The C I N Series Bundled

by Christina Leigh Pritchard

  Alex rammed into his enclosed prison. “I do love you!”

  I shook my head. “No,” I said. “I see the way your eyes light up whenever anyone says Amie’s name. You’re still madly in love with her.”

  “She’s dead, Lisa.”

  My eyes burned. I rubbed my nose, turning the knob. “I’m nobody’s second option.”

  “Lisa, please just come back inside,” Alex said. “I want to explain.”

  I stood in the doorway. “If Amie was alive, right now, would you still be with me?”

  Silence filled the room. His eyes widened.

  Alex turned away.

  My heart fell right out from within me. My world collapsed, the walls folded over on top of me. Alex didn’t really love me. I’d never felt so empty until just then.

  Anna clapped. “That was a beautiful break up.” She smiled at me. “Bravo, Lisa. Bravo.”

  “Anna, you’re a parasite.”

  “I do love happy endings.” She chuckled, placing her hand on Alex. “Do you know what I’m doing? I’m sucking energy right out of your beloved.”

  “Stop it!” I screamed.

  “When I see dresses and tiaras, we’ll talk.”

  I slammed the front door. Thunder rumbled above me. Rain pelted the porch overhang. Who was causing this storm? Maybe it was a real one. Somehow, that would be a relief.

  REQUESTS AND DESPERATION

  I ran towards the pond, pounding my fists into Tobey. “I hate you! This is your fault! You’ve ruined my life!”

  “What are you talking about?” He grabbed me. “Stop it, Lisa.”

  “Anna says she’ll kill Alex if you don’t organize a prom.”

  “Why would she want a prom?”

  “I dunno!” I struggled. His grip tightened. My wrists burned. “I just know I hate you. You’re the reason I was kidnapped. Anna never would’ve met me and tried to escape and Alex would still be safe.”

  “I don’t understand. If you need a prom to save Alex, then that’s what we’ll do.”

  “You’ve got to invite everyone—even the village.”

  “No way! Do you know what will happen if I do that?”

  “I don’t care. You’re going to do this to save Alex’s life. You’re the reason Amie turned on Alex, aren’t you, with your promises of power? The epochalites are nothing more than poor souls devoid of energy and life.”

  “What are you talking about, Lisa?” Tobey looked genuinely confused. “What exactly did Anna tell you about me?”

  “She said you were a resistance leader and that you were sucking the life right out of us.”

  Tobey smiled. “Really?”

  “I read it in Amie’s journal.” I recoiled, refusing his offered hand. “You sent her down to see the epochalites. It was a trick! You wanted Amie’s longevity and thought the epochs would give it to you. That’s not what happened. Out of respect for Alex, they let Amie go.”

  “Epochalites? What are you talking about? Amie’s journals are here with Alex. Why would Anna have a journal that belonged to Amie? Do you hear yourself, Lisa? Think about it. Where is this secret entrance, anyway?”

  “In the bathroom, I’ll show you. I remember exactly how to get in.”

  “Good, you show me and I’ll believe this fantasy of yours.”

  Tobey grabbed my arm, leading me down the hall. We stepped into the bathroom. He placed his hand on my shoulder. It was warm and I fought the urge to lean into him. Anna had to be right about him. He was even going to kill Francisco. Sure, I hadn’t seen any wicked actions taking place but the facts were right there in front of me. He’d lied about who he was. Charles feared him. Anna feared him. Kimi feared him. Yet, they all surrounded him and obeyed his every command.

  “Where’s your secret entrance?”

  “It’s a tile in the shower that’s loose. We have to check every stall. I forget which one it’s in.” I stepped into the nearest one. I brushed my hands along the walls, feeling for any differences.

  “Lisa.” Tobey sighed. “Look closely at the walls. I can’t seem to find a single crack or loose tile anywhere.”

  “You’re not trying hard enough. Keep looking.”

  “Lisa! There’s no such thing as an epochalite. Anna is crazy. Didn’t you notice that? She makes up stuff all the time. There’s no army under our feet. I’m the only army. Anna is locked up because she causes harm to others. Look what she’s done to Alex! Francisco is like her little minion. They can turn on you about as fast as lightning.”

