The Pentrals (20 page)

“Can I help you?” she says through clenched teeth, just barely upholding her customer service responsibilities.

“I’ll have a chocolate chip cookie,” I say. This trip is obviously going to be unproductive, so I might as well get a treat out of it.

“Anything else?” Sam asks, typing my order into the register’s holopane.

“Um, yes actually.” My voice is cracking, nervous. It is doubtful Sam will want to help me, especially after I’ve completely blown her off at school. Still, I have to try. “Do you know if when Mary worked here she had a locker or someplace to store her things?”

Sam takes a minute before turning her kohl-rimmed eyes on me. Her mouth is open, jaw cocked to the side, like someone punched her in the face. “Are you serious right now?” she says in an intense whisper.

“Yes?” Why wouldn’t I be serious?

“Unbelievable,” she answers, shaking her head. She is smiling, though her lips do not convey happiness. More like utter disappointment.

“What is your problem?” I ask. My inquiry did not seem so out of line as to receive this kind of response.

Her red lips continue to curve upward, but her words drip with disdain. “Listen Violet, I’m working right now, and I don’t really want to upset the already jacked-up clientele filling this place.” I take a quick look to my right, and notice how the groups of lingering Persons seem to be positively buzzing after consuming their drug-laced purchases. They do seem very excitable, though I don’t see why Sam needs to be so dramatic when talking to me. “I will deal with you later. Okay?” She shoves a cookie at me and waves me away. I decide right there not to eat it—who knows what she secretly added.

I spin around, frustrated, and accidently drop my probably poisoned snack to the ground. Celestia Sky is the next customer in line.

“Hey there baby, why so jumpy?” she asks, voice purring with tenderness. Just like when she’s on the screen, Celestia has a calming presence about her, like an old friend come to visit. She bats her long, lush lashes and smiles warmly, and I feel myself being pulled into her trance. There’s something about her, beyond her pure physical beauty that draws me to her. It’s as if her entire being was magnetized, attracting everything in her wake. But I know this public persona is a mask, a veil of deceit bent on ensnaring Persons under her spell. I stand before her, in all her glory, and can’t think of what to say. I know who Celestia really is but have yet to gain the upper hand.

“It’s Violet, right? Mary’s friend? Let me buy you another cookie.” She places her order with Sam, and I stand off to the side, not knowing whether to stay or make a run for it. I twist my foot on the tile, looking down at Violet. How I wish I could switch places with her right now.

Celestia takes a bottle of water and offers me a replacement cookie. I’m still hesitant to take a bite. She wraps her arm around me like we’ve been best friends forever, and guides me out of the shop. Everyone watches us as we pass by, and I feel like a celebrity by association. No one passes up a chance to see Celestia Sky in the flesh, and hushed whispers debate over who this young girl under her wing could be. It would be easy to just go with it, savor the moment of brief popularity. My Pentral self was always starving for attention, and now I have plenty. Still, this is not what I envisioned. I am angry at her influence, her ability to charm a crowd without saying a word. These people have no idea how she’s controlling them, but I do.

“I know what you’re doing,” I say softly, once we’re outside.

“Excuse me?” Celestia answers, face bright with a smile. Her snow-white teeth are almost blinding in the sun, her luscious black hair glistening.

“I know what you’re doing,” I repeat a bit louder. “I heard you, at the FreshView party, talking about keeping this town under your spell. You’re behind all the mirripulation, aren’t you?” My heart is racing, threatening to propel my body off the ground with its rapid thumping. But I steer myself into the street awaiting her response.

Despite my accusation, Celestia barely flinches. She holds her smile, and tilts her head slightly upward along with one perfectly tweezed brow. “Did you now?” she answers. There’s a change to her voice, similar to when I overheard her that night. The sweetness is replaced with a bitter bite.

I shake my head yes. Knowing her association with the Kellys, I do not want to reveal my hunt for Mary’s glasses, to share the scent of my search. Her dark eyes dart over my face, looking for a clue, but I keep my stare solid.

Finally, she continues. “Well, good for you, Violet Rayne.” She takes a step closer, once again placing her arm around me. Celestia pulls me closer, traces of vanilla seeping from her polished dark skin. Is she really hugging me right now? She draws back, still smiling, and gives me a coy little wave.

