasses was not Dana. Mark approached with a small smile. While I smiled back, I was puzzled by his glasses.
When he stopped, I motioned to my own face to symbolize the glasses, trying to ask him why he was wearing them inside. I immediately became concerned that he would be driving us around and, therefore, could figure out what we were planning.
He looked at the maid, who smiled, answering his silent request.
“Sorry about Mark. He’s a mute and he has sensitive eyes. Don’t let the glasses bother you,” she told me casually. “Would you like anything to drink?”
“…water, please,” I said, realizing that I could get her to leave.
“If you will wait in the living room, I will bring it to you.” She motioned me to the living room which, despite the beautiful furniture, pictures, and large fireplace, had a cold and vacant feeling. I looked around at the richness around the living room, Mark following silently as the maid hurried away.
I had led a very privileged life, but the grandeur of the Markus house was surprising even to me, particularly because the house seemed so cold and dark despite the beautiful furnishings. The entire house looked like a movie set, perfectly designed and laid out, as if no one actually lived there.
I saw Mark standing by the archway, silent. I was surprised that the maids had never seen Mark without his glasses. That meant that the former experiment could only remove his glasses in the Commission and in his personal room, if he had one.
“How are you, Mark?”
He remained still for a moment and then smiled, lifting his hands to give me two thumbs up, which was his common response. It never failed to put a smile on my face. I wished I could speak with him and have him understand me, and I him. I had discussed learning the experiment sign language from Mykail, but I knew it would be a long time before I could understand enough to converse.
Hesitantly, I reached a hand to my nose and brushed it with my fingers, which was the first and only thing I had learned from Mykail the previous night before we distracted ourselves with kissing. The action meant: “how are you?”
Mark seemed surprised and he did not move to answer, so I smiled and repeated the action. He smiled again and raised his right hand to scratch his neck twice.
I’m well.
I did not have anything else to ask, but it made me happy that I could at least extend common courtesy to him.
He took one step forward, hesitant, but stopped and looked at the door where the maid had vanished and quickly retreated. Just as I was about to walk to him, the door opened and the maid brought me a glass of water. She looked between us.
“Is he bothering you?” she asked with a chuckle. “I know he just sort of looms in the corner, but he means no harm. It’s just for security.” She turned to Mark. “Go on,” she motioned him away rudely.
“No, it’s fine,” I said quickly. “He can stay. I know him. He’s been driving me and Clark around.”
“Oh, I see,” the maid said. “Here is your water. I will go see what Clark is doing.” She hurried away and I turned to Mark, motioning to him that I was sorry.
He smiled and bowed his head.
After a few seconds where all I could hear was the maid’s heels going up the stairs, there was the sound of a door opening followed by a thud and a loud scuffle. Mark’s head turned, but he did not move from his spot. I recognized the sounds of dog’s nails scraping hardwood and excited whimpers.
“Calm down, you crazy kids!” a man’s voice laughed from across the foyer past the dining room. “There you go.”
One of the dogs ran to me and I dropped my hand for him to smell as he wagged his tail enthusiastically. Another one came from Mark’s side and jumped up, placing his paws on my stomach excitedly as he whimpered, his tail rocking his entire body.
“Colonel! Get down!” the man’s voice snapped with a chuckle. Mark pulled the dog gently by the collar, placing him back on all fours. I laughed as I looked at the man walking across the foyer. He was obviously Clark’s father. The resemblance was obvious. He had the same dark brown eyes and tousled brown hair, and he even wore the same style of glasses.
“I’m sorry about them,” he nodded to the dogs. “They don’t bite, they’re just too friendly.” He extended his hand to me. “You must be Thomas Sandover’s daughter.”
“That’s me,” I smiled. “Lily.”
“Lily, it’s very nice to meet you, I’m Richard, Clark’s father.”
“It’s very nice to meet you.” He also had that same warm personality Clark had, even though it was obvious he was shy.
“You, as well. Your parents have told me a lot about you,” he nodded, releasing my hand. “My wife tells me you and Clark have become good friends.”
“We have.”
“I’m glad,” he grinned. “Well, you know Mark, I’m sure.” He motioned to Mark, who was crouching with the three dogs, holding them in place. “That’s Danny Boy, Colonel, and Duke,” he introduced the dogs. “I’m sorry they are so misbehaved. We don’t get much company and they love meeting new people. Do you like dogs?”
“I do, but I prefer cats.”
“Do you have any?”
“One,” I answered. “His name is Dexter.”
“They probably smell him on you, which is why they got so excited,” Richard laughed. He turned. “Vanessa?” he called into the house.
It was not long before another maid came from the same passageway Mark had. She stood quietly, folding her hands in front of her respectfully.
“Could you please feed them?” Richard asked, motion to the dogs.
“Of course, sir,” she nodded, clapping to the dogs, calling them into the further recesses of the house. Mark stood when the dogs were gone, but he remained in his position as Richard motioned for me to sit down.
“I have no idea what Clark is doing,” he groaned. “I hope you haven’t been waiting long.” He stepped out of the living room long enough to call up the staircase to Clark. He returned and sat across from me, mumbling about Clark not being hospitable. I acted as though I did not hear his complaining.
“He said that you two are going into town today,” he said. I nodded. “Any special plans?”
“No,” I shook my head. “Just hanging out, looking around…”
“So, is this a date?” he asked with a raised eyebrow.
“What? No!”
“Oh, come on. You two have been spending a lot of time together, you can tell me,” Richard joked. “I understand how it is. You don’t want the drama with the parents, but I know that you two are young adults and it’s only logical that you want to experiment with dating.”
