Chapter four: Exposed.
I have been here for three days, and already I can feel my patience wearing thin. Every chance 97283 gets, he is testing me. He is pushing all limits in making me seem like a crazy person. I had been close twice to catching him out. Twice.
Both times, he had managed to return to his stone like state; and make my efforts seem in vain. I wasn't sure how he did it, but he always managed to look away at the right time; just before someone came to speak to me. Nahuel was catching on to how stressed I was becoming, and had commented that perhaps I should request for a few days off.
I had only been here for three days, for christ sake! Why would I request a holiday? That would look bad, seeing as they had to be authorised by Stefan and Vladimir. I wanted to impress them, not make them think I was slacking.
Most of the day, I had spent it in the 90-83 block was while it had been empty; and I was lingering outside each of the cells. I wasn't on observation, I was merely... Curious. It was the daily intake time, and I had wondered how they managed to get their food. There was no social interaction whatsoever.
How the superiors got the cup of blood to the inmates was... In my opinion, cruel. They were locked up within their cells all day, with no human or vampire interaction whatsoever. They were alone for 24 hours of the day, only having their thoughts to occupy them. It was a wonder how any of them were sane. Hell, they probably weren't. Thus why they were here in the first place. The way they got the blood to them was by a shaft in the wall of their cell. They put in some code, which caused the wall to open up a square and the cup would fall; full of their dose.
Each of them rushed to the cup and drank it down quickly. All but one, who left it there for two hours before he finally got up and retrieved the blood supply. The moment the cup was taken from the shaft, it closed up again. Eighty three never once took his eyes off me as he drank the supply down, then returned to his perch on the bed, legs crossed and head pointed to the ceiling. The only difference, was he kept his eyes open. I had watched in awe as the dark red in his eyes had been eaten by a more vibrant red.
So far, I had found out why four of the red zone residents were behind bars.
97290, or Derek as his name was stated on his records; had tried to break down a blood farm within Dallas, Texas with his creator/best friend; 97287 or named as Elijah. Apparently, the boys had been in love with a criminal human girl, who had murdered another vampire after almost being raped by said killed vampire. 97290 and 97287 had broken into the blood farm in which the unknown girl had been put in, and planned to break her out. Then, they planned on burning the place so that she wouldn't be sent back.
It had all gone wrong, clearly. Now, the girl was dead and they were serving their time here for opposing the law of Stefan and Vladimir. Blood farms were made to help vampires, and trying to destroy one was a high paying crime evidently.
Both of them still seemed to be taking the death of the girl hard, for their records showed that they still talked about her to doctor Mallory in their therapy sessions once every two weeks.
97288, or Zoe - the girl who had glared at me and showed hostility had tried to assassinate Stefan and Vladimir themselves. She was caught breaking into the event being held in honor of the vampire leaders with gasoline fluid and matches, and a notepad with the plot written down in the order she was to pursue it in.
97286 - Bekah Shadowski, surprisingly had been a member of the vampire hate group in Moscow. She, alongside her group had killed fourteen coven's within the country of Russia, and had almost been known as one of the most notorious hate groups within the whole world, if it hadn't of been for that fateful night in december, 1897, when Bekah and several other members were found in their persecution of another hit on a coven, resulting in the death of her co-workers, and her transformation. The coven turned her and handed her over to the authorities, intending for her to spend the rest of eternity in the Hellix Facility. So far, that had been true.
Bekah hated what she was, and was on high alert for suicide watch. Thankfully, it was exceedingly hard for a vampire to commit suicide. Her antics consisted of hunger strike, the attempt of trying to remove her own head, and attacks on the doctor to provoke someone else to end her life. For the past year, she seemed to be content with herself and hadn't tried a thing at all. They hoped she had finally settled down, and had come to grips with what she was.
All I had left to find out was 97285 - Jordan - 97284 - Louise, and 97283 - The nameless one. Though, that last one seemed to be futile, since nothing was on his record. No name, no origin, no reason for being behind bars. All that was stated that he was extremely dangerous.
The only person authorized to speak to him was the doctor, and even then she received nothing from him. Currently, I was sitting within the breakout area I had witnessed on first arriving here, reading the records of 97283 - or, what lack of records, should I say. I had the other two's sitting beside me, which were filled with information; but this thin file called out to me more than anything.
Perhaps it was because I had been the chosen one he had decided to play a game with? Or, perhaps it was because I just didn't know how to keep my nose out of things? Maybe both... Most likely both.
All around me people within coats chatted and went about their day. Humans and vampires alike. Food, blood... All sorts of smells were lining the air around me, making my stomach growl. I should have ate this morning, but in the excitement of possibility getting 97283 caught, I had forgotten. Thankfully I hadn't forgotten to take a shower.
I turned the page, finding more blank spaces left in the places where vital information should have been stored.
"Ooh, 97283. He's a real mystery boy, huh?" A unknown feminine voice chimed down my ear, making me jump in surprise.
"Uh... Yeah, he is..." I blinked in confusion as she sat herself down beside me.
The girl sitting beside me stared back with rich blue eyes, masked behind a pair of dark framed glasses, found upon a heart shaped face with full red lips. Framing her face was the locks of dark brown hair, curled and messed around; but ruined with a red beanie hat placed upon her head. She was wearing a lab coat, with the ID plate enscripting 031111.
"I'm Kaitlyn," she said and I waited for her to say her ID number, but she didn't. Instead, she just offered out her hand and gave me a full grin. "Kaitlyn Mallory."
My mind instantly flicked towards that of the doctor. "As in.."
"Yeah, the doctor. She's my mother," Kaitlyn nodded. "Adopted, of course. She's like... Really old, but she is related to me by blood somewhere in the line. She just adopted me as a mother after mine died."
Well, that was sweet. Family was family, I guess. With a small nod, I took her hand. "Renesmee Cullen."
