Sawyer,
I'm okay. I am just focusing on my classes with Beth and spending my nights with Adam as he and I both have trouble sleeping. I hope classes are going well. Did you end up doing anything for your birthday?
Love,
Madeline
Hey Maddie,
Nah, I worked. That's about it. That's fine by me since I’m not near Ricky and Justin. How are the classes going?
Love,
Sawyer
The emails weren't long. I half expected my dad was screening them after her escape. She never said it, but I wouldn't put it past him. One day closer, Madeline. Just hold in there.
14
Madeline
I was sitting in the back of Dr. Vodola's car with my hands folded over my chest and my focus entirely out of the window. My ankles crossed as I sat in a pink sundress, he gave me. My lips were tight.
"This conference is important." Dr. Vodola started, but I still wouldn't look at him.
"Okay." My voice was sharp.
"After your little episode, this has to go well." I met his eyes in the rear view mirror. "You will speak today. There will be questions directed towards you and about your escape."
"Why should I speak highly of you all? What else could you possibly do to me?"
"I know you've been emailing my son. I can make sure all ties are disconnected."
"What else?" I snapped. "It wouldn't be the first time."
Dr. Vodola raised an eyebrow. "Fine. Lets try this instead. You want to have a day out occasionally?"
I raised an eyebrow. "What's the point? You won't hold up your end."
"Dr. Green thinks your immune system seems to have rebooted, so you can come back to living with me instead of that place. Beth will have you take the test so that you'd be finished with high school early. You can come live with me, and I'll let you go to community college."
My stomach dropped. "Seriously?"
He nodded. "If today goes well, you can start classes next week."
On the one hand, I'd be free to go out and go to college. On the other hand, I'd be back to living with Dr. Vodola without Sawyer as a buffer.
"You swear?" I questioned, raising one eyebrow, and my chest swelled.
"As I said, you clear up that mess you created, and you'll be out of that building."
"I'll think of something to say at the conference, but if you go against your word, I'll let the world know everything you've ever put me through."
Dr. Vodola didn't respond, and we finished the rest of our ride in silence. He pulled into a parking lot. Dr. Green and a few others were in suits waiting by the door. Dr. Vodola parked, and I climbed out. My arms stayed firmly over my chest as I followed him into the back of the building. We walked by people, lights, and wires were everywhere until we got onto a stage where there was a long table that I'd recognized my whole life. The bright lights shined on us. A person came in pouring water into all the glasses. The doors were opening, letting people file in slowly. I took my usual seat between Dr. Green and Dr. Vodola. My back was straight against the folding chair.
My head started to reel. What lie could I share to explain why I was running down the street like an escaped lunatic? Would Dr. Vodola hold up his end of the deal? Was it worth risking not finding out? The room finally finished filling up. Cameras were rolling and flashing at us. I watched as people were pushing their electronic devices as if to record us.
"Hello." Dr. Vodola started from his chair. "I'd like to open up by sharing that Adam has been reaching his milestones at a normal rate like his peers."
A hand shot up.
"Madeline, are you going to explain that video of you running away from the center?"
I gulped and leaned forward. "I'd been sick a few times the past year. One of which landed me in the hospital for a few days. I'd been poked with so many needles, and unlike everyone else, I have two regular physicals a year. They wanted to run more allergy testing, and I was done. Have you ever had an allergy test before?" I added a laugh.
There were murmurs and chuckles.
"So, you're saying that you were avoiding allergy testing?"
I nodded. "Yup. That and I have always had a history of having trouble sleeping. That night I hadn't slept well at all, and the last thing that I wanted to do was get poke by dozens of pricks. Do you like being poked when you want to sleep?"
The man smirked. "No."
"I'm fine. The scientists treat me well." I added.
Dr. Vodola was sitting next to me, and he was grinning. He almost looked like a smiling cat who had caught the mouse, but a small taste of freedom was better than nothing at all.
Beth had said I had passed my tests, so I was technically a high school graduate. Dr. Vodola worked it out to start classes a week late at the community college by us. I stood in the middle of my old room. I was still not believing that I was back here. Over the years, I'd cursed this room. The nights I spent crying in bed or the back of my
