The Elites

Chapter Twenty-One

"We have to get the message to them somehow," Mr Hetley said, snatching the remote from Jana's hands and poking at the wires futilely.

"I'm telling you, sir," Dexter said. "There's no fixing that thing."

"We're going to need Violet's then," I said solemnly; it wasn't something I wanted to be saying.

"Fine," Jana said. "If it has to be done it has to be done. Makes things a bit harder but-"

"A bit?" Mr Hetley repeated. "It's bloody suicide."

"Violet's remote has a little button that instantly sends the kill signal. There's also a button on the top that you hold down and activate the microphone. One wrong move and they're all dead."

"It's bloody suicide and then some," I said bitterly before taking a deep breath.

"And there's another problem. The device is linked to her heartbeat. If her heartbeat stops or starts getting a little off, it triggers the distress signal. You somehow need to get the message to them while she's still alive."

"Fantastic," I said bleakly.

"Violet probably wants you to come to her," Jana said. "I can take you to her. You can't go in all guns blazing; she'll just press the button. If a few of you go up with the mindset to discuss-" I couldn't help but snort loudly at this, "- then there might be a chance."

"What kind of chance?" Dexter asked.

"Get in there calmly and then stun her. Shoot her somewhere it will put her off guard. Then rush forward and take the remote from her. I know where she keeps it - I can do that part."

"We've honestly got nothing to lose at this point," I muttered, and Mr Hetley's ears pricked up.

"Only God knows how many lives, Harry!" he seethed, giving me a look I'd never seen him give anyone before, let alone someone he liked.

"Christopher, we don't exactly have many options available to us," I retorted in a way I never intended to speak to him. "If you have any other suggestions be my guest."

He glared at me for a few seconds more, the word of what was being planned starting to spread through the surrounding crowd like wildfire. Will had stepped up beside me with Blair, Lara and Ashton in tow.

Mr Hetley's eyes eventually started to soften, lowering his eyebrows as he realised I was right. He rubbed at his eyes furiously and shook his hands out like he had gone numb.

"We should just get this done," Blair said, breaking the silence. "As soon as we can."

"I agree," Jana said. "I can take a few of you up there now. Who's coming?"

Will, Blair, Lara and I all offered ourselves at the same time. Ashton instantly grabbed Lara's arm as if to warn her away from it; I couldn't help but agree with his concern. For one thing, he had just found out she was a month pregnant. And for another, the last time she'd been with Violet she hadn't exactly stuck to the plan. He leaned down to whisper in her ear, to which she didn't look too pleased about. However she sighed and took a step back from us, telling us she was withdrawing her offer. I had no problem accepting it.

"Right, so," Mr Hetley said, nodding at Lara and Ashton respectively. "Harry, William, Blair-"

"Me," came Stasia's voice paired with the ever-present clacking of her heels. No doubt she was wanting some form of revenge.

"Us," Juliet's voice corrected her, before adding, "Please."

"Okay, the six of us will-" Mr Hetley started, but I cut him off.