"I heard about you," she shook my hand and let it fall. "Nahuel's friend from the states, right?"
"Yeah."
"Boy is he dreamy."
I rolled my eyes. That was to be expected. Of course a human would be attracted to our kind. It was all part of the ploy to lure in our intended pray.
"How long have you worked here?" I tried to steer her away from the concept of Nahuel, for I knew where this conversation was going.
"Oh, just over four years." She shrugged. "Started as the coffee girl at fourteen, and then moved up to being the photocopy girl."
So, if she was fourteen when she started; that would make her eighteen. Here I was the same age as her, but working in with the residents. How she didn't have envy, I wouldn't understand. I knew I would. For some reason, I was getting the vibe that Kaitlyn didn't take anything to heart. She was what you would call... Happy go lucky.
"So if you work in the photocopy room, how d'you know about the residents?"
She scoffed. "I read things, plus... My mom's the doctor. Of course I'm gonna listen in on conversation's I shouldn't."
Typical teenage girl. I couldn't stop the smile coming to my lips. Despite her probably not being allowed to know such things, I couldn't help but lean into the fact I was thankful she did.
"D'you know anything about this one?"
"Eighty three?" She paused, letting her blue eyes flick to the file in front of me. "Only that he drives my mom insane."
She reached forward and turned it towards her. I sat in silence as I watched her read over the vague notes.
"Huh," she pursed her lips. "I can see why."
My attention and interest spiked automatically. "What? Why?"
Kaitlyn pointed to a section, her red with white polka dots press on nail pointing out a line of information.
I leant forward to read over it.
97283 refused daily intake, forced to ensure another hour long session with Doctor Mallory. Refusal to cooperate and communicate. Eventually drank it after seeing a picture on the doctors desk.
"A picture?" I frowned, looking up towards her.
"The only pictures my mom has on her desk is of my older sister when she was little, Lauren."
"Why doesn't she have one of you?"
"Because she see's me everyday," Kaitlyn scoffed. "But also because Lauren died a few years back."
Oh. Well that made sense. "I'm sorry to hear that."
"Don't be," she smiled. "It was a tough time, but I'm totally moving on."
Well, at least they were moving on and not allowing the past get to them. Personally, I didn't know how I would react if I were to lose one of my family members. I didn't have siblings, so I didn't know how she felt, or could I imagine losing them. It must of been hard for her, though. After all, I had heard that siblings were the people you practiced on, the people who taught you about fairness, cooperation and kindness - often the hard way, but all of those none the less.
"So why would he have agreed to eat after seeing the picture?" I asked, curiosity deeming on me.
"Beats me," Kaitlyn shrugged. "Might have something for blondes?"
"I doubt being attracted to someone would push him to eat... Right?"
Kaitlyn laughed. "The male mind is a place no one can understand. I mean, I've been chasing the same guy since I was fourteen; but only recently had him recognise me. None the less, it could be something other than sexual attraction. Perhaps something a little deeper?"
"Deeper?"
"Family, maybe?"
Well, seeing as no one seemed to know when 97283 had been brought into the red zone, it was impossible to say whether he had family or not. The only person who would know that, was him and so far - for as far back as the records went, he hadn't uttered a single word.
"Wanna know the funny thing about eighty three though?" Kaitlyn suddenly said, her head perking up and a small smile lingering on her red painted lips. "Even though he is the most stubborn, and noncompliant out of all the residents... He had never once tried to escape."
I blinked. "Not once?"
"Nope. The rest of them, yeah. Countless times. But not him... Weird, huh?"
Well, that was more than weird. I would have presumed that he would have, judging on how hard he defied the ways of Hellix. There was something strange about this one...
I wasn't sure how I got there, or when I did; but I had found myself outside his cell yet again. With countless other people around me, there was no hope that he would look my way. We weren't alone, and I was sure he knew it.
I knew I shouldn't get involved, for it wasn't any of my business. I was here for the reason of my freedom, not to get caught up in some mystery inmate. But... Curiosity had always been a weak point of mine. I was naturally a curious was instinct, ever since I had been a child the world had been something to gawk at, dissect and catalog.
In the times I hadn't been under investigation by the Hellix Facility, there wasn't a moment where I hadn't been seen constantly outside, venturing just that little bit further out into the forest, or my nose stuck in a book on anything and everything. Fact's were interesting. I observed them like mad, and I could quote the entirety of my school textbooks verbatim if asked.
I had dreamed about travelling the world, researching different countries of the world, soaking up all the information there was to bring.
In school, I had skated by with good grades based on my natural curiosity about everything. I always tried to find out whatever was being hidden from me... And here I was faced with an inmate of one of the most secretive facilities, not only unable to talk to me, but unwilling to talk to anyone. He was a mystery, he was a shadow person. Someone who could fade off into the distance, and not have anyone know where he had gone, who he was or had been.
And it was because of that reason, like a moth to a flame, I felt as though I had to find out about him. It was an ache within my limbs, a screaming sensation in my brain and a tensing of my muscles.
Whoever this boy was, I wanted to know him.
No. I needed to know him.
—xXx—
For the next week, my time consisted of revolving around shuffling paperwork, Observation duty, being Xavier's personal slave in fetching him cups of blood and arranging his meetings - since his assistant Orchid had been given some time off - and hanging out in my apartment studying all I could find on eighty three.
I had found an old, old document filed back within the 18th century that had been in the file room collecting dust for god knows how long. It had been filled out by the old Red Zone's doctor, but whatever their name was I couldn't make it out.
The signature was far too fancy and cursive for me to make it out.
I decided I'd name them Doctor Z, for that's what the name seemed to start out with.
The parchment within the file was yellowing and torn in places, but otherwise easy enough to understand. Apparently, this had been the only person eighty three had uttered a word to.
I made a note on a sticky note to find out more about this Doctor Z, to see if I could find them. If I could perhaps sit down for a moment with the doctor and hear their view on what 97283 was like, and what they thought about him... Then perhaps I could come a little closer to finding out more about him, without breaking a sweat.
