Chapter 4 Secrets

Chapter 4 Secrets

Perspective: Rose

As I walk down the stairs I pull on a hidden panel at the bottom and reach for the shotgun inside. After checking the barrels I snap it shut, gaining the attention of the intruders.

"Is there a reason you two broke into my house?" I ask, getting them to back away and raise their hands.

"Why do you have a shotgun?" The black one asks.

"Its a free country. I also have the right to shoot intruders. Start talking or I start shooting." I warn them as I shift the gun around in my hands.

"Calm down, we're with the government." The white one says as they both show me their badges. "My name is Agent Lewis, this is my partner Agent Thompson. We're here in response to your call about the weather. Did anything recently happen that you can't really explain? Odd weather, mysterious noises.... strange creatures?" I eye the two of them before walking over to the kitchen. I set the shotgun on the counter as I open the fridge and pull out a pitcher of lemonade.

"Ma'am, your cooperation is essential for..."

"Don't Ma'am me sonny boy." I snap as I pour myself a glass and take a drink. "Yeah. There was some odd weather."

"Odd how?" Agent Lewis asks as he steps towards me.

"Well..." I say as I peer back to see everyone tip toeing their way down the stairs. "It was around midnight when I was putting my horse to stall. It scared the living daylights out of me." I say as I lean against the counter, setting my glass down.

"Did you happen to get a look at the... lightning? Where did it come from? We need to know everything ma'am," Agent Thompson says. A loud creak gets his attention, making him start to turn around.

"Where are my manners!" I yell as I begin to slam cabinets as I look for some glasses. "Would you two like some lemonade? I make it myself."

"That won't be necessary-"

"None sense. I insist." I say as I pour a glass for each of them and hand them over. I have to buy as much time as possible for the others. Barbra was right, they know about Mathew... and I can't bring myself to give him up. Lord knows what the government would do to the poor kid.

"Well... if you made it yourself." Agent Thompson says as he takes a sip. Agent Lewis just rolls his eyes as he does the same.

"So, back to the lightning. Did you happen to go out there at all?" Agent Lewis asks.

"Uh.... yes. I actually did." I say as I start to run the garbage disposer, the best thing I could think of to cover the sound of my truck starting.

"Ma'am... is everything alright?" Agent Thompson asks, glancing to his partner.

"Yep! I mean no! I... uh..."

"Did you see something out there?" Agent Lewis asks as he steps over to me and shuts the garbage disposer off. "This could be a threat to national security ma'am. You need to tell us everything."

"*sigh* fine. Ya got me. You see, the thing is..." I start to say but stop when I see Barbra in the back. She gives me a thumbs up before flipping off the two government workers. "The thing is... I... lied."

"You... lied."

"You got me! I saw the lightning but I didn't go out there at all. I was too worried about my horses and crops. That and I've been feeling bloated, cramps you know. That and I've been having mood swings ever since my husband left and I just-"

"Okay, okay, we get it. Look, do you mind if we take a look in the forest on your property? We need to do a thorough search and-"

"Oh go right ahead. Don't mind me, I'm just a... single... lonely... woman in search of a....*gulp* man *shiver*." I say, hating myself for saying it.

"Uh.... we'll keep that in mind. What can you tell me about the residences on you property?" Agent Lewis asks as he gives an odd look to his partner.

"Oh, I rent three campers to some elderly people. They're on medi-care and that kind of stuff so I don't think they'll be much use-"

"We'll keep that in mind. Thank you for your cooperation." Agent Thompson says before downing the rest of his lemonade. "We have to get going now-"

"Don't you have any other questions.... big... guy?" I hate myself so much right now.

"Uh... no. Anyway... we have to get going now... you should stay here... in case... just stay here." He says as they look to one another and begin to slowly back away from me. Crap, I need to buy them some more time.

"Are you sure there isn't anything else you need? Anything?" I ask as I walk after them.

"No, we'll be fine on our own. You just... stay here and.... keep an eye on your horses." Agent Thompson says as they turn to leave the building. I walk after them and try to think of another way to stall them more, but nothing comes to mind.

"What are you flat foots doing here?" Barbra asks as she walks through the front door.

"Barbra? What are you doing here?" I ask in a panic.

"I saw these two knuckle heads waltz into my peaceful little town and decided to see what's going on. What is it? Trying to find the perfect spot to hide you gov-"

"You're Barbra Sainen, the blogger of 'Not Alone." Agent Thompson says, getting Barbra to freeze up as he approaches her. "Lewis you go ahead and check out the forest, I'll stick around to question her."

--o-0-o--

Perspective: Mathew

I sit up on the bed and continue to watch Lynn pace around the room. I think I did something wrong, but I'm not sure what. Hopefully they don't get too mad at me, I don't really have anywhere to go...

"Miss Lynn?" I ask, getting her to pause. "Did... did I do something wrong?"

"Oh no honey. Its just... there are some-"

"The fuzz is down stairs trying to take you away! But we won't let them..." Barbra starts but is stopped when Lynn covers her mouth.

"What Barbra meant to say is that there are some bad people down stairs and we don't want anything bad to happen to you. You didn't do anything wrong. Now... what to do?" She asks aloud as she continues to pace about.

