The Unlocked (Charlie Hartley Series Book 1)

by Stonebridge, J. D.

  Madison's forehead creased. “Don’t act like a know-it-all, we’ve all gone through this.”

  "Actually, no. I wasn’t injected. I was born with this, whatever it is," Charlie said.

  “What?” Madison said, perplexed.

  “It’s a long story, one we do not have the time for right now. Can you just tell me?” Charlie asked.

  Madison eyed Charlie with suspicion but went on. "We were injected with something that gave us whatever superhuman powers we have now. I don’t know how or why we all have different powers, I just know that I woke up the next day feeling like an idiot because my roommate, Vanessa, could basically tell my entire life story by holding the stupid Pink Panther shirt I was wearing.”

  Charlie stared.

  “What? I’ve had it with me since I was a kid. I obviously didn’t gain a lot of weight,” Madison retorted.

  “I wasn’t judging you,” Charlie commented. “What else happened?”

  “That was it. We went through the same process as you did once we got to the school. Oh! I forgot something.”

  “What?”

  “When it was Jeanne’s turn to be injected, a commotion occurred. We heard a loud explosion but the dudes in white coats reassured us it was nothing to worry about. When we got to ANDREI, they told us that Jeanne Weaver was sent off to some advanced facility. Jeanne wasn’t much of a surprise. As much as I hated to admit it, she was pretty good even when we were, how do you say this…normal. Lean and always on top of her game. But Aaron? I didn't believe it. He couldn’t even lift a finger! But we all figured it had to be his brains that took him the ATC. Kid was quiet but he sure harbored some genius inside.”

  "Is that all you know?"

  "Yeah, is there anything more that you would like to share?" Madison asked with a raised brow.

  Charlie swallowed before answering. She couldn't wrap her head around the explanation that she found but it made an awful lot of sense. "I know this is going to sound nuts, but you've been controlled by Amanda all along."

  Madison erupted into boisterous laughter. Charlie was reminded of the day when Madison laughed the same way the day Charlie broke the window in her room. It took intense restraint not to flare up at the thought. "Whatever do you mean, silly girl?" Madison teased.

  "Alright then, let's put you to the test. Do you remember what you did yesterday?" Charlie questioned.

  "Of course!" Madison replied proudly.

  "Okay, what did you do?"

  The smile on Madison's face faded. "I ate..."

  "That's too easy," Charlie dared.

  "I... can't remember." Madison huffed out a breath and mumbled to herself. “Why can’t I remember?”

  "Now do you see what I mean?"

  “This hasn’t happened before! What’s changed?” Madison asked.

  “Amanda must’ve known that I wasn’t affected, so she reinforced it,” Charlie replied.

  “What do you mean by ‘it’?”

  "I'm not certain yet, but I know it involves superhuman powers like the ones we have," Charlie opined.

  "I knew something was off with that bitch! How in the world was she able to do that?"

  “I don’t know.”

  "That's some serious stuff right there, Charlie. We need to get out of here ASAP," said Madison.

  "We can't leave yet. We have to get Jeanne first."

  "But she's at the ATC. We have to leave ANDREI before we start looking for her."

  "Remember what you said about Aaron? That he was sent to the ATC with my sister?"

  "Yeah?"

  "Aaron is dead."

  "What? That's a foul, Charlie. Don't joke like that," Madison warned. Sometimes Charlie forgot Madison had feelings for other people aside from herself. In the midst of everything, it was comforting to know that there was at least a bit of humanity left in her adversary.

  "I do not joke about serious matters like death, Madison," Charlie replied firmly. "I saw Aaron's files in the lab. He died shortly after you entered ANDREI."

  "Holy..."

  "I saw Jeanne's files, too. It didn't indicate she's at the ATC. It makes me think that maybe the ATC doesn't really exist. That my sister is just in the building."

  "Hey, slow down! Just because her file doesn't say anything, doesn't mean she's here."

  "It doesn't mean she's not, either. Please, Madison, help me find her."

  "Your sister and I don't exactly get along."

  "You don't have to get along, I'll do most of the work. I just need you to mimic my powers so we're twice as strong. That would increase our chances of escaping."

