A/N: I'M SOOOO VERY SORRY! I had tried to upload this and the next chapter yesterday, but for some reason the stupid site would "recognize" my file format. Which is weird, because I had it formatted in one of the types listed as recognized by the ff...and it uploaded today. So, anyways. I will be posting the next four chapters, two for yesterday, two for today.

Thanks for the review, BabyGirlBlake!

ENJOY!

Chapter 5:

Lucas and Vaughn studied Josie, neither one sure what to say. She clutched tightly to Lucas's sleeve, obviously not wanting to lose track of where he was. She kept moving her head about the room, squinting her eyes, widening them, trying to get things to come back into focus. The fear was evident on her face.

"When did this happen?" Lucas asked.

"It started slowly…since lunch," she stammered, and both Vaughn and Lucas exchanged looks again.

"Do you remember getting anything in your eyes…anything splashing in them…were you outside recently?" Vaughn questioned.

"No…I had classes inside all day and then I went to my room to change so I could meet Lucas down here," she explained, her voice quivering to reveal how scared she truly was, "I just thought I was tired or something…things would go out of focus, then clear up again…but when I was going down the stairs, everything blurred completely. And it's not clearing up…"

Lucas looked worriedly to a just as concerned Vaughn.

"We have to get her to Professor Z," he whispered and Vaughn nodded agreement. Lucas took Josie's hand in his own, and Vaughn just barely hid his discontent, "Come on, Josie," Lucas told the frightened girl gently, "We're going to the science lab." She nodded and he began leading her out the door slowly.

People rushed by, nearly knocking Josie over several times and calling out cries of, "why don't you watch where you're going?" Vaughn yelled angry replies to them. Josie gripped onto Lucas's arm, leaning close to him and squeezing her eyes to slits.

"My head hurts," she told him, "It's making me sick."

"Yeah," Lucas replied softly, "That's because you're not used to looking at everything out-of-focus. The same thing happens to me when I don't have my glasses on."

They came to a stop at the top of the stairs.

"We're at the stairs," Lucas explained to a confused Josie, "We'll take it one step at a time. Slowly."

He tightened his grip on her hand and carefully stepped down. Josie followed, pressing her hand to the wall for support. They took another step. Another. People were getting annoyed at them for taking so long going down. Madison pushed by, grunting, "Jeez, runt…are your legs too small to take the stairs any faster?" Josie started angrily forward.

"Come back here and say that to my face, Madison," she growled, and the boys cried, "Josie, wait…" she stumbled on one of the steps and started downward, her arms wind milling. Both Lucas and Vaughn reacted. Vaughn grabbing a hold of her shoulders, Lucas snaking an arm about her waist. She clutched like a cat at both of them, her eyes wide, taking deep breaths. She whimpered, "Thanks, guys."

"This is dangerous," Vaughn said to Lucas, who nodded, both still clutching the redhead, "I've got an idea. One of us should carry her."

"What? No one is carrying me," Josie protested.

"It's a good idea. You can't get down like this, you might fall," Lucas argued, then menacingly at the other boy, "I'll do it. Don't hate me, Josie. I'm doing this for your own good." He attempted to lift her. Failed. Tried again. Turned to Vaughn reluctantly, mumbling, "Maybe you should do it…"

Vaughn easily swooped Josie up from the ground and fleetingly her arms flung about his neck. Lucas watched in envy, sniffing somewhat and turning back down the stairs, trying to ignore the nagging feeling in the back of his mind that she looked better in Vaughn's strong arms.

"Don't get any ideas, Vaughn," Josie growled, "You're lucky I can't see very well."

They started down the stairs again at a faster pace, rushing to the science lab. Lucas flung the door open and they shut it behind them.

"Z, we've got a problem," Lucas started, then trailed off as he noticed the room was dark save for a strange green glow.

"Another one?" Professor Z said from somewhere in the room, and as their eyes adjusted to the darkness, they spotted him sitting near the green glow with Marshall.

