Chapter ten: Alec.
97283 was sentenced to eight weeks in solitary confinement, and there was no getting out of that. Upon finding this out myself, that this sentence was set in stone, I asked him what he thought about it.
His reply was simple, in cursive block letters.
It's not so bad; especially since it means I have you here without anyone else interupting.
In my time watching him, being his caregiver, arranging when he was to eat and when to rest, I had come to find that he was extremely flirtatious and charming. I had no doubt in my mind that when he was free, eighty three had no problem with women, nor any problem in how to speak to them.
As the weeks had gone on, 97283 and I had grown to share a bond. A mutual feeling of trust, and compassion for one another. He ate to ease my worry, and I told him about the outside world. We played games, shared joke...
And it became clear just how sarcastic 97283 could be. He told me little things about himself, like his favorite blood type.
O+. I made it my priority to make sure that was the type he got daily, which he noted and thanked me for. His favorite color had been sky blue, for that had been the color of his sisters eyes when they were human - but he had forgotten the last time he had seen the sky. Although probably against the rules, I had taken a picture of the sky. Puffy white clouds, floating across the light blue canvas, with the sun beating down.
He seemed to stare at that through the glass forever.
All in all, whatever I was doing; seemed to make him more cooperative. But I couldn't ignore the fact that each time he went away for a session with Doctor Mallory, he would come back worse than he had gone away. His eyes would be darker, which he would comply with drinking the daily intake waiting for him. He would seem more clammy and pale.
Anytime I would ask what had happened, he would shrug it off and write 'Nothing to worry about.'
I wanted to believe in that. I really did, but how could I when the evidence was staring at me in the face? He was getting worse, and I had no idea why.
Until today.
97283 had one week left in his two month incarceration within solitary confinement, and yet again he was in another session; meaning I wouldn't see him for the remainder of the day - if they even let him out later on. So far, he'd been in there since yesterday.
But Kaitlyn had gotten ahold of Nahuel, told him to retrieve me and quickly; because it was urgent.
There was only one reason as to why she would do such a thing. Either she had a wardrobe malfunction, or she had found out something.
Based on the fact I had asked her to try and find things out about the tests they were conducting, I would bet anything to that being the reason she had called for both Nahuel and I.
Currently, Nahuel had parked the car outside of the Mallory apartment. Despite Doctor Mallory being a vampire, she was freely living in the human residence due to her daughter being of that species. Plus, Doctor Mallory was rarely ever home.
We barely got a chance to knock on the door before Kaitlyn threw the door open and pulled us inside. She was quick to close the door behind her, lock it and turn to us with a serious and dire look upon her face.
"Did anyone follow you?"
I frowned, and glanced towards Nahuel. He was just as confused as I.
"No?"
"Are you sure?"
"Kat, you're scaring her." Nahuel scoffed.
She gave a sigh, the air parting through her clenched teeth, creating the breath to sound like a hiss.
"C'mon." She took hold of my arm and began to pull me through the apartment. I didn't have a chance to look around the family home. All I was able to see was the fact the layout was exactly like my own; despite the few differences. The sofa, especially. It wasn't a large L shaped one; but rather two different sets of double cream colored sofas.
She dragged me down a hallway, with pictures littered over the walls. Family pictures, of her and her mother mostly. A few other people were present, and I was surprised to see one of her, Doctor Mallory and Xavier.
Kaitlyn didn't let me have the chance to look at it fully before she'd pulled me into a room.
The smell captivating room was bleach like, and strict. Distinctive and strong...
It was her room.
I looked around my surroundings, and found myself smiling at the slightly childish bedroom. The sheets were a lilac, while flowers were painted onto the walls in a swirling motion.
Surprisingly, her room was clean. Based on how messy she always left my apartment when she came to visit, I wouldn't have expected her to have such a clean bedroom. In fact, I expected it to be a little bit of a bomb site.
I was pleasantly mistaken, clearly.
Nahuel closed the door behind him, and somewhat awkwardly looked around like I had been doing. Kaitlyn was at a TV on her wall.
"Take a seat," she motioned her hand towards her double bed.
I looked to Nahuel, who shrugged his shoulders and took lead. He sat himself down, leant his elbows onto his knees and arched an eyebrow to the human girl rummaging through some drawers under the TV on the wall.
I sat beside him, and wrapped my arms around myself. No matter how many times I came out of that dungeon like place, the coldness never seemed to leave me straight away.
Kaitlyn seemed to have found what she was looking for, and sat herself back. She pressed a button on the remote now in her hand, causing the TV to come to life. As she stood up, she plugged something into the side of the TV.
Was that a USB memory stick?
"What you're about to see isn't nice, alright?" She turned to look at us. "I mean, I like creepy stuff... But this makes even me feel sick..."
"What is it?" I blinked.
"... Renesmee, if you know anything about 97283, you need to tell them. Telling them will be the only way this will stop."
"But what is this?" Nahuel joined, looking between Kaitlyn and I.
I was too concerned with the look she had in her eyes. She was really disturbed with whatever was on that flash drive. A overpowering wave of anxiety washed over me, and I was left wondering if I really wanted to know what was on that thing.
But if it involved 97283, of course I did.
Kaitlyn let out a sigh, and closed her eyes. She pressed a button on the remote, and the screen flipped to another channel. The blue background changed to a paused image of her mother up close to the camera.
She pressed play, and the image came to life.
It was a video log.
Everything went silent, as the image of Doctor Mallory began to speak.