Celestia starts to slink away, Persons gaping in her wake. Before she is just out of sight, she turns back to me and adds, “But you don’t know the half of it, baby.”

* * 26 * *

T
he next afternoon after school, I slump into a chair in Mr. West’s room. My presence startles him.

“Ah, Antares, greetings,” he says, closing the text on his holopane. He walks over, jittery limbs reaching for a chair. He is generally an anxious fellow, but today he seems even more on edge. “Any luck?” he asks earnestly.

I sigh. “No. I’ve looked everywhere. It’s almost impossible to find something when you don’t know what it looks like.” I lean back, body weak in defeat.

“I see, I see,” he darts his eyes away, wearing a look of concern. His foot obsessively taps on the polished tiled floor. Something is troubling him.

“Mr. West, is there something you’re not telling me?” I feel like my chair could start wobbling from his nervous twitching.

“Hmm? Oh. Yes.” He stands and starts pacing the room. “Last night, I made a quick trip to the Ether.”

I perk up, hopeful for details about the place I came from. But he is struggling to express his thoughts. “And?” I coax.

Mr. West clears his throat. “Well. The Class Fours, they are… not exactly pleased. With me. Or you.”

My heart sets off like a machine gun. “What? Why?” I choke out.

“They want evidence. Proof to my claim of mirripulation. I’ve been on this assignment too long, they say. Not meeting expectations. They think a different Class Three may be better suited to finish the job.”

No. I don’t want someone different. Another Pentral may have an unknown agenda. Mr. West may not be the most competent partner, but he gets what is happening here. He’s seen the Reflections’ trickery with his own eyes. He won’t make a quick assessment just to find himself in the good graces of the higher-ups. I trust him. He cares.

“I can’t do this without you,” I plead.

“Well, subsequently, you wouldn’t.” He wipes a small bead of sweat from his brow. “Technically, you shouldn’t even be here. In Violet’s body. Class Twos are meant to prove their worth serving their Persons, not spending time interacting with others. You found a loophole the Class Fours want closed.”

My knuckles are white from squeezing my chair. He continues. “They were going to take action against you. But I convinced them to wait. To let you help me.” He gives a weak smile. “Two heads are better than one, after all.”

I piece together what he is trying to say. “So if you go, I go too,” I say quietly.

“Yes. I’m… I’m sorry, Antares. But maybe this extra time, in human form, will give us more memories, more feelings to hold on to when we’re…” he trails off.

“What?” I interrupt. “When we’re crazy? Chained to a wall for the rest of our existence?” Fury, that same violent emotion that got me here in the first place, propels me out of my chair. “No! I’m not going down like that!”

Mr. West steps back, startled. He is so jumpy I think a feather could knock him over. “No, of course not. I don’t want that either. We still have time.” He rushes over to the vertical holopane hanging at the front of the classroom. After a few agile taps, a picture of Talline leaps from the glass, showing crowds of people laughing and dancing in the streets. “This weekend is the Festival of Light. The city will be celebrating its mirrored existence. The Class Fours are coming for their proof.”

I watch the hologram before me. There are people everywhere, and so much light it seems like nothing would go undetected. How could these Pentrals just appear during the biggest event of the year? “Won’t they be seen?” I ask.

“Trust me, they won’t be noticed. But we will.” He taps the glass again and the image disappears.

The Festival is in less than 48 hours. Answers must be delivered if I’m to hold on to my sanity. But how will I find them? I’ve exhausted almost every lead on the glasses, tried every conceivable angle. Well, almost every angle. There are two Persons I’ve yet to corner, those closest to Mary, who would have known of her experiments. Due to the sensitivity of the issue, I didn’t want to confront them until I absolutely had to, but now I’m out of time. I have to talk to Thomas and Ben.

“Mr. West, we’re not going to fail. I won’t give up.”

A look of relief washes over him. “You have a lot of heart, Antares.” My heart? I hardly understand it. What it feels, why it beats. But I don’t have time to decipher it now. I just know I have to keep fighting.