"What do you mean 'another one'?" Vaughn asked tentatively. Both Marshall and Professor Z parted to reveal Corrine. Her eyes' green glow had brightened somewhat over the time since her and Marshall had first arrived at the lab. Lucas raised an eyebrow, and Vaughn smirked.

"Cool," he said, "Your eyes are green…and they're glowing."

"Very astute, Vaughn," Corrine muttered.

"What's the problem boys?" Professor Z questioned.

"Put me down, Vaughn," Josie cried, and Lucas reached over to turn the lights on as Vaughn carefully set the frustrated girl to the ground.

"Josie's going blind," Lucas explained and Professor Z raised an eyebrow.

"Uh…Corrine's eyes just went out," Vaughn noted. The others looked at him blankly, before shaking their heads. Professor Z came to Josie, moving his finger back and forth in front of her face. She stared forward, her eyes unmoving.

"Very interesting…" he mused, "Can see anything at all?"

"Yeah…but I can't make out any shapes…they're all just fuzzy blobs," Josie answered shakily. Lucas led her to a stool and she took a seat. She clutched to his hand with both of her own, staring forward at empty-space.

"Did you get anything in your eyes…" Professor Z started but Vaughn quickly cut him off.

"I asked her already. She said nothing out of the ordinary happened."

"Need I remind everyone, we go to black hole high," Marshall spoke up, "Everything here is out of the ordinary."

"Josie said she started having trouble with her eyes after lunch," Lucas began, "Corrine, when did your eyes start glowing in the dark?"

"You think there's a relation between the two?" Professor Z questioned.

"It is a little too coincidental that both of them are having strange afflictions with their eyes at the same time," Lucas pointed out.

"And there's no such thing as just coincidence when there's a black hole involved," Marshall added cheerfully. He seemed to be enjoying having all his friends in one room getting along again, science had always brought them together.

"But my eyes didn't start glowing until after classes were over," Corrine said.

"So…then there's no connection?" Vaughn asked.

"Well…actually, Corrine. It was after classes that I noticed your eyes were glowing," Marshall interjected, "And that was only because you came in the darkroom. There's no way of pinpointing exactly when your eyes developed their new…ahem…ability."

"But how did this happen?" Josie demanded, "And how is the fact I'm going blind and Corrine's eyes are glowing in the dark have anything to do with one another?"

"Things that glow-in-the-dark are phosphorescent, right?" Vaughn spoke up, "So…somehow Corrine's eyes have become…a phosphorescent."

"Or absorbed a phosphorescent," Professor Z mused.

"Slime," Marshall announced snapping his finger, which received him strange looks. He returned them with a shrug, "They spilled their slime on themselves in science this morning…remember?"

"That's right," Professor Z cried excitedly, "And somehow the zinc sulfide has soaked through Corrine's skin into her bloodstream and collected in her eyes. Very interesting…"

"I'm glad I could be of amusement," Corrine muttered, annoyed.

"But how does that explain why I'm going blind?" Josie asked. Lucas's mind kicked into gear, shaking his finger in the air.

"Maybe…maybe an alien race is using Corrine and Josie's eyes to transmit messages back and forth," he suggested, he opened his mouth to continue with his theory when he caught the looks sent his way.

"Lucas," Josie mumbled.

"I'm right here," he assured her.

"Oh good. Shut up," she told him. He looked admonished to the ground starting to walk away. She tugged at his hand in sudden fear, "Wait! Where are you going? I didn't say go anywhere…just don't talk because you're scaring me…and don't go anywhere." Lucas looked to the others briefly, watching with amusement, before stepping back beside her. Corrine watched silently, and Vaughn made a strange sound to get everyone's attention.

"Corrine's eyes…" he started, pointing to her. She looked at her friends, suddenly scared.

"What's happening now?"

"They're turning almost completely a fluorescent green," Professor Z said, he reached over and turned the lights off momentarily before flicking them back on, "And they're getting brighter."

"Um…guys," Josie whimpered, "I don't mean to alarm anyone…but things are getting dark."

"That's because Z turned the lights out," Marshall assured her.

"Are they still out?"

"No."