"Why don't we just take him to my fallout shelter? It's only a short walk away." Barbra offers.

"You have a fallout shelter? Why?" Lynn asks.

"Built it back in the eighties to hide from the commies. Shame though, never really had to use it. Four feet of reinforced concrete hidden from any prying eyes. Stocked with weeks worth of supplies as well as weapons and ammo." Barbra says proudly.

"... weapons? Like... guns?" I ask nervously.

"Guns, swords, crossbows, grenades, you name it I have it," she tells us, proud as ever.

".... why?"

"I ain't gonna be a no commie."

"..."

"What's a commie?" I ask, but am ignored.

"Anyway, how far is this shelter?"

"Not far, a mile at most."

"Alright lets go to it then." She says as she goes to the door and opens it slowly. "Okay, stay quiet and follow me." We all sneak our way out of the room and down the stairs. I bump into Barbra as she stops to signal Rose. I wonder what it means to show somepony your middle... appendage... thing. We make it out to the front porch where we find Lynn in some kind of carriage thing.

"What are you doing!?" Barbra yells in a whisper as she runs over to her. The metal carriage thing roars to life as two bright lights shine from the front. I wanted to run out of the way, but the lights kind of... froze me in place. "We can't take that! They'll notice it's missing!" I shake my head as the lights shut off. That was... weird.

"Well... lets get walking then." Lynn says as she steps out of the carriage.

"Just go north for one mile and-"

"Wait, aren't you coming?" I ask as I walk up to Barbra.

"Sorry kido, but I live on the farm. They'll come to question me soon. Don't worry though, Lynn will take you somewhere safe, I promise." I look between the two of them before nodding and walking over to Lynns side. "Right, go north for one mile and look to the two leaning trees. Here's the key, just... stay there until one of us come to get you."

"Alright. But be sure to trade with me. I still have work tomorrow." Lynn says as she takes the key.

"We'll try. Take care-"

"I will."

"I was talking the kid." She says before looking back inside the house. "Now get going!" She says before turning around and marching straight back into the house. We both look to one another before taking off for the forest.

A thick layer of fog covers the forest floor as we run through. Due to my smaller size Lynn decided it would be quicker to carry me. The early morning sun begins to brighten the world around us, shining a light on two fallen trees that are being held up by each other. The one on the left has long thin branches that has bright pink flowers while the one on the right is dead and has a hole in the center of it. Lynn and I glance to each other before trekking underneath the two trees.

Lynn sets me down and begins to search the ground for something. I look around for something as well, but... it's just the ground. No matter where I check or how deep I dig there isn't anything here. After a few minutes Lynn starts to cuss a lot.

"HELLO? IS ANYONE THERE?!" Somepony calls from the distance.

"Shit!" Lynn shouts as she begins to look around frantically. As the sound of plants being crushed by steps becomes louder and louder she picks me up and shoves me into the hole in the tree. "Just stay here and be quiet. I'll deal with these guys-"

"What if they take you? What should I do then?"

"Then-"

"MA'AM? CAN YOU COME HERE PLEASE? MA'AM!?"

"Just stay in here okay?" She says before walking away. I sit back in the cramp hole and try to keep calm as I hear them begin to talk. What did I do to deserve this? I didn't mean to cause everypony all this trouble, I just... I just want to know what's going on. I try my best to stifle my tears as I hear the two of them begin to argue. I rub my eyes as the tears begin to fall-

... strong stallions always press on. No matter what they face they always find a way to continue. One day you'll understand this...

I shake my head as the deep voice echos in my mind. I... I remember... somepony told me that... but why? Who was the one who told me that. I sit back as I try to think-

CLICK

"Uh oh." Suddenly the tree opens up and I fall straight down. The surface starts out as wood but quickly turns to metal, making my screams echo all the way down. I look down and see what looks like a grate blocking the end of the tunnel.... NONONONONONO! I begin to flap my wings as hard as I can in an attempt to stop from crashing through, but I've already gained too much speed.

CRASH

I slam into the grate and break it off it's hinges. With a loud thud I crash onto something metal and fall off onto the stone floor. I sit up and rub my head a bit as I take in my new surroundings. I've fallen into a stone room that has flimsy furniture scattered about. I had landed on a stove that's in between a refrigerator and a sink. To my left is a wall with a poster that says:

'United We Stand, Separated We Die.'

To the right there is a hall that leads to other rooms while in front of me is a table... with Stephanie sitting in one of the seats. She's wearing blue pants and a white t-shirt with her hair tied back. She looks as if she's barely woken up and is eating a bowl of cereal.

"*gasp* my pony! How did you find my secret place?" She asks as she runs over to me and hugs me again.

Whoa.

There's that feeling again, in my tummy. I don't know why, but I like getting hugs from her. They feel.... nice.

"Uh.. h-hi Stephanie. I.. uh... well..." I stumble as I try to explain the situation, but find it hard to do as she continues to hug me.

"Are you hiding here to? You can hide with me! No one knows how to get in here anymore so it'll be just the two of us." She says as she releases me.

"Just.... just the two of us?" I ask.

"Yeah."

"Alone?"

"Pretty much."

"With nopony having anyway of getting to us."

"Yup."

FWOOSH