Everglade: The Underaged

Chapter 14

What! No! That defeats what we're fighting for!" Isabella said.

"Ailwin said that putting someone under their mind control was a process, some go under faster than others. What if I pretend to be under their control like Ailwin did?" Luke argued. Isabella opened her mouth to say something then closed it. Luke knew she saw what he meant. He just wasn't sure if she saw the reasoning behind it. Ailwin was nodding.

"It might be able to fool them. Especially since their control on the Underaged is slipping." He said. "If he suddenly acted normal, they would think their mind control broke." Isabella opened her mouth again, but closed it again.

"What if he really does go under mind control?" Korman said.

"Then we avoid him like the plague." They devised a plan for getting Luke into and out of the Band of the Crows clutches. Ailwin explained how there were two guards outside the entrance to the base.

"So, I could just walk up to it." Luke suggested.

"He could say that he's there to turn himself in." Korman said.

"That will work." Ailwin said. They executed their plan.

Ailwin led them to the Band of the Crows base. Then, Luke walked up to it while the others hid. There were two guards outside the door, just like Ailwin had said there would be.

"Hey! What are you doing here?" One of the guards asked.

"I've come to give myself up." Luke replied. The two guards grabbed him by his arms and hauled him inside the base. Luke glanced around as he was led down a corridor. The walls were blood red. There were controlled Underage everywhere. Luke couldn't help but shudder when he saw their blank faces and eyes. He hoped he would be able to trick them into thinking he was under their control. He didn't want to be under it for real. He didn't want to think about what he might do to his friends. He didn't want to hurt them.

They arrived in a huge room with a domed ceiling. There was a man in the middle. Guards stood all around the room. He turned around as they entered. He was wearing black clothes and a helmet shaped like a crow's head.

"You may leave now." The man said idly. The guards left.

"What do you want with me?" Luke demanded. "Are you going to put me under mind control?"

"No, I have much more planned for you. You see, some people lack certain... enlightenment. I'm going to give you that enlightenment."

"How?"

"It's simple really. All I've got to do is twist your mind until you think the way I want you to." The man approached Luke. "You will be a great asset to the Band of the Crows." He put his fingers on Luke's temples. Luke gasped as he forced his way into Luke's mind. Luke resisted him. It was to no avail. He kept all thoughts about the plan away from the man. He would just have to pretend that he was thinking the way the man wanted him to.

Everglade's time has ended. It's time for a new era. The man's voice inside his head said. Luke felt the urge to succumb. He resisted. He repeated what the man was saying to fool him.

It's time for The Crows to take over. Luke resisted the urge to succumb again and repeated what was said. The man removed his fingers.

"It's time for The Crows." He said.

"It's time for The Crows." Luke repeated to continue to fool the man.