  I searched the walls. Tobey had to be wrong. Anna didn’t lie. She couldn’t lie. I hated her but my gut said she wasn’t a liar. I was the Oneida, right? Who would write a journal for pretend? “Keep searching.”

  “We like to scare the newbies so that they listen to us when we have to examine them, that’s all it was, really, Lisa. Dr. John is just a scary story we tell to everyone so that there’s order instead of chaos. Anna is the instigator here.”

  “Anna said you trapped her in that cell because you’re using her powers for yourself. She said you’re draining her for your own benefit.”

  “She’s the one draining Alex of life as we speak. Do you see me enclosing him in a bubble?”

  I strained, feeling the tiles high above my head. “Maybe they fixed the tile. Rub each tile and see if one is loose.”

  “Lisa, there’s no secret entrance.” Tobey shook his head. “I’m going. This is nuts. I’ll meet you later for this prom of yours. I’ll prove to you with this prom that I’m not the villain you keep trying to make me out to be.”

  Was Anna a big, fat liar? How could I believe either of them? Tobey wasn’t who he said he was and Anna held Alex hostage, using his energy to heal. She’d even admitted that she was capable of turning on me. Tobey was at least sensitive and understanding. When Anna told Frank to come, Tobey was the one to console me. If he was a tyrant, why hadn’t I seen him display wicked qualities?

  In her journal, Amie hadn’t said anything about having to struggle to find the loose tile. Maybe it was re-grouted. Celeste. She’d know the truth. If Celeste was the one who’d taken Amie down to the epochalites, then surely she’d remember where the tile was. All I needed was proof. Once I knew the truth, I’d know who to believe. If I did what Anna asked of me, it’d probably be the end of my life. I don’t want to die.

  Watching Anna entrap Alex, blocking him from all of us, ripped away at my soul. If I didn’t do what Anna said, would everyone I care about die? What was worse, losing yourself or everyone?

  Anna had taught me things that neither Alex nor Tobey knew, or even understood. She was certain I was this Oneida. Why did she need an Oneida? She could just stop stealing from them. Why didn’t Anna understand this concept? We were all connected by the same flow of energy. Taking it from one person was theft. Didn’t she comprehend that? Maybe Anna didn’t care. Was she up to something else? Everything she said, Tobey contradicted. What was real and what was fake? Everything they said—how much of it was true?

  I took heavy steps down the hall and tapped on the “science” door. Reginald and his groupies were almost never missing from the lab. Celeste had to be there.

  “Who is it?” Reginald called.

  “It’s Lisa. Can I come in?”

  “What do you want?”

  I opened the door. “Is Celeste here?”

  Reginald stood over a lab table in a tux. “What do you need her for?”

  I frowned. The groupies weren’t with him. “I need to ask her something important. What are you doing over there, anyway?”

  “None of your business, that’s what.”

  “Reggie, please, everything is my business now.” I leaned against his shoulder. He trembled, backing away. “Do I scare you?”

  “No, just what you represent.”

  “What’s that mean?”

  “You’re a nucleus and I’m an electron orbiting around you. Touching you is like if I were to touch my own beating heart.”

  “I
’m a nucleus?”

  “You and Anna are what generate the power we have. You’re the hubs. We all orbit around in your currents. Some of us have more than others.”

  “Can there be two nuclei, Reggie? Couldn’t we all just be our own nucleus?”

  “Ask one question at a time,” he said.

  I sighed. “Can we all be our own hubs or nuclei?”

  “Not likely. In the body, the only way for that to happen is for the two nuclei to break from each other and become separate cells. There’s only one place that we know of for our energy to flow, and that’s the old Lynn district. One of you would have to leave Lynn. We don’t know of any other place that generates energy like this. If we were anywhere else being struck by lightning would turn us into fried chicken.”

  “That means there’s a source here in Lynn. If we could figure out what it was then we’d be able to find another place that has it, too. Then no one will die.”

