Imposter

by Chanda Stafford

  Amy fidgets from side to side. “I apologize for the break in your routine, Mr. Carroll, but your good friend Socrates insisted on visiting today.”

  He returns his focus to me and a toothy leer blossoms across his face. “I would never have expected such an esteemed guest. Not for little old me.” He touches his chest for emphasis.

  Amy ignores his antics and turns toward me. “Would you like me to stay?”

  “No, that won’t be necessary. Thank you for offering.”

  She smiles at me, as if relieved, and darts from the room without another word.

  “She’s always in such a hurry to go, poor girl.” Carroll shakes his head. “I really don’t understand it.” With an exaggerated sigh, Carroll turns his attention back to me. “Sit, sit, my friend. It’s been too long since we’ve talked.” He gestures grandly at the plastic chair across from him.

  As I sit across from him, it crosses my mind that Eliot was right. Something is intrinsically off about this man. Ben tugs at his leash. I unclip it, and he sniffs his way over Carroll and investigates ground around him. After apparently finding little of interest, he wanders slowly back over to me and lays down at my side. Will settles himself behind me, hands behind his back, and gazes out the window, more like a potted plant than a person.

  Carroll jerks his head toward Will. “You brought a bodyguard? Aren’t you the important one.”

  I follow his gaze, but Will ignores our conversation. “Not really. He’s a friend.”

  “Carrying on with the hired help? That’s not like you.” Carroll flashes a merry smile. I shift in my chair, my palms growing sweaty. “But I’m sure that’s not the reason you’re here.”

  His words send a chill down my spine. “Like I said, I wanted to visit with you. It’s been too long.”

  Carroll arches one of his coal black eyebrows. “It’s only been five years. Barely a heartbeat for people like us.” He taps his finger to his chin. “Perhaps something else is going on.” Carroll twitches, a small movement at the edge of his left eye.

  “Are you okay?” When Carroll doesn’t answer, my gaze shifts to Will but he shrugs. But when Carroll spasms again, Will steps closer to me, his eyes trained on our companion.

  Carroll’s lip curls into a sneer. “Why are you looking at that boy? He’s nothing but a fly, little Alice. No one important and annoying at best.”

  I jerk my gaze from Will at Carroll’s words. “Who’s Alice?”

  Amy rushes back in. Her hands flutter at her sides, and she purses her bright red lips in worry. “Oh, dear, we were afraid something like this might happen. A change in his routine often sets Mr. Carroll off. I’m so sorry, Socrates.” She wrings her hands. A young, red-headed doctor in a green tunic and pants, enters the room with a small silver disk in his hand.

  “What’s wrong with him?” I ask Amy. The doctor gingerly approaches Carroll from behind. He waits until the First opens his mouth to speak to us again and then presses the disk to Carroll’s neck. He jumps, his face contorting in pain.

  Amy leaves the doctor and approaches us. “I’m sorry you had to see this. He has these spells sometimes, that’s all.” She forces a smile as Carroll’s breathing slows back to normal, and his head drops to his chest.

  The doctor checks Carroll’s pupils and pulse. “The drugs are taking effect. You shouldn’t have to worry now.” He straightens up, drops the now empty disc into his pocket, and offers me his hand. “I’m sorry, that was rude of me. I’m Dr. Meyers, Mr. Carroll’s primary physician.”

  I tentatively touch my fingers to his, and he shakes my hand. His grip is firm, but his hands are soft and unused to manual labor. “I’m Socrates.”

  He offers me a thin-lipped smile. “Of course, and I’m glad to see you’ve kept all of your faculties. I’d heard you’d taken this last Exchange particularly hard. There was even talk you might be joining us as a guest.”

  The blood drains from my face. “Oh no! I’m fine.”

  “It was a joke, sir. Don’t worry. You’re nothing like our friend here.” He puts a tentative hand on Carroll’s shoulder. “Trust me. Even though it might appear heartless, we’re actually doing Mr. Carroll a favor. Could you imagine him out in the real world?”

  That would be a disaster. “No, not really.”

  “That’s right. We’re just lucky we caught it in time.”