“What are you saying?!” Clark gasped, turning into the living room. “Dad, Lily is just a friend! Do you have to be so embarrassing?!”
“Come on, can you blame me? This is the first girl I think you’ve ever even spoken to,” Richard chuckled. “Of course I’m going to assume things!”
“Can’t a girl and a boy just be friends?!” Clark gasped, exasperated.
“I don’t know,” Richard teased. “It doesn’t seem to be possible in your generation.”
“Oh my God, I can’t believe you. Come on, Lily,” he said quickly. “We’re going.”
I tried to hide my smile as I stood. Clark was extremely embarrassed. Parents had to make a habit of embarrassing their children as often as they could. I would have preferred my parents tease me about dating rather than embarrass me by treating Mark as if he was some sort of rare animal.
“Is Mark driving you around?” Richard asked, following us into the foyer.
“No, we don’t really know where we’re going, so we’re taking the bus,” Clark answered casually.
“That doesn’t bother Mark. You should have him drive you,” Richard told us with a disapproving shake of his head.
“No, Dad, Mark doesn’t need to drive me everywhere,” Clark said strongly. “Let him have a day off, will you?”
“Dana will be very upset if he hears that you didn’t use him,” Richard told Clark with the parenting tone that all teenagers hated.
“Dana doesn’t need to know everything I do,” Clark growled. “Please, let’s just leave Mark alone today and let him rest. Haven’t you seen how tired he is?”
“He’s not tired, Clark, that’s just a poor excuse,” Richard shook his head. “Where are you going that you don’t want us to know about?”
“Dad, do you really have to always be in my business?” Clark snapped. “Every day I go to school and then Mark drives me to the Commission and then he drives me home. Just once I want to have a weekend where I can pretend I’m a normal teenager. Is that alright? I don’t need a chauffeur.”
Richard hesitated a moment, then sighed.
“Alright, I’m sorry,” he agreed, hanging his head. “Of course you should be a normal teenager.”
“I’m sorry, Dad, it’s just…I want to try and get away from the Commission and Dana sometimes,” Clark said, his voice dropping. I hated being in these situations no matter who I was with. Whenever one of my friends was fighting with their parents and I was nearby, I could do nothing but stand awkwardly and pretend to be invisible.
“Okay,” Richard nodded. “When will you be back?”
“By dinner at the latest.”
“Lily, would you like to join us for dinner?” Richard asked.
“Oh…um, I would have to check with my parents…” I said quietly, looking at Clark to see how he felt about me joining his family for dinner. He smiled and nodded so I smiled in turn. “If they say it’s okay, I would love to.”
“Great,” Richard smiled. “Are you a vegetarian, or vegan, or allergic to anything?”
“No.”
“Wonderful. Well, you kids have fun and I’ll see you later tonight,” Richard nodded. “Be careful.”
“We will,” we both said, walking out the door. When Clark closed the door behind us and we walked down the steps, he turned to me and cringed.
“Sorry about that…” he mumbled. “All of it.”
“It’s fine,” I assured. “Not the first time I’ve dealt with parents.”
“So, we want to take bus five to Main, and then bus twenty-two to Gregory Avenue,” he explained, pulling out the note, which was now crumpled with several scribbles in different colored ink. “I figured it would be best to start downtown and move outward. We’ll end at Makay Power Plant.”
We walked the distance to the bus stop and began our exploration of Central. The first two warehouses in the downtown area were huge and in disrepair, but we could not enter them because of the fence and barbed wire surrounding the lots. Both Clark and I agreed that they were not the best locations due to their vicinity to downtown and how many people walked by the area.
We moved to an old high school that had been abandoned, but the amount of windows made it less than ideal.
After a quick lunch, we found an old spa factory near the outskirts of town that we were able to slip into through a hole in the fence and a fallen board covering the door. Because of this, we were concerned about the possibility of other teenagers coming in to vandalize the place when we were there.
Because of how far away it was, we did not go to the old junk yard. Instead, we took the bus to the clo
sest stop we could and walked to Makay Power Plant, which took about fifteen minutes.
“This is the one that this person thinks will be the best,” Clark sighed as we walked in the chilly November air. “But, if this doesn’t work out, I think the spa factory might be the next best.”
“I agree. I’m just worried. There was a lot of graffiti in there. There might be some squatters.”
“I guess we’ll just have to see about the power plant,” Clark sighed. “It’ll probably be in bad shape as well…It’s been abandoned since the Second Revolution.”
Finally reaching the power plant after an uphill climb, I was shocked at just how large it was. The fence around it was still intact but the coiled barbed wire around the top was rusted. The four large columns of the chimneys reached into the sky, browned with grime and age. The brick building itself still stood strong, though many of the arched windows were broken. The expansive grounds fenced around the power plant were overgrown with weeds and grass, breaking sections of old cement.
“This place is huge,” I breathed, approaching the chain-link fence.
Clark looked around at the fence, trying to find a way in.
“Let’s see if we can get inside…” he whispered, pulling at one panel. The both of us walked in opposite directions, trying to find a weakness to slip through without climbing over the barbed wire. The fence was expansive, so I pulled my phone out to call Clark if I found a spot. I walked along the fence, pulling at the panels and looking for holes in the ground or in the barbed wire above.
My phone rang just as I was about to turn to the back of the property.
“I found a spot.”
I rounded the back of the building and saw that Clark had found a gap in the fence as he pulled one of the panels.
“After you,” he motioned to the gap.
I quickly glanced around to be sure we were alone, and then ducked, barely squeezing through the gap. I pushed the same panel of fence to help Clark slip through.
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