Page 24

24

A Vengeful Bitch, Out to Get Us

S o much for our genius statuses …

We talked telepathically during the entirety of our five classes that day, discussing every aspect of what we’d learned through the failed hypnosis, our impressions of the two other students with abilities we’d seen at the institute, everything we knew about our supposed parents, Magnum, and his staff, about our burgeoning powers, and everything else we could think of—and still we didn’t come up with a single winning plan. We hadn’t even come up with a came in fourth place kind of plan. All we’d get was a participation trophy.

The five of us were waist-deep in a pit of quicksand, with no rope nearby to save us. The more we examined the conundrum, the more the pit sucked us farther down toward an inevitable conclusion: as long as Magnum possessed unlimited influence and wealth, there was nowhere we could go that was far enough. No place we could hide. No way to avoid the long arm of his constant threats of death.

It didn’t matter that the blinders were off or that we could at last speak to each other privately again. Whatever advantages we had this time around were nothing when compared to our many disadvantages and limited knowledge. We didn’t even know how many times we’d been rebooted, how many times they’d adjusted this and that about our life stories and sent us back out into Ridgemore to be studied.

And Magnum had already proven he’d kill us as many times as he wanted, no matter where we were, even surrounded by other people.

In the age-old scenario of fight or flight , if we couldn’t run, our only other option was to defend ourselves.

But how exactly did one fight someone with such a massive upper hand?

It was during our run after school that day, which we’d gone on solely to work off some of our mounting frustration, that we’d eventually agreed: we had to face off with the monster and lop off its smugly handsome head.

If we killed Magnum, there’d be no more funding, no more labs, no more sneaky parents or gun-toting soldiers to carry out his orders.

We ran an extra three miles just to cruise on the high of finally reaching a decision. None of us wanted to kill anyone. Unlike Magnum, murdering wasn’t part of our life plans.

But we’d do what had to be done.

To protect my crew, I’d break through his chest and rip out his still-beating heart with my bare hands. I absolutely would.

I refused to let any one of my crew die again.

Now, grinning in anticipated relief, we crowded onto the porch to our treehouse slash ninja training space, chests heaving, before spreading out to cool down. We’d run nine miles, and Layla hadn’t complained once.

Bobo was panting from the run and lapping up water beside me. My sweet boy was thankfully healed enough for the exertion since as far as we were supposed to know, he and I had never jumped from a moving Clyde. According to Jackie’s hypnosis, the thin scar on his leg was from a bad scratch.

I was stretching out my hamstrings when steady footfalls warned of someone approaching. Many someones, actually. Bobo stiffened as he came to full alertness.

From the winding path my crew and I had carved through the forest that surrounded our homes, our traitorous parents , all together, emerged into the clearing in front of the treehouse; they led Homer, Yolanda, and Armando toward us.

“Hey, kids,” Celia called ahead with a friendly smile splitting her face. Had I not known better, I would have believed it was genuine. “We have an awesome surprise for you!”

I feel like ripping that fake-ass smile right off her stupid face, Layla commented into what I was beginning to think of as our “group chat.”

“You’re going to be so excited,” Porter claimed, rubbing his hands together in what I now couldn’t help but notice was high theatrical fashion.

And I feel like slapping the shit out of Dad’s wrists after that little move, Brady said. What a bunch of sus motherfuckers!

As our faux parents and almost surely future-ninja-instructors-slash-extra-superspies crowded around the porch, I couldn’t help but notice that Lynne wore a pair of dangling pearl earrings that I recognized.

Weeks ago, when I’d searched my bedroom for wiretaps, I hadn’t found any. But I had found a pearl earring I’d never seen before.

Of course it belonged to my snooping, lying faux mother, who must have dropped it when she’d been searching my room for who-knew-what. I hadn’t remembered her wearing them before because my previous memories had been overridden.

Now that we recognized the signs for what they were, they were everywhere, impossible not to notice.

Guys, I told my friends. Check out Lynne’s earrings. Remember how weird it was when I found that one rando pearl earring in my bedroom?

Damn, Griffin said, drawing closer. And there it fucking is.

There it fucking is, I echoed.

How the fuck are we supposed to keep ourselves from strangling them when they look at us like they’re just a bunch of innocent schmoes? Layla asked. Asking for a friend, ya know.

Before any of us could answer, Alexis beamed at the five of us. She even smiled down at Bobo for a second. And she never smiled that big. She was the least smiley of the whole lying bunch.

“You’ve been asking us for what feels like forever to find you an instructor to help you advance your fitness skills to the next level.” With excitement dancing across her face, her eyes bright and shiny, she glanced back at the other adults before looking at us again. “Well.” She bit down on her lips as if she couldn’t contain her excitement, her brows arching. “We finally did it! We finally found someone perfect.”

She looked to Hunt first, then the rest of us, no doubt waiting for us to lose our shit over the wondrous news.

