Day 10

       The woman in red watched me for some seconds. "How can I help?"

I asked if I could please see Dr Gene. The woman shook her head. All I wanted was something, anything that could made me feel less lost. Gene was supposed to be the most intelligent person in the world. Why wasn't he there to answer all the questions I kept locked? Gene's secretary apologized again — said that there was an reunion going on in Dr Gene's office at the moment and it was of very importance. "...uff!", she puffed, looking disorientated, "Doctor Gene suddenly decided to invent meetings, one after the other! And meeting with a bunch of kids, I can tell you..."

"Kids?"

"Yes, kids! It started two days ago, when I (myself!) was ordered to call young Snowfields to a private meeting with him. There wasn't supposed to be any meetings this week; Gene left me out here taking care of the business he usually does and now he is locked up there with all those kids from Room 9. I am telling you: something is happening and they are keeping it from us, mortals..." The woman blinked a few times, waking up from what she was doing. "Oh, girl, you are also just a kid... forget what I said, sweetheart. Sorry about wasting your time. I'm a lil' stressed..."

"No, you definitively didn't waste my time. Thank you, bye!"

         "Wait! I have seen your picture somewhere... Angelina Firenze, am I right? Oh well look at me, forgetting things... it is the age for sure. Miss Firenze, your Capability Test is today. Your guardian must have talked about it before, make sure to attend Room 9 at 2pm. No delays!"

         
•••

Okay, number 1: Oliver was deeply concerned about something exactly two days ago (which was the last time I have seen him). Was his concern related to the meetings with Gene and the "kids" from Room 9? Was it related to Damon... and to Vince? I needed to figure out whether to show him the chain or keep to myself until things got explained.

Ugh... Number 2: Sir had obviously forgotten to mention those "Capability Tests". The thought of it wasn't leading me to curiosity, but to fear, as Room 9 reminded me of Oliver and Oliver reminded of all the fog around him and Doctor Gene and it was all a cycle.

           When my clock hit 2pm I was already in front of the Training Room. Again, the doors were huge, very huge, and I didn't like them. Knock knock.

•••

        "Okay, Lina! Let's do this!"

       "It's Angelina—"

       "Put your arms out, yes, like that."

       "But—"

       "Shh don't talk... Okay, do it."

       "Do what?"

       "Umm.. What is your power? I think I forgot... Wait your file was right here."

        Mrs Yon ended up being a total crazy woman. She was a lady about 60 years old; small, very small, like a child, and seemed to be too fragile to a woman her age. "Are you type fire?"

        "No, I..."

        "Levitation? Animal? Mind abilities?"

        "No; please let me—"

         "I can't find your file! Somebody landed it to me, wait."

         "Mrs Yon, I pardon me but don't you think I know what my own power is like?"

        "Jo?"

        "Jo, no. Angelina."

        "Hm?"

        "My name is Angelina not Jo"

         "Ohhh!" Mrs Yon pulled a bag out of her bag. She opened it and started to place little toys on the black carpet of Room 9's floor.

        Barbie.

        And William Gray.

        I widened my eyes so much it burned, and the palm of my hands started to sweat. "How could you.. Who gave you these?"

       "No one, Jo. I just thought you would be more comfortable with some familiar objects"

       Was that woman playing with me? "Mrs Yon, these toys, they are mine."

       She patted her thin chin with her hands full of little blue veins. "Hmm..." - She kept staring at a point on the ground for a few seconds. Then, as if she had finally remembered of her own existence, her wrists moved in a discreet way like the wings of a butterfly, making a video camera appear in her arms. "Yes! I had forgotten this in my office. Do what you can do, Maria, quickly!"

       I cleaned my hands on my thighs staring at Barbie. I wanted to do that as fast as possible to get ride of that woman; and without actually saying Barbie's name out loud. I wanted to do just like Oliver when he nodded and a wall of ice appeared to protect him from Damon, so I stared at Lego Barbie with all possible focus; but nothing happened.

       "Maybe it is not the eye connection, dear. The power might come from your thoughts."

       I sighed. Okay, time to call Barbie with the powers of my mind... should I run away now? I didn't want to be there with a woman who couldn't say my name correctly. She was crazy and was making me crazy! Barbie please help me out!Mrs Yon mumbled something, Barbie was in front of us exchanging a terrified look with me, but Mrs Yon interrupted before I could say a word. "Yay! Now the boy!" Her smile was broadly opened and it had a mad look on it. I cleaned my hands again, looking at Lego William. He was so small, so lovely. The toy I used to put under my pillow before sleeping. My eyes closed again and just opened after calling for him.

        William's body was tense as made of stone. His eyes wondered the place till meeting mine, and I don't know how they seemed to be more catching than the normal. The back of my head started to itch in a way I had once felt before.

       "Angelina? what's happening?!"

        "William?!.. I knew it... I knew we could do telepathy.."

        "BRILLIANT, MARINA!!"

         My brain hurt with the sudden break of connection with William. Mrs Yon, writing avidly on a document while recording all my movements with her camera, had her eyes glowing with excitement.

        "BRILLIANT! BRILLIANT!"

       "What exactly is brilliant, Mrs Yon?"

        "Your first CT.. never saw such a thing — Materialization, yes that's your kind." She grinned. "Advanced materialization. The same as mine."

        I bit the inside of my cheeks and turned my gaze to William again. But he was gone.

       "Your toys are at the laboratory to be studied. They might be freed in 3 days depending of what we find out."

        "What??"

        "You can go now, sweetheart."

        "I — I won't go without William and Barbie! Please!"

       "I just follow orders; and I promise they will be alright."