Extraordinary Mistakes

Rachel arrives at a bar near their place, walks in, and everyone recognizes her. There’s a band playing and even the singer smiles at her. She needs to get her head off the past couple of weeks. She approaches the bartender, and a drink is given to her. A woman nearby smiles, and Rachel smiles back.

Ánh calls her and she steps outside to answer. Abigail needs help, her help, once again. Rachel closes her eyes, takes several deep breaths, relaxes her shoulders and in less than ten minutes, meets her.

“Can’t stay away from trouble. Unfortunately for me.”

“Trust me, I didn’t want to see you again, either. Even prayed that you wouldn’t show up when I asked for help.”

Abigail crosses her arms and Rachel stands in a distance.

“Don’t be angry at Ánh for helping me.”

Rachel laughs shyly, trying not to attract any attention.

“Ánh didn’t do anything behind my back. Our searches for this secret lab were going nowhere. This can be nothing, or it can lead us to find out more. Alex and Diego tracked him while you were too busy. It was a team effort.”

“I’m sorry if I had to work!” Abigail scoffs. “Ok, good, then I don’t have to apologize. What’s the plan?”

Rachel opens the trunk of her car and takes out an expensive camera with a lens.

“Are you going sightseeing?”

“I’ll find a spot to see what’s happening in there.”

“That’s it?” Abigail’s eyes widen and she smacks her tongue. “You’re just going to take photos.”

“What do you expect me to do, exactly?”

“Storm in there... literally... if you want.”

“I can’t do that, Parker. I have no idea what expects me there. Also, there isn’t anyone to save. You said it yourself. It’s just bodies. If I see anything different, then I’ll do something about it. Right now, the plan is for me to go there and take photos.”

Rachel closes her eyes and takes several deep breaths.

“Park near the Benjamin Franklin bridge. I’ll meet you there. If I don’t show up in, let’s say, two hours... go home.”

“No! You came here to help me. I won’t just leave you.” Abigail’s voice breaks.

“I came to find out more about them. Parker, I’ll only go there if we have this much clear. I can deal with the dangerous of the situation, but it’ll be harder for me, if I’m concerned about your safety. Who knows if there’s anyone else is around?”

“Shouldn’t you call the Angel...” Abigail clears her throat, “... Megan Grant? Safety in numbers and all.”

Megan would be a liability. Rachel has a feeling that she is about to watch something unpleasing. But to Megan, it could be triggering.

“No need. I’ll deal with it myself. Most powerful deviant and all, remember?”

Abigail protests a bit longer, but eventually gives up and drives off.

Rachel slowly approaches the building, trying to understand which is the best viewpoint. She goes around, climbs a ladder, and finds the perfect spot.

There’s no limit to your evilness.

One hour later, she parks her car near Abigail’s, puts on a blonde wig and some hoodie. They sit on a bench by the river, people walk by peacefully, some for a late-night jog, others simply enjoy each other’s company on the wonderful weather. Live bands playing in the nearby bars can be heard.

“What happened? Did you take photos? Went in there? Have they hurt you?!” Abigail keeps bombarding Rachel with questions after seeing her face.

The girl’s stare is blank, and her sarcastic tone is nowhere to be found.

“I took photos. That was it. Just some photos.” Rachel’s eyes fill with tears, and she curls her fists. “Should’ve done more. But I can’t just be reckless.” Her face drops to her knees. “Too many people depend on me. Not 119, though,” she laughs.

“Rachel...”

“I can’t just get into a building and shoot fire and ice. What was the expression you used?”

“Storm.”

“Right. That too. I just can’t. I wish I did there.”

“What happened?” Abigail puts her hand on Rachel’s head and quickly takes it out.

“They were about 20. They had the weapons from the massacre on the Institute. And you were right. Bodies. If I had to guess, because of the damage the bullets did to them... deviants. They put them on this harness, with this sort of electronic device; it moved the body around. Played some drinking games and betted. Whoever failed the shot had to drink. They laughed through it all.” Tears pour down on Rachel’s face. “The deviants were nothing to them.”

