Chereads / Zenar 24 / Chapter 7 - The Party Pt 1

Chapter 7 - The Party Pt 1

I managed to go back to my room shortly after Ava's response. Ava seemed to sense that something was wrong and kept trying to cheer me up. Of course, it didn't really cheer me up. Now that I know the truth I don't think I should ever hang out with Ava again. In fact, I probably should have never even thought of meeting her again.

Ava was a Zenar. She lacks morals. Hell, even if she wasn't a Zenar, with her mindset I still should never visit or even think about her again!

Yet, she is still on my mind.

It was frustrating. I can't get that stupid girl out of my head. I know that this won't work but I have to try. I grabbed my phone and dialed up Sophie, one of my real friends.

After waiting a bit, the call was answered by a dark-skinned girl with violet-colored eyes. Sophie was surprised when she heard what Mye wanted to do. Mye was normally a very timid and shackled girl. With her dad and her uncle both being the way they are, especially her dad, Mye only rarely went to a proper party at a nightclub.

"Hey, Mye. Are you alright?"

I knew Sophie would catch on. She always did. I let out a sigh and wondered how much I should tell her. Probably little since Ava is a top-secret project and even if I was the daughter of the Duke, they will probably dispose of Sophie, which is something I don't want to happen.

"No...I really need a distraction."

"Well, this is a first. Going to a party because of your dad?"

"Not my dad."

"....Well this is a first! From who then?"

"....I made a new friend."

Sophie blinked four times, trying to understand what Mye had said. When she did Sophie let out a giggle.

"Wow! Good job there! I thought you'd never make a new friend."

"Oh shut it, Sophie."

"No! This is a big thing! We'd have to celebrate this regardless of the reason."

"Sophie, I'm not her friend anymore!"

"...."

"...."

"Did she try to use you?" Sophie asked, feeling down and disgust at the girl who would befriend Mye just because of her status.

"...No...She is..."

Sophie waited patiently, her anger growing when hearing how her friend was on the verge of crying.

"She's a mutant. An experiment."

"....So she's a mutant? I thought you had no prejudice against mutants?"

"No...no....She is a cute girl who is extremely naive and is pretty much a little kid."

"So what is wrong?"

"...."

Silence, then Mye's response.

"She's a killer...who has no morals. She says she is my friend but she doesn't see me as normal...She sees me as interesting prey that she didn't kill because I was interesting. She sees me as a toy, Sophie! I'm nothing to her but a toy to throw away when she gets bored with it!"

I was crying now but I didn't care. I had held my tears long enough. I was already a mess and what Ava had said finally tipped me over the edge.

"But the worst part is....is that I Can't Stop thinking about her!"

Sophie took in what Mye said in silence. A slow understanding hit her and Sophie let out a silent chuckle. Sophie wasn't mocking Mye. Sophie just laughs when she is nervous. In truth, she was shocked that Mye had managed to befriend a killer in the first place. But if what Mye was saying was the truth then the girl was wanted...and a serial killer, even if she was a mutant, on Humanity's Stronghold...well the result was clear. She would either be killed or captured very soon.

"So, do you want her to be sent to jail or killed? If so you can just ignore her. The guards will get her soon enough."

I let out a silent scream. Of course, I couldn't mention that Ava was a Zenar and not an escaped experiment but one who was still in captivity but could break out at any time. She would think I was insane! And of course, if I mention that Sophie would be in danger. But still, if Ava was to be exterminated tomorrow...would I want that?

No, I wouldn't want that.

"No, I don't want her to be harmed. But I'm scared of her."

"I got a question. Is her face known?"

"....No, there aren't any wanted posters."

It was true. Ava was Zenar 24, a top secret Zenar. No one is going to recognize her at the party. Though the party would probably be cut short because of the alarms that would come when they notice that she is gone.

"Then invite her."

"WHA-!?"

"Let her learn that friendship is something meant to last."

"No no no No! She's a killer. She kills people. Who knows what she'll do at the party."

Sophie let out a sigh. It was clear that Mye cares for this girl.

"Listen, if you want to settle things with her then bring her to the party. Just tell her not to kill anyone or else your friendship is over. If she does then you know that she never really cared about you. It may be a simple and harsh method...and yes, a dangerous one, but it is the best method. Just think about it. I gotta go shopping with my mom. See you at Sam Hunt's Palace tonight at nine!"

"....See you there, Sophie."

"....Think about what I said, Mye. I can tell you care about this girl a lot."

And with those parting words, Sophie hung up before I could say anything else. I let out a long sigh and sat down on my bed. If I do this, and Ava doesn't kill anyone...then does that mean she really values us as friends? Or does it just mean that she thinks being friends is interesting? Ack! I just want to know!

After pondering it a bit longer I came to the realization that it would be impossible for Ava to even come to the party in the first place. As soon as she did, even undercover, the Zenar alarm would go off and the party would end. I guess I'm going to the party without her then.

....

I was watching Zenar 24 try to use the "magic" device again when one of the researchers handed me the lab phone. I put it up to my ear and was surprised by the caller.

"Hello Doctor Pallapine."

I bolted up out of my chair.

"M-Mrs. P-President. I didn't expect you to be calling so suddenly. What can I do you for?"

