《Extraordinary Mistakes III - Betrayal》


 Recap ***SPOILERS***

    This is the third out of four parts of Extraordinary Mistakes.


    If you haven''t read the first two parts, there are spoilers ahead.


    ***


    While Emily regretted her decision to fake her own abduction and live with the group, the Council used it to push forward their agenda with the Congress.


    Tired of the government¡¯s passivity, and in fear for Abigail¡¯s safety, Mark and Rebecca hired a team of hackers only to realize that their dearest friends, Thomas and Mary Roberts, diverted their foundation¡¯s funding.


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    Following Emily¡¯s abduction, Jade is appointed the world¡¯s most powerful deviant and fulfills her duties. Slowly realizing that her actions are only leading to more divisiveness.


    The Council uses Aminu to target Alex and Diego. They are caught and taken to the lab.


    In a plan to trap Rachel and Megan, the Council lures them in. Unexpectedly, Megan uses her third ability, the white light that destroyed everything on the day of the massacre in the Ariston Community.


    The Council runs away. Aminu stays behind and finds out that deviants are tested. Alex and Diego escape. Megan stays behind and her abilities disappear, forcing her to go to Marianne¡¯s daughter¡¯s house, the woman in red shoes, her sister Sofie.


    The second part ends with Jade leaving for Kenya. Diego leaving the group. Sofie betraying Megan. Abigail¡¯s parents, telling the entire world what the Council was up before leaving for Eurasia.

 Nostalgia

    Sofie stands above Megan, her eyes meet. Saif is by the window, watching them. His men waiting for Sofie to finish her speech.


    The buffalo belongs to the person who holds the stick. Am I the human here, or the buffalo? Saif turns away from the sisters and watches the people on the street outside instead.


    ¡°That the lingering nostalgia makes me say this. Du kunne aldri skade meg.¡± Sofie closes Megan¡¯s eyes.


    You could never hurt me. Meaning she forgives Megan.


    Megan¡¯s tears run down her face. Jeg ville aldri skade deg. I would never hurt you. Meaning she¡¯ll do better next time.


    Saif turns to his people, telling them to start moving Megan. As soon as he orders them, his heart starts beating slower. His vision blurs. The room spins around and he falls to the ground.


    ¡°Sir!¡± One of the men says before also falling.


    The same happens to the other two. Sofie focuses on them while shaking her head.


    ¡°Oh, Saif, I¡¯m terribly sorry!¡± She pats her right hand on her forehead. ¡°Silly, silly me! I completely forgot about the gas. One second!¡± Sofie goes near Saif and puts a pillow under his head.


    The men grasp for their breath.


    ¡°Take it easy!¡± She says. ¡°Your entire body is under a lot of pressure now. I don¡¯t think¡­¡± she clicks her tongue. ¡°Ouch, yes. I don¡¯t have enough pens¡­ This was a mistake¡­ You see¡­¡± She moves past Megan and heads to the kitchen, opening and closing several cabinets. ¡°Where is it? I wasn¡¯t so sure about the specimen. I figured it was better to leave the gas open. Assumed you¡¯d have figured it out and taken the protection before coming here.¡±


    Saif¡¯s eyes focus on Megan. She¡¯s on the floor with her eyes still shut.


    What¡¯s happening? Megan still can¡¯t move.


    ¡°Of course! Stupid! It has to be on the fridge.¡± She laughs while opening the door and taking one injector pen out of it. ¡°You¡¯ll call the others for backup, Saif. This will do! Everything is fine!¡± She smiles.


    Good. Saif keeps focusing on Megan. Peacefully lying on the floor.


    Sofie heads back and sits next to Megan. She takes off the pen¡¯s protection and raises Megan¡¯s sweater.


    What are you doing? Saif looks at her. Their eyes meet, and Sofie smiles at him.


    She sticks the pen on Megan¡¯s belly and sets an alarm on her smartwatch.


    What¡¯s this? Megan still can¡¯t move or open her eyes.


    No. Saif tries to activate his ability. Nothing happens.


    Sofie grabs two backpacks from her room, puts the hoodie on Megan, who remains barely conscious, and removes her bracelet.


    Megan finally has the strength to open her eyes. Too fragile yet to move.


    ¡°Saif,¡± Sofie gets up with the bracelet in her hand. ¡°Dear, dear, Saif. How I wish Marianne was here. Well, since she isn¡¯t, do me a favor, okay?¡± She goes near him and faces him. ¡°Tell her that I only believed her lies for a month¡­ tops.¡± A genuine smile shows. ¡°All those sleepless nights made me realize that my sister couldn¡¯t have done it.¡± She turns around and looks at Megan. ¡°She would¡¯ve killed herself right after. Tell Marianne that I know she¡¯s the responsible for his death. This?¡± She laughs. ¡°This is for my father.¡±


    Sofie puts the bracelet on his wrist. ¡°No hard feelings, yes? This is,¡± she takes a deep breath in and out, ¡°is personal, Saif. Just not against you.¡± She smiles again.


    You¡¯ll regret this, Sofie. Saif remains floorbound.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, M!¡± Sofie heads to her, helps her get up and puts both backpacks on her back. She grabs two helmets and they leave through the emergency ladder in the back. A motorcycle is parked there.


    ¡°Are you capable of driving?¡± Sofie asks.


    Megan just nods. They hop on and drive off.


    ***


    Thomas is organizing everything in his new office. Making sure things are as he pleases. He puts a photo on his desk of him, Mary, Joshua, and Emily. It was taken on Emily¡¯s latest birthday. How much has changed since that. You were so happy here. He notices Emily¡¯s smile.


    Edward opens the door without knocking.


    ¡°Yes?¡± Thomas looks up to meet him. He notices Edward is sweating.


    ¡°The last contact with Saif happened over thirty minutes ago. He was picking up the Angel of Death on Sophie Myers¡¯ apartment.¡± Edward paces around the room. ¡°They haven¡¯t said anything since. I don¡¯t think they are on their way to the lab. Prep a team, Thomas. Shoot to kill if necessary.¡±


    ***


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    Two hours later, ¨¢nh is in the basement, when one of her alarms on the computer sets off.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± She asks the computer.


    ¡°This motorcycle has passed by the house two times already.¡± An automatic voice replies.


    ¡°Rachel!¡± ¨¢nh shouts and Rachel immediately comes down the stairs.


    ¡°Is everything okay?¡± She asks.


    ¡°A motorcycle has passed two times already.¡± ¨¢nh shows her on the screen.


    ¡°Two people have entered our perimeter. Front door.¡± The computer says.


    ¨¢nh and Rachel see them in the images.


    The two people dressed all in black are outside their door. They ring the doorbell. Megan removes her helmet and ¨¢nh and Rachel look at each other. Smiling.


    ¨¢nh runs upstairs. Emily, Abigail and Alex are in the hallway facing the front door.


    ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Alex asks.


    ¡°Megan!¡± ¨¢nh laughs.


    ¨¢nh opens the door and hugs Megan tight.


    ¡°Careful now, love.¡± Megan gently pushes her away and gets in.


    Rachel is now in the hallway too. Megan comes in and smiles at the sight of them. Sofie removes her helmet.


    ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡± Alex asks.


