Extraordinary Mistakes
Playing with fire

Ánh keeps playing with her food instead of eating it. She’s by herself on the living room, watching the Vietnamese news. It’s still early in the morning, not even eight. Usually, Rachel would be up by now and keep her company.

It’s almost nine when she finally gets there, with her hands behind her back, hiding something. She tries to get Ánh’s attention, but the girl either looks away, hiding her tearful eyes, or focuses on the news instead.

“I have something for you...”

Ánh looks at her and forces herself to smile. Rachel shows her hands, a beautiful white lotus flower, Ánh’s favorite. Rachel hands it to her and a genuine smile now appears.

“It’ll take time, Ánh, but your heart will heal,” Rachel creates little drops of water and surrounds the plant with it, making them dance in the air.

“Thank you...” Ánh puts the plant down and hugs her, “I’m sorry about yesterday, Rach. I know it wasn’t easy for you.” She notices Rachel limping. “What happened to your leg?!”

“I... fell. It’s okay. She was in a tough situation and needed your help. I just hope she knows how lucky she is to have you.”

“She does and so am I. The Parkers are the kindest. Truly. They treated me as if I was a member of their family. Paid for my trips during the holidays and took care of my parents after my death. Abigail’s siblings are amazing too. I miss them.”

“Still...” Rachel sits down next to her, “they’re the biggest supporters of the system as it is.”

“I know what you mean,” Ánh turns off the news and turns to her, “but none of it is their responsibility. It’s their parents’ choice. Rach, children aren’t responsible for their parents’ sins.”

Aren’t they?

“It always makes me laugh when I remember how me and Abigail met. Have I told you how?”

Rachel shakes her head.

“When I first got to the Institute, she was my designated welcoming student. Some older girls were mean to me, they destroyed my shoes...” Ánh’s voice cracks, “she hit them with a broom.”

“God, that woman has no limits! And they say we are the terrorists!” Rachel laughs. “Do you want to... watch our episode?”

Across town, Emily parks outside the Parker’s house. Ever since yesterday that her social media is blowing up. Jade posted a photo of the two of them, holding each other, back when they were 16. The not-so-subtle description ofwhat is truly yours always replaces a way backresulted in an avalanche of reactions. Even a hashtag and video montages of Jamily’s best moments.

Abigail welcomes her in, and they head to her room.

“Where are your parents?”

“China. Thankfully, I convinced them to let me stay here. Kateryna is probably reporting back to them.”

“Have you seen the socials today?!” Emily’s smile widens.

“What? Oh, yeah, sure, whatever. Emily, I called you here because we need to talk about something serious.”

“Well, what do you think about it?” The girl looks at her.

Abigail sits on her bed, realizing that she can’t avoid the topic.

“Great.”

“That’s... that’s it? ‘Great’?”

“Emily...” Abigail sighs loudly. “You are too old to play games. Hopefully, this time it’ll be it.”Here’s hoping this will-they-won’t-they will finally be over.

“Can’t you be a little more supportive?”

I don’t care... who cares, really?!

“Emily, I’m sorry, but I just can’t. I’ve seen this derail over and over. So, I’m sorry. I hope this time is different for your sake.”

“Why would you say that?!” Emily paces around. “Why can’t you just be happy for me?!”

“I am happy for you and wish you two nothing but happiness,” Abigail says, trying to not sound fake. “Now, Emily, I saw the photo of the assassins.”

“The assassins... how?” her eyebrow raises.

“That doesn’t matter. What matters is that one of them is the little boy whose father was your gardener.”

“Mateo? Don’t be ridiculous. My father got them a job in L.A., they had family there and moved. That boy wasn’t a deviant.”

“Neither were the assassins, probably. Emily, I know that it’s him...” she clears her throat. “Someone confirmed his identity.”

“I’m starting to worry about you. You should have your head checked. First deviant to have a tumor!” Emily scoffs.

“Yesterday, I had a mind controller trying to kill me.”

Emily’s jaw drops and Abigail keeps telling it like it is nothing.

“He wiped up the memories of the terrorists helping the people on that day. Someone doesn’t want them to think that Rachel’s group saved the day.”

Rachel... first name basis? What’re you getting yourself into?

“That doesn’t mean that it was something orchestrated by anyone other than her. Why have the memories of their manipulation?”

“Emily!” Abigail takes a long breath, “memory wiping has terrible lifelong effects. Don’t tell me that Madeleine...” she laughs, “not Madeleine, she’s too dense. Someone else did it only so they wouldn’t join the terrorists? They would spin it. Like that, that it was Rachel’s plan and there is no second terrorist movement.”

“Rachel Moore set in motion a plan for me to join her. Her army’s gigantic, but I’m the most powerful. She needs me.”

A gigantic army... of five.

“We need to know what is happening! And your father may very well be in the center of it,” Abigail tells her.

“So what? You want to follow my father around?” she laughs loudly.

“Not with his hyperawareness... but Joshua, on the other hand, he works for him.”

“Joshua? Are we talking about the same Joshua? My brother? That’s ridiculous.”

“Can we just do it for one week? If nothing comes up, we’ll know for sure.”

Abigail asks Ánh for help with the tracker and tips. Every day, as soon as they leave their busy schedule, they follow him around. Mostly just her. Whenever Jade called, Emily disappeared and wouldn’t come back later, as promised. Unsurprisingly, it was the force of habit that Abigail watched for years now.

They started on a Monday. It was Thursday night already. Abigail promised Emily that they’d only follow Joshua for a week. The approved timeline was almost over and nothing worth noting happened.

Abigail follows him to an abandoned building complex on a sketchy part of the capital. The sort of area that the Roberts wouldn’t set foot in. She tries to contain her enthusiasm. This is the most exciting thing the boy has done so far, but it could mean nothing.

Several other cars and a van park too. They drag body shaped black trash bags from the van to the inside of the building. A shiver went up Abigail’s spine. It could still be nothing, right? Just some dolls or just a poor taste packaging. Everyone starts carrying long briefcases and this she’s sure: those are weapons cases.

She texts Emily. The girl doesn’t answer right away, and Abigail decides to call her repeatedly. Despite understanding the urgency in Abigail’s voice, Emily takes well over one hour to do a 15-minute ride.

Abigail signals her to turn off the lights and park near her. They can’t see what’s happening inside.

“Let’s go nearer.” Emily uses her phone’s zoom to try to see through the windows.

“We have no idea how dangerous they can be. What if they catch us? Will Joshua save you?” Abigail grabs her phone, turns it off and does the same with hers.

“Well, Abigail, got a better idea?”

“I’ll ask for some help.”

“From whom?”

Emily’s fully aware of the answer already.

“The terrorists.”

Rachel Moore, that’s who you mean.

“It’s official: you clearly lost it. Should I even ask how you have their number?” Emily’s voice sharpens.

“It doesn’t matter, Emily. Right now, they’re our best chance of replaceing out, safely, what’s happening there!”

“Nothing is happening! Joshua and his friends are out partying, probably doing several drugs, and that’s why they are doing it here. That’s it!”

“I know what I saw! There were bodies on those bags. Stop being in denial!” Abigail whispers.

“Denial? You have no idea what you saw. You’re just delusional. I’m out of here. Be careful, Abigail, you’re literally playing with fire. One day that devil will ask you for something in return, and you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”