Mr. West places his hand on my shoulder and smiles. Unfortunately, his warm gesture does nothing but send chills down my spine, thanks to his icy touch. Sensing my discomfort, he quickly yanks it away, comically shaking his wrist in the air. “Sorry about that!” he laughs. “Can’t have you frozen now, can we?”

Certainly not, I have places to go. Missions to complete.

I head outside to the soccer field, where the boys are practicing. The sun is starting to set; Violet traces my steps in long, thin strides. The team is still running drills so I take a seat on a bench on the side lines, watching them sprint back and forth across the grass. Thomas, the team’s captain, occasionally stops to give the others instruction. He is generous with encouragement and makes effort to hang back, passing the ball frequently. Although he is clearly the strongest and most skilled player, he gives his teammates chances to shine.

I think about what he said, about not being bothered by his Reflection. Thomas is so confident on the field, making no effort to be the star in practice. Perhaps he just doesn’t take his looks to heart, focusing more on his actions to build up his self-image. The more I watch him be selfless with his team, the more I understand why Violet loves him so.

My eyes flit over to Ben, who is clearly not the best player but makes up for it in enthusiasm. Whenever he receives the ball, he passes it almost immediately, giving up his chance to score. Just like when he stood uncomfortably under the bright spotlight at the anniversary party, Ben seems happiest avoiding notice. However, he currently has my attention. Something in me stirs as I watch him play with his team across the grass. I’ve known Ben for years, just as long as Violet has, but there is something beyond a common familiarity in the way his body moves. It’s almost as if I can predict what he’ll do next, expecting him to bob and weave right on cue. It’s an intimate knowledge; I can’t explain where I picked it up. But the longer I’ve been in this body, the more I’ve been drawn to his.

A voice from behind breaks my observation.

“Here to support the team?” William Kelly approaches, impeccably dressed in a pale gray suit. Even though there is plenty of room on the bench, he sits directly next to me, so close that our shoulders almost touch. I shift uncomfortably, suddenly feeling completely inadequate in my appearance. Surely he must know his attractiveness is intimidating—is it really necessary to sit so close?

I smile nervously, nodding. Of course I can’t reveal why I’m really here, so I put on my supportive girlfriend face. “I just love watching Thomas play.”

“He’s a great player. You should be proud of him, all that talent. I keep hoping his dedication will rub off on Ben.” He pauses, rubbing his palms together. “He’s been very scattered lately.”

“Ben?” If anything, Ben has seemed more like himself since I jumped in this body, letting himself relax and show his emotions. “He seems okay to me.”

“Well, he internalizes a lot. But I’ve noticed a change. He told me he’s been having visions, perhaps flashbacks to a different time.” Mr. Kelly’s eyes are on the field, watching his son practice his footwork. “You know, before we brought Ben home, he had a difficult life. Living without a permanent family, moving from home to home, he was lost. I worried, after Mary’s accident, that I’d lose sight of him again.” He squints his eyes, as if trying to pinch back tears. “He’s held on, but now, with these visions he’s mentioned, I’m afraid he’s seeing things he shouldn’t.”

I think back to Ben’s description of the flashback he compared to my brush with
déjà vu
. About a beautiful blonde girl and how he felt like she loved him. It didn’t seem like his vision was anything traumatic or to be feared. Could this girl have done something to him? To harm him?

“What could he be seeing?”

“I don’t know. But I will find out.” He turns, and for the first time looks directly at me, eyes piercing into mine. “I always know what my children are up to.”

We stare at each other for a moment, his words looming. Surely, he meant what he said as a sign of fatherly concern, of wanting to help his children, but his face is so intense, I wonder if there is something more behind his sentiment. The boys start breaking from the field, distracting me from getting a clear read of his face.

“Looks like they’re finishing up.” Mr. Kelly stands. He tugs at his sleeves, and for a moment I think I see a small scar on his left wrist. A tiny, barely noticeable blemish marks his perfect body. But he moves before I can examine it closer. “Take care Violet.” He strides over to Ben, who is dumping water on his face. I give Ben a little wave, and he responds with a partial smile. I was hoping to talk to both him and Thomas at the same time, but it looks like Mr. Kelly is bent on bringing his son home. Disappointed, I watch as he heads off toward the parking lot with his dad.