    ¡°My sister. Sofie.¡±


    Marianne¡¯s daughter. Alex¡¯s eyes glow immediately.


    Is that Marianne¡¯s daughter, Megan? Rachel takes a closer look at the woman. She recognizes her straight away. The human that Megan followed around. Rachel remembers the only time she followed them and saw it. Here they are, the red shoes, again.


    ¡°How are you even alive?¡± ¨¢nh asks Megan.


    ¡°I¡¯ll tell you.¡± Megan smiles.


    Who¡¯s this girl? Emily focuses on Sofie.


    They head together to the living room. ¨¢nh¡¯s smile is contagious. She looks back to share a glance with Rachel, who only pretends to be happy.


    ***


    On one of the suites on the Ortiz Hotel, the Council and their advisors meet. Everyone is waiting for Thomas Roberts and Saif Ahktar to arrive. It¡¯s close to midday so they order in lunch.


    ¡°Dr. Olsen, you haven¡¯t touched your salad.¡± Aymee sits next to Marianne.


    Marianne refuses to face the girl. Instead, she dryly replies only with no. Padma watches their interaction.


    What happened? Padma tries to notice Marianne properly, but her fringe makes it impossible to see her eyes.


    Aymee grabs her burrito and moves next to Padma.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Padma takes another bite.


    ¡°Something went wrong with the extraction team. Roberts headed there to retrieve Ahktar and the others. I don¡¯t know a lot, but apparently¡­ the specimen is gone.¡± Aymee looks at Edward Hall. How relaxed he seems to be.


    Thomas and Saif finally walk through the door. The security details close the door behind them.


    ¡°Let¡¯s begin.¡± Edward Hall orders.


    Aymee gets up and sits behind Marianne. Thomas and Saif take their places.


    ¡°Today was the extraction of the Angel of Death from the apartment of Dr. Sophie Hemming Myers to our new lab. After the destruction of our former lab, the specimen headed there. Care to explain why, Dr. Olsen?¡± Edward faces her.


    Marianne raises her head and looks around the table, ¡°Dr. Sophie is under a new identity. Her name is Sophia Olsen Bergen.¡± Marianne pronounces it with an American accent. ¡°The specimen grew up with her. Sees it as its sister.¡±


    What, Sophie Myers is your daughter? Padma looks at Marianne.


    ¡°Saif arrived there. We lost contact with him. So, I sent Thomas here,¡± Edward looks at Thomas, ¡°to see what happened. They are gone. The Angel of Death and Sophie Myers.¡±


    Everyone across the room focuses their gaze on Marianne.


    How can you be so calm? Padma tries not to show her apprehension.


    Megan wouldn¡¯t hurt her¡­ would she? Did she kill her? No, Megan wouldn¡¯t. Maybe she did. Felt betrayed and acted out. No, not Sofie, please, God¡­ No. Marianne keeps her gaze fixated on Edward Hall.


    You are troubled, Marianne¡­ Aymee notices how straight her back is.


    ¡°Thomas, when you arrived there, what did you see?¡± Edward continues.


    ¡°When I arrived, Saif and the other three operatives were on the floor. Incapable of moving. We identified it as our pathological agent and immediately put a mask over our mouths and noses in case it was airborne.¡±


    ¡°What else?¡±


    ¡°We identified the source of the agent as a gas that was leaking from a kitchen appliance. It was hidden. We shut it down and brought the operatives and Dr. Ahktar to the lab, so they¡¯d be treated.¡±


    ¡°Saif. What happened?¡± Edward faces him.


    ¡°Edward, let''s talk elsewhere. Alone.¡± Saif avoids looking at Marianne and focuses on Edward.


    Jessica and Madeleine share a glance.


    ¡°The Council needs to know what happened.¡± Edward gets up and goes closer to Saif. ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°Spill it!¡± The President of the United States shouts and slams the table.


    ¡°Sophie Myers set everything up. It was a trap.¡± He finally says.


    What? Marianne focuses on her wristwatch.


    Padma covers her mouth while looking at Marianne. Madeleine and Jessica¡¯s eyebrows immediately raise. Madeleine¡¯s face doesn¡¯t show much expression because of all the work done. Still, one can tell she¡¯s surprised. Thomas can¡¯t hide his smile.


    ¡°What? Her daughter?!¡± The President points to Marianne.


    ¡°Her words exactly were ¡®tell Marianne that I believed her lies only for a month. This is for my father.¡¯¡±


    She knew? Marianne focuses on her watch still. Counting the seconds in her mind.


    ¡°When we got there, she asked me to say goodbye to the specimen just to buy time for the gas to act.¡±


    ¡°And you let her?!¡± the President shouts.


    ¡°Madam President¡­ you must understand-¡±


    ¡°Dr. Ahktar! All that I understand is that the specimen, a terrorist, a war weapon is gone!¡±


    ¡°Do we know where they went?¡± Edward asks.


    ¡°We¡¯re analyzing the traffic cameras. Our best guess: they''ve rejoined the terrorists.¡± Laurence says.


    ¡°This is a disaster.¡± The President of the United States shakes her head. ¡°Edward. You. Have to fix this.¡± She gets up and leaves the room.


    ¡°It is a disaster.¡± Edward counts to ten internally.


    ¡°Sir, Dr. Olsen isn¡¯t fit to be here,¡± Thomas says.


    ¡°Come on, Thomas! That is ridiculous!¡± Saif Ahktar shouts.


    ¡°Dr. Sophie betrayed us all. Dr. Olsen included.¡± Edward says. ¡°Enough of this. This is a setback, but we¡¯ll recover. We¡¯ll deal with the Parkers, right, Laurence?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Sir.¡± Laurence nods.


    ¡°We¡¯ll make sure the bracelet is approved nationwide! Laurence, we need a plan. Solid one. Jessica, I need the people not to forget about Emily Roberts. Have her face showing up everywhere. All the time.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Sir.¡± Jessica says.


    Edward adjourns the meeting and everyone gets up to leave. Saif and Padma try to reach for Marianne, but she is the first to leave the room.


    Aymee rushes to meet Padma in the lobby.


    ¡°Paddy! Where are you going?¡±


    To see Marianne. ¡°Home, Aymee. Aminu is waiting for me.¡± Padma smiles.


    Go home. Don¡¯t think about Marianne until tomorrow morning.


    Padma grabs her phone and orders a driver to pick her up. She heads home, while Aymee heads to the nearest Ortiz Hotel, the one where Marianne lives.

 Powerless

    Emily, Rachel, Sofie, Megan, Abigail, Alex and ¨¢nh gather in the living room. Waiting for Megan to tell them everything that had happened. Megan sits on a chair and her sister stands behind her. Rachel and Alex stand on the opposite side of the room. Emily, Abigail and ¨¢nh sit together on the couch.


    ¡°When I reached the factory, I used the power to destroy everything that I could,¡± Megan starts and everyone looks at her. ¡°I didn¡¯t find anyone there. When I left to come back here¡­¡±


    Sofie closes her fists behind the chair Megan is sitting on.


    ¡°My body reacted. I couldn¡¯t activate any of my powers.¡±


    ¡°You are powerless now?¡± ¨¢nh asks.


    Emily contains her smile.


