SILVER EYES (GXG)

Chapter 20: Living Death

The unsettling silence, along with the hundreds of gazes like arrows shot toward me, made me feel fragile and vulnerable. And despite wearing the uniform and the silver badge that proved my authority, I couldn't help but feel more incapable than ever of exercising my power.

There were people of all kinds: men, women, old, young, and children. Most of them had tattered and dirty clothes and shared the same expression of expectation. Hoping that we would finally be the solution to all their problems, while at the same time, feeling as if they stood at the edge of a great abyss, ready to take the leap. How did it come to this? I mused.

Unintentionally, I began to scan the rows of boys quickly, hoping to spot Michael among them, even though I knew it was impossible. They wouldn't have summoned Michael to return, as he had missed his first opportunity.

Heather passed through the gates and stood in front of all the people who watched her closely. "Hello, everyone, and thanks for coming. Today, we're going to transfer some of you," she said, exactly the same thing she had told me back on the day I crossed.

People started to complain, as I knew they would and Heather looked at me.

"Hey, you'll have to patrol for a while through the lines as Lea and I start to transfer people at the gates, okay? Just maintain order with your presence," she ordered, and I nodded, starting to walk through the endless lines of people.

It felt really weird seeing people's reactions as I passed by them. Some avoided my gaze, others seemed lost in their thoughts, and many appeared frightened. I never thought I would ever scare anybody in my entire life. But there I was, dressed in a Narval uniform, maintaining order among those who happened to be me once back in time.

I couldn't help but feel a slight flutter in my heart every time I spotted a dark-haired young boy. My subconscious yearned to see Michael.

"You are new, aren't you?" A voice from the line came to me. I turned around and saw an old man, maybe in his seventies with a white right eye and a jacket full of holes.

"You are indeed," he continued. I didn't say anything and kept walking, but he stopped me by holding my arm.

"Hey, I need to cross today. Can you help me? My daughter has been inside since... I can't even remember since when. I really need to cross," he explained.

"You wait here until you are called," I said, trying to sound a bit authoritative, but deep down, I was getting very nervous.

"Okay, but could you be the person who lets me in?" he asked.

"You have to wait here and now leave my arm, please," I repeated; he was still holding me.

"Please, I don't like those two over there," he said, looking at Heather and Lea, who had already started to transfer some lines of people.

"Let go of my arm, sir," I said, and he finally released his grip.

"Thanks for your help," he said ironically, his gaze filled with sadness and I walked away from him.

"The red color," Heather shouted, and one of the queues started moving toward her.

"The white color," Lea shouted. I noticed that people with the white color were being treated differently from the others. Heather directed her red-colored group to the right, while Lea sent the white-colored individuals to wait on the left.

A pair of drones hovered over the area, assisting with surveillance. I continued patrolling along the lines, making sure everyone moved in an orderly fashion whenever they were called.

"The orange color," Heather said, and the line where the old man stood began to move. Everyone appeared very relieved to finally be crossing, even though they had no idea what awaited them ahead. Heather called me, and I returned to her side.