I can tell Ryan is sensing this too. A smile sneaks up one side of his face and he clears his throat. "Maybe we should . . ." He points at my pencil.
"No way," I say. "I'm not putting anything in there. We don't know if this goes backward or forward or what." I add, "Or even if this is a time rip."
I get the feeling Ryan had told Lauren and Jace all about this morning's discoveries. They nod in agreement as if they understand what madness I've wrought in my basement.
"Look." Jace points from behind the hole in space. "It's shrinking."
"We should photograph this," Ryan says.
Jace pulls out his NeuroPad and aims. "Shine a light on this thing. Do you have a better light?"
I turn up the florescent, but it makes the hole harder to see. I shrug and Jace takes a number of photos. "I don't think these will come out," he says.
"I've got a small 3-D movie camera with a high-sensitivity adjustable light sensor. Next time-"
Ryan butts in with a strong tone. "Next time? You've got to be kidding, Bria."
I ignore him and get close to the rip, feeling braver now that it's only a centimeter wide, as compared to the three centimeters it was just moments ago. I wave my hand slowly in front of it and feel a slight current heading into the hole. Then my head starts to pound and I get grumpy. I feel my patience vanish, as if it got sucked into the hole.
"Don't you get it, Ryan? I have to find my mom."
"But, Bria," Lauren starts apologetically, "you know your mom is gone."
"Shut up," I say, wondering why I'm so snappy. "She's gone, but she's alive and I'm going to prove it."
"Don't be stupid, Bria." Jace's tone turns critical and I'm shocked. I've never heard him express much emotion. "This is reckless and you're going to hurt someone. How will your dad feel if he comes home and finds you in little pieces all over the basement?"
"Fine!" I yell, now totally irate and ready to punch someone. I don't know what's come over me. Maybe I just haven't cried enough. "Just leave. You guys don't understand."
Even Lauren huffs and shows a sour look of disdain and judgment. She whips her head around and starts up the steps. Jace throws me a condescending look and follows after her. Ryan just stands there, his mouth dangling open. I wave him away and plop down in the swivel chair.
I hear him tromp up the stairs as I bury my head in my hands. A hush falls over the room as the laser hum dies out. But there is something in the air-a residue that feels ugly and sticky and makes me want to scream. The sudden change in my disposition-in everyone's disposition-makes me think the tiny hole is the culprit. But how can a rip in space affect emotions? There's nothing there!