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Invidia EIGHTEEN
Cameron got out of bed, something he immediately regretted when his vision swirled. He started to fall forwards, but everyone else reached out to grab him muttering "are you okays?" to him, much to his chagrin. "Yeah, I'm fine," he shoved them off and regained his balance. "Get off me. I've got to go talk to these nurses." They let him out of the way, which was in their favor as much as his. He was on a mission. He wheeled the metal rack that held his fluids with him, and right across from his room was the nurse's desk. "Excuse me, ma'am," he said."Whoa, careful there, son," a woman in pink scrubs held a hand out to him. "You should be in bed.""Well, I was, but then I was told I'm not allowed to leave," he leaned against the desk for support. "What's that about?"The nurse behind the desk, who looked at least ten years older than the other nurse, said, "Your stepfather left us strict instructions.""And since when do I not get the final say in what I do?"The woman looked up from
Invidia NINETEEN
I have to get out of here, Cameron thought to himself. He was going crazy in waiting for Justin and Madison to get back with the bank account information. He'd already counted all the ceiling tiles and played every game the hospital's HoloTV gave access to, which were basically kids' games."Oh thank God," he said when Justin came in with a folder pulled up on his HoloComm. "I wouldn't thank him just yet," he said with a frustrated look. Cameron didn't know if he believed in God or not, but Justin did, and that comment had him concerned."Why?" Cameron said. Now he was getting concerned. "What's wrong?""They apparently know I'm not you. They keep denying my access, probably from my IP address.""Weren't you using public access?""Yeah, obviously," Justin said like Cameron was stupid for even asking. "But this place has more security than Hendrickson. Everything is protected under lock and key. I've been at it for hours, trying to find a way in, but still no luck: no back doors, no s
Invidia TWENTY
"He's definitely making this too easy," Justin finally agreed when Hendrickson just let them enter his office yet again. "The man is way too sketchy to just let us do this.""I know," Madison said. "I have a feeling this isn't the answer. I know Shane said he keeps everything close to him, but I don't think it's this. Project Invidia has to be somewhere else.""The question is where," Justin voiced both of their thoughts. They fiddled around in the office, looking for clues. "Damn, we need Cameron here. He's the one that nerds out about literature." Madison nodded but didn't say anything. Edgar Allen Poe, Victor Hugo, Jane Austen, Margaret Atwood, Zora Neale Hurston, all classics of all different genres, and Justin had no idea how to tell where to go.Madison was checking walls, light switches that were no longer used, buttons, everything else, leaving Justin to check the books. Great. The letters were spinning, and it was making his head hurt. They supposedly used to have a name for
Invidia TWENTY-ONE
After a while had passed of Justin sitting on the edge of Cameron's bed, he finally talked to himself, "I have got to pry my ass off this bed," and he did just that. There was an imprint on the bed from where he'd been there for so long. He asked Frank for a ride and almost felt bad, but Frank was always willing to take the opportunity to go see Cameron."Thanks for this," Justin said when they got in the limo. The sedan still reeked of the bleach they were using to clean the blood out, and that wasn't good for their breathing. "Of course, kiddo," Frank said. Justin had really started to also grasp onto the feeling of Frank as a father figure as well. His heart lifted a little whenever Frank called him "kiddo."He smiled at Frank and clutched the journal tighter to his chest, wrapping his jacket around it. He was almost afraid that something would happen to it before he could get it to Cameron, before they found out the information; he needed to protect this at all costs.
Invidia TWENTY-TWO
Cameron continued throughout the day to read from his father's journal. He'd found one of his favorite entries so far, the day before Cameron was born:November 26, 2146Christy just went into labor. We're just waiting in a room for her to be ready. I can't believe the little boy is already here. I can't wait to spoil him and see her face when she holds him. I know seeing the two of them together is going to be a memory I will always cherish. She's the most precious thing in the world to me, and I swear if anything happens to either Cameron or Christy, I will go to the ends of the earth to find out what.Cameron paused. His father, Garrick, had gone with his mother's choice in naming him Cameron. His lips pulled into a heartfelt smile. Tears were openly falling now. They had been every time he read a passage relating to his mother. Even though Cameron had no memories of the man, just by reading his father's words, he'd learned that there was no reason to run from your emotions. "Stop
Invidia TWENTY-THREE
"Sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself is just say no," Cameron's mom had said the same words to him that Madison just had. "What if I can't?" Cameron asked. He was fourteen at the time, and he'd had an old friend confide in him. "What if I don't have a choice?"Christy put her hand on Cameron's hair, gently stroking it. "You always have a choice."Now, Cameron had realized that wasn't always true. He'd been into life or death situations, and sometimes, he had to live when he would've gladly chosen death. That's such a sad thought for a seventeen year old, Cameron thought with a bitter taste in his mouth."What exactly am I saying no to?" Cameron dragged himself back to the present. He'd gotten too caught up in the memory that he'd already forgotten."If you're going to try and bust out or not," Madison said.He glanced down at his arm. They'd taken most of the gauze off. The regular nurse that checks on him informed him that it was healing well, but he'd need to continue
Invidia TWENTY-FOUR
Cameron really wished he had shoes. His feet were sore from sneaking through the hospital on his tip toes. Not to mention the cold tile floor was freezing. However, he was very grateful that the gown the nurses put on him was not one that his butt hung out of. "Officer 147, do you copy?" The officer approximately fifty yards ahead had their HoloComm's talking system turned on, the ones made specifically for automatic talking. "I copy," 147 responded quietly. The man kept his voice down, trying to force silence amongst the crowd around him, successfully."What is your location?" The other voice asked."I am on the west wing, about 30 yards from the desk. I'm keeping an eye on the civilians.""Good. Do you see anything unusual?" At that question, Cameron ducked into the nearest room. He could not risk getting caught. If he were caught trying to escape, they would never let him get away again.The room he ducked into was a patient's room. In the bed was a girl about his age, maybe a li
Invidia TWENTY-FIVE
He finally found the ending hallway. There was a man at the desk in front, wearing purple. He was speaking to someone on his earpiece, clearly upset. "No, I don't know where he is. If I did, don't you think I would've told you?" A moment of silence. "No, I would. I don't want to lose my job over some regular damn kid, but definitely not Hendrickson's." They know I'm gone. I knew I wouldn't get so lucky. With an ever-growing lump in his throat, he melded into the commotion of the hallway. He glanced at the doors, and with a moment of luck, he found it.PI--right there on the door. It was the sign that Madison told him to look for, but of course, there was a guard directly in front of the door. I need a distraction. He snuck into the room next to him, giving no more than a quick glance to the old woman laying in the bed. He pulled out his HoloComm and sent Madison their code word for when he needed help: MONSTER. It seemed fitting, since this entire operation was run by a monster. Withi