The Inadequate Experiments, Sian Webster [whitelam books txt] 📗

to worry about aside from identifying the disease in those around you early, for your own safety.” The Scientist’s eyes scanned the crowd and I trained my gaze on the floor in order to avoid meeting her eyes. “Are there any questions?”

Soft murmurs travelled through the audience for quite some time, then;

“You said that the patients will be treated and hopefully cured.” A small voice said. “What happens to those who aren’t?”

I looked up in surprise to see Shaunee standing up towards the front of the crowd, fiddling with the Watch on her wrist as she waited for an answer to her question. Stacy sat beside Shaunee’s now empty seat, her face a mask of horror.

The Scientist froze on stage. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she took in Shaunee’s appearance, instantly recognising her as my mother’s daughter. Her eyes flicked over to me for a fraction of a second before falling on my younger sister once more. “Why, we keep treating them, of course.”

Shaunee seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, her shoulders relaxing.

“After all, what do Scientists do if they do not experiment? At the moment, we have one main method of treatment for Inequity, however, not all our patients can be cured in the same way – it all depends on the person, just like for any other disease. We are yet to find a secondary cure for those who can’t handle the initial treatment, but through further research and observation, it shall be found in no time.”

“So, uh, how does one actually get Inequity?” A voice asked from the edge of the room. “I know it’s contagious and all, but how did it come about? How does someone completely isolated from the disease manage to get it?”

I turned to look at the person who had asked the question. They stood beside my drama teacher, Mrs Skylard. They were significantly taller than her, though they also sounded significantly younger. But when I looked at them, it was as if I still needed glasses and wasn’t wearing them. The boy’s face blurred, his voice distorting as he responded to Dr Mangan’s answer to his question.

My ears started ringing, the air in the hall suddenly suffocating. Stars floated before my blurred vision. It wasn’t until Mr Banner appeared on stage and dismissed everyone to class that I could properly focus on my surroundings.

“You okay?” Oliver asked carefully, offering his hand to help me get up from my seat.

I forced a yawn, nodding. “Just tired.” I insisted.

Somehow, he seemed convinced.

“That was pretty intense,” Rose commented as we broke through to a less crowded part of the hallway, “who was that guy? He was almost having a full on debate with Dr Mangan!”

Beside me, Oliver stiffened.

I shrugged. “I have no idea,” I said, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen him before.”

“Well he’s certainly smart, that’s for sure. I don’t think he’s a student, though, he wasn’t wearing a uniform.”

“He’s a student teacher.”

The three of us stopped, turning to look at the two figures lounging in the stairwell beside us. I raised my eyebrows as I took in the girl’s shockingly red hair and cold eyes. Beside her was her Soul Mate, tall and pale with dark hair.

“Audrey.” I muttered.

“Yes, freak. Now come here, I need to talk to you without your buddies here.” The girl snapped.

I rolled my eyes. “Look, I’m not going anywhere. Just tell me what you want.”

Audrey’s gaze sharpened like a knife, and Alexander’s hand gripped her shoulder. She shrugged her Soul Mate off, prancing down the last few steps towards me. She leant in close, her mouth at my ear, her hair tickling my cheek.

“If I hear one word, one tiny rumour about what you saw at the Compound,” she whispered, “I promise you, Sera Grey, I will destroy you.”

She took a step away from me with a giggle, a fake smile plastered on her face. “I mean, we all have secrets, right?” She asked, her eyes bright.

I nodded stiffly.

“Yours are just more significant than everyone else’s, huh?” She smirked, her voice serious once more. “Inequity isn’t the only topic of rumours these days, you know. There’s mutters going around about something far more exciting. Scarier, even. One word from me could destroy whatever scrap of a reputation you have left.”

I narrowed my eyes. “And what word would that be?” I asked, calling her bluff.

Her smirk grew as she raised a single eyebrow, flicking her hair over her shoulder. “Untouchable.”

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Publication Date: 04-06-2015

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