Red Sun

Chapter 4

Norman was sitting at his desk, headphones on, waiting for the tests to start.

Emma had told him that Minerva's ally, Smee, if Norman recalled correctly, would talk to him during this time.

A scientist walked in, from what Norman could see, he had light short hair and rectangular glasses.

Scientists walked in and out of the room a lot, they had to make sure all the gears and what felt like thousands of wires worked.

Could he be Smee? Norman wondered.

The scientist handed Norman a rubik's cube. So that would be his first test today.

Norman picked it up and inspected it, that's when he noticed a piece of paper in-between the blocks. Norman took it out, it was a note.

It read "Smee". So that scientist was him? Norman supposed it made sense, the smartest way to combat the other side is to infiltrate their ranks.

Norman went through all the tests as normal. Throughout the tests he continued to get notes from Smee. It was the only way they could communicate with each other without getting caught since they were being monitored at all times. Well that and Emma Ratri of course.

Norman now knew who Smee was, how they could communicate, and that he'd be put in touch with another ally who was a test subject like him, so they'd be able to communicate easier.

Despite the fact that Norman was dying, literally and figuratively, from the tests he was happy. After over a month of torture in this damned place there was finally a light at the end of the tunnel.

It'd take a lot of work, but Norman could now say with confidence he'd escape this place and reunite with his family.

Emma noticed his good mood, as she commented on it.

"Finally have a clear hope for the future." Norman responded.

Emma parted her lips as if in surprise, then she smiled, "I'm glad."

Norman never saw her smile like that. It was a truly genuine smile. Not one she put up for a façade, not something forced, or a teasing one. Was she genuinely happy for him?

But that thought was ruined immediately.

"You gonna tell me what happened?"

"Of course not."

"Aww, why not?"

"You said to yourself that I couldn't fully trust you."

"Ugh, fine."

Emma plopped onto his bed.

"By the way, father wants another blood sample." Emma told him.

Norman sighed, of course he did. "Why make you do it and not one of the scientists?" It was only Emma who ever took a blood test, was she lying and using it for something else?

"I'm not sure, but father always has his reasons. Maybe he thinks you trust me more." Responded, taking out the needle and bandage.

Norman raised an eyebrow. "Since when does he care about who I trust?"

Emma sighed, "Like I said, I don't know. Believe it or not, I'm not much more informed about this place than you are."

"Why wouldn't you be informed about the goings here?" Norman asked, she was the next head wouldn't it make sense for her to know so she can take over?

"You ask too many questions. Shut up and give me your arm." Emma snapped.

Picking up on her now suddenly bad mood Norman did as asked, he still had more questions.