The notes given were somewhat of a struggle to make out, but I managed to write them down on a spare piece of paper; leaving the words I didn't understand out as blank spaces.
Coming to the end, I let out a sigh and let the pen fall on the pages. Closing the file, I turned to the work I had just finished translating.
Dressed in my casual clothing, with a silk robe over me, my damp hair clipped out out of my face to ensure the natural curl take place; I relaxed back into the L shaped sofa, the dull drones of the news playing in the background from my TV.
Examination #93 of 97283. Admission of emergency appointment; suspected mental breakdown.
(doctors name that I can't read) called in on the early hours of Wednesday, 21st of April, 1824. Inmate 97283 had been dragged from their cell after excessive screaming and e_ted (I think it's expected) hallucinations. Inmate hadn't eaten in over several weeks, despite prompting from superior 031097 (That's Xavier's ID).
Upon arrival, (doctors name again) came to find inmate huddled in the corner of office, rocking back and forth muttering under his breath. Language is expected to be a mixture of Italian and Scandinavian - not to be quoted upon.
97283 was irritable and wary of his surroundings, seemingly threatening towards (doctors name) after the initial fifteen minutes. After trust was found in no harm was going to come to him from (doctors name) he seemingly relaxed in the company of (doctors name.)
After initial groundwork in trust, (doctors name) asked what the problem was, to which the inmate replied; "Leave her. Leave her alone. Take me instead."
After asking who he was to leave, inmate began to laugh while saying; "I am worse than her, I am worth more than what she is. I can kill you all if I want too. I can, but I won't. All I want is for you to leave her alone and take me."
It is e_ted (Positive that it's expected again) 97283 is having a flashback to when he was brought to the facility, though it cannot be certain. Cause of such a hallucination could be down to excessive hunger and BWS (blood withdrawal symptoms). Inmate seems to be stepping into last stages of BWS, and if not had been treated until later, inmate could have decedat (Romanian for died.)
Successful in prompting 97283 to feed upon a death row criminal, causing his irritable and paranoia to subside after ten minutes. 97283 seemed Caut_ (Cautious, perhaps?) and confused after intake of substance, and asked "Where is she?"
When asking who he meant, 97283 seemed to relax and slumped in his seat. Inmate then proceeded to smile to himself and whisper "As if I'd tell you. She's safe..."
For the next fifteen minutes, 97283 went on to hum the tune of to the market, to the market.
Inmate was taken back to his cell, and put under suicide watch.
Turning over the sheet of paper, I read over the other entry.
Examination #94 of 97283. Admission of appointment; follow up from emergency appointment.
Two weeks after initial mental breakdown, (doctors name) followed up with 97283. Inmate seemed to have returned to his usual state, unresponsive and ignoring.
On asking questions, inmate merely stared off into the distance.
97283 seemed to react on the mention of 'her.' Inmate became tense, guarded and defensive. On questioning of to the market, to the market; subject scoffed and closed himself off entirely.
97283 has returned to regular health, with no signs of suicidal tendencies.
Although the last entry 97283 seemed to be a little less cooperative, at least I was a step closer in finding something. Whoever this girl was he was talking about in admission #93, clearly was someone he cared about. Why else would he react in such a way.
What I couldn't understand was, why had he said 'take me and not her.' Was it possible the Hellix Facility was after someone else, and eighty three had taken her place? Surely that couldn't be the case, seeing as the Hellix Facility only ever went after those who deserved to be locked up. Albeit, he said he was worse than what she was, but they wouldn't take him if he wasn't the initial target.
Would they?
I sighed deeply and pushed the paper to the side. With each thing I find, it seems to bring more and more questions. How could one person be so secretive towards his identity, even when going through a mental breakdown?
And what relevance did the 18th century 'to the market, to the market' nursery rhyme have to do with this? What if it didn't have anything to do with this; and it was just me looking too far into something that meant nothing.
The door knocked, almost causing me to jump out of my skin. Quickly taking the files and stacking them up, I rushed towards the door; putting the files on the counter of the onlooking kitchen. Peering through the peephole, I frowned upon seeing Kaitlyn at the door.
"I know you're in there, open up!"
I pulled the door open and frowned. "What're you doing here? You can't be here after sundown,"
Kaitlyn rolled her eyes. "True, but none of 'em would hurt me. Now move over,"
She barged past me and ran straight to the sofa. Catapulting herself upon it, she landed on her back with her feet up. She gave me a toothy smile, while adjusting her glasses on her face.
"So, what're you doing?"
"Uh... Getting ready for bed?" I pointed down to my pyjamas, and silk robe. "C'mon Kaitlyn. I have a long day tomorrow... Xavier has me running all over the place."
"Xavier," Kaitlyn practically drooled. "Now that is one bloodsucker I'd let sink his teeth into me."
Ew. Gross. I made sure to show my distaste to her comment with screwing up my face. Vampire's shouldn't be sinking their teeth into anyone, despite it being their natural instinct. That was the reason there were blood farms, to stop such things happening.
"Oh, cool. VNN. Don't you think Vladimir looks like a naked mole rat?" She pointed to the TV, which showed a congress in progress between the ruler of the vampire world, and the leaders of the human world. I rolled my eyes.
"I don't really look at them like that," I pointed out, pulling my robe closed. "After all, they are my superiors and leaders."
"Half your leaders. Us human's own the other half of your ass," she winked and patted the sofa beside her. Clearly, Kaitlyn showed no signs of leaving. Giving in with a sigh, I made my way over towards her. She scooted her legs out the way, letting me take a seat.
"So, what're you doing up so late?" She asked, having true curiosity written on her face. She pushed her glasses up her nose with her finger, causing her blue eyes to become bigger behind the lenses than what they already were.
