Chapter 4

Lucas

Her shocked face, when she saw me entering the class, was priceless. It's so funny that I get to be a senior again, but mission comes first, which means her safety is a priority. At least for a few months until the Selection finishes and, then, I can return home. But not before I have a little fun here, I grin at the thought.

The girls here are something else, they like chasing the forbidden fruit prude by day and addicts by night. I mean playing with fire can be exciting if you know what you are doing. Apparently, the chemicals secreted during sex react with the nanoids in their bloodstream making them high, sometimes euphoric. At least, that's what Matt was intensively researching before the last-minute change in his mission. Too bad he was assigned to babysit a dude. I take my place at the back of the class. I can see she's still in awe. Breathe Tammy! The professor, a short man with an ugly moustache plastered on his face, must have noticed something's off with her, because, a second later, he asks if she's alright. She sits up, too straight if you ask me, and tells him on a shaky voice she's not feeling well. She is either a very good liar, which wouldn't surprise me considering the scene in the park last night, or she really doesn't feel good. And here I thought she can't amaze me anymore.

He lets her go and she darts out the door. I have to go and check on her. One of the reasons I've been sent here is to watch and guard her until she will be designated a life-partner. All I know is that she's important to them, a key in their experiment not that I really give a damn about it. Work comes first, always, and that is more than enough for me. I raise my hand and I can say he's annoyed by my interruption. Come on, old man, I don't have all day.

Yes, Mr Creed?' he asks on a fake calm voice, the ends of his moustache flickering awkwardly in the air.

I sit up and adopt a servile position. That should do it. It always does.

May I excuse myself, sir? I have to visit the restroom.' I ask in the politest and whiniest tone I've ever used in my life.

If that doesn't make him budge, I don't know what will. I hear Elias chuckle and I'm pretty sure Matt cannot wait to make fun of me later. I roll my eyes at the thought.

He is either surprised by my well-mannered behaviour or maybe it's the fact that I supposedly am the child of a high official, because, an instant later, he nods and passes me a plastic card. I walk calmly to the door, only to bolt down the corridor once it closes behind me. She said she'll head to the Medical Centre, which takes me a while to find. The tall glass building is all the way in the other part of the campus, still, I've not seen any trace of her yet. A woman in a white robe greets me from behind the counter as I enter the medical facility.

Please excuse my interruption, but I was wondering if Ner...Miss White has already checked-in. I was sent to retrieve her considering the poor condition she is in.' I lie masterfully, tapping my fingers on the marble top and giving away my lack of patience.

She raises her eyebrows and starts scanning me over her cat-eye glasses. It must be my clothes that take her by surprise, because I surely am holding my poker face in place. She finally takes her eyes from me and starts typing her name in the database. By the look on her face, I already know Tammy is not here.

I am sorry, it seems she's not...', her voice echoes from behind, still I have long gotten out the electrical doors and did not catch her last words.

Where did she go? I search around the Institute and there is not a sign of her anywhere. I take a look at my watch. Damn it! I have to go back. My heart starts pounding. How could I lose her?

The rest of the lecture passes excruciatingly slow and she still hasn't returned by the time the bell rushed everyone out in the crowded hallway.

I won't see her in the next couple of classes either as I couldn't get in, transferring in the middle of the year and such. During the next break, I continue my search. I have to make sure she's alright. Her auburn hair comes into sight, just before she disappears in the Biological Science wing. She gave me a good scare, alright. I breathe out and let the blood in my veins slow down.

In World History, I almost lost my mind. I don't know if I could have listened to one more word of that rubbish. Man, they really messed up with their heads. More than a half were lies and the way the old lady recounted the facts was insane. She kept tapping her long, sharp fingernails on the sloped lectern, while she recited the speech word by word. She didn't even flinch when I growled in annoyance. To be frank, I am not really sure she is even a human being. No mention about the experiment, about the inhibitor, not a word about the fact that their freaking planet is on the verge of dying. What did I expect? I guess that's how memory manipulation works.

The next hour passes relatively fast. I mean, Calculus is about numbers. You can't possibly mess with that.

...

My growling stomach is guiding me to the 7th floor. The cafeteria is bigger and more tech than I've imagined. Kudos to who thought eating with a view actually means setting the last level of the tallest building in the City into a lunchroom. Back home, we have cooks that serve the food, but here robots are doing all the hard work. Stainless steel and bright white a repetitive pattern all around campus. It looks more like an ER than a place you go and grab a bite to eat. God forbid, they went with something friendlier.

Matt's waving hand stops me from gawking like a fool. This right here reminds me of how far we are from home. The others are waiting for me in the back and I rush to the familiar faces. The City opens outside the window-wall behind them, a sea of clueless creatures living their oblivious lives.

As I get closer, I hear one of Elias's and Cassandra's fierce talks about who is higher in

rank.

I am older than you, which practically makes me your senior.' She says on a highpitched voice, drawing too much attention.

But I am better than you, at everything!' Hr burns her as per usual. He is a couple of years younger than us, yet he is one of the best.

I can't stop laughing. Jokes on them cause I'm their commander here on Earth. We all have been selected and sent here to supervise the last stages of the experiment. Each one of us has a covert mission to complete, a subject to protect, all without endangering the outcome of the trial.

They both shut their mouths once they see me, but I don't mind them having a bit of fun. I smile. They worked hard to get here, sacrificed too much. I steal one of Cassandra's fries giving tone to mass French fry-stealing. All Hell breaks loose! We all know stolen fries taste better.

Sam, the other girl and the only brain in our team, moves a seat further to make space for me. I take my seat and enjoy myself for the first time today.

You should have seen Mr Snowdrop here in class this morning', Matt starts making fun of me. I bet his tongue must have itched so badly until now. I squint my eyes at him, mentally preparing for the stream of bad jokes pouring down on me.

You know, because of his lowly...' He tries to explain his own joke. Poor bastard. I push my head back, rolling my eyes at the ceiling. This is sad. How bad can he be at this? Everyone starts laughing at the moron and I can't help myself but to follow suit. Kharma.

A sudden commotion in the centre of the room draws my attention, interrupting my five seconds of fun. I don't know if it's my trained eye or life is indeed playing with me, because some blonde guy has just propped his hand on Tammy's shoulder. Her face is partially hidden by the massive curly hair in front of her. Blondie sits up and says something to her, his hand still lingering on her shoulder. Why is he still touching her? And why, on Earth, I am so pissed out about it? She half-smiles. Obviously, she's uncomfortable, I tell myself, as I watch her lips moving, catching a sorry' among other words. He must not like what he's hearing, his straight face hiding it too well. Shortly after, he finally takes his hands off of her, flexing his finger behind her back.

She gestures a goodbye to the mop of hair and then her gaze suddenly drifts to the back of the room, fixing me. She freezes for a few seconds, our stares locked, but then she turns on her hills and dashes to the exit, tripping a few times on her way out.

I guess I'll see you guys later.'I tell them grinning, stealing one last fry and bouncing after her.