"Expedition four hundred and thirty three. Present here is myself, Doctor Monica Mallory, ID code; 57398. Superior Xavier Harris, ID number 031097, and Superior Fiona Astring; ID number 031111. Ongoing last sessions failure, we have been placed under strict orders to heighten amount of stimulation, in hopes that we can break past the uncertainty of 97283's identity. So far, he has been persistent in resisting all forms of conduct; but we are hopeful."
I frowned a little, already feeling my blood beginning to run cold.
Doctor Mallory moved out of the way to reveal eighty three tied down onto a bed; his hands and feet bound by steel plates around his wrists and ankles.
Not only that, but he was only wearing a pair of plain boxershorts. His chest was bare, and I could see every small defining line. He wasn't buff, nor was he flat. He was... Perfectly defined. A normal, in which I'd always found attractive. On his left pec, however.. There was that ghastly engraving of his ID number.
If this was anything else, and I were to see him shirtless; I might have blushed. I'd never seen a man I knew personally, so... Bare before. Not even Nahuel. But this was no blushing matter. On his chest were strange circular devices, connected to wires that lead off him. Two were placed on either temple on his head, and multiple all the way down his arms.
Beside him was a monitor. One that might've been used to watch oxygen in the blood levels, or the heart rate... But neither were working. This device was completely different. Dark, and sinister looking. With the camera pointed directly towards eighty three, I was unable to see who's hand it was that reached for the device and rested on a dial.
Doctor Mallory's voice spoke again.
"With the success of this device on inmate 97284-' Louise? The girl who glared at anyone who came near her cell? '- clarifying that she is indeed in the possession of telekinesis; we have no doubts that 97283 will eventually subcome to G.E.D."
Doctor Mallory nodded her head, and the hand on the dial pressed down. Thick green lines appeared on the monitor; rising up from one, to two, then three...
97283's back arched, and his eyes closed tightly. His teeth were clenched, and the veins in his neck protruding. He was in intensive pain...
"All you have to do is let it out, eighty three. Make his hand on the dial fall by using your gift." Fiona's voice cood.
Eighty three hissed back a groan of pain, and turned his head away. He was fighting it.
The pressure in which Xavier - since he was the only male in the room - pressed onto the dial intensified, making the green lines build up more.
Five, six, seven..
Eighty three let out a harsh groan of pain, it getting caught in his throat. I had at some point reached out and grabbed hold of Nahuel's arm, my eyes widening with what I was watching on the screen.
"You can end this, 97283!" The male voice of Xavier called, and his hand pressing down on the dial continues to make the lines rise up.
Ten, eleven, twelve.
His groan turned into a scream.
My hands moved up to cover my face, while I shrieked in horror. I didn't like this. I didn't like this one bit. He was in pain, they were hurting him!
Kaitlyn stopped the video by pausing it. It paused directly on his face, screwed up in pain.
I took deep breaths, hiding my face within my hands. I could feel Nahuel's arm around me, gently moving up and down my arm in an attempt of comfort; but there was no comforting me after that.
Not after I just witnessed such a barbaric thing.
"What the hell was that?" Nahuel asked my unspoken question.
"... That's the tests. G.E.D stands for Gift Extraction Device. They broke Louise by making her send the thing flying across the room... It's intended to cause intense pain, to the point where the one being inflicted will do anything, and everything to stop it."
"You mean like..." Nahuel's words trailed off.
"It's re-creating the feeling of being turned."
My blood went cold in that instant.
My heart was in my throat.
I felt sick.
If there was one thing I knew about being turned into a vampire, was that it was the worst imaginable torture known to man. Although I had never gone through such pain, I wasn't unknown to it. Dad, mom, my aunts and uncles, my cousins... They all never sheltered the fact being turned into a vampire was the worst pain any of them had ever been under.
Now to know that they were doing this to him... Recreating the worst time of his life, the worst pain in his life, over and over again... Just so that he would break and give his identity?
I'll admit, it was smart. They didn't need him to confirm who he was with words; but by doing this to him; to get him to prove his gift to them... Be it illusionary pain, or sensory paralysis, that would be the conformation they needed.
"W-when... When was this done?" I finally looked up to my friend.
Her eyes saddened drastically, and she looked down to her feet.
"That was uploaded to my mom's files an hour ago... I looked into it, and they're scheduled to do another one next week - if this one fails."
Another one? So he was to go through this pain again? "How many times is he going to go through that?"
Kaitlyn's expression darkened, and she looked more disheartened than ever. Honestly, it was as if she were telling me a relative of mine had passed away.
"Until he shows them what he can do."
I couldn't contain it anymore. I needed to stop this. I needed this to end. Whatever they were doing to him had to stop this instant.
Before I knew it, I was on my feet and rushing out the door. Nahuel and Kaitlyn were rushing after me, and it didn't take long for them to catch up to me. They had no choice but to get in the car alongside me, as I hastily made my way towards the HF. Despite their questions ringing in my head, over and over; I ignored them.
I was far too preoccupied with trying to understand this all.
I understood why eighty three was keeping it silent. He had told me that, and therefore told them that - due to the camera's.
But that was in their knowledge anyhow.
However, was the fact that he knew what they were trying to do in their knowledge? I doubted it. As of recently, he hadn't uttered a single word to anyone. They could have merely believed he was being stubborn, and hard willed, but believed he would break eventually.
Now with the conformation that he knew exactly what they were doing, they were going to try twice as hard; something I couldn't let happen.
Nahuel and Kaitlyn followed me all the way into the Hellix Facilities welcome room, but hadn't got the chance to get into the elevator before I was already on my way downward.
