We Shall Be Monsters

by Ryan Decaria

  Anika felt for her, walking on the edge of a knife.

  “Not the lab itself,” Anika said. “Not officially. It’s more like my father gathered the world’s most unscrupulous scientists and brought them all to one place. The parents are doing most of it all on their own.”

  Ms. Bolton’s shoulders dropped an inch. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes.” Anika sat across from her. “I can’t figure out what you’re doing. You’re observing us. Obsessing over what might be wrong with each student. Why?”

  Ms. Bolton stared at her plate. “I want to help.”

  “No.” Anika waited until Ms. Bolton looked up before continuing. “You’ve done nothing to help any of them. You’re collecting data to use against the lab. You want to expose them. To make them pay.”

  Ms. Bolton took a long breath and raised her chin. “I can’t do both?”

  Anika felt a pang of guilt in her belly. Or maybe it was the ulcer. Could she even feel guilt anymore? “What are you waiting for?”

  “I need more evidence.”

  “Is that why you’re obsessed with Misty?”

  “I’m not obsessed.”

  Anika shook her head.

  “Fine.” Ms. Bolton pointed at the door. “She’s the key. Don’t you see it? She’s…”

  Anika stared straight into her eyes. “Misty has short-term memory loss from a trauma. There was a fire a few years ago. She nearly didn’t make it out. I was confused about her behavior, too. Misty seemed so different from one day to the next. I think she’s been better the last few weeks.”

  If Anika had a super-power, it was lying through her stupid teeth.

  Ms. Bolton stared back, unwilling to believe, but she broke, eyes flickering to the table. “I wondered.”

  “There’s another problem. If you expose the lab, you won’t be helping these kids. You might think you are, but most of these kids love their parents. Linh’s parents are trying to help her live a normal life. It’s unethical as hell, but you can’t argue with the results. Can you?”

  “And how long will it go on? How long will these scientists be allowed to continue doing things to their children? It has to stop.”

  Anika bit her lip. Everything she was saying was true, but it wasn’t fair to Jackie, to Linh, or Claire, or the Mistys. They all deserved a shot at a normal life. But Ms. Bolton was correct. This had to stop somewhere. Some would pay that price.

  “It’s complicated.” Anika now had a plan, but they had to start at the top. With her father.

  Ms. Bolton frowned. “I don’t think you quite understand ethics, Anika.”

  Anika slammed her fist on the table. “I’m going to end it. Okay?”

  Ms. Bolton flinched and blinked at her. She didn’t stop blinking. Finally, she rose from the table, dumped her food in the trash, and tossed her plate into the sink.

  Anika’s phone buzzed.

  They were walking a thin line. Of course, Ms. Bolton was right, but exposing Dravovitch and the lab to the public would not end well for them. It would backfire, and Anika’s mother was proof. She’d tried for sixteen years.

  The right course of action was more dangerous than subterfuge. Too many of the wrong lives would be ruined. Lives she cared about. Only wrong choices would suffice.

  Anika needed a new angle. “Does your husband work at the lab?”

  Ms. Bolton stiffened as she cleaned the plate. She turned toward Anika. “Why does that matter?”

  “Boyfriend?”

  Ms. Bolton tossed her plate onto the table, which rattled around like a top for a moment before settling still. “I’m not currently seeing anyone. Happy?”

  “Why are you here?” Anika rubbed her temples. “In Moreau? Why are you teaching at this school?”

  Ms. Bolton’s eyes flicked toward the door.

  Anika made three distinct hypotheses before Ms. Bolton answered. One: she’d dated a labcoat who’d gotten her the job. They’d broken up since. Two: she was an investigative journalist trying to expose something the lab had done that affected people she defended. And three: she was hiding in the most secluded, most dangerous city in America.

  Bolton slipped back into her chair and examined her fingertips. “I have to take a certain medicine.”

  No! Anika’s heart sank. She slumped back in her chair as she deduced the implications of that simple statement. Another sister? Another experiment?

  “What is it?” Ms. Bolton asked. “Anika what’s wrong?”

  “Let me guess.” Anika reached out and took Ms. Bolton’s trembling hands in her own. “This lab is the only place in the whole world producing the specific medication you need.”