Despite being here for a week, and speaking to countless people; I would only class two people as somewhat friends. The rest were merely work colleagues, but Nahuel and Kaitlyn were the ones I found myself rotating towards most of the time. Out of the two, Kaitlyn was the only one who shared the interest I had with 97283, and had even gone as far as trying to persuade her mother in telling her a few things about him - not that it worked, but it was the effort that counted.
"Trying to figure out this 97283 problem." I muttered with a shrug of my shoulders. "I figure that if I manage to get through to him, perhaps Stefan and Vladimir will take notice and then..."
I trailed off with my words, judging on the fact I'd only known Kaitlyn for a short amount of time. Sure, I considered her a friend; but she was a fellow employee at Hellix. If she were to go to her mother, and tell them my personal reasons for wanting to work here; rather than being that 'dedicated worker' they believed me to be.
"Praise you?" She asked, twisting a tendril of her hair within her hand. "I wouldn't count on it, Nes. There was this kid a while back who managed to stop one of 'em hitting their head against the wall. All they received was a thank you letter."
Well, a thank you letter was a sign of recognition. Besides, I was positive I had read that file at some point, and it hadn't been 97283. He was the most stubborn out of them all, and if I managed to break whatever walls he had up; then perhaps I would receive more than a mere letter of thanks.
It was worth a shot.
"Anyway," I quickly stood from the seat. "Since you're doctor Mallory's daughter, you should know a few things on the medical files, right?"
Kaitlyn watched me with curious eyes. "I guess. I read 'em when she sends me for them, or something. Why?"
"D'you know anything about the doctor based in the 1800's?" I tilted my head. Kaitlyn paused for a moment while she pursed her lips. The twisting of her hair had come to a halt, while I watched her carefully skip through her brain for any information.
Something within her eyes lit up, and she returned her attention to me. "There were four doctors back then."
"Four?" I blinked. "I thought they only had one per facility?"
Kaitlyn shrugged. "Back then, I guess they just needed more. With the civil war going on, and vampire's going loopy."
Well my hopes of finding Doctor Z had just hardened. I had four people to try and track down, based on some scruffy handwriting! I couldn't believe what I was getting myself into. I let out a groan and ran my hands through my hair.
"Was there one in contact with block 90 - 83 specifically?" I tried, in dire hope that the odds wouldn't continue to step up against me.
Kaitlyn frowned a little. "Uhh... I'm not sure. Maybe? If you leave it with me, I'll find out from my mom. What's this about, anyway?"
I caved, and spilled everything. "It turns out in 1824, 97283 had a small mental breakdown. This is the only recorded evidence of him ever speaking... Whoever the doctor was, I want to find them and ask them a few things."
She was silent for a few moments as she took in the information. "1824..."
"Yes, the 21st of April. If you could find out who was on call that day, it might help me out."
"I'll do it." Kaitlyn nodded with a grin. "Cracking the case of eighty three. Boy, I feel so bad as-"
There was a knock at the door, causing Kaitlyn to stop her words and for the both of us to go silent. I could hear her heart hammering, or was that my own? Although Kaitlyn appeared to be carefree on the whole sundown rule things, I doubt she had ever had the prospect of being caught before. Christopher had said to me that no matter what, vampire's were not allowed to venture into the human blocks of the village, so I automatically assumed that human's weren't allowed in our section either.
Judging by her reaction, that assumption was true.
"Hide," I mouthed in a hide, which she quickly nodded to.
The knocking continued.
"Just a minute!" I called out, watching Kaitlyn rush towards the corridor holding my bedroom and bathroom. Once she vanished, and a door closed; I walked to the front door to peer out the peep hole. Whomever was there had covered it.
Crap.
Holding my breath, I gently pulled the door open a smidge; only to have it pushed open and a figure break in. The door closed behind them in the same moment, leaving me stunned. When I turned, following the blur that had just entered; I frowned.
"Nahuel?" I blinked. "You gave me a heart attack! I thought you were-"
"The guards?" He hushed. "Be thankful I'm not. They were out here looking, but after I cleared up that the human scent must've been me and you combined, they left. Alright, so where is she?"
He began to look around the room. Behind the couch, behind the drapes, even under a pillow. I loved Nahuel, but sometimes he could be a real moron.
To my left, Kaitlyn emerged from the dark corridor. "Slumber party?"
Nahuel snapped up from his search and glared at the human girl. "D'you realize just how much trouble you could get into with being here, Kat?"
"Jeez, calm down. You're acting like an overprotective brother or something," she rolled her eyes.
Kat? Over protective brother? Wait.. They knew each other? Sure, Kaitlyn had said said Nahuel's name a few times, but I wouldn't of expected them to actually know one another; since Nahuel seemed to spend most of his time working on the floor, or in the M-line room. But now that I was putting thought into it, why wouldn't they know one another? After all; Nahuel was more or less the doctors little helper, and Kaitlyn was the doctors daughter. Thus...
Of course they had to come into contact at some point.
"Your mother is going to kill me if she finds out about this," Nahuel more or less growled. "C'mon. We're leaving, now."
"Uh... You are, I'm not." Kaitlyn counteracted with a smirk. "Nes and I were in the middle of a serious conversation. One that might be able to get me onto the floor, so I ain't going anywhere."
Nahuel's eyes seemed to flare with anxiety and dread. "The floor? For the love of Hellix, Kaitlyn. How many times have we told you? You can't go down there. It's too dangerous,"
"I know how to handle a vampire or two, Nahuel. Besides, it's not like I'll come into contact with a resident until I'm a vampire myself."
I could feel a headache starting with all this information. So far, it did appear that Nahuel and Kaitlyn knew one another. Quite well, actually. She had hit the nail on the head when stating the overprotective brother type, for that is what he was appearing to be in this moment in time. Alongside that, it appeared as though Kaitlyn had some ulterior motive in helping me finding out about eighty three for her own ambitions, not that I minded. The girls had guts, and I liked that. She was using the lemons that were being tossed at her, and doing all she could to follow her dream.
