I Have Been Chosen

Oliver 26

Present day

Tuesday 3rd March

It was Cody. Who else could it be? What was the likelihood of someone else having the same hair, the same build, and that suit which Oliver recognised was the one Cody had borrowed from Darren?

It was him.

He had gone missing, though it was not due to his drinking problem or someone hurting him as they all had feared; no, it was far worse. Because Oliver didn't know how they were going to escape this, but what Oliver did know was that he had to see him, to speak to him again, even if Cody would not be able to respond, also under the same spell as everyone else.

Just spotting Cody in the crowd, even such a distance away, granted Oliver more clarity, regaining the majority of his senses. He found himself no longer joining in on the chant; however, his body was still, barely able to move. A few moments later, his mouth began to move again, rejoining in with a few of the words, losing consciousness again.

Focus, Oliver calmed himself, eyes set on Cody before him. Just focus, concentrate, and block everything out.

Slowly, Oliver attempted to move his hand at a slow pace, but he was patient, still focusing, fighting through it. He reached into his pocket and held onto his packet of mints. With fumbling fingers, he slid a mint out and clasped it into a balled fist.

The queue stepped forward, Oliver only a fraction behind, as he mimed along to the chant, looking dead on, expression vacant and completely still, a feat he had no trouble with, no matter how much his heart thumped against his chest. His hand slowly came out of his pocket, and he kept it by his side, waiting until the colossal being far away was preoccupied. Oliver timed it with the being consuming another person, and he put the mint in his mouth, the overpowering flavour bringing all of his senses and control back. He tested it, able to flex his fingers with no restrictions. He could move forward and get closer to Cody.

"I have been chosen," the chorus sounded, and Oliver mimed along, his face his usual lack of expression as he waited.

"And I am going home."

Everyone took a step forward, Oliver only moments behind. He froze as he saw the being's head snap around, its featureless face turned to look at the queue.

Oliver didn't even allow himself to breathe, maintaining his composure easily as the mint calmed him down, relaxing him.

After a moment, the colossal creature returned its focus to the first in line, who was ready to be devoured.

"I have been chosen..."

Whilst the being was distracted, Oliver, with deft and quiet feet, stepped in front of the person before him in the queue, one person closer to Cody.

"And I am going home."

Oliver moved again, those he passed not seeming to respond nor care, too under the spell to react.

Occasionally the being would look over again, clearly sensing that something was wrong; though Oliver was still so far away from it, he hoped that the monster wouldn't notice that he had moved.

"I have been chosen..."

Oliver continued to move forward.

"And I am going home."

He was patient, not risking being caught, though the punishment was likely the same fate as getting to the front of the queue, only he wasn't in the trance anymore. If he were caught, he would have all of his terror and fear with him. It was perhaps a mercy to be under the spell, to lose your consciousness, as Oliver watched as another person lay limp in the monster's hand, awake yet not fully there, not screaming, not crying, as they were swallowed whole.

Oliver moved past more people, all of different ages and nationalities. He had learned the perfect timing when to step forward in unison with the crowd now, the monster no longer looking his way as much.

And then there he was.

He was right behind Cody.

It was unmistakably him. Oliver didn't know what he would do if it had turned out not to be him. And Oliver didn't know what to do now. He had reached Cody; that was all there was to the plan. What would he do after this? Was there any escape from here?

No, Oliver didn't want to think about that now.

"Cody?" Oliver whispered, timing it with the chant, wincing as he heard Cody's voice in the chorus, loud and clear. "Cody?"

Cody remained facing straight forward, unresponsive.

Oliver thought as much, but he had hoped that somehow he would snap out of it, just like he himself had. As soon as Oliver had spotted Cody in the queue, some of Oliver's senses had returned, not all but enough. Why was that? Was it because he recognised him? The image of Cody breaking through the spell? The mint was helping, was it because your sense of taste was powerful enough, or because mint was so familiar to Oliver? What about his voice? Could it break through to Cody? He would recognise it and...

And then what?

Again, what was the plan afterwards? They had nowhere to go. And maybe it was better that Cody remained under the spell so that he did not have to suffer when he would be taken too.

Oliver gazed at Cody's hands, seeing them covered in purplish black dust, with clumps of dried blood at his nails. Slowly, Oliver reached out, a finger only just able to touch Cody's wrist without Oliver breaking rank. "Cody..." Oliver's voice choked. A wobbling smile broke on his face. He didn't care if the monster saw because he got to see Cody again.

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Standing in the Way of Control by Gossip

[Kara keeps a steady beat on the drums, Darren the same on the bass, as Rheanna finally lets herself go in the chorus. The control and restraint she usually had over her voice were gone, desperate and almost screaming in the final chorus, Kara, Darren, Sasha, and Zeke all joining in.]