  Ms. Bolton furrowed her brow. “How do you know that?”

  Anika studied Ms. Bolton’s fluffy blonde hair. Her wavy locks flowed with intricate natural highlights to her shoulders in perfect ringlets. Wig familiarity had become a necessity, and Anika was willing to bet Ms. Bolton’s hair wasn’t fake. The production she must go through each morning must be staggering.

  “How much do you spend on hair product?” Anika’s phone buzzed again.

  Ms. Bolton patted her hair. “Why would you ask that?”

  “If I’m right, and I usually am, you never met your real father. Your mother has vague memories of that time in her life that she’s kept private, even from you. Your blood type is O negative, and the doctor that led you to this place was an odd referral to an office building that sprang up overnight. They gave you a miracle cure you’d dreamed of finding.”

  Bolton’s wide eyes said that Anika was right about most of it. “How?”

  Anika wasn’t sure what else to say. I’m your sister was too much too soon. As was asking for hair care advice. Ms. Bolton’s hair was beautiful in spite of the genes. Though her hair wasn’t going to save her. Was Ms. Bolton next-in-line? Was she the backup in case he hadn’t found Anika in time?

  Anika’s phone buzzed again, and she finally dug it out of her jeans. She scanned the new texts.

  He’s awake!

  Dude’s awake

  Check your texts. What are you doing for lunch?

  He’s up. Get over here.

  Anika took a sharp breath. Esposito was finally awake. They should have taken him straight to a hospital, but everyone had agreed he was too valuable and dangerous. She had to get over there fast.

  “What’s wrong?” Ms. Bolton said.

  “Get your keys.” Anika pushed away from the table. “We’re going for a drive.”

  “What?” Ms. Bolton grabbed her purse from the back of her chair. “Where are we going?”

  Anika held the door and followed her out. The hallway was empty except for B-14, her locker neighbor, who squeaked when he saw them, and turned and went the other way. The school’s office was dark. With the second principal gone in a month, the secretary had apparently quit, citing hazardous working conditions.

  Pankina was gone, but her threat was still real. This school was a maze of secrets. Esposito had to know something. Hopefully he wouldn’t die before they gleaned something from him.

  Anika grabbed Ms. Bolton and pulled her toward the parking lot.

  Ms. Bolton pulled out her keys, fumbling for the right one. “Can you please tell me what’s going on?”

  “Ms. Bolton,” Anika said. “It’s time for you to pick a side.”

  Misty stood in the corner, scowling at Ms. Bolton as the woman held Esposito’s hand and stroked his thinning hair. Esposito sputtered as Jackie helped him sip water from a straw. The room was draped in black sheets and they had the white noise machine cranked up full blast to protect Akwete and her family. Jackie’s dance instructor had agreed to take Esposito in if they could guarantee anonymity.

  Anika could still hear Akwete’s girls chattering in the next room. This should have been a simple win. A rescue. Instead, they had a standoff with a man on his deathbed. Wasn’t Esposito an ally?

  So far, he’d not been able to say anything, but he brightened as he stared into Ms
. Bolton’s face. Hopefully, Esposito would recover fully despite not having proper medical care. They’d get him help eventually.

  Anika had to get him to talk first.

  Ms. Bolton stood and pulled Anika to the corner of the room. “I don’t understand. Why would Pankina do this to him?”

  Anika stared at Ms. Bolton’s pink fingernails, clashing against her blue shirt. “We found him in the boiler room tied up. Pankina was holding him prisoner this whole time.”

  “But why beat him senseless?”

  “I think…” Anika racked her brain for a reason but couldn’t come up with anything. “I think she’s just evil.”

  “Evil?”

  “Diabolical.” Anika said. “Pankina’s a monster. In case you hadn’t noticed, there are a few of them running around Moreau.”

  Jackie clapped the glass of water on the nightstand. “She’s trying to blow up the lab.”

  Ms. Bolton stammered, “And she’s still out there?”

  “We gave her a chance to leave,” Misty said.

  “We…” Anika hesitated. “I needed time to deal with another problem. I had to give her a reason to let me go.”

  Ms. Bolton crossed her arms. “Now what?”

