Saving Annabel

Chapter 10

         

Her words have a calming effect over me. I stop struggling and the pit in my stomach disappears.

We walk into another dark room, the door automatically closing behind us, shutting us in. Dr. Shields flips a switch and the room is flooded with light. In the center of the room is a chair similar to the one in the testing room, however this one has a plastic cover and there's a clunky metal machine over it.

I look at Dr. Shields nervously, then back at the chair. I glance around the room for another exit, but don't spot one.

Dr. Shields breathes a heavy sigh and plops herself down on a chair, her shoulders shrinking in on themselves. She doesn't look like the confident, strong woman she was a few minutes ago. Instead, she's a shrunken woman with the weight of her job's responsibilities taxing on her shoulders.

"Sit down." She says, waving to the seat next to her.

I bite my lip nervously, but comply. I sit down and fold my hands in my lap, squeezing them until my knuckles turn white.

"I know you're very confused right now, and you have every right to be. I'll explain everything that I know soon. But first I need to know I can trust you."

I peek up at her from under my bangs and continue to chow down on my lip.

"Look. I know you have an ability. I know you can sense if someone is telling the truth or not."

I gape at her. "Then why...?" I ask, at a loss for words.

"Because we need someone with an ability underground who can report back to us."

"What?"

"A spy. Someone on the inside that can find out information without being obvious. Someone who can tell whether or not someone is lying."

I press my lips together, my heart beating frantically. "A spy...For what purpose?"

Dr. Shields hesitates. "I can't tell you that yet."

I narrow my eyes. "I thought you were going to tell me everything."

"Not everything. Not until I know you can be someone I can trust."

"And what if I don't?" I ask, skeptically.

"I would have to erase your memory." Dr. Shields says simply. "And considering the amount of time you've been here and your age, chances of survival would be 20%."

I press my tongue to the top of my mouth. "And why would I trust you?"

"Because I can get the doctor to cure your sister."

I widen my eyes. She's telling the truth. I guess that's part of my ability. I don't know how I know, but I just do.

But how would Dr. Shields know about my sister? Wait. Of course she does. The government is constantly watching us. They would know if I kept my sister was hidden in my room. I remember the mirror in my room. Is that how they kept tags on me this entire time? The thought of being constantly watched makes my skin crawl.

Dr. Shields says she can get my sister cured. Actually cured. I feel my chest heat up inside and an involuntary smile widen across my lips.

Seeing my smile, Dr. Shields continues, "All you have to do is go back down to Indigne and prove your trustworthiness by pretending that you can't remember anything of the outside world."

I nod my head slowly, still grasping the concept.

"When would my sister be cured?"

She smiles. "When you have given us your first piece of useful information." Dr. Shields opens a drawer and takes out a little bottle. "This is medicine for your sister. It's enough to last you until we can heal her."