"Think about it, Charlie," Joshua said. "You know I'm not lying." Charlie shook her head, slinking away from the alley but nursing an unmistakable feeling that he was not lying.
Perhaps it was a gut feeling, but for some inexplicable reason, Charlie knew Joshua was speaking the truth.
CHAPTER 11: The Consequence
Hitching another ride back to the school, Charlie stared into nothingness until ANDREI came into view. The roles were reversed this time: the driver was a talker and it was her turn to nod until the talking stopped. She was elderly but Charlie didn't bother to ask what her name was. In the last hour, the lady, though, kind and welcoming, ranted to Charlie about the United States being the melting pot of the world, with too many immigrants taking a slice of the American pie. Charlie got the impression the lady was racist, but she was not one to criticize.
Charlie thought the days of discrimination were over. She detested the idea that people could be so prejudiced they supported things like apartheid. Because Liz was Asian, she was bullied by some students at Joseph Foran High School when she first arrived. Charlie stood by her side and threatened to beat the crap out of anyone who bullied her best friend. She realized she had no guts to actually do it, but the bullies stopped taunting Liz. Charlie wanted to protest the driver’s ravings but thought it best to keep her mouth shut.
Less talk, fewer mistakes, Charlie.
“You’re not much of a blabbermouth, eh? Wish my ol’ granddaughters were like you,” she exclaimed before reaching out to Charlie and wrapping her in an awkward side hug. “You take care now, lil’ ladybug!”
“Thank you,” Charlie said on autopilot, staring intently at the black gate that sheltered GEN from the outside world. She’d arrived at the perfect time. The van had just pulled up the curb. She quickly jumped behind the bushes as the woman drove away. When all the students sent on a field mission were inside the gate, Charlie walked briskly towards the entrance just before it closed and sidled up beside Hilary. Her friend didn’t even notice her until she spoke up.
“Hey,” Charlie greeted. She remembered the scream she heard during the field mission, propelling Charlie to run as fast as she could to where she last saw Hilary. But she was gone by the time Charlie freed herself from Joshua’s mental shackles. She’d seen Marvolo climbing into the van and rushed to hitch a ride back to ANDREI. It was good to see Hilary arrive in one piece.
“Hey,” Hilary replied without looking at her. Charlie studied her friend’s face. She noticed a slight burn mark on her left cheek. Deciding not to ask the question directly, she instigated a different line of interrogation. “How was the mission?”
They passed through the GEN Lab entrance and still no one noticed that Charlie had left the building. Hilary looked too tired to notice or ask questions, more so to answer Charlie. She reached out to touch Hilary’s arm but with the slightest contact of their skin, Hilary jolted and stepped away.
“Are you alright?” Charlie asked worriedly. Hilary just stared, looking genuinely scared. “What’s the matter?”
“Nothing. I’m just tired,” Hilary muttered under her breath. “I’m heading to bed.” This was the second time this had happened to Hilary, the first instance on Charlie’s first day at ANDREI. She was now concerned her friend might be ill.
“Let’s go to the infirmary and have you checked,” Charlie suggested, all her thoughts about her little expedition in town pushed to the side. “You don’t look well.”
Hilary’s expression changed from that of exhausted to furious. “I said I’m fine!”
Charlie inched away from her, appalled.
“I’m fine,” Hilary said, softer this time. “I just need some rest.”
Her friend walked away while Charlie stood frozen in place. She wasn’t the confrontational type and was troubled by Hilary’s outburst. When Hilary was out of sight, Charlie’s thoughts returned to Joshua and the events that unfolded during the day. The first unsettling discovery was the bioweapon she found in the truck that the students appeared to be retrieving.
Even if she factored in the gross loose body parts, the second discovery was more unnerving to Charlie. She didn’t want to believe Joshua, but there was something about how or what he said that resonated in her gut. Charlie left Milford as sheltered and optimistic. This time she was bolder, if only circumstantially so. Calculating her moves, she would investigate to prove Joshua right and in doing so, prove herself wrong. Charlie had no idea where to start but based on his potentially damaging allegations, GEN Laboratories could hold the proof she needed. Whether or not it was a stroke of luck, her uniform allowed her to blend right in, her white overalls successfully hiding her in plain sight. Using a trick she’d learned earlier that day, with tilting the cameras to keep her out of sight, she wormed her way into the maze on the other side of the laboratory doors.
