Discovery Read online

  Allison Rose

  Discovery

  First published by Allison Rose Creations 2018

  Copyright © 2018 by Allison Rose

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

  This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

  First edition

  This book was professionally typeset on Reedsy

  Find out more at reedsy.com

  To those who see the beauty around them

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  From the Author

  About the Author

  Also by Allison Rose

  Chapter 1

  I have this feeling in my gut that what I witnessed earlier and what I may see in the coming days needs to be captured in writing.

  The pen trembled in Nola’s hand. Fear raced through her veins, but there was also a good amount of a frenzied sort of excitement. The swirling gray caught her eye, and she paused in her writing to regard the alien substance. It almost seemed to be regarding her from the vial lying on its side in the pencil tray on her desk. A shiver went down her spine.

  I have a feeling something big is about to happen. My name is Nola Chase. Here starts what I’m pretty certain will at least be an interesting story. Possibly even an epic one.

  Chapter 2

  Earlier that day

  It was another quiet dinner in the Chase household. Nola half listened to her mother’s attempts at conversation and her father’s responding grunts and non-answers about his work at a biochemical laboratory owned by the Miller Corporation.

  He’s even more distracted than usual. Her father cast furtive glances at the basement door when he wasn’t staring at his food.

  It wasn’t long before the Scientist, as Nola came to refer to him, revealed his plans for the night. “I need to finish up some work. This project is becoming more than I anticipated.” He sent his wife an apologetic look that made Nola want to roll her eyes. Like that will do any good.

  But Nola remained quiet in her seat at the table, long ago realizing her words would not change anything. Regarding her parents, she simply resolved that her life would be different. Whatever this work is, it can’t be more important than family. I will never marry a man like him. A pair of light blue eyes and a huge smile came to her mind, causing her to blush. Maybe Cameron will turn out to be that man.

  “What’s that smile for?” her mother asked. Nola jolted back to reality as she realized her mother was talking to her.

  “Nothing,” she said quickly. Like he has even noticed you like that, she chided herself as she rose and brought the dishes to the sink. Her mother watched her with a skeptical eye but did not comment further.

  “One of my drawings is going to be in the art show in a few weeks,” Nola continued, trying to cover up the awkward moment.

  Her mother beamed. “Which one?”

  “The one with the fall leaves,” Nola answered with one eye on her father. He continued to eat, ignoring the conversation. Nola’s mother smiled as if that would make up for her husband’s non-reaction.

  Disappointment left a bitter taste in her mouth as Nola turned her back to the both of them.

  The Scientist at least helped to clear the table and put the dishes in the sink, though he did not offer to wash them. Nola’s mother sighed and got to it, not bothering to fight this evening. The Scientist made his way past Nola, giving her an absent-minded smile and a pat on her head as he did so.

  Frustration welled up inside Nola. I am not a dog. She gave his back a glare. Just because I’m not interested in your science… And with that frustration came a spark of rebelliousness and a little envy.

  Her father’s work didn’t interest Nola, much to his dismay, but she suddenly found herself wanting to see it.

  I want to know what it is that is so important. The thought spurred Nola into action.

  After an evaluating glance at her mother forcefully scrubbing dishes at the sink, she followed her father on tiptoe down the basement stairs to his home laboratory. Though she was betting on him being too distracted to notice her, she was half surprised to make it to the bottom behind him without being caught.

  Nola hesitated on the threshold as he continued forward in the dark to the light switch on the other side of the room. What am I doing? she thought. I don’t do things like this.

  As his hand reached for the switch, she made a snap decision and dove for the cover of the nearest table. Heart pounding, she tried to calm her breathing as the Scientist closed the door and proceeded to the far table that held his equipment and, curiously, a few potted plants. He never even glanced in Nola’s direction.

  She felt a twinge of satisfaction at having gotten past him. Lauren and Tris will never believe this, Nola thought in nervous excitement. If I can ever tell them.

  With an internal sigh, Nola settled into a crouch where, if she peeked around the table or up through the leaves of the plants resting on it, she was able to observe most of his actions.

  The Scientist puttered around, mixing substances in vials and beakers, a look of intense concentration on his face as he squinted through his goggles. Luckily he remained at the table across the room from Nola’s hideout.

  Okay, Dad, what is so great about this? Nola watched with narrowed eyes.

  But the thrill wore off after about an hour of what seemed like pointless mixing and making notes. Nola was half asleep by the time he pulled out the substance.

  It was like something in the air shifted. Nola’s eyes flew open, and she craned her neck forward in a vain attempt to get closer. The Scientist held it with great care, posture and face stiff. The substance was like nothing she had ever seen, a swirling gray that seemed to have a mind of its own. It appeared to be a state somewhere between liquid and gas, pouring like a liquid, yet made up of gray swirling clouds. Even from across the room, something about it was so alien that it captured Nola’s attention like a magnet. It was just so other.

