My long dark brown hair was flying around my shoulders, almost completely covering the upper part of my red top. I opted for wearing black jeans and black high heels, even though I knew my father expected something more businesslike, but hey, I planned to use my attire as an excuse if it came to that. At least I'd be able to say I couldn't torture Adrian any longer because my feet were killing me. Grabbing my purse, I took a deep breath and walked out of the room.
I believed that the only problem was that I had to impress my father today in order to get permission to get back the next day. Of course, today I'd have to discover all the information about the lab and find a way to get Adrian out of there. Maybe I wouldn't even need my father's permission, but it would be easier to walk into the lab without raising the alarms, and use the extra time to my advantage. Unfortunately, my brother refused to help me on this one because he thought risking everything for Adrian wasn't worth it. His casual tone when he talked to me over the phone told me that he must have had a conversation with Adrian at some point, and Adrian must have promised him not to tell anything about us. I didn't think he'd be this calm otherwise.
"You're fifteen minutes late," my father said, shaking his head at me. If I'd come early, it would have been suspicious, so I simply shrugged.
"Sorry, but I can't go around looking like Iggy The Monster." I got in the car as one of the guards opened the door for me. My father's frown deepened as he settled himself in the seat next to me. I was sure he'd never watched Element Monsters, my favorite cartoon that I'd watched all the time as a kid while he and Mom had been busy with their work.
"I have some things to do, so I informed my assistant, June, to show you around first. When I'm back, I'll explain what I expect you to do." He nodded at the driver to start the car, all serious and businesslike. We didn't speak on the way to the lab, and I was staring through the window and trying to glimpse that unusual shimmering around the tops of the buildings, but I couldn't see anything.
"We'll be there in two minutes," I heard the driver say into his walkie-talkie. Ah, great, the security in the lab must be top notch. That couldn't be good for Adrian and me. Adrian... I closed my eyes, resting my forehead on the glass. I couldn't wait to see if he was alright, although I was sure being trapped in the place you despised and feared the most couldn't fit into the definition of alright. It wasn't the same lab he'd been in, but I bet it was similar.
When I opened my eyes again, we were in front of a huge white building, which didn't look even a bit different from the rest. The only thing that was different were numerous armed guards at almost every corner. Ah, crap. I took slow, measured breaths, attempting to calm down, because I started feeling the elements around me more pronouncedly. There had to be at least sixty people inside, and I prayed to God of Magic that none of them would lose the tight control over their element... and that I wouldn't go for someone's throat.
The lab had four floors, each one with a different purpose. I was interested the most in the third floor because that was the floor where experiments were conducted. My heels resonated loudly as I followed June through the impeccable white halls. I wondered how they managed to keep everything so sterile and pristine since many people scurried around like ants. There were cameras in every hall, which followed you as you walked by, and most of the doors had special locks.
I was only beginning to realize how hard it was going to be to get Adrian out of here when June stopped in front of a gray steel double door. She was taller than me a few inches, dressed in a long white coat and blue jeans, and her long blond hair was tied in a ponytail. Her smile widened as she typed some numbers into the keypad and the door slid open. She motioned me inside, and for a second I was worried the door would close behind me and I'd never be able to go out. The strong smell of disinfectant hit me as soon as I stepped into a big, dark room.
"Ah, there you are!" My father came toward me, looking relaxed and more cheerful than usual, which I didn't like at all. A black table with chairs was on my right, occupied by more people in white coats. It didn't surprise me that fire was again the predominant element among them. My heart skipped a beat when I noticed a huge black glass instead of a wall behind my father's back. There was only space for the computers underneath it, and scientists were sitting in front of them, typing rapidly while observing something from time to time through the glass.
"Umm, what do you want me to do?" I looked away from the glass and focused on my father's merciless eyes that looked even darker under the low light.
"Do you want to see that worthless magic disease carrier?"
"Yes." Although if Adrian was really worthless, he wouldn't be here right now, but I couldn't really tell that to my father. "What do you intend to do with him anyway?"
"Alan told me you had seen that Adrian had rests of the water element, so he can do things with ice. We expect those little pieces of the element to disappear soon, but we want to know how strong it is and if it can break through our new element-blocking cuffs. I won't bother you with the details of our research on him, but you have to understand that this is necessary for improving the safety of our people." When he put it like that, I almost believed him. It was funny how he called a sub-element the rests of an actual element, which meant he wasn't fond of sub-elements. Anything other than pure drove him crazy, and I almost wished I had a sub-element. Ok wait, having the disease was bad enough.
"One of our agents, who you have already met, questioned the monster, but she couldn't get anything out of him. The first thing I want you to do is to go into that room and find out why he was in your room, how he got there through our security and who helped him." My father continued, his scrutinizing eyes never leaving me. "We'll deal with the element experiments later. You need to prove that you can do this."
"Will someone go with me?" I peered over my father's shoulder to check what the scientists were doing, but their high black chairs hid the screens from view.
"No. I believe that is not necessary. The monster is cuffed to the wall with special cuffs and can't do anything to you, but don't go too close to him. We will be watching you through this glass." He half turned and pointed at the glass, pride written all over his face. Wow, he really did enjoy this job. "There are two cameras watching the spot where he is, one on the right and one of the left."
