Ingenious

Chapter Sixteen

Today is the day we get out of here. I've been here for 1 year, 6 months and 24 days. It's March 15th, a day I feel like is one I won't forget. It's currently 2am, we didn't go to sleep last night knowing today was the day. I figured out how to work the elevator and I'm kind of relying on pure hope that I'll be able to do the car with the adrenaline that will be pulsing through me. Everyone else is well prepared and we have 5 suitcases that we fully packed with as much as could fit. Kacey never had a suitcase since she was kind of put here not directly out of testing. We only have enough food for a couple days, but hopefully we'll be able to get some more. We've been living off very little for quite some time, so I don't think much will change now.

"Check one more time for anything we could use," Kacey instructs, though the suitcases are heavy and we need to move quickly. Shawn can only carry so much. "We have the toothpaste and toothbrushes?"

"Yes Kace," I say rubbing her arm in assurance, "don't worry, we are prepared. And the journey to Washington hopefully won't be that long and if it is we'll stop off for supplies." She nods and takes deep breaths. I can't blame her for being nervous. She's lived here for a good portion of her life and I don't think she ever expected to be leaving.

"We still have an hour," Ryan says, a feeling of calm settling over all of us, "calm down, take a nap if you want. We still have time." No need to tell Maia that. She passed out around 12:30 and we are waiting to wake her up until right before she goes. Kacey doesn't sleep, but she sits down. We packed up most of the blankets and just left the undersheets so the beds aren't very comfy or warm. It makes me kind of sad to see this place empty. Believe it or not it's become my home for the past year and a half.

"You shouldn't manipulate everyone's emotions," I whisper to Ryan as everyone settles into their own thoughts for our final hours.

"It helped," he responds defensively, "she needed a moment of peacefulness and so did all of you, so I just brought it on lightly. They may have not even noticed." I give him a look telling him they did as I lay my head on his shoulder for our final moments here.

"I should get a picture of all of us here," I say about 10 minutes later. I haven't really used my camera much here, but I want to remember this little home of ours. We slowly wake everyone up and I take a series of pictures. In order that we all came. Starting with just Shawn and Kacey. Then Everett joined them. Then Ryan, then I join them as Maia takes it. Before she sets it up on the ledge and we take one final picture. The 6 of us, here together. The Six Ingeniouses. It all started with scoring perfect on a test that it is unheard of to score perfect on. I guess that is what we are. Ingenious. Imaginative. Smart. Skillful. Ingenious.

About an hour later, at 2:56, we get to work. Shawn picks up 2 of the 5 suitcases while Ev, Ryan and Kacey take the others.

"Rae, you ready?" Kacey says quietly. I nod and close my eyes. I've been working on this for months. I can do it. I find the energy and grab on, picturing the elevator moving as I surge the electricity everywhere. The lights are flickering, but that's the least of my concern. I can feel the elevator starting to move, but I'm pushing so hard I feel like I'm about to faint. I keep pushing. And pushing. And then I let go. I sigh and breathe heavily.

"I'm sorry," I tell everyone, "I'll try again." I catch my breath and get up to give it another shot. I've done it before, but now I also need to save my energy to start a car.

"You can do it Rae," Ryan tells me, "you got this. No rush." As much as he says it there is a rush. I feel a surge of energy and hopefulness spread throughout me and I know it's Ryan's doing. I get up and try again. I find the white sparks and I maneuver them to move the elevator. Get the gears turning. I push and push. Right now I'm running off pure adrenaline mixed with some pushed emotions from Ryan. I control and manipulate the energy as much as I possibly can and I hear it moving. I hear it moving and that makes me push harder. I can feel the elevator nearing and that makes it easier. I squint my eyes closed so tight I feel like they may not open. When I can hear and feel the gush of wind opening the doors that have been closed for so long... I almost jump with joy, but instead I fall backwards from the impact of using so much force. Maia grabs me from hitting the ground, but let's go soon after, getting a shock. I seem to be buzzing with electricity and it makes me feel weirdly great. I get up and get in the elevator that Ryan holds open for me.