Not only that, but it sounded as though she was going to be turned into a vampire at some point.
I pinched the bridge of my nose while letting out a sigh. "Can we not do this here?"
The sound my voice seemed to spur them into a silence, as though they were finally realizing where this little quarrel was taking place. By all means, if they had unfinished business with arguing; they were welcome to take it outside. But not here, not in my home.
Nahuel took a breath of the air, before relaxing his shoulders and nodding. "Truce for now?"
"Truce," Kaitlyn nodded in agreement.
With that all said and done, I pushed past them both and fell onto the sofa. I was far too exhausted for all of this. For any of it. Understand me as I am, a young eighteen year old girl; who tires out on conflict.
Kaitlyn maneuvered herself across the room to sit beside me, while Nahuel was left standing.
"So what of this important conversation?" He finally voiced the inner thoughts.
I cursed Kaitlyn for saying such a thing, for now there was no way in hell I could hide it from Nahuel. He would do snooping of his own, and eventually find out himself. He could act like a moron, yes; but that didn't mean he was stupid. He was far from it.
When I failed to answer, Katlyn took the spotlight.
"She's researching 97283. Medical files, records, anything she can get her hands on."
Nahuel's eyes could have, and if it were possible most likely would have, fallen out of his sockets. He stared at me with wide eyes, disbelief writing itself across his parallel features.
"You have to be kidding, Renesmee." He gaped. "Eighty three is a resident you don't want to get mixed up with. He's one of the three residents on red alert,"
I rolled my eyes. "Well, aren't they all? It is the red zone, after all."
Kaitlyn sniggered with my comment, but otherwise kept silent.
"No, Nes... This is serious. The reason no one is allowed in with doctor Mallory is for their own safety. We don't know what he's capable of."
"I'm sure someone here must," I frowned. "He can't have stayed silent all these years. It's humanly impossible."
"He isn't human," Nahuel stated matter-of-factly. "And even if he did speak, I doubt we would be able to get our hands on the files. The three red alert residents personal records, that may hold any information, are held in Stefan and Vladimirs office. You have to be a superior to get your hands on one of those!"
"Or..." Kaitlyn mused, raising her hand to tap the pad of her finger against her red lips. "Work closely to a superior to get close to the office.. Someone that would do anything for you."
Nahuel scoffed. "Oh, like one of their assistants? News flash, Kat. They all have assistants."
"Exactly my point," she grinned. "Nahuel, who's 031097's assistant?"
Nahuel frowned for a moment. "Xavier's? Orchid's his, isn't she?"
Orchid. That name rang a bell...
Fiona didn't waste anymore time and quickly walked along the corridor towards her office. Passing hers, she came to the door directly beside it. She briskly knocked three times and pushed the door open and stepped inside.
"Oh," she paused as she stepped inside. I stayed at the door and witnessed a girl at the lone desk within the room, sorting through some paperwork. Automatically, the dark haired woman with bright blue eyes looked up with surprise written on her face.
"Orchid," Fiona's frown was evident within her voice. "Where's Xavier?"
The girl stood up quickly, files still in her hands. "He's down on the floor, ma'am. I could page down and ask for him to come up, if you like?"
Fiona sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "No, no. We'll go down there. Continue with what you were doing. Sorry to have interrupted."
The girl's bashful smile was clear as she hid her gaze. Fiona backed out of the room and closed the door behind her.
That girl was his assistant. Now it made sense as to why she was in his office going through his files. But what I couldn't understand was, why would Xavier - who appeared to be the most terrifying superior out of them all - have a human assistant? Surely he would grow tired of the screw ups? Surely he would want an immortal do his work, for it would be done quicker?
After all, Fiona's assistant was an immortal; just as most of the assistants to the superiors in the yellow and blue zones I had encountered.
"Yes," Kaitlyn nodded her head, that bewitching smile finding itself to her face yet again. "The precious distant niece, who he trusts with every single file, key and meeting arrangements he has in that office of his. And whom might I ask is she most bashful around?"
Ah, so she was his niece... Born into the bloodline in which a sibling of Xavier had created a long time ago.
The bashfulness seemed a little amusing; for she seemed to be that all the time. I had only met her once, and even then she had blushed under the gaze of Fiona; who had been glaring at the time. Wait, could it be...
"Oh, no." Nahuel shook his head. "I have a strict 'no getting involved with colleagues' rule. Especially human ones."
Kaitlyn rolled her eyes. "Pft, please. Everyone here knows you'd bone my mom at any given chance."
"I would not!" Nahuel growled. "Wait... Everyone?"
"Even her." Kaitlyn laughed. "I could put in a good word... She listens to me, y'know. Dating advice an' all... But, I guess if you're gonna be a coward and hide away from something that could help our dear lil' Nessie out... I'll have to tell her that you are a coward next time she asks about you."
"She asks about me?" Nahuel blinked. I envied Kaitlyn's ability to do this. Although it was basically blackmail, it was good. Very, very good. She was tempting him, without him even realizing it. Already, I could see him leaning closer and closer to the idea.
My lips began to curve on their own.
"Oh yeah," Kaitlyn nodded. "A gentle nudge, and she might even consider it..."
Nahuel was having an inner battle with himself. I could see it, and I knew Kaitlyn could also. The look she had on her face let me know all I needed to do in this moment was sit back and relax as it all unraveled. For good measure, I stared Nahuel right in the eyes as he looked to me.
Pouting my lip, and giving the best puppy dog eyes I could muster, I mouthed the words 'Please' breathlessly.
He groaned loudly and let his head fall back. "Fine. I'll do it. I'll ask the girl out, and get you those files."
Kaitlyn and I shrieked in sync, while we rushed forward to embrace him. Nahuel might've seemed as though he didn't enjoy the hug, but I knew different. Nahuel was a massive hugger, and always would be.
