Mechanical by Pauline C. Harris Page B

said, now officially concerned.
“You really like it.”
    “Oh ...” she said vaguely. “Then I must’ve
stopped or something. ‘Cause I don’t play piano.” She looked at me
blankly, her hazel eyes expressionless.
    “Cecelia,” I said firmly, shaking her a
little by her shoulders. “What’s wrong? Snap out of it.” I heard my
voice rise a little.
    She didn’t do anything, just sat there
staring at ... nothing. I let go of her and watched her face the
front of the room again. I noticed other people in the class give
her strange looks once they realized it was actually Cecelia and
not some new kid in the class.
    Eventually I turned away from her and tried
to focus on the lesson. But how could I? What had happened to
Cecelia? What had they done to her?
    Throughout the day, more and more people
noticed the strange change in Cecelia. Her friends seemed even more
freaked out than I was, and all Cecelia seemed to do was go through
the motions. She didn’t seem to be living at all. Even Jessica had
noticed and told me about it, but I brushed the subject away, not
wanting to think that what had happened to Cecelia was my
fault.
    Later, as I walked outside towards the van
after school, I heard footsteps approaching quickly behind me. I
turned to see Caroline and smiled at her. “Hi,” I said.
    “Have you seen Cecelia?” she asked me, her
blue eyes sparkling with the excitement of some good gossip.
    I nodded. “Yep.”
    “I don’t know what’s wrong with her,” she
said, drawing out the subject in hopes of some information or at
least a good talk.
    I shrugged, not wanting to discuss it.
    Caroline frowned, and seeing I wasn’t at all
into the subject, changed the topic. “Well, anyway, what I wanted
to talk to you about is the history assignment. I forgot when it’s
due.”
    “Thursday, I think.”
    Suddenly, I noticed someone walking towards
us from the van. As he got closer, I recognized the gangly arms and
unsteady gate as Jeremy’s, one of the androids from the
Institution. He was walking very fast and soon I saw him break into
a run. He had a determined look on his face and didn’t show any
signs of slowing down, even when he was just a few feet from us.
“Hey Jeremy,” I called, confused about why he was here and slightly
concerned.
    But he didn’t look at me. He didn’t even
glance my way. He was looking at Caroline. I saw her expression
turn to one of concern, but before I could even think about what
was going on, Jeremy had shoved Caroline to the ground.
    “Jeremy!” I cried. “What are you doing?”
    Just then I saw him pull something from under
his belt and my heart almost stopped, the blood chilling in my
veins—a knife. Caroline screamed and tried to scramble out of the
way. What was Jeremy doing with a knife?
    “Jeremy!” I shrieked and launched myself
between him and Caroline. I felt the knife slice through my skin
like butter, stinging, and saw Jeremy step back in confusion. Blood
trickled down my arm, slow and warm. “What are you doing?!” I
screamed, but again I saw him lunge at Caroline, this time watching
in horror as the knife plunged into the pit of her stomach.
     

Chapter Twenty-Two

    Caroline let out a blood-curdling scream as
Jeremy took a step back, clutching the knife tightly in his
hand.
    “Stop!” I screamed at Jeremy, jumping in his
way as he tried again to lunge at Caroline.
    Just then, I saw David sprinting towards us
from the van and I heard the sounds of police sirens. “What are you
doing?” I shrieked at Jeremy.
    “Not ... perfect ...” he muttered, staring at
Caroline who was now lying on the ground huddled up in a ball,
whimpering.
    I stared at him in horror as David grabbed
him. Then several police officers tackled him to the ground. I
turned away and knelt beside Caroline. “Oh no ...” I whispered,
noticing a pool of blood collecting underneath her.
    Hailey ran toward us and burst into
hysterical tears. “Caroline!” she cried.
    I heard