  “You came home. No one should die except either Anna or yourself.”

  “She’s going to kill me, Reggie.” I wiped tears from my eyes. “I’m scared.”

  He nodded, opening his arms. I fell into them. His lab coat was starched and hard against my cheeks. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “That’s because you know it’s the truth. She’s killed every other beginning or nucleus. Why would I be any different?”

  “She wants to use your energy to feed her family,” Reggie said. “That or she needs a recharge herself. Did you see the spots on her arms? That’s fulgurite. Alex had it on him until you guys showed up. He was blocked off from your energy source when they took you away.”

  “Instead of stealing my longevity, she’s letting me take hers.”

  “For the moment,” Reggie said. “I don’t trust Anna.”

  “What about Tobey?”

  “Who?”

  “Sorry, Dr. John. What do you think about him?”

  “I don’t trust either of them. We need to figure out what they’re up to.”

  “Could a room be built that sucks up our energy source?”

  “It’s not impossible. But I’d think a room that blocks energy from leaving the room would be more likely. Kind of like an electrical box cuts off all the power to a house if shut down.”

  “That would be why Alex and Ally got sick. I was in that room. My energy wasn’t flowing through them.”

  “Then why didn’t I get sick first?” Reggie asked. “Your reasoning makes sense but we’re missing an important element somewhere. Let me get back to work, I’ll find you if I learn anything new.”

  “No, I get it, Reg. Anna uses Alex and Ally for longevity. Donna is linked to Ally and when they’re far a part—just like how Alex gets sick when I’m away—Donna fades. I’m happy I stopped in.”

  Reggie grinned. “Me too, you’ve given me lots of new ideas to work with.”

  “Where do you think Celeste is?”

  “The groupies are in their room getting ready for the prom.”

  Across the hall was the room the groupies shared together with Reggie. I leaned my ear against their door.

  Giggles filled my ears. “This is so exciting!” One of them squealed. “I haven’t seen the others in ages. Do you think Charles is still in love with Ally?”

  “He never loved Ally. It was a ruse.”

  “Why?”

  “He protects Anna. She’s the love of his life, don’t you know that yet? He’ll do anything she says.”

  “Someone’s at the door listening,” Celeste said. The handle turned. I jumped back.

  “What can we do for you, Lisa?” Celeste asked. “You shouldn’t snoop, it’s rude.”

  “I came looking for you,” I said. “Can we talk in private?”

  “I’m trying to get ready for the prom. What do you want?”

  “I’ll be quick.”

  We went into the hall. Celeste’s hair was pinned up in a braided bun. She had pearls strategically placed throughout. Glittered cheeks reddened. “I don’t have all day, spit it out, Lisa.”

  “Is there such a thing as an epochalite?”

  “A what?”

  “An epocalite, the hooded folks under the school, are they real?”

  Celeste’s eyes widened. “Have you lost your mind?”

  “There’s no secret entrance to an underground society? The school isn’t named after the three guardians Chepi, Inteus and Nootau?”

  “C I N is an old girls’ boarding school from the 1700’s and 1800’s. Why would there be people living under the school? Who is this Chepi person? Really, Lisa, did you hit your head?”

  “There was a journal entry from Amie and—”

  “Amie lied about things all the time!” Celeste said. “Why would you believe anything she said? She manipulated us all.”

  “So Tobey is telling the truth and Anna is lying?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Celeste, please.”

  “I need to get ready for the prom. Why don’t you communicate better with your new friends? This isn’t my problem.”

  Celeste slammed the door in my face.

  A big wave of relief blew over me. Tobey wasn’t the enemy after all. It was Anna. She’d lied about everything. If there was a community below my feet then Celeste would’ve remembered it. Epochalites, what a joke! Why had I listened to Anna? She was nuts. My first instinct about her was that she had a few screws loose. Why hadn’t I followed my gut? Instead, I fed into her deliriums, helping her escape. Now, she held Alex prisoner. What had I done?