  "And what if I said no?"

  Charlie had known this question would come up, and she had an answer prepared. "You don't have much of a choice, Madison. Without another superhuman, your powers are inutile."

  “If my powers are ‘inutile’,” Madison mimicked Charlie for using a big word. “Why would you need me?”

  "So you're going to come with me?"

  “No, I’m going without you!” Madison retorted.

  Charlie rolled her eyes. Madison was being difficult, and Charlie had no choice but to resort to other means. “Okay, if you’re not gonna help me, then by all means. Once I leave, you can go back to being a puppet for this institute.”

  Madison was silenced, her eyes wide at Charlie’s threat. After some though, she said in defeat. "Yeah, sure. I'm all for suicide missions anyway,"

  Charlie walked towards Madison and hugged her. Madison wriggled out of Charlie's embrace. “Enough, enough. Just keep one thing in mind: escape."

  "Deal," Charlie said. They shook hands. "I'll meet you here tonight. You'll have to subject yourself to Amanda's mind control thing again."

  "What?" Madison looked scared. "Do I really have to go out there? I’ll pretend I’m sick."

  "We can't arouse suspicion, Madison. I promise to help you snap out of it later."

  "Okay," Madison said hesitantly. Charlie was almost at the door when Madison called her.

  "Charlie?"

  "Yeah?"

  "Don't leave me, okay?"

  Charlie faced her full-on, looking her in the eye. "I won't."

  She went to the training room and Madison arrived shortly after. Fortunately, the girls were paired off for sparring practice. Madison had that blank look again but when Charlie faced her and focused her energies on her partner, Madison was released once again.

  As they started the session, Charlie reminded: "Act normal.”

  "Okay, okay," Madison said and they heard Instructor’s signal to go. The two girls assumed their stance. It was Charlie who first made her move and had an arm around Madison’s neck.

  "I have a copy of the building’s blueprint. We’ll use that to find our way," she told Madison in a hushed voice.

  "Where did you get the blueprints?" Madison made a play of prying off Charlie’s arm from her shoulder.

  "Someone slipped it under my door," Charlie said.

  Madison crouched forward, pulling Charlie’s weight with her, flipping her over and onto her back. When Madison leaned forward to face Charlie, she looked uneasy. "Are you sure we can trust the source? It may be a trap." In a softer voice, she added, "I should know. That's what I would do."

  Charlie rolled to her side and swung a leg around Madison’s knee. The tables were turned and Charlie had Madison pinned to the floor. She said, "I think I know who sent this, but I don't want to jump to conclusions. Do not fret; we're stronger together. We can handle this, because if this is a trap, it's expecting only one telekinetic to go to these locations. You are your own weapon, Madison. Keep that in mind."

  "Okay," Madison said. "Look, I'm not an honest person but if you expect me to be of use, you need to know how I feel."

  "Uh, okay?"

  "The point of me saying that is for you to ask me how I feel, Charlie. Don't be an idiot."

  Charlie sighed. "How do you feel, Madison?"

  "I am terrified."

  That was by far the most h
onest statement Madison had said to Charlie. She appreciated her cooperation, even if this didn’t necessarily bring them together as friends. Having an ally was enough for Charlie, at least for the time being. She planned on working out her differences with Madison when all of this was over.

  "I know. I am, too," Charlie admitted. But they did not have the luxury of turning back and acting like nothing happened, because they now knew the truth behind Amanda's carefully executed lies. "We'll practice your mimicry later, okay. We haven't had the chance to use telekinesis simultaneously."

  Madison didn't respond. She had a faraway look in her eyes and simply punched her fist in the air, hoping it would hit something without her paying attention.

  “Are you two having a moment, or are you gonna finish the fight?” Instructor Ross shouted.

  Charlie did not let his words distract her. Her thoughts were suddenly on what Otto said and she thought this to be the best time to share it her ally. "Madison, don't let it get to you."

  "What?"

  "Someone once told me this: 'Unexpected things happen. Don't sweat it.' I know you might be blaming the world right now because of where it brought you; rather think of it as a mishap, a low point that is bound to pass."

