“I overheard Carla talking about makeup
effects,” said Frank under his breath.
“Of course,” said Johnykin.
Frank ditched the passive voice. “Plus they
all had about a Wikipedia’s page worth of knowledge on their
specializations. Carmen would always get nervous around me and
start talking about her garden and how to space out plants for the
most visually aesthetic appearance.”
“Set decorator,” said Johnykin.
“Jesus, I was blind,” said Chris.
“No shit,” said Frank and Johnykin
together.
The jet landed in San Francisco and Chris
checked his phone for the updated time. It was just after nine in
the morning. He felt exhausted and then frustratingly alert. He
hadn’t called Sadie or texted her what was going on. His thoughts
were only on writing. It was too late now. She was going to fucking
kill him, he thought. Then Johnykin walked past and Frank just
behind her. Frank stopped and looked down before he stared into
Chris’s face with unfocused emotion.
Finally getting somewhere, Frank put it into
words, “I know why you did it. I don’t want an apology but were not
even. I owe you so much more than this.”
Chris was puzzled. Then Frank made it all
clear. He pulled back his fist and launched it into Chris’s face.
The hit knocked Chris back into his seat and started a dribble of
blood down his chin. Chris felt his nose and it didn’t seem broken.
Frank must’ve held back, Chris thought.
Frank walked away and shouted back to Chris,
“You better go through with it. I wanna see your ass quit.”
The familiar, ugly SUV waited for them with
their old driver. He smiled and opened the doors for all of them.
Johnykin moved in first to the front passenger; Frank and Chris the
back. Johnykin pulled her seat belt across her body and looked back
at them with a ‘nothing ever changes’ face. But then her face sunk.
All the skin from her forehead to her chin dragged downward because
of what was just behind Chris and Frank’s heads.
They took the cue to see a long, thick,
black bag that was placed askew to fit the entire height of Klaus’s
dead body. Together they turned back around and hung their heads,
but Chris could still see Johnykin looking past them. She finally
shut her eyes and tears pushed out before she turned away from it
all to the window.
What was wrong with Erik to do this, thought
Chris? Was he thoughtless or an intentional monster? The too
cheerful driver popped open the trunk and, at the very least,
carefully placed their bags so as not to touch Klaus. Then the
driver raced around to his seat and put them on course for the
lab.
During the again familiar, silent ride Chris
went over the different speeches he might give to Erik. Too many
included ‘Fuck you, Erik!’ at the beginning, middle, and end. The
real part of Chris didn’t want it to be that way. Erik would enjoy
it too much.
Chris also wanted it to be a blueprint for
Frank and Johnykin to follow. Or anyone else that had been involved
from Neal to Alex and so on. This was such a horrible hypocrisy;
Chris thought they would all want a way out. Wouldn’t they?
“Are you going to quit too?” asked
Chris.
Frank looked up from his phone and then away
without answering.
“Johnykin, are you?” asked Chris.
She didn’t budge from the window.
“You’re quitting?” asked the driver. He
looked at Chris through the rearview mirror.
“Shut up!” said Chris.
The driver threw his hand up to say he tried
and went on smiling at the road ahead.
“Really?” said Chris. “You know Erik put
Klaus’s body back there on purpose to fuck with us. This is so far
beyond anything right. I can’t believe you would want to continue
being around such a… fake institute.”
Still no responses. It all hit Chris again.
What he was doing meant nothing. He had to stop talking about it
and wishing for them to support and join along with him. This was
his course of action and he had to take it by himself.
And so here was his opportunity. Erik stood
outside of the glass door entrance to the lab with his hands held
behind his back and a slight dip of his chin. The SUV pulled up to
the curb. Chris stepped out first and almost ate the pavement
because he was still watching the predetermined stance Erik
took.
Chris still led the way with Johnykin and
Frank just behind. Erik brought his eyes up to meet Chris's and
with a quick strike Erik wrapped his arms around Chris in a tight
hug. Before Chris could say anything, Erik did the same to Johnykin
and Frank.
“I'm so sorry,” said Erik. His eyes filled
with a tear each, but he pushed on. “Nothing could have prepared us
for such a horrible outcome and I can't imagine what it was like to
witness, but you’re back home. And we can move on together.”
