Okay everyone! I know it was a cliffhanger, thanks for being patient. Alrighty then... yes, I know there are some questions about Taylor and why her name is so, and we find out soon, I promise! Also the Animorphs appear REALLY SOON!

Another cliffhanger this chapter, but it's a good one. Probably what you might have been expecting, but I love it anyway! I totally stole it from the Ring (giggles maniacally) !

Also, if you haven't before, I urge you to check out my stuff at fictionpress . com

Thanks!


Chapter 11

"I can't go there, Miss!" the taxi driver protested.

"I'll give you a hundred dollars! A thousand, just get me there!" I screamed at him, piling into the back of his cab.

"A thousand and I'll give you door to door service," he said.

"You bastard, just go!" I yelled, pulling the door shut. "Faster!"

We zipped through the city, our lane heading into the memorial site clear –all the traffic was leaving.

His radio blared loud and horribly clear:

"ATTENTION ALL UNITS: THERE HAS BEEN AN ATTACK MADE AT THE TWIN TOWERS MEMORIAL. YEERK ACTIVITY IS SUSPECTED. ALL UNITS REPORT BACK TO BASE. REPEAT: ALL UNITS REPORT BACK TO BASE."

The driver shut it up by switching to the radio, which was hysterically beating out the news.

"Oh my God! I can't believe this! There is smoke everywhere! Ladies and Gentlemen, if you're just tuning in, the Trade Towers Memorial has been attacked by Yeerk Controllers! They've bombed the place! The main building is in ruins! Sewer lines have erupted! There's water and fire everywhere! The firefighters can't get in here, there's too much rubble! Oh God! Get me out of here!"

The radio censored out, finally turning to static.

"Why are you so intent on getting there, lady?"

"My little girl's there," I heard myself whisper. "She was there with her school…"

He got me close. So close I could see the last wisps of smoke go up, the first bit of chaotic ruin of shattered glass and toppled towers.

"This is as far as I go, Ma'am." He said. "Can't go no closer."

I threw all my cash at him.

"Thank you!" I whispered blankly as he sped off, wheels screeching beside me.

Somewhere. Somewhere within this mess was Ashline. I had to find her…

I ran forward, towards the pile up of debris that looked as if a child playing with blocks had swept his arm through them. Where I was it was clear…buildings stood, cars were unharmed…but I could see in the distance…total destruction. No one could have lived through that.

I ran through the extensive parking lot, where already people were massing, trying to organize, trying to help.

"Have you seen any children?" I yelled, calling to the woman who appeared to be in charge.

"We haven't even gone in yet!" she shouted back.

"There are some school buses in the East parking lot," another volunteer shouted to me. She was dressed in a tour guide's outfit. "Field trips weren't due to start until fifteen minutes ago. I bet the kids are still there…if they're alive."

I ignored her last comment and took off, also ignoring the stitch in my side, and the way my feet were aching in my high-heeled boots.

How lucky was I? How lucky was it that someone knew where the kids were?

What do you want? I asked, directing my thoughts upward. Why do you keep helping me, and keep pushing me towards the yeerks? Oh, please let her be alive!

I raced, outdistancing other noble citizens who were hurrying the same way, trying to see if anyone lived out this way.

I saw victims coming forth, white with dust.

Two carried a third. He had a burn in his chest.

Dracon Beam.

Yeerks. Indefinitely.

But why now? There were five days until the Anniversary. Why were they striking against Humanity now?

And then I realized they weren't, and this only made me run faster. This wasn't the Big One. They were after their first goal: The Animorphs.

Ashline…

I got there, finally. I stood, panting, sweating, and ripped off my blouse, chest heaving only in my white T-shirt.

I saw them, at the far end of the parking lot: big, yellow school buses. More aerodynamic than those years ago when I was in school, but still mostly the same as ever.

This area of the disaster site seemed to be deserted. The sound of sirens wailing and other noises were dulled by the surrounding trees and thick buildings.

There was no real damage here…just dust and ash falling over everything. But something was wrong.

A car sped past me, it's terrified driver spinning the wheel crazily. And all was silent again.

I jogged forward cautiously.

I saw the bus, and gasped.

There were scorch marks from Dracon Beams all over it. They ran across the sides, and had burst a few windows.

"Hello?" I called, stepping up inside. The body of the bus driver, a plump woman, lay sprawled against the dashboard. She wasn't breathing.

The bus was empty. Of life. Backpacks, papers, etc., they were all here. But the children weren't.

Had the teachers evacuated? Oh God, let it be so…

The other buses were empty as well.

Where were they?

"Hello?" I screamed out loud, desperate for an answer.

"Who are you?" A scared, female voice called out.

"My name is Taylor! I'm looking for my daughter!"

A pale woman came out from behind a thick tangle of bushes.

"Mrs. Kaff?" I asked in astonishment. She was Ashline's teacher.

"Are you okay? How are the kids? Where is Ashline?"

"I'm fine. The kids are fine. A fireman told us to stay here. They're coming back when they've taken care of the fire."

"What about Ashline?" I pressed, horrified because she avoided my question. "Is she alright?"

The teacher shook her head. "She's not here. We were on the bus, waiting for the tour guide, and a man came up. Demanded to come on board. The bus driver refused. He pulled out a Dracon Beam…" she trailed off, her eyes going blank.

"What happened? What happened!" I shrieked, shaking her. "Where is my daughter!"

"They took her. They took her. Knew right which one she was. They carried her off, and then there was an explosion…surprised them, but they got away. Injected her with something…she went unconscious…that's all I saw."

"Oh God…" I fell to the ground.

"If I were you," he said slowly. "I would leave. Take your daughter. Things are going to get real shitty around here."

Why hadn't I listened? Why hadn't I pieced it together? He had to be a yeerk! And he knew what was going to happen…they were going to come for me…but they knew they could never catch me…I was too good for that…so they took her…they took her and they'll force me to come get her, and…

I wept. I covered my head, lay on the ground, and wailed. Mrs. Kaff wandered off, muttering something about protecting the kids.

I didn't care. There was only one kid that mattered to me.

What was I doing? I couldn't save her this way.

I brought my head up, wiped my eyes, and grew calm with a clarity that I hadn't had in years.

The number…

I searched my pockets. I still had it. Alex's cell number.

I dialed.

"Hello?" He sounded worried, impatient. He was probably in a panic about the attack.

Ashline…my poor Ashline…and he still didn't know…I never told him…we'd have to fight together, to get her back…

"Hello!"

"Alex," I said, my throat scratchy.

"Taylor? Is that you! Where are you?"

"They have her."

"What?" He yelled, the reception bad. "What are you talking about?"

"The Yeerks."

"What about them?"

"They took her," I whispered.

"WHO! Who did they take, Taylor?"

"Our daughter."