Taken by the fog

Explaining

Orson grabbed the chain from Sam's hands and walked forward. He threw the chain and I almost let out a scream. Sam's face was in shock and disbelief.
TJ.

The shock on everyone's faces was clearly visible. Sam looked furious and Mike nearly jumped after TJ. Connor and Pascal quickly stepped in and prevented him from going any further.
"Oh no." Ayden sighed. "Sam will go on strike."
"We'll have to stop him." Jackson added.
"First we have to help TJ. How does it work from now?" I asked.
"They will be put to sleep and we will make our way back. We will assemble in the hall in which you started off as well. From there, the same happens. They will get a buddy and they will move in somewhere, the one in his twenties will move in with me. It's my cousin." Ayden replied. "TJ will probably move in with you and Sam."
"Come on, we have to go." Jackson urged us to walk.

We slowly made our way to the border again. Judith and Orson stayed clear from me and Ayden and Jackson shielded me from everyone else. I needed to think and I desperately needed to blow off some steam. Sam also looked like he was about to commit a murder. His assigned partner walked a few feet away from him. Not daring to come closer.
"Should we go to Sam?" I asked.
"We can't, we have to stay with our assigned partners." Ayden replied.
"Plus, you are pissed and he is pissed. Combine that and it will blow up." Jackson sighed.
"Fine."

We crossed the boundary and were urged to the hall. The hall slowly filled up and Orson's smug face wouldn't leave mine for a couple of minutes. Vaughn and Lilith joined his side and Lilith dragged him to the office. Everyone started to murmur as the door was slammed shut.
"He's in trouble." Ayden commented.
"I would be scared for him if I didn't despise him so much." Ayden squeezed my shoulder to comfort me. Sam was nowhere to be seen.
"Where is Sam?" I asked.
"The Silvers are outside, they will walk the taken in." Sharon explained.
"The three will walk out and 'welcome' the new people and then they will be brought in to be assigned a color and a buddy." Ayden continued. I sighed but nodded. It's a waiting game from now on. Ten minutes passed until the doors opened. TJ and the other three people walked in. TJ's eyes met mine and I gave him a reassuring smile. Orson continued to speak and the diamond got placed in front of everybody.

The buddies walked out and I saw Jess, Sam and the two other people from last time. Jess got to pick first and surprisingly enough she went for the cute guy in his twenties. Sam got to pick after her and almost ran to TJ.
"Way to be predictable." Orson said.
"I don't care." Sam replied. The two elders were split between the two others waiting.
"Now, you will get the jobs assigned." Vaughn picked up the diamond and walked over to the taken. Ayden's cousin got purple and the two elders got green. TJ was the last to get a job, it shone bright yellow. I silently laughed.
"He'll teach history." I replied. "That's his strong suit."

After the ceremony, we were excused and urged to go outside. I almost ran to catch up with TJ and Sam.
"Where did you go?" I asked myself as I ran outside.
"Over here." Someone spoke from my left. I turned and saw Sam and TJ standing there. I flung my arms around TJ's neck. His arms wrapped around my waist and he hugged me tightly.
"He's moving in with us. Do you mind?" Sam asked while knowing the others.
"Uhm, obviously not."
"Let's get this party started." TJ grabbed my hand and started walking.
"We have to go this way." Sam stopped him before he went too far.
"I'm lost." TJ exclaimed dramatically.
"Welcome, drama queen."
"It's miss drama queen for you." Sam rolled his eyes, already regretting living with both of us.
"Sam, can I join now? The rest will arrive in half an hour." Ayden walked in step with Sam.
"Of course, Ayden meet my little brother TJ." They both greeted each other. Every step of the way it felt as if someone was watching my every move. I quickly shrugged off the feeling and followed everyone else.

"So, who else will be joining?" TJ asked as he plopped down on the sofa.
"Vaughn, Lilith, Drew, Jackson couldn't make it." Sam replied.
"Do I know any of them?"
"You saw Vaughn and Lilith today, they are siblings of Orson." I continued.
"And you trust those people." TJ stated.
"Yes, I do." I answered. "They're not as bad as their brother. Hold on, how will Lilith come here if you're her cover?"
"She told Orson she had a girls' night with you. Knowing Orson, he's terrified of girl nights or girl talk or anything related to that." Ayden explained. The doorbell rang a couple of minutes after. Drew entered with Lilith.
"All we have to do is wait for Vaughn then." Sam greeted them. As on cue, a knocking sound came from the back of the house.
"What's that?" TJ asked me.
"Vaughn's arrival. His house and this house are connected through some sort of tunnel which ends at the bookcase." I quickly explained. "Drew, Lilith, meet my TJ. He's one of my best friends." They all greeted each other when Vaughn walked in.

