Chapter 7
News, News, News
*Macie*

Kaitlyn cautiously grabbed the doorknob. Strangely, the door was unlocked. She peeked out into the hallway and then walked out the door, beckoning me to follow her. "Coast is clear," she mumbled. Outside, the hallway was painted a cream color and was lined with doors and gold-framed portraits on both sides. After every door were two paintings. I recognized one as Benjamin Franklin and another as Oprah. After about fourteen doors, we turned left down the hall. The place was stunning. It didn't strike me as a terrorist organization, unless terrorists were worshiping some of the most important people in the U.S. We continued on, gazing at all the pictures. The awestruck mood ended abruptly when we heard a voice.

"I just don't understand," said a pleading girl's voice that sounded vaguely familiar.

"I've already said we'll discuss this with everyone else," said another voice, much lower than the first.

We realized the voices we coming closer. Kaitlyn and I panicked. We frantically began turning knobs, hoping one would be open. Luckily, one was. We flew inside, hoping to escape from the oncoming voices.
What is this place? I thought. The room was a light blue. Actually, everything in the room was a shade of blue except for the huge glass table in the center and the window that took up the whole wall on the right side of the room. There was a dark blue velvet couch in the left corner by the window. The floor was an array of blue and white tiles. The whole room was completely immaculate. Every surface was polished and gleaming.
Around the table were twelve white leather chairs arranged unevenly. There were six chairs on the side facing away from us, four facing directly toward us, and two chairs at the head of the table. To our left was a closet door. It was positioned oddly so anyone near it could see everything at the table, but anyone at the table couldn't see anything.
I swung open the closet door and shoved Kaitlyn inside. I closed the door almost all the way, leaving it open a crack. Then people began to fill the room which I dubbed "the Blue Room". I counted eleven people milling to their respective spots at the table. A man and a woman sat side by side at the head of the table. They were wearing long silver trench coat with a little clock icon on them. To the left of them sat two men wearing brown trench coats that were covered with pictures of famous people from the past. Next to them sat a man and a woman whose clear coats didn't stand out as much as the others'. Finally, there was a pair of women whose coats changed pictures like a hologram. I saw Felix and Emma sitting next to a dark haired boy on the side opposite the closet. I was worried they would see us until I remembered we were hidden by the angle of the wall.

The man at the head of the table cleared his throat and started talking.

"Recent events have brought a certain Macie and Kaitlyn Fortes here. They discovered Emma Dame and Felix O'Reilly in their home last night when the Rookies teleported to the wrong location. When they called for backup, Carmen and Cameron Alvarez-"

He was interrupted when a dark haired girl—who I assumed was either Carmen or Cameron—rushed in and sat next to Emma. I freaked and shut the door as the heads turned to stare at her. Way to be punctual, I thought. The man looked extremely annoyed. His red hair was smoothed back, giving the appearance that he was calm and collected, but his emerald eyes showed everything. They were bursting with anger.

"Thank you so much for joining us, Miss Alvarez," he stated calmly.

"I'm so sorry. I got lock in my room by another Rookie and by the time I was ready it was already late." She didn't look as sorry as she sounded.

"As I was saying," continued the Head Man, "Mister and Miss Alvarez were called in for a simple extraction. They succeeded with one, but were unable to restrain the other before she saw them. They were also unable to stop her from retaliating. These trained professionals were unable to handle an untrained girl."

Kaitlyn's proud smirk turned into a master scowl. I didn't know what went on after I was drugged, but I'm sure Kaitlyn hadn't gone down without a fight. I gave her a questioning look, but she just pointed to the table. I was still confused on how people barely older than us could be trained professionals, but I let it go when the Head Man kept talking.

"We are here for two reasons. First on the agenda is to decide what to do about the Rookies. Then we'll decide how to handle the other two."

