The Message Board

The Message Board
Sarah's POV

As soon as I opened Foster's laptop, it exploded.

The screen turned entirely black, and sparks flew everywhere. Elena even took a step back as Tommy leaped behind her.

I said, "What just happened?"

Elena dropped to her knees and put one finger to the scorched laptop. Her silver eyes began to shine.

"Remote detonation. Foster's computer was destroyed the instant we attempted to use it by someone who was observing it."

"The Organization?"

"They don't want us to access anything Foster had on here, so it has to be."

Frustrated, I kicked the smoking laptop. "That was the only clue we had to locate my parents and the others."

Foster remained sitting, looking shocked, on the concrete floor. "I apologize, Detective. I had no idea they were capable of that."

"How did you initially get in touch with The Organization, Mr. Foster?"

"They got in touch with me shortly after Amy passed away, claiming to know who killed her and how to track down the culprit."

Elena got to her feet. "There might be another way, Sarah."

"What do you mean?"

"There are other people who work with The Organization. Foster wasn't the only one. And if they're all connected..."

"They'd be using some kind of communication system," I concluded.

"Exactly."

I surveyed the parking garage. "However, we no longer have a computer."

Elena flashed that frightful grin. "We don't require one."

She approached the closest parked vehicle and placed her hand on the hood. The radio in the car switched on by itself.

"What are you doing, Elena?"

"Every electronic device in this city is connected in some way. Internet signals, cell towers, and radio waves all cross paths."

Strange noises came from the radio, as if it was searching for a station.

"I can follow those connections," Elena added. "I am able to identify the origin of The Organization's communications."

Abruptly, voices began to fill the radio. They weren't your typical radio voices, though.

The voice of a man said, "Hunter Seven to Base." "The supernatural is still in the parking garage with Target One."

My blood froze. "They're currently observing us."

Elena gave a nod. "And we're listening to them now."

There were more voices over the radio.

"Hunter Three here. Twelve officers are secured in the basement level. I have my eyes on the police station."

"Hunter Five: Sister and parents are safe at Location Delta."

Elena gave me a shoulder squeeze, but hearing about my family made me sick.

She muttered, "Now we know they're alive."

Once more, the radio crackled.

"This is Base, Hunters. Target One needs to be furious and completely charged for the ritual of being taken to the cemetery at precisely midnight."

"Sarah, are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Elena asked, glancing at me.

"Perhaps we can communicate with them if we can hear them."

Elena's eyes blazed with silver light as she placed both hands on the car. The sounds coming from the radio changed.

She gritted her teeth and said, "I'm in their system." "However, I can only maintain this connection for a short while."

I leaned toward the radio. I said, "This is Target One," in the most formal tone I could muster.

There was a brief silence on the radio.

Base's voice demanded, "Who is this?"

"I have a message for The Organization, Detective Sarah Chen."

"This frequency isn't supposed to be available to you!"

"Well, I do. And here's what's going to happen: either you release the police officers and my family, or I'll use my newfound abilities to find you all."

Elena gave me the thumbs up even though she was perspiring from the strain of keeping the connection.

Base remarked, "You don't know what you're dealing with, Target One."

"Then tell me about it."

"We hunt creatures like Elena. We are the Supernatural Crimes Task Force."

"Elena keeps people safe."

"In the past two years, Elena has killed over forty people."

I gave Elena a startled look. "Is that true?"

Elena looked into my silver eyes. "Sarah, they were all murderers. Murderers who human law could not stop."

"That doesn't matter," Base's voice went on. "Elena is a vigilante, and her power has corrupted you."

"I decided to assist Elena."

"No, we can fix that, but you were manipulated."

More voices crackled on the radio.

"Are you getting this, Hunter Seven?"

"Yes, Base, Target One is speaking with us directly."

Elena smiled abruptly. "I have an idea, Sarah. Keep them talking."

Once more, I spoke into the radio. "Just how are you going to 'fix' me?"

"You will regain your full humanity after the midnight ritual, which will drain Elena's power from your system."

"And what happens to Elena?"

"You shouldn't worry about that."

Elena was tinkering with the electrical system of the car. From beneath the hood, sparks were flying.

A fresh voice said, "Hunter Seven," over the radio. "This is Hunter Two. I no longer feel comfortable with this plan."

"Hunter Two, what do you mean?"

"Detective Chen isn't dangerous; she's just trying to save people. I joined this task force to stop dangerous supernaturals."

"Hunter Two, keep the radio quiet."

"No, Base. I believe that we are the ones at fault here."

Elena gave me a wink. Then she began speaking in a voice that was eerily similar to one of the Hunters.

Elena said over the radio, "Hunter Four here." "This feels wrong, and I agree with Hunter Two."

"Hunter Four, please report to base right away."

In a different voice, Elena added, "Actually, Base, this is Hunter Six. I'm beginning to think Elena might not be the monster we thought she was."

Voices of confusion exploded on the radio.

"Who's talking?"

"Is that you, Hunter Six?"

"Our communications are being hacked!"

Elena was smiling as she caused the voices on the radio to quarrel.

"I'm Hunter Eight, and I never consented to abduct police officers!"

"Since when do we target police officers?" "Hunter Three here."

Base yelled, "All Hunters, stop talking!" "Our network is being infiltrated!"

Elena spoke in her own voice while leaning against the radio.

"My name is Elena, and I would like to share some information with you regarding your organization."

"Elena, stop using this frequency!"

"Your leaders are working to create dangerous supernaturals, not to stop them."

"That's not true!"

"So why are they conducting rituals rather than making arrests? Why do they want Sarah's power?"

There was a brief silence on the radio.

The voice of Hunter Two then returned.

"Base, Elena is right. Instead of handing Detective Chen over to the FBI, why are we performing a ritual?"

"Because supernatural crimes are too difficult for the FBI to handle!"

"However, Detective Chen is a victim of supernatural influence and not a criminal."

There were more voices.

"Hunter Seven here. Are we law enforcement or something else? I'm also perplexed."

"When did our job become kidnapping families, Hunter Five?"

Even though Elena was having trouble keeping the connection, she persisted.

"Your Organization has been lying to you, Hunters," she said over the radio. "Check your records. Look up the people I've 'killed.' They were all murderers."

Base shouted, "Elena, stop poisoning our agents!"

However, it was too late. Already, the Hunters were betraying one another.

"Base, please show me the files Elena mentioned."

"I'd like to know why a police detective is our target."

"I feel like this entire operation is wrong."

The radio died when Elena finally passed out.

I inquired, "Did it work?"

Elena was grinning despite her labored breathing. "Listen."

I heard shouting in the distance. Not over the radio, but actual shouting.

Elena remarked, "It sounds like the Hunters are having a disagreement."

Foster got up from his chair. "Does this imply that the hostages will be released?"

"Some of them might," Elena stated. "But not the leaders. They need Sarah's influence for more than just stopping me."

A text message buzzed on my phone.

"Detective Chen, your trick with our communications won't work. We still have your family. But now we only need you at the cemetery at 11 PM instead of midnight. Thanks to your interference, we have to accelerate the ritual. One hour earlier means less time for you to cause more problems. -Base"

Elena's face turned white as she read the message.

"That's bad news, Sarah."

"Why?"

"Supernatural rituals are similar to recipes
; the results can be altered by altering the timing."

"What does that mean?"

Elena's frightful silver eyes were fixed on me.

"It indicates that they intend to take your life, Sarah, rather than just stealing your abilities.”