Something My Mind Made Up

26. Come Here Please

I hope they didn't hear anything.

I hope Sebastian can keep a secret.

Maybe I shouldn't have told him?

That would probably have been better.

But what's done is done.

I got ready for bed and laid down on my mattress.

I noticed a text from Julia asking to meet up the next day.

I agreed and she sent me the address of the place we'd meet.

I fell asleep, woke up, did my training, and then I asked Lantern for permission to leave for a few hours.

He was hesitant but finally agreed, telling me to be careful and not to use my ability.

I looked around.

This is a strange meeting place.

An old abandoned building in the bad side of town.

"Vera!"

"Julia?" I looked around until I saw her on the second story of the old building. "Julia, get down from there, this place is about to collapse!"

"No it's not, get in here! Quick!"

I gulped before climbing in a window and found some old creaky stairs.

I nervously walked up them and found Julia smiling at the top.

"Vera!" She hugged me tightly and I hugged back. 

"Julia! You hardly answered my texts!"

"I'm sorry, I've been busy."

"With what?"

"Oh, this and that, you know."

"No, I don't actually."

"Come on. Let's have a chat."

I tilted my head. She's acting weird.

I hope this is actually Julia and not German.

"Okay, sit, we have a lot to talk about."

She sat at a clean shiny table that seemed out of place in this dusty trash filled room.

I sat on the other chair and looked around.

What if we get jumped?

Let's not think like that.

Besides, I know basic self defense.

"I'm going to get straight to the point, Vera. You need to get out of there while you can."

"From The Department?"

"Yes!"

"Why?"

"Because, I know this will sound crazy, but you need to listen to me." She leaned closer to me.

"Um, okay?"

"They're going to force these experimental abilities onto you. They don't care if you survive or if you get hurt. They're not concerned with harming your bodies!"

I stared at her.

"How... what are you talking about. Where did you learn any of this?"

"That doesn't matter. What matters is you getting out of there!"

I stared at her again.

"No... that's crazy. And what abilities do you mean?"

How the hell does she know any of this!?

"Teleporting, mind reading, stuff like that!"

"You're insane."

"Shit."

I looked up at her from my hands.

"What?"

"They already gave you the abilities!"

"Huh?"

How!?

She burst into tears.

"Vera, no! You don't understand!"

"Don't understand what!?"

"That they're just using you! This isn't good! You're in danger!"

"Julia, calm down!"

"No! The Department isn't good! You're not going back!"

"Stop it! You don't know what you're talking about!" I shouted.

"Don't yell at your sister, she's just concerned for your well-being."

I spun around in my seat and found King walking into the room.

I jumped up, knocking down my chair.

"Stay away from my sister!" I got in between them.

King put his hands up.

"I'm not here to hurt anyone."

"Liar! You're a murder! You killed my teachers! You killed those people the day we met!"

"Vera, please just listen to him!"

"Excuse me!?"

"Your sister asked me to come with her to explain The Department. She wants me to help you open your eyes."

"You know him!?"

"We met a few months before you joined The Department."

"Are... are you part... no. You're not Part of The Academy. You can't be."

She bowed her head then looked at me.

"We need to destroy The Department, Vera."