"Might I suggest we put them through another semester of training? In addition, they would have to present a speech about what it truly means to be a Time Traveler," said the woman in the clear coat. Her voice was very persuasive. It took me a bit to process what I had just heard. Time Travel? That isn't possible!

"I suppose that would be suitable punishment. Of course, if they don't pass this semester, they will be kicked out of N.O.T." He looked for approval from the rest of committee. All seven were nodding. Emma, Felix, and the Alvarez siblings looked relieved that they were getting a second chance and upset that they needed one.

"Moving on," said the woman at the Head Man's side. "We have already tried wiping the girls' memory, but strangely enough they didn't respond. We have spent a long time trying to keep them out of this. Fate obviously had other plans. We can't risk sending them back without expecting them to call the police."

"We can't expect her to stay away forever. It's in her genes. The other one shows a lot of potential also. We could use them, especially now. Besides, after what happened yesterday, I think they were going to get dragged into this with or without Emma and Felix's help." The lady with clear coat spoke up again. This time I noticed she had mouse-brown hair that stopped in a bob right below her ears, and her ocean blue eyes lit up as she talked.

I still had no idea about what they were talking about. How were we going to get involved? What is in whose genes? How are we going to be "used"? What is up with time traveling? And where are Jamie and Mathew?

"Oh, shoot!" I muttered loudly. Kaitlyn looked at me and I said, "Jamie and Mathew!" Suddenly Kaitlyn turned on rescue mode. She swung the door open and ran out. She planted herself right in front of the table with her hands on her hips. I stepped out from the closet and walked up next to her, but I knew she could handle this by herself.

"Okay, that's enough! I want to know what's going on here! Where are we and where are my brother and sister? They didn't know we got kidnapped! They're probably still upstairs wondering where I am! How could you just leave them there?" Kaitlyn's breath was heavy. She had just exploded on them. Their faces were priceless though, mixes of confusion, to shock, to steaming anger. Emma rose from the table and walked to Kaitlyn.

"We didn't know they were even there. We can send someone to retrieve them if you want."

"No! They're all alone! I want to go home! I have to take care of them! You have no right to keep us here!" I saw more pity in Emma's eyes. I was sick of her pity. So was Kaitlyn.

"The longer you keep us here, the more jail time you'll serve. My mom is probably home now and she won't be happy when she finds out a society of time-traveling weirdoes took her daughter. She's very respected in my community you know. She's not going to stand for this!" I realized I was rambling so I shut up. I looked at the people's faces and saw more pity. Like I needed it. The woman at head table quickly changed the subject. She had bleached blonde hair and shifty hazel eyes. She reminded me of a Barbie doll, but I doubted she acted like one.

"How did you get out of the infirmary? It was supposed to be locked tight." she wondered, trying to change the subject.

Kaitlyn wasn't fooled. "It was unlocked," she said dismissively. "Now back to my brother and sister. They need to be here now."

"I heard you talking about how you need us. You're not getting either of us until I get to see them." I grabbed Kaitlyn's arm and pulled her to the couch. We sat down and crossed our arms. I glared at the Head Man. He sighed.

"Janice, go get some P.D.s to get the kids." The mouse-haired woman, Janice, left the room. "PJ, go set up a room for the kids. We don't want them scared." One of the men followed Janice out of the room.

"What happened yesterday?" asked Kaitlyn quietly, recalling what they had said in the meeting. Emma and Carmen pulled up their chairs to the couch.

"This is my friend Carmen Alvarez. I believe she and Kaitlyn are already acquainted." Kaitlyn briefly nodded her head with a smirk. "Macie, I'm sorry to tell you this, but your mom was abducted yesterday and we think whoever did it is after you, too." What? Who would do that? Why?

My mom had been abducted. I was next.

Chapter 7! Didn't take as long as you thought, right? My Beta is trying to make up for lost time, I suppose! Thank you to all of my readers and a special thanks to my amazing Beta! She doesn't have an account anymore, but she still is helping me! Thank you mad4music!