Powering Up (a RV Fanfic)

Chapter 8: Her Secret

"I thought Seulgi came with us," Joy replied, looking around the corners of the room, desperately trying to find her.

"I thought so too," Irene added.

"Who's Seulgi?" Wendy asked, knowing nothing.

"She's our friend," Irene explained. "She's like us... special."

"Then let's go find her and Yeri," Wendy said enthusiastically. They quickly ran out of the room and look left and right for clues to where Seulgi went. They found a room to the right of Wendy's with a label "Subject #2". Joy turned the knob expecting it to budge. It was locked. There was no sound coming from there either. They checked the room labelled "Subject #3". Another silent, locked room. Another was labelled "Subject #4". Locked. Finally, the last room, which was labelled "Subject #5" budged open. There was a seat, much like the room Wendy was strapped to, and an abundance of technologies. But the room was empty. No sign of Yeri or Seulgi.

"Where is she?" Wendy questioned in annoyance. "She should be in one of the 'Subject' rooms. It's where they keep their subjects."

"She's not here," an unfamiliar voice said from behind them. They turned around to face a classy, black-haired woman.

"Who are you?" Irene asked as Wendy open her palms and pushed her against the wall with her mind.

"She's Aalea from GOP," Wendy said, "Don't trust her." Irene listened and froze Aalea against the wall.

"You can't go anywhere now. Now tell us where they are," Irene threatened, holding a sharp icicle against her neck.

"It's too late," Aalea said.

"What do you mean it's too late?" Irene asked. Yeri appeared around the corner of the hall, walking ominously and robotically.

"Yeri!" they exclaimed with excitement. They hugged her tightly, glad that she was finally back and that they found her. Joy held Yeri's face in her hands, squishing her soft cheeks.

"Where did you go?" Joy asked relieved they found her, "We were worried about you." Yeri suddenly pulled out a knife from her back pocket, stabbing Joy in the stomach, and vanished. Joy's jaw fell, then her knees as she held her bleeding cut. Aalea laughed menacingly.

"I told you," Aalea said, "it's too late. We already brainwashed her." Wendy and Irene grabbed Joy, Wendy held her in her arms as Irene hovered over them. Irene placed her hand over the wound and froze it.

"This should stop the bleeding," Irene said. "Wendy, I know you just met her, but can you stay here with Joy while I try to find Seulgi?"

"Sure," Wendy said, still cradling Joy in her arms.

Irene walked around the corner of the hall. Another hall presented itself with numerous doors on either side. All of them were closed and when she attempted to open them, they were locked. More locked, silent rooms. She turned another corner to find another hallway. One of the doors were open and she heard a faint conversation leaving the room. She slowly approached the floating conversation and heard Seulgi speak from the room.

"Well, what do you want me to do?" Seulgi asked someone in the room as Irene peeked her head through the doorway. It seemed as if a meeting was taking place. There were several people gathered around the man's desk, including Seulgi. The man at the desk shifted his eyes towards her and Irene's heart pounded violently against her chest. She thought of running away. But Seulgi was right there; her friend.

"Seulgi," Irene said, stepping into the doorway. "What are you doing here?"

"One of the subjects are here," the man sitting at the office desk said. "So are you gonna get her?"

"Is that what you want me to do?" Seulgi asked him.

"No Seulgi," Irene pleaded. "Please don't. Let's go back."

"Yes, do it," the man demanded.

"We can live together in a house," Irene said quickly, stuttering her words from fright, "like the time we were in the motel. Or even live in Joy's house. Remember her?"

"Seulgi!" he shouted with a bellowing voice. Seulgi hesitantly turned towards Irene and pointed her index finger, sending jolts of electricity, tasing Irene. Each individual glowing jolt of purple electricity crawled around her skin before she dropped on the floor, unconscious. "Well done," the man said, giving a slow applause. "Next time don't become influenced by their words. How did you get all of them here so quickly anyway? Must've taken some talent to persuade them to come so quickly."

"Some encouragement," Seulgi replied, surprised at what she had done. "They had a friend here. All I needed to do was persuade them to save their friend." Seulgi stared at Irene's body, laid on the ground, like a fallen dummy. But she wasn't a dummy. Irene was an intellect. A thriving personality. Seulgi continued to stare at her body, conversation flowing around her and regret hidden deep within her eyes and thoughts. She wasn't her friend. It wasn't friendship that sparked between them. Or was it.