"Keep your eyes and ears open. Orson left with Judith, I figure they'll show up here. Jackson went with them to keep an eye on them." Vaughn started off. I rolled my eyes. Jackson went with them to keep an eye on them, as if.
"Tell me later." TJ whispered.
"Tell us, what is wrong with you and starting that fight with Orson?" Lilith finally burst out.
"How long have you waited?"
"Don't change the topic, and ever since the argument." Lilith admitted.
"So, most of you have heard of the rootless tree, right?" I started off. I waited for everyone to confirm. "Ayden and Jackson took me there a couple of days ago and I walked up to the tree. I placed my hand against it and some sort of figure started to talk to me. She told me to come back in two days for some sort of announcement or sign or something. I could use it to my advantage and when I learned more, it told me that I could use it for my benefit. So, Ayden and I went back two days later. I climbed in the tree and in the tree are names. Not carved but grown in the tree. I had no clue what it meant until I read it in the book. The names are arranged in a way to show the ones with the most power. Including holding power over others, meaning like mind control and stuff."
"Wait, the stories are real?" Lilith almost shouted.
"Be quiet." Vaughn shushed her. She flipped him off before urging me to continue.
"I looked at all the names on the tree. Lilith, Vaughn, you guys are on top together. Orson is third, with my name close to his. I haven't figured out why yet but I'm working on it."
"That's why you went against him." Ayden tried. "Because you know he's not."
"No, not the reason."
"Could your name be so high because you were the predictor and the diamond shone bright red?" Drew interrupted me.
"I don't know, it seems too obvious or too irrelevant. I'm confused, so I don't know. The thing told me to make sure Orson and Lilith are the strongest, that's why I'm trying to throw him off. The only thing I could think of was going after his pride, so I did." I finally explained.
"Actually, that makes a lot of sense." Ayden commented.
"That explains a lot." Vaughn agreed.
"Can anyone explain all the tea I missed?" TJ asked cautiously. Sam, Lilith and Drew quickly filled him in on everything that happened. Vaughn nodded at me to follow him. We walked to the kitchen and I sat down on the island.

"Did you really want to throw off Orson like that just because of what the tree said?" Vaughn asked.
"Of course not, she told me and it gave me an excellent opportunity to finally talk him down." I shrugged.
"Did the tree really talk to you?"
"It did."
"Strange."
"Why is it strange?"
"It hasn't spoken to Lilith, Orson, or me. Orson can't even see the names on it." Vaughn continued. "It chose you. Maybe Drew is right, maybe it has something to do with you being the predictor."
"Maybe, it's just another thing to add to the list of things we need to figure out. For now, I need the map. We crossed at another point, we need to add it." I got up and walked back to the living room.

"Knock, knock." Someone yelled from the front porch. Vaughn silently cursed under his breath. He tried to walk to the back door.
"Don't. The other one is in the back." I told him. "Follow me." I quickly dragged Vaughn to the stairs and shoved him in a closet. Placing a mirror and some boxes to conceal the door. I ran back down and walked over to the back door.
"Judith, what an unwanted surprise." I sighed.
"Seeing you is not the highlight of my day either."
"Yet, you keep coming in my direction."
"Shut it and shove it." She pushed past me and walked into the house. I closed the door and walked after her.
"There is the drama queen." Orson chided.
"There is the overrated leader." I replied dryly.
"Watch your mouth." Orson stood up tall.
"Don't talk to anyone like that if you can't handle it if they talk back."
"Leave him alone." Judith stepped in.
"Stop trying to save his ass. I think he can handle himself pretty good." Orson pushed himself past Judith.
"Listen, I don't need her to talk for me. And I definitely don't need you to get under my skin." Orson stepped closer to me. "We know you're up to something, tell me what it is."
"We won't." Drew stood up. A thud sound could be heard from upstairs.
"What was that?" Orson asked.
"A box falling, that can happen." TJ replied.
"Sit down." Judith snarked at him.
"Honey, watch the tone." I stepped in.
"Honey, leave me alone." Judith mimicked me. She snapped her fingers and Jackson and some others walked in.
"Take them to the main building." Orson commanded.
"What are you doing Orson?" Lilith asked.
"What does it look like? Taking you all."
"That's a job for the pinks. Not the orange."
"Well, you haven't done a really good job then." Drew quickly grabbed Lilith by the shoulders before she could jump at Judith. I walked up to Judith and stopped right before her.
"Take us then. Just one warning, you will regret this." I held out my arms in front of me. Judith scoffed and put handcuffs on my wrists. 

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