War of Praisers

Chapter 6:

I stare blankly at Mikes empty seat. I haven't seen him since last night for dinner and it's dinner again. I am concerned for him but also for myself for a reason that doesn't seem to make sense to me. I hope he isn't sick or injured in the medical center. It is almost impossible for us to get sick. We have the heightened abilities, like our immune systems to fight off foreign agents. Being Injured is a possibility but not for more than 24 hours due to our advanced medical methods that speeds up the healing process.

There isn't any food at where Mike should be sitting. I turn my gaze to Ewan who seemed too interested in his food than anything else at the moment. I note that Ewan has his body turned slightly towards me and moved his chair much closer to mine than it should be. I suspect it had to do with feeling excluded form our little group, but I dismiss that as soon as I remember that on the other side of Ewan he has his whole group of red trialist friends. So why would he feel excluded? He probably doesn't, but I could also be a coincidence that he's so close.

I turn my head to Gloria's direction, who was once again in a deep conversation with Grace about something meaningless as makeup and other nonsense I knew almost nothing about. I almost want to know what they know and why they are so interested in it. I want something other than our training or schooling or health to think about. I also feel as if I can never have an interesting conversation with Gloria or even Grace for that matter, but then again I don't bother talking much with Grace. For some reason I can't stand Grace. At first I thought it was jealousy and it probably was but now I don't envy anything what she possesses. I don't know if anyone can relate to this feeling but I greatly dislike her, and not having a valid reason, or any reason at all, not to like someone, hate even.

"Where's Mike?" I ask no one in particular as I glance at his empty seat again. After a few moments of silence I avert my gaze to the ones who heard my question and they stare at me. Gloria, Grace and Robin share knowing and concerned glances amongst each other while Ewan still remains very much occupied with his now almost empty plate.

I look back from Ewan to the others and Grace instantly goes back to eating her food and Rob and Gloria look as if they are trying to figure out what to say. What's so difficult? It wasn't an academic question it was a simple one.

"H-Haven't you heard?" Gloria hesitantly asks as she stammers out the squeaky words.

"What?" I almost growled out in a deep voice. I don't like the direction this is going and I can't help but give myself some authority by scaring them only a little. Just to warn them in a way and I'm not sure what good it will do but still I did it anyway.

Gloria hesitates before she speaks. "He's gone."

My mind goes from absolutely blank to racing with many thoughts at the same time. Gone. What? Gone. As in dead? No. Not dead. Gone. As in he isn't in this facility anymore. He was bought, he was chosen.

Gloria confirmed my thoughts. "He was chosen. Along with Barrett." Barrett was the other trialist who made it the final along with me.

Gloria flinches away from my piercing stare into nothingness as I continue to think.

He was chosen. Mike. Out of all people it had to be Mike. I widen my eyes as I realize what I had just thought. Mike was my friend, he still is my friend. But I can't help but feel anger. Rage.

How dare he? How DARE he? My thoughts are getting louder and even though they seem to be all mixed up they are more clear to me than they have ever been. Usually I am never this affected, but this time I was almost certain that I could leave. But maybe it's the thought of him leaving me here alone. I know I have the others, but they are in a different colour. I need him.