Clean Slate Complex (a daynight story)

by Megan Thomason

CHAPTER FIVE

  Three days I must wait to get answers. I’m restless and bothered over the conversation I heard between Joshua and Jax. Clearly there’s something not quite right about what the SCI’s doing. They’re probably skimming funds from the donations, or money laundering or something.

  I ask Adam to go on a walk with me outside the complex at lunch, something we’ve been doing pretty often lately. He always seems pretty happy to get one on one time. I ask him whether he’s seen anything strange going on, but he says everything the SCI does appears to be on the up and up. “They are a charity who help millions.” His forest-green eyes are full of sincerity. “They’re taking care of your mom. Giving you and your brothers food and shelter. They’re all good.”

  I mutter under my breath. “Unless they’re not …”

  “Come here,” Adam says, pulling me into a tight hug. “Whatever’s going on that has you so upset...I’m here for you. Always.”

  More than anything I want to believe that he’ll be my rock and cookie pimp for as long as I’m stuck at the CSC. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a real friend outside my family. Grade school maybe? One of the neighbor girls and I spent a lot of time together when we were little. But when my Mom and Dad started fighting around the clock, I stopped asking friends to come around. Once my Dad left and the rest of us moved into the van, all I had were Mom and my brothers to talk to. So being able to hang out with Adam means a lot to me.

  I’m too afraid to voice what I’m thinking—that one of these days he’s going to get reallocated. I look up at Adam. “I just have a feeling there’s more to the SCI than their fancy buses and Clean Slate Complexes.”

  “Of course there is. They’ve got all those medical research divisions. And a whole branch focused on education.”

  I cut him off. “You are sure you haven’t seen anything shady?”

  He lifts up my chin and gives me a dazzling smile. “I swear. They’re good people. Everyone except JB. There’s definitely something fishy going on with him. You should totally stay away from him.” He’s saying it in a joking tone, but he sounds jealous. I guess I shouldn’t have mentioned that I think Joshua’s a really talented musician. That led to Adam asking me how I know that and I told him about my roommate situation and the nightly concerts. It hasn’t helped that Joshua’s been showing up to lunch a couple times a week and sitting with us either.

  I give Adam a playful shove. “I share a suite with the guy and his sister. It’s pretty much impossible to avoid him.” Though he’s been doing a really good job avoiding me.

  Suddenly Adam’s all serious. “Try harder. I don’t like the way he looks at you.”

  “And how exactly does Joshua Black look at me?” I try not to let on that I’d really like to know the answer.

  Adam clenches his teeth. “Like he’s been watching you sleep every night …”

  On Reallocation Day there’s some kind of huge deal with the mystery patient. People keep going in and out of the room. There’s yelling and screaming. Sounds like they have their hands full.

  “You will take care of it. And I won’t accept failure this time. Understand me?” a man is shouting.

  “They’re on the run and it’s not working to track them the traditional ways,” a second man replies. I guess the mystery patient is a man, though I’m not sure which voice is his.

  “Well you better figure it out, or you’ll be spending some quality time in the desert with the Exilers,” the first man threatens. Exilers?

  The yelling gets bad enough that Violet arrives. “Leave now,” she commands the visiting doctor. He rushes past me red-faced.

  “Take a break. All of you,” Violet says to the rest of the doctors and nurses. They’re quick to head to the break room but Violet stops me.

  “Alexa. You don’t belong back there.” She’s referring to the break room. I’d been told day one that it’s for doctors and nurses only, so I had actually planned to hide out in the bathroom until the drama-fest was over. Her voice is gentle but firm. “Get the filing done at the nurse’s station.” I’ve never seen her lose her cool but she’s really close. Even her suit’s looking all messy.

  “Sure thing.” I turn and practically run to the nurse’s station. There are loose files everywhere. I groan. This’ll take forever to organize.

  I hear voices. Violet’s voice. And the mystery man’s voice. The door to his room’s shut. They can’t be talking that loud.

  Then I realize the intercom button’s on at the nurse’s station. I can hear everything.

  I know I should turn it off. But I don’t.

