Alita's POV:
"We've gone through most of your father's work already." Jeremy said. "What else are you looking for?"
"But that was before we knew about Tyron." I said. I switched to speakerphone, & kept flipping through files while I talked to Jeremy. "We now know that he was part of the Lyoko project. It's a long shot, but maybe we can find some contact information. If we can find Tyron, we can find my mother."
"Do you want me to come over & help?" Jeremy asked. "I'm just installing some updates for the Mega Pod. I can come over as soon as they're done."
"That's ok." I said. "I…" I let my voce trail off. A creaking sound had come from above me. "Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?"
"That creaking sound?"
"Old homes sometimes creak."
"I know, but it almost sounded like somebody was walking above me, but my father's study is on the second floor." A thought occurred to me. "Jeremy, do you think the Hermitage has an attic?"
"It's possible." Jeremy said. "But we've explored it thoroughly. We never saw any type of door that would lead to an attic."
"That's because it's in the ceiling!" I said, smiling as the memory slid into place. Even after all this time, there were still some moments from my old life that I couldn't remember. "We kept holiday decorations up there, & I wasn't allowed up by myself because it was so dusty." I grabbed my phone off the desk & left my father's study.
There, in the ceiling of the hallway, was the outline of an opening with a short, dusty chain hanging down. I tugged on it & it opened more easily than I expected.
"Are you ok?" Jeremy asked. "What was that?"
"I think I found the attic." I said excitedly.
"Alita, be careful." Jeremy said as I climbed the steps. He knew I couldn't resist exploring.
The attic was surprisingly bright, thanks to two large windows on one side of the room. One of the windows was even open, which was strange.
"Well? What's up there?" Jeremy asked.
"Boxes." I said. "Lots of boxes. If you still want to help, I think I'd appreciate it."
"Ok, just give me a few minutes." Jeremy said. A new discovery was much more interesting than routine updates.
We hung up, & I slipped my phone in my pocket. I got as close to the window as possible to close it.
That was strange…I had never noticed that angel statue before. The window even looked out towards the front yard. I should have walked past it on my way in, but I've never seen it before…
Looking around, I decided to start with the boxes that were close to the door & work my way back. I pulled a box away from the wall…& nearly dropped it when I saw my name. I pulled out the boxes next to it, revealing my full name.
Alita Schaffer.
It wasn't my father's handwriting…but who else would leave me this message?
I moved the next row of boxes away.
Don't look away from the Weeping Angels.
There was more to the message, but in my excitement, I had basically blocked myself in. I stretched to get the next box.
Get out! N
I stretched myself out even further to knock the next box away.
NOW!
I heard the sound of glass breaking, which made me jump & lose my balance, falling into the pile of boxes. As the dust settled, I noticed there was a hole in one of the windows…& a rock in the mess of boxes.
Since when had XANA resorted to throwing rocks?
I quickly pulled out my phone & called Jeremy. "Change of plans." I said when he answered. "Launch a scan of Lyoko. I think a specter might be on the loose. I'll bring some stuff to the factory, & we can look through it there."
I pulled a box away from the wall. The message was signed.
-The Doctor.
I've had this idea in my head ever since I first saw Blink a few years ago…& now I finally feel like I have enough understanding of Doctor Who to be able to write it!
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