Chapter 10

Before any of them realize almost three months had passed them by; nonetheless, it didn't make it any easy for the ones involved with the plan, especially for Jessica. Jessica you see was worried about Quinn, who took on the role of decoy and she took it seriously. The next day when she found out she had thrown a fit of worry because she didn't understand why Quinn had to pretend to be her. And no one gave her any straight answers, and her older siblings were just as clueless.

It had been Quinn instead of Aine that had put her foot down, and she kept it down. Stating to the fact, "That this is what family and friends do to help the one in trouble."

She had taken Jessica's hands and continued. "You are my best friend and one I consider a sister since we grew up together. So allow me this honor Jess to keep you safe from your family at the very least buy us time to come up with another solution."

This morning had started like every day pass just the same as before, but Jessica soon realizes it wasn't. For nothing had been going well from the time she had left her bed to now. Even David, Aine, and Quinn seemed to be having troubles of their own also before they went from the house to play their roles as a decoy, protector, and guardian.

Jessica paused in her running and slipped her heels off. Why of all days did she wear them she wonders? It was bad enough that she was late getting to work because she had to get a math assignment done that morning for her instructor since she somehow completely forgotten about it. She even skipped breakfast to do that assignment which in return made her late for work. Out of breath, she raced across the street and up the museum drive and the steps, and before she could step inside. She froze as she saw the many people through the glass door. She stared in shock.

Never had she seen the museum this busy not even on the best of days. Before she could step inside, Evelyn stepped out and pulled her away quickly from the doors and to the side out of sight. Evelyn began to jabber you could hear in her voice that she was frazzled."Good, you are finally here. You are to go the closed portion of the museum and unload the crates and sort them out today. Dr. Bey doesn't want you out here to be seen, for some reason.

He is concerned and worried. He tried to put me on the assignment with you. But one of the workers stated they need help. So I am stuck to help them. Go now and quickly but go around and come in from the back. Quickly before someone sees you. He didn't want you to seen, its all so very strange to me."

She pushed Jessica down the steps and went back in just as quickly. Jessica turned and stared at her sister for the longest time they held each other gazes through the doors before she turned and hurried down the steps and around the building. Taking out her keys she unlocked the back side door and stepped inside. Jessica turned and locked the door. Then made her way down the quiet hall till she came to a close gate and unlocked it and stepping inside. Turning around her shut the door and let the lock click back into place. She lit some lights and notice the crates already had been open for her which would make it a little bit easier.

She removed the lid on one crate than remove the packing material carefully and started to place the contents on the table. After some time she had everything from the first crate unloaded. She wished for her sister was here to help.

Sorting and dating artifacts were not her expertise, but she would try her hardest to do this right. She was grabbing a pad of paper and a pen along with the other items she needed from one end of the table. She started to catalog the items inside the crate. Two hours into work, Jessica paused, turning around and slowly swept her gaze across the room, for a sudden noise disturbed her focus. Finding nothing abnormal, she shrugged her shoulders and went back to work. A short time later, she noticed a shadow drifted over her light.

A soft, sharp intake of her breath was the only sound she made as the voice belonging to the shadow spoke, "I see you haven't changed a bit in the least, which in and of itself is amazing."

Jessica scrambled to her feet and took a few paces back to get some room in between them. Once she did, she took in the person features. Jessica realized it was Joshua, in some ways, she noticed, he was more mature and sculpture like and lean in his build; nonetheless, an image of Ardeth flashed in her mind that took her breath away for a moment, and she realize between the two of them it was Ardeth who was a man and not a boy like Joshua still seemed to be. Ardeth too was far more beautiful than Joshua, if you could call a man beautiful.

Her voice firm, asked, "How did you find me?"

"Money is a powerful motivator." He responded.

"You mean greed is," she snapped.

"Same difference. Come, now Jessica is that any way to greet an old friend?"

"I would rather kiss a camel."

With that, she spun around, and ran for the door, at the same time she pulled her keys from her pocket. Reaching the door, she placed the right key into the lock turned it, and started to pull the door open. When a more massive hand pushed it close, turning around rapidly, her eyes landed on her father. Being trapped between her father and the door, gave her an uneasy feeling that she didn't like. They both stared at each other for a time not moving or speaking. She wonders what her father thought when he looked at her.

"You are not getting away from me this time, daughter of mine."

Before she could move or even speak, he grabbed her and pulled her around quickly with her back pressing against his chest. He took a few steps back in the process. His arm around her front was locking her in place, and yet despite this she struggled to break free, but Matthew didn't let her out of his hold as he tightens his arm and gripped around her. He pulled out a white cloth and placed it on her mouth and nose quickly.

Jessica tried not to breathe in the fumes she smelt from the cloth, but it was no use she did inhale after holding her breathe for thirty seconds. She managed to pull from Matthew for he loosens his grip on her, she stumbled towards the door once Jessica reached it her legs buckled out, and she fell to the floor, passing out.