The Remaining

Chapter 5

We stopped to get petrol and food and slept in the van again. I learned more about everyone but the more I knew, the more I loved them. Apollo said we had about one hour until we got to where I needed to be. I sat in silence for the whole hour because I was preparing myself for when I had to say my goodbyes. The van stopped next to a large black fence that was laced with barbed wire. "This is as far as my van is aloud to go." Apollo said. Nodding, I climbed out of the van and brushed my sweaty hands on my jeans. Everyone else climbed out the van too. They each gave me a long hug and told me to be safe. Apart from James. "Where's James?" I ask. Alec, his best friend, shrugs. I hear the van door shut and James walks towards me, a bag on his shoulders. "I'm not saying bye to you just yet Athena," he began "and I'm not just going to let you wander off on your own, so I'm coming with you whether you like it or not." I bite my bottom lip and nod nervously. "Oh and Alec, you can join too. How would I survive without you bro?" Alec grabbed his bag from the van and stood next to James. Apollo looked at James and Alec disapprovingly. "Okay, you can go, just don't get into any trouble. You're lucky that you have a kind and understanding brother like me, because I know you and, er, Athena are...close." His eyes shift to me and then back to James. "But if you need me or need to know about where to stay, just ring me." Apollo, Orchard and Lyric hug and say bye to James and Alec and and after, they get in the van, turn it around and drive off, leaving a cloud of dust behind them. I'm going to miss them. 

We continued on foot up the long trail beside the fence and stopped when we got to a heavily guarded gate. A few soldiers came to us, blocking us from entering with their heavily loaded guns, pointed at out chests. "State your name and reason for being here." a guard demanded, his stern blue eyes shining at James. He was quite handsome - his skin was an indulgent bronze that made his eyes stand out immensely, his face planned out perfectly with even proportion and his posture was manly and strict, probably from his time being a soldier. Although, he isn't the kind of guy I'd go for. I take a step forward to indicate that I was about to speak and all guns pointed towards me. "I'm the person you're looking for. The one with the information about the Trial. My name is Athena, and this is James and Alec." All of the soldiers eyed me up and my heart started racing, blood rushing to my cheeks. After a few moments, they let their guard down, holding their guns naturally, gesturing us through the gate. We got searched for any dangerous weapons, but it felt really intrusive when they searched through our bags. The soldier that I thought was handsome earlier, led Alec, James and I through extremely secured units and through doors with signs that said restricted . So this must be the real deal then I thought this must have something to do with the government, especially with all of the security and rooms. 

We got to a door that needed a password to enter but when we were about to walk through, James and Alec were asked  to wait outside. I looked at them nervously and nodded. The soldier, who's name I'd found out was Connor, pushed me into the room and directed me to a chair. "So," a voice began, "You claim to know about the Trial." I look up at Connor but his eyes were focused on something else. "Yes, I do S-Sir." I stammer, trying to keep my voice even and steady, but failing. The man who had spoke came into the light that was on the table. The light lit up the table and that was it, and the rest of the room was just a shadow. Looking down at me with his beady old eyes, he rubbed the stubble on his face and asked, "Why should I trust you? After all, you're just a child who ran away from her crappy life at an orphanage." Wow, I already hate him. Why do people think they can talk to me like that? Looking down at my hands folded in my lap I reply, "Well I'm pretty sure you have a lie detector thing in the room next door and you're hacking my brain waves or something so you shouldn't really need to ask why you should trust me because you know whether I'm telling the truth or not." He sits down in the chair opposite me, a smirk plastered on his leather face. I return the smirk and he says, "What makes you think that, little girl? Or have you just got an over imaginative mind?" I sigh loudly. My body feels heavy from the heat and my mouth is as dry as a desert. I ignore his question, "May I have some water please?" He nods to Connor and he walks out the room. Moments pass and the man stares at me eagerly, "My name's Charles by the way." I knew he'd have a name like that, it's an obvious name for people at his age. Connor returned and placed a plastic cup filled with water on the table, I took it and drank it all. I hope it's not poisoned. "Why did you bring friends with you, because they don't know anything do they? So they're just dead weight." I stumble on my words again, "They insisted on coming, and they saved my life. I tried walking here but it was too hot and I nearly died of heat stroke, but they found me along with their other friends, looked after me, and Alec and James said that I shouldn't come here alone. But only James knows why I'm here, not Alec." Charles' eyebrows raised and his lips formed into a straight line; he was thinking. " Well, we've been in here for a while, so I think we should conclude this interview and we can have some more questions tomorrow. You and your friends can stay here for a while whilst the interviews are under way, but you will be here for a while so make yourself at home." I giggle in my head, how can anyone be 'at home'  here, it's so strict and edgy, the complete opposite of homely. Getting led out of the room, I rejoice with James and Alec and we get shown to our rooms. Everything here is pale and depressing. The only colours they use are green and grey. Technically this should be homely to me since it's just like back at the orphanage but more advanced, but the atmosphere here gives me the creeps. We each settle on our uncomfortable beds and the room falls eerily silent, only the sound of a buzzing UV light to keep away the flies to be heard.