Location: My Bedroom

Time: 6:00 PM, February 14th 2108

“Olivia, what-”

As soon as I closed the door to my room, Emily started to talk, but I put my finger in front of my closed mouth to make the universal ‘be quiet’ sign.

I grabbed the large piece of foam board that was designed to latch over the door. It was a little unruly, and lifting it every time I came in or out was a pain.

“Ok.”

Once I got it in place and attached to the foam panels on the wall I let Emily know she could start talking.

“Ah, your room is. . . Nice.”

I followed Emily’s line of sight as she scanned my room. Not that there was much to look at. The walls, floor, ceiling, and now even the door were completely covered by a sound resistant foam. My bed was built into the floor. And I’m calling it a bed, but it was unsurprisingly made of foam as well. There was a single foam pillow and no blanket or sheets.

The only other feature of the room were three framed photos lying on the floor next to my bed.

“Don’t think of this as my room. I can’t have you hurt my reputation as an idol by spreading any rumors. I have a real room that is super cute and definitely fits the image of the kind of room an idol would have. This is just the room where I sleep.”

“The room where you sleep is different from your bedroom?”

“Yeah, I mean, it’s my ears, you know? They’re too sensitive, and I’m not like Oliver. I can’t control them. You probably figured this out earlier, but I can’t control my augmentation very well either. If I focus on any particular sound, I’ll find myself flung across the room. This soundproof room is the only place I can actually sleep, or even get any relaxation.”

“But what about when you travel?”

“I just have to leave these on.” I pointed to the headphones that I was always wearing.

“Oh, and they block out the sound?”

“Yeah.”

Well, that wasn’t exactly true. Their first function was to block out sound, but they were also, you know, headphones. I constantly needed each ear to be hearing a different song. That made it possible for me to avoid focusing on any one sound.

That’s the basis of my augmentation. I basically hitch a ride on a sound wave. Only well, unlike Oliver, I can’t actually control the wave. I’m completely at the mercy of whatever sound I concentrate on.

And for the record, it’s always idol music in each ear. I’m always brushing up on the competition.

“The thing is, they aren’t exactly comfortable to sleep in. That’s why I need this room.”

“Sorry.”

“Why are you apologizing? It’s not like I’m the only person who has to deal with an annoying augmentation or stigma. Actually, it’s not like you have it easy either.”

“No no no, I have no reason to complain. I just have to remember to never say-”

“Ok, stop!”

Emily moved her hands up to cover her mouth.

“Before you blow a hole in my room, we have something to discuss. Or actually, something to make clear.”

Emily nodded.

“The reason I brought you here is that I can’t have anyone else hearing this, and this is the only place I could think of that I know no one will be able to listen in.”

There couldn’t possibly be any hidden cameras or microphones. I spend every night in that room with my headphones off. I’d be able to hear even the tiniest gap for sound to sneak through. Not to mention, it was probably the only place where I could guarantee that Oliver couldn’t hear me.

I didn’t like the idea of keeping secrets from him, but, well, actually I don’t really have an excuse to put in here. I just didn’t want him to know, ok?

“That’s fine, but is there really anything to keep secret? We saved Ms. Kaldsen. And if you’re worried about what we did to Kathrin, that was self defense. Actually, we should’ve already reported it.”

“Never. Definitely not. Even if it was self defense, an idol doesn’t resort to violence. Besides, that’s not the point. I already explained this to you, but I wasn’t supposed to save Karen, and I wasn’t supposed to get involved with you. If that was the goal I could have just warned everyone ahead of time.”

“Then why did you help?”

“Well how am I supposed to know that? I just did. It was an impulse. I don’t know.”

Why was she asking me something like that? What did it matter?

“Why I got involved isn’t what’s important. What’s important is setting the right backstory. We need to be on the same page.”

“And what page is that?”

“That we ran away when we saw Kathrin attack Karen. Then we hid until Oliver called me. That’s it.”