"But only if you guys come with me," he said in the middle of the huddle. "Both of you, this saturday."
"That's two days away?" I blinked, pulling myself away from him.
"We're in," Kaitlyn hushed me. "Don't worry."
He seemed to relax, and slinked his arms around our shoulders. "Until then, lets just watch some TV."
He pulled us both back down onto the sofa, one of us either side of him while he was planted in the middle. His hand reached for the remote and turned it from VNN, to VD - Vampire drama. Another uncanny named channel based up of all vampire actors, stories around vampires, and so on. The movie currently on, was a classical twist on Beauty and the Beast. A human girl, kidnapped and held prisoner by an evil vampire; who gets a bad case of stockholm syndrome and falls in love with him.
While the other two were content with watching, I continued to grin to myself. My eyes flicked to the files on the counter of the kitchen, and I felt my heart flutter. With Kaitlyn going to find out about doctor Z, and Nahuel going to get some classified files from Orchid; I was one step closer in getting to know eighty three, and thus... One step closer to freedom.
—xXx—
I had, without a doubt, endured the most awkward sleep in my entire life. I wasn't aware of when, or how it had happened; but it had. Throughout some point of the movie, I had fallen asleep sitting up, with my head against Nahuel's shoulder.
I awoke the next morning with him, and Kaitlyn still there. My limbs were aching with the awkward position I had been sat in the entire night.
Mentally reminding myself from now on, after 9pm; I really did need to refuse to open the door. Without my good rest, I didn't feel myself. The pain in the back of my neck was what seemed to be occupying my thoughts more than what my current task was.
Which, I myself didn't entirely understand why I was going through this.
Sat in the breakout area, the very same spot to which Kaitlyn had met me in, I was faced with mathematical sums to figure out. What did math have to do with looking after criminals? I suppose the link was there, if I were to look into it far enough.
Perhaps they were merely testing my knowledge on numbers; to see how I would cope with using the ID number code only, since I had been here a week and was slowly getting to grips with the change. I knew most of the employee's ID numbers I came into contact with, and some of the residents. Of course, there was one I knew without hesitation.
His number would plague me until I figured him out.
I took refuge in the fact as I sat here doing these pointless sums, Kaitlyn was off speaking to her mother. Nahuel? Well... I supposed he was off trying to build up the confidence to ask Orchid on a date, alongside trying to figure out how not to be killed by Xavier if it all went wrong.
4x + 14 = 50.
God I hated math in school. English had always been my favorite. Getting lost within a good book... Reading tales of how life could be, if I wasn't stuck within places like this. Finding a soulmate, and battling out all the troubles together. Life in fairy tales seemed perfect, but unrealistic. Maybe that was what made them appealing? Because they gave you a sense of fantasy, something you know might never happen; but what could if you believed hard enough?
With a sigh, I began to jot down some working out.
50 - 14 = 36.
36 / 4 = 9.
x = 9.
Looking up from my never ending list of sums, I frowned at the sight of Matthew - Fiona's assistant - walking hand in hand with... 031107. Oh my god, that must be it! Matthew was married, but to Zachary, one of the superiors here.
My heart melted at the sight of some love in this place. Upon coming here, there had been no sign of compassion, or love. Just straight up professionalism and work. There was no time for relations, so to think that someone here had a love story going on... It was a breath of fresh air.
Alongside a breath of homesickness.
Already, I was beginning to miss my family. Watching them, in their couples, go around the day revolving around one another. Gravitating around them. Smiling, laughing, walking hand in hand, the odd secret kiss that they believed no one to see.
I could almost picture my grandmother in the kitchen, cooking for her garden club; and my grandfather sitting by the island reading a newspaper. Or my mother, her arms around my fathers shoulders while he tries to beat Alice in another game of Chess.
And Aunt Rose, complaining about Emmett never getting up from the sofa. To which he would merely pull her down to sit with him, and result in a fit of giggles as he tickles her.
I missed them all, and I would give anything to be with them now. But, I was here for a reason. It wouldn't be long until I was with them again, and we could be like that - a family - without the stress of the Hellix facility ever again. We could even move, to some place other than Alaska. New York... Washington, where mom originally met my father, and we could be closer to Grandpa Charlie. Or Arizona, and be closer to Grandma Renee and Phil...
Boy, it would be nice to live somewhere warm.
"Nessie?" I jumped, and stared frantically up to the cautious voice of Kaitlyn.
She had an awkward look on her face, almost sheepish and cautious. Behind her was...
Oh no.
The woman looking back at me was tall, and beautiful. Dressed in a grey dress, with a white overcoat. Her features were stern, and sharp. With bright red eyes, and dark makeup surrounding her orbs; making the red all the more terrifying. The chestnut brown hair waving down from her head was obviously a family thing, for Kaitlyn had the exact same - only a little messier, and not as healthy looking.
On her overcoat, the silver plate encrypted with 57398.
Looking back at me, with the eyes of the devil, was none other than Doctor Monica Mallory.
"I'd like you to meet my mother," Kaitlyn blushed, awkwardly looking over to the side.
The woman cleared her throat, and put out her hand. "Pleasure."
I quickly got up and took her hand, making sure to bow my head down. "Doctor Mallory, it's an honor."
She dropped my hand and gazed at her manicured fingers. "Trembling hands. Seems accurate due to the circumstances. Tell me, what business do you have with finding out about Doctor Zvan?"
Zvan? Doctor Z! She knew him! Well, dug Renesmee. Of course she did.
"Oh, I um... I'm doing a little research-"
She cut me off. "On 97283. I'm aware, Kaitlyn told me that much. What I'm curious as to, is why?"
My palms were beginning to sweat, and I could feel the air going thin. I wasn't good with confrontation. I wasn't good with any type of confrontation at all! Especially when her eyes were reminding me of death!