  Violet’s saying, “I’ve been more than accommodating having you here. I’ve kept it from both my brother and sister, something that will come back to bite me. Don’t make me regret it.”

  “I do believe I’m family, too. So it’s lovely of you to accommodate me, Violet. My apologies for raising my voice. I’ll try to contain my fervor in the future. Surely you understand that my presence and business here is for the greater good. When I succeed, you’ll benefit just as much as me. Never forget that.” I can identify the voice now. The mystery patient was the one barking orders...probably to that visiting doctor.

  “I haven’t and I won’t. But I’ve got others to answer to besides you,” Violet responds. “The Reallocation’s my top priority.”

  “And, I’m fully behind it. Hell, it was my idea. Now more than ever we have to increase our numbers. I think the way you’re doing it’s risky …”

  “It’s more humane than the way you’ve approached the matter in the past.” She chastises him. “We take people with no hope and no future and give them a second chance at life.”

  “Save the marketing spiel for your donors. Maybe they’ll nominate you for ‘Humanitarian of the Year.’ But, I think we both know that would be a sham.”

  “I think it’s time we move you to a private suite in the complex until you’re ready to leave us for good. I’ll assign a private nurse. Your outbursts put us all at risk.” Violet’s voice is raised and angry.

  “As soon as I’m fully recovered, I’ll be out of your hair.” He snaps. “I have much to attend to back home. Your brother and sister have made a mess of things.”

  I’m seeing red flags all over the place. Obviously the mystery patient’s involved with the SCI. This whole Reallocation thing’s really important to the SCI. And Mystery Man said any humanitarian element of it’s a sham. I turn off the intercom, not wanting to be caught listening in. The staff’s starting to come out of the break room, freshly amped up with caffeine and ready to get back to work.

  Violet nods at me as she passes on her way out. I smile and wave, acting like I see her as the Supreme Do-Gooder she pretends to be.

  Joshua avoids me until the Reallocation ceremony. He comes in late and sits clear across the table from Adam and me. He doesn’t so much as glance my way. Instead, he watches his parents do their song and dance routine. They’ve done their opening spiel and have started calling off names of the Reallocated.

  “Adam Caster,” Victor calls. Tears spring to my eyes. I knew there was a chance, but I didn’t think he’d get sent away. Adam clamps his mouth shut and kisses me on the forehead.

  “I will never forget you, Ms. Alexa Knight. In fact, I will find a way to stay in touch with you. Because, you see, our story’s not over. We have unfinished business.” He reaches into his box and pulls me out a stack of cookies. “I got them just in case.” This time I hug him tightly.

  “Thank you, Adam. And not just for the cookies. For saving my life. For being my friend. You are...the best.” He whispers a “thank you,” and then walks the short distance to the stage. I brace myself, worried my brothers will be next. But shockingly—and thankfully— their names aren’t called. Adam stares at me from the stage. I wish I knew where he would be stationed and how to keep in touch.

  Joshua moves over to take Adam’s empty seat. He puts a hand on my shoulder and asks, “You okay?”

 
; “Not really.” A tear escapes down my cheek.

  He grabs hold of both my hands, and leans his forehead against mine. “Do you still want to …” His words trail off, but I nod my head. Whatever it is, no matter how bad, I need to know. These people have plans for me and my brothers. They’re watching over my mom. I can’t protect them if I don’t know what I’m up against. “OK. As soon as my parents are done rambling, head straight to our room. Drop off your watch. It has a tracking device. Then, go see Adam off at the buses. The moment he gets on the bus, go back inside through the main doors, down the hall to the left and out the far door to the parking lot. I’ll be waiting for you there. If my parents or anyone stops to talk to you, say you don’t feel well and want to go rest. You can’t take longer than five minutes from the time Adam gets on that bus until the time you meet me. Understand?”

  I feel like I’m walking to my own execution as I leave the assembly hall and stop by my room to drop off my watch. Then I head towards the parking lot. My stomach’s in knots as I approach Adam in the parking lot. He wraps his arms around me and holds me tight.

  “It’ll be ok, Lex. I know the SCI has something great in store for me. Working for them has been the best thing that ever happened to me. They’re my family and I love them. But, I don’t feel right about leaving you behind.”