“I don’t like it. Why should we have to lie about doing a good thing? We were the heroes.”

“You’re the last person I want to hear that from. I won’t question your motives, but you’re a member of W. You think they’ll be happy to learn that you saved Karen?”

“I don’t care what they think. I joined up with W because I thought they were the best way for me to help, but I was wrong. A hero doesn’t make compromises like that. The moment I start to think I have the right to decide who needs saving I’ve already failed.”

Why was she looking so philosophical all of a sudden? I wasn’t interested in that kind of deep thinking.

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“Well, then, at least think of it like this. A hero doesn’t take responsibility for their work. That only puts the situation under more risk.”

Emily’s face lit up.

“Oh, that's right! My hero didn’t make themself known at all. I suppose flying under the radar isn’t a bad idea for me either, but if we lie won’t we be found out?”

“Probably not.”

“That wasn’t particularly persuasive or reassuring.”

“Listen, how would we be found out?”

“Kathrin’s body.”

“They’ll assume it was Karen who did her in.”

Besides, the twins were supposed to finish her off anyway.

“Then what about the lack of Ms. Kaldsen’s body?”

“She isn’t staying dead, remember? Alexis is growing her in the fish tank.”

“Then what about the bus?”

“We were trying to drive to somewhere safe.”

“What about Jacob? He knows we had Ms. Kaldsen’s body, and where we took it.”

“He won’t talk. I asked Oakley if he ever managed to find Emelia, and she said he did. She also alluded to the fact that Hana completely embarrassed him. He won’t talk to anyone about anything that happened today.”

“Won’t the police, or the ARA interrogate him about what happened to Devesh? Actually, won’t they interrogate all of us?”

“Not a chance. The last thing the Sanguine Princess would want is anyone else finding out she knew about this ahead of time. There will be no investigation, and no press. She’ll quietly deal with the ones who sided with her brother and complete whatever plan she had for all this.”

“On that topic then, won’t the mind reader working for the princess know instantly?”

“Yeah, but I don’t think she’d rat me out. And besides, I’m sure Elodie will figure it out eventually. I just don’t want everyone to know yet. I want to figure out what I’m supposed to do first.”

“Again, that’s not very reassuring.”

“Well, it’s the best we can do. I’m not some superhuman genius, and neither are you. If anyone finds out I didn’t listen to her orders she’ll find some way to use that against me.”

She’d probably use it to force Oliver to work even harder for her. I didn’t want that to happen. Oliver had no reason to listen to that woman. She was no different than the prime minister.

Hmm? Wouldn’t it just be worse once she did manage to find out I’d been lying the whole time?

Well, yes, but, you know. Don’t worry about that. I’m sure I’d figure something out by then.

“Then that’s fine. I don’t really have a reason to refuse. I do have another question though.” Emily paused for a moment. “About Devesh. What Jacob said, and what you heard from the princess, is that really true? That he was actually working for Prince Eren?”

“Elodie was certain it was true, so it had to be true. That woman wouldn’t make a mistake about something like that.”

“I see.”

Was she disappointed? She looked pretty broken up about it.

Emily let out a short scream.

“That’s unfair! So you’re telling me that I couldn’t even recruit a single person sympathetic to the cause? Cynthia doesn’t count, I didn’t actually recruit her myself!”

Why was she talking about Cynthia?

“I knew I wasn’t suited for that kind of work. I mean, I’m probably not going to stay with W, so it doesn't matter. But I don’t like the fact that it feels like I lost. I only managed to recruit a single double agent.”

Emily started pacing around my room before lying down on my bed.

Hey, what’s up with her idea of personal space? You can’t just lie down on an idol’s bed. That’s a crime.

“How unfair. But, that’s just how it goes.”

She rolled over onto her side, getting a clear look at my photos.

“Stop! Don’t touch them!”

She started reaching out, but I quickly ran across the room and picked them up myself.