  My attention returns to Lewis Carroll. His head lolls to the side as he fades in and out of consciousness. “How did this happen?”

  “No one really knows. Even though we’ve been conducting these procedures for hundreds of years, there is still so much unknown.”

  In the chair next to us, Carroll groans.

  Dr. Meyers studies his patient. “To be honest, it’s much more common for neither soul to make the transition and both patients die.”

  I shiver. “Is there a way to keep this from happening again?”

  Dr. Meyers checks his patient’s vital signs again before answering. “You’d have to end the Exchange procedures to insure that.”

  Carroll moans. We both turn toward him and, after a minute, his head twitches and his eyes flutter.

  “Did you… did you give me the good stuff again, doctor?” He attempts a leer, but it looks more like a lopsided grimace.

  Dr. Meyers checks his pupils and pulse again. “Only the best for you, Mr. Carroll. Don’t you feel better now?”

  Carroll bobs his head up and down. “Like always. I don’t know what I’d do without you. You’re like a brother to me.” He tries to reach back and pat the physician’s hand but Dr. Meyers jerks away before Carroll can make contact.

  “Well, I really ought to start making my rounds.”

  I scan the room. “There are other patients here?”

  “Yes. Six permanent residents, their physicians, nurses, and security personnel. Sometimes we get temporary patients, but this is one of the most exclusive institutions in the world, and only the most elite can afford to stay here.”

  “Where are they? I didn’t see anyone except for Amy when we arrived.”

  “Oh, they’re here. This is a large building, and most of our guests are housed on the third and fourth floors. We only bring them to the other levels for therapy or when they have visitors such as you.”

  “Are there any other Firsts here?”

  Dr. Meyers consults the translucent tablet in his pocket before answering. “I’m sorry, but I’m not at liberty to release that information. Security protocols and all that. I’m sure you understand.”

  I flush. Of course he can’t tell me who the other patients are. “Yes, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”

  “We pride ourselves in providing comprehensive care in a quiet, discreet manner.” He shifts his gaze toward the door again. “I really do need to go now. I can assure you you’re quite safe. Is there anything else you require?”

  My eyes meet Will’s, but he’s back to ignoring me. “No. I’m sure we’ll be fine here.”

  “Okay, good.” Dr. Meyers nods, more to himself than anyone else. “I hope you enjoy your visit.” He half-waves as he turns to walk out the door.

  “Thank you for your help, Dr. Meyers.”

  After the doctor disappears through the doorway, Carroll turns his icy blue eyes on us. His smirk sends a chill racing down my spine. “Alone at last. Most people manage to bore him in far less time than that.” Carroll cackles. “His ‘rounds’ consist of cornering dear Amy in the nearest maintenance closet so they can rut like rabbits until the next shift change.”

  I grimace, feeling heat flood my cheeks. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Will’s gaze flicker from Carroll to me.

  “You know what I think?” The First’s voice pulls me out of my head. It’s different now, deeper. His creepy stare makes me want to escape just like Dr. Meyers right through the double doors.

  Come on, Mira. They wouldn’t let you stay here if it wasn’t safe. You can handle this. I shift my gaze toward the double doors as Carroll shudders agai
n.

  “You know what I think?” he asks.

  I chew on my lip, fighting the urge to answer him.

  “I think you’ve fallen down the rabbit hole, little Alice.” His lips stretch into a feral grin. “You’ve fallen down a long, dark hole and landed in Wonderland, but you still think you’re in the real world.”

  “What’s Wonderland?”

  Carroll throws his head back and laughs. “It’s not a thing, Alice. It’s a place.”

  Frustration bubbles within me. “Stop calling me Alice. I’m Socrates.”

  “Liar!” Carroll crows. “You’re as much Socrates as I am. In fact…” He laughs. “I may even be more Socrates than you.” He slaps his hands on the chair’s armrests.

  I flick my gaze to Will, but he doesn’t appear to be paying any attention to us. Thank goodness. I take a shaky breath and try to regain my composure. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Maybe the drugs have…”

  “Bah! They’re just a minor inconvenience.” He grins and taps his head. “We’re both still in here.”

