The Unlocked (Charlie Hartley Series Book 1)

by Stonebridge, J. D.

  On the second Sunday of August, the family sat to assess Charlie’s position. Charlie had received an email from Amanda reminding her to inform ANDREI of her decision within the week.

  Sarah spoke for herself and for Carl. “Princess, it can be tough being at the crossroads. We want you to know that whatever your decision is, we support it a thousand percent. Keep in mind your happiness and fulfillment are ours, too.”

  Charlie reached out for Carl and Sarah’s hands as they sat around the kitchen table. “I must say, the gods looked down on me favorably that fateful day along Pilgrim’s Highway. If it weren’t for you two driving on the same road at the same time of the accident, I would have roasted to death.” Sarah cringed at her daughter’s words but said nothing. “There is much more to learn about my biological family, but for now, it is enough I know I have a sister I will soon be reunited with, hopefully. So, Dad and Mom, I am making this decision now, to forego Harvard and join ANDREI. In doing so, I will learn to use my powers well and apply them for noble purposes. More importantly, I will find Jeanne and bring her home to you. I have no doubt you will love her as much as you do me.”

  Carl said, “Princess, in bringing home Jeanne, my last thorn of guilt will be plucked out. Your mom and I will be delighted to receive all the double joy and double trouble our twins will give us.”

  “Oh, Dad!” Charlie burst out laughing. “I was teary eyed and feeling so emotional until you killed the drama queen in me!” She excused herself to email Amanda and Hilary, letting them know about her decision. Charlie felt a tinge of guilt over leaving her family, but Carl and Sarah made sure that they would spend as much time together as possible until the day when Charlie packs up for Kit Carson arrived.

  Over the next few days, Carl, Sarah, and Charlie bonded over their nightly pool and dart tournament. They savored the fun and laughter during the competition, mindful that Charlie’s stay with them was getting shorter each day.

  On the last Saturday of August, Sarah prepared an extra special send-off dinner for Charlie, who was all set to leave the following week. Carl surprised his family with trophies and medals for the awarding ceremonies.

  Being a small family did not deter them from the entertainment and amusement that comes more easily for bigger families. They took turns taking digital shots in various poses and managed a few family snapshots. Charlie promised to collate all the pictures in a book to be privately published. Online desktop publishing had given way to the traditional family album, which pleased Sarah, who created a family corner in Carl’s study where Charlie’s Hartley Family book series took center stage.

  On the eve of her departure, Charlie stayed up late painstakingly double checking her suitcase and the personal mementos she wanted to take. The frame bearing Hilary and Jeanne’s photo was carefully wrapped between her bath and hand towels. She set the locket on her dresser alongside the pearl earrings her parents gave her for her fifteenth birthday, intending to wear them during the trip.

  That night, she dreamt of being in the sanitized white room again. In the dream, Charlie got out of bed in her white pajamas to get the door. She opened it to find her look-alike smiling at her. This dream ended like a mystery film’s denouement. Charlie opened the door wide to let her guest in and said, “Come in, Jeanne.” She extended her hand to Jeanne, as if welcoming her to their home.

  Charlie woke up with an enlightened feeling upon the certainty that she had been seeing her twin in her dreams all along. At five thirty in the morning, she was already out of bed and packing with her parents’ assistance. After a hearty breakfast, mother and daughter got in the car while Carl loaded Charlie’s stuff in the trunk. At a half past six, they were on their way to the Amtrak Station in New Haven to catch Charlie’s seven thirty seven train to Washington, D.C.

  “No goodbyes, Mom and Dad,” Charlie said as she hugged both for the last nth time.

  “See you soon, Princess,” Carl forced himself to speak as Sarah sniffled in between smiles.

  Amanda rang Sarah not long after she and Carl got home after dropping Charlie at the train station. “Hi Sarah, Amanda here.”

  “Pleased to hear from you, Amanda. Charlie should arrive there early tomorrow evening, your time.”