In the room, Ava froze and sat up, on alert. She started to look around until she settled in on us. I quickly signaled to have the shutters shut and the noise-canceling machine to turn on. I forgot for a moment that if what Ava claims is true then she should remember what her father's voice sounds like.

"I am giving you permission to allow Ava to mingle outside with Karma Mye Destin. I think you should know what to do tonight."

With that, the phone call ended as abruptly as it started. I let out a sigh, trying to understand the President's reasoning. Maybe Ava is his real daughter? Who knows? What I do know is what he means.

I intercepted a call earlier today about Mye's issue and the party she was going to tonight. Mye probably thought that Ava couldn't come since the Zenar alarm would sound. Now, for better or worse, the Zenar alarm won't go off when Ava leaves her room.

This could either be a good thing or a disaster. I could only hope that Ava actually cared about Mye as much as I thought and could ignore her killer instincts for at least a night.

Of course, there was still the matter of hunger. I pressed a button for food to be sent to Ava's chambers and opened the shutters. Ava was still looking at the glass but she seems more relaxed. That's good, cause I don't think Ava would let the glass repairman go until he taught her how to use the device she took from him last time.

....

"MYE! You Came!"

Sophie ran up and hugged me. Standing behind her were Bretta and Dill. Bretta was a blond hair guru with white skin instead of tanned and a black studded choker. Dill was a lazy yet smart guy who towered over me by almost two feet. He wore a heavy black sweatshirt with a blue check in the middle. He has frosty blue eyes and shaggy black hair.

"So, where's your friend?" Sophie whispered in my ear. I shook my head and she frowned.

"Not coming."

Sophie signaled to the others and Bretta seemed visible down while Dill just shrugged. I had both told them my problem earlier when we were all video calling on a time to come here.

For some reason I found myself wishing that I had thought of a way to bring Ava here. I quickly shook my head. Why am I still thinking of her?

"Well let's get inside and start dance'in!" Bretta nearly yelled, taking Dill and me by the hand and dragging us in. The bouncer took on look at us and our age before nodding and stepping aside. Tonight was a special night for students and teens to party. No adults allowed unless they have a high rank or special permisson.

I briefly wondered if this included mutants too and found myself worrying that Ava won't be able to join the party. I then shook my head, causing Sophie and Bretta to give me a worried look. Dill was at the snack table getting us each a drink. He knows what we prefer.

"You kay, Mye?" Bretta asked, grabbing my hand. I shook my head as I realized that I was doing more harm than good worrying about Ava. I just need to relax and party.

"Yeah, I'm good now."

Dill came back with drinks and Sophie picked a table in the corner next to a door that leads to a back alley. Despite the outside being white halls, there are some hallways that are like alleyways, being dirty and dark. I've only read stories and saw pictures of what alleyways are like in the outside world and I've got to say that they were pretty similar, if not less creepy to the ones we have here.

After we settled down we started talking and telling jokes and stories. I learned from Dil that parties don't have flashing red lights since the lights hide Zenar's eyes. Apparently, a lot of deaths happened when parties were occurring, the flashes of red light hiding the Zenars. It was illegal now to ever have a red flashing light at any party.

The mention of Zenars reminded me of Ava. My smile wavered. I need to distract myself more. I looked up at Bretta and was about to tell her a joke when I noticed a familiar shape perched on the rim of a vent, looking around. I stiffened and blinked. When I looked again Ava was gone, the vent still open but empty.

I must be hallucinating or something.

I flinched when I felt my phone ringing. I took it out and stood up.

"I need to take this. I'll be right back."

Sophie, Dill, and Bretta nodded. I went out the alley door. It closed behind me with a thump, making me flinch again and nearly drop my phone. I answered it and gave a cheery hello to my personal maid.

She was worried about me. I left a note telling her where I was going but since she came back to my room late since she was in a meeting she didn't see it until now. After telling her that I'm fine and that nothing bad is going to happen, she seemed to let off and calm down and tell me to enjoy myself and call her if I get into trouble. I promised her that I would.

After I hung up I let out a sigh. I was about to go back inside when I heard a familiar voice.

"Why were there so many shapes? And what were they doing?"

"That is called dancing, Zenar 24. Now, remember, you are not allowed to kill anyone or expose yourself as a Zenar."

"....How am I suppose to not expose myself again?"

"By keeping the cloak on, the sunglasses on, your arm spikes down, your shoes on, and keeping your tail's mouth closed. Got it?"

"Alright! I got it! Oh yeah, I also smelled Mye in there, though I couldn't find her."

"Well, it is up to you or not if you want to approach Mye. Just don't kill anyone and try your best to not harm anyone either. I'll be waiting nearby in case anything happens."

"Alrighty!"

I turned the corner and saw Doctor Pallapine standing in front of a black limo, positioned around a corner so it would be out of sight to anyone except for people in the alleyway. Standing in front of him though was the biggest surprise. She wore a dirty tan/brown colored cloak with a hood covering her horns and spines. She wore grey rain boots which covered her black scaled-looking clawed and odd feet and sunglasses which didn't cover the glow of her eyes well and her tail which was shorter than normal. Her hand was covered by rain gloves and the black spikes on her arms were no more, instead replaced by what looked like black coating her arms and stopping after reaching her elbows. An armband saying twenty-four in red was over her Zenar-24 tatoo. She definitely looked different but I still recognized her.

"Ava?"