    ¡°Yes. Death was long gone. Now life and the white light, too. I¡¯m powerless. My sister¡¯s house was nearer. I went there.¡±


    ¡°That was weeks ago.¡± Rachel says.


    ¡°Yes. Without any powers and still recovering. I couldn¡¯t come back here. I tried to access the forum. It wasn¡¯t working.¡±


    ¡°They shut down the forum. ¨¢nh¡¯s trying to put it back on.¡± Rachel explains.


    ¡°To no avail so far¡­¡± ¨¢nh shakes her head. Abigail puts her hands on ¨¢nh¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°This morning. Saif Ahktar and three other people got into the apartment, and Sofie tricked them. Pretended to be on their side. We left and came here.¡±


    ¡°How did they know where you were?¡± Rachel asks.


    ¡°I work with Marianne.¡± Sofie says and focuses on Alex now. ¡°I ran several tests on you.¡±


    Alex smirks and focuses back on Sofie. He activates his ability and keeps his focus on her. Nothing. Just like Megan. Alex can¡¯t reach her. You are a deviant.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you let me go?¡± Alex asks.


    ¡°Jeopardize my position there? For you?¡± Sofie scoffs.


    ¡°What?!¡± ¨¢nh gets up and Abigail grabs her hand. Patiently asking her to sit down.


    ¡°Sofie¡­¡± Megan looks back at her.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry if this was insensitive. You were in pain. I know that. However, like I said, I couldn¡¯t ruin everything for you and Diego ¨¢lvarez.¡±


    ¡°Ruin what?¡± Rachel faces her.


    ¡°Protecting my sister, Rachel Moore.¡± Sofie smiles. ¡°That¡¯s all that matters to me.¡±


    ¡°So, Marianne Olsen is the one behind it?¡± Rachel asks.


    ¡°No. Marianne works for Edward Hall. She leads one of the departments there, but that¡¯s it.¡±


    ¡°Where is she?¡± Megan asks.


    ¡°She moved away to a hotel downtown. I don¡¯t know which.¡±


    ¡°¨¢nh.¡± Rachel looks at her.


    ¡°I¡¯ll check every hotel. Especially the Ortiz ones and try to find her.¡± ¨¢nh says.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Diego?¡± Megan asks.


    ¡°He left.¡± Alex scoffs. ¡°Because of you, my dearest.¡±


    ¡°Diego felt betrayed, Megan. With the forum down, he left to meet his friends in person.¡± ¨¢nh explains.


    ¡°I see.¡± Megan gets up.


    ¡°Megan, a word. Now.¡± Rachel gets up and Megan follows her.


    Megan closes the door behind on their bedroom.


    ¡°That¡¯s Marianne¡¯s daughter.¡± Rachel tries to keep her voice steady.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°The one you said¡­ you!¡± Rachel raises her voice and immediately takes a step back. ¡°You¡­¡± she lowers it again. ¡°Said she killed herself. You told me that, Megan. Remember?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Why would you lie to me?¡± Rachel covers her mouth and turns her back on her.


    ¡°If I didn¡¯t. What would you do?¡± Megan maintains the same tone of voice.


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    ¡°What would I do?¡± Rachel turns again and faces her. ¡°What are you implying?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯d find her and use her to find Marianne.¡±


    ¡°So, what, Megan? What if I did? Do you think I¡¯d what? Torture her?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s had enough.¡±


    ¡°If you told me not to go after her. I wouldn¡¯t have. You didn¡¯t have to lie. I thought we were honest with one another.¡± Rachel shakes her head. What do you really know about her, huh? You think that just because you follow her around that you know her? When did you last speak with her?¡±


    ¡°Stop.¡± Megan sharpens her tone.


    ¡°How can you tell that she isn¡¯t working for your mother? Or if your mother is even really her boss? Did you see Marianne today, Megan? Alex and Diego didn¡¯t see her when they were captive. Now¡­ Marianne is apparently living in the city, but your sister doesn¡¯t know where. She works with her but coincidently now she can¡¯t help us find her. How strange.¡±


    ¡°What are you saying? My sister saved me today.¡±


    ¡°Did she? Why didn¡¯t she tell you weeks ago about working with them? Why didn¡¯t she tell you the truth right away?¡±


    ¡°Say what you want to say. Now.¡±


    ¡°Megan, what if Sophie is working with them still? What if she only pretended to betray them, so she¡¯d have your trust, and you¡¯d bring her here? What if-¡±


    ¡°Enough!¡± Megan shouts.


    Rachel shakes her head. Her eyes fill with water. There¡¯s a first time for everything.


    ¡°I trust my sister. If she¡¯s not welcome here, then neither of us are staying!¡± Megan opens and slams the door behind her.


    ***


    Rachel moved to the basement with ¨¢nh. She set up an improvised bed there. Megan is staying with Sofie in their room. Sofie took off her contact lenses and put them in the trash.


    ¡°Last pair. The blue is back for now.¡± Sofie looks at her sister. Sitting on her bed.


    ¡°Sofie.¡±


    Sofie looks at her and goes nearer. Sits next to her. ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t really know where mum is, right? She didn¡¯t tell you.¡±


    We had so many lunches on the street of her hotel. Nice neighborhood. Expensive. Focus, Sofie. Sofie puts her hand on her sister¡¯s.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know where she lives. We only met at the factory.¡± Forget about her, Megan. It¡¯s for the best. Marianne can only hurt you.


    ¡°Why did you keep me in the dark? Even today. You had me thinking you hated me for a second there.¡±


    Sofie exhales loudly. ¡°I didn¡¯t know how you¡¯d react. For years, I worked with Marianne. I worked with the people that hate you. I hated every second of it. Thinking that they killed father. That Marianne killed father.¡±


    ¡°She didn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Megan, she did.¡±


    ¡°No. They did, but she didn¡¯t kill him.¡±


    ¡°She didn¡¯t pull the trigger, but she put the target on his back. If she had never gotten involved with any of them, dad would still be alive.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be in your lives if she hadn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°You know what I meant, M. After you came to live with us, she should¡¯ve found a way out for you. If Marianne had made the smart choice, Dad would still be with us. She didn¡¯t. Here we are. I didn¡¯t know how you¡¯d react. Those people are dangerous. If they got there and suspected that you knew about something, they¡¯d kill us both. I was also waiting for your abilities to come back.¡±


    ¡°I think they are gone for good.¡± Megan looks away.


    Sofie hugs her tight, ¡°they are not. We¡¯ll do it together. Remember when you couldn¡¯t control your ability? Who helped you?¡±


    Megan breaks the embrace and puts her hands on her sister¡¯s face. ¡°You.¡±


    ¡°Us. Forever.¡± Sofie smiles.


    Megan finally sees her father¡¯s eyes in her. The little that she had of Marianne was gone.


    ***


    Aymee stands in front of Marianne¡¯s door. She knocks. No response. She knocks again. Several minutes go by and nothing. Aymee grabs her phone and calls Marianne. She hears the phone ringing on the other side of the door.


    Inside, Marianne lies unconscious in bed. A lethal mix of pills and alcohol.


    Aymee grabs a master card from her pocket and passes it on the key reader. The door opens, and she quietly goes in.