  This is what he has been hiding down here and obsessing over. This is what is more important than me.

  And she had to admit that whatever it was, it certainly was alluring. But why? It’s just a gray liquid.

  Eyes wide, Nola watched as the Scientist carefully measured a small amount of the substance into a beaker. He then pulled over a small houseplant from the opposite end of the table. It had long, thin leaves and looked green and healthy despite being on the small side. The Scientist poured the substance directly onto the plant. Within a matter of seconds, the plant grew to easily four times its original size, becoming greener and more vibrant in the process.

  The gasp came out of Nola’s mouth before she could cover it up with her hand.

  The Scientist’s head shot up and he looked in her direction. Nola quickly ducked completely under the table, heart pounding. No, no, no.

  At the sound of footsteps, she bit her lip and took a chance. Assuming her father would have to walk around to her side of the table, she dove out the other side and rolled and ducked behind the cabinet that housed the vials. She winced as her sneakers made a scuffing noise on the concrete floor.

  Squeezing her eyes shut and clamping a hand over
her mouth to muffle her breathing, Nola waited. After a few moments of silence, she heard footsteps and then the sound of glass clinking. Her shoulders slumped in relief. He didn’t hear that. Or if he did, he doesn’t suspect anything.

  In the next instant, the anxiety came back. I would be so dead if he caught me spying on that. That is definitely top secret. I should never have come down here. The Millers, the owners of the corporation her dad worked for, were known for their willingness to experiment on anything in the name of science.

  But they’ll never know I’m down here, Nola reminded herself. She took a breath and willed her nerves to calm.

  Curiosity got the better of her again as she heard the clink of glass. Nola peeked carefully around the corner of the cabinet.

  With an unimpressed expression, the Scientist went about mixing other substances and testing them out on plants in a similar state. He’s trying to recreate it, Nola realized. But that means he didn’t create it in the first place. Where did he get it? What is it?

  It was odd that he had it down here in the basement. Does the corporation even know? Or did he steal it from them?

  It was then that Nola noticed the other dead plants shoved off into a corner, pots stacked on top of each other. Some were shriveled up and black; some looked like they had been burned. None looked even the least bit alive. Nola shivered at the sight. He’s been unsuccessful so far, it seems.

  The night progressed in the same way. Nola got no more clues from her silent father as to what transpired. His brow remained furrowed and body tense as he mixed and experimented and made notes. A few times, he lifted his hand as if to run it through his thinning hair, only to put it back down as he realized he had a glove on. Nola watched as more and more questions swirled around in her head.

  A few hours later, the Scientist carefully replaced the vials back in their hideaway. Nola winced as she felt the vibrations of him closing the doors to the cabinet through her back. Then she heard the unmistakable click of a lock. The Scientist came into her view again as he discarded the plants into the same corner. Nola barely had time to duck back around the other side of the cabinet as he then wearily trudged over to the light switch and shuffled out of the basement, closing the door behind him.

  Nola sat in the dark for a minute or two as her father’s steps retreated up the stairs. The wood of the cabinet almost felt warm to the touch, beckoning her. She leapt up. The damage has already been done. I have to see it. Removing her cell phone from her pocket, Nola used the light to illuminate the lock on the front of the cabinet.

  She tested the simple combination lock with a tug, hoping it wouldn’t be completely set. It didn’t budge. Guess my luck was used up when he didn’t discover me these past few hours. She turned her light on the table he had been working at. He must have it written somewhere. Can’t have knowledge being lost if something happens to him.

  But after close to another hour of searching, Nola collapsed on the floor, having only found another locked cabinet that must contain her father’s notebooks. She lay flat, resting her tired eyes. I should give up. It would be the smart thing to do.

  But something about the substance continued to nag at her. It doesn’t belong in a place like this, she thought about the stuffy basement with its dying houseplants. And it definitely doesn’t belong in the hands of the Millers. Her father’s boss and his son Derek, who was also her father’s intern after school and sometimes weekends, were rich and thought they were above the law, pushing the boundaries of moral experimentation. And Derek had a violent streak that he hid around her father, though Nola saw the dark side of him at school. The fine hairs on Nola’s arms stood up as she thought of Derek flipping a knife in his long fingers right in the middle of class, the teachers too afraid to tell him to put it away.

  Being her father’s intern, he also had a hand in whatever research the Scientist was doing.

  I hope you have not let him see this, Dad. This substance did not belong in the hands of someone like Derek. He would find a way to twist it into something horrible.

  Maybe Dad has it in the basement so they won’t get it. But I know him. Even if that is true, as soon as he can recreate it, he will hand it over. He loves that job too much. And he’ll want the glory.

  Seeing the dead plants in the corner brought to mind the neglected areas of the park she spent most afternoons. With what just a drop of this stuff could do… And it should be used for good. Someone should be using it for good.