“Ah, sorry.”

She apologized instantly, recognizing why I reacted so strongly.

“It’s fine. You’re just a little too irresponsible with your augmentation for me to trust you touching anything important.”

“Fair enough! There’s nothing else here, so I was just curious who you had pictures of.”

“Oakley. Oliver and me. My mother.”

I quickly showed her each photo.

“Really? That was you and Oliver?”

“From when we were kids, yeah.”

“I won’t have guessed that. Your stigma really makes you look different. The colored streak in your hair and the hetoro-, heteo-, heterocro-,”

“Heterochromia.”

“Yeah, that. You and Mr. Oldridge are super recognizable by the fact that you have mismatched eyes. Without them I hardly recognized you.”

Why did she have to point out something that I’d rather not discuss?

“Obviously. An idol needs a charm point. Something that makes her special.”

“If you say so! I was surprised by your mother as well. She doesn’t look how I imagined she would.”

Of course she didn’t, but I had no reason to talk to Emily about something like that.

“Of course not. I take after my brother after all.”

“No, I don’t think that’s how it works. . .”

After that we didn’t really have much else to talk about. Despite how the day had gone, it’s not like we were close. For obvious reasons, Emily had been keeping her distance from the group that revolved around Oakley.

That girl didn’t even know anything about idols! Can you believe it? I ended up giving her one of my backstage passes to meet the new idol, but I doubt she could appreciate the treasure I gave her.

But maybe she’ll learn to understand the glory of idols.

Unlikely, but it was my duty to try.

Once she left my house it was more likely that we’d go back to being nothing more than classmates.

I did have to ask her one thing before she left though.

Why did she trust me so much? Or at least, why did she act like she trusted me?

I’m part of the institution that she wants to bring down. I’m a member of the corrupt system. It’s not like I could even say that I was being forced to play my part. If I really wanted to I could have prevented this whole thing. Even now, I could go tell Elodie to leave me alone. I could tell Oliver I wanted to leave, and he’d take me to another of the Free Cities.

But I won’t. I’ll stay here. I won’t tell Elodie off. I won’t pretend my soundproof room wasn’t paid for by my uncle. I won’t act like every augmented Oliver goes after is actually dangerous.

At the end of the day, I’m still the person that Emily should hate. I just made one impulsive decision to get involved and then was too weak willed to back out.

After confronting her with all of that she just had this stupidly oblivious look on her face and said,

“Because you saved me. Of course I’d trust the person who saved my life. That other stuff isn’t great, but that doesn’t change the fact that you’re the only reason I survived. Actually, I don’t remember if I said it properly before, but thank you. You saved my life. Your reason doesn’t matter. I’ll always be thankful for that. Whether you want to admit it or not, you’re a good person. When the situation was dire you acted like a hero. Most people couldn’t do that.”

Yeah. She was definitely the kind of girl that was easy to take advantage of. I’m not surprised W got her to join, or that Devesh had such an easy time deceiving her.

“Listen, you really shouldn’t be that trusting.”

“You’re probably right.”

This girl.

“I’d rather you not get killed, so don’t do anything stupid. Elodie knows you were working with W, but she specifically said you weren’t a target. As long as you don’t do anything stupid you should be fine.”

“I’ll try, but no promises.”

This idiot. I was actually starting to feel a little bad for her, but then our maid Jennifer informed us dinner was being served.

Emily being the airhead she was, immediately accepted an invitation that wasn’t offered to her.

My uncle never ate with us. I think Elodie was out somewhere else. I hadn’t seen her since we got back. Oakley used to eat with us, but lately she’s been focusing more on Elodie.

That means dinner was supposed to be a private meal for Oliver and I. Why didn’t she get that?

Wasn't she supposed to be the enemy of the Oldridge family? Why was she so happy to sit down and break bread with us?

And why did she eat so much? Jennifer couldn’t keep up. Every dish she brought out was gone before I knew what it was.