The atmosphere in the house was heavy, with everyone having picked a spot to spend the night.
It was quiet inside, barely enough to hear people breathing. A stark difference from the noise outside, where the town's residents had reached a peak of activity.
Cassian could hear music, screaming, even the occasional gunshot coming from outside, forcing the group to stay alert.
His mind was racing. Even after gaining answers, more questions appeared. Why didn't they need sustenance? Were they no longer human? And if so, why did he feel that burning hunger when he was in a trance staring at the black substance?
Who did that voice—the one that told him he was chosen—belong to? And chosen for what? To become part of this museum? To join the exhibition? Or something else entirely?
Not to mention the powers. If he hadn't seen Nadia collapse the roof on the old woman's head, he would have never believed it. Nadia said the man named George could phase through solid objects, while Myron could step on air, meaning he could use it as a foothold.
Doesn't that mean he can fly… Cassian thought.
The only person in her group she didn't mention was Sam. Perhaps he hadn't discovered his yet. Or Nadia could be mistaken, and not everyone has a power.
Would he get one? Or did he already have one and was simply not aware of it?
"Damn, when did my life turn into a bad comic book," Cassian said in a barely audible whisper.
Maria was sitting by the window, observing the locals. To what purpose, Cassian didn't know—probably out of boredom and pure curiosity. Jonathan, on the other hand, was fast asleep. How he managed that under these circumstances, Cassian didn't know, but he would love to learn, as he himself felt extremely fatigued.
The rest sat close to Nadia, doing nothing, staring at the walls, occasionally discussing in hushed voices.
"Say, do you think time flows normally back home, or has it stopped?" Maria asked.
Before anyone even got to think on it, she continued.
"You know, there are thousands of cases where people just disappear, as if they never existed to begin with, all over the world. Entire towns, just like this one. And based on the architecture and people's attire, I'd say this town is from the late 1800s during the American colonization. Manifest destiny, genocide… there were many towns during that period whose populations were entirely eradicated by Indian forces. This could be one of those towns, but instead of Indians exterminating them, they were instead brought here. Just like we were."
Maria's monologue attracted everyone's attention. Her reasoning made perfect sense.
"Have you ever observed the people for more than a day, Nadia?" Maria asked, still looking outside the window.
"With what purpose?"
"To find out if they're stuck in a loop, repeating the same day over and over. Perhaps that's what separates us from them. We might've just escaped from our loop. As far as we know, thousands of years could have passed since the day we were abducted."
It took a moment for the group to digest the information Maria pointed out.
"This… it's possible, and it is disturbing," Nadia said, giving voice to everyone's thoughts.
"What year was it back at the bus station?" Maria asked without turning her head.
Cassian knew the question was addressed to him and was about to answer when Nadia interjected.
"What are you doing, Maria?" she asked, her tone clearly accusatory.
"I'm collecting information, trying to get to the bottom of this."
"By creating an environment of distrust and suspicion? I don't see how that helps."
"I never said it helps. What I did say was that I'm collecting information."
"Just don't create discord. That's all I'm asking."
"Sure," Maria said, turning to face Nadia. She then pointed her finger at Sam, sitting in a corner quietly. "What's his power?"
Nadia turned to where Maria was pointing. "We don't know yet. Sam's power has yet to develop."
"Is that so…"
"Do you want to say something, Maria? If so, then please do so and stop playing around."
At first, Cassian dismissed Maria's questions as simple curiosity, but the more she spoke, the more he understood. She didn't trust Nadia nor her group and was digging, searching for reasons to justify her suspicion.
"Why is he so quiet? Did something happen to him?"
"Not everyone's as strong as you, young lady," George answered Maria's question.
"Well, I can understand being shocked, but poor Sam looks traumatized."
"You're being bothersome," Myron said, attracting everyone's attention.
"Why?" Cassian asked, hostility evident in his voice. He didn't know where Maria was going with those questions, but it appeared that Nadia's group did not particularly enjoy having to answer them.
"Because I said so," Myron told Cassian, not backing down.
"Did you do something to him?" Maria's question seemed to drive Myron over the edge. He stood up in one swift motion, throwing the chair he was sitting on to the ground.
Cassian mirrored him, his hand once more gripping the knife.
"Careful now. Using air as a foothold won't be particularly helpful in this enclosed space. It will only give me an easier target," Cassian said, drawing the Bowie knife from its sheath.
"Mine will be," Nadia warned Cassian.
"I know. It might even attract the attention of the town's residents."
Cassian was spot on, and Nadia knew it. Her power was strong, but she severely lacked precision. She used her power more like a hammer, lacking the control it would require to put an end to this situation quietly.
"Enough! We get it—you don't trust us. I don't know why, but I understand. We just have to tolerate each other until morning, then we can all go our separate ways. How does that sound?"
Nadia's peace offer did not seem to have the effect she had hoped for.
"I've got a better idea," Maria countered. "How about you three leave?"
"Three?"
"Yeah. You're obviously not taking Sam with you."