  Anika hadn’t brought up their shared parentage. Yet. She wasn’t sure how Ms. Bolton would react. “I have people working on it.”

  “This is crazy,” Ms. Bolton said. “We have to call the police.”

  Jackie snort-laughed. Anika smiled. She’d been there before.

  Misty crossed to the door. “Not everyone at the lab is evil.”

  Anika grabbed Ms. Bolton’s arm and pulled her out of the room after Misty, gently closed the door, and sat her at the kitchen table. “We have trust issues.”

  “Why?” she asked. “Esposito isn’t the bad guy. Is he?”

  Anika smiled at Xoese as she ran around the table, touching Anika and Ms. Bolton’s hair. Apparently, that was a thing now. Akwete wasn’t happy they’d brought Ms. Bolton into her home. Anika chose to trust Ms. Bolton and hoped Jackie would forgive her.

  “It’s complicated,” Anika said. “My father commands a certain loyalty.”

  “What does he want with you?”

  Anika sighed. “I need you to give me the notebook. Then I’ll explain.

  Ms. Bolton fidgeted with her necklace as she stared at Akwete.

  “You start a new path today, and Anika is your guide.” Akwete pulled Xoese into her arms. “Trust her.”

  Ms. Bolton reached into her purse and pulled out the notebook. She held it in her lap, running a finger across the binding. Finally, she handed it over.

  Anika stuffed it in her backpack. “He’s planning to use me in his experiments, so he can live forever.”

  Ms. Bolton cracked a smile. “That’s pretty awful.”

  “Yeah,” Anika grinned. “Welcome to the party.”

  Jackie poked her head out of the other room. “He’s talking.”

  Anika rushed after Ms. Bolton to Esposito and knelt by his bed. Esposito grimaced. His eyelid fluttered. “Victor…”

  Anika grabbed his hand. “Victor is dead.”

  Esposito nodded. “Pankina. She’s dangerous.”

  “We know.” Anika chose her words deliberately. If she gave him too much, he could clam up. “What was she doing with the explosives?”

  “She thinks she can control the gators,” he sputtered. “She can make them go where she wants them to.”

  Anika squeezed his hand. “She’s planning to blow up the lab?”

  He shook his head. “She’s going to hold the town hostage. I…I was supposed to protect them.”

  “Wait…” Anika let go of his hand. “The lab isn’t the target?”

  “She wants you.” He pointed at Anika. “You and every other kid in town.”

  Ms. Bolton dabbed his forehead with a cloth. “What are you saying?”

  He coughed for a few seconds. “She thinks they’ll oust him. Trade him for their children’s lives.”

  Anika slid to the floor and put her head in her hands. She could’ve called the police the second they saw Pankina in the boiler room. She could have prevented this. Anika was selfish, and now kids would die.

  Ms. Bolton clicked her tongue. “Well, there’s no way the people will choose him over their kids, right?

  Esposito grabbed her arm and shook his head vehemently, before collapsing onto the bed.

  Ms. Bolton turned to Anika. “Right?”

  “We have to stop her,” Esposito mumbled as his eyes rolled back in his head and he passed out.

  “Of course, we’re going to stop her.” Jackie slammed the back of the chair. “Get up Anika.”

  Anika kept her head down, planted her palms on the floor, and closed her eyes. Of course, Pankina hadn’t left town. Pankina still had everything she needed, and it was Anika’s fault.

  Misty kicked Anika’s shoe. “Get up.”

  Ms. Bolton sat beside Anika. “I don’t understand. What is Pankina going to do?”

  Anika’s hands shook. “She’s going to blow up the schools.”

  “What?” Ms. Bolton said. “All of them?”

  “Okay, Houdini.” Jackie clomped over and yanked Anika to her feet. “We need a plan, fast.”

  “I did this.” Anika pulled away from Jackie and backed into the wall. Her stomach rumbled, and she felt light-headed. She was going to get them all killed.

  “So?” Jackie got in her face. “Fix it.”

  The room spun.

  Misty leaned over Esposito. “Hey, I think Esposito’s dying.”

  “We need to call the police.” Ms. Bolton pulled out her phone.