"Then it's not because Z turned the lights out," Josie told them, squeezing tighter to Lucas's hand. They all drew in their breath. The color of her eyes was almost translucent, her pupils were tiny dots giving the impression that her eyes were entirely white.

"I've got a hunch," Lucas spoke up, and the other's turned to him with raised eyebrows, "It…doesn't involve aliens."

"We're listening," Z told him, glancing Josie from the corner of his eye. It was obvious his concern for his two students.

"Well…we know that a phosphorescent glows because it's electrons are able to take in energy from a source like, say the light bulb overhead, and slowly release it as light energy long after that source is taken away. Right?" he didn't bother waiting for an answer, "But what if the phosphorescent in Corrine's eyes isn't taking in just any energy. What if they're energy source is Josie's eyes."

"That does make sense," Z started, "But why would Josie be going blind? Her eyes take in the light around them."

"Not factoring in the vortex, are you, Professor Z?" Marshall put in.

"Good point."

"So, how do we stop the phosphorescent?" Vaughn asked, "There must be a way, right? To neutralize it?"

"Ah…well…" Professor Z looked between his students' eager faces, hesitantly saying, "Yes. But…I'm not quite sure on what that is. Boys, if you'll come with me. We'll head to the library, Marshall bring your computer, we have research to do. Corrine, Josie…uh…stay here…don't go anywhere." Slowly, the boys started towards the door, following Professor Z a bit confusedly.

Lucas turned to Josie, telling her softly, "I'm going to go now…I'll be back though."

"I don't know…" she murmured reply, her voice a low whisper as she fidgeted with his hand, "Lucas, I don't want you to leave…I'm scared…"

"We'll get your eyesight back, I promise," he carefully pried her fingers from around his hand, "But…you're…going to…have to…let me go."

He managed to get himself free and started towards the door, glancing guiltily over his shoulder back to her worriedly. He'd never seen her so vulnerable. She sat straight-backed, eyes darting about the room, folding her hands in her lap. He was the last out the door, closing it quietly behind him, and was startled to find that Professor Z, Vaughn, and Marshall were just standing there.

"Uh…are we going?" he asked.

"I'm afraid it will be pointless," Professor Z informed him, and he opened his mouth to start in on a protest, but Z quickly cut him off, "Unfortunately, there is no substance that neutralizes the affects of phosphors. However, phosphors do eventually lose their ability to absorb and emit light. Zinc sulfide, the phosphor that we were using in class, has the shortest lifespan."

"So…we just sit and wait for it to wear off?" Lucas demanded, not exactly liking that idea.

"I have to admit, Z, that doesn't sound like the best plan," Vaughn spoke up, "Josie's going blind. How do we know this won't permanently affect her?"

"Yeah, did you see her eyes?" Marshall cried, "That was kind of…creepy." Lucas and Vaughn both gave him exasperated looks, "What? I'm sorry, but it was!"

"I thought of that," Z assured them, "It's been my experience that things here happen for a reason. Like you said, Marshall, there is no such thing as just coincidence when the black hole is involved. It is my belief that whatever is happening is between those two, and fixing it, is up to them."

"You know…this did all start happening after their fight," Marshall piped up.

"Do you think it has to do with their fight?" Vaughn asked, looking to the professor.

"It's possible. It's up to them to figure that out," Professor Z answered, "Meanwhile, I have something to discuss with all of you. I had planned on telling the entire club, but with Josie and Corrine in their little…situation…I think it would be best not to worry them about anything else at the moment."

"What is it, Z?" Vaughn questioned.

"Ever since Lucas's accident Victor has been investigating the science lab," Professor Z explained, this wasn't news to the boys, "And asking questions regarding Lucas. But apparently things are getting…desperate. I had a conversation with Principle Durst this afternoon. She called me out of my last class, wanting to know what had really happened that night we brought Lucas back."

"What did you tell her happened in the first place?" Lucas interrupted. Marshall and Vaughn were obviously curious as well as they all looked expectantly at their teacher. Professor Z cleared his throat audibly, shifting somewhat.

