SECRETS

    Secrets
By Dani Wubben

    Have you ever had the feeling that something bad was about to happen, but you don’t know what or when?  Well, that feeling started July 10, 2009.
    The day began like most summer days went.   I would sleep in late, hang out with friends at the pool or shopping, then staying out late at a friend’s house.  I woke up on that bright and sunny day at 11:00.   I had plans to go to the pool then go shopping.  On the way to the pool, I had the weird sensation that someone was following me, but every time I turned around, no one was there.  When I got to the pool, I told my best friend, Jenny.  You have to understand that Jenny is no ordinary girl.  Sure she likes to shop and be with friends, but she has a little quirk.  If you ever have a problem, Jenny is the one you tell.  She will help solve any problem you might have.  She always has answers.  If you have a problem with people hanging around you that you don’t like, Jenny can get them to leave.  No one ever knows what she does or how she does it, but she can always find a way.  She is also extremely smart.  She knows almost everything about anything.
    As I was telling her, she got a very weird look in her eyes.
     “What’s wrong?”  I asked her.
     “I felt the exact same way when I was walking down here, ”  she answered.
    Well, we forgot about it for the rest of the day until I had to walk home again.  I had that same feeling that someone was watching me.  I turned around quickly and saw something move out of the corner of my eye.  As I walked over to investigate, I found a letter lying on the ground with my name on it.  Curiously, I opened the letter and read what was inside.  I was to come back to the ally where I had found the letter at 4:00 PM the next day.
    I walked home not knowing what I should do.  I finally decided that I would tell Jenny tomorrow and ask her what I should do because she is so smart and she could figure it out.
    The next day,  just as I got out of bed, I heard someone knocking on the door.  My parents weren’t home, they were away on a business trip, so I had to get the door.  It was Jenny.
     “Maxine, are you ready to go?  Remember, we were going to get to the mall early so we can get all the good deals. You were the one to suggest it yesterday.  You better be ready.”  I had totally forgotten about going shopping.
     “Can you wait like two minutes for me to get ready?”  As I was getting ready, I told her about the letter that I had gotten.  When I told her that I was to go to the ally at 4:00 tonight, her face went white. 
    “You can’t go.  You never know what will happen to you do.  I would advise you to stay home.  Especially if your parents aren’t home.”  That was just like Jenny to act over protective.  But it wasn’t like her to go all white.  What was wrong with her I wondered.          “Jenny, I’m going tonight whether you want me to or not.  I have to find out.”  I was always like this, being adventurous.  I never thought ahead about consequences.  “Never mind, don’t even try to make me change my mind.  Just drop it.  Let’s have a fun day shopping and not think about it. OK,”  I exclaimed.  The rest of the day, we shopped and and had a good day and didn’t think about it.
    When I got home at 3:00 that afternoon, I took a shower and put on some jeans and a T-shirt.  I didn’t think I would have to get so dressed up to go to an ally. 
    I got to the ally way just before 4:00 that afternoon.  I was starting to get a little nervous and wished I had brought something to defend myself just in case I needed to.  I was hoping that I didn’t need to.  But it was too late to go home now because it was 4:00.  I waited for another 10 minutes for something to happen but nothing did.  I was just about to leave when I heard someone call my name.  I spun around and right in front of me was a boy, dressed in all black and was wearing a hood over his head.  I started to scream but the boy put his hand over my mouth to stop me.  He picked me up and threw me into a car that had just pulled up next to the curb.  I couldn’t believe it.  I kept thinking that I would never see my family again, and I was wondering what they would do to me. 
    No one in the car said anything for a long time.  We just kept driving and driving.  I looked out the window and noticed that we were headed east out of the city.  I wasn’t going to ask where we were going so I just sat back and looked out the window.
    After about a half hour of driving, the boy turned to me and exclaimed that he thought I would be talking more because he knew me and I talked a lot.  That creaped me out.  Someone I knew was kidnapping me.  If that was supposed to make me feel better, it didn’t. 
    “Who are you, and how do you know me?” I questioned him.  “Do you stalk me or something?  How do you know so much about me?”  I was so scared.  Who was this guy anyway?
    Instead of answering me, he turned away and took off his hood then turned back.  “Do you know who I am now?”
    “Barrett,” I exclaimed.  Barrett went to my school and was one year older then I was.  I had a major crush on him and I didn’t think he even knew my name. I didn’t think he even knew who I was.  “Barrett, what’s going on.  Why did you take me away and not even tell me who you were?” I asked confused.
    “I didn’t tell you because I can’t trust anyone with the information I have except you because you are directly involved.  This is going to be a lot of information to take it in but try to stay with be. 
    When you were a baby,  you’re parents thought that you were just an ordinary baby, but you were very special.  You were born with a special chip behind your ear that allows you to hear almost everything.  There are five people in the world that have a chip in their bodies, one for every one of the five senses.  There are evil people out there that want to take you to use for their own good.  We have to protect those five people.  We currently have three now four counting you.  We need that last person, the one with the chip by their eye.  That person is the most important person.  They have the ability to see through almost any obstacle.  You are able to hear almost everything in a half mile radius.  You can also tune out things that you don’t want to hear and focus in on only one thing.  That is probably what you have been doing the whole time without noticing it.”
    I really didn’t get anything that he said but went along with it anyway.  “So why are you involved in protecting us?  Are you one of the five?”
    “No, I’m not one of the five but my little brother is.  He has the chip in his hands.  Because of him, I am helping protect others like him.” 
    By the time he had finished talking, we had pulled up to an abandoned gas station.  At least I thought it was abandoned.  When we walked inside, there were computers and other gadgets sitting around.  “What is this place?” I asked when we walked into it.
    “This is our headquarters.  All of our information is here.  We have people working around the clock trying to find the last person.  Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you that your parents know all about this and that is why they went away on business.  They knew that I would come get you.  They had to go to Washington D.C. to meet with others that are looking for the last person.  We have to keep you hidden so that no one will find you.  Have you told anyone about getting the letter?”
    “Yes, why-”
    “Who did you tell. This is very important.  We have to know,” he cut in .
    I only told my best friend Jenny Johnson.  She’s my best friend, why wouldn’t I tell her?  We tell each other everything.”
    “Well, there are a lot of things she didn’t tell you about her.  Her family is part of the evil team.  They want to catch you and destroy you like they almost did to my brother.”
    “Why wouldn’t she tell me that, I am her best friend, we tell everything.”
    “There are a lot of things you don’t know and may never know.  In this company there are so many secrets.  You might learn something new about yourself every day, but for now, you just have to trust me to protect you.  Do you trust me?”
    “Yes Barrett, I trust you even thought I have no clue really what you are talking about I will trust you to keep me safe.  But I want to do something to help.  What can I do to help?
    “I have some things you can help me with.  Come on,  there is a lot of work to do.”