    ¡°Marianne?¡± She closes the door behind her.


    Slowly, Aymee passes the hallway and sees Marianne on the bed. She reads her mind and sees everything that happened between the meeting and now. Marianne left the meeting, went to the lab to grab the pills, bought the bottle of vodka from the bar in the lobby. There was no hesitation.


    ¡°Goddamn it, Marianne!¡± Aymee runs to her. Raises her head and calls her assistant while holding her.


    The hotel staff come and help her. They transport her to a level below in which a team of doctors pump her stomach. A few hours later, they tell Aymee that Marianne can be moved to her bedroom, but she can¡¯t be alone. They should report that.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you close your eyes to so much worse?¡± Aymee tells them.


    Marianne lies on her bed. Slowly, she opens her eyes. She notices that Aymee is next to her.


    ¡°I thought hell wasn¡¯t real.¡± She softly says.


    Aymee helps her sit down and puts another pillow on her back.


    ¡°That was a joke.¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t know you Nordics had a sense of humor.¡± Aymee shakes her head.


    ¡°Mmm, and I thought Latinos had. Last thing I remember, I was here alone. How did you find me?¡±


    ¡°I came here, knocked, you didn¡¯t answer. Called, you didn¡¯t answer. I used my master card.¡±


    ¡°Why did you come here, Aymee?¡±


    ¡°Hall told me to. I¡¯m sure he had me followed. A few more minutes and I¡¯ll get a call from him to report.¡±


    ¡°To report on what?¡±


    ¡°On whether you were part of your daughter¡¯s betrayal or not.¡±


    Marianne slowly gets up, ¡°I always suspected it. Never thought you¡¯d admit it. You are Edward¡¯s lapdog.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m no one¡¯s lapdog. Don¡¯t try to leave, Marianne.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Dr. Olsen. Are you ordering me?¡±


    ¡°If I ordered, you¡¯d obey. No. I am asking you.¡±


    ¡°No. Go ahead, Aymee. Read my mind. See if I knew about my daughter.¡±


    ¡°I only came here because he followed me. I¡¯m glad I did. If I hadn¡¯t¡­¡±


    ¡°No. You came here because you work for Edward. Always have. Since the beginning. You want to know. Read my mind.¡±


    ¡°Mar¡­ Dr. Olsen. I know you. I don¡¯t need to read your mind.¡±


    Marianne laughs. ¡°You know nothing about me, Aymee. You are nothing more than a spoiled child that goes around each room that she¡¯s in acting like she owns it.¡±


    ¡°Well, I do own it.¡± Aymee smiles. ¡°When you were at the meeting and first found out the news. You were scared-¡±


    ¡°Shut up, Aymee.¡± Marianne raises her finger and points at her.


    ¡°Scared that your daughter¡­¡± Aymee gets out of the bed and stands in front of Marianne. ¡°Megan. Killed Sofie-¡± Aymee pronounces it perfectly.


    ¡°Get out of my head. You-¡±


    ¡°Truly are a sociopath¡­ Heartless.¡± Aymee¡¯s voice breaks.


    ¡°Aymee-¡± Marianne slowly gets up and faces her.


    ¡°Stop what you are doing. Stop-¡± Aymee makes a pause waiting for Marianne to continue.


    ¡°Reading my mind.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not reading your mind, Marianne. I¡¯m not on your head.¡±


    Marianne flinches and her eyes open wider than before, ¡°how many times-¡±


    ¡°Have we had this conversation before?¡± Aymee turns her back.


    Marianne grabs her shoulder and pulls her, ¡°You erased my memories.¡±

 Piece of work

    April 2014


    Aymee Ortiz is waiting in the lobby of the perfume factory. She¡¯s reading a nonfiction book on her tablet when the worker on the desk calls for her.


    ¡°Ms. Ortiz, welcome! What do you think of the premises?¡± Edward Hall greets her with a handshake.


    ¡°Lovely.¡± Aymee fakes a smile.


    ¡°You see, Aymee, can I call you Aymee?¡±


    Aymee nods.


    ¡°You see, for the work that we do here to well¡­ work, there¡¯s a need for trust. I¡¯ve had my fair share of problems in the past. People who were against our objectives. I need to trust that everyone sees it as clearly as I do. Your parents asked me to have you here, and I can sense that you are a sensible and smart young woman. What are you? 30?¡±


    ¡°22¡­ actually, almost 23, sir.¡±


    ¡°I sense you understand how important this all is. Aymee, you have the most important job out of all the other 20-year-old kids that we are hiring. You will be my ears during the meetings. Read the minds across the room and report to me if I can trust the others. You¡¯ll be disguised as an advisor. Here are the several areas. Marketing might suit you. Jessica Miller is a perfectly capable¡­¡±


    Aymee stops listening to him and focuses on the files instead. Every department. Their heads. She notices that Marianne Olsen has a PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology, that the department will have other two mental controllers and several graduate students with a biology and chemical background.


    ¡°This one.¡± She points to Marianne¡¯s photo.


    ¡°This?¡± Why? Oh, what the hell. Let it be.


    Aymee nods.


    ¡°I¡¯ll let Dr. Olsen know. Thank you.¡± Edward smiles and walks Aymee out of the door.


    When Aymee leaves the room, she crosses paths with Marianne Olsen. Aymee smiles, and the woman smiles widely back.


    ¡°Morning.¡± She says while waving at Aymee.


    Aymee looks away and continues walking. Marianne gets in Edward¡¯s office.


    ¡°Marianne, we are hiring advisors-¡±


    ¡°Advisors?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I told you already for our meetings. Now that we are growing, we need to think bigger. An advisor will facilitate our work. We''re expanding staff in every department. Here¡¯s a list I compiled for you to choose from.¡±


    ¡°Mental controllers?¡± Marianne notices.


    ¡°They are handy with the specimens. For when you test them. You¡¯ll see. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Edward smiles at her. ¡°They are forbidden to read our minds.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± Marianne fakes a smile. She points at three curricula out of seven.


    ¡°Great choices.¡± Edward smiles. ¡°You¡¯re good to go. Please ask Saif to come here.¡±


    ¡°When can I choose my advisor?¡±


    ¡°That position is already taken.¡±


    ¡°Sorry?¡±


    ¡°Aymee Ortiz will be your advisor.¡±


    Marianne raises her eyebrow, ¡°who?¡±


    ¡°Ortiz Hotels? She¡¯s their only daughter. They own a lot of real estate here. We need more funding.¡±


    ¡°I thought the Parkers were enough.¡±


    ¡°The more the merrier. They wanted her daughter to have a relevant position here in exchange. She won¡¯t be a nuisance, Marianne. Just let the girl wander around and feel useful. She¡¯s probably not that bright, but hey, at least she¡¯s wealthy and a mental controller, too.¡±


    Three weeks later, Marianne meets her team for the first time, the two mental controllers, the three analysts she approved and Aymee Ortiz.


    Marianne keeps her distance from Aymee, never looking the girl in the eyes and barely speaking to her. She¡¯d hand her administrative work for her to do and keep the girl as away from her as possible.


    One month later, they are having a meeting. Everyone sits at a round table but Aymee. Who is by herself on a corner. Typing. Marianne asks a question. No one answers. Aymee says something. It¡¯s the correct answer.


