Secrets(Sequel to Traitor) [Book 2 in Addie's Story]

Chapter 3

The hanger is empty when I finally reach it—except for the jet of course. I look around for a moment, then sigh and head back out into the hall. All the hallways on the basement level look the same. Smooth, white panels make up the walls, ceiling, and floor. A bright white . . . strip, for lack of a better word, of light runs the length of every hall on the sides, and two more run overhead. The doors are all made of metal and slide open. The whole thing looks like something out of science-fiction to me, but then again, I suppose so do we. I mean, a team of genetically-advanced humans teaming up to defend the human race. Sounds like something out of a comic, right?

It occurs to me as I walk down a hall that I have no idea where everyone is. I call out to the Professor in my mind. "Professor?"

"Addison, where are you?" The Professor asks.

"Outside the hanger. Where'd you go?"

"We moved to the infirmary."

I stop in my tracks. "Is everything alright?"

"Scott and Storm are fine."

"Good. I'll be right there."

I turn right down another hallway and make my way to the first door on the right. It slides open as I approach it—revealing another white room. The first thing I notice as I step inside is the girl sitting on one of the white tables. She looks somewhere around sixteen, with long brown hair and dark eyes. The second thing I notice is that she looks scared to death. She's sitting on the table with her legs curled into her chest—talking to Scott. I walk over and tap him on the shoulder. "How dare you go on a mission without me."

Scott turns around with a smile. "I didn't want to pull you away from your students."

I start to respond, but another voice stops me. "Ah, you made it."

I turn around and grin. "My students were very disappointed that I had to leave, Professor."

"Oh I'm sure." The Professor says with a knowing smile. The Professor is an older man with no hair and blue eyes. When I met him, he was a tall man; but an accident a few years later put him in a remote-controlled wheelchair. I've never really seen the Professor as disabled though, because he always seems so strong. The Professor stops just in front of us and addresses the girl. "Rogue, I'd like you to meet Addison."

The girl looks at me with an unsure expression. I smile. "You can call me Addie. Nice to meet you." The girl, Rogue, nods at me politely. The Professor continues. "Addison will show you around the place, Rogue." He turns to me. "Rogue will be staying with you for now."

I blink. "With me? As in . . . in my room?"

"Yes."

It takes everything in me to keep myself composed in front of Rogue. I don't want her to feel unwanted, because that's the opposite of what this place is for, and it's not that I have a problem sharing my room. It's too big for one person. However, I'm not sure it's a good idea for me to have someone in my room. In case you haven't noticed, I'm prone to nightmares. Scott was my roommate for a little while, but I kicked him out when my dreams started effecting his sleep. That and the Professor banned girls from sharing rooms with boys—Jean and Scott being the exception. The Professor knows all this, so I'm not sure what he's thinking. I send him an unsure look. "Are you sure, Professor?"

"Only temporarily. Until we can room her with one of the students." He responds out loud, but more comes through my mind. "Rogue is scared. I believe rooming with you will help her."

"But—"

"You'll be fine, Addie."

I mentally sigh and turn to Rogue. A side door opens before I can say anything and Jean enters—making Rogue jump in the process. Something about seeing Jean makes Rogue stand, but I'm not sure what. My question is answered when Rogue speaks. "Is he ok?"