Deep Dark Blues

Chapter 17- Theory of Evolution

Reed inhaled sharply, standing behind the closed doors of the Infirmary. Her heart was hammering in her chest, fists clenching in futile attempts to let the burning rage simmer down. The gentle light pooled by the crack between the door and the floor and Reed was convinced Isabella was in the room.

It took a lot of mental power to pick up what was left of her mind after discovering the horrifying truth behind the bruise on her shoulder. She'd spent hours sobbing in the Radio Room, trying to piece together the puzzle, only every piece seemed to be from a different set of jigsaws. Nothing made sense... She felt helpless, like a fly tangled in a web of lies, ready to be devoured.

The sheer elusiveness of her fate, pushed her to the point of boiling frustration, ready to take on the challenge and push through the fear.

She needed answers... And she was going to get them.

Reed pushed the door open, revealing the dimly lit room. Isabella sat behind her laptop, typing furiously as if the woman was writing a novel rather than a report. She glanced at Reed, paying her little mind as she rasped out.

"Where... Been?"

She didn't seem to care much for Reed's answer, so absorbed by whatever she was writing she didn't notice the storm brewing across Reed's face.

"Tell me what happened..." Reed demanded, earning a shrug from Isabella.

"Nothing... Alex... Good..."

Reed sighed, her gaze hardening.

"I know about the injection."

The room went silent. Isabella stopped typing, her hands suspended in the air while she stared at Reed blankly. Her mouth opened and closed, like a fish out of water, with no sound coming from between her lips.

"I know Alex was injected... So was I-"

Isabella jumped to her feet, her knees colliding with the table causing it to shake.

"Where?" She heaved out, zooming past the table and to Reed's side. Her hands gripped Reed's elbow, dark eyes drilling holes in Reed's head.

"Where-"

"Let go!" Reed ripped her arm out of Isabella's grip, putting some distance between them. Her muscles tensed, ready to avoid Isabella if she persisted, but the woman stood in place with confusion written all over her face.

"I saw your notes...You were researching something and I want to know what."

Isabella glanced at the table behind her, her eyes widening.

"Tell me..." Reed pushed, feeling the rage boiling dangerously close to the surface. Isabella stepped back, her eyebrows furrowing. She wasn't going to give in so easily...

"Not...Ready...Don't know-"

"No!" Reed's shout made the other woman jump.

"No, I am fucking tired of everybody lying all the fucking time. I am not a fucking child, you are not protecting me or anybody holding this information! I don't know what your fucking deal is, but..." she paused, chest rising and falling too fast for her liking.

"But..." she breathed.

"But i-it's my body... I need to know... So tell me... Just, please tell me..."

Isabella looked away, shame colouring her cheeks pink. She bit her lip, fingers picking at the cuticles of the not-so-fresh manicure. She seemed to be toeing the precipice of something terrifying, droplets of sweat shining on her forehead. Reed watched as one of the nails ripped the skin of the cuticle, blood sipping through the small wound.