Chapter Four
"We're here, Amy." Amanda announced, tapping Amy's shoulder lightly.
Amy nodded. The ride was long, but Amy barely noticed. She was busy memorizing the path they had taken. She knew it would be necessary to find her way back…that is, if she manages to escape…
Amy wondered why the organization people weren't so careful in taking her here. For instance, they didn't blindfold Amy or something so Amy wouldn't know where the Project's lab is.
For some reason, this scared Amy. She knew the scientists aren't stupid. They knew the extent of the Amy's abilities. They must have figured that the Amys wouldn't be stupid enough to just go along. They would be ready of the chance that one of the Amys might try to stop them.
Maybe…maybe the scientists meant this to happen? Maybe this was some sort of plan…
Amy tried to clear her head. This was getting too complicated.
"Come on, Amy." Amanda said, disrupting Amy's thoughts.
Amy got out of the car and took a good look of the parking lot. It looked just like a regular parking lot. Not that Amy expected it to be bizarre or anything…it's just that the place looked so…ordinary.
"You're quiet." Amanda commented, peering at Amy curiously. "Nervous?"
"I guess." Amy suddenly scolded herself for acting so suspiciously. Amanda might suspect she's planning something.
"Don't worry." Amanda assured her. "It's not anything complicated. I've taken these tests a thousand times before."
Somehow, this fact disturbs Amy. So Amanda had been working for the project. All along, the Project and the organization had the DNA that they needed. So why do they need the other clones?
"Amanda, what's…you know, the purpose of all this?" Amy found herself asking. She just couldn't help herself. There were too many questions in her mind she felt like she's going to explode. She needed some answers.
"You mean the tests?" Amanda asked, leading Amy into the back entrance.
"No, I mean, the Project."
Amanda looked thoughtful for a moment. "It's an experiment. You know, on human cloning. The scientists need to prove their…you know, their theories about it."
Amy didn't quite believe this. "What would happen next? I mean, after this whole experiment? What then?"
Amanda shrugged. "It's none of our business."
"Of course it is! Don't act so clueless, Amanda. You know what's behind all this. You should have figured it all out by now! After all those years you've been working for the project!" Amy blurted out. A second after she said those things, Amy realized what she said and suddenly wanted to take it back.
Amanda frowned. "What do you mean?"
Amy argued between telling Amanda the whole truth, or just telling her a few facts to get the information Amy wants from her.
"I mean, what's the point of this project? This can't be just some experiment. What's the…goal of Project Crescent?" Amy asked carefully.
Amanda shrugged, as if this was absolutely insignificant. "Human cloning."
"Oh, you mean, cloning of superior humans? We're genetically engineered to be superior on purpose. Why?"
Amanda gazed at her. "You make it sound as if this is illegal or something. It's an experiment, Amy. They're experimenting on human genes, see what they can do with it, see if they can make humans better."
Amy started to open her mouth to contest this, when they reached the hallway. Amy decided that it would be better if she closed her mouth.
She looked down the hallway. The walls were white…like a hospital's. Rooms with numbers on it lined the walls. Once again, Amy marveled on how ordinary the place looked.
"Where are the other Amys?" Amy asked.
"They're in the examination room, I think." Amanda replied. They stopped in front of one of the rooms. The door was labeled 303J.
"It's room 303J. We're on the third floor?" Amy asked incredulously.
"Well, in a sense."
Amy frowned. "What do you mean?"
"There are two other floors below us." Amanda replied thoughtfully. "Well, three, if you count the basement…"
"We just came from the parking lot. We're on the ground floor." Amy said, slightly confused.
Amanda shrugged. "The room numbers has nothing to do with what floors it's in."
"But weren't the numbers supposed to help you find the room?" Amy asked. "I mean, how do you know which room is which?"
"These buildings work differently, Amy." Amanda said slowly, as if she's talking to a child.
Amy shrugged, deciding not to pry anymore. "So, what's this room?"
"It's only a waiting room." Amanda replied. "You should stay in here while I get the doctors."
"Okay," Amy agreed, tentatively walking into the room.
"Cool. I'd be right back." Amanda flashed her a smile and left.
Amy waited a few minutes. Then she went out of the room. She knew this was her chance to snoop around.
She walked quickly through the hallways. If the other Amys were here, then it wouldn't be a problem if somebody sees her. They would just think she's one of the Amy clones they've been experimenting with.
All the rooms were alike, which was giving Amy a hard time on deciding where to go. Finally, she spotted a room labeled 318L. Below it, there was a sign that said, authorized personnel only. Interesting.
Amy turned the knob, to her surprise, it wasn't locked. Her heart suddenly pounded. What if somebody's in there? She could get caught.
Amy carefully pushed the door open. The room was dark, and Amy was relieved.
She went in, not daring to turn the lights on, somebody might suspect. Besides, she can see well in the dark.
She saw a surprisingly huge laboratory. The room was spacious. And there was a large computer at the center of it.
Amy gingerly walked over to the computer. She might find some valuable information there.
The computer was already on, which is strange. But maybe they don't usually turn off computers in labs like this.
Amy stared at the screen. There was a log in window where you should write your name and password. There was already a name on it, NC318L, and the password was saved. Amy's pulse raced, wondering why the scientist would so carelessly leave the computer with the password still saved on the log in window.
No time to wonder about that.
Amy clicked on the 'OK' button.
She suddenly had access to various files she couldn't understand. Most of it just scientific gibberish about human cloning and genetic engineering.
Then, she came across a file named, Amy5. Just out of curiosity, she opened it.
It was some information about Amy, Number Five. About where she lives, what kind of atmosphere she has at home, what kind of school she goes to…it also contains some information about her physical and intellectual abilities. Like, how far and clearly she can see, how good her hearing is, stuff like that. There were also various charts, graphs and tables about Amy5's development.
Amy found some very interesting information about Amy5. Suddenly, a very unwelcome thought hit her. They could have some information on her too!
She quickly searched for a file named Amy7. In no time at all, she found it. Amy's heart was pounding in her ears when she opened it. It was remarkably shorter than Amy5's file.
Her eyes read the information at inhuman speed:
Summary report on Amy Number Seven:
Peaceful and quiet environment at home…goes to a regular suburban public school…special abilities developing fine. Eyesight and hearing are excellent. Physical strength and memory are excellent…abilities started to develop about six months before…copes with regular kids at her age…
Yet to undergo examination.
After that, there were lots of blank charts and graphs obviously reserved for the results of the tests. The tests Amy was about to take.
Amy's mind raced. How did the Scientists know about all this? About what school she goes to…about when her abilities developed. Did they spy on her or something?
Amy's heart skipped a beat when she felt a slight movement behind her. She turned, looking around nervously. She was sure something moved. Her senses never failed her.
"Who is there?" Amy asked, trying to keep her voice from trembling. She took a step back. Maybe she could just try to run out the room as fast as she can? She sure can outrun the person—whoever he or she may be.
Amy heard another low, almost inaudible sound. She turned to the direction where the sound came from. She noticed a faint outline of a woman in the shadows, which couldn't be seen if you have ordinary eyesight. But Amy doesn't have ordinary eyesight.
"Don't move, Amy." A very familiar voice said.
Amy froze. She recognized the voice. She'd know that voice anywhere. It was the voice of a woman she'd always loved. Amy's mind suddenly felt like exploding. She just couldn't figure it out. She was just so hurt and confused.
Nancy Candler stepped out of the shadows.
"M--mom, what are you doing here?" Amy choked the words out. Confusion and shock clouding her brain, she willed herself to look into her mother's eyes—she froze.
Amy stared numbly at her mother.
Nancy was holding a gun.