Meliora - Emanate - 48

[lady_mab]

Lionel Darcy

Even though Zoné said he talked about what had happened with the rest of his friends, no one mentions it at lunch. There's two empty chairs at the table: one for Glen, and one for Jun, who misses three days of school.

And, slowly, inevitably, we're forced to watch them forget their friend. The next Monday, a week after it happened, the extra chair is missing from the table and the others voice their confusion as Jun has to leave the lunchroom.

Now more than ever I need to know what has been going on each visit to the hospital. Rhys told us, in quiet hesitation, that we have to be prepared for the fact that those left behind will forget us -- saying without announcing it directly that Kaito will forget us.

I know that it's tearing him up inside. To know that the guy he has liked for three years will eventually forget him. It's the same reason that Jun broke down crying at lunch and only Zoné, Liala and I knew why.

A week. That all it takes. A week of not talking about their friend who died, because we don't know how to properly explain how it happened. Not when we can't bring up Meliora, or explain that's why he had Vitamin E poisoning and bled out.

Jun corners me the Wednesday after her breakdown. She's waiting outside of my algebra class, determination bright in her eyes. "I want to go today."

The memory of that night in the hallway brings the sour taste back to my throat. The request I made remains burned on the back of my tongue, a reminder of what I had asked for. The guilt rests heavy on my chest for what I've asked her to partake in.

"Yeah. I don't... I don't want you to get your hopes up." I twist the loose end of my tie between my hands, glancing around the hall.

Something shifts behind her eyes that I've seen too often this past week. "Someone else was sitting in Glen's desk in Bio today. At this point, I am just so tired of all this shit ALICE is putting us through."

I don't have the words to properly reply, so I offer a weak shrug and shake my head.

As we make our way off campus, Jun acts as the look out to ensure that we don't run into Zoné or Lia. I think there is some unspoken agreement between us not to involve the others.

I take the chance to pull up the address to Zakariah's lab and figure out the quickest way to get there.

A pair like us will stick out -- the boy who is never separated from his twin sister and a tiny girl with fading pink hair. My goal is to get as much a head start as possible before Lia and Zoné put two and two together and figure out that we're up to something.

Still, I don't receive a text from Lia until we're about to get on the train to take us out to the edge of the Eastern Quarter. All it says is, I couldn't find you after school. Just wanted to let you know that I'll be going home without you. I'll see you later.

Jun has been glued to her phone, texting furiously as we go. If Lia or Zoné have said anything to her, she hasn't mentioned it.

When we disembark, I spend a moment arranging some small degree of security on my call. The line rings twice before Zakariah picks it up.

"I thought I said I wasn't going to work with you again," he says by way of greeting.

I fight down the nerves that suddenly flare in my chest. He actually remembers me, which is a plus. Though how, despite what we've figured out, I don't have the luxury of asking. His curt greeting means I have a very limited time. "The fact that you recognized my number means that's not true. I have a favor."

"I'm not interested in crossing ALICE's boundaries again. I already had enough issues with the last one. I told you they showed up to my lab, right?"

"Yes, but--"

"You have very little else that you can offer me at this point." He hangs up before I can get another word in.

It takes all my effort not to throw my phone at the ground in frustration. He didn't even let me get a word in. "I told you this was a waste of time."

Jun shakes her head and keeps walking. "What is his number? I will speak to him."

I have no idea what she will be able to do that I can't. So I read off his number as she dials it into her phone.

"Keep leading the way," she instructs, an air of casual command in her voice. It's the same tone that she used on me back in the hospital hallway when she asked me to help her. I hadn't realized it then, but it's the voice of someone used to being obeyed, and I had followed without question.

It's another block or two before Jun successfully gets the call to connect. "Is this Zakariah Jenkins?" She barely waits long enough for a response to be given before forging on. "My name is Xiaolongnu. I am calling on behalf of Lao Wantong."

I come to a stop so suddenly that she bumps into me from behind. All I can manage is a confused glance before she jabs me in the small of my back to keep me walking.

"I am offering you the pass you keep trying to receive. The case will be dropped if you help me in turn."

My eyes remain glued forward because every time I try to look back, Jun reaches up to push my face forward again. I'm not too sure what the point is in doing it that way. Perhaps she doesn't want me paying attention as she attempts to coerce information out of someone. I don't blame her.

"The reach of Lao Wantong goes beyond just Eminence. He will be able to ensure the case is dropped and forgotten. You could even resume contact, I would imagine." She makes a small sound that I can't figure out. I want to see what expression her face is making, but she must sense my intention because she reaches forward and pokes me again to keep going. "That I cannot promise. But if this all goes well, perhaps we would be able to extend that courtesy to you."

