Project Alpha

Chapter 17

Gracie tossed me a half-smile as she opened the field house door. Watching her disappear, I crossed the path leading to the lab. Its design echoed the glass, wood and steel of Mendel's main building, but on a smaller scale. Sucking in a breath, I squared my shoulders and stepped inside.

"Wristband, please." A bored-looking young attendant waved his device over my arm. "Thanks. Head up the stairs and to your right until you reach Cognitive Room B."

Cognitive Room B. So, that's where it all starts. Nodding at the attendant, I stepped forward, absorbing my surroundings.

The foyer's ceiling was high, the floor marbled, and I spotted a handful of students climbing a wooden staircase to my right. Grabbing the iron rail, I followed them up, tracing my fingers lightly over the grooves etched in the stone wall. Mendel's crest had been carved into the rock, and the wide eye in its lower left quadrant seemed to watch me as I passed by.  

At the top of the stairs, a large sign pointed to Cognitive Room B. A girl with an asymmetrical platinum haircut held the door open and we exchanged quick smiles. I recognised her from res, but didn't know her name.

"Come in, come in!" a man's voice called excitedly from inside. Great wooden beams stretched across the ceiling, textured sound proofing panels lined the walls and thick drapes swathed tall windows, blocking out the sun. It would be easy to forget time in a room like this.

Dr. Kelly stood at the centre of the room and waved us over. "Hey, we've got a few chairs left. C'mon over, guys." His wide smile was charismatic, his dark hair looked messy in a purposeful way, and he wore a t-shirt that said, Vaccines Cause Adults. He was a walking Silicon Valley stereotype.

Curved tables were arranged around him in a horseshoe. A flatscreen and set of headphones accompanied every seat; and an Edison light bulb was screwed into the table top beside each monitor. None of the bulbs were turned on. Grabbing a chair near the horseshoe's curve, I plunked myself down and the platinum blonde sat next to me. 

"Hi. I'm Marin." I whispered. "I think I've seen you at Watson."

"Yeah, you look familiar, too." Her voice was soft. "I'm Phoenix."

I lifted a brow. "Really? Cool name."

"My parents thought so." She lifted a brow back. "I used to hate it, but it's growing on me."

The lights began to dim and Dr. Kelly cleared his throat. "Ok, I think we're almost ready to start. Can you grab the door please?" He nodded at a slight girl who'd just walked in.

"Told you I'd see you around." A husky voice tickled my ear.

Spinning around in my chair, I caught Archer's grey eyes and dimpled grin. I must have missed him come in while I was talking with Phoenix.

"Geez! Do you always sneak up on people?" A wave of heat lapped the back of my neck.

His grin morphed into a full-fledged smile. "I wouldn't call it sneaking. I'd prefer to call it ... the element of surprise." He wiggled his eyebrows and the warmth from my neck spread up my chin to my cheeks.

God, Marin, please don't blush.

"Mind if I sit?" He grabbed the chair beside me. His movements were so fluid; I was pretty sure he'd never been clumsy a day in his life.