  “Hilary and I are looking forward to her arrival. We already have her dormitory room ready. She will be sharing it with one newcomer.” Amanda went on to say, “The reason why I am calling is to remind you and Carl that given the unique situation with Charlie, I am extending a privilege to her so she can receive regular voice messages from you. I’ll leave you a number you can call to leave your messages, and I will make sure they are delivered to her. Of course, you can always email her too.”

  Sarah expressed appreciation of the accommodation and put Amanda on hold while she retrieved a pen and paper to jot down the number. She felt relieved that they would be given a chance for constant communication with their daughter, given how Sarah was already worried about sending Charlie to another state all on her own. I wonder how Charlie is doing on her way there.

  The trip to Kit Carson, Colorado, was going to be a long one. Five hours to DC with a three hour wait before enduring the eighteen hour journey to Chicago seemed like forever to the young woman who was making her first long trip alone.

  Reviewing her ticket, she told herself, “I still have a five hour wait in Chicago before the eighteen hour train ride to Denver. From there, I have eight hours to kill before the scheduled two and a half hour bus ride to Kit Carson. Do I even want to count the total number of hours I will be on the road?”

  Charlie liked the amenities on the train. Viewliner trains featured wide comfortable seats with fold down trays. She purchased a Passenger Comfort Kit that included an inflatable pillow, earplugs, blanket, and eye shade and settled comfortably. Well-appointed restrooms were at the lower level, but she didn’t mind trading that for the upper level’s panoramic view of the passing scenery.

  By the time Charlie reached Denver, she was exhausted from the long trip and welcomed the eight hour wait before boarding the three o’clock bus to Kit Carson. She had been confined in the train for far too long; it didn’t matter that the bus ride was only a two and a half hour ride. The text messages she sent to Sarah during the trip to let them know how she was doing yielded encouraging replies that she enjoyed rereading. After freshening up and changing clothes, she walked around and stretched her legs. She then picked up a tourist brochure to see what she could in the eight hour window she had.

  She took the thirty minute bus ride to Boulder and checked out a very nice town with shopping, restaurants, and mountain parks for hiking. Tagging along with some tourists, she boarded the Light Rail to the last stop, Mineral, and checked out the Platte River Trail for the beautiful views of the mountains and the wetlands. Her next stop was Littleton Downtown, where she toured the small historical area.

  Declining an invite by a young man she met on the train to take a bus to Golden and experience the "old west" historical area of town, she decided to hang around lower downtown Denver and stroll and browse the quaint shops and dine in the hip part of town.

  After lunch, she wandered into a shopping mall where a huge fountain featured dancing water, entertaining children and adults alike. She marveled at the synchronized music and the water movement and found herself humming the upbeat tune.

  While seated among the built-in benches around the fountain, a couple of young boys dressed like cowboys sandwiched her. Immediately she noticed they were identical twins, about six or seven years old. They seemed forlorn.

  “What’s with the pout and frown, guys?” Charlie looked from left to right, amused at the thought that she and Jeanne could have been like them had fate not separated them.

  “Mom says James and I can’t have guns in our holsters,” complained the one on her right.

  “Justin is right,” James added. “If it’s against the law to have toy guns, why can cops carry the real thing?”

  Charlie forced herself to k
eep her composure and take the grievances of the two boys seriously. “If you can’t have your toy guns, take out your cowboy kerchiefs and let’s see what we can do with them.”

  The twins’ attention quickly diverted to Charlie. She took their kerchiefs and taught them how to fold each one and turn it into a soft, gun-shaped object. It made the boys laugh and taunt her saying her guns would never fire. Charlie challenged them, “I bet you haven’t seen kerchief guns fire pennies and dimes.” That made all the difference for James and Justin.

  It was Charlie’s opportunity to use her powers to amaze them, so pledging them to secrecy, she said, “Make sure the bad guys don’t notice us, okay? James, be the look out while Justin watches what our special gun can do. Then you switch roles.”

  Her simple stunt worked and the boys were captivated. She left a bunch of coins for them to practice on; a bit sorry they would never learn how to pull a neat trick like that.

