The Institute by Kayla Howarth Page A

and all of the lies
between us. Maybe it was so easy to be with Drew because neither of
us allowed ourselves to truly be with each other, we were both
comfortable playing happy. I thought what we had could have been
love even though neither of us had said it to the other. We spent
so much time together over the last three weeks but we never told
each other our secrets. Could that really be love? I’m not exactly
the expert on love and I haven’t grown up with the best examples. I
don’t remember seeing Mum and Dad as a couple, I know they were at
one point but she died before I had many memories imprinted in my
mind I suppose. My aunt never married so I have never been around
coupled adults. How can I be in a relationship when I don’t even
know what a proper relationship is?
    “Allira, I
don’t want to leave you here if you don’t think you can handle what
is coming,” Drew says.
    “What do you
mean?” I ask.
    “They are going
to come and ask you a lot of questions as to where your brother is.
You and your father need to be prepared for when they do. If they
find out you know your brother is Defective and that he has run
off, your dad, and possibly you, could be thrown in jail … or
worse,” he says.
    I hadn’t even
thought of that part, I’m going to have to lie and I’m going to
have to be convincing. I am not good at lying, I am good at
changing the subject, at removing myself from awkward
conversations, at keeping secrets. If I try any of my eluding
tactics on the authorities they surely will know I am hiding
something. I won’t be able to stall them forever.
    “Don’t worry
Allira, by the end of today you will be an excellent liar,” says
Drew.
    I glare at him.
Is he sure he can’t hear everything I’m thinking? Two days ago I
was impressed with how perceptive he was to my feelings, now I just
want him to stay out of my head. I half wish he never told me; this
is going to get annoying real quick. It took me a while to get used
to Shilah knowing what was going to happen before it happened but
that never really affected me. I hate that I now have to censor my
thoughts, it’s hard enough censoring what I say aloud.
    “Okay, so first
thing you are going to have to learn to do is how to show no
emotion.” Drew takes a seat at the dining table as he starts to
teach us how to be good liars. He should know, he has done plenty
of it.
    “Allira, you
show too much emotion in your face. Even if I wasn’t an Empath I
would be able to tell that you are stressed.”
    He gets up from
his chair, walks over to me and puts his hands on my shoulders.
“You need to close your eyes, take a deep breath and clear your
mind. Don’t think about anything.”
    I close my eyes
and take a deep breath, and then another one but it’s not working.
I can’t shut my brain off, there’s just too much going on.
    “Okay how about
you try thinking about one thing and only that thing.”
    I think back to
the first few visits to the Institute, being dragged around from
room to room, listening to the staff talk about how the Institute
is the best facility, the best place for the Defective, blah, blah,
blah. I would recite my favourite book in my head to keep me
entertained.
    I’m still
trying to focus on remembering the book, when Shilah joins us.
“Umm, why exactly are you teaching my sister to be just like you?”
he asks, clearly still angry that he is leaving.
    “To cover your
arse, Kiddo,” Drew answers him.
    “And yours
Drew,” I intervene before Shilah gets mad at the condescending
‘kiddo’ comment.
    “If we are
going to live together, you really have to cut out that ‘kiddo’ and
‘sport’ stuff with me,” Shilah snaps. I wasn’t quick enough
obviously.
    “Easy Tiger!”
Drew says with a grin. “Okay I’m done, I promise.”
    I wonder how
long Drew will be able to hold that promise for.
    Dad walks over
with the fry pan and dishes out the eggs onto plates. “I thought
you were meant to be showing us how