The Familiar (22 page)

31

Louise shakes me. “Hazel! Hazel! It’s time to wake-up!” I open my eyes, and flinch at the sight of her staring down at me. “Hazel, what’s wrong with you! I thought you were dead.”

“Sorry, I was just dreaming…” I mumble groggily, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes. Louise narrows her eyes suspiciously. “Huh. Well that must have been some dream…” I ignore her, concentrating on dragging my ragdoll body out of bed so I can get dressed. “We better hurry if we want to catch breakfast,” says Louise, as she primps in front of the mirror, eyeing my slug-like movements from the corner of her eye.

I’m not in the mood to argue, so I brush my teeth hastily, and pull my hair up in a messy ponytail, not really caring if I look like the walking dead. “Alright. Let’s go.”

When we get to the dining hall, it’s almost empty except for a few stragglers. I can tell Louise is pissed that she won’t have time for a leisurely breakfast. She does a dramatic sigh as she fast walks to the pastry buffet. I know better than to sass Louise when she’s hungry, so I just shuffle behind her inconspicuously, grabbing a couple of muffins while secretly wishing I had a few extra minutes for coffee. We have no choice but to speed walk to class, leaving a trail of crumbs as we gobble our muffins.

By the time we reach The Nest, Alicia is about to start. We quickly find our seats while catching our breaths, and wiping crumbs off our uniforms.

“Get a late start this morning, ladies?” Alicia asks teasingly. My cheeks feel hot, and I try to slink down in my seat.

“To warm-up, I’d like you guys to do some “fear of falling” jumps. It’ll be good for you to get your adrenaline pumping first thing in the morning. Afterwards, I want you to do an hour in the simulator, before we move onto a new challenge.” My stomach does a few flip-flops, and the barely chewed blueberry muffins feel like they’re forcing their way back up my throat.

Alicia scans the class, grinning. “So, who wants to go first?”

Samir raises his hand eagerly. “I’ll go.”

He takes long, deliberate steps to the jumping point, glancing back, and smiling crookedly before taking the leap. By the time I get to the edge, Samir is already hitting the safety net, and I watch him disappear, his body leaving traces of blue static electricity behind. While I wait with Akiko and Louise, watching for the portal impatiently, something doesn’t feel right. I don’t know if it’s my hurried breakfast, or my intuition, but my gut is uneasy. I almost feel like I can hear the actual seconds, then minutes tick by as time passes, and still, the portal hasn’t materialized. Alicia fidgets, peeking over the edge once in a while, and glancing down at her watch when she thinks we aren’t looking. After about ten more minutes, when Samir still hasn’t made an appearance, Alicia strides to the jumping point, this time, I can see she means business. “I’ll be right back,” she announces before swan-diving over the edge.

When she’s gone, chaos erupts. Chatter comes from all directions, hysterical words, whispers, even a cry or two. Akiko seems to be on the verge of a breakdown. Tears stream down her face, while she chants hysterically, “Samir! Samir! Samir!”

It feels like an eternity, only made worse by Akiko’s crying, but Alicia finally emerges from the portal alone. Her face is pale, and I can tell from the dazed, vacant look in her eyes that it’s bad. “I want all of you to go back to your dorms immediately. Your counselors will be up here shortly to escort you. We’ll be on lock-down till further notice.”

Without warning, Akiko faints. I catch her, keeping her lifeless head on the crook of my neck till the counselors arrive. As we march downhill, we huddle together, as if the collective cluster of bodies will keep us from harm’s way. Nobody knows how to react, so we just follow our counselors in stunned silence. Akiko is whisked to the infirmary even before we can ask any questions. The only thing we can do is return to our dorms.

Once we’re safely back in our room, Louise and I sulk on our beds feeling helpless.

Louise stares at me from across the room with tears in her eyes. “Do you think they’ll find him?”

I don’t respond right away, trying to find the words. “I don’t know, Louise… But, they must know what they’re doing right? I’m sure they’ll do everything they can to find him. I know they will. They’ll find him. Don’t worry…”

Louise slumps back on her pillow. “I heard there’s going to be an emergency Council meeting tonight.”

“Really? If only we could be there to find out what’s
really
going on,” I reply wistfully.