  The ride to Kit Carson was extremely quiet. The bus wasn’t even half full and most of the passengers were asleep. As the afternoon wore on, Charlie’s thoughts lingered on ANDREI. She pictured herself competing with students who all had various superhuman powers and wondered if her above-average intelligence had any bearing on a gift not many receive. She looked forward to meeting Hilary again, but what loomed larger than anything in her mind was the prospect of meeting her twin sister. Her left hand unconsciously stroked the three-inch long new scar on her right arm as her right hand automatically rubbed her chin in her nervous way.

  Charlie finally fell asleep and was grudgingly awakened by a crying infant passenger. Pleasure surged through her as the bus slowed and passed a huge colorful sign on the roadside that read “Welcome to Kit Carson, Colorado.”

  CHAPTER 5: The Path Less Trodden

  As if on cue, Charlie's phone rang. Sara’s voice calmed her nerves. "Hi, Princess! How are you?"

  “Hi, Mom. I’m fine. The bus just entered Kit Carson," Charlie said softly. There was a short pause on the other end before Sarah finally spoke.

  “I bet the school looks like a castle. Just like Hogwarts.” Sarah knew how much her daughter adored the Harry Potter novels.

  "I hope so, Mom. I hope so." Charlie absorbed the scenery as they chatted. There was vast emptiness as far as her eyes could see: large patches of land with nothing but grass and only a handful of houses sparsely scattered.

  Home was what Charlie was going to call this place for the next couple of years. She was far from the city she grew up in, and far from the parents who had adopted and raised her as their own. Charlie felt like a fish out of water, about to embark on a journey of uncertainty. She felt her usual optimism waning, nervousness taking its place.

  Charlie glanced from side to side, flinching at every bump in the road. Her nerves betrayed her. “It’s going to be okay,” Charlie convinced herself.

  They passed by a grocery store, a gas station, and a post office, all large and decent but with an abandoned appearance. Aside from the bus engine, the entire town seemed to be at a standstill. The only evidence of life were the cars parked outside the establishments, and even those weren’t conclusive.

  The bus cruised along a familiar forested road with side paths that looked a bit menacing but calming, too. For some reason, Charlie had a distinct, almost nostalgic feeling she had been there before.

  "Princess?" Charlie had completely forgotten that her parents were on the phone.

  "Sorry, Mom. I zoned out for a bit." Curious whether her instincts were correct, she asked, “Mom, did we ever visit here when I was a kid?”

  “No, sweetie. Your father and I went to the Kit Carson Peak once, but you weren’t around then.”

  Something about that road made her uneasy. She scanned her brain for similar places she had visited but came up with nothing.

  “I think I'm here, Mom. Love you," Charlie said, tracing her fingers along the lines on the map. This was her bus stop. She produced a piece of paper where the address was written down. “38 Avalon Street, Kit Carson, Colorado.” Charlie approached the driver to ask the direction of her destination.

  "It's a ten-minute walk south," he said. Pulling her suitcase behind her, she started in the direction he gave. Soon she stood in front of an imposing black gate that towered over her. The number 38 on the brick panels that secured it in place matched the address.

  For a moment, she didn't move a muscle. Charlie catalyzed mobility when she pressed the button and a mechanical-sounding voice answered. “State your identification and purpose.”

  Wow, this school is even more uptight than Mom, Charlie thought to herself. She spoke out loud: “Charlene Hartley, incoming freshman student at the American National Development, Research and Education Institute.”

  Without another word, the gates opened slowly and Charlie made her way inside. This place had no resemblance to Hogwarts. It was drab and geometrically precise as far as Charlie could tell. Geometry wasn’t her best subject, but she understood calculated measurements and architecture when she saw them. For a fleeting moment she hoped she was at the wrong place because she knew she could never enjoy studying in a glass enclosure. But as she moved closer to her destination, it all made sense to Charlie.

