The War Satellite

Chapter Twenty

Clara

I woke up shivering in the corner. I was still tired and my muscles were sore. I groaned as I stood up trying to get back to my bed. As my eyes adjusted to the darkness I realized my bed was gone as were the chairs. I frowned and looked at the door. The walls and the floor were the same but there was no furniture. Were they trying to confuse me?

I stretched out my legs and leaned against the wall staring at the door. With little else to do, I fell asleep again and when I woke up a food tray was in front of me. A piece of bread crust and a cup of water was all that I had received. I guessed Will wasn't cooking anymore.

I raised the crust to my mouth and the door opened. The guard yelled at me and I dropped the bread. He stopped immediately and stepped next to the door. His eyes watching me. I picked up the crust and another yell followed.

"You don't want me to eat? Then why did you put it out here?"

I tried again with the same results. I pushed the tray away in disgust, these were just mind games, ones that I could win.

I fell asleep again and when I woke up the guard was still watching me his arms folded a gun slipped over his shoulder. I stared at him watching for movement but I couldn't see anything. I couldn't even see his chest rise and fall. I squinted in the darkness and tried to reach for the bread again, the guard did not move. I pulled it towards my mouth and bit into it. The guard again didn't react.

A little confused and disoriented I finished off the bread and the water. Without another word the guard picked up the tray and left. I was alone in the room for what felt like days before another guard came in. The same treatment was given. I didn't understand what they were trying to do or prove I guess. It didn't make any sense to me.

After a while in the dark I began to implement a fitness regime. Push ups, crunches, doing everything I could to make sure I wasn't becoming weak. I couldn't let Hornet beat me. With little food I barely made a difference and I could hardly push myself up. But it was something to do and mark the days with so I did it. Most of the time I spent in my corner leaning against the wall thinking of all the good times. With so few memories I repeated so many old ones in my head. Some days I tried to remember the exact layout of the places Hornet had taken me too. I wanted to be helpful to the Founding Fathers when they came. The days mixed together and food never came at the same moment.

After a few weeks of this treatment, I woke up to find the usual guard replaced with a friendlier face. Will stood next to the door, he held no gun as usual but he was carefully studying me. He smiled when he saw me stir.

"What's up?"

I motioned to the walls and my room.

"Not much to say I see. That's okay. Well I wanted to come back and talk to you. Why don't you tell me about yourself?"

"What do you want to know?" Will shrugged.

"I've always wondered what outsiders thought of the war."

"You want to know my side of things?" I asked.

Will nodded and settled onto the floor to listen.

"War is horrible Will, horrible. I can't believe none of you remember the terror and heartbreak Hornet caused. Every single person was carted away to be a part of Hornet's colony. I was able to stay away, and so were a few others. We learned all we could about your so called leader and how he killed over 95 million people. He tried to lead the people, but he 'leads' by fear by treachery. One that hides behind a calm and courteous facade. While I don't know even a tenth of the things he's done I know what he's capable of and it's terrible. I could go on for hours. Telling you unspeakable horror stories of what he has done."

I took a breath to continue on but Will stopped me.

"Clara, this is too much. How do I know that you have the right side and I have the wrong. I need some proof. Maybe you can talk about other stuff, happier stuff from your life."

I frowned, maybe this was a trick to tell him more about myself. Maybe Hornet was listening.

"You go first."

Will shrugged and stood up again obviously not comfortable on the floor.

"I already told you a little bit about me. I was ten when I was enlisted into the army. I don't remember my family as much as I would like. But I'm doing this for them. I don't have many stories to tell. I've spent the majority of my life here in the main city. They say I'm the best cook they've ever had so they keep me here. I make meals for Hornet himself. What an honor that is."

Will's voice was flat and his ease seemed forced. He sat back down on the floor for a few seconds but only to get back up again.

"Are you okay?"

Will nodded. "Yeah. I'm good."

"Are you sure?"

Will didn't answer but I heard him mumble something. I bit my lip, wondering why he was acting so weird. Everything felt forced, unnatural. Maybe it was another mind game. I should make the most of it.

"Do you have any news from outside the complex?"

From what I could tell in the dark Will looked relieved for the change in conversation.

"Yeah. Not much is going on. They've been talking about the villages out of the colony, they're planning to eradicate them. Lord Hornet has no use for them anymore. Or that's at least what he believes. They're going to go for a small fishing village on the coast of England first then move onto a couple villages in Northern Canada and several South American civilizations. Within a month or two, everyone will be in the colony with us. Lord Hornet is making plans to enlarge the wall, to encompass a larger area."

Will rambled on for a while, his heart not into the conversation. A noise sounded outside and Will jumped.

It wasn't close but Will seemed shaken up. He crossed the room grabbing me by the shoulders, his eyes were wide with fear and his chin quivered.

"Someone has been following me. I don't know who, my quarters were ransacked I know something's going to happen. I need someone to know. I'm scared, I don't know what to do."

Will looked back at the door when the sound had come from.

"You have to know that I'm not special but I think they're going to do something to you try to torture you in some way they haven't before. Lord Hornet has his methods and you should be scared." Chills ran up my neck as I listened to Will.

"If you're part of the rebellion, you need to stay strong, don't give Hornet the information. I know he's my ruler and I should believe in him unwaveringly but Clara you have to stop him. He's not sane. Promise me you will. Promise me you won't give in."

His hands shook and unable to say anything I nodded. He let go taking a step back running his fingers through his hair.

The lights flickered on and for a moment I was blinded. I heard a soft clap and I squinted against the hard light to see a man in the corner.

"That's enough confession to condemn you for life. Goodbye, Will."

My eyes adjusted in time to see as the man raised his gun and a shot exploding from the barrel.