Erik ignored the comment. “What do you have planned for us?”
Chamberlin grinned. “We have many wonderful things planned. For both of you. But let’s talk in the short term. This week, we’ll be getting you groomed for your coming-out party, which is Saturday night. We’ll be presenting you both at our first-ever Black and White Gala. It’s an event put on for the Founders. One of the most influential members, Preston Owens, whom you have already met, is helping us plan the event. At the gala, you two will be introduced, then will spend time mingling and meeting with our prospective investors. We’re hoping to raise hundreds of millions of dollars to keep this project on track.”
“Who are the Founders again?” I asked.
“They’re a group of highly educated, well-bred, innovative members of society. High-level judges. Heads of state. Military leaders. Captains of industry. It’s a diverse group. We have members from all over the world.”
“And how do you join this group?”
Chamberlin laughed. “You don’t join, Samantha. You are born into it, although a select few have been offered an invitation. But that is very rare. Actually Eve and her husband were invited many years ago, which was a huge honor for them. But they’re both brilliant in fields of study that the Founders needed. And they fit the profile well.”
“So what do these Founders do? What’s their purpose?” Erik asked.
“They are futurists. They plan. They lead. They make the hard decisions that have to be made in order to achieve their goal.”
“What exactly is their goal?” I asked.
“To take the human race to a higher plane of being.”
I looked at Erik, who seemed just as confused as me. “I don’t understand. What does that mean?”
“To take humanity to a new level. A level that strives for perfection. You see, humanity is filled with imperfection. But it doesn’t have to be that way. These flaws hold us back. Make us weak and vulnerable. Just consider the human body. It’s constantly in disrepair. And eventually it’s so broken down that it dies.”
“That’s the way life works. You live. You die,” Erik said.
Chamberlin got excited. “But it doesn’t have to be that way! The Founders have known this for centuries. They just haven’t been able to find a way to evolve us from the point we’re currently at. We here at GlobalLife have. The time has finally arrived! It’s time to finally move forward!”
When he saw that we didn’t share his excitement, he stood up from the table. “Well, I guess that’s enough stories for one evening. You both seem to be losing interest.”
“No. Not at all,” I said, hoping to get more out of him. His explanation thus far had been more cryptic than helpful. “What do you mean when you say the time has arrived? Have they made some discovery?”
Chamberlin leaned over the table and smiled at us both. “Yes. You are the discovery. Both of you. You two are going to change the course of humanity from this point forward.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Waltz Lesson
I felt sick. GlobalLife and the Founders were using Erik and me for something I didn’t yet understand, but I knew that the plan was far bigger than I’d ever imagined. And I knew that it wasn’t good.
Chamberlin motioned us to get up. “I think it’s time to say goodnight. You both need your rest. It was a pleasure dining with you. And I do hope you enjoy your classes this week.” He walked to the door. “Come this way. Walter will take you back to your room.”
Erik and I went out in the hallway, where Walter was waiting. Before leaving, I had to ask him one more thing. “Mr. Chamberlin, when can I see my sister? I haven’t seen her since we arrived and I really need to talk to her. Could I see her tomorrow or—”
“Sister? You mean that girl from the trailer? No you can’t see her. We don’t allow her kind on this floor.”
“Her kind?” I scowled at him. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“We have a motto here, Samantha. It’s one you should become familiar with. And the motto is this: ‘We are only as strong as our weakest link.’” He paused. “Think about that, Samantha, in regards to the girl from the trailer.”
Chamberlin closed the door of the dining room and Walter escorted us down the hallway. When we got back to our room, I heard the motto in my head again and tried to figure out what Chamberlin meant. So Brittany is a weak link? In what? His master plan?
“Erik, did you get what he was saying about Brittany?”
“That she’s weak? Inferior? Who knows? I don’t understand half of the things that guy says.”
“I’m really worried about her, Erik.”
“Maybe Owens could help. If he’s willing to help us, maybe he’ll help her, too.” Erik was trying to be optimistic, but it wasn’t making me feel any better. Brittany wasn’t even allowed on our floor. What did that mean? What kind of conditions was she living in?
Erik went to the bathroom to get ready for bed. While he was in there, I tried listening for Brittany’s thoughts. I was sure they had one of those brain wave scrambling devices on her, but I had to at least try. After a few minutes of hearing nothing, I gave up. It was no use. I would have to find a different way to connect with Brittany.
“Are you okay with me sleeping in the bed again?” Erik came out of the bathroom in his pajama pants. My eyes fixated on his bare upper body. Erik was naturally muscular from his work on the farm, but the genetic enhancements had made him even more sculpted.
“Um, yeah, whatever,” I said, trying hard not to focus on his body. “I’ll be right back.”
I went in the bathroom and came out wearing one of the silk chemises from my drawer. Erik was sitting up on the bed. He did a double take when he saw me.
I suddenly felt embarrassed. “Yeah, I know. I’m gonna freeze in this, right? But those shirts of yours are so big that I thought I’d just wear one of these stupid—”
“You know, maybe I should try sleeping on the sofa.”
I laughed. “You can’t sleep on that. It’s too small. I could barely sleep on that sofa.”
