Simple Talents

Chapter Fifteen

"What the hell are you doing here?" Ami whispered hurriedly to Rannolia, who was still in front of the old car, one warm palm on the cold hood.

           

"Trying to not get captured, which unless we want to, we don't have much time." She ran up to the driver's side and opened the front door. "Those guys from the labs are on my tail. Danny and the guys told me everything, and if that's what's really going on, we need to get as far away as possible." Ami and Rannolia shivered as a gust of autumn wind swept down the dark street.

           

"You heard from them? Where are they?" Rannolia tugged Ami out forcibly as she spoke, making her stumble and produce profanities,

           

"I don't know. Hop in the back, I know how to drive." Ami was caught, she didn't want to hop in without answers, but she also was afraid of capture.

"I thought you said you were with them!" She resigns to sliding in the back beside Alexis who is squished into the middle. The seat smells like cat pee and smoke from cigarettes.

           

"No, I said that they told me what was really happening. They ran into some trouble getting out of the dorm and were late, then they found me and tried to convince me to run... but I refused." Rannolia swallowed, the words somehow tasted bitter in her mouth, she felt a sort of regret. Pushing the thoughts away, she and Ami put on their seat belts as Rannolia put it into drive.

           

"Wait! Then they should be here any minute!" Ria screamed from the front seat, grabbing for the wheel,

           

"Yeah, we can't abandon them!" Theonda said, leaning forward.

           

"We can and will! I don't want to get caught, and I'm guessing you guys don't either... I started my way to the church where you guys said you'd meet up and I bumped into the boys being surrounded by the labs. They didn't stand a chance. You guys have all of the physical talents. You practically left them defenseless, and now they're all captured. Are you happy with your answer?" no one objected any further. They all wanted to, but couldn't. As noble as it would be to run in, power's a blazing, they all had their survival modes kicked in, and they all knew that a battle against the labs right now was suicide.

           

The boys were dead... it was time to move on.

-

The halls were cold and bare, with only a few white doors spaced evenly down their current corridor. The floors were made of some kind of old stone and Sara could smell mold and bleach from everywhere. She was constantly looking into corners for cameras, but couldn't find any. She didn't know how such a massive lab full of such powerful people could have almost no security, even projects were being used as staff. It made her want to laugh out loud.

           

After about twenty minutes, Project 52.67 stopped them in front of one of the spotless doors.

           

"Who's in here and what is their Talent?" He pulled out a small handheld tablet and electronic pen. After about two seconds, he pulled up a map with a bunch of red dots. He poked at one and up on the screen flashed a photo of a boy named Quinten Bands. The photo seemed to be somewhat recent, considering the bald head and serious Hazel eyes, he could be no older than twelve. He seemed to look  familiar, but Sara couldn't place the face. His talent was under a level two clearance, Invisibility.