Experiment Zero

10. Sleepover

Wouldn't it be fine if you just did this one little experiment? Surely if they observe Zero just a little bit longer they'll let him free, some deep part of my consciousness whispers.

 "Deal." I finally say through gritted teeth.

  "You start in the morning." She says with a small smiling before going back to looking through the documents, and obvious form of dismissal.

I exit the room is a haze, not even looking towards Zero's cell when I leave. I decide to walk home, the sun finally starting to rise and casting a beautiful glow on the ocean. If only my thoughts were as calm and peaceful as the waves.

In all honesty I'm quite shocked that my dad didn't make an appearance tonight. He's the head scientist, wouldn't he be alerted immediately if something like an attempted escape were to happen?

I also need to ask him about his sudden motivation to shut down the experiment. I rub my forehead, walking up the steps and opening the front door to our little house.

       I find him on the couch, legs tangled in the blanket I had laid on him. I sigh going into my room and taking a long warm shower. After changing into night clothes I slump onto my bed, exhausted.

 I didn't know how much stress as been weighing me down these past few days until now.

    Tired, I fall asleep.

    *                            *                              *                              *                            *

    The next morning I'm a nervous mess.

    I don't see my dad in the kitchen when i wake up, and wonder if maybe he's in his room getting ready.

     I eat a bowl of cereal, before packing. I put in two sets of clothes, my hygiene necessities, a book, a pillow and blanket, and a few fruit cups into my navy blue duffel bag. 

Mrs. Clark had called the house phone and said my dad was supposed to take a boat to the main land and meet up with a government intelligence official, so he shouldn't be back until late tonight. 

 My walk to the lab feels like forever and when I finally get there I sigh in relief. I could've taken the golf-cart we had if dad wasn't going to use it.

 Peter isn't there when I enter the lab, and it confuses me momentarily, but then I see a note on my desk.

        Sorry I'm not here today. With you're dad. Maybe when I get back we can hang out.

       -Peter

  I shake my head, throwing the note in the trash, but it makes me feel slightly better to know that Peter is going with my dad to the main land.

     I get onto the elevator, and realize I don't have my key card.

     Dang it! Did I lose it? I can't remember where I put it. That card was a spare Mrs. Clark had given me, so to lose it after having the first one crushed is just embarrassing.

 Thankfully, a woman is walking by and helps me out since she knows who I am. She enters her key card in and I say thank you right as the doors shut. 

I reach the bottom floor and step out to see only Mrs. Clark there, the window wall curtained off.

 "Ah, Ashley! So glad you could make it." She says, and I resist the urge to give her a taste of her own medicine and roll my eyes. "Are you ready to begin?"