Chapter 23

I followed Dr. Hunter into a nearby room that I knew must be his office because it looked more comfortable than any of the conference rooms. “I know you have a lot of children to help, but you should have all of the facts,” Hunter sat behind the desk and I sat in one of the chairs in front of him.

“I would be interested to know,” I said, “Whose idea was it in the first place?”

“Joseph Morrison was the mind behind it,” Hunter said seriously, “He was young for a head doctor, but we all thought he had a brilliant mind.” “He claimed to see a future where all of our children froze to death and that we all needed to work together to save them,” he said seriously, “His vision was not real, we didn't realize at the time that he wanted something else.”

“How did you guys develop a medicine that made us supernatural?” I questioned.

“Peck founded the idea for using a certain herb called neuro-stroma that was found when the bunkers were built,” he told me, “It seemed to be almost radio-active and when we tried to eat any of it, we felt warmer and stronger.” “We were sure it was safe, especially when Morrison claimed that it wasn't hazardous,” he clenched his fist, “He was an expert on herbs and the chemical make-up seemed naturally made.”

“So the herb did this,” I leaned forward.

 

“It was helpful on its own, really,” he explained, “But Morrison insisted on testing its reactions with our serums for cell reformation.” “We argued with his verdict and he had to do the experiments with Peck and another doctor, Dr. Randall as his only sidekicks,” he continued, “He came back to us and said he was done with that,” Hunter coughed a little, “He gave back the herb and we assume stupidly that it was untouched.” “We went back to work, we powdered the herb and mixed it with a sweetener to make it easier to take.”

“It tasted like honey,” I nodded.

“Exactly,” he said, “We were sure we had made cold pills that could do good and protect our children.” “Peck knew so he picked the youngest of his sons so that he won't be risking his oldest,” he looked at the wall caught up in a memory, “Seth was a kind boy and he was liked by all of us, except his father who told him to grow up and give more concise reports.”

 

“He was two,” I argued.

“Regardless, Peck said they needed another subject with a stronger will,” Hunter replied, “Morrison went to work convincing the Garnets that it was safe and would save their child from the cold.” “The pills made their eldest sick though,” he looked back at me, “The day they brought you in, Maya you were this tiny little two year old who slurred her words and smiled at everyone.”

“I guess things changed,” I muttered.

“Everyone there loved you, we all wanted the cold pills to work and you were having such a positive reaction,” he shook his head, “After two years, you were strong and we had to let you go home.” “Your parents were so happy to have you back and thinking we had succeeded we started to giving them out to all of the family,” he sat back, “We didn't realize something went wrong until the first night you had a vision when you were five.”

“I was the one you found the flaw in first,” I asked curiously, “Why did I take them two years longer?”

“Morrison insisted that you were just having bad dreams and none of us could see anything physically wrong,” he said, “We convinced ourselves that you were alright, we did not know your mind and cells were reforming inside you.”

“Reforming,” I put my arms on the table.

 

“The pills opened up your mind so you were using a hundred percent of it instead of ten percent,” he informed me, “Your gift came out of your natural ability for telling future events from what was going on at the time.” “You used to know when it was going to rain because the air was colder,” he said and I nodded, “I started to see how sad you were getting and Jamieson and other doctors started to insist you and Seth were taking off the drug.” “Morrison told us that you two were his prizes and that none of us had a right to change things that had been done already,” he reached out and touched my hand, “They kicked us out of the union and made sure we left you two alone.”

“My parents, did they know?” I asked.

“They tried to throw your pills and Morrison came to your house,” Dr. Hunter said sadly, “He tried to convince your parents to see sense and from what I know, they refused to follow his orders so he took them out of the equation.”

“I caused their deaths, Cass said it was enemies of our parents, rebels,” I tried to keep my voice even as tears started to run down my face.

“Morrison told him to tell you that, no doubt,” he squeezed my hand, “We never should have let things go that far, Maya I am so sorry you were like family to doctors like me and Jamieson.”

“I want to hurt Morrison,” I cried, “He used us, he just wants to make us all his pets again now.” “He thought we'd all follow him after what he did and now he's trying to regain control,” I looked down at the table, “I won't let him though I never will.”

 

“You're strong,” he said, “The brain storm drug, as we doctors call it now took over so many people and some of the younger people were not strong enough to survive what the pills did to them.”

“I miss my parents, I don't have any family anymore with my brother gone, I struggle so much with trusting people,” I shook my head.

“Everyone here is your family,” he got up, “We will protect you and make sure that nothing bad ever happens to you.”

“I want you to protect everyone else too, I want the people I love to be safe no matter what it costs,” I told him, “Promise me they'll be safe.”

“I swear it,” he came around the desk to sit in front of me, "Is there anything else you want to know?

 

"Do all of military know about the neuro-stroma blockers?" I asked uncertainly.

"Only the head officers and some of people like your brother, everyone else still thinks it's a disease," he informed me.