"I…actually…simply used her own cover story against her," he elucidated, "I told her that Lucas had returned from the hospital, that I'd spoken to his parents who were relieved he was alright, and that he would be returning to classes here because she had been so reassuring in the safety of their child."

"But…wait," Vaughn spoke up, "She knew that Lucas wasn't at the hospital and that she never called his parents…"

"Exactly," Lucas grinned.

"Clever, Z," Marshall commended their teacher, who nodded, smirking and murmuring a, "thanks, boys."

"Don't you see?" Lucas stressed to Vaughn, who obviously didn't, before sighing and rolling his eyes, "Principle Durst couldn't call Professor Z on the lie, because it was her cover story. If she said anything, than she would of just been giving herself up and admitting entirely to the lie!"

"But…wouldn't she have suspected that Z already knew she was lying?" Vaughn asked.

"She couldn't risk that chance that I somehow didn't know," Professor Z explained, "Which is why I'm concerned that suddenly she's demanding answers. Victor must have her extremely worried."

"Well…with everything that's happening, I think I should tell you, my dad's been keeping a file on Lucas, too," Vaughn finally confessed. He hadn't thought it was imperative to mention anything as he didn't feel his father could find anything on the other boy, but now he realized it was time to share, "I haven't been able to see anything in it, but I know he's really interested in what that device did to you, Lucas."

"Yeah…figures," Lucas muttered.

"Not to mention," Vaughn continued, eyeing Marshall, "It seems that when Pearadyne's electricity blacked out because of the 'storm', some of their files were deleted. Including a blueprint and any experiments performed with a particular prototype. My dad's been talking about it constantly with different lab assistants, I overhear him yelling a lot." Professor Z sighed.

"I guess we should just be prepared for whatever comes," he told them, "Meanwhile, I am going to do a little research on phosphors."

"But I thought you said that whatever was happening was between Josie and Corrine, and all we had to do was wait for them to fix it," Vaughn said.

"Yes, but it doesn't hurt to have all the information," Z replied, "Just in case."

"Oh…I'll help then," Vaughn volunteered. They looked to the other two boys and Marshall opened his mouth to offer a lending hand of his own when Lucas interrupted.

"Uh…Marshall and me actually have a…project to work on…for…extra credit in…social studies. Right, Marshall?"

"Uh…"

"Right," Lucas grinned at Z and Vaughn. They both looked unsure, but nodded acceptance anyways, deciding it was best not to ask with the odd conspiracy theorist, and starting down the hall towards the library. Marshall glared at Lucas when they were out of hearing range.

"We don't have any projects to work on."

"I know," Lucas muttered, "We have to get those files."

"What?"

"You heard me," Lucas growled, heading down the hall towards the stairs after one last wary glance at the lab door. He sighed, "Despite what Vaughn says, we both know that Victor Pearson would undoubtedly have backups of whatever was lost in the blackout, and even then, he would have hard copies. I want those files…and…I have to know what he's got on me."

"Lucas, it's probably nothing," Marshall cried.

"But what if it's not," Lucas argued, he stopped, wheeling on his friend, "Marshall. I've already decided on this. I'm going in there to get them. Whether you help me or not."

"Lucas…" Marshall mumbled. Lucas turned, starting up the stairs. Marshall hesitantly followed.

"At best, we'll be able to find out where the wave was originally being sent and that device's supposed intent," Lucas continued, "And, at the very least, I'll know whether the things he's got on me are harmless, like my favorite color and where I spent last summer or…" he licked his lips, "Whether they're threatening to everything we've been working towards…the things I…we've been keeping ourselves busy with this year at Blake Holsey."

"Lucas…"

"I'll sleep better at night, Marshall," Lucas cut him off, "Which ultimately means, you'll sleep better at night." Marshall sighed, shaking his head.

"Someone's got to make sure you don't get in over your head…" he reluctantly agreed, "So…what's the plan?"

END A/N: Ah...that's it...move on to the next chapter!

Please excuse any grammatical or typing errors. REVIEW!

Thanks for reading.