Nothing

Chapter 26

Kaden and I took the seats offered by Dr. Leo. I was scared and surprisingly eager to finally get answers from someone.

Once it seemed that we were settled in, the doctor asked me, "What is it that you needed?"

Suddenly nervous, I darted my eyes to Kaden beside me. He kept his gaze forward on Dr. Leo and, like normal, gave nothing away. I turned back to the doctor and blurted out before I could think better of it, "Why'd you do it?"

Dr. Leo tilted his head a little in confusion, "What've I done?"

My eyes narrowed in vexation, "You know what you've done." Did he get some sick pleasure out of making me explain what he had done?

He threw a questioning glance my way.

I saw the chance slipping through my fingers and demanded, "I want answers."

The doctor leaned back in his chair with a sigh, as if it was too much. He motioned to the air in front of him. "Ask away," he gave me the go ahead to pelt him with questions.

I took a deep breath to calm my raging nerves and then repeated my earlier question, "Why did you do it?"

He answered quickly, "Because my job demanded it of me. It was my duty."

"Your duty?" I echoed. Rage flowed into my veins and I hissed out, "Did doing your duty really have to come at the cost of innocent peoples' lives?"

He actually had the nerve to shrug. "If that is the cost, then yes. My duties come before everyone." he whispered the last part as if saying it quieter would lessen the blow.

My aggravation with the doctor grew. He was obviously hiding something, that much I could tell. But was it the truth about what happened to my sister? I wasn't so sure...

His cold professional facade was just that: a cold mask that barely hid his true feelings. He lacked the confidence behind his words, which showed that he didn't believe in what he was saying.

I felt that he didn't want to say it. The small fire of hatred burning in his gray eyes told me so.

A fierce tension settled on the room when I asked, "Why was my Aunt murdered if you were only after me?"

Dr. Leo sat straighter in his chair and set his folded hands on the metal desk. "The brutal force that was used against Ms. Bruckner was out of necessity. She resisted our peaceful approach and attacked one of our crew." He sounded as if he had heard these words a thousand times, and as if repeating it would make it better.

I stayed silent, carefully debating which question to ask him next. After a few moments, I decided, "If you were only after me... why was my sister taken too?"

He answered immediately, as he was expecting this question to pass through my lips, "Young Ms. Penning was taken into SLOW MOD's custody because the crew on site wouldn't have felt good leaving a small defenseless child to fend for herself on the streets."

"Well maybe you shouldn't have murdered my aunt." I hissed in reply.

Neither the doctor or Kaden said anything at my stab. Even though they remained completely calm and unaffected by my words.

"Anymore questions?" Dr. Leo finally asked, breaking the silence.

Nodding my head, I blurted the next question weighing on my mind, not caring if he knew the answer or not. "Where is she?"

Dr. Leo raised an eyebrow at me, but didn't question who I was asking about. "Kaylee," he said her name while looking straight into my eyes, "is safe." He didn't offer anymore besides that one dramatic sentence.

Kaylee was safe.

I let the meaning of that short sentence settle into my worried mind. Kaylee. Was. Safe. She wasn't wondering the streets alone. She wasn't hurting with any broken bones. And she wasn't dead in a ditch somewhere. She was safe.

Yes, I didn't know this for sure and, yes, Dr. Leo could have easily been lying to me, but... I decided to trust him. Something about the confidence in his gray eyes and they way he spoke those words made me want to put my trust in him.

Kaden shifted in his seat beside me, as if the silence that had once again engulfed the small office was now his enemy. The doctor's eyes followed the movement curiously before turning back to me. "Is that all Ms. Penning?" he asked. I gave a small nod to which he acknowledged but didn't reply. The doctor stood up behind his desk, and I scrambled to join him on my feet. Kaden slowly rose from his chair.

I broke the silence. "Uh... thank you for your time and for letting me ask my questions," I said I an awkwardly formal way.

"You're very welcome." he answered back just as formally. With that, I ended that awkward conversation as awkwardly as possible by slowly backing toward the door, which was a few feet behind where we had been sitting.

Dr. Leo seemed to have other plans though as he came around the desk and offered me his hand. "It was nice to see you again Ms. Penning."

"Likewise." I replied with fake enthusiasm and an even faker smile.

***

Back in the never ending halls with Kaden by my side, it seemed that I was constantly wandering these maze like white corridors, I felt as if one of the many burdens I had had been lifted from my shoulders. I still didn't know where my little sister was and I wouldn't rest easy until she was safely back with me, but I had gotten some answers. The answers given to me by Dr. Leo weren't much... but they were the start I needed to get out of this place.

Kaden still hadn't said a word and instead opted to follow along beside me like the lost pup I had once compared him to be. A dark cloud seemed to be lurking in his mood like a hidden plague.

I wanted to ask him what about what was weighing on his mind, but I quickly thought against it. This was Kaden. It's not like he would tell me what was bothering him anyway. "Kaden-" his name slipped past my lips.

At hearing his name, he turned to me. His dark cloud passed like a shadow over his features making his face look menacing.

I gulped... maybe I should've just kept my mouth shut...

******************

A/N

SAY WHAAA?????? Me no know >.<

lol, I have to say this because I'm a terrible friend and will probably forget.... HAPPY BIRTHDAY KORI!!!!!!!!!!!! See?? I got the chapter!!! *proud face* and it only took me a month..... oops....

ANYWAY *cough* awkward *cough* school started back.... it sucks.... I wish I could still sleep all day and watch youtube- I mean- PARTY! all night long ;) DOES ANYBODY FEEL MY PAIN?!

Yep, Ima leave this here.... byes

Song: ALL THE WAY - Jacksepticeye Songify Remix by Schmoyoho (I'm so sorry... I had too... it just gets stuck in my head every time I hear it...)

~Alexis :3