Louise sighs. “I know… How do they expect us to just sit here and do nothing?”

I pull my legs up to my knees and play with my fingers nervously. I twist my silver ring, and suddenly it just comes to me. In an instant I’ve already decided. I’m going to make myself invisible and sneak into the meeting.

Someone knocks on the door, and Sabrina walks in looking somber. “How are you girls holding up?”

“I don’t know. Feeling helpless and scared I guess,“ says Louise, as she rubs her red, puffy eyes.

“How is Akiko?” I ask, hoping for some good news.

“She’s not doing so great. Doc Alice had to sedate her with a sleeping potion,” she explains, looking concerned.

Louise looks at her wide-eyed. “She’s in a coma?”

Sabrina shakes her head. “No, not really. More like a sleep induced state. Doc Alice wanted her to rest. She’ll wake her up soon. Don’t worry.”

I feel my frustration mounting. “So, does that mean they still have no idea what happened?”

Sabrina averts her gaze, obviously uncomfortable with my question. “I can’t really comment right now… I wish I could. All I can say is that your guardians have been informed, and for now, they have entrusted us with your safety. Tonight, after Maya meets with the Council, decisions will be made.”

Hearing her vague explanation makes me want to sneak into the meeting even more.

“We’ll have some pizzas and drinks at the lounge downstairs in about an hour. I’ll be in my room if you need me,” says Sabrina, waving awkwardly as she leaves.

I spend the rest of the day emulating what the other kids in my dorm are doing: moping around in a haze, listening to music, taking naps, and eating lots of cold pizza, but really, my mind is moving a mile a minute, thinking about how I can get into the meeting unnoticed.

When evening finally arrives, it gives everyone an excuse to turn in early and try to forget about what happened, suppress the fear of not knowing how Samir disappeared or where he might be. As soon as Louise brushes her teeth and pulls her facemask out of her nightstand drawer, I know that she’ll soon be asleep along with the rest of the house. I pretend to get ready for bed, and take extra care to wear black leggings and a sweatshirt, instead of my usual pajamas. I tuck my sneakers under my bed for easy access, and get into bed. “Night, Louise.”

“Night, Hazel,” Louise replies with a yawn. I wait about twenty minutes, and when I hear deep, even breaths, I know she’s finally knocked out. I quietly get out of bed and put my sneakers on. I tap the gem three times, and hold my arm up to my nightlight. When it disappears, I tiptoe to the full-length mirror just to make sure my reflection doesn’t stare back at me. Then, I leave and go down the stairs, careful to make as little noise as possible. Outside everything seems brighter than usual; the full moon illuminates the camp with a soft glow. It almost gives a false sense of calmness, like nothing is amiss in this world.

I head towards the main house feeling empowered by my invisibility. The sensation is quite addictive, and now I understand why Mom didn’t want me to abuse it. I look for an alternative way to get in, since I can’t enter through the imposing front doors without drawing attention to myself. At the side, I spot a French window left half open and pull myself up until I can get my body through to the other side. I land with a quiet thud and look around to make sure nobody heard me. The lobby and the rest of the house are well lit, so I have no trouble navigating the seemingly empty house, wandering aimlessly while listening for any voices or movements. A door creaks open, and one of the kitchen staff walks out holding a tray of glasses and a pitcher of lemon water. I follow the woman down several hallways until she stops in front of an ornate and tall wooden double door. She knocks and it opens. I quickly shimmy my body through before it shuts. Suddenly, I feel like all eyes are on me, but I quickly realize that they’re only looking at the woman as she arranges the glasses on the formidable conference table. I quietly tiptoe my way to a corner, and hide behind a heavy blue velvet curtain, panicked that someone will sense my presence. I keep my breathing steady and silent, but my nerves are forcing me to take in deep gulps of air. I close my eyes for a minute, composing myself, and pretend that I’m just standing in my bedroom killing time with my sketchbook. I calm, open my eyes again, and focus on the task at hand.

The room is handsomely decorated with an oversized oval table, comfortable leather chairs, Persian rugs, and a semicircular floor to ceiling bay window overlooking the lake. The moon sits on the horizon, bathing the room with a magical light.