  Madison nodded, and she pretended to kick Charlie in the stomach to force her weight off her. Madison got up and they resumed sparring. This time she hit Charlie, who fell down for effect. When the session was over, Madison looked back at Charlie with dread settling in her eyes. Charlie mouthed: don't worry.

  Later that night, Charlie showed up in Madison's room. She endured a repeat performance of Madison’s shouting fit before she finally got to the real Madison, who quickly ushered her in.

  "Hurry, someone might see you!" Madison whispered.

  When Charlie got inside, Madison started to pick up things from around the room and line them in a row on her bed. She got a small purse, a pair of shoes, a thick hard-bound book, and a porcelain ball that had Hello Kitty on it. Then Madison pulled Charlie and made her sit on the space beside the ball.

  "What are you doing?" Charlie asked, befuddled.

  "I'm practicing," Madison answered while she lifted the purple purse with ease. The pair of shoes wriggled because Madison naturally sucked at balancing, but she made the shoes hit the ceiling. The book flew right back to the shelf where it usually say. The porcelain ball was trickier because Madison was too scared to lift it high.

  "Why are you stopping yourself?"

  Madison explained. "I got it from a foster sibling. Nicest gift I ever got. She was Japanese and adopted, too. The parents decided to keep her but do away with me."

  "Then don't lift it," Charlie said. She took the ball from the bed and carried it back to Madison's closet. She wrapped it in a white ANDREI-issued shirt and tucked it behind the piles of clothes.

  "Thanks," Madison said, evidently awed by the gesture. "Now sit back down. I've got one last trick up my sleeve!"

  Charlie sat and within seconds she was already floating in the air. "Don't make me hit my head on the ceiling this time!" Charlie warned Madison jokingly. Then she lifted Madison up, too. But this time they agreed that they would lift their own weight and ended up playing their own version of tag while up in the air. They tried to keep their voices down, but their laughter couldn't be contained. For the first time in weeks, Charlie felt free and genuinely happy. She had been so preoccupied with school demands, finding her sister, and discovering an evil plot, she forgot one of the essential factors in getting educated was having fun. Their game was interrupted when Charlie saw something red trickle down Madison's nose.

  "Madison!" She alerted her but it was too late; Madison has already lost consciousness. Charlie was able to soften the fall by catching her just as she was about to hit her head on the marble floor. Madison’s nose continued to bleed even though she was no longer using powers. If there was anything that made Charlie's knees turn into Jell-O, it was the sight of that sanguine liquid. "Oh my goodness, Madison!"

  Madison shifted her head from side to side, making the blood scatter around her face. Charlie held her in place. "Madison, what happened? Oh my goodness, Madison, please be okay." She used the white shirt she was wearing to wipe off the blood on Madison's face, trying her best not to lose composure, knowing that once she asked for help, Amanda would find out what they were doing.

  However, when Madison remained unresponsive although conscious, Charlie seriously considered rushing her to the infirmary, which was tantamount to turning themselves in. But the trade-off seemed weightier; Charlie could live with getting caught but not with the fact that a friend died in her arms because she was too much of a coward to do anything.

  "Madison, I'm going to take you to the infirmary, okay? Hang in there," Charlie encouraged. Madison wouldn't budge, though. She kept shaking her head and muttering "No, no".

  "But you need help!" And then Charlie noticed the bleeding had stopped and Madison was clutching her arm.

  "I'm fine," she said weakly.

  "Fine?! Are you kidding me?! You fainted and your nose bled profusely! We should get you checked out!"

  "You know very well that telling them could be our death sentence. If not that, life imprisonment in this glass hell-hole," Madison reasoned.

  "What on earth happened to you?! You scared the life out of me!" Charlie said, clutching her chest.

  "I feel dizzy before and after using my powers, but this is by far the worst episode I've had."

  "You should rest, Madison. We'll carry out our plan tomorrow. For now, you should get some sleep. Regain energy, okay?" Charlie suggested as she helped her friend to the bed. Madison laid her hand on Charlie’s shoulder as she turned to leave.