    I bet she has a PhD student sending her messages. How else would she know this? One of the analysts thinks and Aymee heard it.


    She focuses around the table, avoiding the mental controllers. I knew she was reading Dr. Olsen¡¯s mind! I should report her! Another analyst fakes a smile when Aymee looks at her.


    This idiot deviant is acting like she knows what she¡¯s talking about. Another analyst thought.


    She senses a pain in her head. She blocks their attempts to read her and remains serene.


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    ¡°Aymee¡­¡± Marianne turns around to face the girl. ¡°Your work here is to take notes. You don¡¯t speak. Especially if you don¡¯t have anything useful to say. Which is a given when it comes to you,¡± Marianne says in a monotone voice.


    Across the table, everyone cracks a smile. Not even pretending not to laugh at her. Aymee avoids looking at Marianne.


    ¡°Was the answer-¡± Aymee starts.


    ¡°You don¡¯t speak.¡± Marianne turns back to the table. ¡°Meeting adjourned. Get back to work.¡±


    Everyone leaves the room but Aymee. Who stays silently in her place.


    It¡¯s late in the evening. Aymee is reading a text on the laptop in her office. Marianne opens the door without knocking first.


    ¡°You delivered the notes from today hours ago. What are you doing here?¡± What has Edward asked you to do?


    Aymee doesn¡¯t answer and continues to read. Marianne goes nearer her and sees her screen. She pushes Aymee¡¯s chair away and reads the content.


    ¡°That¡¯s an interesting paper,¡± Marianne laughs. ¡°why are you reading it? You won¡¯t understand it. It¡¯s far too complex for you.¡± Marianne faces her and Aymee remains silent.


    Aymee gets up, grabs her backpack, and heads to the door.


    ¡°Aymee!¡± Marianne shouts.


    Aymee turns around, ¡°yes, Dr. Olsen?¡±


    ¡°Why are you acting like you know anything about biology?¡± Marianne laughs.


    ¡°This is unnecessary, Dr. Olsen. If you don¡¯t want me to contribute to the work, I respect that. It¡¯s your decision and you are the head of the department. But you don¡¯t have to humiliate me.¡± Aymee faces her.


    ¡°Me, humiliate you? You are perfectly capable of doing that yourself. Answering today at the meeting, pretending that you know what you are talking about. When I know that you read my mind, to have the answer. It¡¯s ridiculous.¡±


    ¡°I know what you are doing.¡± Aymee scoffs. ¡°Have been doing. Since I got here.¡±


    ¡°Which is?¡± Marianne smiles and focuses on the girl¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°You can¡¯t fire me. You are mistreating me, so I resign.¡±


    ¡°You aren¡¯t reading my mind, after all. Don¡¯t be ridiculous.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be a coward-¡±


    ¡°What did you just say?¡± Marianne fakes a smile. ¡°Unbelievable.¡±


    ¡°Want me to repeat it? If you want me gone. Go ahead. Talk to Hall.¡± Aymee laughs. ¡°I thought so, too.¡± Her tone is serious now. ¡°Have a lovely evening. See you tomorrow, Dr. Olsen.¡± Aymee winks at Marianne before closing the door behind her.


    ***


    Two days later, Marianne has the interviews with the PhD candidates for her program starting in the next school year.


    ¡°Next up, it¡¯s Alba Rosa Vasquez Torres. She majored in both Human Evolutionary Biology and Molecular and Cellular Biology from Harvard and has a master¡¯s in Genetics from Stanford.¡± Her colleague says.


    ¡°Is she actually coming? When I saw her application, I thought she wouldn¡¯t show up for the interview!¡± A colleague adds.


    ¡°I¡¯ve read some of her papers. She¡¯s¡­ impressive.¡± Marianne smiles.


    ¡°I spoke to her one year ago. She was heading to Eurasia and planned to do her PhD on MIT.¡± Another colleague adds.


    ¡°Lucky for us, she seems eager to be here. Is there even a need for an interview?¡± The first colleague answers.


    Another colleague asks for Alba Torres to come in. A young woman in her twenties, with long, blonde hair, a fringe, glasses that shy away her green eyes, comes in. Marianne is focused on her notes. When she raises her head and properly notices the woman, her resemblance to Aymee Ortiz is striking.


    ¡°Welcome, Ms. Torres.¡± One colleague says.


    Marianne snaps out of it and the interview proceeds. Every time she looks at the girl, she confirms it even more that it¡¯s her advisor there. By the end of the interview, Alba Torres removes her glasses, and that¡¯s the final confirmation. She greets everyone on the way out and when the others aren¡¯t looking, winks at Marianne.


    Marianne heads to the factory by the end of the workday. Her analysts are discussing their work while Aymee Ortiz, short, brown hair, no glasses, Aymee Ortiz, is taking notes. Still using the same clothes as before.


    ¡°Aymee, my office, now.¡± Marianne says in a neutral tone.


    Aymee follows her. She closes the door behind her and faces her.


    ¡°You are such a piece of work¡­¡± Marianne shakes her head. ¡°Made a fool out of me!¡± Marianne tries not to raise her voice.


    ¡°No, Dr. Olsen, you made a fool out of yourself.¡± Aymee smiles.


    ¡°What did you just say?¡± Marianne laughs.


    ¡°Want me to repeat it? I have been trying to speak to you for weeks. You haven¡¯t given me the time of day. A few days ago, I got so desperate that I spoke in front of everyone else, only for you to humiliate me. And later that day-¡±


    ¡°The paper.¡±


    ¡°My paper!¡± Aymee¡¯s tone sharpens, but her voice doesn¡¯t raise. ¡°Which you said that it¡¯d be¡­ what was it?¡± Aymee scratches her head. ¡°Oh, I remember! ¡®Too complex¡¯ for me to understand it. I tried to talk to you, Dr. Olsen. While I am sorry that you had to find out this way, I have given you plenty of opportunities not to.¡±


    ¡°Deviants can¡¯t study. Let alone have double degrees and master¡¯s and apply to PhDs!¡±


    ¡°Is there a question somewhere?¡± Aymee rolls her eyes.


    ¡°You are a deviant-¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a billionaire.¡± Aymee¡¯s tone is serene. ¡°Rules apply differently to us.¡±


    ¡°Or don¡¯t apply at all.¡±


    ¡°Or that.¡± Aymee takes a few steps toward the door.


    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you in MIT?¡± Marianne crosses her arms.


    Aymee turns around. She closes her eyes momentarily. Marianne realizes she hit a soft spot.


    ¡°Look, Dr. Olsen.¡± Aymee avoids looking at her. ¡°This is your department. If you don¡¯t want me to do anything other than take notes, it¡¯s fine. The university¡­ I¡¯m sure you could have me out of the program as well. I won¡¯t die if I don¡¯t study.¡± Her voice almost cracks. She pauses. ¡°I won¡¯t die if I just take notes here. I¡¯ll respect your decisions.¡± Aymee turns around and starts to leave.


    ¡°Did Edward Hall choose this department for you?¡±


    ¡°His suggestion was marketing. I chose it because of you. I wanted to work for you.¡±


    This girl knows how to play everyone around her. Not me. Marianne watches her leave.