"And if he somehow breaks the cuffs?" The cameras and so many people in this room were going to be a huge problem, but I didn't have time to think about that right now. I needed to get as much information out of my father as I could.
"That's very unlikely, but if that happens, he can't get out of the room. The door can be opened only from the outside with codes and approval from this room."
"Can elements break through the door or through any part of the room?" I honestly had no idea how to get Adrian out of this place alone. It was impossible.
"Yes, but you need three elements to do that, and we never let more than two people inside. Well, not more than two conscious people, that is." He chuckled, and I thought I was going to be sick.
"But doesn't that limit your researching options?" I raised an eyebrow at him. "I mean, you can't send more people to use their elements around a magic disease carrier to observe his reaction."
"True, but any person who knows how to use their element to its fullness can make a monster truly suffer." The smile he gave me made me nauseous.
"And I can't believe I still don't know how to do that!" I crossed my arms in front of me, trying to look indignant.
"You'll learn in time. We can't have young people running around, playing with elements and causing havoc." He patted me on the shoulder. "Don't worry, honey. I'll show you what you need to know to deal with this murderer."
I smiled gratefully, not surprised in the slightest that my father had called Adrian a murderer even though he hadn't killed anyone. My stomach fluttered in anticipation of seeing Adrian. I could only hope he wouldn't think I'd betrayed him.
Chapter 12
"You can be
with him as long as you want, but if we see that you are in danger, we'll send someone immediately." June said as she punched a number I couldn't see into the keypad. We'd had to leave the control room and go to the hall because there was only one door that led to the room where Adrian was being held.
"Can everyone hear what we're talking about inside?" I could already guess the answer, but I wanted to be sure.
"Yes, but it's a big room. You have to talk loud and clear." The heavy gray door clicked, green light flashing above it. June's lips stretched into a smile as she opened it for me. Feeling lightheaded, I stepped into a very large room full of bright light. It took me a moment to adjust to all that brightness after being in the poorly lit control room. The first thing I noticed were the white tiles under my feet and the huge black glass on my right, but from this side I couldn't see anything except its polished surface.
My heart nearly burst out of my chest when I noticed Adrian sitting on the floor, his knees drawn to his chest, his back resting on the wall. His arms were painfully cuffed to the short iron pole above his head. He was dressed only in a thin white T-shirt and light blue pants, his feet bare. I took a step forward, but he didn't even look up at me, his messy black hair hiding his face from view. If I ran to him, it would be all over. I stood there a bit longer, dumbfounded. What could I possibly say that wouldn't tip off my father and the others that it broke my heart to see Adrian like this?
"Hey," I finally said, walking closer to him, the sound of my heels filling the room. Turning my back to the cameras and the black glass, I put my hands on my hips, waiting for Adrian to acknowledge my presence. I gasped when he finally looked up at me, revealing nasty bruises on his jaw and cheekbone. There were dark circles under his bloodshot gray-blue eyes, and his dry, split lips formed a smile.
"Ria," he said and coughed. I was glad I couldn't feel anyone's element through these walls or I would have gotten a strong desire to kill someone.
"Nice to see you again." If I didn't pull this act together soon, my father was going to become suspicious or irritated, and I couldn't allow that to happen.
"Did you come here to gloat?" He shifted a bit, making the cuffs rattle.
"I'm the one asking questions here, not you," I said coldly. "What were you thinking when you came into my room? Did you think you could kill me just like that?"
His gray-blue eyes regarded me suspiciously, and I knew he was trying to decide whether I was only pretending or everything was real.
"Did the cat eat your tongue? Speak!" I yelled, letting all the anger and bitterness I felt pour out in my voice. Adrian flinched, but then he grinned at me.
"You're pretty when you're mad. Why don't you come closer and find a better use for our tongues?"
"Shut up!" God, I almost forgot how infuriating he could get, but that was exactly what I needed to make this work.
"Ah, now you want me to shut up." He cocked his head, and despite all the bruises and uncomfortable position, he managed to look handsome. "You just don't know what you want, do you? Could you decide what you really want from me before we both turn into skeletons in here?"
"I want you to tell me how and why did you get into my room!" I could feel everyone's eyes on me, and wondered how convincing Adrian and I were.
"What are you going to do if I don't?" He raised an eyebrow at me, then started to laugh at my silence.
"Watch me." I said, my voice dangerously low. I confidently strode over to him, crouching down so we were face to face. Unsure how much time we had until my father sent someone because I was way too close to Adrian, I bent my head, letting my hair fall down and shield my face from the cameras. They were actually behind my back, in the corners, but I bet they could zoom and sharpen the image perfectly or there would be more.
"I'm going to get you out of here. I don't know yet how, but I'll do it," I whispered. "I promise."
Adrian stared at me wide-eyed, his lips slightly parted, then he shook his head and smiled like I had said something absolutely ridiculous. I frowned at him. Had they given him drugs or something?
"Ria, don't be so pathetic. I don't even care about you. I only want you to get the fuck out of my sight," he breathed. "Don't you get it that I've been playing with you the whole time?"