There was no way in hell they weren't pressing the elevator keys to try and get down also; but I refused to give up so easily. I would get there before they could stop me.
The doors opened, and I rushed through the blocks; ignoring all those who turned to look my way. I made a B-line for the staircase; and began hastily rushing down them. Skipping steps, and doing my best not to trip; I finally came to the final floor.
Rushing down the narrow corridor, my eyes turned into a glare upon seeing Xavier walking up.
His eyes returned the glare, and his lips parted to speak. Most likely to scold me for rushing; but he didn't get the chance. I grabbed hold of his shirt and slammed him against the wall.
"What the hell have you done to him?!"
Xavier's eyes gave nothing away. "Remove your hands from me, 031095."
Instead, I tightened my grip and balled my hands into fists; clutching to the fabric of his shirt as if it were my lifeline. "I thought this place was supposed to help people like him, but instead all you do is torture him with some stupid device! Is his gift all that you are interested in?! He is a person too, y'know!"
Xavier's expression went dead as realization dawned upon him.
"Do you not remember the pain you went through? Why the hell make him go through that again? Why?! Just for some silly little gift?!"
My arms were ripped from holding onto Xavier, and once again; I was bound by my wrists. Held against a chest.
"For the love of Hellix. Are you alright, Xavier?"
I turned my head to look at Fiona, coming close enough and gently fixing Xavier's shirt. His expression still didn't change from the dead, cold look.
"You're all monsters," I hissed towards them. "All of you. Doing that to him. He's helpless in there!"
"Helpless? And how do you know that?" Fiona laughed. "He could be the monster here!"
"Bullshit!" I snarled. "You're torturing him!"
"And how do you know that?"
"I saw it with my own eyes on the video log. Your stupid little GED device... Just wait until Stefan and Vladimir hear about thi-"
"You stupid little girl. They are the ones who ordered it!" Fiona scoffed. "What I'd like to know is how she came to see it."
Her attention had moved to Xavier, who up until now, stayed silent.
He averted his eyes away and shook his head. "Perhaps a breach."
"Either way, we need to send her upstairs." Fiona decided.
And in that moment, I was dragged away kicking and shouting.
I had no idea what 'upstairs' meant, but I doubt I would like it.
Fiona and Xavier were left standing, watching as I was pulled from the corridor and carried up the steps again.
Xavier turned his head to look at Fiona as she sighed deeply. "I had a feeling this would happen."
"What will they do to her?" He quired.
"Probably the same thing they did to Malakai. Swear her to secrecy by threatening those she loves, terminate her employment here... And send her home."
Xavier was relieved. Despite the fact he only viewed me as a complete and utter nuisance, he too saw something. A spark in which he used to possess when coming here. The desire to help those who needed it most; but just like everything good - it had been eaten away by the darkness, and the secrets this place had in store.
"She's lucky she's getting out now," he said. "At least then she will remain a little innocent."
Fiona rolled her eyes, and brushed down her pencil skirt. "Don't get cute, Xavier. It doesnt' suit you."
He stood there, watching as Fiona walked on without him; following the trail in which the guards had dragged me up. Despite usually being expected to follow after her, Xavier turned his line of view towards the door he had just come out of. The door in which 97283 was in...
He walked towards it, and pushed it open; stepping inside the chamber in which I had sat for hours on end, conversing with the very boy behind the glass.
His body was slumped over the bed; his breathing rapid and harsh. He was still recovering from the G.E.D stimulation.
As Xavier walked closer, 97283 looked up at him; his eyes full of hope. He knew who eighty three was expecting to see... Who he wanted to see. As soon as eighty three realized that it wasn't who he had hoped, he sent a glare and turned his eyes away.
"Is it true?" He asked himself. "Are we the monsters here?"
—xXx—
"You realize the problem we have here, miss Cullen?"
I gritted my teeth towards the two men in front of me.
There was a time I idolized these two. There was a time I thought they only wanted to do good for our kind. Of course, I wanted to be free of them; but that didn't mean I didn't think of them in a good manner. They were the creators of the new world. They were everything our world stood for; and they dealt with the crimes with a fair hand.
Now... Now my views had been totally turned down. If they were willing to do that... To 97283, for no other reason than to find out if he was one of the members of a mythical coven; then what the hell could they do to to anyone else?
"By not only breaking into classified files, you are also refusing to tell us how you managed to obtain them? Alongside raising your hands to a superior... These are chargeable offenses."
"Then charge me." I said through an icy voice. It might've been the adrenaline coursing through my veins for me saying that, since the thought of my family never once went through my head. I didn't think about what this would do to them, only being able to visit me at set times... Perhaps not even visit me at all. But I didn't care. I was standing my ground. I was doing what my father had always taught me to do. Believe in what I thought was right, and what they were doing wasn't right at all.
"You say that," Stefan chuckled. "But your eyes say differently."
To prove a point, I rolled them. "I wish people would stop telling me what my eyes say."
Vladimir, who had been pacing back and forth, finally sat himself down beside his companion. He clasped his hands together in front of him, and sighed deeply through his nose.
"You realize we are left with only one option?"
I bit my tongue.
"As of tomorrow morning, your employment here is terminated. You'll be put on the next flight to Alaska, and are required to sign a discretionary form."
The form Malakai had to sign... So he didn't leave because he wanted to, he had found out too much; didn't agree with it and was forced to leave.
"What if I refuse to sign?" I arched an eyebrow towards them.
"Then we have no choice but to bring the safety of your family into the picture."
My heart stopped.
"You wouldn't want anything to happen to them now, would you?"