    During the next days, Aymee doesn¡¯t speak and only takes notes. She hands in her notes to Marianne without saying a word. Marianne goes to get a coffee and hears the other analysts mocking Aymee.


    She goes nearer to them, puts the cup, pushes the button. Slowly, the coffee pours.


    ¡°All that money and she¡¯s so stupid!¡± They keep laughing.


    ¡°Just be more understanding. What can you expect from a deviant, really? They are just allowed in schools now! I¡¯m surprised the girl knows how to write. Probably the tablet is doing it for her.¡±


    ***


    One month later, one by one, the analysts and mental controllers leave the floor. All the lights are off except in Aymee¡¯s office. Marianne heads there and knocks on the door.


    ¡°You made a typo on the notes, Aymee.¡± Marianne goes nearer and shows her, ¡°this is not what Mackenzie said. She misinterpreted the paper. You corrected her stance when you typed. You have to type the notes exactly as it¡¯s being said. It¡¯s important for me.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Dr. Olsen. I¡¯ll type it again.¡± Aymee grabs the paper without looking at Marianne.


    ¡°No need. It¡¯s late already. Just do better next time.¡± Marianne looks away. Have I misread the situation? Was I too paranoid? ¡°Aymee?¡± Marianne softens her tone.


    ¡°Yes, Dr. Olsen?¡± Aymee faces her now.


    ¡°Congratulations are in order.¡± Marianne smiles. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going out to celebrate?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Aymee keeps typing.


    ¡°Is¡­ it nice? To pretend not to be a deviant? To be human?¡±


    Aymee smiles, ¡°yes.¡±


    ¡°Where you already Alba growing up? That¡¯s how you learned to read?¡±


    ¡°No. I was born here, but I am Mexican too. My parents sent me there. I was raised by my grandparents so I could study. The fake Alba thing is my doing. I wanted to study here.¡±


    Aymee closes the laptop and puts it in her bag. She walks past Marianne and heads to the door.


    ¡°Aymee?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Dr. Olsen?¡±


    ¡°Do you think you¡¯ll have time tomorrow to review with me some work? I could use another opinion.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Aymee smiles and leaves.

 Fearless

    January 2016


    Marianne enters the lab. She fakes a smile and greets everyone. She asks for details on the work of the machine and wishes them to continue testing on the specimen. It¡¯s late in the evening, everyone has left already. Aymee knocks on her door.


    ¡°Marianne, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Aymee sits next to her.


    ¡°Even without reading my mind, you always know that something is up, don¡¯t you?¡± Marianne looks at her and smiles.


    ¡°Always. Do you want to talk about it?¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t you just erase the memories? Erase the pain?¡± Marianne¡¯s eyes glow. ¡°If I had your ability, I would.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s tempting to do that. Some people do. Some pay others to do it to them. It doesn¡¯t work, really. You can erase the memories, but not the feelings. It¡¯s impossible.¡±


    ¡°Have you tried?¡±


    ¡°I have.¡± Aymee¡¯s voice breaks momentarily, and Marianne holds her hand. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°Sofie¡­ is acting out. She painted her hair black. I think she hates me sometimes.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure she doesn¡¯t. She¡¯s a teenager, which is hard on everyone, but she lost her father, her sister died¡­ especially under those circumstances. It would be strange if she wasn¡¯t acting out.¡±


    ¡°She refuses to speak Norwegian. She painted her hair black. She¡¯s erasing me.¡± Marianne sniffles. ¡°Bit by bit. And in the process¡­ I¡¯m disappearing. I have no one to talk in Norwegian anymore. I wasn¡¯t the most social kid, no friends from Troms?, my parents are gone, I just studied at university and then moved here with Erik. He¡¯s dead. Sofie won¡¯t talk. I¡¯m losing my native tongue day by day. Losing myself.¡± Marianne cries and wipes the tears with her sleeves. ¡°God, I¡¯m such an emotional mess¡­¡±


    Aymee grabs a tissue and helps clean her face.


    ¡°I¡¯m glad that no one else is around.¡± Marianne laughs. ¡°I have my reputation to keep.¡±


    ¡°Which is?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t play dumb. I know you know it, Aymee. Why do they call me that? Is it because I¡¯m from Norway?¡±


    ¡°Let it go, Marianne.¡± Aymee looks away.


    ¡°Tell me.¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Then tell me this. Do you think that about me? That I¡¯m an Ice Queen?¡± Marianne¡¯s tears are finally dry.


    ¡°You can be cold, Marianne. But I¡¯ve also seen how you treat the children whenever they are playing. You read them stories. I¡¯m sure the Angel of Death was well treated. Loved by you.¡±


    Marianne starts crying again. Softly. Not making any sound. I loved her.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry that she died, Marianne.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure if I am. She would¡¯ve been almost 19, now. But what life could she have? Ever since they laid their eyes on her, all they saw was a war machine. Sometimes I look back, back to that first day, when I first saw her, and I wonder if I should¡¯ve let them put her down. If considering everything that came after, if that would¡¯ve been the kindest thing I could¡¯ve done for her. Her biological parents they told her she was nothing but death. When she stayed with us, I made sure to relentlessly tell her that she wasn¡¯t. I gave her love only to take it from her after.¡±


    ¡°What happened on that day wasn¡¯t your fault.¡±


    ¡°It was-¡± Marianne¡¯s voice breaks. ¡°She did that to the Aristons, because I told her that they killed Erik. I thought she would just destroy some things. But her anger overcame her. She died thinking that she was avenging her father. On that day, I stopped my car by some bridge and almost threw it into the river¡­ I thought it was the best for everyone. But¡­¡± Marianne looks away.


    Aymee reaches for her hand. ¡°Sofie needed you. Needs you.¡±


    Marianne squeezes Aymee¡¯s hand tighter before letting it go. ¡°Now,¡± she wipes the tears from her face, ¡°you see how I¡¯m such a terrible person, don¡¯t you? Truly an Ice Queen. It¡¯s okay. I hate myself. You can hate me, too.¡±


    ¡°I could never hate you.¡± Aymee smiles.


    Marianne turns her face away and smiles.


    ***


    December 2017


    Marianne is working early in her office at the campus when Aymee knocks and comes inside.


    ¡°Brought you a coffee and a slice of apple cake,¡± Aymee says in Norwegian and puts it in front of her.


    ¡°How did you guess that I hadn¡¯t had breakfast yet?¡± Marianne responds in Norwegian too.


    ¡°With everything that happened yesterday, I¡¯m not even sure if you had dinner.¡± Aymee sits and sips her latte. ¡°How are you?¡± She switches to English.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t had time to process it, really.¡± Marianne says in Norwegian. ¡°I saw the video, but right away, I had to meet Edward and Laurence¡­ then I met Sofie. It was a disaster. I barely slept. I¡¯m looking terrible.¡±


    ¡°Never.¡± Aymee smiles.


    ¡°You are a terrible liar, Aymee.¡± Marianne smiles back. ¡°I don¡¯t understand. I saw her dying on that day. She¡¯s alive now. How?¡±


    ¡°Do you wish to see her again?¡±


    ¡°No. That¡¯s too much for the both of us.¡±


    ¡°You are a terrible liar, Dr. Olsen.¡± Aymee smiles at her.


