Morph [EDITING] || Wattys 2017 Winner

~ELEVEN~

~amelie~

My comms don't work here, in this cell, and they're blocked by a strange static. I feel cramped and strange in my sister's body. It's not a pleasant experience. I haven't tried talking when I'm replicating someone I know, so I have no idea if my voice will match theirs or I'll have to find a way around it. I slowly stand up from my sitting position, and peer through the tiny barred slot at the top of my door. I'm looking straight through to the arch, and beyond it is a bank of security camera feeds and a guard sitting there. I can see a door, similar to the cell entrances, next to the surveillance equipment, and I decide we need to investigate when my team comes back. But my most important discovery is that the camera guard is too far away to hear me, and I can't see any others directly outside my cell. I make up my mind, and as I creep slowly backwards I test my voice.

"...Hello?" I say, listening hard, and immediately emotion washes over me. It's relief, but it's tainted with fear too. I still sound like myself, and the good thing is that there's one constant thing I can hold onto - reminding me of myself when I'm someone else. The bad news is that, if I have to impersonate someone and talk like them, I'm in deep trouble. A sudden click outside my cell startles me, and I quickly move back to the slot. I can see the surveillance guard staring intently at one of the screens, and faint audio plays. I focus on the noise, and I recognise a voice. It's Dad, and he's being interviewed. Suddenly, I'm hit by a wave of conflicting feelings - fear, love, hate. I close my eyes, blocking out my inner confusion, and listen.

"Mr Carmichael, thank you for coming to talk to us about the current superhuman situation. We recently captured footage of a raid on a school, where your daughter was among those who tested positive, as well as another of her classmates. Would you like to comment on this?"
"Certainly. The events at Morris Major were saddening, especially as it involved my own child. But I made a promise, and that promise has carried myself and my country far, and I will not give it up, even for my own flesh and blood. The safety of my country comes above all else."
The sad thing is, I know he's absolutely serious. He won't save Sophia - he can't anyway, as she's safe now, but the fact he isn't even willing to try... There's a pause, like the interviewer is letting his words sink in, and then he produces another question.
"While we're on the subject, Mr Carmichael, how have you dealt with the news of your eldest daughter's disappearance? Both your children were last seen on this year's testing day, but instead of exhibiting powers and being captured Amelie Carmichael was reportedly kidnapped, just after another pupil suffered the same fate. Is this true?"
Another pause, and this time it's Dad who's hesitating. I swallow, a hard lump in my throat. I'm torn between wanting to hear his answer and wanting to avoid it totally.
"My daughter is missing, yes. We don't know who is holding her, or where, but we will find them. The other pupil has been found and returned to her family, thanks to the dedicated efforts of my team. We will return my daughter, too, and we will respond with appropriate measures to her captors. The kidnappers will not escape. And, if they are listening now..." he hesitates again, "...I strongly advise they give up their hostage now, or face justice and harsh punishment."
A confusing mess of emotions sweeps over me, and even the relief I feel at the news that Isabelle is safe doesn't make me feel better - all my worries are too much. In that moment, I can almost feel Dad's eyes glaring into the camera, staring right at me. My cell is suddenly way too hot, and cramped, and my breath starts coming in tiny bursts. The full reality of my situation kicks in. I'm working with my so-called kidnappers, so what does that make me? And what will happen when the inevitable comes, and I'm discovered, and-?

The cell door swings open.

~~~

~sophia~

there are three of them. one is ignoring me, one is smiling at me, and the other one is frowning. i blink up at them.
"what's happening?" i ask the smiling boy, and he opens his mouth to speak, but the frowning girl replies first.
"we're rescuing you," she answers.
"why?"
she hesitates, and looks back to the boy. he says, "someone who cares about you wants you to be safe."
it can't be daddy, because he locked me up, and it can't be mummy, because she doesn't really like me. "is it ammy?"
the girl blinks. her hair is pretty. "how did she guess?"
"she knows it can't be anyone else," the boy says, no longer smiling but looking sad. i smile at him.
"it's okay. as long as i have my sister, i'm okay."
the girl stares at me. "sophia, what's your ability? advanced intelligence?" she turns back to the boy and her frown deepens. "is this what normal eight-year-olds are like?"
the third person, the one who's ignoring me, looks at her and says, "flowers. she grows flowers."
the girl blinks. "that's... cute." she grins at me, and so does the first boy. the other one turns away again. i don't know why he's so unhappy.
"where's ammy?" i say. "is she okay? is she still hurt?"
the boy looks out past me, towards the building we escaped from. "no, she's fine. she's in there."
i stare at the building. i don't ever want to go back.