Broken World

Chapter 11

       "Wait a second! What about every kid that isn't here? Someone needs to get the news to them somehow. Is anybody a tech genius?" I ask.

       "I am," a boy around five foot four with blue hair and hazel eyes calls out. He looks to be around thirteen years old.

       "Then come with me. We have much to do and not much time to do it in," I say walking off the area that was a makeshift stage, but then I stop and turn around. "You guys figure out food. I may need some planners, so start figuring out who plans best." Then I turn and continue walking with the boy following. When we get to the office I see the computer.

       "Oh, my name's Jim by the way," they boy, Jim, says.

       "Can you hack that, and get me on every channel across the whole world? Oh, and change my language for every country so they understand?" I ask hopeful. He looks at me like 'What the hell are you doing?', but says nothing. I ask again, "Can you?"

       "I can, but I'm trying to figure out what you're doing," he says.

       "I'm going to explain to them what's going on and try to get them to vote for leaders. For those in the United States I'm going to tell them I was voted leader by a group at a camp that hardly knew me. If they don't like that I'll tell them we can have a revote. Does that sound okay?" I ask.

       "Yeah. I have a feeling I voted for the right person," he says with a smile. He then turns to the computer and hacks it in about two minutes. I stand there staring at him in shock. "What?"

       "H-how'd you do that?" I stutter.

       "Lots of practice. I knew I'd come in handy someday. Now I set a timer for you to go on air. In about three minutes and a few seconds the camera's going to come on. When it does you have precisely ten minutes to talk. If you finish early I can shut it down with the click of a button," he says smiling at his work.

       "Okay, yeah I think you'll come in handy. Hey, Jim, if they elect me leader will you stand by me and help me, especially with technology?" I ask.

       "Yeah, of course. You already gained my allegiance, and I bet you gain everybody else's as well," he says. "Oh thirty seconds get ready." I sit down in the chair and prepare to speak. When he points at me I take a deep breath.

       "Dear people, I apologize for taking over your T.V, but I feel it is important to inform you that all adults are gone. It is the reign of the children. Now don't go panicking or leave your T.V because I need to talk to you all. I suggest everyone in your country go and select candidates for a leader. Afterwards I suggest that you vote, and then your new leader contact me through my Skype. It should be at the bottom of the screen, and I recommend you write it down. Those from the United States I was voted leader by the people here at the camp I'm in. I know you all may not agree with me being leader, so I suggest we all meet in Kentucky. We will meet in Frankfort at the capitol. That is all for now. Oh by the way, dear people, my name is Delilah Owens, and I'm fourteen. I wish you all the best of luck, goodbye," I say, and the camera goes dead.

       "Wow that was amazing. Oh, by the way, I hooked it up so everyone in there could see it, and I got your Skype up there at the bottom of the screen. Good job, Delilah, no one could've said better in ten minutes," Jim says, and I take another shaky breath. He looks at me concerned, and then crouches down to look me in the face and ask, "What's wrong?"

       "I just spoke to a ton of people. I just said I was leader. I am, to say the least, terrified," I mumble after a few seconds.

       "You did amazing. I believe you'll be amazing. Now let's go address the restless crowd in the building," he says helping me up. I walk out and towards the cafeteria, and when I enter the building I'm met with wild applause and cheering.

       "Go Delilah!" someone screams.

       "You were amazing," Max says coming up and patting me on the back.

       "I'm surprised I even look halfway decent with this head wound," I say.

       "It helps that you took the bandage off and took a shower. It actually isn't that bad. It's just a scratch to be honest," he says.

       "Can you get me out of here, please? I don't like all this attention," I murmur to him.

       "Yeah, follow me," he says taking my hand.

       "I'm going out with Max. I need some fresh air and to be away from all this attention. He's only coming to protect me," I say, partially lying.

       "Okay, I'll let them know," Kasey says. At that Max and I leave the cafeteria and head towards the forest. He leads me through the forest, and it seems like he knows exactly where he's going.

       "Where are we going?" I ask.

       "You'll see when we get there," he says.

       "How do you know where we're going?" I ask.

       "I've snuck into the woods before. That's how I know," he says still holding my hand.

       "Oh, wow. I wish I would've taken risks like that before," I say.

       "No, don't wish that. Taking risks is a bad idea. I would know," he says. I want to ask what, but if he wanted to tell me he would.

       "Are we almost there?" I ask after we walk for ten minutes.