Final Truth

Chapter 6: Trust is a Gift

Henley's point of view:

The bright blue vial swirls around in its container, its color reflecting off my skin and the walls around it.

I watch it, content with today's work and pleased with the outcome of the experiment.

"Well everyone, I would say that today went well, wouldn't you all?" I ask, turning to face my crew of doctors and nurses as they fiddle with their equipment.

However, nobody answers.

"What? What is it?" I ask them, my concern evident.

The woman who pricked Julia's finger turns to me and answers on everyone else's behalf, a small hint of worry in her eyes.

"Yes, today went accordingly. However, Ms. Collins, I don't think you'll be able to do these tests as often as you would hope," she answers, quickly dropping her gaze again.

"And why not? I have Julia at my disposal; I could bring her in for another test right now if I wanted to," I answer.

"No, you couldn't," she answers simply, sterilizing needles in the process.

I raise my eyebrow at the girl, intrigued that she has no fear for what she is saying.

"Do enlighten me then," I challenge.

She looks at me again, not at all threatened by my level of authority as she explains.

"Do you have any idea how much these experiments can affect a person's health? It lowers the immune system, induces extreme fatigue, and can rise and lower blood pressure dramatically. And since these tests involve the mind, it can deteriorate the brain and bring up powerful memories that may affect a person's mentality," the woman says, no sugar-coating to her words.

"So what? Julia scraped out okay today didn't she? She's not like the average person, and I don't think these tests will affect her in the way you speak of," I say.

"Do what you want with the girl. Heck, bring her back in for another test tomorrow if you want. But the power of senses is the starting point of these tests, the most basic you can get them to be. The experiments will only get stronger from here, and judging by the way Julia reacted today, I can only warn you to be careful. With what you hope to accomplish, she is your only chance. And I assume you don't want to end up killing the only test subject you have?" She asks.

I ruefully shake my head, humiliated that I'm being scolded by someone so inferior.

But as much as I hate admitting to this, I can't ignore her truth. I'm desperate, and Julia is the only way I can get what I want finished.

"She has 14 more tests to finish. When is the soonest she could be presented with the next one?" I ask, careful at trying not to let my slight fear show at the small probability of failure.

She rattles her brain for a moment, searching for an answer.

"Leave her be tomorrow. Let her spend the day resting up and preserving the energy she'll need for the second test. Then, bring her in the next day and she should be fine, depending on what test you choose," the woman tells me, and I am relieved slightly that this will not cause the entire experiment as a whole to be delayed drastically.

I tell the woman thank you for her forewarnings and dismiss her and the rest of the medical team, wanting a few moments of peace.

They file out of the lab, leaving me to myself as I collapse in a nearby chair.

"If only Julia hadn't messed up my city three years ago, I wouldn't be in this mess in the first place," I whisper to myself, the thought of finally being able to get rid of her once I'm through bringing me peace.

It's a shame I'll have to destroy Peter in time as well. Such potential that boy has to be soldier for my cause, but he once was on Julia's side. No one gets a second chance for that act of betrayal.

"Excuse me, Ms. Collins?" A voice says, interrupting my thoughts.

"What?" I ask bitterly, ignoring my professional persona.

"I have your brother on the phone. He wishes to speak with you at once," this person says, and I look up to see that it's my assistant.

"What does he want?" I grumble as I rise from my chair and walk over to her.

"I'm not sure ma'am, I did not ask," she answers as I take the phone from her hand.

I hold the piece of technology in my hand, pressing a few of the buttons to make the call an image.

The lights in the room go out, and from the phone comes a projected hologram of my brother standing in some sort of disheveled building with a guard in the background.

"You are excused," I whisper to my assistant, and she turns on her heels out of the lab.

"Henley, nice to speak with you! How are things going there?" Will asks, fake enthusiasm in his voice.

"None of that nonsense, Will. Cut to the chase: have you found the box of powers yet?" I demand.

His eyes drop to the ground as he twiddles with his thumbs uncomfortably, clearly wanting to avoid the question.

"Answer me!" I yell at him.

He takes in a deep breath and begins his explanation. "No, not a trace of it. We've searched everywhere for it. No sign of the box or those people that took it from me," he answers.

"You can't even find the people? They're impossible to miss! Two redheads and a girl who always wears her stupid white lab coat, along with another girl that wears glasses. If you can't find them, then they must have perished in that typhoon of a storm that Julia created. Just find the box!" I tell him.

"No, they didn't perish. We've already sorted through all the dead. They're just...gone. Disappeared somehow," Will answers.

"Oh come on, they're in that city somewhere! They couldn't have vanished into thin air," I answer angrily, but then I notice something.

The guard standing behind Will changes his demeanor ever so slightly. He folds his arms over his chest and his blue eyes lock with the ground while he bites his lip, almost like he's preoccupied with other thoughts. Even through this long distance call I can almost feel his heart rate picking up dramatically.

"Will, who is that?" I ask, referencing the guard.

He glances behind him and then turns back to me, a look of pride on his face.

"This is Cade, the best policeman on my force. He's been working tirelessly this past week, looking high and low for those people that took the box of powers from me. Nothing yet, but he's got senses as sharp as a hound. If anyone can find them, it's him," Will gloats about this boy that now has a name.

I look him up and down warily, suspicious of the boy immediately. "Yes, I'm sure he will. Because if this boy...Cade...knows anything, he will report it to you immediately. He I'm sure of all people knows the consequences if he doesn't," I say, speaking indirectly to Cade now.

He still refuses to look me in the eye though.

He's hiding something.

I turn back to my brother now, wanting to end the call and get back to my work.

"I don't want to hear one word from you until you've found the box of powers. And you'd better find it soon; if Adam ever gets his hands on it, then we're all done for," I order, and Will nods in my agreement.

"And one more thing, Will," I begin just before ending the call. "Your trust is a gift; don't give it to just anyone."

He confusingly looks at me, but I end the call before I can elaborate.

The hologram dissipates, and the lights in the lab come back on.

I begin to ponder over which power I should test Julia for in the next couple of days, but I can't ignore the one theory I have itching at the back of my mind:

Cade knows where the box is.