We arrive in front of the lab, and her footsteps slow to a stop. I turn and make a sweeping gesture in the direction of the building.

She frowns, and I wonder if it's at the state of the building -- antique stones and furnishings, crumbling from years of wear and tear, the stagnant smell of the Thames sitting somewhere out of sight. "As for what we want, Mister Jenkins, we are outside. Come say hello, and I will describe it for you." Jun hangs up her phone and pockets it without further pause.

I cannot stop staring at her with wide eyes. She's not poking at me now. "What... the hell was that all about?"

Her gaze meets mine, and for a brief instant, I don't recognize the girl staring back at me. "There are very few things that I keep a secret from everyone, but this is one of them. I hope you understand."

"You just blackmailed the dude."

"No, the Old Imp did."

My mouth falls open, a confused sound leaking out of it, but the door to Zakariah's lab slams open with a bit more force than I'm prepared for. I jump at the sound, and whirl to face the disheveled lab attendant.

His attention lands on me first, the disgruntled frown only deepening on his face. Then he spots Jun and his eyebrows practically disappear into his bangs. "You are the one that Lao Wantong sends to do his dirty work?"

"Of course not," she says as she lets herself in without waiting for his invitation. I follow close on her heels. "I am the Xiaolongnu. I do my own dirty work, should it be required."

No wonder she doesn't want Zoné to know anything about this. There's a high chance that he has no clue -- and either she trusts me enough to keep a secret, or I just happened to be the person in the right place at the right time to learn this about her.

Zakariah runs a hand through his hair, gripping the roots and knotting it between his fingers. "Alright. Fine. How do you need my help?"

Jun draws a small container out of her backpack, and it takes a great deal of effort to not balk at the sight of it. It hadn't occurred to me until now that she would be carrying it with her.

For some reason, I thought the process would involve going to talk to Zakariah, and sending the sample to him later. Then we would wait for the results.

Obviously, the logical process would involve bringing it to him now.

"You know of the game that we are participating in, is that correct?"

Zakariah looks at me, then lets his attention drift back to Jun. It's clear that she's the one in charge. I'm just here because I knew where to go. Though if she was able to fetch some sort of dirt on him, why wouldn't she have his address and number?

Right place at the right time. Hoping that I could get through so she wouldn’t have to resort to these tactics.

"I know the barest bones of it, yes. It is nigh on impossible to find any information or anyone willing to speak of it." He crosses his arms over his chest, leaning back against the door to his lab. He leaves the rest of it to my roaming eyes.

It's a lot cleaner than I expected -- though honestly I had the image in my head of a dingy warehouse that was in danger of flooding with the changing tides. It's dry, warm, and brightly lit. It doesn't match the exterior at all. There is no one else in the building, which is closer in size to mine and Lia's apartment. There's a partition set up in one corner, likely hiding a cot where he can crash.

I block out the bulk of their conversation as Jun explains the situation to Zakariah, wandering further into the lab. A few minutes pass as I poke around the equipment, pieces of technology that I have no clue how they work. I'm not even told to knock it off, so I take it as an invitation to sit down at one of his stations and watch the program on the screen run through the numbers.

Zakariah pushes me out of the chair I've taken up residence in and coughs as he sits down. "This will take some time to investigate."

"So you'll help us?" I ask, resuming my spot at Jun's side. She hasn't taken her eyes off the small vial that the technician now grips in his hand.

He snorts and starts to clear off his desk. "Against my better judgement, I will. But only because the reward outweighs the risk, in my opinion. And I happen to find the circumstances quite fascinating."

My stomach rolls at the idea that Glen's death could be 'fascinating'. Jun takes my hand and tugs me back toward the front of the lab. She looks perfectly in control, but I can feel the faint vibrations through her grip. "Let us know when it is done."

Zakariah doesn't respond, already relocating to the sink by the far wall to prep. Jun pushes open the door and steps into the watery light of the mid spring day. Her hands flex as she breathes out steadily through her nose.

I hesitate, glancing over my shoulder before hurrying out after her. I catch onto the door before it can slam shut and ease it closed behind me. "Are you sure this is the best idea?"

"There are no others."

"About what you said to him--"

She shakes her head, eyes sealed. She looks so tired and small, tremors running up from her fingers through her arms. "Please do not ask me again, Lionel. I will not answer."

With a huff, I shove my hands into my pockets, fingers brushing against my phone. I check it one more time, but there aren't any messages on it.

Pushing aside the worry that flares briefly to life, Jun and I make our way back towards the train station in stilted silence.