Chapter 10 Part 5: Resistance

Even knowing Shine’s power didn’t change anything. I moved slightly away from her. Her gaze felt different now.

A psychic. Rare. And a high-level one, able to influence minds. That explained my childish behavior. The strange lapses in memory. She’d been manipulating me without my knowledge. A terrifying ability.

So many things made sense now. When I first started at the lab, Shine wore a power suppressor around her neck, similar to the bracelet I was now wearing. Then, one day, it was gone. No one questioned it.

“Jeff.”

Her voice had a subtle tremor. The buzzing in my head returned.

“You…!” I jumped up. The suppressor didn’t work on her. Or rather, I’d momentarily broken free of her control.

I hid behind Amy. The buzzing stopped.

“Girls?”

A silent chase ensued around Amy. Shine tried to grab me. I dodged her, circling Amy. Round and round we went until we collapsed, exhausted.

“Huff… huff…” I fell to my knees, gasping for air. Shine collapsed beside me, equally winded. These small bodies had no stamina.

“Were you playing tag?” Amy asked.

I couldn’t answer. My lungs burned. I gulped down air.

“I should be going now.” Amy stood up.

“No!” I reached out, grabbing the hem of her shirt. I clung to it, desperation giving me strength. The fabric stretched, revealing her shoulder.

“Hmm?” She looked back.

“Don’t go!” I pleaded. Something bad would happen. If she left, I’d revert to being the childish, easily angered Jeff. I couldn’t explain why. Tears threatened to spill. If Shine’s power was revealed, we’d both be trapped in the lab forever. Psychics were too valuable, too feared.

“Jeff.” Shine spoke, her voice close to my ear, a subtle buzzing in her words. I couldn’t understand her motives.

I scrambled behind Amy again.

“That’s enough, now.” Amy grabbed the back of my shirt. I froze. Shine grabbed my arm.

“Eek!” I tried to pull away.

The buzzing returned, louder now. A high-pitched whine filled my head.

“Jeff?” Amy’s voice above me.

“Yes?”

“What’s wrong?”

I looked around, confused. Jeff. My name. And then I saw her. Shine. My twin sister. Sister?

Static

“Can’t you sleep?”

The world shifted, seamlessly. I let it happen, my mind numb.

“Huh?” I was lying in a soft bed, Amy on one side, Shine on the other. The warmth of their bodies pressed against me. The blankets were cozy. My eyes fluttered closed. I was so tired. I burrowed deeper into the blankets. Something had happened earlier, something unpleasant, but I couldn’t remember.

“Jeff.” Shine whispered in my ear.

Her voice tickled. Her warm breath on my neck sent shivers down my spine.

“Hmm…?”

“You’re my family.”

I nodded, accepting her words without question. A small hand covered my eyes.

“Goodnight, Jeff.”

Faintly, I heard a commotion. A rustling sound.

“Girls, wake up!” A cheerful voice.

Bright light flooded my eyes. I covered my face with the blankets.

“Ooo…” I groaned softly.

The blankets were pulled away.

“Wake up, sleepyheads! Don’t you want breakfast?” Amy said.

Breakfast. I usually skipped it, but… I vaguely remembered going to the convenience store when I worked at the lab. The lab. Work.

“Oh!” I sat up abruptly. Then I froze. This wasn’t my room. Childish decorations. I looked around anxiously.

“Jeff.” Shine’s voice calmed me. That’s right. No more work. The lab had been attacked. But why was I here?

Static. The buzzing returned. My thoughts scattered. I sat there, dazed, until Amy pulled me out of bed.

I found myself in the bathroom, brushing my teeth beside Shine. My reflection stared back, dazed. Shine, identical to me, brushed diligently beside me.

I looked down at my pajamas. Cute cartoon characters. Frills. When did I put these on?

“Blech…” I spat out the toothpaste. I rinsed my mouth and splashed water on my face, drying it with a fluffy towel.

“Let’s go eat!” Amy said.

I nodded. I was hungry. I took Shine’s hand.

“Come on, Shine.”

She hesitated, a faint smile appearing on her usually expressionless face. Then she placed her small hand in mine. It was warm.

We walked out into the hallway in our pajamas, drawing stares.

“Amy. Babysitting duty?” someone asked.

“I wish,” she replied.

Other members of the terrorist group greeted Amy as we walked to the cafeteria.

Amy went to get our food, leaving Shine and me alone at the table.

“Shine…” I said.

“Yes?” She answered, her voice different, responsive.

The Shine I remembered was silent. She never responded, not to questions, not to greetings. But this was different.

“Something’s wrong.”

“What is it?”

My memories were jumbled. Shine’s face filled my mind.

“I…” I trailed off, my head throbbing. I craved coffee. No, cola.

After a simple breakfast, Amy took us back to the room. She sat us down and began questioning us.

“You said you don’t remember your address. Can you tell me your parents’ names?”

Wasn’t that a bit late? I looked at her, puzzled.

“Don’t you remember?” She misinterpreted my expression.

My parents’ names? I didn’t. I grew up in District 23.

“No.”

“Hmm…” Amy frowned, rubbing her forehead. “Shine?”

“I don’t know,” Shine said, shaking her head.

Amy asked a few more questions, then left.

Shine and I watched TV. There were some surprisingly good shows.

Shine started nodding off. I helped her onto the bed and sat back down to watch TV. This was fun.

“I…” I suddenly stood up and shook my head. I couldn’t waste time. I had to escape.

I scanned the room. No visible cameras. But I couldn’t be sure.

I glared at the suppressor on my wrist. If it wasn’t there, I could send a pulse of electricity through the room and detect any hidden cameras.

I checked on Shine, then grabbed a notebook and colored pencils from the desk and wrote a note:

I’ll be back soon.

So she wouldn’t worry when she woke up. The blank space on the page looked too empty. I started drawing. A pig that looked like Hebrum. The snacks we ate yesterday. Amy, too.

“Oh!” I didn’t have time for this.

I jumped up, tossing the pencils aside, and cautiously opened the door. It wasn’t locked. It swung open easily.

I peeked out. The hallway was busy.

Time for a solo expedition. I slipped out, keeping close to the wall, avoiding eye contact. It didn’t work. People still stared.

This unexplored territory was unsettling. I turned a corner and bumped into someone.

“Oof!” I fell, my small body hitting the floor. My bottom stung.

I looked up. Pink hair.

“Jeff?”

Amy.

My adventure was over. She led me back to the room.