11_Now

My bed was so warm, I felt like staying on it for ever. Today was one of those good days. No pain, at least physically.

Sweet little Ashley was in bed with me today and we were watching 'Raya and the Last Dragon' on my newly acquired iPad.

Ashley was curled up beside me and the ipad was propped up against many pillows in front of us.

I've grown very fond of the young girl.

When I said those simple words to her "If you need any help, you can come to me", I never knew she would.

We've bonded a lot over sad stories of our parents, just like Carlos and I bonded over the same pain.

I looked down at Ashely, her eyes were closed and she was snoring softly curled up against my arm. I smiled.

I've always wanted to have a younger sister, and fate has given me one. I watched her sleep, noting how different she looked from the first time I saw her. Now, her skin had some color and she looked peaceful.

I paused the movie and closed my eyes too. I was too tired to continue.

Outside was dark when I finally opened my eyes and Ashely was gone. I stood up slowly and stretched my weak limbs. My stomach chose that moment to growl.

I only had a bag of chips today and that was in the morning.

I heard the clattering of utensils as soon as I stepped out of the room, as I walked towards the kitchen something nice wafted into my nose.

I definitely missed eating good food and my stomach would gladly testify.

I saw Stacy, who had her red hair up and a large apron tied securely around her waist, slaving away in the kitchen.

"Heyyy"

I smiled warmly at her. We became closer after my near death experience.

"Kay, you're up. Ashely just left. You're hungry?"

She asked stirring something sweet in her pot.

"Yeah. Do you need help with anything?"

"No. I'm almost done"

She replied without looking at me.

I nodded and took a seat on one of the high stools.

My stomach rumbled again.

As I watched Stacy in the kitchen, I thought about Ma. I've been trying to put off the question for a while because of everything that had been going on but I think I'll bring it up today.

Someone walked into the kitchen and ruffled my hair, I looked up to see Carlos smiling down at me.

I rolled my eyes and smiled back, his hair looked insanly curly today.

"I've told you countless times that I am not a dog"

He shrugged and did it again.

I just smiled.

The food was finally ready and we were siting round the small round table in the kitchen.

As I was chewing slowly, my mind kept working on the right way to bring up the question.

The food was so delicious, I give it to Stacey she was a very good cook, which only made me think of Ma more.

I was done with my food in seconds.

I waited till everyone was done.

I sipped my glass of orange juice slowly as I waited.

"When do I get to see my Mother?"

I asked suddenly when I couldn't wait anymore.

Everyone turned their eyes on me.

No one said anything for a long time.

I waited.

John cleared his throat, pushed his empty plate away and looked me straight in the eye.

"You can't see your mother"

My heart snapped.

"You told me you knew where she is. Was that a scam to get me here?"

My voice was barely audible

"No. I know where she is. But she is held there as a hostage until she comes up with the antidote"

The pain in my chest increased...

"There must be a way to get to her.." I started rambling.

"Kay calm down"

Carlos placed his hand on my lap and squeezed.

"The only way you can see her is if you go as a lab rat"

===========

Katherine was her usual bossy, cherry self this morning. The sleeping pills didn't have any after effect on her.

"Maria I don't pay you to sit around and do nothing"

"You don't pay me at all"

"Oh yeah that's right"

She said with a tight smile.

"Kate, I need those documents if I'm ever going to prepare any antidote that actually works"

I let out a heavy sigh.

"No, you don't need it. You are so smart, you should figure it out on your own"

"What are you hiding?"

I asked suddenly, my voice a little bit high.

"I'm not hiding anything"

She said with that twitch in her left eye that was always a tell whenever she was being dishonest.

I smiled lightly

"Sure, I believe you. But if I were you, I'll be very careful"

She shrugged and left the lab with long angry strides.

I turned towards Cathy who was sitting silently, listening.

"She's hiding something. And I must find out what"

I started pacing around slowly.

My thinking wheels turning at a very slow pace.

"There was no way she made the gas overnight, we've been working on it for months. Something is just not right"

Cathy kept looking at me. I could see her thought wheel turning too.

She stood up and started pacing.

We stopped at the same time and turned to face each other.

"What if you guys were working on two different gases at the same time..."

Cathy started.

I gave her a blank look.

"She finished hers and was just waiting for the right time to ship it"

"That's not possible. We were both working on the same anti-aging gas"

"Or you were working on your anti-aging gas and she was working on hers. The plan was to switch the both of them when it was time to deliver. When yours wasn't coming through, she decided to deliver hers"

"But why would she do that?"

"To prove she can also amount to something. And also to cut you off at the long run, when she shows everybody that the work has only her name written on it. You'll be left with nothing"

I laughed.

"If I tell you I understood everything you just said, I will be lying"

"Okay, let me break it down for you. The initial plan was to make a fake anti-aging gas with her as the main person who worked on it, then when the one you worked on is ready, she will switch it out with her fake one. When yours doesn't work, obviously, she would ask for permission to work on it by herself, then she would bring out your own and present it before the board as hers..."

I started nodding slowly as realization dawned.

"You get it now?" Cathy asked smiling.

"Yeah. How did you know?"

I asked.

"As a scientist, you are expected to present a detailed report of everything you worked on. So that's the reason she is hiding the documents, because it contains the truth of what she actually put into her own gas and it will prove to everyone that she actually caused all this"

"And her license will be taken away..."

"Exactly"

I looked her in the eyes. More determined.

"We must find those documents"