I crept through the hallway quietly. I was cladded in Amara's cloths, my hair tied up in a bun, her glasses perched on my nose and her ID pinned to my shirt.
I kept my head down the whole time because someone could easily notice I'm not her, we don't even look alike in anyway, but her clothes helped me blend in a little.
I just had to find Ma's room.
I took the elevator to the top door as she instructed. I made sure no one was in sight as I walked into the well lit hallway, there were just three doors one on the right and two on the left side. Then walking straight would lead to something like a storage room.
"She's usually at the lab till late in the night"
Amara's voice still echoed in my head.
When I asked for her help, I never expected her to agree. I just had to convince her that I meant no harm and that I really needed to see Ma, that seeing her would help with the antidote.
"The antidote is meant to be tested on you"
"I know, but I have a very sick feeling about this one, just like every other tested ones, this one is going to kill me"
I heard footsteps behind me. I froze. I stood still until I heard the ding of the elevator.
One of these doors would lead me to Ma, but Amara couldn't tell me exactly which one so I had to check all of them.
I moved toward the only door on my right and tried to push it open but it was locked. I walked towards the first door on the left, same story, it was locked.
The last door was the next resort, I pushed on it, it had the same fate as the rest. I gave up and leaned heavily against it.
I shut my eyes for a while and tried to think, I still couldn't use my powers. The pin did not work and Amara said there was only one key that could open it and It was with the boss.
I was still leaning on the door, thinking of where else to go when I suddenly heard a loud click and I was falling through an open door.
I heard a loud gasp from whoever stood above me.
With a not so subtle grunt, I slowly got up from the floor, my eyes slowly trailing a pair of black flats, black trousers, white T-shirt with K-TECH designed on it in black letters, white skin, chapped red lips and finally a pair of light brown eyes with dark red hair framing a face still screwed up in shocked.
We stood looking at each other, my heart pounding heavily in my ribs. What if she screams and attracts attention?
She was breathing heavily and her voice was barely audible when she asked
"You are her, the girl in the picture"
She said with a breathy voice.
"Excuse me?"
It was my turn now to look shocked.
She pulled me swiftly into the room as footsteps echoed down the hall way.
She shut the door and leaned against it, her hand on her chest.
I gave her a time to calm down while also trying to steady my racing heart.
For seconds, no one said anything.
She started pacing around the room, muttering words to herself.
She suddenly stopped in front of me.
"Are you the mutant they brought in?"
"Ummm..."
I didn't know how to answer that question. Saying yes would obviously land me in trouble.
"I can see the collar around your neck"
I rolled my eyes and nodded in the affirmative
"Please don't turn me in..."
I started ranting placing my palms together.
"I'm not going to turn you in, it's a good thing you escaped, tomorrow would have been the end of your life"
I looked at her wide eyed.
"What..do..you mean?"
I stuttered
"You see, your mum and I..."
"You know my Mum?"
My heart skipped, I had to place a hand on it to steady it.
"Yes. She has a picture of you. But you look older and slightly different, but you still have her hair and eyes"
I took the glasses off my eyes as I felt the sting of tears.
"We purposely made this antidote like the last one. You see, there's this document we need, your mum believes it will prompt her to make the perfect antidote with the cure"
"How?"
"It's a really long story but our boss has that document and she's not willing to release it"
"So how will killing a mutant bring out the document?"
"Your Ma believes it would make Miss Katherine feel guilty and release the document...something like that. But that woman is too evil to feel any atom of guilt"
Miss Katherine was actually the one who kidnapped Ma? I thought they were best friends. Obviously the world wins again.
"Where is she now?"
I asked sitting down on the only chair in the room.
"She's at the Lab. You can wait for her here, I was heading to the lab before this happened"
"I'm sorry for scaring you"
I apologized looking down at my shoes.
"It's fine, I'm glad you were able to escape and that fate brought you to my doorstep. I'm Cathy"
"Keturah"
I looked up at her and smiled, she smiled back
"I've got to go now, make yourself comfortable, there's snacks in the fridge...you eat food right?"
"We are human beings too"
I replied with an eye roll.
"Oh right, sorry for that. Make yourself comfortable"
Before she stepped out, I just had to ask
"What are you guys doing so late in the lab, when there's no antidote to work on?"
She sighed then looked me in the eye
"We are planning your possible death"
=========
Cathy looked unusually happy , she was bouncing from one leg to the other like a kid who just got a new toy for christmas and couldn't wait to play with it.
I tried to meet her eyes as Kate droned on and on about what to do and how to handle the situation if the mutant ended up dead.
Amara was particularly absent today and she was always in every meeting to take down notes and always make sure snacks were handy.
Something was definitely off today.
The meeting ended few minutes after twelve AM. I was ready to have a hot shower and go to bed but Cathy definitely had other plans as she made a beeline for me.
"Don't move"
She ordered.
"Find Amanda and bring her to me. I don't pay her to be absent whenever she feels like" I heard Kate telling her PA.
We sat down until everyone left and it was just us in the room.
"What is it? If it's not about the document then I really should go to bed"
She rolled her eyes and smiled brightly at me
"It's even better"
I looked at her for a while then leaned closer
"What is it?"
She kept smiling not saying anything, I was losing my last thread of patience.
"What is it Cathy? I'm not..."
"I found your Daughter"