Innocently walking down the white hallways, trying to appear as if she belonged there, Charlie peered in every window and found people preoccupied with microscopes and test tubes. This went on until she reached a completely dark area. Intuition told her not to proceed, yet she sensed exactly where to push the light switch to illuminate the way. It was the same sensation she felt on her first day, as if she had been there before. Charlie followed the path instinctively, moving stealthily. The switch was exactly where she sensed it would be. Her heart raced as she saw a hall to the right, convinced she was going to find something.
To her disappointment, she found only a wall. She had reached a dead end.
Charlie headed back the way she came with eyes transfixed on the floor, feeling pathetic for thinking she could uncover the mystery and answer the questions swarming in her head. Furthermore, she thought herself naive and ridiculous to be swayed by a stranger she had only met. There may be a lot of inexplicable things in ANDREI, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's bad. “It's a school for super humans, for crying out loud,” Charlie thought. “There are bound to be things I may never understand.”
"Jea-- Charlie, is that you?"
Charlie was startled by Natalia's voice. She stopped in her tracks. The folly of her actions finally sank in, dissolving all traces of infallibility that led to her boldness.
"What are you doing here?" Natalia asked.
"N-nothing, I was just... walking around," Charlie answered.
"Students are not allowed in the laboratory. You do know that, right?"
Charlie shook her head. "No, Ma'am."
Natalia walked closer and the young girl saw that the guidance counselor didn’t look mad. In a soothing voice, Natalia asked: "Charlie, what were you really doing here?"
Figuring she had to explain herself at some point, Charlie decided to own up.
“I have a confession to make,” Charlie started. Natalia put a finger on her lips then pointed to a camera that was tilted at an angle that obscured them from view, as if to say "hush, it can hear us". “But---” Natalia shook her head and instead led Charlie past the walkway, down the first floor and out to the school field without saying a single word. When they were a few feet away from ANDREI’s exit, Natalia stopped walking and finally spoke.
“The cameras can still hear you even when facing another direction.” Charlie made a mental note of that. “Now, what were you going to say?”
Appreciating Natalia’s kind gesture, Charlie junked the idea of limiting her admission to simply sneaking out and opted to disclose her conversation with Joshua as well.
“I snuck out of ANDREI.” She looked at the counselor reluctantly, expecting anger. Natalia was stoic, so Charlie continued. “I only wanted to see what it was like to be on a field mission. Marvolo rejected my request to join as an observer.
“I saw them retrieve a bioweapon from a man in a suit.” She intentionally left out the other gory details. “And then I felt a tug. I can’t explain it, but I felt something pulling me into the alley.”
Uncertain of Natalia’s response, Charlie looked at her and was encouraged to go on by her expressio
n. “I met a man named Joshua who identified himself as a former Laboratory Head at GEN. He claimed to know a lot about what happens here and that he knows my sister. He also posited that the ANDREI students were injected with serum to unlock their superhuman abilities.” Charlie smiled sheepishly, hoping her trembling lower lip would not betray her nervousness.
Natalia surprisingly did not react in ANDREI’s defense. Instead, she said, "Charlie, I've been meaning to tell you something about your sister. She...” At the mention of 'sister,’ Charlie perked up. But before Natalia could say more, they heard the door open followed by Amanda’s voice. "Ms. Worthington," she called out. "Please meet me in my office at once."
Natalia squeezed Charlie's hand and nodded, indicating assurance the student’s confession was safe with her. Charlie mouthed her thank you and watched Natalia head for the door. Amanda’s eyes landed on her and said sternly, “Ms. Hartley, get inside.” Charlie did as she was told. She realized if Natalia exposed her to the headmaster, she could be expelled from ANDREI and lose all chances of reuniting with her twin.
