Vol. 1 - Part 4

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The young woman pulled the wooden box out of the ferns and smiled at her sister.

“It’s like the treasure hunts we had as kids! C’mon, let’s open it!”

She could feel her sister's shimmering blue-green eyes glaring at her from beneath her hood.
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“No.”

“C’mon! It’ll be fun!”

“No. Help me get this into the truck.”

“Fine.” The young woman sighed. “You’re no fun.”

When the box, canoe, and paddles were in the back of the truck, they covered everything with a tarp. 

“We’re destroying that box the first chance we get,” said the young woman's sister, as they drove up the tote road. 

“You don’t even know what’s inside!”

“Yes, I do.” 

“Well, what is it?”

Her sister didn’t answer.

“I don’t see why we had to take it if we’re just gonna get rid of it; maybe someone else could’ve used it?”

“It’s dangerous.”

“Is it a weapon?”

“In a way.”

“Will it explode?” asked the young woman, growing nervous.

“No.”

“What does it do?”

They turned onto the main road and dust stirred in their wake.

“It makes people disappear,” said her sister, quietly.

“Being invisible would be cool,” said the young woman, with a sigh. “Can I at least go invisible once before we destroy it?”

“I didn't say invisible. It’s complicated.”

“If it’s dangerous and complicated, then why’d you risk bringing it along?”

“Because it’s not safe to have lying around.”

“Like in the bed of a truck?”

“No, like in the wrong hands.”

“Are people after us now that we have it?”

“It was probably an amateur, so they’ll get the flak. With any luck, nobody’s noticed it’s gone.”

“Can you tell me anything about it?”

Her sister was quiet. The young woman looked away and focused on the road ahead. 

When they stopped at a stop sign, the young woman's sister shuffled in her seat.

“You use it when you want to disappear,” said her sister. “This is what happens when you change your mind.” She lowered her hood and her wavy light brown hair swung in front of her face. She pushed her hair aside to reveal thin white lines crisscrossing her beige skin; extending from her face they spiralled over her ears, down her neck, and weaved around her fingers, shining like gossamer.

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part 3

part 5

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