"You wouldn't."
Stefan leant forward, his dark red eyes glaring into my own. I knew what was going on here... They were playing good cop, bad cop. But whoever was who, I had no clue. All I was aware was... It was working.
"Wouldn't we?"
"Now now, Stefan." Vladimir placed a hand onto his companion's shoulder. "Leave the girl be. It is up to her on which she chooses to do."
His milky red eyes turned to me, and he offered me a very fake, friendly smile.
That smile wasn't meant to comfort me. It was meant to scare me, and currently... It was doing so. He was showing me just how much I was surrounded. How backed off into a corner I really was, and there was nothing I could do about it.
If I chose to speak up about this, and stick up for 97283; then my family would suffer. If I didn't, then he would suffer. In the end, it was a choice between blood, and bonds. I was the only one eighty three had opened up to the way he had, and he trusted me with things. But my family...
My family were my family.
I couldn't have them suffer after everything they'd done for me. Aunt Alice, who taught me how to dance. Or Aunt Rose, who had attempted to show me how to work a makeup brush, or Grandpa making me countless meals... Grandpa, with always treating me as if I were deathly ill; even though he knew I was faking it. Or Uncle Emmett and Jasper, who always lost play fights to me, just to make me smile and cheer out in victory...
Or mom and dad...
My heart was melting right there in front of me, in that wicked smile of my leaders.
"What would happen if I signed?" I whispered, averting my gaze down.
"You will return to Alaska as none of this ever happened. As if you were never here in the first place." Vladimir answered. "You will attend monthly appointments at the nearest facility to you, and that is it."
My eyes snapped up towards them. Monthly visits, instead of daily, or weekly? They were more or less offering me...
"You'll be free," Stefan nodded, finishing off my thoughts. "The one thing you've desired most, no?"
So they have heard about my desire to be free of this place? That I was working my way up to them, in hopes I'd be let loose; to live my life the way I wanted. The way my family had always wanted...
But that was nothing but a dream of mine. I was here for another reason now...
Eighty three needed my help. He needed me... I couldn't abandon him like that, could I?
"I refuse to put you, and those you care for in harms way."
I felt as though my heart was breaking. Shattering into a thousand pieces right in front of me. I was being forced to choose between my loyalty to my family, and... Eighty three.
Sweet, charming, sarcastic, funny eighty three, who had singled me out from anyone else. Who had chosen me, based on the fact he knew I was different. The dangerous criminal of the Red Zone, who would rather suffer all that pain; than let anyone know who he was... So that they wouldn't be in danger. So that I wouldn't be in danger.
I couldn't return to Alaska, acting as though none of this happened; because it had. In coming to Romania, I hadn't just found what it was like to be an independent woman; but I found myself. I found 97283.
Although our conversations had been on paper, and my knowledge of him was very limited... I knew that this was where I wanted to be. And he was who I wanted to be with, even if it meant I had to sit behind a glass wall. To wake up and not know he was there, waiting on me to keep him company would be torture.
To act as though I never knew him...
I would rather die tomorrow, than live for another hundred years doing such a thing because... Well, because... I cared about him, probably a little more than I should.
It was a rash realization, and probably very, very stupid - since he was a criminal, but I did. If I hadn't of met him, life would be dull. I would still be a zombie roaming around the halls, doing my work and doing as I was told. In this place, this world, of complete and utter dullness; he was the light. He was the excitement. In this world, full of vampire's and human's, rageful hate groups - he was the only one who was truthful. He hadn't lied to me once, for he hadn't told me anything to lie about!
But, I was being forced to leave the only real connection I had with someone. I knew, without even having to ask him, what he would write for me to do. Return home, and be with my family.
"W-will I be able to say goodbye?" I was unable to stop the tear from rolling down my cheek.
Stefan rolled his eyes, while Vladimir seemed to sympathize for me. I remembered once reading that he had lost his mate, his wife, and his soulmate in a vicious hate group attack. Although he had survived, he had said in an interview that his soul had died with her.
"You can." He nodded. "But you will be watched."
"You cannot be serious, Vladimir." Stefan frowned, a little outraged. "You cannot let her back in there."
"I can, and I will." He silenced his partner up with a raise of his hand. "Just sign the form, and you are free to return home and pack, then you can say your goodbyes."
On the table in front of them, Vladimir used his hand to push a piece of paper forward. Already, half of it was filled out.
NOTICE OF EMPLOYMENT DEPARTURE.
Name: Renesmee Cullen. ID number code: 031095. Date of departure: August 17th, 2028.
This notice is to state that, if the signed below, has decided to terminate her employment with the Hellix Facility, founded by Stefan and Vladimir. The signed below understands that despite the departure, the code of conduct and contract signed at the beginning of her employment stands. If information is leaked, to any party outside of the Hellix Facility employee's/Employers, may result in imprisonment.
This notice is also to state that the departing of 031095 agrees to return if contacted by Stefan and Vladimir, regarding anything within the Hellix.
Signed: _. Witness of signing:Stefan and Vladimir.
My mouth was dry, as I read the words over.
This was it. I was getting my freedom, but in so; I was losing something so much more.
His smile flashed before my eyes once again, urging me to go on and take the pen Vladimir had handed out for me. With a shaky hand, I reached forward and took ahold of it. Slowly, I wrote my signature.
Signed: Renesmee Cullen. Witness of signing:Stefan and Vladimir.
Vladimir smiled at me and took the pen and page back, while Stefan wore a triumphant grin on his face. He had won...
"You're free to go, miss Cullen." Vladimir smiled.
