The Skylar Experiment : Dead Ending (second draft)

Chapter Fifty-Eight - Mission

*2,5k words. I'm glad I was able to get this out. Been working on this chapter bit by bit every day and couldn't find where to cut for two balanced chapters. Hope you enjoy. It's not perfect, but I think it'll surprise you ;)*

LUC

THE TRAINING ROOMS were the rare ones with glass doors and movement detectors. Each floor had one or two almost half the size of a football stadium. People entered and exited regularly, all mutants of all ages, in slacks. 

Monitor rooms contained a cluster of techs manning a computer at their separate desk. All across the space, I heard keyboard tapping and light conversation. A man nearby spoke into an earpiece while tracking a beeping red dot on a map. 

Rows of screens were split in four grey squares offering different views on sleep compartments, some occupied and some empty.

Caldwell avoided the doors incrested with symbols for radiation or bio-hazard.

The visit lasted shorter than I expected. She guided us out, back at the parking zone. We walked into the chilly air just as the alarm rang across the night field. A helmet reached for my wrist bracelet. He unrolled my sleeve and waved a vasiform device over it. The bracelet hissed, loosened, and dropped right into the man's glove. Its sensor stopped blinking the second it lost contact with my skin.

Distant voices filtered from the edge of the clearing, somewhere among the vehicles. I squinted into the darkness. A group of men huddled around a heavy duty truck, waiting by a cargo box.

I glanced at Caldwell's beaming face, and remembered that I wasn't done yet.

"What's this?"

"This is your test assignment," she responded and hailed an arm. The people split, marching their way up the subtle hill. With every step, I spotted a better quality of their provocative smirk, of their eyes riveted to me. Most of the bunch were grown, stout men. Few seemed thinner, with longer hair pulled back and wider hips. My eyes were trained on the group, and the closer they creeped, the more I searched their faces.

I saw the flaming red hair first. Then, the tall prick striding beside her.

They halted in unison before the concrete façade, silent. A man wearing an aviator hat stepped forward to shake Caldwell's hand. His gaze caught mine. He winked and my memories flashed with visions of a cornfield.

"Introductions are not necessary," he said, still looking at me. "The boy knows me. Ain't that right, kid?"

Wind blew and I didn't answer.

I wasn't sure what was the goal of bringing the hunters. We never mixed well, and never will. Emma stood in the shadows, watching me covertly when she thought I didn't notice. Did she know I'd be here? Did she know what Caldwell intended to make me do? I wanted to be angry, but it was wasteful. Miles had worked his stupid claptrap. Going after Emma now probably meant running the risk of doing it all for nothing. 

A sour tasted filled my mouth. It took us a long time to trust this girl. Lauren had loved her so much, spent so much of her energy convincing us she deserved our acceptance. For a moment, I thought maybe she was onto something.

Four years, Emma kept our secret. When it became clear she wouldn't budge, I gave her credit where credit was due. I shouldn't have believed it.

"Then allow me to introduce Lucas to your guests," Caldwell cheered. She pointed at two marble shapes lagging behind, one girl and boy near my age. Smoldering, yellowy hazel eyes drifted to us. "Meet Isaac and Rhea. They will tag along to ensure that everything rolls smoothly and report back. Their implants have been disabled for the duration of your excursion."