The Program [Book Two of The Test]

Chapter Thirty-Five

She said she had a friend, someone I also knew, that might be able to help us. From what she was saying, I picked up on them being a bit more than friends, but I stayed off the topic.

"When Reid first brought me into this," Natalie told us, driving us herself to her friend's apartment. "My friend was the first person that found out what I was, said he had seen people die from being such. It affected the test too much for people to handle. He helped me hide what I was and continued to do so while you guys were in the test."

"And we can trust that he'll help us?" Annie questioned, not seeming to be comfortable with putting all our faith in a guy we don't know that well despite him keeping Natalie safe. We couldn't take the chance.

Natalie clutched the steering wheel hard, her knuckles turning white at Annie's kinda accusation. "Yes." She said through gritted teeth. "He's the closest thing to family i've had in my life over the past three years. I don't trust anyone more than I do him."

We didn't say anything else for the remainder of the ride.

When we pulled up, Natalie soon showing us the his apartment, she knocked on the door. "Kent, you there? Open up!"

I heard some shouting and grumbling on the other side, moments later the door being opened to reveal...

"Dr. Rivers?" I asked, raising an eyebrow while looking back and at Natalie and him. "You're in on all this too?"

He nodded, turning to Natalie, then back to me. "Um, we weren't going to let just any idiot take care of you kids while you were in there." He cleared his throat. "Is this the moment where I should ask you to come in?"

Natalie placed a hand on his arm. "I need to introduce you to someone." Biting her lip, she opened her mouth again. "More like re-introduce actually."

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"Well," Bridget dropped some papers on a desk near her as we entered the hideout. "There's a face I haven't seen in a long time."

Natalie and Dr. Rivers -Kent- were in front of us. He didn't seem to be expecting to see Bridget, causing him to tense up a bit as she spoke, Natalie grabbing his arm as he leaned toward her and questioned why he had to see her right then. Both their actions made me confused.

Soon, he said something.

"Didn't think you'd recognize me so quickly." He admitted, taking a few steps closer before he second guessed himself and backed up a step.

Bridget quirked her mouth some, a light, awkward sounding laugh coming from her. "You're not that forgetful." Her shoes seemed louder than they ever had as she walked to them. "After all, it's not everyday that you forget the face of your backstabbing brother."

"You're siblings?" Annie half shouted, leaving me shocked as well. I wasn't expecting that.