This was Erik's finish. The tears had gone
and he ushered them inside with a swift jaunt. Unconsciously, they
followed his quick footsteps through the main lab and directly into
his office.
“Well, as hard as everything was it didn't
go to waste. But let's start the debriefing,” said Erik. He pulled
his phone out on the desk and set it to record their conversations.
“Johnykin, I need you to start.” He waved his hand for her to take
the seat across from him.
The present came into focus again for Chris
as he watched Johnykin follow Erik's directions and position
herself to begin detailing their mission.
“No,” said Chris. He reached past Johnykin
and shut off the phone. “Not now. This can all wait. You need to
take care of Klaus first.”
“No shit, Chris,” said Erik. “We do have
other people working here that can take care of a dead body. I
don't personally have to pick him up and put him in the
incinerator.”
“What!?” said Johnykin. “How do you know
that's what he wanted?”
“You bastard,” said Frank.
“It was all written out in his contract. He
understood the risks and communicated his decisions in the proper
form so that we could continue on without wasting the time of
others,” said Erik. He smiled with a vicious finality, then turned
the phone on again and looked towards Johnykin.
“I quit. Right now. I’m not going to be a
part of the debrief or anything else,” said Chris.
“Uh-huh,” said Erik, and continued to look
at Johnykin to begin.
Chris turned to walk out of the room.
“I wouldn’t do that yet,” said Erik.
Chris stopped but didn’t turn around.
“Why?”
Erik stood up with a loud scrape of the
chair’s feet on the tile floor. The noise brought Chris back
around. Erik skirted quickly around the desk but slowed his pace as
he stepped towards Chris. There was at least six inches difference
in height between the two, though Erik’s personality made up for
every one; especially when he switched into his deepest voice.
“I like you Chris. At least, I did like you.
That’s why you got to be a sidekick and go on these merry missions
with your dream girl and guy. You were practically a Super like
Johnykin – and Klaus, can’t forget him.”
“They’re not Supers. I know this is
bullshit.”
“Of course you do. You’re smart too. So many
great qualities that were put to great use for our country. You
were a blessing to the people in our ever present fight for
freedom. But shit happens. We have to be resilient. I know it was
hard to see and do what you did over there…”
Erik’s speech with its deep charismatic
filling kept going and began to bore its way into Chris’s thoughts
at first. Yeah, I have given something and can give more to people.
Wait. What freedom? How am I a blessing? We put people in danger
constantly for a show.
“Shut up, Erik. I don’t care what you think
about what we did —“
Erik placed his hand on Chris’s shoulder to
interrupt. “It’s not just what I think, it’s what it is. However
you see this, isn’t important. If you continue on this whole ‘I
quit’ nonsense, you will be violating the stipulations clearly
outlined in the contract you signed.”
“Sue me. I’ll bring the truth to court and
this is all worthless.”
“We’re the fucking government!” Erik swiftly
raked his fingers through his black hair as if to activate a change
in temperament. It didn’t work. “We can do whatever we want. I
could walk into your house and break off every one of Sadie’s
fingers before shooting her in the head. Or crush every bone in
Gerry and Louise’s faces until their features ran like pudding.
Then I’ll use the psych reports as evidence to put you in court as
the murderer. Everyone will see you as I make you appear to be, no
one will know what you really were! You have no power to push
around here, but I do. So sit your ass down and be thankful I don’t
have your body dumped in the bay right now.”
Chris saw Erik for what he was and stood
silent amidst the blatant antagonism. There was some truth to his
words. Chris put his family at risk by moving ahead, but how much
was unsure. Chris looked over at Frank whose head hung slightly
less than Johnykin's. Frank's family was just as much at risk.
Johnykin didn't have one or she lied, but she was scared of Erik
too.
The support wasn’t there and probably never
would be to go through with it. Chris needed Sadie; to talk to her,
just to be next to her. He had to play along with Erik for now.
Erik could see the complacency written across Chris’s face. Erik
still held control and the power, so he gestured to Chris to sit
down and let Johnykin begin the debriefing.
