*3ºperson POV*
"Victor, I need to speak to you. Now."
Olivia has been pacing left to right outside the oak doors leading to the leader's office, too nervous to even knock. Her tablet was fidgeting between her hands, showing the shocking results that she had shared with Katherine just moments before. After an impulse of bravery, she knocked, got inside the marble lounge, and softly uttered;
"You haven´t called me by my first name in a while... Go ahead then! What's the matter at this late hour?"- Victor sat behind his large desk. In all the years he had known Olivia, he had rarely ever seen her this visibly tense, considering her firm and professional manner. Not to mention her outstanding way of strongly carrying herself. However, he didn´t let that affect him just yet and kept up his calm and kind composture.
"Bianca's results came in later today, I… I think you should see this."-She quickly handed him the tablet and sat down on an armchair, dramatically massaging her forehead. After a couple of minutes, Victor's face finally changed, showing a deep frown.
"Have you shown them to anyone yet?"-He asked, his gaze fixed on the bright screen.
"Yes, I showed it to Katherine. She's working on a neurological project related to it. She was astounded but offered to analyze it further to try and-… "-The instructor rambled but was abruptly cut off.
"Show it to Bianca tomorrow, but don´t mention any abnormality. Tell her to meet me at the end of this week."
"I'm sorry to object sir but shouldn´t we get a broader background on this? I feel like we shouldn´t tell her something that isn´t true or dismiss it, lying to her so early on..."
"Don´t worry Miss Jacques, I have everything under control."- He simply said, leaving her without a chance to further dispute.
"I'll do as you say, sir. Have a good night."
And with that, she left, feeling completely impotent. She wasn't sure what Victor knew about that girl and why he was hiding it from her. It all gave her a bad gut feeling, which she always trusts.
. . .
The brisk sound of the tides woke me up, interrupting a dream that seemed so real, so palpable. Although, after a few seconds, all I could remember were instants, like bright flashbacks, of being in the isolation room, followed by Roman's cold-hearted gaze.
Roman. I hadn´t thought about him since that last nightmare. Could he still be looking for me? I didn´t want to know the answer to that question, but it was inevitable for it to pop up in my mind. I get up and sit at the edge of the bed, taking a moment to look at my bruised hands, which were healed, but with visible scars. I suppose no one has asked me about them because they think I bruised them going through the forest. It couldn´t be further from the truth, but that wasn´t something I would be confessing to anyone anytime soon.
My eyes go directly to my nightstand, reaching for the first drawer. I open it all the way until it comes out. Then, I reach under the back piece of the comforter and pull out the notebook. His notebook. I was able to sneak it in and hide here when I transferred rooms. I have not read it yet, but I will not ask about its existence until I have the courage to open it beyond the cover. I made myself promise that, for my own sake. I hold it in my hands and stare at it for a moment, before putting it back where it was. I would read it another time, I convince myself.
The apartment seems quieter than usual. I enter the living room, there's no sign of my roommate. I go to the kitchen counter and see a flashy note that reads;
Hey B,
I went to work early, got a ton of stuff to do! But we'll still have dinner tonight :) Good luck with Liv today!
Love, Kat
The message instantly reminded me of last night. Kat had acted very strangely when she got back from her sudden call. She told me it was just work-related but I could see it in her eyes; it was something else. Despite that, I trusted her and made no big deal out of it. After reading the note once more, I made myself some breakfast and headed out the door to meet with Olivia. She'll be showing me my test results today and I was feeling nervous, the kind of nervous that makes your stomach fizzle.
. . .
My instructor was sitting at her office desk when I entered timidly. She looked the same as always, except for a pair of prominent dark circles below her eyes. I suppose everyone here has a lot of work to do and too little time to sleep.
"Alright Bianca, I'll keep this fairly brief. Your results were pretty standard regarding the physical tests so if you'd like to train in that area you'll have to put in the work. On the other hand, your mental tests were better than average. You showed great cognitive skills and critical thinking, which will help you greatly in any area of study. Moreover, you possess an impressive knowledge of ancient and classical history and literature. The area you decide to study and work on is totally up to you, but I personally recommend you focus on the field of classical languages and culture. This would make you spend a lot of time in the main library, which I know you'll enjoy. What do you think?"-She speaks at a fast pace, looking at me with a neutral expression.
"Umm, I don´t really know what to do yet. Could I have some time to think about it?"-I say anxiously. She softens her look and nods, also indicating that I could leave.
"One more thing, Mr. Atlas is free and would like to see you at the end of this week. I'll warn you of the precise time. Have a good day."-She adds, I awkwardly nod and close the door. I stand outside for a moment, realizing I still had a lot to reflect on. Plus, I would be seeing Victor again, which only raised more questions to ponder upon.
I decided to go to the library for the rest of the day, just to see if I could find something interesting to read and relax. I would talk about the results with Kat, hopefully, she could give me some advice…
However, something would happen that evening that would show me both the rose of Atlas and the spines around it. Growing wildly.