  “So it’s true? You’re both Carroll and…”

  “Michael,” he snaps. “I’m Michael, too, and don’t you forget it.”

  “You’re crazy.”

  A manic light enters his eyes. “Of course, why would we be anything else?”

  A chill seeps into me, sinking deep down to my bones. “I… I think I should go.”

  Carroll throws his head back and cackles. “Oh come now little rabbit, running away at the first sign of danger. I thought John would have picked someone better than you. Someone with a spine. If this is who you are, we’re all doomed.”

  Just a Little Closer

  Will

  No wonder George Eliot asked me to come. He really is insane. I turn to Socrates. The First appears nervous and unsure of what to do next, just like… Stop.

  Pain lances through the hole where my heart used to be. You can’t keep doing this. Of course Socrates looks like Mira. That’s her body. You’ve got a fiancé and a baby to worry about.

  Carroll’s words draw my attention away from Socrates. The man is obviously nuts and belongs here. I don’t think anyone can survive without going crazy if they have two minds trapped in one body. A touch of relief caresses my mind. At least Mira’s not stuck in Socrates’s mind like that.

  Carroll says something else, and Socrates shakes his head. My mind wanders to the vibrant green grass outside the huge windows. A light breeze ruffles the leaves in the trees outside but other than that, the perfectly groomed yard is devoid of life. It’s as if this place is some intricately painted picture and real life things like birds or bugs would mess with the creator’s vision so they were purposefully left out.

  Carroll’s voice drones on. Do the Lifers know we’re here? Would they even care? For all I know, James Scoffield orchestrated the whole thing. I wouldn’t put it past him or Eliot. There’s something about those two.

  The crazy guy in the chair jumps again, a quick jerk of his head that looks as if strings are attached to him, moving him against his will. Something’s wrong again. I scan the room and the emptiness of the entryway beyond. Where’s that nurse, Amy, and Dr. Meyers? They’ve got to be monitoring us from afar. They wouldn’t just leave us unattended, would they?

  Carroll shudders before his gaze zeroes in and pins Socrates to the chair. “Dammit, Alice,” he mumbles. “Why didn’t you listen to your mother?”

  Socrates pales at the anger in the other man’s voice.

  “You never should have run away from home. What a stupid, stupid thing to do.” Venom coats Carroll’s words. “You should have stayed where you belonged! It was the only way to keep you safe.” His body vibrates with anger. “But it’s all gone to hell now. We’re all damned.”

  “Umm, Will?”

  I put my hand on Socrates’s chair. “What do you think we should do?” I’ve never encountered anyone like Carroll before. I don’t know if there’s some sort of protocol I’m supposed to follow, or security measures to take. All Eliot asked of me was to keep Socrates safe. If it were up to me I’d leave. “Would you like to go?”

  Carroll chuckles and steeples his hands in his lap. I think he enjoys the tension. His head jerks to the side once then again. He shifts in his chair and clenches the armrests so tightly his knuckles turn white. “Yes, we should go. Far, far away. Over the river and through the woods, to grandmother’s house we go.” He sings the last bit, his body swaying to music only he can hear.

  “I think you’re right,” Socrates says, his voice so quiet I almost miss it.

  Before I can reply, Carroll shakes himself and returns his focus to Socrates. His pupils dilate into huge, dark pools that suck in all the light in the room. “You just had to stick your nose in where it didn’t belong, didn’t you?” He curls his upper lip as though smelling something unpleasant. “Getting into other people’s business. Never content with only your own life, so you had to meddle in other people’s as well.” Carroll leans forward and crooks a finger at Socrates. “You know what?” His muscles tense and coil, a snake about to strike.

  My muscles tighten in response. Every nerve jumps to attention. It must be something in Carroll’s eyes or his body language, but danger fills the air. We’ve got to get out of here.

  “Oh Alice, you used to be much more.” Sorrow envelopes the First’s features.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Socrates’s hands tremble.

