Gone (Gone 1)

Edilio and Quinn were up and running.

Sam felt blood in his eyes, darkening his vision. His heart pounded. His lungs convulsed, sucking on nothing.

“Petey, Petey, it’s all right,” Astrid said, soothing her brother, stroking his head, cuddling him against her. Her eyes were desperate with fear. “Window seat, Petey. Window seat, window seat, window seat.”

Sam staggered into the desk.

Astrid fumbled for Little Pete’s Game Boy. She turned it on.

“What’s happening?” Quinn yelled.

“He heard a loud noise,” Astrid yelled. “It startled him. When he’s scared, he freaks. It’s okay, Petey, it’s okay, I’m here. Here’s your game.”

Sam wanted to yell that it was not okay, that he was choking, but he couldn’t make a sound. His head was swimming.

“Hey, Sam, what are you doing?” Quinn demanded.

“He’s choking!” Edilio said.

“Can’t you shut that stupid kid up?” Quinn yelled.

“He won’t stop until everyone is calm,” Astrid said through gritted teeth. “Window seat, Petey, go to your window seat.”

Sam fell to one knee.

This was crazy.

He was going to die.

Fear took hold of him.

His world was going black.

His hands, palm out, pushed at nothing.

Suddenly there was a brilliant flash of light.

It was as if a small star had gone supernova in the plant manager’s office.

Sam fell, unconscious.

He was conscious again ten seconds later, on his back, the scared faces of Quinn and Edilio staring down at him.

Little Pete was silent. His too-pretty eyes were glued to his video game.

“Is he alive?” Quinn asked in a faraway voice.

Sam breathed in, sharp and sudden. Then another breath.

“I’m okay,” he rasped.

“Is he okay?” Astrid asked in a voice edged with panic, but controlled to avoid setting Little Pete off again.

“Where did that light come from?” Edilio demanded. “Did you guys see that?”

“Dude: they saw that on the moon.” Quinn’s eyes were wide.

“We are out of this place,” Edilio said.