  "Don't delay the inevitable, Charlie. The longer we stay here, the worse it's going to get. I'm ready. I'll be fine, I just won't use my powers if not absolutely necessary," Madison reassured her.

  "No, Madison. I can't risk your life. I'd never be able to live with that," she said.

  "Charlie, you aren't going to risk my life. I am going to risk my life because I want to get out of here now that I know the truth. We’re helping each other now."

  "But..."

  "Look, I get it. You’re Miss Goody-Two-Shoes. You don't want to see other people hurt. But in reality, Charlie, you can't prevent it from happening. People are bound to get hurt and no matter how powerful you become you can't always protect others. And there is no shame in that. What matters is that you tried; that in itself is noble."

  Charlie didn’t expect such a lengthy speech from Madison, especially one that didn’t target her flaws. She always knew what to say and Liz loved that about her. Charlie used to be the person her friends ran to when they needed consoling because she always had the right words for the right occasion. This time, however, the only response she could muster was to extend her arms in a gesture of embrace. Madison fell into them automatically.

  “I’m not saying I like you as person, Charlie. I’m just saying that I don’t hate you either. I still have to make up my mind,” Madison said, but Charlie could feel Madison’s arms around her, too. “Now let’s get going. We need to find your sister and get the hell out of here!”

  Charlie ran back to her room and tiptoed to retrieve the blueprint because, of all days, Brianna chose to take a nap today. Two steps away from the door, Brianna’s voice tore through the quiet of their room.

  “Charlie, let’s go study.”

  Here we go again, she thought. Another one of those doll exhibitions. Charlie slowly faced Brianna. “Hi, Brianna. I was just about to go to the library.”

  “Charlie, let’s go study.”

  Officially creeped out by her roommate’s increasingly bothersome behavior, she hid her hand behind her back as she turned the knob. “Sure, let me just get some books.”

  “What is that you have?” Brianna stared at the blueprint. Charlie panicked.

  “Just a bunch of papers I need for class, Brianna.”

  Brianna’s eyes went
wild. “We have an assignment that I didn’t know? And you didn’t tell me?!” She was screaming and Charlie’s hair stood on end.

  “It’s not an assignment, Brianna. Just extra credit for the weeks I missed.”

  “Extra credit?! They give extra credit?! Give me that!” Brianna charged at Charlie, heading straight for the folded paper in her hands. Charlie slipped through the open door and held it closed while Brianna pounded on the door. “Let me out of here!” She shouted. “Let me out!” Charlie had to tighten her grip on the knob because Brianna was pulling from the other side. She was terrified, shaking like a leaf. When the banging ceased, Charlie waited for a few more minute before letting go. She ran for her life to Madison’s room.

  Panting and mortified, Charlie couldn’t speak straight for a whole second. She slumped on Madison’s bed where the lass interrogated her. “You look like you’ve been running away from a ghost. You’re paper white!”

  “Brianna has gone crazy,” Charlie blurted. “She went ballistic when she thought the blueprint I was holding was an assignment for class she didn’t know about.”

  Madison laughed, not even bothering to hide it. “I knew that girl was troubled. Catch your breath quick, Charlie. We need to get going.”

  Swallowing the fear that had enveloped her body just minutes ago, she got up and taught Madison how to divert the cameras.

  “Got it,” Madison said. “Do you have any idea where these rooms are?”

  “I already found one. But I didn’t have time to check the other,” Charlie replied.

  “Okay, let’s go,” Madison said confidently.

  It was a breeze for the two of them to get through security. Nobody noticed them and when someone did, Madison was apparently good at creating distractions like pushing a glass beaker to the floor or shaking the tables so whoever noticed would look away. Following the map, the two girls reached a path already familiar to Charlie.

  “I was in this place very recently,” she mumbled to Madison.

  Charlie walked into the darkness, but when Madison lost sight of her she began to call out frantically. “Charlie?”

  Lights flooded the hallway. Madison saw a curve to the right and she ran towards it. She looked at the wall and the map in her hands. It was clearly this part of the building; however, there wasn’t a door in sight, only a wall.