Hidden Abnormality

8. Well-Being

Chapter Eight

  Another school day, another workday. I was almost sad that Jaz had promised me this morning not to allow anyone to be bullied in her sight. I would miss the half-day it would provide me with.

  Instead, I had to deal with doctors and peculiar beings almost dying before my eyes. Oh, and the government. David had let me know that 3y had made it through. He hadn't died. It was a relief even if I don't know what he had "made it through" from.

  I wanted to see Doctor Inquiridor, to check up on his well-being. He had seemed extremely distraught at the thought of the meteor boy dying.

  Alas, I had no time. The video clips had been sent to me during the time I was gone yesterday. They were sitting on an open file on my desktop. David had told me he was the one to open it. Only to make sure I would see it.

  Obviously, I had scolded him. Lightly. He could have left a note. Instead, he decided to go onto my computer and search for the file. It was a huge red flag and I did not appreciate the gesture. The only reason he wasn't fired was that I trusted it was a well-intended act by the receptionist I have had with me for years.

  Now, I was spending my time watching the short clips of 12z solving my puzzles with ease. It was very disheartening and led me down the road of my puzzles really were merely toys to this genius being.

  I paused the video I was currently on. Her finger had stalled on this piece. I couldn't tell why. I replayed the part.

  Indeed, her finger had paused, only slightly. I had noticed it because I had been watching her fingers, not the puzzle pieces being removed bit by bit. Replaying the part a third time, I watched to see what had made her pause.

  There was a groove in the piece. It was almost imperceptible. It was there to make the piece slide more smoothly against the other. Her finger had brushed up against the small groove and she couldn't figure out why it was there. What part it had to play. Until she slid the pieces apart and her features brightened. She had rubbed her finger against the groove once more before continuing.

  That was it. That was how I could get her to really think about the puzzles. Create unnecessary grooves and designs into the puzzle to throw her off. Maybe she would believe they had a purpose when, in reality, they had no part to play whatsoever.

  A smile grew on my face. I finally felt like I had learned something. Like I could make something she couldn't zip through in an instant. It was a glorious feeling for the time being.

  I started immediately on the new plans for the next puzzle. It was going to be a mighty productive day. Even thoughts of Doctor Opus couldn't bring me down. Because those thoughts consisted of him being shocked for once. Shocked that I had created a puzzle 12z had to take time to figure out.

  I finished jotting down my ideas for the design when there was a knock at my door. I responded and the door opened. Doctor Inquiridor stepped inside.

  "I don't mean to intrude, Mr. Mestiere. I simply wanted to come by and inform you myself of 3y's well-being."

  I gestured for him to come inside and he did. He shut the door behind him and sat down in the chair across from my own. "No intrusion at all! I was simply working on a new design."

  The doctor nodded. "Your designs have become increasingly complex. I'm surprised that the girl has still figured them out with outstanding times."

  "The compliment is appreciated, doctor. I have been feeling quite... discouraged as of late."

  "Nonsense!" he exclaimed. "What would the rest of us doctors do without you here? I depend on your analysis of 3y's brain development. How else would we be able to tell if their brains were digressing or not while they're here?"

  I nodded. "I appreciate being needed, doctor. However, it doesn't stop the disappointment I have in myself for not being able to outwit the girl."

  "She's here for a reason," he stated. "Obviously, the girl is a genius. Don't work yourself too hard. Now, for the reason I came all the way to your hallway."

  I gestured for him to continue. His speech had given me back a bit of my gumption. I was eager to continue to work on my design.

  "Apparently, the meteor creature -3y likes to call it Pete- was trying to teach 3y to breathe less. He said something about it being a useful skill."

  A scoff escaped my lips. "I mean, Pete is right. It would be useful. But 3y is a human. A human who needs to breathe normally. I'm sure the creature knows this now?"

  The man shrugged. "I wouldn't know. The creature doesn't talk to me, and everything he tells 3y the boy won't tell me."

  "3y won't tell you? After he's so compliant with everything else?"

  "Right? I thought it was odd. Maybe Pete is telling him lies? Maybe it's breaking his trust in us?"

  I leaned back and started to swirl a pen from my desk in my fingers. "That would be problematic."

  Mr. Inquiridor nodded. "Supervisor Y would take him to another room in a completely different hallway if he stopped cooperating altogether. I've spent too much time on this case to be booted from it. Let's hope he isn't being lied to."

  "Looking on the bright side," I agreed.

  He stood suddenly. "I suppose it's time I go. I told you what I came to say. You're a very busy man -having to create over half of the puzzles we use here."

  I laughed. "Don't tell that to Ms. Captiosus."

  Doctor Inquiridor tapped his nose and left my office. Slouching, I realized it was time to get back to work. It was nice to take a break.

  With his earlier words of praise echoing in my head, I tapped the design plans open again and started to sketch out the rest of it. I was confident in this one. More so than the last one I made.

  This one would work.

  It had to.