“Thomas, can we talk?” Saif knocks on his office.

“Sorry, Saif. I’m too swamped now. New testing of weapons tomorrow morning!”

“It’s important.” He closes the door. “The strategy department found some disturbing footage. Some of our employees have taken during this week weapons. Have you authorized it?”

“No, they probably took them to practice at home. Get better.”

“That’s against the rules.”

“Of course, I’ll take care of it. Thank you.”

“The morgue was supposed to burn the remains of our specimens early today. When the mortician arrived, the bodies were gone. Edward wants me to lead a team to bring the bodies and the weapons back. We have located several of the employees’ phones in the same place. I’ve postponed it the best that I could, but we are heading there in thirty minutes. You should go there first.”

“Why?”

“Because I have orders to terminate the employees. No matter their rank. Even Edward’s advisor is there.”

“That’s unfortunate.”

“Your son is there, Thomas. Get him out without drawing attention.”

Thomas gets there right away. Calls his son and tells him to come outside. Joshua replies that he isn’t home and Thomas tells him he knows exactly where he is.

As soon as the boy steps outside, Thomas grabs him and drags him to the car, drives away for a bit, but close enough that they could see the building.

The boy protests and Thomas just turns off the light and waits. Less than ten minutes later, an entire team shows up armed.

“What will they do to them?” Joshua’s lips tremble.

“The protocol is to have them die peacefully, then they’ll stage their bodies. Suicide, a robbery, gas leak... Laurence has a wild imagination.”

“We... were just practicing.”

“You have alcohol in your breath, your pupils are heightened. Several one-hundred-dollar bills on your left pocket. All put together-”

“Enough with this display of your stupid ability! We played a game, whoever hit more bodies would win. I was doing well. You’d be proud.”

“Do you think this is a game?!” Thomas hits the steering wheel. “Those aren’t dolls to play with!”

“Such a hypocrite... Fine for you to torture and experiment on them, but you draw the line when they are dead?”

“One thing is necessity, Joshua, another is some sick pleasure. You are such a disappointment. I can’t even look at you right now, can’t even call you son.”

Rachel cleans her tears and takes a moment to notice her surroundings. How everyone seems to live a peaceful life but her. How they go around their days. Eager for the weekend to enjoy life to the fullest. Making plans without being afraid.

“If I had to guess, Joshua Roberts works for the organization that we are trying to find. That’s where the bodies were from. Missing deviants that no one cares about except their families. So, checkmate, you fool.” She looks at Abigail and smiles. “We are one step closer to finding them.”

“Be honest with me.” If you are capable of. “Do you think my parents are involved? I’d never suspect Joshua and his parents are best friends with mine.”

“I don’t know. We’re still not sure what the connection between the Institute and this organization is. We followed Madeleine Clark, you, and Emily, and we found nothing suspicious.”

“Thank you very much for that seal of approval.”

“Abigail, what I mean is that Madeleine Clark is clear. Maybe there’s no connection between this thing and the Institute. I don’t know about your parents. I’m sorry about that.”

“I’m scared, Rachel. I don’t know what to believe in anymore,” she holds back her tears.

“Fear keeps us alive. Now you’ll see things more clearly. Find out in who you can really trust. Ánh will always be here for you.”

“I know, she always has. I just... don’t even know how I will tell Emily about her brother. She’ll hate me for it.”

Don’t you dare say it...

“I’ll do it.”

Why would you say that?

They drive to Abigail’s house on separate cars. Abigail turns off the system and makes sure that Kateryna is fast asleep. Two hours later, Emily shows up there. Abigail welcomes her to her room and sees Rachel sitting on the bed.

“This is a whole new level of ridiculous. What’s this devil doing here?!”

“Emily, she has something to say, and you should listen.”