I was no longer 031095. I was just... Renesmee.
And it didn't feel as good as I had imagined it would. In fact, it felt horrible. I felt horrible.
"Don't worry, child. Lima syndrome won't last forever." Stefan chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "You'll get over it soon enough."
Standing from the seat, I bowed towards the vampire leaders with the respect they expected, but didn't deserve. Giving into the defeat, I walked from the room and retreated home.
I decided to walk the ten minute journey to the village. I needed to savour the time I had on this land, in this city. It wouldn't be long before I was on a plane back to Alaska. It wouldn't be long until I was in the happy arms of my parents, who will no doubt be ecstatic with my newly found freedom. They would see it as a mission complete...
And while I would be living life to the fullest, he would be here... Held underground, for no other reason than the fact they thought of him being one of the members to a coven that supposedly was a threat to their society, to their rein.
This was a cruel world, and it was only now I was beginning to see it's true colors. Nothing was fair. Love, life, all was lost; due to the economy's greed for power. Lives were being ruined based on the fact someone may be more powerful than someone else...
A sister left without a brother...
A brother left without a sister...
A father left without a son...
And me, left without him.
I knew now why they said life wasn't easy, because this really, really wasn't. Was this just mere Lima syndrome? Was I only feeling these things because I was sympathetic for him? Surely that couldn't be so... Otherwise I would feel the same for everyone else, right? Like that little girl with he red hair, or the big guy that reminded me of my uncle Emmett...
I didn't feel this way about them. It was only about him... About eighty three.
Had eighty three suffered from Stockholm syndrome? A mere subject of circumstance? The fact that I had been the only one who hadn't abused him, and thus made him believe that it was an act of kindness?
I sincerely hoped not. For that wasn't what I felt in the slightest..
As I turned the corner of the corridor leading to my apartment, I was overwhelmed with the realization this was real. This was happening... My time here was finally over.
I just wanted to get inside, and begin to pack. For the sooner I had that done... The sooner I could say goodbye to the only boy who had ever shown me what it was like to live, and who had made these past few months worth living. I pushed the door open after inserting the key, and stepped into the place I had called home for almost three months.
The best three months of my life.
Letting the door close behind me, I let my eyes land onto the tome resting on the counter; where Nahuel had left it after he read a passage in Romanian. Although I had no clue as to what he had said, it was amusing to see him try; and then helpful of him to translate it for me. I picked it up, held it to my chest and sighed deeply. At least I could keep this as a reminder, even if I couldn't read it for now. I could go on to learn Romanian, just to read these words. These words that were supposedly 97283's life.
Walking across the telephone, I smiled sadly at the unread message.
It was from mom. I didn't even need to hear it in order to know who it was.
I sat myself down next to the telephone, flipped open the book to look over the words I already knew in English.
Bringing my legs up to my chest, I picked up the telephone and let the phone dial out the number that had called.
"Hello?"
"Hi mommy..."
"Renesmee? Oh, hi sweetheart! Oh, it's so good to hear your voice." A tear rolled itself down my cheek. "How are you?"
"I'm good... How is everyone?"
"They're good too... We still miss you everyday."
"I know.. But hey, I have some good news," I wasn't able to say that without my voice cracking; because to me... It wasn't good news at all. It was devastating news. Heartbreaking news...
"Oh? What is it? Is everything okay, Renesmee?"
Sucking in a breath, I let another tear roll down my cheek before I brought my hand up to wipe them away. "I'm coming home."
There was a brief silence on the other end of the phone, but I figured that was just my mother trying to take in the words I had just spoken. "R-really?"
"Yeah... First thing tomorrow, I'll be on my way home."
"But why?"
"Stefan and Vladimir..." Oh, how I hated them! "They're letting me go... Monthly visits to the Hellix Facility for checkups, and thats it. I'm finally... Free."
"That's wonderful! Oh, my baby I am so proud of you! Edward! Edward! She's coming home!"
I listened with a heavy heart as my mother cheered down the other end, unable to hold the sniffle of laughter to leave me. My mother could be a little eccentric at times, but that was one of the many reasons I loved her. Despite this choice being the hardest I had ever had to make; I knew it was the right one.
My family were my life. They were the reason behind my life, and no matter what; I couldn't abandon them. Not even for the possibility of a life with...
My eyes moved towards the tome at my side, and my hand reached out to brush across the page.
The infamous Volturi twins are that of the most troublesome, and feared; yet there is no reason behind fearing them other than their superior gifts. These two individuals stand only for their coven, and the belief of a better world in secrecy.
"When you come home, we will have a party. Everyone in the neighbourhood can come, and hear the stories of your time in Romania. Not the facility, of course. But the time off you had to explore. Oh, I hope you took pictures!"
With the voice of my mother on the end of the line, my eyes landed on something. My eyebrows narrowed in confusion at the Romanian words before me, but... They weren't just Romanian. They were names...
'Numele lor sunt, de fapt Jane și Alec.'
Jane...
My mind flashed towards the brief conversation I had with 97283, and replayed it as if it were a movie.
Is there anything... I could know about you?
He seemed reluctant to write anything down, but he eventually did. I presumed he was writing something down that everyone here must have already known, apart from me.
I have a sister.
I smiled gently. I had always wanted a sibling growing up, but obviously... Since my mother was now a vampire, all hopes of that had gone out the window. There were countless times I'd sit and dream of fighting over something with them, or sit together on the sofa watching the television, or doing... Siblingly stuff.
What's her name?
His lips twisted into a smile again.
Aenj.
Aenj.
