The Brewing Storm

An Old Friend

12. 

The girl sat awkwardly on the seat besides Eugene and I, as we flick through the channels in attempt to find a decent show to watch. But with it being New Years Eve, there was barely anything I could stand to watch for more than two minutes. 

The day after the girl, Lucy, had told me her name, my head throbbed. And not in a delicate, pills can cure kind of throbbing. I was determined to stay in bed for the entire day, but Eugene made it his top priority to make my life hell. Lucy didn't leave her room for the next two days, even when the others told her that she was free to roam the mansion, she remained silent, staring out of the window. So we left her to it. Sure, it would have been a strange adjustment, especially after being experimented on by Michael Anthony in a location we are still unaware of. Giving her this much trust was a risk. But it was a risk we needed to take if we wanted her to trust us, in exchange for information about this whole 'Products on the lose' problem.  

Christmas had passed quickly, especially since Eugene had left me to cook the entire Christmas dinner alone. Trina and Valentina had left Malibu to join their families for the festive season. That was the first time Lucy had finally decided to take a wander around the house- perhaps she felt less intimidated with less people, but even I knew that was a dangerous decision on her part. 

I was knelt down besides the oven when she spoke "Hello". I shot up, startled with the strength in her voice compared to how it was just a few days ago. I kept my eyes on her, noting that she was wearing one of Eugene's tops, and a pair of shorts from my closet. I didn't mention it, as I spotted Jana hovering in the corner, eyeing the girl with suspicion. 

"How are you feeling?" I had asked, returning my gaze back to the oven when she shrugged her shoulders, and pulled her sleeves over her hands. I didn't want to push her into talking. 

"Do you need any help?" 

And so she helped, making it clear that she had much more of an idea of how to create a roast dinner than I did. Eugene stayed well out of the way, knowing the best way to get her to talk was not to  treat her as a prisoner, but to include her, make her seem equal. Not treat her as an object we are trying to get information out of, but as an advanced human. So that's exactly what we did. She joined us for Christmas, and although we didn't give her a gift, or talk to her a lot, it was clear that she enjoyed the silence we were often in, before Eugene thought about what actions he was about to make in order to win his point in our game of Charades.

For the first time, the doorbell rang. Lucy jumped up, stating that she would go and answer whoever had decided to call. Eugene payed no attention to the girl as she scurried out of the room. My eyes never left her back until I heard the front door open, then I returned to look at Eugene. 

"For New Years Eve, the schedule is pretty-"

"Shit!" I leap to my feet, my eyes closed.

"They were my thoughts exactly" Eugene leans back. 

"No you idiot! She's telekinesis!" My twin looked at me, as though waiting for the punch line of some ridiculous joke "There's no one at the door!" 

 "And you know that, how, exactly?"

"I can only sense three heartbeats!"

"Yeah, mine, yours, and Lucy's."

"No, Eugene" I slowly turn to him face him, my eyes widened "Mine, yours, and Jana's."

"So... where's the girl?" Our heads snaps towards the living room door, then back at each other.  We sprint through the hallways, until I halt in front of our half open door, with no visitor waiting outside.  "I thought you said your protection lasted all day!"