    ***


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    April 2018


    Aymee and Marianne walk out of Saif¡¯s floor. They enter the elevator. The door opens on their floor. No one else is around.


    ¡°Did you read her mind?¡± Marianne asks in Norwegian.


    ¡°I¡¯m not saying a word¡­¡± Aymee replies in English.


    ¡°What did you find out?¡± Marianne pinches Aymee and laughs. ¡°Tell me, please, Aymee.¡±


    ¡°Who do you think I am? I don¡¯t read minds and tell.¡± Aymee winks at her. ¡°I didn¡¯t read her. She seems¡­¡± Aymee sighs loudly. ¡°Sweet?¡±


    ¡°Mmm, I understand what you mean. Sweet.¡± Marianne rolls her eyes, ¡°that¡¯s one way to put it. She¡¯s pretty. Not sure if she¡¯s interested, you could try. You can have anyone that you want.¡±


    ¡°No, I can¡¯t.¡± Aymee shakes her head.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure you can.¡±


    ¡°Because of my money?¡± Aymee asks in Norwegian.


    ¡°Your money is the least interesting thing about you, Aymee Ortiz.¡± Marianne turns around and heads to her office.


    One week later, Marianne heads to Saif¡¯s floor. She forgot her papers there. It¡¯s late in the evening. Inside the advisor''s office, she notices that the light is on. She opens the door. Padma and two other men are having sex.


    ¡°Dr. Olsen.¡± One of them says. ¡°We can explain.¡±


    ¡°You are adults. Do whatever the hell you want with your time. Just out of here.¡± Marianne notices that the girl is electric. Drugs, probably.


    Marianne grabs her file and heads to her office. She searches Padma and reads her file. Jesus. She¡¯s a deviant. Her side effects¡­


    On the next day, it¡¯s just her and Aymee in her office.


    ¡°Saif¡¯s new girl¡­ yesterday I caught her and two of his analysts having sex. I read her file. Her ability is self-preservation. The side effects from it include manic episodes.¡±


    ¡°Do you think they took advantage of her?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    Aymee leaves the room. She comes back later in the day.


    ¡°Where were you all day?¡±


    ¡°Getting rid of those two. They knew about the side effects and used them to their benefit. They are gone now.¡±


    ¡°You killed them?¡±


    ¡°Jesus, Marianne!¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Marianne laughs, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t put it past you!¡±


    Aymee laughs too. ¡°Did Sofie get into the degree she wanted?


    ¡°Yes, she did. I still wish she had just went to Norway instead.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s stubborn. I wonder who she takes it after.¡± Aymee winks.


    ¡°Please! Like you could talk about anyone else. You¡¯re such a piece of work.¡± Marianne laughs.


    ***


    February 2020


    Marianne and Aymee are having dinner at a small town restaurant. They had work to do away from the capital during that week. It¡¯s snowing outside.


    ¡°Saif decided that Padma is his new advisor.¡± Marianne says in Norwegian. ¡°What do you think about that?¡± She switches to English.


    ¡°The girl doesn¡¯t fit there.¡±


    ¡°Are you jealous of her? Don¡¯t worry, you are still the prettiest girl there.¡± Marianne looks away.


    ¡°Come on. Seriously, Marianne. Everyone there is on some top list. They all hang out at the same country clubs and vacation in the same places.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t. Except the top list thing. Maybe you can be there for her, Aymee.¡±


    ¡°Do you miss Norway? Does the snow remind you of it? The mountains here?¡±


    ¡°Yes to all. I wish I could go.¡±


    ¡°So, let¡¯s go. Tomorrow. Let¡¯s go. You and me.¡±


    ¡°I take it back. That easiness around money. You do belong there, after all.¡± Marianne shakes her head.


    ¡°I mean it, Marianne. Say yes.¡±


    ¡°Is that an order?¡± Marianne smiles.


    ¡°I¡¯d never order you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll say yes under one condition. Only if it¡¯s to celebrate your PhD! You were absolutely brilliant, Dr. Ortiz. Brilliant.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have a PhD, though. Alba has it.¡±


    ¡°Just take the compliment¡­¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Her eyes look outside the window. ¡°That means a lot coming from you. I think working together has made me a better academic¡­¡± Better person, too.


    ¡°No, I read your papers before meeting me. It¡¯s all you.¡±


    ¡°One day, Marianne, you¡¯ll finally admit that¡­ you and I, we bring out the best in one another.¡± Aymee winks at her.


    Marianne refuses to fly on business class. Instead, she forces Aymee to experience a transatlantic flight in economy. To her surprise, the girl enjoys every second of it. Never complaining, watching in marvel each second. Even the most boring ones. As it turns out, Aymee hadn¡¯t had a vacation since she moved to the United States. She either visited her grandparents in Mexico while they were still alive, took care of her family business across the states, worked at the university and worked at the factory. Leisure wasn¡¯t something in her vocabulary.


    When was the last time that Marianne took a break, too? She wonders now. Never, probably. Guilt overcomes her. Sofie is studying, living by herself. She won¡¯t even notice her mother is gone. Two weeks without any burden. Any responsibility.


    Aymee took care of everything. The only thing that Marianne asked was for them not to visit Marianne¡¯s hometown. There¡¯s nothing left there. Instead, they landed in Lofoten. Marianne commented on how much she wanted to visit the archipelago. That comment was years before. Still, Aymee remembered.


    ¡°Do you see your old memories from time to time? Is that how you remembered?¡± Marianne asks when they land.


    ¡°No, I have an application on my phone. I write down important details about important people.¡± Aymee smiles.


    One week later, they go chasing northern lights. Marianne hasn¡¯t seen them since she moved away. Aymee has never seen them before. They are inside the car. Waiting. The forecast says they¡¯ll show up tonight.


    ¡°It¡¯s curious the side effects that mental controllers have, isn¡¯t it?¡± Marianne switches between Norwegian and English.


    ¡°Normal to me. What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°You read other people¡¯s mind. See their most intimate thoughts. Understand their pain. Still, your side effects are turning uncaring, numbness¡­ what else?¡±


    ¡°Manipulative, too.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s curious how the side effects can be so extreme.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing empathic about erasing memories or controlling other people. Nothing. If you ask me, the punishment fits the crime.¡±


    ¡°I never took you for one of those self-hating deviants.¡±


    ¡°Most of the time, I¡¯m not. Other times it¡¯s hard not to. There¡¯s so much shame associated with being a deviant. Especially in the States.¡±


    ¡°Especially because you have the privilege of living a double life. If you were only a deviant, maybe you¡¯d be used to.¡±


    ¡°Back in Mexico, I studied at an international school. Bunch of privileged kids. Even though I was one, I never was... really one. They saw me as a deviant always. My billions never shielded me from that. I only had one friend there.¡± Aymee keeps her gaze focused on the view.


    ¡°One is enough.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t think that when you are a child and see that the other kids only show up to your party because of your parents. I only missed my grandparents when I moved away. I was so eager to leave. To be someone else. I graduated when I was 16. At least as Alba, I thought, I would be human.¡± Aymee smiles. ¡°How naive.¡±


    Marianne holds her fist tight.


