Thirteen

Lies

L. Girl 'Everything happens to make it easier to become true.'

I wake up in my room surrounded by Kevin, January, Stephanie and Maison.

Stephanie 'Kevin, she is opening her eyes!'
Kevin 'Finally, Lore! How are you feeling?'
Lore 'Where is Jo?'

January stops from what she was doing and gets closer to my bed having a surprising expresion.

January 'She is still missing. Why are you asking? Was she with you in the forest?!'
Stephanie 'Because Jo is one of our dearest friends, that's why she's asking, January. Stop trying to find something bad or different in every situation!'
January 'Do you think I'm asking for myself? I am worried about Jo since there has been no way to reach her for two days.'
Kevin 'Ladies, I assume that Lore wants silence and no fights right now. Do you feel any pain, Lore?'
Lore 'My arm is hurting me, but that is all.'
Kevin 'You clashed yourself into a stone when you fell. Do you remember what happened?'
Lore 'Not much. I just know I was coming back from the river and, suddenly, something exploded in front of me.'
January 'But what were you doing alone in a forbidden dangerous place? I don't quite think you were taking a shower there, weren't you?'

In a flash moment, Stephanie grabs January for her arm in a second and starts yelling at her, saying some rough words.

Stephanie 'Stop talking to us like that. You might be our doctor, but we are all humans and we make mistakes. There is no need talking bitterly ironic. As far as you can see, she is not in the best shape.'
January 'Shall I remember you what is the reason she ended up in this way?'
Maison 'Let's go outside and take a fresh breath, January.'

Stephanie has definitely changed. Her attitude to the doctors is way different now compared to the beginning. I think she feels the pressure which was put upon us in a more intense way. She finally realises that this is not a dream, but cruel reality we need to face. Knowing nothing about Jo makes her be even more irritated.

Kevin 'I'm sorry about January. She is just really worried about your friend and I think, this is the way she can express those feelings. Lore, even if I don't want to bother you with my questions, why were you at the river alone? We can't command you, but that place is forbidden because of its danger, not because we wouldn't like you to walk there. You are allowed to, but it is possible not to get back here, as it almost happened to you two days ago.'
Lore 'January said Jo might have been there, so I thought I should have gone to see if that's true. I'm realising now it was a terrible idea.'
Kevin 'Was she there? This is why you asked about her earlier?'

It seems they didn't see Jo and me together since they have been asking me all these things, but that only leads me to the next questions which are 'Who created the explosion and why?'. I have no idea if I should tell them the truth in order to get possible help or to maintain the silence for a better help. I guess time will show me if I have made the best decision or even more that is the best answer to my decision.

Lore 'No, she wasn't there.'
Kevin 'OK, then I leave you two alone to talk and rest.'
Lore 'Alright.'
Stephanie(having tears in her eyes) 'Didn't you really see Jo there? I just want her to be safe.'

I am really sorry to keep this secret away from you, my friend, but it is better this way for now. I am afraid. You are not ready to be told the whole truth yet and my last wish is not to hurt you by finding out that it's possible to never see Jo again. At least, not as she used to be.

Lore 'I would have remembered if I had seen her, Stephanie. I am sorry, but I'm sure she's safe. If Jo isn't here, it's because she doesn't like this place, trust me.'
Steph 'She would never just leave without saying anything.'
Lore 'Maybe she knew you'll try to stop her. One thing I am aware of: she had a reason to do such a thing.'

One week later.

Monday. One week since I have had no idea what really happened in the forest, where Jo is or what I should do next. I am exactly in the same situation Jo was seven days ago: lost. I'm lying everybody, even my best friend because hidding the truth is the eldest lie's daughter. I am starting thinking that in those tubes everything was much easier. The cold was like hell, but at least that was the only feeling it could be felt and back then, hell had no definition as far as it concerns me to be bad or good. In this world, eternal cold seems to be the smallest thing I should be worried about comparing to what it has been so far and what it's up to come.

Doctors have an appointment.

Andrew 'Klaus, Andy, have discovered their ability.'
Monica 'So has Melissa.'
Primer 'All three of them in a week? What a progress!'
Andrew 'Actually, it's exactly the opposite! It's the same ability to all of them!! I have been waiting to see if my initial opinion is wrong, but it wasn't like that. We clearly didn't expect this to happen!'
Primer 'Are they brothers or relatives?'
Andrew 'Of course not! They come from different parts of the world.'
Primer 'I think we need to study them much closer and to figure out why the experiment failed on them. Taking them back to the hospital would be an option.'
Andrew 'Yes, but how? I forgot to mention that their ability is strength. They can lift or strike everything without putting a huge effort when they have extremely strong emotions.'
January 'We could fake a death by administrating their food with the opposite antidot, but enough dosage not to really kill them, just for the others to think so.'
Andrew 'You might be right. The right quantity of it only put them asleep for a few days if we administrate the antidot fast enough afterwards.'
Kevin 'Why can't we leave them here?'
Primer 'Are you out of your mind? It is obvious that the experiment has failed on them. We need to find what the reasons for that to happen are and to make sure it's the first and the last time something like this happens. To succed, taking them back to the hospital is a must.'
Kevin 'And what's the next step after we discover why they are a failure?'
Primer 'They can't be set free. The memories will eventually return and we can't risk destroying everything we have been working on so hard because of three teenagers.'

  
   I see Stephanie in the garden of our house and I'm rushing to her. 

Stephanie 'Where were you?'
Lore 'I was just walking.'

   Without notice a rock right in front of me, I tripped over and I would have fallen if Stephanie hadn't caught my hands with such a remarcable speed and hold me still.

Lore 'How did you do that?'
Stephanie 'I have no idea. I just wanted to help you and...'
Lore 'Do you think..' I'm not finishing my questions because she has already answered me.
Stephanie 'Everything would make sense if that were true. My latest actions, emotions, thoughts..I should talk to January.'
Lore (immediately reaction) 'NO! I mean..we don't know for sure. Maybe it's just a false alarm and there is no need bothering her with this.'
Stephanie 'I have to tell her, Lore. The doctors can help me.'
Lore 'Like they helped Jo?'

   I said this in an intense moment without realising what I could cause by telling more than I should have.

Stephanie 'What do you mean? You said Jo has left the city. Do you know something that I don't? What do doctors have to do with Jo's missing?'