  “Pankina has a plan for the police and for the lab.” Anika stumbled across the room and slapped the phone out of Ms. Bolton’s hands. “Don’t you get it? No one is going to help us!”

  “We have to warn them.” Ms. Bolton didn’t take her eyes off Esposito. “Get everyone away from the schools.”

  “No.” Anika kicked Ms. Bolton’s phone under the bed. “If we evacuate, Pankina could detonate the bombs right away.”

  “Then what do we do?” Ms. Bolton asked.

  Anika didn’t have a flunking clue. She closed her eyes and imagined her mother standing in front of her. Take one problem at a time. Solve the next one on the way. Never stop.

  Anika opened her eyes. She had resources and time. The plan would come.

  “Misty,” Anika said. “Get Esposito to a hospital near Tampa. Say he’s your grandpa.”

  “Do I get to drive him in Hayden’s Audi?”

  Jackie snapped her fingers. “Hey. That’s a no.”

  “Call Billie,” Anika said. “You can drive Sunshine. I don’t think she’ll mind. Come on, Jackie, you gotta drive me to the lab.”

  “Going to share the plan with the rest of us?” Jackie asked.

  “Yes,” Anika said. “As soon as I come up with one. Let’s go.”

  Ms. Bolton grabbed Anika’s arm. “What about me?”

  “Help Misty.” Anika pulled her hand away. “I’m going to stop Pankina, but you have to stay out of it. Don’t tell anyone. If you start a mass panic, you’ll make everything worse.”

  Anika took one last look at Esposito and left the bedroom. As she gathered her stuff, Anika dialed Linh.

  “Anika.” Yoko answered. “You have to let her rest.”

  “I can’t.” Anika took a deep breath. “Put her on the phone.”

  “I can hear you,” Linh said through the phone.

  “Linh, how are you coming on tracking those signals?”

  “Already finished. I’m trying to hack the signal, so I can mess with her.”

  Anika headed to the garage. “Is one at the high school?”

  “Yeah, I guess.”

  “I need you to send the signal back to Pankina in a loop.”

  “That’s impossible,” Yoko said.

  It was the only way. “Linh?”

  “I’ll try.”

  “Come on.�
�� Anika crawled into Jackie’s convertible without opening the door. “We have to hurry.”

  Jackie slapped the opener to the garage, opened her car door, and got in.

  Ms. Bolton ran down the stairs and tried to slip out, but Anika grabbed her arm. “Where are you going?”

  “To the school. I have to save as many as I can.”

  Anika still had Linh and Yoko on the phone. “Yoko will text you the safest place to keep the students, but you can’t tell them why and can’t let them leave.”

  Ms. Bolton pulled away. “I get it.”

  “But first, I need you to help Misty get Esposito in the car. Billie will be here soon.”

  “Who’s Billie?”

  “Just help her, okay?” Anika hung up the phone. Linh needed to concentrate.

  Ms. Bolton backed to the stairs. “I’ll help.”

  She was willing to risk her life and had no idea how much trouble she was even in. Anika should at least be honest with her. Better to rip off the band aid. “Ms. Bolton, Dravovitch is your biological father. He’s been experimenting on you since before you were born.”

  Ms. Bolton’s jaw dropped an inch.

  “I think you’re his backup plan if something were to happen to me. When I give you the word, we have to disappear. Together.”

  Ms. Bolton closed her mouth and folded her arms. “How is any of this possible?”

  “No time.” Jackie slammed on the gas and whipped the convertible out of the garage into the street.

  Anika grasped onto the door to keep from flying into her.

  “Your bedside manner is impeccable.” Jackie grinned

  Anika couldn’t help but smile. “You’re one to talk.”

  “Me?” Jackie squealed out as she wheeled around the corner. “I wouldn’t have said anything to her.”

  “She should know the truth.” Anika took Ms. Bolton’s notebook from her backpack. Perhaps she’d uncovered something about another classmate that Anika could use. For now, it was too dangerous to let anyone see.

  “Do you think we can trust her?” Jackie asked.

  Anika didn’t doubt Ms. Bolton would try to do the right thing, but she had no idea what she was up against. “I think she’s on our side.”