    ¡°During undergrad and grad school, with the war going on, people around me were incredibly outspoken about deviants. How much they hated them. I would hear my supposedly friends say the most awful things. I think I spent my first year in university crying in the shower almost every day. Eventually, I just grew numb to it.¡± Aymee notices Marianne¡¯s closed fist.


    Marianne opens her hand and rests it on Aymee¡¯s leg.


    ¡°It¡¯s hard not to think badly about yourself when it¡¯s all you hear. I moved to Eurasia to write my dissertation. I think I told you already. I moved to Spain. The same sentiments echoed there. Just not as vocal. Now, during the PhD, there was no war anymore. Still, the opinions are the same as before. It¡¯s just not acceptable to say it out loud.¡±


    Marianne reaches for Aymee¡¯s hand and holds it tight. The first northern light shows up and they go outside. Aymee¡¯s jaw is on the floor. She¡¯s smiling wider than Marianne has ever seen her do before. Marianne focuses on the girl instead of watching the lights.


    I¡¯m falling in love. Perhaps I¡¯ve fallen already and am just too much of a coward to admit it.


    They drive back to the cabin. Aymee raves about the northern lights and how she¡¯s happy that she left her phone in the car. That her memories of it will be much more precious than some photo. That she has better photos from their trip, taken with a cheap polaroid instant camera. Photos of Marianne. Of the mountains. The landscapes.


    Aymee is heading to her room when Marianne puts herself in front of her.


    ¡°What would you do, Aymee, if you were completely fearless?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d leave the work at the factory. I hate it there. I just can¡¯t face my parents and disappoint them.¡±


    Marianne¡¯s smile slowly disappears.


    ¡°Also¡­ I¡¯d call off my wedding.¡±


    Marianne takes a few steps back. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were seeing anyone. Let alone that you are engaged to be married. Congratulations.¡± Her tone remains serene.


    ¡°I¡¯m not in a relationship. Santiago, my only friend, can¡¯t be with who he wants to be. His parents keep pressuring him. It¡¯s easier for everyone if we just get married.¡±


    ¡°Are you in love with him?¡±


    ¡°Marianne, marrying for love isn¡¯t an option for me. I do love him. Not like that. This is beneficial. My life won¡¯t change dramatically because of it.¡±


    ¡°Mmm, won¡¯t change dramatically¡­ so, what? You¡¯ll have his children if that what his or your parents want?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± Aymee shakes her head and heads to her room. She closes the door behind her.


    Marianne sits on her bed. Seeing the photos Aymee gave her. The smile on her face, one she hadn¡¯t had for years. You can¡¯t say anything now.

 Lying

    December 2028


    After the meeting, Padma heads home. Aminu is already back from the Institute. She tells him she¡¯s in the mood to cook and starts chopping some onions. Crying in the process.


    Aminu is in the living room, watching over and over the earthquake and the tsunami that hit the islands.


    ¡°I think there¡¯s a good game tonight. Can you change the channel, please?¡± Padma asks.


    Aminu doesn¡¯t answer and continues to rewind and see the video of the tsunami. Over and over. The news report. The people wondering where their loved ones are.


    ¡°Aminu! Are you listening to me?¡± Padma asks louder this time.


    She goes around the kitchen and heads to the living room. All an open space. He¡¯s fixated on the screen.


    ¡°Aminu!¡± She touches him and he flinches immediately.


    ¡°What, o?!¡± He shouts and taps his right hand on his left shoulder continuously. Avoiding looking at her.


    ¡°Aminu¡­ what¡¯s going on?¡± She puts herself between him and the TV screen.


    He gets up and goes around her, focusing on the screen again.


    ¡°The earthquake was on the same day that we ran tests in Florida¡­¡±


    ¡°Tests?¡± Padma scratches her head.


    ¡°Yes. Me. The element controller. I amplified his ability in Florida. So that when we meet Rachel Moore again, it¡¯s stronger.¡±


    ¡°What about it, Aminu?¡±


    ¡°What if the earthquake was us?¡± Aminu doesn¡¯t raise his eyes to meet hers.


    ¡°Aminu, I¡¯m sure the tests were run with the optimal safety measures. The element controller is from Florida. It¡¯s safer there than here after everything that happened in the factory. Also, no one has mentioned anything in my meetings. They would if it was their doing, even if accidentally.¡±


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    ¡°Aminu,¡± Padma smiles, ¡°I promise you. None of this was your fault. These disasters happen, unfortunately.¡±


    Aminu smiles and forces himself to look at Padma. He hands her the remote, and she changes to the sports channel. The hockey match will start in a few minutes.


    Padma returns to the kitchen. She keeps preparing everything and joins him while the rice cooker works its magic.


    They shout whenever their team scores and lose focus on the plate of rice in their hands. Padma looks at Aminu, sees his hoodie, the one Abigail gave him, and knows in her heart that at least there, he can have some moments of joy.


    She wakes up on the next day to the sound of her alarm. I should text Marianne. She won¡¯t say it, but she is probably worried about her daughter. Or at least angry that she betrayed us. Why didn¡¯t she tell me Sophie was her daughter?


    Padma takes a shower, puts her skincare and makeup on, gets dressed and calls Marianne. She answers.


    ¡°Marianne, how are you? I¡¯m concerned.¡±


    To Padma¡¯s surprise, Marianne¡¯s tone is serene and gentle. She explains that Sofie is very close to the Angel of Death because they grew up together. It¡¯s a betrayal, but one that Marianne can understand. She¡¯s sure that Sofie will eventually see that the specimen can¡¯t be trusted and come back home.


    ***


    Zachary tried his best to prevent Veronica from seeing the news. An impossible task. All the accusations that their parents face, the interviews, all in repeat on the channels from the United States. Only a brief report on the Eurasian news.


    ¡°You know it¡¯s a lie, Vero.¡± He says.


    She just nods. ¡°Why are they lying?¡±


    ¡°Because mom and dad told the world the truth about the government. It¡¯s a tactic. Claim that the messengers are liars. More than that. That they are horrible people. No one will believe the message.¡±


    ¡°Where are they?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, Veronica¡­¡± He smiles widely. ¡°Everything is okay. I promise you.¡±


    ¡°Are you lying, Zachary?¡±


    His smile disappears.


    ***


    After several flights, Rebecca Lewis and Mark Parker land in Germany. They have new identities and radically changed their appearance. A citizen of the United States, long-time, business partner, greets them at the airport and drives them to a hotel nearby.


    ¡°You have to lie low for a while now,¡± He warns them. ¡°Stay here. Avoid any form of communication. We¡¯ll handle everything with Veronica and Zachary. The plan is for all of you to meet in the Netherlands. Veronica and Zachary are probably being closely watched now. We¡¯ll keep their routines and see when it¡¯s the best time to move them.¡±


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we do something?¡± Rebecca asks.


    ¡°No, you two need to stay put. Food will be delivered to you. Clothes cleaned here. Stay here until we move you. The United States of America is preparing to accuse you of several crimes. Put an international arrest warrant in your name. We need to be one step ahead of them. Bring Veronica and Zachary before it happens and put you all under protection.¡±