Testing Vickie

Chapter Five

Two hours later after monitoring the computer, a stream of notifications come in. That means something is viral, right? Does that make me famous? The studio is still empty as the sun is rising. I set the camera up again and start to record.

“My name, is Victoria Bones. I am sixteen years old and I have a problem like most sixteen-year old’s do. Except, this isn’t a little material problem. It’s large. No one knows who I am. I mean, sure. I’m the girl who became a model overnight, but no one knows me. My family doesn’t, my best friend thinks I’m imaginary and I need them to know who I am. So, find me in an hours’ time Anastasia Tarskov, Oliver Bones and family, because we need to talk. I’ll be waiting at the library, top floor.”

It was a risk to take them to the books but I needed to go to see if they actually had me. I go back to the library down the glittery film path. There’s no signs of what happened last night with Ana, no marks left, no rope or flattened grass. Not even footprints.

I go into the library and avoid the section where I know my book is. I grab place markers located at a desk nearby and find Mum and Dads TEST books. Oli is too young to take the TEST and I know Ana is doing hers at the same time that I am, except not here. Or at this time? Ugh, so confusing.

Finding Mum and Dad’s TEST books was a relief. Finding me in them, is another thing. They’ve done so much which was all recorded. I end up flipping to the end where there’s information about after the TEST. Mum went on to live life and Dad became a bit of a fuckboy I guess. Strange how my mum met him. They were at a party and he took her home. They met as complete strangers. Dad apparently didn’t know who the host even was at the party… party crasher. They despised each other. That’s funny, I distinctly remember them gazing dreamily at each other when I was five. They insulted each other all night. Oh wow. Great insults there. Bahahah Mum called Dad a pervish cunt. They left the party without the others phone number but their heart. Aww that’s cute. Despite the insult. Then a couple of months after Dad saw Mum across the road and yelled out slutty b***h and got arrested. Bahahah that’s also funny. Then she bails him, ok they do mean things to each other then be nice. That’s adorable! It was another year until they saw each other again. Dad applied for a job where Mum was working and they ended up on the same shift. Apparently, there was a lot of fighting. Then s*x in the freezer?! Then they got fired. I wasn’t really surprised at that, I would do the same. Wow. My parents were… kinky. Then they did the usual marry, kids, careers thing. Veryyyy interesting.

An hour somehow passes and I hear footsteps. I’m surprised they didn’t come rushing up immediately. I see Mum, Dad and Oli and I get a lump in my throat. They look, bewildered. I kind of can’t look at them in the eye after what I read. 30 awkward seconds later, Ana rushes up the stairs. She doesn’t flinch at the sight of me like she did last night which I guess is good. There’s no chafe marks and no wild look in her eye.

“Ah, so.” I start. I’m so nervous. One hour left. “Well. Alexander Bones, Georgia Athens, I’m your daughter. You had me 16 years ago. I’m even in your TEST. Look, have you even looked at these before?” I leave them to pour over their book and reminiscence over their past. Turning to Oli and Ana I say: “You both haven’t taken the TEST but Oli, have you ever wished you had an older sister? Maybe even imagined I existed? Ana? You told me you had an imaginary best friend called Vickie. My TEST book is in the shelves over there. You can find my book if you want. You’re both in there.” My last gamble is on this book. As soon as I see them return, Oli with the book in his hands, my name embellished in gold paint on the spine. Ana is leading him and that familiar feeling of falling, drowsiness and arm burning comes back mixed with the bright white light when Michael comes. I quickly hold onto Ana and don’t let go as a blinding flash emanates from the book in Oli’s hands.

“Congratulations. You passed the first TEST.” Michael is now at the table back where I started. I hear a gasp behind me.

“Ana?” Shock ripples through my body. “How’d you get here? Do you know who I am? Where do you live?”

“Calm down woman. You’re Victoria ‘Vickie’ Bones, my best friend. You know I live in a hut and not a house,” She giggles and I join her “and I don’t know how I got here. I was knitting in the hut then there was a blast of white light then I was here. I thought you were doing your TEST?”

“I am I was just in one. Got out of it, didn’t succeed overall.”

“You ladies finished catching up?” Says Michael’s cold voice. “You must try again.”

“Can Ana come with me?” I ask

“That is your choice.” Was his cold reply. He didn't even look at her.

“Do you wanna come?” I ask cautiously, something in me though wants her not to.

“Do you want me to come?” She asks, ever more cautious than me.

“I don’t know if I want you to get hurt.”

“I’ll stay here, don’t worry. Don’t come back!” We laugh. “I’ll meet you there soon. Miss me though ok?”

“I always do.” I turn around to face the vials again. Which to drink? I decide on the wine glass one, the deep red liquid swirling around. I downed it in one gulp. That drowsy feeling is coming back. Dammit, wrong vial again. Let’s see where this one goes.

I wake up in a warm bed, someone’s arm around me. With one eye open I can see Michael. Eaugh.

“You have three days.” Then he disappears. Three days to do what?