Proven

Chapter Eleven

The walls seem to close in on me, and I feel like my life is over. There have been more than technology changes while I was gone, I realize. Changes of heart have been involved. Friends have betrayed. I shudder, pressing my back up against the white wall even harder. Never in my life have I seen a movie where the good guy--or girl in this case--actually ends up dead in the end. Or even disabled. Once again, I freeze, my muscles stretching like a rubber band and then releasing multiple shakes throughout my body. Is that the ability thingy-mabobber or just me? And now I'm questioning my own sanity for crying out loud! I'm falling apart at the seams.

For the fourth time in a minute, I take a deep breath. Calm inhale, shaking exhale. What is Paige doing right now? Is she trying to save me or is she part of this whole scheme too? Is it only President Mora who's up to this? She's probably brainwashed everybody.

A wave of static sound floods the room. Like the sound you get when you turn to a channel on TV and you don't have that channel. Imagine that but fifty times louder, more annoying, and longer. Gritting my teeth, I stand up and look around. Once more, I examine the little square room. Nothing but plain white walls. There's no way to escape, the only way into here would be teleportation. And the only way out is teleportation. But the room blocks that. Or some force field around the room...or in the room. If it's in the room, then maybe I can go to the very outskirts of it and try again. That is, if the teleportation drink hasn't worn off. President Mora wouldn't be so stupid as to make that last so long.

I go back to the wall, standing up and pushing my heels into where the wall and floor meet. With a sharp breath, I close my eyes and think about home. Maybe it will be like the Wizard of Oz and all that I have to do is click my ruby slippers together three times. But maybe my ruby slippers are my temporary ability. Nothing happens. Groaning in frustration, I think back to the Wizard of Oz. If Dorothy has to click her heels together three times, why shouldn't I have to try and teleport three times? Everything is in sets of three: little pigs, musketeers, and whatever else happens to be in sets of threes. When you're stressed out, you forget all your nursery rhymes.

After the third time, I give up. This time, I occupy myself with trying to find the exact center of the room. I go to one wall and count my paces across the room. One, two, three...I get all the way to fifteen. Multiply that by two and the room is thirty feet combined. Divide fifteen by two and then I'll get seven and a half. So if I walk seven and a half steps one way...I do the simple action. And then I find it the other way. Sighing, I drop my shoulders and sit down. There's absolutely no way I'll ever get out of here.

"Definition activated," the voice announces.

I completely forgot about the static until the voice talked again. But when it cut through and diminished the terrible noise, I realized how brilliant it is to be able to think clearly. What's definition? I know what it means in the sense of words, but not in anything else. The next voice surprises me.

"Cara Gibbons," President Mora says cheerfully.

My heart drops, rock solid in my chest.

"I know what you're thinking by now," she continues. "The device was set to say that word as to puzzle you. It translates to 'improvement.' The procedure is now complete, as you have been exposed to non odorous gasses. Like Paige, you now have all existing abilities. The ability dischargers have been unplugged, you may now teleport back to where you left us."

I don't know what to do. Shout for joy that one of my dreams has come true? Scream at President Mora for lying to me? Neither are a very good idea. But both are appealing.

All I know is that my life is changed.