"... I'm curious?" I more or less asked. Could I use that as an excuse? She didn't seem to even blink, so I came to the conclusion that; no. I couldn't. With a sigh, I shook my head to clear my thoughts. I had to think this one through. I needed to make it sound convincing, but vague. After all, I couldn't really let her know I wanted to snoop on some resident based on the fact no one knew anything about him, and he had made sure no one had for all this time.
"I just believe that he must have spoken to someone," I mused. "At some point. Theres no way he could be silent for this long... And Xavier seems adamant on trying to get him to talk. If I could help him with that, maybe take some stress of, it might be a little more... comfortable in the workplace. Plus, it could stop his refusal of taking his daily intake. Perhaps he just needs someone to talk to."
Monica blinked at me, while tilting her head to the side. She took in the words I had said, and with pale pink lips parting; she retorted "His appointments with me are his chance to speak, but he refuses to do that also until recently."
My eyes widened a little. "He spoke to you?"
"In some words, yes." She looked to her daughter, who was staring at her with as much surprise as I had. With a deep sigh, Monica continued. "He asked for your name."
Had I just heard right? Had I had a momentary replace and heard something completely different than what was being said, or had she literally said... He asked what my name was? Although it must have seemed as a bit of a breakthrough, I couldn't put my finger on why.
Why would he want my name, when everyone here did the exact same as I did? They observed him as much as I did. They paid attention to him as much as I did - Xavier certainly did. But then again... I was a new face. Someone he didn't know, whereas he must've been used to seeing Xavier's face constantly, day in and day out. Or perhaps he just wanted the name of the employee he was making out to be crazy?
"D-did you tell him?"
"Of course not," she scoffed. "I didn't know your name until after he asked and I looked you up. Just earlier today, I offered him a deal. For your name, he give me his."
"So you have his name?"
With his name, it would be easier to look him up! I wouldn't need to meet with this doctor Zvan, if I were to ever find him! My efforts would be cut in half, and I'd be able to set on with focusing on getting free from this place.
"No." She sighed. "He isn't fond of deals."
Oh, well; there goes that idea then.
"Miss Cullen, I must insist on you staying clear of eighty three." Oh boy, here it comes. The usual thing I was used to hearing. "He's a complex being that not even I have come to understand yet. Might I remind you he is an inmate of this facility for his wrongdoings. Whatever the reason be, he is here for that reason."
Yes, but what reason?! That's what I want to know!
"Do you understand?" She said, rather sternly.
Slowly, I nodded. "Understood, ma'am."
"Good," she turned her gaze to Kaitlyn. "I'll see you at dinner."
The woman in gray and a white overcoat walked away, her black heels clicking as she made her way along the breakout area. Kaitlyn and I stood in silence watching her leave, trying to comprehend what had happened; until she spoke.
"Well, that's a downer." She mused. "What's the plan now?"
I slumped back into my seat. "Nothing. You heard her. We need to get Nahuel and tell him not to try get those records, since you couldn't get the files from your mother."
Kaitlyn snorted.
I looked up in confusion. "What?"
"Who couldn't get those files?" She smiled, parting her dark denim jacket and pulling the brown envelope from under her jacket. My eyes widened as she handed them over.
"Is this..."
"48275. Doctor Malakai Zvan. Original doctor of patient 97283, and currently living Fundeni."
I looked down to the file in awe, admiration and complete gratitude. In here was his work... Where I could find him. This was the answer I had been waiting on, and all there was left now was for Nahuel's records; then I could perhaps gets somewhere with this.
Looking back up to Kaitlyn, I was unable to hide my smile. "I could kiss you right now."
She scoffed and sat herself down beside me. "I'll pass on that for now sweetie, but you can buy me a drink on our date with Orchid."
"You can have all the drinks you want for this."
"I'll hold you to that," she grinned. Clutching the file to my chest, unable to part with it; my name was called out from the floor above.
Dressed in the very same suit I had seem him wear on our first encounter, I could have sworn I was seeing a ghost. Christopher was calling out my name, bringing attention to us both.
The jaw droppingly gorgeous Australian vampire waved for my attention, despite him already having it. "Yes?" I said, seeing as I didn't need to shout. He could have heard me a mile away, anyhow.
"031097 is sending for you," he called down. "Fiona too. Now."
I nodded my head quickly, and handed the file back to Kaitlyn. "Hold onto this until tonight."
"Slumber party, round two." She winked, and watched as I rushed towards the elevator.
I didn't have the time to insist that it wasn't a 'slumber party,' and she wouldn't be staying the night; but I couldn't leave Xavier and Fiona waiting. Not with the added 'Now' part Christopher had expressed. Hastily putting in the key, I stepped inside.
Going below ground, I was quick to step out coming to the work floor. Just as always, the place was bare - with faces passing to different sectors, going in and out of offices. Fiona and Xavier stood in the middle of 90-83, chatting to one another while looking down at a clipboard.
I wasted no time in rushing forward.
"You sent for me?" I said as I stopped just before them.
Fiona looked up, while Xavier continued to read over the clipboard.
"Yes," Fiona nodded. "It was set for Matthew to do a small set of observations today, but he's taken some time off." With his husband, I could hear the ending without her even saying it.
"The residents have just taken their intake, and are needing observation. Would you take the shift? Matthew will take yours in return tomorrow."
Well, that couldn't work out better. Tomorrow was Saturday, after all.
I nodded in agreement. "Of course,"
Without warning, Fiona pulled the clipboard from Xavier and handed it to me. He said nothing, but merely glared.
"Hurry now," she smiled, though that was a direct order.
With another agreeing nod, I set on working from 97290 down. As I expected, all stayed the exact same; but I was sure 97288 was warming to me. Rather than glare at me anymore, she just looked one and set on ignoring me. Zoe was hostile still, yes. But at least I wasn't getting daggers. 97287 had moved on from watching me back curiously, to giving sly winks here and there. Flirtatious too, huh? The whole story on he being in love with a woman, and still being in love with her, coulda' fooled me on being false with the winks. He seemed perfectly alright.