Seated around the table are Maya, Alicia, Brad, and Jared. Jared looks distraught, his hands in front of him clenched so tight that his knuckles are white. There are three other people I do not recognize. At the head, an older man with long silver hair pulled tightly at the nape of his neck. His cheekbones jut out of his skull unnaturally, framing his piercingly green eyes, and his wrinkled skin has an olive hue, giving him a distinguished, almost aristocratic, look. Next to him is a middle-aged woman wearing a striking silvery white dress. Her dark strawberry blonde hair is braided down the side of her head, caressing a silver necklace with a large purple gem hanging from her neck. I look at the ring on my finger, and back at her necklace, noticing the resemblance.

I stare at her face, studying her features, and wonder if we are somehow related. She looks straight at me with her sparkling blue eyes and I panic, thinking she’s seen me. But she turns, and I exhale quietly, relieved. Across from her sits another man, with dark shiny skin, contrasting his thick, white hair, and shiny gold eyeglasses. He’s wearing a snazzy cream-colored suit with a heavily embroidered collar.

After the refreshments are served, the kitchen server exits, leaving the dour faced attendees alone. The man at the head of the table speaks first.

“I’ve reviewed the brief, and I have to admit that I’m extremely distressed by what’s happened here,” he says, looking at Maya.

She looks straight into the man’s eyes, almost as if defying him. “Chairman Roqué, I can assure you that all precautions were taken, and everything was done by the book. The portals had been tested, and all security measures were put into place just days before the students arrived at the camp.”

The chairman considers her response and turns to the woman sitting next to him. “Sybil, has there been anything,
anything at all
, out of the ordinary at the Academy?”

Sybil adjusts her long braid before replying, “No, everything has been running smoothly on our end.”

The man in the cream-colored suit clears his throat. “I would like to bring up the possibility that this may have something to do with the disappearance of Ivana?”

Jared squirms in his seat. “Agent Jackson, I know that as head of Federation security, it’s your job to be suspicious, but Ivana
did
pass all security clearances. These checks were done by
your
very own people…”

Agent Jackson glares at Jared. “I understand your desire to defend your colleague’s reputation. But we cannot rule out the possibility that she may have had some role in orchestrating this boy’s disappearance. It’s obvious that our security has somehow been compromised, and I
cannot
guarantee that my department has not been infiltrated.”

The mood in the room is tense. Maya leans in, placing her hands on the table in front of her. “For the safety of our students, I do not think we should continue with the program until this has all been resolved.”

The chairman nods in agreement. “You’re absolutely right, Maya. However, I do have a suggestion on how we can proceed, without losing all the hard work that everyone has put into both programs.” He takes a sip of water before continuing. “I know there has been no precedence for this, but I think we should go ahead of schedule, and have the Choosing Ceremony tomorrow. Afterwards, the students can continue training at Federation Headquarters where they’ll be safer.”

Maya glares at the Chairman, stunned by his suggestion. “Our students are not ready for this! How can we expect them to make such a life altering choice at this stage of their training? I don’t think it would be fair to ask them to leave their lives behind so abruptly. Most of them haven’t even finished high school yet!” Sybil looks at Maya tight-lipped, but nods in agreement.

The chairman remains calm despite the tension in the room. “I understand everyone’s apprehension. But given the circumstances, we do not have much of a choice. I am sure the parents and guardians will agree that the safety of their children is paramount. We will have to set-up a special training program at headquarters, and this will include all the requirements needed to graduate from high school.”

My heart is racing a mile a minute and I feel like shouting out at this man. Does he really think we’ll go along with this insane plan? I only signed up for a few weeks then I was supposed to go back home to Safe Harbor, and finish high school just like everyone else. I think about Andy and Mom and start to panic. I feel a pain in my heart and in my stomach. What will I tell them? Will I even be allowed to see them before going? I feel like throwing up, but stay in my corner, too shocked to move.

The chairman stands and speaks with an air of decisiveness, “Maya, Sybil, please make the announcement in the morning. We will proceed with the Choosing Ceremony tomorrow evening. Agent Jackson, please ensure that there will be a safe way to transport everyone to Federation Headquarters. I am hoping for everyone’s full cooperation in this matter.” He pauses then walks out of the room.