CHAPTER 5_TRUTH AND LIES
"Are you telling me that in a few months everything will change and everyone I care about will be gone?" I ask.
Elena looks at me with an expression not like I'm crazy. Her eyes seem to hold a newfound understanding as if shes finally solved a puzzle. We're sitting in her apartment surrounded by papers photos and a sense of urgency. The air is thick with the smell of coffee and desperation.
"I'm telling you I've seen it happen before " I say, leaning against a cluttered desk. "I. Came back six months later."
Elena doesn't flinch. She crosses her arms her gaze fixed on the space between us.
"Show me " she says.
I grab a paperweight from her desk. Focus on the spot behind my thumb. The air seems to ripple. The paperweight vanishes. I hold out my hand then pull it back out of thin air.
The paperweight thuds against the desk filling the room with a silence.
"You're not moving things Ethan " Elena whispers, touching the spot where the object disappeared. "You're changing the space around them."
"The System calls it an anchor property " I explain.
Elena starts pacing her boots clicking on the hardwood floor. "My brother Mateo mentioned this in his notes. He was terrified of Marcus and his experiments."
"Marcus has been doing this for years " I say, watching Elenas face. "Hes not just building a machine; hes using people as test subjects."
A blue screen flickers in my vision displaying a message: "Sync Rate: 82 Percent. Ally Trust Level: Elevated."
Elena stops pacing. Looks at me with a sharp gaze. "In your life Morgana killed you " she says. "If Subject Zero was already failing your death didn't fix anything. It made things worse."
The air feels like its been sucked out of the room. I stumble back hitting the wall.
"The apocalypse wasn't caused by your presence, Ethan " Elena says, stepping closer. "It was caused by your absence."
I feel a wave of realization wash over me. Everything Marcus told Morgana was a lie. He used her to get what he wanted.
"He lied to her " I rasp, rubbing my face with shaking hands. "He told her I was the monster so she'd do his work."
Elena walks over to the stove putting on a pot of coffee. "He's a predator, Ethan. He knows how to find peoples weaknesses and use them against them."
We sit in silence sipping our coffee. For the time in a while I feel somewhat safe. Elena doesn't want anything from me; she just wants the truth.
"We need to get Subject Zero out of there " I say, looking at Elenas research. "We need to expose Marcus before its too late."
"And we need to deal with Morgana " Elena adds, pouring two mugs of coffee. "You're still living with her pretending everything is fine."
I look down at my coffee. "I have to. If I leave now Marcus will know somethings changed. I need time to get stronger."
Elena's expression hardens. "I won't help you lie to her Ethan. I'll work with you to stop Marcus. I won't be part of your game with Morgana."
"I understand " I say. "Changing much too fast might make Marcus panic.. Don't expect me to like it."
The tension between us is palpable. Elena sees me understands what I am and doesn't look at me with adoration.
"I should go " I say, standing up. "It's late. If I'm not back she'll start asking questions."
"Be careful Ethan " Elena says, following me to the door. "Marcus is already ahead of us. Hes been playing this game for six years. We've only just started."
I step out into the night air feeling a sense of unease. The world looks normal. I know it's not.
I reach my apartment at 2 AM. The building is silent. I slip inside. The living room is dark except for a single lamp.
My heart sinks. Morgana isn't in bed. Shes sitting on the couch with Marcus Vance.
"Ethan you're finally home " Morgana says, her voice shaking.
"What are you doing here Marcus?" I ask, keeping my hand near my pocket.
Marcus stands up adjusting his glasses. "We need to talk, Ethan. Morgana called me. She's worried about you."
"I was just taking a walk " I say, looking at Morgana. She won't meet my eyes.
"I think you might be having a health crisis, Ethan " Marcus says, taking another step. "I think it would be best if you came with me to the university clinic for an evaluation."
I look at the door behind me back at Marcus. The trap is closing.
"I'm fine Marcus " I say, my voice cold. "I think you should leave my house."
Marcus smiles, a smile from the warehouse. "I'm afraid I can't do that Ethan. Tell him what we found in his gym bag Morgana."
Morgana looks up her face white with terror. She holds up a black device.
"You've been spying on us, Ethan " she whispers, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Marcus said you were dangerous. I didn't believe him until I found this."
I look at Marcus seeing the triumph, in his eyes. He planted it. He waited for me to leave and planted it so she would find it.
"Now Ethan " Marcus says, reaching into his coat. "Are you going to come or do I have to tell the police you've been stalking university staff?"