Chapter 20
Everyone stood in the living room in a state of shock. Conner had just declared his alliance with Mesogog and taken Anna to the island fortress. Nobody knew what to say or do. Tommy continued consoling Kim as Jason paced the living room floor.
Kira and Ethan had looks of betrayal on their faces, not wanting to believe that their best friend and leader was now working for the enemy.
"Damn it, Tom. Why Anna? What does Mesogog want with her? She's no threat to him." Jason yelled.
"I don't know Jase, there's no logical explanation."
"And Conner, what about him? For all we know, he could have been playing us from the beginning."
"I don't think so." Kira said, hoping on hope that the man who took her friend was not the man she fell in love with.
"What do you mean?" Ethan asked.
"I'm not sure, but I don't think that was the same Conner we know."
"Of course not, he's working for Mesogog." Jason said.
"No, that's not it, I just- I don't know." Kira said as her hope deflated.
"Kira, face it. Conner tricked us. He's working for Mesogog now. I know you love him, but that love is blinding you right now,
he's the enemy now." Ethan said, trying to console his friend.
"No, you can beleive what you want, but I don't beleive that was Conner." With that, Kira left the house and started walking home.
Ethan, not wanting his friend to be alone in the state she was in, decided to follow her. That left Tommy, Kim, and Jason alone in the house.
"So what do we do now?" Jason asked, looking in Tommy's direction.
"Whatever we can to get Anna back."
"Where do we start?"
"With Hayley. We've got to track Anna's location and the only way to do that is to break Mesogog's firewall over his island fortress."
"Then what are you waiting for, get her over here."
Tommy got up and called Hayley's number and informed her of what occured. Within minutes, she was at Tommy's house trying to figure a way into the fortress. She had done it before but Mesogog's barriers had gotten stronger. After a few hours of trying, Hayley still had no progress. She had just about given up when Jason had spoken up.
"Guys, I've got to go to Stone Canyon real quick, I'll be right back. Keep trying to break the walls and I'll try and help when I get back." With that, he started walking out to his car only to be followed by Tommy.
"What's in Stone Canyon?"
"Help. Look Tom, I know Hayley is one of the smartest people we know, but she can't do this on her own. She's about ready to give up, I can see it in her. If she doesn't have someone to help her, she won't get the job done."
"I'm going with you."
"No, someone needs to be here in case they come back, looking for a fight. You stay, I'll be back in a few hours."
"Alright, but be careful."
"I will, bro."
Tommy started to walk back into the house until Jason called out to him again.
"Tommy?"
Tommy turned around with a questioning look on his face.
"What do you think about all this?"
"It's confusing. That's the only way I can put it."
"I know, I hope Kira's theory is right. I was just starting to like the kid."
"Go take care of your business in Stone Canyon, we'll talk later."
Jason nodded and started his drive to Stone Canyon. When he was out of sight, Tommy looked up to the sky.
"Come on, you've helped us so much, all I'm asking for is one more time. One more miracle, that's all."
After leaving Dr. O's house, Kira started walking home. She was lost in her own world, thinking of any way her theory could be correct. She didn't know how she knew, but something inside her was telling her that the person who took Anna was not Conner. There was something different about him but she couldn't pinpoint what it was. It wasn't until, Ethan caught up with her that she was taken back to reality.
"Kira, wait up. Kira, listen to me. I know you want it to be someone else, but we were all there. We all saw it was Conner. He was the same person that came home with us from the hospital."
"I know that, Ethan. But something was not right. I can't tell you exactly what, but there was something different about him.
I know Conner, and that was not Conner."
"Say you're right, then what happened to the real Conner?"
"I know it sounds crazy Ethan, I'm having a hard time believing it myself, but I just know. I can't answer that, at least not yet."
"Come on, let's get back to Dr. O's. I think we need to be together in a time like this. I know Kim needs some help through this."
"Alright, let's go."
Back at Tommy's
"Any luck, Hayley?" Tommy asked, hopeful.
"I'm sorry, Tommy. I can't break through."
"It's okay, Hayley. Take a break, we'll try again a little later."
"How's Kim?"
"She's hanging in there."
"I'll go talk to her and when I'm finished, I'm coming back and breaking through that firewall."
"You do that."
Just as Hayley left to go talk to Kim, Ethan and Kira walked back into the house.
"Where did you guys go?" Tommy asked.
"Just needed some air." Kira said.
"Why don't you guys get some rest, you look like you could use it."
"Alright. Call us if you need our help." Ethan said as they went to leave.
"Whoa, where are you going?"
"Home, to get some rest."
"Take the extra room upstairs, I want all of here in case something happens."
Ethan went upstairs but Kira stayed behind.
"What's up, Kira?"
"Do you beleive me or am I on my own?"
"About what?"
"That not being Conner."
"It's hard to say. I want your theory to be true, but all evidence appears otherwise."
"But didn't you once say that anything is possible?"
"Yeah I did."
"So then don't give up hope Dr. O. Not on me or on Conner. If there is a way that that could have been someone else other than Conner, we need to address them."
"I will get to work on that, Kira. For right now, though, you need rest. Go."
With a sigh, Kira left the basement and went into the living room where she fell asleep on the couch.
In Stone Canyon
"Well, here goes nothing." Jason said to himself as he shut off the engine.
Jason walked up the stairs on the porch and rang the doorbell. After a few tense moments, the door was opened and Jason was brought face to face with a person he hadn't seen in years.
"Jason? What are you doing here?" The voice asked.
TBC.