Are they talking about Alex? Siddiq thought, leaning forward in his seat.

  The radio clicked again and the angry voice of the general boomed, “I don’t do might! You get me an affirmative!”

  “Sir, yes sir,” the other voice replied.

  Siddiq sat back in his seat and looked out the window. This is crazy. I mean what are they going to do, lock him up? Is there some secret department that is going to dissect Alex if they catch him? Siddiq’s thoughts ran wild as he continued to stare out the window. After a while the driver turned down the road towards the campus. Pulling up to the apartments the driver stopped the car.

  “Get out,” he said shortly.

  “Gladly,” Siddiq replied, opening the door and getting out. Turning he slammed the door behind him as the driver took back off in the direction they had come from. Siddiq kicked the dirt towards the car and stuck out his middle finger. “Jerk,” sighing, he turned and headed towards the apartments. “I should go see Reshma and Evalyn.”

  Entering Reshma’s building he made his way to the apartment. “Reshma?” he called as he pushed his door open. The apartment was in shambles. Stuffing from the couch was everywhere. The pillows were ripped. There was broken furniture, decorations, and dishes. The carpets were shredded. “Oh man,” Siddiq whispered as he walked in. “Reshma?”

  “Siddiq?” Reshma answered as he walked into the living room from the bedroom.

  “Reshma! Are you alright? When did they release you?” Siddiq asked.

  “Yes, I am okay. I was brought back maybe an hour or so ago,” Reshma answered as he picked up things from the floor.

  “Evalyn?” Siddiq asked.

  “She is alright. She is at her apartment cleaning up,” he answered. Siddiq grabbed a bag from the kitchen and started to clean up. “Oh you don't need to do that. I am sure your own apartment is going to need as much care.”

  “It’s alright old man,” Siddiq replied with a half grin.

  “I am not old,” Reshma huffed. “I am experienced.”

  Siddiq laughed, “That’s one way to say it.” They continued cleaning and bantering for the next couple of hours when a soft knock sounded at the door.

  “Come in,” Reshma called.

  “I was hoping I would find you guys here,” said Emily as she stepped into the room.

  “Emily! Are you alright?” Siddiq asked.

  “As alright as I can be I suppose. I see my place wasn't the only one destroyed,” she said as she took in the damage of Reshma’s apartment.

  “I haven't even been to my room yet, but Evalyn’s was also tossed,” said Siddiq.

  “I will have maintenance take care of everything. They can pull furniture from some unused apartments and I will get those refurnished,” she sighed.

  “Emily, do you ever stop?” Siddiq asked.

  “It’s a gift, or maybe a curse,” she replied with a half chuckle. “So I assume they pulled you all in because of Alex as well?”

  “Yep, I guess they thought we were better friends then we were. I had no clue about his glowing hands or about whatever else he might be able to do,” Siddiq said.

  “Same, it's kind of crazy though. Like how long did he have them? Or did he always have them? What did they ask you guys?” Emily asked.

  “He asked about my friendship with Alex. If I had ever gone to the woods with him,” Siddiq said. “Oh and if I had seen him with anyone strange.”

  “He asked me the same things,” Reshma said.

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  “Me as well,” Emily said. “So he separated us and asked us all the same things one by one.”

  “We should go get something to eat,” Reshma said suddenly and walked towards the door.

  “Uh, alright,” Emily frowned.

  “I mean I could always eat,” Siddiq said, putting his bag down and following Reshma.

  Once they were outside Reshma stopped and turned to them, “I found a listening device.”

  “What?!” both Siddiq and Emily exclaimed.

  “I guess while we were indisposed away they bugged our places. They are listening, I'm sure, hoping we give away something,” Reshma said quietly looking around.

  “That is illegal,” Emily said.

  “Who are we going to complain to?” Siddiq asked. They all looked at each other.

  “Well, I mean it's pointless anyway. We don't know anything. He didn't tell us,” Emily said, a slight disappointed edge in her tone. They continued walking to the recreation center in silence. When they got there a familiar voice called out, “Oh there you are!”

  Turning they were greeted by Evalyn. “I went to your apartment to find you but you weren't there obviously.” she said slightly out of breath.

  “How are you? Is your room also wrecked?” Emily asked as she joined them.

  “Oh, yes. I have been cleaning it since I returned and feel nowhere near done,” she replied.

  “I will call maintenance. They will get our rooms sorted and refurnished,” Emily said.

  “That would be wonderful. They destroyed everything. Even my collectable cats,” Evalyn said sadly.

  “Did you find anything in your room while you were cleaning?” Reshma asked her.

  “Outside of all my belongings demolished?” she replied. “No.”

  “I found a listening device in my room,” Reshma said.

  “What? They can't do that, can they?” Evalyn asked, looking at them all.

  “I don't think it's legal, but who do we take it to? We don't know how far up the chain this is. It won't matter though. We don't know anything anyway,” Emily answered.

  “Th - This is just too much. I am just here to develop ideas an - and projects to try and save the planet. I - I can't deal with being taken off site an- and grilled about someone I guess I barely knew!” Evalyn stammered, flinging her arms above her head. Reshma stepped towards her, “No! I can't do this. I wish he had never been on our team!”

  “You don't mean that,” Siddiq said.

  “Yes I do! I just want to help stop these events from happening! Save lives! I don't want to be a part of whatever he is doing!” Evalyn said, looking at them all one more time she turned and left in a huff.

  “She doesn't mean that, right?” Siddiq asked quietly as she walked away.

  “No, she doesn't. I will talk to her in a little while. Let her calm down for now,” Reshma replied.

  The three of them continued walking and entered the recreation center. Ordering their food they found a corner and sat together.

  “Do you think we will ever see Alex again?” Siddiq asked after taking a bite of food.

  “I don't know honestly,” Reshma replied. “Would I like to? Yes I have so many questions. Do I think we will? I just don't know.”

  “I really thought we were closer,” Emily said.

  “Well, we know they are watching us and listening to us. I know we don't know anything about Alex but we need to be careful nonetheless. Don't give them a reason to grab you again. I don't know if we will be as lucky next time,” Reshma said. Siddiq and Emily nodded. “I would also guess that the lab and front office have devices as well.”

  “Good point. Well, if you guys do hear from Alex let me know and I will do the same,” Emily said. “Maybe we should have like a code phrase or something so that we know without saying his name?”

  “How about like ‘let’s go play ping pong’ or something?” Siddiq offered.

  “We will work on it,” Emily laughed. “In the meantime I am going to head to the office and get maintenance to work on our rooms.”

  “That would be nice. Thank you Emily,” Reshma smiled. With that they got up and headed off. They waved Emily off as she headed towards the office and continued on. “Well, you should probably go on to your room and wait for maintenance.”

  “Yeah, I guess so,” Siddiq said. “See ya at the lab tomorrow I guess.”

  “Sounds good,” Reshma smiled and walked towards his building.

  Siddiq stood for a moment and looked off towards the woods. What were you doing out there? He thought to himself. Then turning he looked at the building that Alex’s apartment was in. “I wonder…” he said softly as he walked towards the building. He looked around as he entered, closing the door behind him he quietly walked towards Alex’s old door. As he approached he noticed the door was slightly ajar. Pushing it open slowly he looked inside and stood quietly in shock at what he saw.