He hesitated, then got into bed. When I climbed in, he scooted far away from me. He was acting very strange. I knew I shouldn’t, but I listened to hear what Erik was thinking. I couldn’t hear anything, but I did see flashes of images. I focused harder, trying to see them better. As the images slowed, I could see they were of Erik and me in bed. He was slipping my silk chemise off and his hands were moving over my bare skin. Then I saw us kissing and getting more intimate. I quickly got out of his head.
“Erik!” I shouted, sitting up.
I startled him and he bolted upright. “What?! What is it?! Is something wrong?”
I didn’t dare tell him I’d been tuning into his mind without permission. “Um, no. Nothing’s wrong. I was having a nightmare. Sorry to wake you up.”
“That’s okay. Here.” He snuggled next to me, putting his arm around me. “Go to sleep.”
“Oh, you don’t need to—” I stopped. Because truthfully, I liked him there next to me. I was growing close to Erik again and my attraction to him was getting stronger by the minute. It was wrong and it wasn’t fair to Colin, but I couldn’t help how I felt. I went to sleep, telling myself the feelings were simply a side effect from being held captive. A way for me to deal with the stress of the situation.
The next day began like the previous one, except this time Erik and I had to get ourselves ready while Natalie and Kendall watched. “You’re not using enough eyeliner,” Natalie scolded me. “You can’t be afraid of it. You won’t poke your eye.”
After my hair and makeup were done, I put on another dress, this time a red one that was snug on top but flared out at the waist. Erik donned another designer suit and tie. He looked even better than the day before.
Eve came in midmorning to update us on our schedule. “Mr. Owens was so impressed with you both at the interviews yesterday that he’s asked to meet with you again next week.”
I smiled, kn
owing that the meeting would provide us with more information about our escape.
“As you know,” Eve continued, “we’ve restored your abilities, but they won’t be fully functional for a few more days. For that reason, you won’t be undergoing any tests in our lab until next Monday.”
“So what are we doing this week?” I asked.
“You’ll be attending classes to prepare you for Saturday night’s event. Today you have instruction in ballroom dance and conversation skills.”
Erik laughed. “Conversation skills?”
Eve seemed annoyed by Erik’s laughter. “After last night, Mr. Chamberlin suggested we teach you what things are appropriate to talk about and when. You’ll also learn the proper wording for topics that arise that might be considered controversial by some.”
“And the dancing?” I asked.
“It’s for the gala this weekend. You two have the honor of the first dance. We can’t have you stumbling around like clumsy, awkward teenagers. Anyway, the rest of the week will be filled with more dance lessons as well as etiquette lessons. You’ll also attend foreign language classes, where you’ll learn some basic phrases that will help you communicate with the non-English speaking guests who will be attending the event. Oh, and tomorrow you’ll have a tour of the facilities led by our PR department.”
I was elated to hear news of a tour. It was just what we needed to help us better use the maps in our heads. “Sounds great, Mrs. Taylor. We look forward to it.”
My willingness to participate surprised her. “Well, I’m glad to hear some enthusiasm from you, Samantha. Now I have some appointments to get to. Enjoy your day.”
Eve left and I could hear Erik yelling in my head. “A tour! Can you believe they’re giving us a tour? Are they crazy?”
“They must be so convinced that we could never escape that they’re almost challenging us to try so they can see us fail,” I thought back. “Hey, with our days so packed with activities, when are you gonna work on the cipher?”
“I’ll have to do it at night. I worked on it a little last night. I was having trouble sleeping.”
I remembered the images I’d seen in his head of the two of us. I wondered if that was the reason he wasn’t sleeping.
We heard a knock on the door and a tall, thin man with jet black hair walked in. He wore a tuxedo, which seemed to be the outfit of choice for the men who worked there.
“Hello, hello! I’m Terrance and you must be Samantha.” He took my hand and kissed it. “And you are Erik, I presume?” He shook Erik’s hand. “I’ll be teaching you both the art of ballroom dancing. And we don’t have a minute to waste! Let’s go!”
Terrance spoke so fast it was hard to keep up. He walked fast, too, racing back to the door. “Come on, come on. Less standing, more dancing. We have a lot of work to do.”
We followed him out to the lobby. As before, it was buzzing with people. Guards remained at the building’s entrance. We stopped at a large set of double doors that were just to the right of the entrance. Terrance opened the door and we entered a huge ballroom. It had big marble pillars around the outside edges holding up a balcony where people could stand and watch from above. A giant crystal chandelier hung from the center of the room.
“Now, what do you know about dance?” he asked Erik and me.
“Um, I’ve been to a few dances at school,” I said, thinking of the winter formal Colin and I had attended before I was captured by GlobalLife.
“A school dance? That’s it?” Terrance turned to Erik. “And you, young man?”
“I’ve never been to a dance.”
Terrance gasped and threw his hands up in the air. “Oh, how will I ever get you two ready in time?” He thought for a minute, then clapped his hands together as if he had committed to the challenge. “Okay, then. First and foremost, you must know that dance is simply a connection shared by two people. The footwork? The movement? It’s all an expression of the two people involved. When the couple is in sync, the dance is in sync. It’s a fact. I’ve seen professional dancers perform horribly when they are not in sync. To dance well, the couple must be completely focused on each other. They must share a connection. They must long for each other. And then everything will click.”