My hand traced along the name slowly. Jane...
If I were to rearrange the words from Aenj...
Holy shit.
97284 had told me. He had told me who he was, without me even realizing it. He had said he would never confirm, nor deny who he was to anyone... But I was different.
He knew I was researching it, and thus must have presumed I would have come across the story of a female twin by the name of Jane; that being the true one. And instead of saying it outright, so that the camera's wouldn't find out... He had rearranged the letters, but kept the name there... In plain sight.
So, if his sister was indeed Jane... Then that would make the nameless prisoner of the Red Zone...
"Alec..."
"Huh? What was that Renesmee?"
"Oh, sorry! Mom, I gotta go. I need to pack. I'll call you later, okay? Bye!"
"Renes-"
I hung up the phone quickly, and grabbed the book to my lap.
Looking down to the page number, I hastily scrambled for the TV remote. Flipping the channel over, I was greeted by Octavia.
"Octavia, last search on the Volturi Rebellion. Page 684... Passage nine."
'Finding page 684, passage nine.'
The screen turned, and began to load up automatically.
It scrolled down to the passage, and my eyes widened in disbelief.
Known for the lies of their gifts being used for evil, the twins stand for the complete opposite. Their coven stand for everything good, and just within the world; and hope to return it to the reign of the humans; with the vampire's living in secrecy. Although there will be human lives lost in the field of hunting for survival; they believe such a life where the human's are free from any fear of vampires, or vampire creatures alike is a life they deserve.
A life without fear of the darkness. A life in which, none of them had had. Jane and Alec, especially. Their story goes back to the late 800's, A.D. Born into a small anglo-saxon village within the hills of southern England; their lives were nothing but of constant fear. With the threat of war around them, and the uprising of vampire's life wasn't easy. And thus, when they lost their parents in an ambush- believed to be conducted by Vladimir and Stefan, due to the high reports of witch trials going on there - many of which turned out to be vampire's, and thus when they failed to drown in the river; they were sentenced to death by the stake. Vladimir and Stefan viewed this as a hate crimes, and sent forth an army to wipe the village out - they were found by none other than whom they call Father today. Aro Volturi, the founder, and creator of the Voluri coven, and soon to be the Volturi Rebellion.
I should have read this sooner. I shouldn't have given up when I had, believing it to be the right thing. He was giving me the information, he was telling me this was true... He was Jane's brother, and thus he was... Alec.
Oh, how that name made my heart swell. I knew his name. Well, I hoped I knew his name!
A rapid knocking at my door broke me from my thoughts. "Nessie! Open up!"
Nahuel? This wasn't the time! Sure, I was supposed to be packing to leave; and I guess he wanted to say goodbye, but it wasn't the time! I needed to think something out. He had told me who he was, and so he must've meant something by it. He wanted me to do something about it... Right? Perhaps I should seek out Jane? But where the hell would I find her? There was bound to a be thousand Jane's out in the world...
"Nessie, c'mon! This is serious!"
Kaitlyn? Jesus, was this a group get together?
They showed no signs of giving up, and continued to knock rapidly against my door. I sighed deeply, and gave up. I was good at that, apparently.
Pulling the door open, they rushed in.
"Is it true?" Nahuel was the first to ask. "You're going home?"
I stared at him blankly.
"Of course it is, she freaking called Xavier out! Called them all out! I'm surprised she's still alive!"
I wasn't sure if Kaitlyn was trying to help or not, but her words weren't entirely calming.
"What d'you guys want? I have to pack." That was the closest thing to an answer Nahuel was going to get, for it was in plain black and white.
"Nessie, you have to listen to us." Nahuel said. "Their doing something... Something big."
"It's none of my concern any more," I sighed deeply, and pushed passed. I walked towards the corridor leading to my room. I needed to pack, I needed to say my goodbye to eighty three, and then somehow think of what the hell he wanted me to do with the information he had given me... If he even wanted me to do anything with it.
"They're going to kill him!" Nahuel said harshly. I froze on the spot. "They're going to kill him, Renesmee... If he doesn't tell them... And he wont. You know he wont."
What if... What if he knew this would happen? What if he knew this would happen, just as it had with Malakai; the only other individual to have looked into him; and as a parting gift... He told me his sister name. Telling me his sisters name, knowing that I would someday figure it out. A small way, in result, of giving me his own name. The very first thing I had ever asked him, and he couldn't give. He... He could be giving me this information as... As a goodbye.
I knew it would be childish of me to think he would last long here. Stefan and Vladimir were patient men, I'll give them that; but eventually that patience would crack. Deep down, I had a feeling 97283 knew that too; and it would only be a matter of time before he either caved do the torture... Or was put to death.
I turned around to look at him and Kaitlyn, standing side by side, staring at me.
I didn't want to believe his words. But Kaitlyn confirmed them with a nod.
"There was another file uploaded to my mom's desktop. A report... That's how we found out about you no longer..." Kaitlyn was fighting back tears. "Because they don't have you any more, someone in which he trusts; they're left with the last option. They were going to ask you to get information from him, and try it that way... But now, with you having done what you did... They're going to take him tomorrow, tell him your life is in the balance of him showing them he is who he originally said he was, and if he does - they'll know his weakness. You. They'll keep him as a weapon... And if he doesn't..."
"They'll kill him..." My voice squeaked. "But... But why do they want to use him as a weapon?"
Kaitlyn looked up towards Nahuel, and nodded her head.
She was giving him the all clear to tell me. After all, it had been her mother's files she had hacked into. It was her mother she was betraying. If this were to backfire, it would all be on her head; and Kaitlyn didn't seem to care. She was willing for all of that, just to that I knew the truth.