  She might not be able to keep all of it out of the hands of her father and the corporation, but she could take some of it to use for the greater good.

  Resolved to give it one last try, Nola opened her eyes. As she was sitting up, her eyes caught something etched into the metal underneath the desk. Five strings of numbers in sets of three.

  Nola’s hopes soared as she raced to the cabinet. After a few tries, the lock sprung free. Eagerly, but with careful hands, she withdrew one of the vials.

  It was even more captivating up close. Nola’s attention was immediately fixated on the swirling clouds within the liquid. It was such a small thing, but it felt like life, like energy, like hope.

  Taking an empty vial from the counter next to her, she poured a few drops of the stuff into it. I doubt he will notice a little missing, she told herself as she tucked the vial into her pocket.

  Putting everything back the way it was, Nola turned off her phone and slowly made her way out the door in the dark. She paused at the stack of discarded plants. Making a snap decision, she snagged a small one on her way out the door, careful not to crush the brittle leaves.

  Nola winced as she shut the door and realized she did not have the key to lock it again. Hopefully, he will just think he forgot. It is no secret he is absent-minded.

  Upstairs in the safety of her room, Nola beheld the substance again before carefully tipping a drop onto the sad plant she rescued from the basement. Within seconds, the plant came back to life.

  Life from death.It’s almost like magic. She realized she couldn’t think of any other word to describe it. This can’t be my father’s doing. This is not the work of science.

  Then she shook her head forcefully. Magic belongs in stories. She forced herself to place the vial in her pencil tray on the opposite corner of her desk. It’s late.I am tired and seeing and feeling things I should not be.

  But though she put the substance out of her mind, the plant continued to draw Nola’s attention. Reaching out a hand to run a finger over the long leaves, Nola felt a peace overcome her. She smiled, feeling good that she restored the green life.

  Then the leaf twirled and wound its way gently around her finger.

  Nola froze. Impossible. She closed and opened her eyes again. The plant gently uncurled itself, going back to looking normal.

  Excitement rushing through her once more, Nola took out her notebook, flipping past the doodles of animals, flowers, and visitors to the park. It is important to preserve all knowledge in writing, her father had taught her. And this had the feeling of something important, something big.

  I swear this is the truth. If you are reading this, know that I am not crazy. I also don’t tell lies to get attention. What I saw tonight seems like something beyond pure science. I’m not sure what to think of it all right now, but it feels right that I took this gray stuff from my father. It feels like I was meant to have it.

  Chapter 3

  Nola stared sleepily into her cereal the next morning as the Scientist stalked into the kitchen.

  “Were either of you down in the basement this morning?” he asked, eyes darting between the two women.

  Nola’s mother raised her eyebrows. “Why would we be down there?” she asked for both of them.

  The Scientist’s eyes darted to Nola. “I just got up a minute ago, Dad,” she told him, doing her best to sound tired and moody. It wasn’t hard at all.

  His shoulders relaxed only slightly as he sat down at the table. “I found the door unlocked this morning.”<
br />
  Nola tried not to tense.

  “I probably forgot to lock it,” he went on, “but you both know that it is important that what I have down there be kept secret, right?”

  “Of course, dear,” her mother said absently, stirring her spoon in her cereal.

  “Yes, Dad,” Nola muttered as her father’s gaze swept to hers.

  The Scientist nodded, not looking entirely appeased, but he shifted his attention to the oatmeal in front of him.

  Relieved, Nola spooned the last bit of cereal into her mouth. Putting her bowl in the sink, she stood and muttered, “I have to go.”

  Both adults simply nodded as she left to walk to school.

  Throughout the morning, Nola’s concentration wandered. Her eyelids drooped, yet a nervous energy buzzed in her veins. Her father did not know about the vial, but what she had done weighed on her conscience. The gray substance remained on her mind as well, that magical allure still drawing her eyes to it as she readied for school that morning. The plant seemed normal, though there was still the evidence that it had been mostly dead just a few hours before.

  “Late night?” Lauren asked as they sat down at their usual lunch table.

  “Studying,” Nola muttered.

  Lauren gave her a sideways look as she opened her milk. “Studying?”

  “What else would I be doing that late?” Nola raised her eyebrows.

  Lauren’s eyes narrowed. “There’s really no juicy tale you aren’t telling us?”

  “No. I wish.”

  Her friend continued to give Nola a skeptical look, but went on unwrapping her lunch without comment.

  “You should probably duck your head to hide those bags under your eyes,” Tris warned from Nola’s other side. “A certain someone is coming this way.”

  Nola hurried to do so, trying to remember if she had even thought to put makeup on this morning. Of course he would pick this day to pay any attention to me. She thought of Cameron’s perfectly symmetrical features and hoped he wouldn’t notice her disheveled appearance.