  “This is not a normal school and these are not normal students,” Charlie reminded herself. Whatever conventional ideas Charlie had, she must leave them behind. She had made a choice and would stand by it.

  Heaving a deep sigh, she stared at the tall, white building in front of her. At the top were the letters “GEN.” Amanda emerged from inside the building with Hilary trailing behind her, a big grin on her face.

  “Welcome to Genetic Engineering and Neuroscience Laboratories,” Amanda greeted quietly.

  Charlie looked at her in confusion as someone in a white uniform gathered her suitcase.

  “Don’t worry, I’ll explain everything. Please follow me,” Amanda ushered them in. When the automatic glass door parted, a gush of conditioned air met Charlie. They walked through the halls and she saw a lot of people garbed in white lab coats. The place was bustling with activity; no one paid them any attention. They climbed two flights of stairs and headed for a walkway with windows overlooking the field. Upon reaching the other end, a white door scanned Amanda’s ID and eyes before it opened. They passed through a couple of doors and stopped at one with a sign that said ‘Headmaster’s Office.’

  “Come in, Charlie, make yourself comfortable,” Amanda ushered.

  Charlie’s first observation was that Amanda’s office was spacious and lacked any person touches like photographs or a coffee mug. Charlie remembered Principle Bowman’s office: full of framed photographs of his children. Amanda’s office was devoid of any personal mementos save for the framed diplomas and a passage painted in black on the wall. It read:

  The A.N.D.R.E.I. Manifesto:

  We know of no tragedies because we survive.

  We know of no boundaries because we overcome.

  We know of no limits because we outlast.

  We vow to develop and hone our gifts.

  Above all, we vow to use our abilities for the benefit of mankind.

  Amanda was all business.

  “As you may already know, ANDREI’s goal is simple: improve your talents in the hopes of making you especially functional members of society,” Amanda explained. “Make the most out of the time you spend here at ANDREI so when it’s time to release you back into the world, you’ll be ready to face all adversities that come your way. It’s now half-hour before the next class. That’s about the time to get you oriented about the school. We should get moving.”

  Charlie nodded in reply and all three of them started out the door.

  “Hi,” Hilary smiled warmly, speaking for the first time. Charlie only managed to smile back. Reaching her destination hadn’t sunk in yet, and she was glad Hilary was sensitive enough to provide her with a wide berth. They made their way down, and Hilary and Amanda opened the twin doors. Charlie couldn’t believe what she the
sight before her eyes: inside were students, about her age, displaying various acts unfathomable to nature. A blonde muscular boy lifted a twelve-seat table on two fingers. A girl with long brunette hair fiddled with a stalk that grew upon her command. Another muscular boy with Russian features hung in the air, a few feet below the ceiling, while reading his book. A heavy-set black girl sang in a high pitched voice, causing the entire wall to vibrate.

  With mouth agape, Charlie was startled when Amanda and Hilary said in unison: “Welcome to ANDREI.”

  The students went about their business until Amanda commanded their attention. She didn’t even have to raise her voice.

  “Students, you have a new schoolmate,” Amanda announced and motioned Charlie to move a step forward. “Please introduce yourself.”

  She did as she was told. “Hi, I’m Charlie. Charlie Hartley.” Silence pervaded the room. Not a single one acknowledged her.

  Some scowls turned into smirks, some breathed sighs of relief. Charlie was rattled with the mixed body language displayed, but she went along, smiling and looking eager. She squeezed her right thumb with her left hand, trying to calm herself down.

  They’re just like me, Charlie chanted in her head. What could possibly go wrong? Sadly, there were some things Charlie had never learned, like taunting fate and being too optimistic. Almost always positive, she couldn’t help herself in negative situations. But tonight, it was as if the universe heard her question and replied when everything took a turn for the worse.

  “Ms. Pitt, when can I see my---” Charlie couldn’t bring herself to say it. Instead she coughed out the word in a staccato manner, as if choking on the word. “S-sister?”

  Amanda whipped back and studied Charlie closely. “Jeanne is not available."