"First... To take down all the hate groups, then to move on to bigger things... They want everyone in blood farms, Renesmee. All human's... They want the world to belong to vampire's, and vampire's alone. A utopia... For us."
How... What... But why? It didn't make sense! Why was Doctor Mallory going along with this?! Her daughter was a human! Employee's within the whole of the Hellix Facility franchise were built up on human employee's also. By doing this, they were going against those who believed in them! This wasn't just corrupted and twisted; this was monstrous.
"And... He is either going to do all this, or he's going to die." I whispered.
His expression fell, and he hastily rushed forward to engulf me in a hug. His arms wrapped around me in a tight embrace, and he held on as if I were a lifeline. I wasn't aware, up until that moment, just how much I really needed that...
I clutched onto him tightly, while burying my face into his shoulder. It was then that the tears began to fall freely. I had made such an effort here. I had come here with the hopes of becoming free, and now all I wanted was to stay. I wanted to stay here, and be close to eight- Alec.
If that was his name...
I wanted to be there for him. I wanted to see his smile again, and again for the rest of my days. I wanted to make him laugh, and have him make me laugh. I wanted his suffering to end.
But not in death. He didn't deserve death. He deserved to be free. To see the skies, and the clouds, and feel the sun on his skin... To have his sister at his side again, and to speak freely. To have no walls, or glass bound him. He deserved everything.
"To market, to market... Home again, home again..."
Nahuel pulled himself away from me, to rest his hands either side of my face. His thumbs moved to rub away the tears streaming down my face.
"Look at me, Renesmee." He forced me to look at him, so I didn't have a choice either way. "We're not going to let that happen, okay?"
"B-but... But how?"
"Do you trust us?"
I... I didn- "There's no time for this, Renesmee. Do you trust us?"
"Yes. I trust you, Nahuel." I nodded. "I trust you both, with my life."
Nahuel smiled gently, and let his firm grip on either side of my face fall. Kaitlyn stepped forward into view, to stand at his side once again.
"Good, cause that might be what's on the line here."
—xXx—
I didn't understand why they were doing this for me, but then again I doubt I ever would understand the length's they would go for me. Nahuel had punched someone, after all; and Kaitlyn was betraying her mother.
And now... They were doing this for me too. I was fearful that the plan wouldn't work, but who wouldn't be? This was one of the most dangerous things I had ever done in my life... Probably the most dangerous thing I had ever done. I had thought of myself rebellious when I stayed up past curfew; but this... This surpassed that completely.
"We've got you." Nahuel nodded his head. "Remember... 265318349, and only do it when it's at the left."
What was it with this place and numbers, passkeys and more numbers? It was a wonder how anyone didn't become confused. I know I was! I'd never been good with math, or numbers; but working in this business ensured you had to learn fast, and that numbers were your new best friends.
265318349. I would remember that... Merely because I had wrote it down on my wrist, which was currently covered by the sleeve of my blue shirt. Eighty three said he liked blue... And so, I was wearing it just for him. As a parting gift, more or less.
I fiddled with the material of my shirt as the elevator doors closed behind me, leaving Kaitlyn and Nahuel standing within the lobby. They had their own parts to play.
-3, -4.
The doors opened, and I exited into a semi-busy block. Due to the fact I wasn't wearing a white coat, I was looked at funny; but then ignored once they realized it was only me. I guess the word hadn't got out that my employment here had been terminated after all.
Oddly, I was thankful for that. It meant I could venture past these walls a little more without people looking at me as though I didn't belong there. I was still one of them, in their eyes.
Slipping down the multiple steps leading to the solitary confinement corridor, I held my breath as I pushed the door open.
The room was exactly as I had left it, as always. Cold, bare, and gray. Boy, had I come to love this room.
I closed the door behind me, glanced up to the corner, and focused my eyes in the particular spot Nahuel had instructed me too, and sure enough; there was the camera. I dropped my bag onto the floor, and made my way towards the glass quickly.
97283 was there.
He was sitting on his bed, with his arms wrapped around his legs; his head buried into his knees. His shoulders were moving; indicating that he was breathing. I dreaded for him to look up, as I would be able to see the torture he had gone through. Having watched that video log from the doctor, I now knew why he looked as bad as he did. Reliving his transformation was the worst fate possible, and he had gone through it so many times...
It wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if he was exhausted. Physically, and mentally.
I held both my hands against the glass, and just as before;
To market, to market...
His arms tightened themselves around his knees. Why... Why wasn't he looking up? He always looked up when I did this; it was the signal for him to know it was me, and not anyone else. Oh no... Did they know that now too? Had he been tricked?
I glanced down towards the notebook I had left, and frowned at the torn page. Beside it, a screwed up piece of paper.
Letting my hands fall from the glass, I crouched down to pick the paper up.
Unfolding it, I let my brown hues read the words in big, chunky letters.
She's gone, y'know? 031095 isn't coming back; just like Zvan. It's just gonna be you and I soon, eighty three. Perhaps you should open up to someone that's going to stick around.
I didn't need to know who wrote this, for I had a fairly good idea as it was. There was only one person who had ever been jealous of the connection eighty three and I had. He had wanted to have been the one praised on his steps forward with the resident who refused to cooperate with anyone. Xavier.
I screwed the piece of paper up in my hand, and tossed it to the side; much like he must have done.
So they were making him believe that I was leaving... Did he believe that with Zvan? That he abandoned him, and I was doing the same? Oh, how my heart ached with such a possibility. I would never, ever, willingly leave him. I knew that now.
