Bjorn had to keep the smile from slipping further up his cheeks. Arkdone noticed his companion’s excitement, appreciated the effort to squelch it. Appearances were important, after all.
“The idea is to force each candidate to experience horrific torture over extended periods. Usually three years was the norm, but some minds would split more quickly. Others took longer. After years of working and perfecting the techniques, I am confident in my three-year mark.” The Senator was walking with his hands clasped casually behind his back as though discussing the weather and not the torture of children. “Any candidate who broke well before or well after the three-year mark undoubtedly would have issues, and would need to become part of the training for the others.”
Dr. Bjorn nodded in response. Inside his stomach was turning flips with interest.
“May I ask why you’re telling me these, well…what I would assume are trade secrets?”
“Why do you hope I’m telling you?”
Dr. Bjorn wasn’t one to blush, but if he were, his face would be crimson now.
“I am very interested in your work here, Senator. Maybe I could be of some small service as a resident doctor?”
A wide smile tugged at the perfectly tanned corners of Senator Arkdone’s face.
“I think your skill set would be a perfect fit for our work at the hospital.”
Bjorn had to restrain himself from giggling like a little girl he was so excited at the idea of getting his gnawed, bloody hands dirty with the lovely atrocities that took place inside those walls.
Chapter 31 Captain Ketchup
“So let me get this straight. You remember everything.”
“We’ve had this discussion before, Farrow.” Alik grinned mischievously.
“I know we’ve talked about your photographic memory.”
“Eidetic.”
“You did what?”
“No, I prefer the term ‘eidetic memory’ rather than photographic.”
“Isn’t it the same thing?”
“Since eidetic memory tends to happen only in some children with autism, scientists believe it has to do with cognitive processing. It just seems like a more accurate term when I think about remembering.”
Alik leaned back in the orange plastic booth they’d chosen for its proximity to the door. Danny was curled up on his blue Sleeper Sleeve on the booth beside Alik. To help the little guy rest, Alik kept one large, warm hand on his back, rubbing just enough to keep him feeling safe.
With his free hand, he rubbed his eyes. When he dropped his hand, Farrow was studying his face. “You look pale.”
“Well, there hasn’t been a whole lot of time for tanning.”
“I’m serious, Alik. Do you feel well?”
Alik dropped his voice to just above a whisper. “I’m a metahuman. I don’t get sick, unless you’ve shot me with a dart full of malaria?” He winked adorably so the immediate hurt that danced across Farrow’s face would disappear.
Her cool hand reached over the table full of empty food baskets on his side and a soda on hers. She felt his forehead with her wrist.
“You’re burning up, Alik!”
“Are you saying I’m hot?” he grinned, but his head tipped back to completely rest against the wall behind him.
“I’m saying you’re sick.” Farrow whipped out her cell phone.
“Who are you calling?”
“Dr. Andrews? Alik’s sick. He’s pale and running a fever.”
“You called my step-dad on me?”
“Yes, sir. I’ll have him waiting at the front. Ten minutes, got it.” Farrow touched the screen ending the call.
“Did you just call him your step-dad?”
“He may as well be.” Alik shrugged sloppily.
“Don’t let your mom hear you say that.”
“You know, Farrow I’m really not feeling all that great.” Alik felt the room spin. He moved to lay his head down on the table in front of him and landed face first in a half-eaten pile of ketchup but didn’t seem to notice or care.
“I’ll just close my eyes for a few minutes. Watch Danny for me, okay?”
“Oh, Lord,” Farrow looked at the mess that was Alik Winter and resisted the urge to perform an epic face palm. Instead, she turned around and found a folded wheelchair tucked in the corner of the hospital’s modest cafeteria. She had it open and Alik sitting in it within seconds. He had come to just enough to help get himself from the booth into the chair. Once seated, his head fell forward, dripping ketchup glops onto his blue T-shirt. Farrow grabbed a handful of napkins and dipped them into Alik’s water glass to wet them sufficiently. Even with the ice cold wet naps cleaning globs of red goop off his face, he didn’t rouse.
Now, how am I going to manage to hold a baby and wheel Captain Ketchup down the hall? She thought, trying to use humor with herself to stay calm.
She sat in Alik’s spot and rubbed Danny’s back trying to wake him gently. It didn’t take much. One touch and the little boy was sitting upright clinging to his blue pillow and staring at her wide-eyed.
“It’s okay Danny,” Farrow cooed softly.