Ice Shock(24)

I mean, people have died searching for this secret. They’ve been killed. Dad, and my sister, Camila. If I’d told you, I might have put you in danger. I couldn’t handle that.

So why tell you now?

If I’m in major trouble, that could be the end for me.

If it is, well, that changes everything. This is what I’ve decided: it’s not fair to keep you in the dark anymore. If I’m done for, you deserve to know why. I can’t have you wondering what happened and why for the rest of your life. I’ve seen what that’s done to you with Dad. I can’t have that on my conscience.

To cut a very long story short, I haven’t told you the complete truth about what happened in Mexico. Because when I met Camila, she died because of what she knew. I almost died too. The Ix Codex that Dad was searching for—it’s real. I found it. I met the people Dad came from—his real family in Mexico. They live in a hidden city called Ek Naab and they’re descendents of the ancient Mayas. They protect an ancient secret—a secret older than the Mayan civilization itself.

And, Mom, I’m one of them. There’s some kind of genetic factor that’s passed only through boys. It protects you from this ancient technology that the Mayas have been guarding since, like, forever. Their books of ancient knowledge can kill with a touch. Unless you have the genetic factor.

Which means they need me. Dad could have done the job too, but he disappeared—captured by the NRO, a U.S. agency that stole some of the ancient technology. Well, to be fair, the NRO found it when one of the Mayan aircraft crashed. But now that they’ve had a taste of what this technology can do, the NRO want more.

And then there’s this guy named Simon Madison. Or Martineau—who knows what his real name is. I thought he worked with the NRO, but they say he doesn’t. Do I believe them? I don’t know. Madison is the one who killed my sister. And maybe Dad too.

Yes, I know. You think I’m making this up. But how could I? It’s completely crazy!

This blog starts the day you leave for your retreat at Worth Abbey. I said I was going to stay with Emmy, remember?

Well, I might, but I haven’t quite gotten around to asking her. And anyway, I have something important to do.

I messed up, see. Made a big mistake that allowed a certain document—part of the Ix Codex—to fall into Simon Madison’s hands.

I don’t know who Madison works for. I do know that he doesn’t work alone. He’s had an accomplice for months. You know her as “Ollie.”

Who knows what her real name is.

You know how everyone comments on how grown-up she looks for a sixteen-year-old? Camila thought that she was at least twenty. I’d guess Camila was probably right.

Luckily, I haven’t told Ollie everything. I didn’t tell her about my secret blog. I didn’t tell her what really happened in Mexico. What she does know has already gotten me into trouble. Not just me but the Mayas of Ek Naab.

What it comes down to is this: I let those pages of the Ix Codex fall into enemy hands, so it’s up to me to get them back.

I’m going to do that. I’m the only one who can. Ollie doesn’t know that I know. She won’t suspect. The hunter will become the hunted.

I know it’s dangerous—I’m not a complete idiot. Which is why you’re reading this—the only record of this Web address is on the letter I left for you. I’ll keep blogging here when I can. Right until the last minute, I promise.

Mom, I really hope you never read this.





12


It’s the last day of the semester, so we finish school at midday. I pick a random school computer on which to post the “Dear Mom” entry to my new ultra-secret blog. I know it’s going against what I promised to Montoyo.

But this is for my mom. I mean, there’s a line even I won’t cross. She deserves to know the truth about what’s happened to me, if anything goes wrong.

I write the Only To Be Opened If Something Bad Happens letter to my mom and tuck it away at the back of my locker. I walk to the bus stop. My plan is almost ready to hatch. I’ve written the messages to Mom; all that’s left is to say good-bye. And to make one very difficult phone call to Ek Naab.

When I arrive home, Mom’s already packed for her retreat; her coat is on and she’s standing by her suitcase, ready to go.

“You’re sure you won’t come?”

“Thanks, but no.”

Mom looks sad yet resigned. “I spoke to Tyler’s mother. Everything’s fine. She’s expecting you for supper tonight.”

I give a disappointed look. “Oh … sorry, I should have mentioned. Tyler and I aren’t getting along too well. That’s why I was kind of hoping to stay with Emmy …”