"But they're innocent!" Mary argued.
I was in Mr. Freeman's office pinned to a chair next to Matthew by two people I didn't know. He thought we were like Vincent. That couldn't be true. If we were, we'd have been with Vincent. I was sleeping, and I know Matthew wasn't anywhere near the intrusion. Maybe eating breakfast.
"Mr. Freeman, we're not spies. If we were we'd be with Vincent. I was eating breakfast, and Lily was sleeping." Matthew pleaded.
"How do I know that that was just the intention? Maybe you're just trying to gain my trust by seeming innocent and not being involved, maybe Lily was awake but pretending to be screaming." Mr. Freeman challenged. He was sticking to his theory. "And, Lily is always tense when I see her."
That is because I'm always with Matthew when I see you. I mentally shot back.
"That's because I'm always with her." Matthew quoted me. "She is, afraid, of me." That was the best way to put it.
"And how do you know that?" Mr. Freeman challenged.
"I can read her mind!" Matthew said.
"And I can't read yours. You could be hiding something." Mr. Freeman pouted like a five year old.
"Mr. Freeman, I think they're innocent. And I think I know how they can prove they are." Nicholas suggested. "Tell them what you told me."
Mr. Freeman sighed. "I suppose you're right." Then he told us his theory. "Many people call them the 'brainiacs', so I'm guessing you'll find them the most familiar if I use that term. So the brainiacs have been studying this incident for a while and they think they've figured something out. Do you know Justin Murphy? He had the power of hypnotizing through singing, and he passed away today." The reminder of his death was like a big slap in the face. "Justin had hypnotized 3 boys he seemed to despise to fall in love with a certain novel. Then when he died, they showed no interest for it, like Justin had never hypnotized them to love it in the first place. The brainiacs and I have a theory that this might be connected to President Evelina's mysterious power."
Matthew's eyes widened. "Seriously?"
Nicholas chuckled. "Lily still needs to hear the story, but Matthew needs to start staying out of people's heads." Yeah Matthew, stay out of people's heads.
"Obviously, the people with President Evelina aren't thinking clearly. They know her intentions, that they'll end up being killed in the end. But they're following her any way. We think she has the same sort of power as Justin."
That sort of made sense. "But I don't think she sings." I argued.
"Nicholas, show them one of the secret speeches." Mr. Freeman ordered.
Nicholas wobbled to a flat screen tv that was connected to a computer. He pressed a few buttons, and then there was a static noise and the tv started playing. It looked like it came through a security camera, and I saw President Evelina at the head of a table. It was a long table, stretching across the wide room. There were chairs with other people there, all looking dull. She then started speaking. Her voice sounded different from what I'd heard before, off. But it brought a huge sense of familiarity.
"Hello everyone. My name is Evelina Davis. I have gathered you here to discuss an important topic." She cleared her throat. I felt myself becoming absorbed into it. I suddenly grew calm. "I think I should be president because there are certain qualities that people like presidents need to have. I think I have these skills." She paused, then continued. It felt like my thoughts were clearing, and all I felt was tranquility. "Leadership. I know how to lead. I can do it well. But there is another skill needed, and that is knowing who the bad people are." She paused again, and then she looked like a frightened puppy. "There are people, people who have extra skills." I knew then that the people in the room were powerful. They all glanced at each other nervously. "Some of them are bad. They live among the innocent, and I think I know how to clear them up." Who were these bad people? I felt the urge to yell and scream. These bad people needed to be destroyed. "Better kill them while they're young, right? Kill them when they're still in school, make an excuse. We'll call it Fight For Animals." There were murmurs in agreement.
"But, wait," a tan man with an Afro piped up. It was Harry. "Why are they bad?"
"Yeah, they seem innocent." A man next to him with light blue eyes and pale agreed. Spots.
President Evelina just stared at them. She looked them right in the eye, it was like she was glaring them to death. "They've done things, things that are so evil." They're eyes widened, and I could see them being lured into it. She cocked her said to the side slightly, I saw a bright glint off her forehead. She must've channeled a lot of power, she was glimmering so brightly. "You're evil too. All of you. After they've been destroyed, you'll destroy each other." There were slight nods of agreement. "And then I'll be the only powerful person alive. You must help me."
"We will." Harry and Spots said in unsion. I saw looks of determination. They'd all agreed. But then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Vincent, with a look of determination.
The tv went blank. I snapped back to the present. I remembered now. I dreamt when I was about 2 years old about this. I realized, President Evelina could be powerful through a security camera too. I had almost been lured.
"It all makes sense in why she'd go after Justin." Mr. Freeman muttered. "He shouldn't have died."
"What?" I asked.
"Justin was the first one killed. Although the dogs," he paused, noticing he shouldn't have referred to them as dogs, "I mean survival people, were shooting wildly, the second they spotted Justin they aimed for him until he was dead." I noticed Mary's lip quiver at the description. "But we don't know for sure. So, if you truly aren't spies, then you'd be capable of killing President Evelina."
As much as I wanted to be proven not guilty, I didn't want to leave the P.P.R.C. "But what if when we leave we decide not to kill her? And we just walk off with our lives and make sure you don't find us?" I imagined Matthew and I strolling across a beach together. No. I screamed at myself. Stop. So I shook the thought off.
"I'm sending people with you. After all, you'd need strong people to help you." Mr. Freeman seemed to think for a moment. "The top 3 ranked survival people. Mary, Nicholas, and Alexis Watson, they will go with you."
Mary stiffened. I knew she wasn't happy with this mix of people. "Yes Mr. Freeman." She said.
Nicholas nodded, and then said, "I'll go get Alexis. We'll explain what she needs to do." He left the office, and came back a few minutes later. Alexis was with him, and she didn't look very bright and happy.
"What do I have to do?" She asked kindly. Mr. Freeman told her about Justin, which she teared up about, the theory, and what needed to be done.
"Ok." She said. I could tell she wasn't excited about anything she said.Then she turned to Matthew and said, "Oh, I'm sorry about the tournament thing. I am sort of the reason you couldn't read her mind. I know you might enjoy it but she doesn't." Matthew squinted his eyes at her. "I mean, you don't mind reading everyone's minds." She corrected.
"It's ok." He looked at me briefly, and my head was flying with questions. I didn't bother thinking about them, there was so much more to think about. I'm already accustomed to Matthew's confusion.
Later that evening, everything was ready. We all had a bag of bottled water, granola bars, first aid kits, and certain weapons for defense. I was anxious. Evelina's forces were big. We could be killed.
As we got many good lucks from other people, I fidgeted with my hands. The attention was killing me, and I couldn't believe that could something I was fearing compared to what could happen when I'm no longer under the custody of P.P.R.C.
Right before we had to go, Mr. Freeman gave us all a big hug. "Good luck to you all."
"Thanks." Alexis said. I knew she was tense, but she hid it well with cheerful and positive words. "Well, let's go!"
She opened the doors that I'd only ever been through once, and we made our way across the dark hallway in silence.
YOU ARE READING
Fight For Animals
Novela JuvenilUs innocent children are tortured. Every year a random school is picked. The cruel, evil president chooses 5 random schools. Elementary, middle, or high. Then when it is chosen, the president decides which 2 students, who will fight to the death in...