  Carroll’s left eye rolls around in its socket, but the right stays facing forward. He tilts his head to the left and lightly smacks himself against his temple. “There. That’s much better. Come closer, pretty Alice; let me tell you a secret.”

  Socrates meets my gaze with one of uncertainty. Ben stands up, the hackles lining his back stiffening and a low growl rumbling from his throat.

  Carroll crooks a finger at Socrates. “Don’t worry. Just a little closer.”

  Before Socrates can react, Carroll springs from his chair with his hands outstretched toward Socrates’s throat.

  Time stops, and everything goes still. Socrates cries out and stumbles over his chair as he attempts to escape, but he’s too slow. Carroll is so quick, it’s almost as though he’s been planning for something like this to happen. As he clamps his hands around Socrates’s throat, a manic light fills his eyes and he laughs.

  Without even thinking about it, I leap forward. Before he can block me, I grab Carroll’s wrists, wrench him off of Socrates, and fling him over my shoulder. With a startled oomph, he crashes into the wall between the windows and slides to the ground. Ben races toward the fallen man and starts barking, the noise breaking the almost unnatural stillness.

  Breath heaving in my lungs, I shield Socrates’s body from any further danger and glare at the broken man. From his crumpled position on the floor, Carroll chuckles and wheezes, holding his side as if injured.

  Amy and Dr. Meyers rush into the room, followed by a pair of black-uniformed guards. They grab Carroll and shove him into his chair, and the doctor slaps another silver disk to his neck. The drugs are so strong this time that he sags in his chair almost instantly, his entire body relaxing.

  Socrates shakes himself, and his normally impassive mask descends once more. He pulls himself to his feet and touches the delicate column of his throat.

  Amy approaches us and touches Socrates’s arm. “Are you all right, sir?”

  He turns away from me. “Yes, I’m fine. Thank you.”

  “I’m so sorry.” She bites her lip. “We’ve never had anything like this happen before.”

  He attempts a brave smile at the nurse. “Everything’s fine, I can assure you of that.” Ben trots up to his, hackles still raised. “Some guard dog you are.” He grins and reaches down, scratching the dog behind his ears. The canine’s tail thumps against his owner’s thigh. “If it weren’t for Will, Carroll would have killed me.”

  Out of Time

  Mira

  “I heard abou
t what happened.” Eliot crushes me to her chest as soon as I get out of the Jeep. After she realizes I’m fighting for breath, she pushes me out to arms’ length and checks for injuries.

  “I’m fine.” I shrug her off. “Really, I’m all right.”

  She reaches out to touch my neck but stops a few inches away. “I couldn’t bear it if something happened to you,” she whispers. Is it me she’d miss or the man I’m supposed to be? “Please don’t do anything that foolish again.”

  “I didn’t plan on it, you know.”

  Eliot loosens her grip on my arms but doesn’t let me go. “They said he attacked you.”

  I shudder, remembering the almost attack. “He did, but Will saved me.”

  A contemplative expression flits across her face. “I heard Carroll was unstable, but I never thought he’d actually attack you. The Carroll I knew before the procedure would never have behaved like that.” After glancing around at our surroundings, she offers her arm to me. “Come my dear, let’s talk more in the library.” Ben ambles behind us as we go inside. Eliot leads me to a low leather couch mostly hidden by a pair of long bookcases.

  “Sit, please.” Eliot holds her finger to her lips as she searches the library. Once she’s assured we’re alone, she lets her smile fall away and real worry show through. “That was too risky. You could have been seriously injured or even worse, he could have killed you.”

  I sit down and clasp my shaking hands in my lap. “I’m fine.” I gesture down at myself. “See?”

  “I had this sick feeling all day that something bad was going to happen. I should never have let you go.”

  “But I’m fine, really.”

  Her wan smile tells me she doesn’t believe my words any more than I do. “You’re so important, Mira. Much more important than you know.” Her eyes get a faraway look. “I still miss him so much. We’d been together for so long that sometimes I swear I hear his voice, or smell his cologne. Sometimes I know exactly what he’d say, and I answer him.” She takes a deep, fortifying breath. “You must think I’m insane.”