by Jodie Kobe
Chapter five
V I V I A N
The way to Janelle’s office doesn’t take too long.
There are barely any people around so we have no problems. They are still eating inside the cafeteria.
“Do you have any questions before we enter?” Rian asks as we stand in front of the same door as yesterday. Only I was in a wheelchair that time.
“Why do I need to do a running test?”
Rian sets his hand on the doorknob but doesn’t open the door. “They want to see what you’re able to do, how fast you can run, all sorts of those things. Anymore questions?”
I can’t think of any right this minute, so I shake my head. Rian pushes the door open.
The place is emptier than last time. Now instead of doctors and scientists roaming around, they are sitting at their desks. I look over to the corner of the room, where Janelle sits with her arms folded, looking at us.
“You’re early,” she says as we make our way over to her.
I glance at Rian to see what his face expression is. He’s calm and doesn’t have any trace of hatred toward Janelle on his face.
“We might as well finish,” Janelle says. “I’m glad to know you can walk.” She stands up, and I follow her to a door. Not the same one I stepped through yesterday.
“I’ll wait here,” Rian calls after us as I enter this new room. Janelle closes the door behind her, and it's quiet except for the clicking of our shoes on the tiles. I follow her to the middle of the room, where I see a small table with no chairs. There are a few objects laid across the top.
This room is quite large, but much smaller than the cafeteria. The ceiling is low, but I know if I try jumping, I won't be able to reach it.
“Complicated machinery isn’t necessary for this test,” Janelle says as she catches me looking at the objects on the desk. I’m not really sure what they are, though. “You will need to run a couple of laps around and do a few exercises. After that, let us hope you won’t be too worn out to answer the questions. Let’s begin with a few warms-ups. I suggest taking your sweatshirt off if you have something underneath. It’ll be easier to run that way.” She points to my feet. “You can lose the socks. You’ll slip on the tile.”
I pull my sweatshirt off and drop it on the floor. Once my socks are off, my feet feel cold and exposed.
“You’ll run from one side of the room to the other. Don’t get too excited. I don’t need you struggling on the real test. You’re not timed on this one so just relax for now.”
Janelle tells me to start by the door. I’ll have to jog to the other side of the room, which should take approximately thirty seconds if I go slow enough.
“This is just a warm up,” Janelle calls out from the middle of the room. Her voice echoes all around.
I nod once and focus on where I need to go.
Once Janelle instructs me to move, I start jogging, quickly at first but I slow down as Janelle informs me of my speed.
The rest of the exercises pass quickly. I have to run here to there, jump a few times, run again. By the end, I’m exhausted and about ready to give up. But I remember there’s one more part left.
The questions. I groan, about to collapse. I’m not in shape.
Janelle heads toward the door, and I stumble after her. My face must be red.
“We’re about to head into the questioning room,” she tells me. “Pull yourself together and stand up straight.”
I try my best. Once we’re back in the room with Janelle’s desk, I spot Rian in Janelle’s chair, sitting innocently with his hands behind his head. He doesn't look like he's been digging through Janelle's stuff, which I'm sure he has been.
I cast a glance at Rian before we enter the interrogation room. He gives me a smile.
I’m sitting at the same table I did yesterday, only now I’m actually in a chair and not in a wheelchair. Janelle sits across from me once again.
She takes a deep breath before speaking. “Before we begin, I need to ask you an irrelevant question.” She leans forward a little, bringing her voice down to a whisper. “Where is the glass cube?”
I go rigid. She’s talking about the glass thing. She does care. Did Rian return it to her just now?
“I don’t know,” I answer.
Her eyes narrow and she sits up straight. “Alright. I have my suspicions on who it is.” Her voice shifts into a lighter tone, and she continues. “Anyway. On with the questions.”
Janelle asks me about the things I think I would enjoy doing and things I dislike. I’m not sure why these first questions are necessary, but I cooperate.
She tells me the number I’m classified with is 42-2. I don’t have to memorize it or do anything with it. This is just their system of organization. It makes it easier for them to find us based on this number.
She asks me questions about the exercises and I answer them as best I can. I can tell Janelle’s tired because of how her voice shifts into a dull monotone.
I’m not sure how much time has passed when Janelle stands up, but I gladly follow. She adds one more thing before leading me out. “You are invited to dinner with Jack Welds, the leader of this building. Others will show up so you won’t be alone. You are expected to arrive on time. 6:30 PM. Wear something formal and please don’t make a fool of yourself. Behave.” With that, she opens the door for me, and I step out of the room.
Our gaze shifts to Rian simultaneously. He has dozed off on Janelle’s chair, his arms spread out across her desk with his head resting on the surface.
Janelle snorts and strolls over to him, sweeping his arms off the table. He jolts awake immediately, looking lost for a second. A grin appears on his face when he realizes he has just fallen asleep on Janelle's property.
“Up,” Janelle orders sharply.
Rian jumps out from her chair and practically flies over to me, staring innocently in the other direction.
“Jack Welds would like to meet Ms. Clancy. I propose you help her choose something proper. Please,” she adds.
Rian gives her one nod before he starts walking toward the exit door. I go after him, watching Janelle sit down at her desk, muttering to herself.
Rian picks up his pace as we walk down the white hallway. I struggle to catch up to him. “Where are we going next?” I ask, trying to dodge a few people striding past me.
“Your dear brother, Piers.”
“Why walk so fast?”
“Don’t know.” Rian glances at me and slows down.
“What do you need my brother for?” I fall into step beside him.
“Well,” Rian starts. “You know...I have a life. I work. I turn stuff in. I’m not just your tour guide.”
“So you’re going to work and I’m following you there?”
Rian shrugs. “I guess so.”
“Do you work for my brother?”
“No. I only said I’m going to your brother because I’ve seen him work wherever I work.”
“You knew him before?”
“I’ve seen him only a couple of times.”
“How long has he been working here, do you know?”
“Years. I’ve only been alive for two.”
“Oh.”