Making her way back to her dorm room, Charlie’s fists were clenched and it took conscious restraint not to punch anything. Stroking the knuckles on her right hand, she calmed herself down. No need to get worked up now, she thought. What’s done is done and I have to live with my actions. That didn’t make it any less painful for Charlie, and finding the room empty as usual made her feel terribly alone. She needed someone to talk to but Hilary wasn’t receptive. Brianna drowned herself in books and Otto was nowhere near. She had no way to know if Natalia was going to keep her word, and with the gravity of her actions she would understand if the guidance counselor told Amanda. And what was Natalia going to reveal about her sister before they were interrupted? Her little world caved in, the debris littering her life crashed down on her.
Charlie closed her eyes and fretted over a million different scenarios the conversation between Natalia and Amanda could be going, and could do little else but wait.
While the distressed student locked herself in her room, Amanda and Natalia sat face to face in the headmaster’s office. "Ms. Worthington, spell out what you and Charlie were talking about," Amanda demanded.
"She spoke about how she is adjusting to school. Bradley and Madison make it especially hard for her but she's getting by," Natalia lied smoothly. She maintained her usual poker face, the one she’d perfected while studying Psychology.
"Is that so." Amanda’s response came as a statement, not a question. Amanda wondered why any student would talk about their feelings to a school authority. Students go about their routine without asking questions or expressing their feelings to anyone other than their fellow students.
"She also expressed her gratitude to Hilary, who helps her transition more easily," Natalia continued. Amanda was not concerned with Charlie displaying facets of her personality. She was bothered by the girl’s perception of friendship with her schoolmates. The students at ANDREI are conditioned to rely on each other as allies and comrades, but not as friends. Any emotional attachment can endanger their ability to make the most optimum decisions required once they enter the field. In fact, it was part of their Code of Honor. After all, number eight says: Never create links and relationships unnecessary for survival.
"I see. Thank you for your time, Ms. Worthington." Amanda dismissed Natalia by swiveling her chair and looking out the window. The headmaster then stood and looked below at the tiny dots of light in the distance. She remembered an Amanda who would've appreciated this view and would revel in the silence and peace of the night. That Amanda would forgive, rather quickly, and never look back. The Amanda of today doesn't know how to let things go because she must always get her way.
"Always," Amanda whispered to herself. The headmaster began to formulate her plan for Charlene Hartley in the next coming days.
The next morning, Charlie woke up later than her usual 6:45. Brianna was usually gone by this time. Checking the clock, she saw that it was 7:30. Her roommate stepped out of the bathroom, clad in a pink robe with hair bundled up in a towel.
"Good morning, Charlie! Let's go get some breakfast!" Brianna chirped. She sounded like her usual self, but Charlie sensed something different.
"Good morning, Brianna. You're early for tomorrow," replied Charlie, trying to be funny.
Brianna stared at her like she’d spoken another language. Then she perked up again. "Good morning, Charlie! Let's go get some breakfast!"
"You said that already," Charlie said, forehead scrunched up.
Brianna stared at her for a full ten seconds. Smiling, she pulled out a set of fresh clothing from her closet. Charlie got out of bed, eyeing Brianna suspiciously. "Brianna, are you okay?"
Brianna whipped her head to face Charlie and flashed her a wide smile. "Let's go get some breakfast!"
She had previously witnessed one of her roommate's strange episodes, but this hit a whole new level of weirdness. Brianna sounded like a doll with a pull string, saying the same sentences over and over. Puzzling but currently unsolvable.
Looking forward to seeing Hilary after the unpleasant separation yesterday, Charlie took large steps toward the cafeteria.
The cafeteria was abuzz with the usual hustle and bustle, but the air felt heavy. She observed the students talking in their chirpy voices but something was amiss. When she sat down with Hilary and Otto, she knew what it was.
Their eyes were glazed.
Hilary and Otto talked but their words glided past each other, with no comprehension. "Hi guys," Charlie greeted.
"Hi, Charlie," they said in unison. The usual spark in their eyes was gone.
"What's up? Why is everyone acting weird?" Charlie looked around the room and located Madison, who was sitting next to Bradley as usual but with eyes adrift.
