Remi-niscent

Chapter 8:

Suddenly the similarities couldn't be more obvious as she stands at Denyt's right hand side. It's not only the exact same stance and the same cruel smirk. She's a perfect mini replica. 

"What! Denyt has a kid!" Logan cries, voicing all of our thoughts, "Though it does actually make a lot more sense that you always stayed in the hut all day," he mumbles more to himself than anybody else I think.

Denyt laughs, but it's a hollow, mocking sound that sends shivers down my spine. "Of course she's my kid," he says, "I can't believe none of you idiots realised it sooner. But I'm willing to overlook that seeing as you two teams have showed more promise and made it further than any other groups over the past years. Finally I have some hope that my plan will be able to be carried out so now I'm going to give you all a choice. It's simple really, either you can join me and my men or you can choose to be disposed of." No matter how flippant his tone or how cliche it seems, his message is crystal clear.

Join him or die.

Without even having to look back at the others I know exactly what their response will be and I think Denyt realises this too, because without waiting for an answer he shoves Em in our direction with an angry snarl and yells at one of his cronies to watch the shelter.

The rough push unbalancing her, Em stumbles forwards falling to her knees all the while sobbing so hard that she struggles to get back up. Seeing as Jack seems to be shocked to move, Lee darts out to help her, picking her up and carrying her back to the shelter in his arms.

As soon everyone has piled back inside Ty pulls the door shut behind us and ties it firmly shut with a flax rope.

Too stunned to do much else we all just stare numbly at each other, our brains not quite being able to comprehend how everything could have gone so wrong so quickly. Em is still crying though she tries to hide it by burying her face in Jack's shoulder while he in turn has his arms wrapped tightly around her and is doing his best to provide her with the comfort she seeks. 

"So what now?" Asks Lee, his voice wavering.

When no-one replies lost too deeply in their own thoughts, I look up from the ground and frown contemplating hard, "Em, do you have any idea of what Denyt's plan is? You were the closest to Grace after all, did she mention anything to you? Anything that could possibly help us now?"

Em who had just managed to reign in the waterworks, bursts out into a fresh set of tears making me feel guilty and I almost think she isn't going to answer me but after sniffling she replies, "Sh-she said her dad wanted t-to," she pauses as if trying to think of the right words.

Jack rubs her shoulders gently, urging her on, "What did she say Em?"

"She said he wanted to steal something big and to do so he needed kids that were tough, smart and resourceful. He needs them to carry out his plan. But he's been waiting for years now, it's the whole reason why he started this camp. To find the best of the best. He just disguised it as a way to win money, so that the kids would want to come. But the thing is he'd been getting more and more impatient because in all the years no one has ever managed to get as far as the two of our teams. Though I will admit ours was slightly stacked in the odds considering that Grace has been training for whatever it is that Denyt is planning her whole life. But you guys have excelled in everything and now he genuinely thinks that he's finally found the ones for the job." 

Letting the information she had just shared with us set in, it hits me that what she is saying opens up a whole new can of worms and more new questions so I prompt her gently for more answers, "When did Grace tell you this Em? Have you known for long?"

Em's posture visibly straightens as if some has shoved a fire-poker up her spine and she shakes her head indignantly, "No, of course not! I would've said something!"