Project Radioactive

another room

                  

Three days after they did some more tests on Zander and I, Dr. Tanner allowed me to try to telepathically stabilize Zander. The thought of what his condition was terrified me. I saw glimpses of the monster he could become through the minds of the guards at the door. I walked in alone to find Zander on a chair, facing a mirror, his titanium goggles hiding his eyes. I tightened my grip on the key in my hand. Chains pulled at his hands, feet, and neck. Thick Velcro straps held the rest of his body down.

He heard me coming into the room. "Don't... touch...me!" Zander yelled as I walked in. I kept my pace steady as I inched closer. "What now? More tranquilizers? More experiments? Just kill me already!" His words made my heart break. Zander was so confident before, but now he was terrified.

"Calm down, it's me" He struggled in the straps holding him down.

"Celia?" He tried to turn his head towards me but it was forcefully being held to face the mirror. His metal goggles hid his eyes for a good reason, but I longed to look at him. "You're okay? You're alive?" I could hear the doubt in his voice as he talked to me.

"I woke up a few days ago barley able to walk. I had to see you, though. You're the only real friend I have left."

Is that really you? I thought they killed you, I thought they hurt you like they hurt me! His thoughts made me so tempted to rip off the goggles and just look at him. "What happened? Why am I here?"

"There was a space rock that hit the fire. Something happened that night. We all changed; you and me the most."

"Did you turn into a monster?" he asked his voice deadly scared. His fear was so strong that I felt it in my whole body, not just my head. He was scared. I had to give him peace.

"No, but I can help you. Trust me, Zander." I put my hand on his, noting the difference. Due to poor health and little sun, my skin paled to porcelain with thin blue veins visible under the surface. His skin was the same olive color I remembered as if the artificial light still tanned him.

"Wait," he said. "If it is really you, then answer a question."

"Yes?"

"What do I call my brother when he isn't around?" I heard the name in his mind that I heard so many times before.

"Zachary? You always called him 'Little Brainiac Zach.'" I laughed. "He fit the nickname, too. Zander, it really is me. You ripped your shirt on our first date and we laughed about it for hours. You brought me to Mali's Pizza on our second date. We first kissed after the hike Triple Falls, your favorite place in North Carolina. I can name everything we did together. Trust me, Zander, I am Celia."

"What are you going to do?" he asked. I could feel his heart beating at the most rapid pace I've ever heard. The fear and anxiety I felt from him was from solitary confinement. Even if it was for protection, he was now mentally damaged almost beyond repair. I took a deep breath as I pushed the key through the goggles.

"I'm a telepath, Zander. I know how scary this is for you, and I'm going to help you." The lock clicked. "Just, look strait in front of you."

"Celia, no! I'm too dangerous! Don't look at me!" He struggled asI slowly peeled the straps from their lock.

I pulled the goggles off, forcing myself to look away. I looked at my hand and saw the titanium goggles resting in my palm. I then focused on serenity and when I felt calm enough, I looked up to the mirror and gasped.

His eyes were electric blue from the whites to the pupils. They radiated light and energy from inside of him. I groaned as I felt so much pain as I looked at them. My eyes felt like they were on fire.

"Celia! Look away! I've already blinded so many people! Don't do this!" Zander was now struggling to free his head.

I took a deep breath. I'd have to make this quick. I focused on the reflections and sent serenity to Zander.

"Tell me, how do you feel?" I asked.

"Look away, Celia!" he wasn't responding. I realized why he was scared too late.

His eyes glowed brighter and shot a beam at the mirror. It instantly exploded, shards flying everywhere. I feel backwards from the impact, hitting the wall on the other side. I heard a loud popping noise and pain shot up through my arm to my back. I couldn't breathe or speak. I was only conscience of the pain.

"She dislocated her shoulder!" I saw Dr. Tanner and other scientists gathering around us. I yelped as someone touched my arm. The shock of pain was going away, but my left shoulder still hurt a lot and I couldn't move my arm.

"I'm okay!" I lied. I looked over to find that Zander's chair was on its side. Two docs were forcing his goggles back on.

I looked at where the mirror used to be and gasped.

Behind the debris of the concrete wall, rows of tanks and army trucks filled the room near us. In the middle there were other vehicles that stood out; each had wings like a plane but the structure reminded me of the ships on Star Wars . Several armed men stood guard near entrances fashioned in bullet- proof vests and black helmets that hid their faces. It didn't exactly look like a lab.

Darn it! Dr. Tanner thought as he walked in front of me, blocking my view. I looked up at him but the movement sent another shock of pain to my arm. If she saw that, we're toast!

"Don't move," Tanner said forcefully. He turned his head enough for the top of his chemical suit to cover his face, shielding his eyes. I tried telepathy again but it was obvious that there were some things that he thought needed to stay private.

All of the sudden I screamed. While I was distracted, Dr. Pam yanked my shoulder back into place. I faintly heard Zander yelling my name as I started to sob.

"Get her to Patient 002! Jayden may be able to heal her arm." Dr. Pam started barking more orders as other docs around me lifted me out of the room, but I saw their worried expressions.

I saw something that I wasn't supposed to see, and I was going to find out what it meant.