I can’t believe I ever trusted her, Hunt said.

How could you not? I protested. Her act is so fucking believable.

I’m half believing it right now even though I know it’s all a lie, Layla said.

Alexis, who was without a doubt the least bubbly of them all, bubbled . “We found not just one, not even two, but three perfect teachers for you!”

“Wow. Seriously?” Brady said. He probably didn’t sound quite as delighted as I’m sure they all hoped, but at least he was able to play their game. I still needed a moment to tighten my mask and make sure my true face wasn’t showing.

“That’s amazing!” Brady added, sounding peppier now. “Like, soooooo super amazeballs. We’ve been wanting to up our game for so crazy long. I can’t believe it’s finally happening.”

Okay, bud, Layla warned. You might be laying it on a bit thick there.

But the parents were lapping it up. Celia actually bounced on the balls of her feet and clapped before Porter wrapped an arm around her shoulders, making me wonder if the two of them actually cared about one another. Or were they putting on a show of loving each other just as my parents had while my mom was out banging the sheriff on the side?

Said lying mom and dad gestured for Homer, Yolanda, and Armando to step forward, and after they did, my dad introduced them. At least the teachers kept the same names, which I was grateful for. No one needed the jumble of alternate names I currently had burdening my mental Rolodex. The more lies we had to keep straight, the more likely it was for one of us to trip up in a mistake that would clue them all in.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you all,” Homer said, taking the lead just as he had at the institute. “We’re looking forward to working with all of you. We love having capable students who are ready and eager to learn what we have to offer, and between the three of us, it’s quite a lot.”

Just as back at the training center, Homer, Yolanda, and Armando were dressed in form-fitting clothing designed for movement that revealed honed bodies, sharp as weapons.

“Yeah, it’s nice to meet you all too,” Brady said.

“For sure,” Griffin added, glancing at our parents . “How’d you guys find them?”

Orson pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and stepped forward. “You know that new post-secondary institute over by the abandoned outdoor amphitheater? The one that’s almost finished?”

Were we supposed to know about that? I asked my crew while Layla offered a noncommittal “Yeah” aloud.

Must’ve been in the part of the hypnosis we missed out on, Hunt answered.

“Well, it looks like it’s going to be a really amazing place,” Orson continued. “The best not just in academics but also in extracurriculars.”

Uh-oh, Layla said. Tell me they’re not lining it up for us to go there next year after graduation.

Damn, she was right. That’s exactly what they were doing. I glanced at her and found her smile looking too tight.

Chill, dude, I told her. You’re gonna give us away.

Joss is right, Brady added. You look like you’re trying to hold in a wheezy fart. Relax your face, dude.

To make up for her slip, I pushed my own smile to grow brighter, pinning a purposefully attentive stare on Orson.

He went on to say, “They’re only hiring the best of the best teachers over there. Everything’s really top notch.” Again, he pushed up his glasses. “Really impressive.”

My dad clasped my mom’s hand and twirled her so her back leaned against his chest. “Actually, guys, we were going to save this for later, but why not just tell them now, right?” He made a show of searching the gazes of the other parents for permission. When they gave it, my dad grinned, “Well, guys, another reason we were able to find these wonderful instructors for you is because …”

Is he waiting for a fucking drumroll? Griffin asked.

“Drumroll please,” my dad joked, and I almost snorted aloud. “They’ve offered us amazing positions there, working in their state-of-the-art lab.”

“That’s cool,” I said. “So would you guys be teaching? Or just doing research?”

“Probably just research, especially at the start,” my mom said, running a hand along my dad’s arm as if they were happy lovers.

Celia squealed. “Oooooooh, let’s just tell them the whole shebang. It’s too exciting to keep under wraps.”

Once more, the parents shared looks I would have previously bet my entire savings were genuine.

Alexis gave her a generous smile. “Go on, then. Tell them.”

Celia clapped and squealed some more. “Well, guess what? Okay, never mind. You’ll never guess.”

Wanna bet? I snarked, and Layla tittered. Lucky for us, Celia’s act was so spot-on everyone assumed Layla was already reacting to this incredible news.

“If we decide to take the positions—” Celia said.

“And we probably will,” Porter interjected.

Celia’s smile revealed her perfect teeth. “Of course we will, because … pum-para-pum … when we work there, all five of you will get full scholarships to study there!”

“Including room and board,” Orson added.

“Everything’s included,” Celia told us. “And because you happen to already know and love the super-top-secret founder of the place, who’s only just now letting us tell you…”

She waited until Hunt offered, “Magnum?”

She pointed at him as if he were some lucky winner. “ Ding-ding-ding . It’s your Uncle Magnum.”

I will call that man ‘uncle’ over my dead body, Layla said. Maybe I’ll call him that over his dead body though.