"How are you, Charlie?" Otto asked.
"I'm... fine. I guess. Listen, I did something yesterday. I met someone," she waited for a response from either of them. Hilary and Otto didn't even flinch. "I know you're not going to like this Hilary but I-"
Hilary cut her off, asking: "How are you, Charlie?" in the same tone as Otto.
"I'm okay," Charlie answered patiently. She turned to Otto who was also looking at her with blank eyes.
"I snuck out of ANDREI," Charlie dropped the bomb right there and then, expecting to elicit at least a gasp or a sigh. Even a flicker of a finger would placate Charlie.
Nothing.
“Guys, I broke the rules.” Charlie knew it was a gamble to divulge such sensitive information in a common area like the cafeteria, but she wanted to test the waters. Still no reaction. She stood up, exasperated. “I don’t know what’s going on with you guys, but I hope you get over it,” Charlie told Hilary and Otto.
Is this some elaborate ploy to tick me off? Some sort of test I am not aware of? Charlie wondered as she left the cafeteria.
It was still paramount that Charlie find Jeanne and reunite with her. But she needed to ascertain the truth. She needed to invalidate Joshua’s allegations but she didn’t know how.
Seeing no point in asking her schoolmates, Charlie headed for Natalia's office. The guidance counselor was nowhere to be found. She had not yet received notice to vacate her dorm room and Amanda hadn’t called her to the Headmaster’s Office yet. Forlorn with nowhere to go and not having the will to attend the training, Charlie claimed to be sick and decided to curl up in bed instead.
She was relieved to find Brianna gone, presumably still synced in her usual rhythm. "At least Brianna never forgets to study," she said out loud. Her roommate was most likely cooped up in the library again.
Charlie forced herself to sleep again to escape her present reality: studying at ANDREI instead of Harvard and pursuing her sister instead of her dream of being a journalist. Covering her head with a pillow, she made another trip to dreamland.
Awakened by a loud knock on the door, Charlie rubbed her eyes and checked the clock. She had been asleep for an hour. Entangled in her bl
anket, she struggled to free herself before scurrying to open the door. A thorough ocular sweep of the hallway didn’t reveal the knocker. She was about to dismiss it as a dream when she stepped on a Manila envelope on the floor. The knocker must have slipped it under the door. Charlie picked it up and inspected its contents: a folded piece of paper and a DVD marked ‘View when no one is around.’ Looking outside one last time and spotting no one, Charlie closed and locked the door.
She went to her study table and spread the paper that yielded a blueprint of GEN Laboratory and ANDREI. Two rooms were encircled in black ink. Charlie felt like Nancy Drew, one of her childhood heroines, on a quest for a buried treasure chest. Only this time, the stakes were higher and Charlie wasn’t going after bars of gold or precious jewels. Charlie had a feeling that what she was going to find out was more important than wealth.
Hopefully I find what I’m looking for, she thought to herself. With the revelations of Joshua still reverberating in her head, more and more she needed to know the truth about her sister, this school and its headmaster, Amanda Pitt.
Back in her office, Amanda spoke to herself, “Why is Charlie not acting like the rest? What am I doing wrong?” She paced around the room, hands clutching clumps of hair at the back of her head. She thought about the students and how they would obey her every wish, no questions asked. Charlie was different; in fact, she seems ready to oppose if the need arises. “What am I doing wrong?”
She was losing control. Used to having everything done her way, she was appalled at Charlie’s unintentional defiance. “Could it be…” she mumbled. “What if...” Amanda had read theories about telekinetic abilities evolving into a shield to protect its wielder from mental manipulation. No, no, no. Could it be possible?
CHAPTER 12: Web of Lies
Charlie’s laptop had been stashed in her backpack since setting foot in ANDREI. She had no use for it nor the time to open it until now. Except for the note, the DVD bore no labels, giving her no clue as to its contents. When the window popped up on her screen, she double-clicked the lone file. The video file ‘932012.avi’ began playing.
The Unlocked (Charlie Hartley Series Book 1) Page 15