“Erik!” Terrance shouted at Erik, who hadn’t been paying attention. “Come over here by Samantha.”
Erik walked over and stood next to me. Terrance rolled his eyes and positioned Erik in front of me.
“Now hold her.” Terrance’s tone turned dreamy. “Show me how you feel about the girl.”
Erik looked confused. “I don’t know what that means.”
Terrance sighed. “Pretend that you have no words. Pretend that your body is your only tool of expression. Hold her in a way that expresses your feelings for her.”
I stood there feeling awkward as Terrance waited for Erik to move. After what seemed like forever, Erik put his arms around my waist, keeping a safe distance between us, like kids at a junior high dance.
“That’s how you feel about this girl?” Terrance asked. “Come on, you can do better than that. Remember, you can’t express yourself through words, only actions. How do you feel about her at this very moment? Show me.”
Erik paused, then pulled me into a hug. I blushed, not sure what he was doing.
“Hmmm, so you’re protective of her,” Terrance observed. “Well, I suppose that makes sense, given your situation. But you need to show more. Express more of your feelings for her.”
“Are we gonna dance or what?” Erik was getting uncomfortable and so was I. The last thing we wanted to do was put our feelings on display for Terrance and the people he worked for.
“If that’s all you’ll give me today, then yes, I’ll move on. But you must think about what I said. When you’re dancing, let your feelings for the girl guide you. Now, let’s begin with the traditional slow waltz. It’s very easy. Let me show you.”
Terrance tapped the floor twice and waltzing music filled the room. He danced across the floor with an invisible partner, showing us the steps. Then Erik and I tried, stepping on each other as we kept moving the wrong way. We practiced for the next two hours but seemed to be getting worse at it.
“No, no, no!” Terrance yelled at us. “Are you even thinking about each other as you dance?”
“I was thinking more about lunch,” Erik answered. “Can we eat soon?”
“You’re thinking about food?! As you’re dancing?! I can’t deal with this!” Terrance marched to the back of the room and disappeared out a side door. The music continued to play, filling the ballroom.
“Good. He’s finally gone,” Erik said. “Think we can leave?”
“Just walk out the door? No.” I went over and checked the door just in case. “See? It’s locked. Thanks a lot, Erik. Now we’ll be stuck in here the rest of the day. He probably isn’t coming back.”
“He’ll come back. He just needs to cool off. We’re too much of a challenge for him.”
“So you’ve really never danced before?”
“I was home-schooled, remember?”
“I know, but you said you had girlfriends. I figured you might have taken one of them to a dance.”
“They weren’t girlfriends,” Erik corrected. “They were just girls I dated. It was nothing serious.”
“Well your dad made it sound like—” I stopped, not meaning to bring up the conversation I’d had privately with Jack.
“Why was my dad talking to you about my dating life?”
“How should I know? Never mind. I barely remember what he said.”
“Well, I didn’t go to any dances, Sam. Ever. You’re the first person I’ve ever danced with. That’s why I’m so bad at it.”
“I’m not very good either. I’ve only gone to four dances my whole life and I only danced at a couple of them. The rest I kind of just stood around and drank punch.”
“You want to try again? While he’s not staring at us?”
“Sure,” I said, getting i
n position.
Erik went slower this time, gently gliding me across the floor. He looked up, focusing on me instead of his feet. I did the same, locking my eyes on him. And it was like something clicked. Suddenly we were actually dancing. Smoothly and effortlessly. Like on air. We were perfectly in sync.
“Bravo! Bravo!” Terrance’s voice echoed above the music as his shoes click-clacked across the floor.
We stopped dancing. Erik looked annoyed at being caught.
The music suddenly ended when Terrance reached us. “See what I mean? THAT is dancing! Total connection with each other. Did you feel it? How could you not? I could feel it from across the room.”
Terrance walked up to Erik. A huge smile came across his face. “You love this girl, don’t you? It’s clear that you do. It shows in your dancing.”
Then Terrance came over to me, putting his face right next to mine. “But you, Samantha. You hesitate when you dance with him. You’re still not sure of your feelings for him, correct?”
I backed away. “Can we just go now? Erik is starving.”
“Interesting,” Terrance mused, observing the tension he had created. “Yes, you may go. We’ll work on the Viennese waltz tomorrow.”
Lunch was waiting for us when we got back to our room. Erik was quiet throughout the whole meal. I didn’t want to talk about what Terrance had said about us, and I figured Erik didn’t either. So I was surprised when he brought it up later that afternoon while we were waiting for our etiquette coach.
“That stuff Terrance said today. You know he was just messin’ with us, right? Trying to get in our heads? Make us dance better?”
“Oh, yeah. Of course,” I assured him.
“Well, I just wanted to make sure. I didn’t like him putting words in my mouth, not that you believed any of that.”
“I knew what he was doing. But I wonder how we were able to dance so well at the end of the lesson.”
The Golden Couple (The Samantha Project Series, # 2) Page 21