“Your Uncle Magnum is so generous, he’s actually built the place keeping you lot and your special gifted levels in mind. In fact, he’s even built you five a special house just for you, where only you’ll get to live as a special welcome bonus. Isn’t that just beyond words incredible?”

“Wow, Mom,” Brady said, “that’s really amazing. I can’t believe it.”

“We hardly could either,” Porter said, tucking a strand of his wife’s hair behind her ear. “Now you don’t have to even worry about applying to other universities. Your Uncle Magnum’s making it super easy for you, and your parents couldn’t be more grateful.”

He removed his glasses to rub at his eyes as if emotion were getting to him. “You don’t know what it’s like to be parents. We worry so much. Now that we know your futures are supported and looking bright …” He shook his head, sliding his glasses back on. “It’s such a relief. The costs of a university education nowadays are no joke. And you can’t beat the education your Uncle Magnum’s going to make sure you get. He’s even chosen these guys”—he gestured to Homer, Yolanda, and Armando, who continued to stand still like props in the performance—“to teach there ’cause he knows how serious you are about learning self-defense and that kind of thing.”

I’m never believing a single other word that comes out of my dad’s mouth, Brady told the four of us. Not even a simple ‘hi.’

No shit, Layla answered. Dude gets an A+ in acting.

“Have you put together the best part yet?” my dad asked.

“I … don’t think so,” I said. “It’s all kinda shocking. Unexpected. We asked for so long we kinda thought you’d forgotten or maybe just given up.”

“We’ll never give up on you, honey.” I was afraid of that. “But now that Homer, Yolanda, and what was it? I’m sorry, what’s your name again?” he asked Armando as if they were truly newly introduced.

Armando smiled generously and tipped his buzzed head to one side. “It’s Armando.” He, like Yolanda, had a pretty, melodic accent.

“Oh, that’s right. My apologies,” my dad said. “Now that Homer, Yolanda, and Armando ”—he smiled at the lithe man who, though about my height and slim, was majorly ripped—“have agreed to be your teachers, the even better news is that they’ll be able to continue as you transition over to the institute after you finish at Ridgemore High.”

“Assuming we want to go to the institute,” Griffin said. “That will be our decision.”

“Of course it will, my son,” Orson said, and I glanced up at Griffin to see his cheek twitch. He scratched at it, playing it off as an itch. “Whatever you guys decide in the end, we’ll support you.”

“That’s right,” Alexis said. “You can count on us.”

I didn’t mean to, but I found myself looking toward Hunt. He did a better job of pretending and ignored my questioning look.

“We know we can count on you,” Hunt said. To betray us, he added privately. “Thanks.”

Homer clasped both hands behind his back and cleared his throat. “Perhaps that’s enough chatting for now? We’d like to perform an assessment today to get a better idea of what we’re working with here.”

“Oh, of course,” Celia said with a delighted chirp at the end. “I’m sure they can’t wait to get started.”

“But,” my dad said, his astute gaze skirting across the five of us, “before we do, we should ask you: do you want to proceed?”

Oh, like they’re all about getting our consent to everything, Layla said. What total dickbags.

“Yeah, of course we want to, Dad,” I said, trying to make up for the few stealthy looks I’d shot my friends without meaning to. “This is gonna be so awesome. We’re stoked, aren’t we, guys?”

“Totally stoked,” Griffin said.

“Ready to start,” Brady added.

“All right, then,” my dad said. “We’ll leave you all to it, then.”

Our parents hovered for a bit, but when Homer, Yolanda, and Armando moved up to stand directly across from us, they turned and started down the path that led to the houses.

Bobo sat at my side, his eyes trained on the strangers.

“We just got back from a long run,” Layla told the instructors as she gestured to her sweaty running shorts and tank. “Not sure it’s the best time for an assessment.”

“It’s the perfect time,” Homer said. “You’ll be warmed up.”

“More than warmed up,” Layla said. “We ran, like, ten miles or something.”

Homer arched his brows. “Oh, is that all? Well, it gives us something to build on.”

Layla gaped at him. “Something to build on?”

Homer nodded his chin at the treehouse. “Show us what kind of equipment you’re working with here.”

My body went rigid. The treehouse was supposed to be sacrosanct. Yes, our parents had violated the crap out of that sacredness, but still, I didn’t want anyone else to violate our special space.

Brady was the first to nod with acquiescence. “Come on. We’ll show you.”

“Excellent,” Homer said. “We’d like to see you work the equipment you have, gauge our starting points.”

Why were they so intent on these assessments? Were they going to compare them with the ones they gave us mere days ago? Did they expect our bodies to perform differently when we were aware of our immortality and when we weren’t?

Who fucking knew?

After sharing a reluctant look with Layla and then Griffin, we followed Brady, the three teachers, and Hunt, along with Bobo, into the space we’d built as children. When we’d still believed in the easy joys of our companionship.

Before the world had revealed itself to be a vengeful bitch, out to get us.