"The list of deceased has ended and this one says it's of prisoners. There's not many names, only about thirty," Coal said, pointing at the screen again.

"What?" I asked, confused. "The city doesn't hold any prisoners, they don't have the resources. That's what SubWar's for."

"It's here, clear as day," he said, shaking the receiver at me so that the names swam before my eyes.

Two of them stood out so clearly it was like a slap in the face. I snatched the receiver from him and stared.

"What is it?" Coal asked, surprised. He leaned in to look over my shoulder at the screen.

"You're sure it said that these people are prisoners?" I asked, my hands shaking.

"Yeah, at the top. What's wrong?" Coal put his hand on my arm.

The record of names had scrolled on and started listing births.

"Can we scroll back up?"

"No, it's just relaying the information they're looking at in Franklin. We can look at it again when we get back though." He frowned at me.

"I saw my parents' names." I dropped the receiver into my lap and turned to look at Coal.

"I thought they were dead?" he asked, frowning. "Are you sure you saw them?"

I nodded silently.

"It was an accident in the lab," I said quietly.

"What?" Coal asked, confused.

"They said there was a chance of contamination, so I couldn't see them. They were just - gone."

"So they could be in a prison then?" he asked.

"But why? They were working for the city, they were brilliant scientists. Why would they imprison them?"

"How long ago did it happen?"

"Five years. Have th

ey been there, stuck in some cage that whole time?"

"I swear if they are, I'll help you get them back."

I looked at Coal, his eyes burning with determination and knew that he meant it.

"Thank you." I handed the receiver back to him and he put it in his pocket.

It couldn't be true. I wanted it to be so badly but there was just no way.

My head was swimming with the possibility of my mom and dad still being alive somewhere after I'd spent years coming to terms with their loss. I felt a bubble of hope building in my chest and crushed it back down again. I couldn't believe it. I refused to let myself. Not until I had solid proof.

"Tell me about how you met Taylor." Coal interrupted my thoughts.

"What?"

"Taylor," he prompted.

He was trying to distract me but maybe I needed a distraction. I closed my eyes and tried to banish thoughts of my mom and dad and think of Taylor instead.

Tags: Susanne Valenti Science Fiction
Source: readsnovelonline.net