Rhiannon was as cute as ever, and had come up to the glass to show me the bear. Using her hand, she made it wave. Only the heartless would be able to resist smiling at that.
Finally, 97283.
He wasn't in the corner on his bed; but more so in the corner on the floor. His legs weren't crossed, either. One was stretched out in front of him, while the other was propped up to rest his arm on. He was facing directly forward, but his head pointed to the ceiling.
To think that this boy had been in the doctors company, asking for my name, caused an odd sensation to form within my stomach. What was this? A mixture of fear, and excitement? The fact that I had a criminal asking for my name? It should scare me. No. I should terrify me.
He was in the red zone for christ sake. In the red zone, on red alert might I add. He was one of the top three dangerous people within this facility, and he was asking for my name. I shouldn't be excited, I should be scared.
But I wasn't. I was curious. I was intrigued. I was interested...
And I was being looked at again.
Without even realizing, he had at some point opened his eyes and turned his head to look straight ahead - directly at me. My breath caught in my throat, while the feeling of being eaten alive took over.
Being captivated by the dull red eyes - meaning he hadn't taken his intake again. I glanced to the wall, only to find that his cup was still there. Looking back, eighty three merely tilted his head towards me. His eyebrow arched, and directed his gaze towards the place I had been looking. The cup.
He slowly stood up from his seat, and I managed to see the markings just below his collarbone, on his peck. I had thought it odd when I came here that none of the residents had their ID numbers on their clothing, but merely put it off to the fact that it was due to the fact they were forever in their cells. But they did have their ID number on them...
But it was on their flesh.
In bold, dark block writing was 972-
I wasn't able to see the rest, for he had gotten up and stopped the view I had from him leaning forward; but I wasn't stupid. That was his ID number, and it was engraved onto him.
I could have been sick. If he had it... Then the rest of them must have.
That little girl, who smiled and waved and played with her bear...
Eighty three made his way to the cup and picked it out of the wall; causing the shutter to close.
He brought the cup to his lips, and began to drink the substance within the container. Not once did he take his eyes from me, and only did when he needed to close them to rest his head back and finish off the intake.
But as soon as he was finished, he went straight back to looking at me. He tilted the cup forward, as if to show me he had indeed drunk the liquid keeping him alive.
I don't know what possessed me too, but I nodded. As if I were praising him.
He rolled his eyes and tossed the cup to the other side of the room. I watched as he retreated to his corner on the floor, took the same perch as before; but kept his eyes on me.
His head tilting every now and then, while I fumbled with the pen.
"Am I seeing this correctly?"
I let out a small squeal at the voice over my shoulder, causing me to jump out of my skin. Turning frantically, I gawked at my two superiors; who apparently had been observing me, observe the residents. Fiona had been the one to speak; while Xavier looked as though he was crossed between disbelief and confusion.
Wait, they were seeing this? They were actually seeing him looking at me? For real? He wasn't looking away. Oh, my he wasn't looking away! They now know I was telling the truth. They knew I wasn't crazy! Thank the leaders! I was in the clear, I wasn't deemed insane! Whatever game this boy had been playing, he clearly had given up. Thank God. I didn't know how much more of it I could have taken.
"I told you it was a good idea to watch her, Xavier. Doctor Mallory wouldn't fabricate such things,"
So Doctor Mallory had informed them that he had asked for my name, causing their interest to peak? Or more likely their suspicion to rise. For Fiona, that is; since she hadn't believed me the first time.
"This is..." Xavier said, but stopped himself. His eyes moved to look down at me, while I tried to figure out what the hell was going on. "What did you do to make him do that?"
"Do what?"
"Eat. Look at you. Move... All of it." His tone was coming across hostile and dark, perhaps... Jealous? Understandable, since he had been working here longer than I.
"I... Nothing. I just got there," I mused.
"See, it is nothing the girl has done; but more so the resident. This is all on his part, Renesmee has nothing to do with this."
"But why?" Xavier frowned. "I don't understand."
"It's not in understanding, Xavier. It's what is happening, weither you or I understand or not."
I cleared my throat. "Uhm.. Why did you send for me, if not to merely observe?"
Fiona sighed. "Renesmee... 97283 here has a set date on when he usually refuses to eat. Today is that day, and he was doing so until we sent for you. It was a long shot, but after hearing from Doctor Mallory on his curiosity towards you, I felt as though it was worth a try to see if you could trigger him to eat."
"And it worked," Xavier said rather harshly. I blinked several times in confusion. So, it wasn't because they wanted me to work; but more so to see if I could cause someone to eat? I was getting the sense that it was a little less cynical than what it sounded like in my head.
Fiona gave a large grin as she pressed a hand onto Xavier's shoulder.
"From this point on, I think we should have her be eighty three's usual observer. He responds to her more than others,"
The flare of anger in Xavier's eyes was not missed, nor was it welcomed. Quite frankly, it was a little intimidating. I gulped down the lump forming in my throat.
"Very well," he eventually agreed. "From this point on, 031095; you'll be his observer. This doesn't mean you slack in other works, it just means you will be observing him and no others. A full forty minutes watching him."
I didn't get to speak before Xavier cut in. "Continue your work."
And with that, I watched as both my superiors walked off. Xavier storming, and Fiona more or less gliding behind him, speaking in Romanian tongue.
Had I... Just gotten a promotion?
I turned to look at eighty three, who was still watching. He arched his eyebrow more, tilted his head and let it rest against the wall behind him. Forty minutes of this...
Shakily, I held the clipboard to my chest. This didn't feel like a promotion at all. In fact, it felt like a sentence. Under the eyes of this devil, I felt weak and disposable.
But more than anything, I felt exposed.