Home again, home again...
To market, to market... Home again..
I must've been getting on his nerves with my tapping, for his head jerked up with rage in his eyes, ready to pounce in hatred to whomever was tormenting him; but it all died away the moment his eyes found it was me.
I smiled at him with everything I had, and bounced on the spot. "It's me..."
Although he couldn't hear me, he reacted to it. He was off his bed in an instant, slow and shakily, but he got off it and rushed to the cell wall. Both his hands were pressed against the wall for support, while his eyes danced with mine.
His lips were moving... He was trying to talk to me. So many words at once, but I knew what he was saying.
He couldn't believe it was me here...
I looked down to the pad of paper and quickly pointed to it. He nodded in agreement, and moved towards the table to pick up his own.
I thought I'd never see you again. They told me you left...
A sad smile kept it's way onto my face at reading that. I shook my head gently towards him, and stroked my hand across the glass by his face; as though I were doing so on his cheek.
But you are leaving?
I held back a sob, as I slowly nodded my head towards him.
And you're not coming back, are you?
I shook my head gently. I wouldn't be back... Not to this place, at least.
They're making you, aren't they? Because of me...
I didn't want to nod my head, but I couldn't refuse him the truth. He had done nothing but give me the truth in return.
I nodded slowly.
It's probably for the best, Renesmee. At least you will be safe.
Eighty three's legs seemed to buckle from under him, and he fell to his knees in front of me. I quickly crouched down to meet his level. I could see the lost look within his gaze. The despair seeming glance that shattered my heart more than what it already was. I hated doing this to him... But I had too.
To give him a piece of mind, I quickly grabbed hold of my own notebook; and the broken pencil.
Despite it being hard to write with, I did my best with what I had.
My time here has been the greatest time in my life. I've learnt so much from you, 97283. You've made me laugh in more ways anyone ever had. You are not a bad person, okay? Do not let anyone ever make you think that... And you will be free of this place. I promise you.
He scoffed, and rolled his onyx black eyes at me.
I'm so sorry... I should never have done any of this... I shouldn't have reacted the way I did when you looked at me. Because of that, you're suffering. You are going to suffer at their hands more, because of me. None of this would have ever happened if we hadn't eve met.
He frowned at me, and hastily began to write down yet again.
I don't regret any of it, so dry your eyes. There's no moment that I regret since the moment that we met. I'm grateful to have met you, otherwise I would have lived my whole life in here; believing that the world is a dark place. You are the brightness, Renesmee. You showed me what it was like to be in the sunlight again... Just by smiling at me. Don't deny me that smile again, for it may be the last time I ever see it.
Although he had told me to dry my tears, I couldn't. I did end up smiling though. A sad, sorrow filled smile what was slowly shattering me from the inside out.
If our time has gone to fast, at least I can say I've lived at last... In these few months, I have felt more alive in what I ever have done.
I'm glad to have ever met you.
I quickly looked around to the camera, and frowned.
Looking back, he seemed to be readying himself to say goodbye fully. He placed the notebook down, and stared at me with his hands pressed against the glass. The sad smile that was on his face, reflecting my own, was the hardest part of all this.
They let me come here to say goodbye... But before I do, I need to ask you one thing.
I glanced up for a short second, only to shrug his shoulders in response.
Is your name Alec?
When he looked up and read the words I had wrote down, I watched as his pupil dilated slightly. That was all the conformation I needed.
I looked at the camera once again, and my heart jumped out of his chest the moment I saw it's small red light was facing the left; directly off of the cell. Off of eighty three and me.
I didn't have time to waste. I quickly stood from my seat, all the while having his eyes on me. I crossed over to the small keypad on the side of the wall, which caused alarm bells to ring for 97283. He was on his feet, having moved from our original seated area to the closest area to where I was; trying to access the keypad.
His hands banged against the wall to get my attention. They were frantic, and worrisome, but I couldn't look up. Not yet... I just had too-
Yes!
They keypad opened up, and I hastily pulled my sleeve up.
Following the numbers going up my arm, I typed them in to the number pad.
2-6-5-3-1-8-3-4-9.
There was a creak, which caused me to jump out of my skin. Then there was a small bang; and then a terrible hissing noise.
I stepped back slowly, and watched as the wall of glass began to be drawn upward.
The room became colder as the air from inside his cell engulfed the room I was standing in. My eyes were on eighty three as the glass separating us was pulled up; before completely vanishing.
He didn't move. I couldn't move. He wasn't breathing. I was finding it hard to breathe.
And then he did move... He reached forward; as if the glass was still there. As if he were expecting to be stopped by the barrier, and for me to press my hand against it also.
That must've been what he was expecting, so I did. I walked forward slowly, and reached my hand out.
Our hands met, and pressed against one another. I felt his hard, marble skin against my own. I felt the coldness of his touch, and the firmness of his fingers against mine.
He finally let out a breath, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"Renesmee?"
A croaked sob left my lips, of happiness and joy. He was here... He was right there. He said my name... I heard his voice!
"It's me..."
His eyes closed at the sound of my voice finally hitting his ears; and it was as if a child were hearing for the first time. He had been cut off from the world, only hearing the voices of those who wished him harm; and now he was hearing mine.
He wasn't imagining it. He would never have to imagine it again. Not if I had anything to do with it.
He clasped his fingers between mine, and stepped forward; his foot coming past the space where the barrier had separated us. His eyes slowly opened once again, and stared into mine deeply.
"My name is Alec."