I froze, looking deep into his eyes, but I could only see the fear and resignation reflected there. Burying my hand into his soft hair, I pulled him so close to me that my lips brushed his ear. "Do you really think that after all this time you can manipulate me? I know that you don't want me here because you think they'll discover me and that there's nothing I can do, but have a little faith in me, damn it."
I abruptly let go of him and got up, letting his cuffs rattle even louder. His chest was rising and falling rapidly, and this time he was glaring at me. Good. I turned toward the black glass. "Open the door!"
When I heard the familiar click, I glanced over my shoulder at Adrian and walked out of the room, smiling on the outside and screaming from rage on the inside. June firmly closed the door behind me, and I didn't wait for her to catch up with me as I went straight to the control room.
"I want a summer job here." I stopped in front of my father, my face deadly serious. "I want to be in charge of the experiments on Adrian Liandre."
"Oh, honey, are you sure?"
"Yes!" I raised my voice, and a few scientists turned their heads toward me. "I hate him so much and I want to see him suffer."
"Now, now, there's no need to overreact. What did he tell you?" My father took me by the arm and led me to the other side of the room, farthest from the others.
"Nothing smart."
"You shouldn't have gone so close to him. I almost called the security." He narrowed his eyes at me.
"Security?" I scoffed. "He's not in condition to harm anyone."
"Don't underestimate him. He is not responding to our methods as we expected."
"Maybe you're using the wrong methods." I lifted my chin up, a ghost of a smile on my lips. If he believed I was overly confident and arrogant, maybe he'd let me do what I wanted just to prove me wrong.
"And you think you know better?" His control of the element slipped a bit, and I pinched myself to remain calm and focused. "We need to find out how strong his element is. It would be a problem if those monsters could keep the element and pretend to be normal."
Uh huh. "I could ask Paula about it, but it's probably an isolated case. Besides, maybe he doesn't even have the disease. Maybe it's a sub-element thing."
"Don't be a fool, Ria. I have no idea why some people want to call it a sub-element. There's no such a thing. It's only a very weak, twisted version of an element. All these people with weak elements are abominations." His face twisted into a sneer. "And don't think your little friend can help us. She's only playing to be a scientist; she has no clue about anything."
"Gee, and I wonder whose fault is that, Dad?" I glared at him. "Why don't schools and universities teach us more about this kind of thing? Can't you change the education program since you're the president now? Can't we start learning about our elements sooner?"
"No. You children are too young to know how to deal with elements and use them responsibly." He shook his head, but I couldn't feel his element as strong as when he'd been talking about sub-elements, which meant he was no longer angry. "I know you are of that age when you believe you can change the world and that you know the best, but trust me on this, I know how to deal with that magic disease carrier."
"So, you're going to send someone to beat him up until he snaps, breaks the cuffs and uses his element on that person?" I rolled my eyes. "Don't you think he's going to die before that happens, or are your cuffs so lame?"
"Certainly not," my father actually sounded offended. "The cuffs are still in testing, and they would be a great addition in court so criminals wouldn't have to be in isolated cells all the time. So far the monster hasn't managed to get out of them by force."
"Shouldn't you be testing that on normal people since it's f
or them anyway?" Half of the things my father wanted to test on Adrian were for sure only an excuse to torture him.
"Well, yeah, but it might be useful for these freaks too."
"Will you finally tell me what are you planning to do with Adrian?" I mentally cursed myself the moment his name crossed my lips, but my father didn't seem to notice.
"Oh, I have big plans," he said. "We won't give him any water for a day or two to see if he'll get desperate enough to find a way to use his element and let it turn into water."
I stared at the monster that was my father, flabbergasted. "That doesn't make sense! He'll be too weak to even use the element without the cuffs, let alone find a fault in your precious mechanism. And isn't water from an impure element poisonous?"
"You'd be surprised what people can do when they don't have a choice." The knowing gleam in his eyes told me he'd seen someone doing that before. God, in my whole life I had never thought my father could be watching someone getting tortured as a part of his job. We'd never even talked about what he did, and he definitely hadn't acted like a psycho when he was at home with me. Ok, those times were rare because he was always away on some business trip or tired, but... Damn, I didn't even want to think what he'd had to do to get promoted to such a high position.
"But you're right, drinking water made by an impure element is poisonous in most cases, but not always." He shrugged. "One monster more or less, who cares? Although, my scientists aren't happy with that. They say they've put too much effort into getting a desired response from Adrian over years, so we might save the monster at the last moment."
"Dad, listen to me," I said in my sweetest voice ever. "I know the monster very well. He's not as stupid as he looks. He'll sooner die than give you what you want."
"And what would you do?" he said disdainfully.
"Well, you told me I could get a job, and I want this one. Besides, I'm the best person to do this. The monster has feelings for me and I can use fire, the element he hates the most." I tossed my hair over my shoulder because it was tickling my face and distracting me. "Just make sure he is in full strength in two days and teach me a few awesome things to do with my element, and I promise you we'll find out just how good those cuffs are. You aren't risking anything by sending me to do it, because I'm sure he'll hesitate before hurting me."
Runaway Page 11
