The Gemini

28. The New Students

Lena Matthews

My jaw hung open in shock, trying to take everything in. I looked over at Carter, but for once, he had nothing to say. He seemed as taken off-guard as I was.

"So, um, Jane-Anne's okay, right?" Carter asked.

"Yeah, she's doing good," Finn promised through the phone that was lying on my bed. I had left it on speaker while Finn recounted every detail of his most recent mission in Michigan. Between the evil circus, several hidden Forbidden, and the yuki-onna returning, I really didn't have any words.

"I can't believe it took you this long to tell us any of this," I said, still shocked.

"I thought you would freak out a little bit if I told you that Jane-Anne was doing mission-related things with me," Finn explained.

"So where is she staying?" Carter asked. "Since you're with... you know."

"Jessica's paying for an apartment an hour out of Atalka," Finn answered.

"It's just weird that she picked an apartment alone instead of just coming back here," said Carter out loud.

"Maybe it isn't weird," Taylor responded, picking at the comforter of my bed awkwardly. She turned to look at Kiara, who was hanging back with her friend. "I mean, she has some bad memories with us. But we were doing our job."

"Yeah, a job that ruined her life," Kiara leaned back, avoiding eye contact with all of us.

"She hasn't said anything negative about any of you guys," Finn promised. "It just makes her uncomfortable to be around you. I know it's not what you intended, but she just wants to start over."

"So what's supposed to stop her from starting over with us?" Carter asked.

"How's Aurelie?" I switched the subject before Finn could answer.

Silence.

I turned to Kiara and Taylor. "If you guys could just-"

"Yep." Kiara agreed. She and Taylor backed away from the conversation, leaving Carter and I.

"Carter, could-"

"I think I know what you're going to talk about." Carter interrupted. "When Finn had that failed escape attempt back in Atalka, I ended up in this room. It was lined with pictures of all of us. I saw what Aurelie did to the pictures. How you were like, blocked out." He paused for a moment. "Also, if you kick me out I'll hear anyway."

"Fine." I agreed. I wasn't in the mood for arguments, especially since our first day at Evergreen University was today.

"Dad's training her," said Finn, answering my question.

"You can't be serious," I muttered.

"She's not in the program, but he's accelerating everything with her. You weren't even her age when you found out the Forbidden were real, and even then, you were kind of forced to find out."

"Forced?" Carter asked.

"I was almost kidnapped." I dismissed.

"This is completely new information to me," said Carter. "I mean, by kidnapped, do you mean-"

"Look, have you tried to get through to her at all?" I asked. "There has to be something."

"I'm trying with her, but it's hard. If she repeats anything I tell her to Dad, he's going to send me back," said Finn.

"Send you back where?" Carter asked.

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Convenient."