  I walked down the hall to the dorm room that I shared with Ally and Donna. They were both inside trying on dresses. Donna had a two foot pile of them on one of the beds. “Look, Lisa, I bet this one would look great with your eyes.” She twirled around in a pink satin dress. “Aren’t I lovely?” Donna undressed, handing it over to me. “Ally picked it for you.”

  “She’s been trying these things on since you suggested this prom,” Ally said. Her hair was in curlers and she sat with her fingers resting on the desk. “Why’d you get her all worked up? Do you see what she’s doing to me over here?”

  “You know you love the attention.” I smiled at Ally, turning to Donna. “Let me try that one on.”

  Donna squealed, motioning me to raise my arms. “Let’s try to match with some sort of theme like princesses or—”

  “This is not dress up!” Ally exclaimed. “When can I take these retched things out of my hair?”

  “I’ve got everything perfectly timed.” Donna zipped up my dress. “You’re a real grump. I’m surprised you’re not kissing my butt right now with gratefulness.”

  “Why would I be grateful to you?”

  “I saved your life today. Without me, you and Alex would be a pile of rock.”

  “That wouldn’t be so bad,” Ally said. She pulled out a roller. “Forget this crap, I’m not going.”

  “Stop that!” Donna screeched.

  My feet lifted off the ground. “Donna, calm down!”

  “Tell Ally to stop upsetting me. I never got to go to my prom. I was transformed before senior year. I want tonight to be perfect!”

  “It will be!” I said, grabbing a hold of the bunk bed frame. The last thing I wanted was to drop to the ground again. I hated when that happened. I wasn’t Ally. I felt pain.

  “How do you know? Did you ever go to prom, Lisa?”

  “No.”

  “Why not?”

  “I was transformed before my senior year, remember? I came here in the summer time.”

  My body dropped and I lost my grip, banging my knees.

  “Poor Anthony is the youngest of us. He didn’t even get to go to a homecoming dance or anything. He’s my date. Wasn’t that nice of him? We’re going to wear matching colors. His shirt is an emerald green. Look at this dress with nice gems in the fabric. Do you think he’ll like it?”

  I stood frozen with my mouth open.

  “Lisa!” Donna said. “Why aren’t you
listening to me?

  “I am listening!”

  “Don’t,” Ally said. “She’ll only talk more and more and more.”

  “Why are you taking out your rollers? Really Ally, how are we supposed to look gorgeous tonight if you won’t let me—?”

  Ally glanced up. “I’m already beautiful. I don’t need to look perfect. I’m not perfect and it’s my imperfections that make me who I am.”

  “I saved your life today. You owe me this favor.”

  “Are you going to throw this in my face for the rest of our lives?” Ally groaned, dropping herself back in the chair. “I hate the prom already.”

  “These heels suck. I’m going to grab the ones I left at Aunt Millie’s house,” I told them. They shouted and bickered so loudly that when I closed the door they didn’t even notice. My head hurt. They argued all the time. Sometimes I wished I could just move out of that room. I’d been stuck with Donna and Ally for only three years. If I was this annoyed with them now how would I feel in ten or twenty? Maybe Alex was right. Just because I got on his nerves sometimes, it didn’t mean he loved me any less.

  Tears threatened to fall. It hurt to know that I wasn’t his true love. His heart belonged to Amie, a traitor. She’d played with his heart and toyed with Tobey’s as well. Her only desire was to gain power—just like Anna.

  Even knowing that Amie never loved him past getting what she could out of him, Alex still couldn’t let her go. I was just a second choice. It hurt. The pain wasn’t like getting a cut. It was more like when you’re scared and don’t know what to do. I missed Alex. Maybe breaking up with him wasn’t the right thing to do.

  Sometimes, Tobey was nice. I took careful steps through the grass towards Aunt Millie’s house. Tobey opened doors, gave me flowers, knew how to console me when Frank appeared and was patient with me while I tried to figure out who to believe, Anna or him. But then again, there were times when he wasn’t so nice…

  Aunt Millie stood on her porch. Pete sat at a small table, collecting his chess pieces. He stuffed them into a bag, frowning at Millie. He waved, stepping down the stairs. She stared blankly ahead, oblivious of his existence.