Flawed Genetics

Chapter One

"Today, guess what we're going to learn about?" Professor James asks our class.

"Something exciting!" I whisper to Khloe - who rolls her eyes, but plasters a smile on her pale face.

"Something exciting." The Professor answers walking across the front of the small concrete jail cell that they call a classroom.

Khloe and I catch eyes and I widen mine with fake excitement.

"Miss Hyde and Miss Mullan, is there something you'd like to share with the rest of the class?" Professor asks looking at us thoughtfully.

I turn to him and smile tilting my head slightly to the left. "Of course, Professor," I stand up and walk to the front of the room, staring back at the slightly amused faces. "We're going to learn about something exciting today, boys and girls." I start out. "Now, the Professor is going to explain some very exciting details about how fifty years ago from today our world was changed because some genetically normal beings disrupted the whole government and we were all too weak to save ourselves."

"Okay, Miss Hyde, that's enough." Professor James frowns. "You may go back to your seat, now."

I turn to him and copy the same expression. "But, Professor. I wasn't done." I turn back to the rest of the class. "Now, where was I?"

"I believe you were about to start explaining how weak we were before the Presidents saved us?" The goody-two-shoes Addison comments. "Honestly, Brooklyn. If you're going to disrupt the class, you could at least show some respect for the people who saved us."

I glare at her. "Miss Hyde, I will have you escorted out of this classroom if you don't sit down right now!" The Professor warns.

I sigh, "No need. I'll leave by myself." I walk to my desk and snatch my bag off the rusty old chair. "See you later." I whisper to Khloe, who sends me a smirk. "Goodbye fellow GC's, I'll see you all wherever the heck we go after we leave this place." And I leave the room, grinning at the series of giggles that exit the classroom with me.

"Miss Hyde!" Professor James' voice echoes throughout the hallway of the EF. "Miss Hyde, return here immediately!" I hear footsteps, and they quicken.

I sneak a glance behind me and see the Professor's tall legs striding towards me. I curse and start running.

I turn the corner, hoping that it'll give me some time to hide in the bathrooms. Instead I run into a body, knocking me to the ground.

"Oh my God!" I look up angrily, knowing that I'm most definitely going to be caught now. I see a pair of worried gray eyes staring down at me.

"I'm so sorry." The boy says, holding out a helping hand. "Are you okay?"

I ignore his hand and stand up, looking behind me, not seeing Professor James yet, but I hear his footsteps closing in on the corner.

I spot the boys bathroom and sigh frustratedly. I grab the boy by the elbow and pull him with me into the bathroom. "Come on, you idiot." I whisper. "And shut up."

The boy starts to protest, but then hears footsteps outside of the bathroom's door. He looks at me, his gray eyes uncertain on what to do. "Go into one of the stalls, I'll cover for you." He whispers.

I feel my eyebrows knit together, but I see the knob turn and I dart into one of the stalls, closing the door and I balance myself on the seat.

I hear the door open and I pray to God that the boy won't rat me out.

"Hello, Professor." The boy says charmingly.

"Who are you?" Professor James asks, his voice less than welcoming.

"Oh, how rude of me. I'm a new pupil here. My name is Jordan; Jordan Whitefield. I was actually just on my way to your class, I believe I have you as a Genetics History professor." Jordan's voice is so convincing, I'm pretty sure that I would've believed him. "Excuse me, Professor. Are you looking for someone?"

"What are you genetically for, Mr. Whitefield?" Professor asks, his tone still sending shivers down my spine.

"MF, sir. Military Force." Jordan answers.

I close my eyes and exhale deeply, but quietly. Military Forces? You've got to be kidding me! This kid is basically made to tell the truth and respect orders.

"Military Force?" Professor James sounds doubtful.

"Yes, sir. I just transferred here from Westmill," Jordan is selling his story like a pro and I can't help but be a bit impressed, but it doesn't make any sense. If he's genetically made for Military Forces then he is obliged to tell the Professor the truth.

"Westmill? All the way in Chicago? Why'd you transfer, Mr. Whitefield?" Professor is getting nosy. He knows I'm in here.

"My Commanding Officer transferred me, sir. Said that they had the best MFT; Military Force Training, here." I wait for the Professor to ask another question, but when he doesn't Jordan goes ahead to close up the interrogation. "I'm sorry, sir. But if you have no further questions, I came into this room for a reason."

I cover my mouth with my hand and try to conceal my laugh.

"Uhm...have you seen a girl?" Professor asks, his voice much less confident than usual.

"I have seen many girls, sir," Jordan answers.

"Have you seen a girl come down this hallway, she's got dark brown hair?"

Oh crap. He's got to tell Professor, it's in his freaking genes! I'm done for.

"I did in fact see a girl matching that description. Seemed to be in quite a rush. She went running down hall, basically ran me over. I believe she ran that way," I imagine him pointing toward the very stall I'm hiding in and I brace myself for my exposure. What will I say to Professor? What's my excuse this time? I got sick? Couldn't make it to the girl's in time?

I'm totally done for.

"Thank you, Mr. Whitefield. My room is just down the hall and to the left." And Professor's footsteps, to my surprise, start fading.

The bathroom door closes and Jordan's voice echoes throughout the Boy's Restroom like a heavenly chorus. "You can come out now, he's gone."

I stay put.

Frozen on top of this filthy toilet seat.

He lied.

He lied to Professor James.

He disobeyed orders.

What the heck!

Then it slaps me in the face like a stinging backhand.

He's like me.