"We could try getting most of them on our side then," I said hopefully.

"The students have been on the pills too long, but maybe the parents and older junior officers could be convinced, " he commented, "We tried to talk to them that's why we were cut off from the military almost immediately."

"They don't want us to have more allies," I bit my lip.

"We'll try and save as many as we can from a dark fate," he insisted, "We can test the pills now to see what exactly we are dealing with."

How are you doing that?" I demanded.

"Price gave us an entire bottle of his pills and allowed us to take some blood to see how much was in his system," Hunter explained, "that young man proved his loyalty."

"He got rid of his medication," I muttered and smiled slightly through the tears.

 

“You should know he truly cares about you," he said then headed over to the door, "You can tell anyone you want to know about the origins of the adaptors.”

"Thank you for telling the truth about the pills," I cleared my throat, “and my parents."

"They were good people, Maya," he shook my hand, "You should go back to teaching."

Alright," I wiped my face off then left. When I got into the room, I saw that Eva was gone and Jeremiah was trying to comfort a girl who curled up in a ball. "What's wrong?" I walked over.

"Sara can change her face to look like different people," Jeremiah looked up at me.
"I am cursed," she sobbed.

"She is also very religious," he got to his feet, "Sara, this is Maya she sees visions of the future."

"You have a real curse," Sara looked up at me, "How do you sleep at night?"

 

"I just tell myself that everyone else isn't normal and that the 'curse' makes me stronger," I sat down in front of her, "Do you have siblings, Sara?"

"Two little brothers, James and Jesse," she looked up at me.

"You want to be strong for your little brothers, Sara imaginary if those officers came for them," I brushed her bangs out of her face, “You could defend them with your ability, impersonate a soldier and keep your family safe.” “I know it's scary and you must feel out of control,” I told her, “But it's a gift, it makes you a guardian angel for those two little boys.”

“I guess,” she thought about it, “So I won't get sent to hell for this.”

“This was done to you, Sara,” I said seriously, “You won't be punished for the wrong doing of doctors.”

“I guess so,” she said then without warning she hugged me, “Everyone said you were important because you can see visions, maybe I can be a part of this too, help distract guards so Jesse and James can be safer.”

“Just as long as you get out of here too,” I warned her.

“I guess I can try a few times,” she sat up properly.

 

“Good,” I took her hands, “Try to change your face to match mine.”

“Okay,” she closed her eyes and I closed mine too. When I opened them I was looking at an exact replica of my face.

“Good job,” I squeezed her hands, “Try Jeremiah now.”

“Okay,” she said and we both closed our eyes then I saw she had Jeremiah's face. “Do I look like him?” she asked.

“You look just right, the nose even looks broken,” Jeremiah chuckled, “It was really caused by running in the glass door.”

“Interesting,” I laughed.

“It wasn't funny at the time, but now it is,” he remarked then Sara changed her face back to her own.

 

“I just never know whether I am changing back to myself or someone else,” she started to cry again.

“Let your family tell you that you are yourself,” I commanded, “You'll always return to Sara because that's who you really are.”

“I should go check on my brothers, thanks,” she hugged me then hurried out of the room.

“You are really good with these children,” Jeremiah helped me to my feet.

“They remind me of what I was like as a kid, I cannot change how I grew up, but I can help them,” I shrugged, “So has Hunter given you the history behind the adaptors.”

“Yes, but you cannot tell Seth yet, he's still acting erratically,” he warned me.

 

“Where is Eva?” I looked around.

“Seth showed up and wanted to talk to her in private,” he informed me.

“Alright,” I accepted that, “Jeremiah, can you tell what doctors to watch out for?”

“There are seven doctors down there that studying and adapting more medicine,” he sat down, “There is Morrison, Peck, Randall, O'Connor, West, Harris and Morgan.”

“Morgan is a therapist,” I frowned.

“That's just his cover to gather intelligence for the cause,” he explained.

 

“It's hard to believe all of my doctors were poisoning me,” I commented then focused on the floor, “Morrison, he killed my parents and my brother still follows him.”

“Your brother will always be a follower,” he replied, “You are the one who fights back.”

“He's too far gone,” I agreed then there was a knock on the door.

“Hey there,” Nora poked her head in, “There is a girl in the training room that froze the entire floor.”

“All in a day's work,” I followed her.

“You'll overtire yourself again,” Jeremiah told me.

“I can handle it,” I waved then I hurried up. When we got to the training room, there was a girl in the corner surrounded by ice. “What happened?” I asked a nearby girl.

“She's scared,” the girl shrugged.

 

“Garnet, there you are,” Darren joined me.

“What is wrong? I don't recognize this girl,” I demanded, “Why is she upset?”

“She was downstairs, Maya they tortured her and amplified her abilities,” he hissed, “She sounds like a robot when she speaks.”

“They injected the serum into her,” I said then she looked straight at me.

Author's Note

Does the serum scare you?