A Paradox Reality

Chapter 9: Refuse and Rebel

Previously with Edmund:

As for the list of things he wasn't certain of, he didn't even try to create. There were too many possibilities. His life could really turn any direction now, and there was no way he could prevent it. No way anybody could prevent it. No way ANYTHING could prevent it. He was alone.
***
"ALL TRAINEES, PLEASE COME TO THE TESTING ROOM. AGAIN: ALL TRAINEES, PLEASE COME TO THE TESTING ROOM. THE TESTS WILL BE HELD EARLY," the intercom blared. "INSTRUCTORS, PLEASE REPORT TO YOUR POSTS. THANK YOU."

Boys scurried down the corridors like rats, trying to get to the testing room as fast as they could. They swamped the hallways, making it difficult to get through the barrier of people, around it, or back out.

Pushing past the smell of sweat and mops of unkempt hair, Edmund made it through the long, human wall. He hurried to the nearest escort and followed them to a tall, green one door. Its purpose seemed to be to cower over him and make him feel small and vulnerable.

Mother Earth's tall, stick-thin frame was the only thing that occupied the blank, white-walled room. Her eyebrows were arched in a expectant expression, her posture perfect on the stool that she was sitting on. "Edmund," said she. "I'm here to wish you good luck and give you some extra instructions. Listen carefully. I will plug this earpiece into your ear, and every word I command, you will obey. If you don't listen, your life could be at stake. If you do, everything will be fine." She held an earpiece up cautiously, and intricately weaved it onto his earlobe. "Good luck, and remember that I will be with you the whole time." Edmund watched as her smile slowly faded into the background, and everything turned black.

When he opened his eyes, he had different surroundings. The floor was dirty and dusty, while the walls were ugly and red. He spryly leaped out of the room and whispered, "Mother Earth? Can you hear me?"

"Yes, Dear. Start heading down the hallway for me," she said. "Are you at the end if the hallway, yet?"

"Yes."

"Make a left. At the end of this hallway, go into the door on your right." He did as she said. "Edmund, I need you to secure my bonds really quick. Just come closer."

Mother Earth was in the middle of the room, relaxed and hunched forwards, tied to a long, wooden pole. Her deep brown hair was tangled and wild, but her expression of calm revealed that her mad act was staged. Edmund took a long, wavering breath, and tightened her bonds, making the act look more believable. "What else?" he asked, prepared to do something helpful now that he was in the mood.

"Here's your gun," Mother Earth said plainly. "You'll be needing it soon enough." Edmund delicately fingered the lethal device that she handed over, afraid of violence. "Go into the closet over there for now," she gestured to a small closet on her right-hand side. "I'll call you when I need you."

Edmund squeezed into the cramped closet, anticipating his next task with anxiety. For the most part, only the noises of his own uneven breath and steady heart rate sounded. But if he listened closely, he could hear people talking.

"Mother Earth?" the unidentifiable voice called.

"Leave, Gwen. Leave now. It's a trap. Don't fall for it! I can make it out myself!" Mother Earth must've replied.

"I'm not leaving you. Here, let me try to untie you."

"I'm telling you, it's a trap! Don't fall for it!"