“Floor four is for research and development. Three is the cafeteria, exercise facility, and childcare rooms. The second and ground floor are where our training happens, depending on your skill set.”
The elevator stopped and let out a ding before the doors opened. Right away, I noticed the scent of cooked meat and something sweet like maple. My stomach came to life, grumbling, reminding me that I hadn’t eaten yet today.
“You hungry?” Dr. Winston asked—I was having a hard time associating this man with my father—“I thought we’d grab something to eat before we continued. I could use a cup of tea.”
Well, there was one thing that hadn’t changed. My dad never went without a mug of tea morning, noon, and night. “I could eat.”
He nodded. “Good. Then afterwards, we’ll stop by the lab and see your mom. She’s been dying to see you.”
We walked through a set of double doors, and the scent of food grew stronger along with the sound of voices. Clean square tables filled a rather normal-looking cafeteria. Most of the seats were occupied, and unless I’d become paranoid, everyone stopped and stared. Great. I loved being the circus monkey on display.
My cheeks flushed.
We went through the buffet line, and the chatter in the room kicked back up. I exhaled, piling my plate with more food than I could eat. It felt like a century since I’d had eggs and something similar to bacon. Well, it had been a century, technically.
At all times I was sandwiched between the two guards, just in case I decided to get adventurous and make a run for it. However, I was too enthralled with the food on my plate to make the effort. We found an empty table and filled the seats.
Holy mother … my eyes closed in pure delight. I devoured my food quickly not just because of my hunger pangs, but also because then I didn’t have to engage in conversation. Although I had a million more questions, there was an awkwardness between my father and me.
After I finished the last bite, and put my fork down on the cleared plate, I realized I would have to sit here while everyone else finished their food. Gah.
I took a moment to look around the room, to see the faces of the people within the Institute. The changes in their outward appearance still came as a shock to me. The toxic mist had definitely done a bang up job of altering the human species—most of us at least. Not everyone looked as if they were dressed for a Halloween party, but plenty of them would never have to shop for a costume again.
My father noticed my wandering gaze. “How much do you know of the apocalypse?”
Great, I could sense a lecture coming on. My father liked to talk. I swore he loved the sound of his own voice. Folding my hands in my lap, I sat back and prepared myself. “Just bits and pieces. I know it was a toxic mist that swept through the world, transforming everything in its path.”
He nodded, forking the eggs on his plate. “The day of the apocalypse, the stars and the moon aligned, but the universe had nothing to do with the end of the world. It was a man who destroyed earth and everything on it, altering the world in ways we could never imagine—including humans.”
“I more or less got that part already. Those who didn’t make it fast enough inside the safe houses were affected by the mist. The longer the exposure, the greater the mutation.”
“Yes,” he agreed.
“I’ve seen Monroe, or I should say Ember. Her cells were altered like mine. What about you and Mom? Did either of you have symptoms?” I asked.
He swallowed. “I’m glad you brought that up. I am very interested in what you can do. There were rumors about the girl Dash traveled with. Little did we know at the time that it was you. I’ve heard you have extraordinary gifts.”
He’d completely dodged my question and circled the conversation back to me—not to mention, to a topic I wasn’t precisely comfortable talking to him about yet. Dash had warned me that the Institute would love to get their hands on me. Well, they had me now. What did that mean for my future?
I shrugged. The less I revealed, the better, until I understood the full ramifications. “I don’t really know. I haven’t had the chance to learn how to control it. Obviously, my eyes have changed.”
The lines on my father’s forehead relaxed. “They are very unique. Then again, unique is the new norm here in the Heights. And don’t worry, you’ll be able to discover how to harness your abilities here. It is part of what we do at the Institute. We have a division that helps the Gifted understand and maximize the changes in their genetic makeup.”
He made it all sound so welcoming, like a community, but I couldn’t help having reservations. I wanted to see it for myself. And I got the chance to.
After lunch, Dr. Winston and the two guards continued their tour of the facility.
Floor four housed the medical and research divisions. White walls. Cabinets. Large glass windows. And more closed doors. We walked into one of the rooms without knocking.
“This is the sector of the Institute that has been studying the altered DNA. Your mother oversees this division.”
No surprise. My mom had been a geneticist before the mist. “Is she here?” No sooner had I asked the question, than a figure with red hair much like mine glided into the room. Strands of gold wove throughout it, but not an ounce of gray that I could see. The woman wore a familiar white lab coat that flowed with her movements, and when her vibrant blue eyes met mine, they went wide.
I gasped. Tears gathered in the woman’s eyes as she caught sight of me standing just inside the room beside my father. “Mom?” I whispered.
“Oh, Charlotte.” She engulfed me in a hug and kissed my temple, surrounding me in a sweet scent that defied description but I had always associated with her. “I can’t believe it. Both my girls found and safe.”
My arms slowly came up to wrap around her. I didn’t know what my problem was. I should have been overjoyed. This was what I had wanted since I opened my eyes, and yet, I couldn’t muster up emotions of excitement or happiness. Really, I shouldn’t have to try. They should have been there… but they weren’t.
She pulled back and framed my face with her cool hands. “Look at those eyes.”
I blinked. “Wild, right?”
She tucked my hair behind both my ears. “I think they are beautiful. They suit you.”
“Thanks.”
“I’m so sorry we weren’t there when you woke. I can’t imagine how terrified you must have been.”
My lips lifted in a sheepish grin. “It’s okay, really. I got lucky. I had someone who helped.”
Mom’s expression went flat. “Dash,” she supplied.
Was he going to be a constant touchy subject around here? “He saved me.”
A haunted look entered her eyes. “He violated protocol, Charlotte. If he had left you, we would have found you sooner. And you wouldn’t have had to survive in the Heights on your own.”
There was that. The very last thing I wanted to do was argue with my mom, so I let it go, keeping silent.
A man stepped into the room from somewhere behind my mother carrying a tray. My eyes went straight to the sharp-tipped needle he held.
“This is Dr. Marks,” Mom introduced him.