  I don’t feel right about any of it. But I do the only thing I can. I lie. “Everything’ll be fine. I’m sure it’ll be an amazing adventure. You’ll get to go to Paris or Rome, or some other awesome place and help tons of people.”

  Adam pulls back slightly, staring at me as if he’s committing me to memory. I do the same. He spends a long time studying my lips, before mumbling, “Screw it,” and presses his lips to mine. There’s no fireworks or church bells or electricity jolting through my veins. Not that I’d recognize any of those things with the nervous jitters I’ve got going. But, it’s sweet…just like the cookies he brings me.

  All too soon, Adam’s ordered onto the bus. He gives me one last peck on the lips, before sighing, trudging up the stairs, and onto the bus. I’m in tears already, so it can’t be too shocking to anyone when I head inside. I see the Blacks watching me intently, but I don’t stop to chat.

  Once through the doors, I head left and out the opposite doors. Joshua’s behind a small fleet of black SUVs, which obscure us from view of the buses.

  “You’ll need to be silent in the car. They’re bugged,” he tells me. I nod.

  He leads me to one of the SUVs and insists I get in the back seat and lay against the floor, covering myself with a blanket. Then he climbs in the driver’s side.

  It’s a surprisingly short, smooth, quiet ride. Joshua doesn’t put on music, speak or even hum a single line of a tune.

  He parks the car and finally speaks. “I’ll be right back. Whatever you do, stay down.” He’s gone for a few minutes and then returns and tells me to get out. He holds his finger to his lips and invites me to follow him. We walk a couple city blocks through a dense industrial area. Joshua stops abruptly. “I need to make sure the coast is clear.”

  I immediately see the SCI bus. It’s sitting in front of a large warehouse. There’s a couple guys hanging out, but they disappear around the side of the building. Joshua tells me to follow him and he enters a code to get us through a side door. He takes us down a short hallway and into a small room that has a single flat screen monitor. Displayed on the monitor is Adam and everyone from his bus. They appear to be in a locked, dark-walled room.

  “What’s going on? Where are they?” I ask.

  “They’re here in the warehouse,” Joshua says.

  “But why? I thought they’d be headed to the airport or something.”

  Joshua cocks his head to the side and grimaces. “No, beautiful. They were never headed to the airport.”

  “Are they being trained?” I ask, my voice full of hope. He solemnly swings his head back and forth.

  “Lex, you’ve got to do me a favor. You have to promise me you’re not going to scream. Otherwise, we may be joining them in there. Understand?”

  “Why would I scream? What’s going to happen to them?”

  He grabs both my hands urgently and pulls them up to plant a brief kiss on them. Such a tiny little kiss, not even on the lips and my body’s humming from head to toe. Joshua looks so sad that I want to comfort him.

  I surprise myself when I wrap my arms around him. “It can’t be that bad.”

  He says softly, “Please believe me that I’ve got nothing to do with this. I’d never be a part of this.” He turns his head to the video screen, so I do the same.

  I’m watching Adam.

  The room turns a molten red.

  Despite there being no sound, I know Adam is screaming.

  I could swear he’s screaming my name.

  His hair and Henley are first to ignite.

  And then skin’s melting off his bones.

  Skins melting off everyone’s bones.

  Even the bones can’t withstand the heat.

  Joshua grabs my mouth to muffle my scream. He doesn’t realize the scream’s stuck in my throat. Suffocating me.

  Adam’s dead. Gone.

  Dozens of people have been transformed into an angry swarm of dust.

  Tears pour down my face. How could they? How could anyone? Why would anyone?

  Joshua holds me tight to his chest, pressing his head to the top of mine. His tears soak into my hair.

  He whispers, “I’m so sorry,” over and over, and I wonder if he’s sorry he showed me, sorry his parents kill people, or both. I hope it’s both.

  A giant vacuum like instrument descends from the ceiling and sucks up the ashes.

  And then it’s like Adam was never here. That he never existed.

  “Remember that mindsets can not be changed through force and coercion. No idea can ever be forcibly thrust upon any one.”

  —Pervez Musharraf