For the first time ever, I was keeping a secret from my best friend Sammy. I had no other choice. The fear of losing her to the claws of this institute kept me awake. Sammy felt like I was being distant and I was forgetting about her in the sadness of losing Daisy but it was quite the contrary. I never wanted to have to forget Sammy. Losing her would kill me inside out. I had to keep her out of loop in order to keep her safe.
The next morning in class, I sat next to her in silence. Fighting a battle within me to make sure I don't spill the beans, I decided to focus on studies. Lila wasn't at class today. I was afraid to admit that my poking questions had led to her disappearance. I couldn't live with myself and I had no other option left. I sent Sammy to check up on Lila.
The room Lila lived in was barricaded with a wooden cross. On further investigation, we found out that Lila had been 'inspired' by her old roommate Daisy and decided to join her. The news of her disappearance crushed my heart. I didn't know her but I owed her everything. I knew that the only way to save Sammy was to stop talking to her for a while. It was the toughest decision I had ever made.
Lila's replacement was here in no time. Worse than Arnold, stood before me Seth. The institute was working its best to ensure no one speaks of the disappearances. Even though I was avoiding Sammy, she had made it her sole purpose in life to find out what was going on. In her heart, she felt that helping me find Daisy would make me speak to her again. The silent war between us was starting to affect me mentally and physically.
I had fallen sick and was forced to take a sick leave. The next morning when I entered class, not seeing Sammy at her regular seat made my heart jump out of my body. I was just about to cry when I saw her sitting in a different seat. I knew she was doing this because she was immensely hurt. Seeing her cry in a corner made me feel like the very monster I was trying to avoid becoming. I had to let her know that this was all being done to save her but knowing Sammy, she would never let me go through with this. We would pass by each other without saying a word. We would catch looks of each other when we knew the other might not be watching. Sometimes, there was an accidental eye contact and we would immediately avert our eyes. It was difficult being away from someone you cared so deeply for. Henry's words served as a reminder to stay strong. I just hoped Sammy let this whole thing go so that she was safe, always right in front of me.
The battle between finding out the truth and staying away from it was killing me. I had to go enroute a secret mission in order to keep Sammy safe while finding Daisy and Lila at the same time. Maybe they were all together; Daisy, Lila, Anna, Leslie and whoever else that was taken. Maybe they were being made to work somewhere.
I decided to list every thing that was common between Daisy and Leslie to figure out why the victims were being taken in the first place. I snuck into Henry's room and asked him for Anna's picture. He took out the locket hidden under his shirt and showed me his beautiful Anna. She was divine, just like Daisy. Her hair covered her smile. Her eyes were squinted in laughter and her dimples shined like diamonds. Her skin looked soft and glistening. "Maybe they are being taken for being too pretty. Maybe the warden is jealous because she could never beat them." Henry was wrong. This had to be the work of someone in power. Warden alone could not have pulled such an elaborate stunt. I believed she was a pawn, just like the rest of us. She was being forced to hide the truth in order to keep herself safe. A woman always protects herself. I believe she was doing the same.
Sammy was keeping an eye on me from afar. She wanted to get to the end of this. How was I supposed to tell my best friend that I can never speak to her if I want her to stay alive. She was digging herself into a deep hole and I had no option but to tell her everything. She hugged me tight. Her eyes would not stop crying. Her body would not stop shaking. "Neil, in order to save me, you nearly killed me. I was so alone. I had no one, nobody at all. I thought you were being like this because of Daisy. I was so mad at you for so long. You care so much about me. I love you so much. You are right. We need to get to the bottom of this. I know it is a risk to get involved, especially for me, but we are in this together, like we have always been. I can't imagine what you must be going through.
Losing Daisy and Lila came as the greatest shock. What of their parents? How were they made to disappear as well? I have so many questions unsolved. How could you ever think I would let this go? As much as you, I have to bring this institute's cruelty out in the open. I have to show the world that renowned institutes like this are actually a sham. I wonder what those poor girls might be going through. Especially Anna and Leslie, as they have been gone for so long. It would be selfish to only think of oneself and sacrifice the ones that were already taken. I could never do that to them. It is time we united again and investigated into this together. Don't worry, as long as I have you, nothing will happen to me."
Sammy had found a way to convince me but the conniving fear at the back of my throat was constantly asking me to save her from all of this.