Frank followed Johnykin’s report and then
Chris added his own bland retelling. Erik, considerably pleased
with himself, sent them off when it was all over. The three of them
split away from each other as soon as they left Erik’s office.
Chris charged ahead to the lounge. He immediately went to the
computer to look up the files of notes, supposedly so important to
their work early on with understanding the Supers.
Everything was restricted. Erik must have
changed his security clearance. All he could access was solitaire.
Chris remembered the papers he wrote on in the plane and looked
around for his bag to pull them from. Shit! He left it in the back
with Klaus’s body. The driver would have given them to Erik or
maybe Walt. He was in charge of packing their stuff. He might still
have it before Erik came snooping around.
Chris jumped from the computer desk and ran
out into the hall. He bumped into Johnykin around a corner. She
startled out of a trance-like walk.
“Hey Chris, I wanted to talk to you —“
“Not right now. Later.” He continued at a
jogging pace until he finally reached the Fun Room.
Through the glass, Chris saw Walt stooped
over their bags. Perfect, thought Chris. He threw the door open and
zoomed over to Walt.
“Hey Walt,” said Chris, pushing his voice to
be chirpy.
Walt turned to him with surprise. “Oh, hey
Chris. Whatcha doin’ here? Don’t you have a meeting with Erik or
something?”
“We finished that up a while ago. Say I
forgot something in my bag that I really need —“
“Hey, Erik,” said Walt over Chris’s
shoulder.
Fuck, thought Chris. He turned his head
slightly to see Erik stalking his way over. “Here let me help you
find it,” said Chris, and bent down to rummage through the
bags.
Erik made it over, bent next to Chris, and
put his hand on Chris’s shoulder. “Find what?” asked Erik.
Chris didn’t flinch. He kept moving his
hands throughout until he felt the papers. “Some love letters to
the wife,” said Chris, and stood up hugging the papers to his
chest.
“Really?” said Erik. He reached for the
papers to confirm Chris’s story. “I could sure use some examples to
help me get in better with the ol’ ball and chain. Let me take a
look.”
Chris stepped away. “Too personal. Wouldn’t
help you much.” Then he speed walked to the door before shouting,
“Thanks, Walt!”
Chris saw Erik’s pissed face staring down at
Walt before he tore through the bags, looking for anything
useful.
Inside the main lab, Chris moved quickly. He
didn’t see anyone and remembered what Frank and Johnykin said about
the “scientists.” He thought about interrogating them, forcing the
truth out. It could be added to his story as more proof. Proof for
what? What was he going to do with this story? Was it just for his
own peace of mind?
“Chris!” said Carla, and immediately wrapped
him into a hug. “I’m so sorry about Klaus and everything you must
have gone through. It’s terrible.”
She was still hugging him when Chris noticed
her head dug into his shoulder as she cried. The tears seeped
through his shirt when she finally pulled away.
“I couldn’t imagine doing what you did. I
can’t stand violence or death.”
“Thank you,” said Chris. He held her
shoulders as she tried to compose herself. Looking at her cry like
a child, Chris didn’t want to continue with what he was about to
say. “Why… why are you here then?”
“What?” She smiled so innocently.
“This place is filled with violence. And if
you don’t or can’t stand it, why are you here? I don’t want to
attack you.” Chris softened his voice. “I know this is fake. I know
you and Art and everyone else here aren’t scientists. There are no
Supers. It’s okay; please tell me, why are you here?”
Carla struggled to come up with an answer.
Chris didn’t know if she would ever be able to answer. Art saved
her the trouble.
“Hey, Chris,” said Art. He came up from
behind and touched Chris’s shoulders before moving over to pull
Carla in for a side-hug. “I’m so sorry.”
“Yeah, thanks Art. I was just – “
“I know,” said Art. “A tragic experience can
bring on that loss of innocence we all hold on to so tightly even
at an older age.”
“It’s not that. I was saying to —“
“I know. This is all fake. I do have to say
that it was such a joy to see your face in response to the magic we
created here. It was like live theater. Such a thrill, but at a
terrible price. We’ll miss Klaus. At least there wasn’t any family
he left behind.”