When Stars Align

Chapter 7

Waking to the dark of the compound, I start to say, "Max," but realized I could no longer voice my thoughts. I let my eyes adjust for a minute, slowly beginning to make out the shape of the lumpy bed in Max's square. I waited for his silhouette to appear, only to see his bed was empty and stripped of its sheets.

What was going on?

I guess I must've looked pretty distressed because I had caught the eyes of several of my neighbors.. I pointed to his square and mouthed, 'Where is he?' But all I got were shrugs in return. I stared down at the floor, wishing the cold tiles would turn into waves to swallow me up from this awful place. I'm not sure how long I stayed like that, but I was shaken roughly out of my daze, by Nate. I pointed at Max's square and raised my eyebrows in a questioning stare.

"He's dead," Nate said, emotionless.

I opened my mouth in a silent scream, tears streaming down my face like raindrops sliding down a car window. My knees buckled under my weight as I fell to the ground. I barely even noticed Nate as he walked away, I was to busy crying myself sick. Sometime during my breakdown my head had started to pound, so I laid it down on the cold tile, providing temporary relief. The world was crashing and burning, but I seemed to be the only one that noticed. I wondered if I was losing my mind, and decided that, yes, I probably was. No sane person could cry for as long as I had. I was crying when everyone went to sleep and was still crying when everyone woke up and Nate came back.

"You know, I wish you'd have lost your voice when we were dating. You're a lot less annoying when you can't talk," he says with a smirk. He sees my confused look and tries to explain.

"Yes, we actually dated. The only thing that was changed in your memory was the night you were taken here." I motioned for him to keep going and tell me what really happened, but all he says is, "I probably shouldn't have said all that." I want to beg him to explain, to clear up the fog in my mind, but the fact that I can't form words puts a stop to my plan. He holds up the shiny silver handcuffs as he hauls me to my feet, not so gently. I start to hold out my hands, too tired to object like my usual stubborn self, when I realize that Max would want me to fight for him, give the assholes crap. I sit back down on the ground and cross my arms as I glare at him.

"Don't be difficult," he fumes.

I continue to stare him in the eye as he sighs and yanks me to my feet, spinning me around effortlessly and cuffing my hands.

"It's time for your trial. Hopefully you'll be put down like your little lover." I stomp on his foot as hard as I can and hear him wince in pain.

"You just wait. You'll be sorry when you're walking to your death and I'm walking out of here a free man." I laugh a silent laugh to let him know he can't get to me. They've already taken Max, the one person I had in this place, so I don't care what happens now.

******

Eyes. There must be over 200. Everywhere I look, emotionless faces staring blankly at me, as though they are demons with expressionless masks that show only their dark eyes. They appear brainwashed, and who knows, maybe they are. After all, this place can alter memories, so why not take away people's free will? A man clears his throat. I was too distracted by the vacant stares to notice the podium, which the man now stands behind, turning his head from side to side watching all the emotionless people.

"The time has now come where we must decide the fate of Celia Marks. So, I now ask you, the council of fate, is this girl," he motions to me, "harmless or dangerous? Please fill out the standard forms and drop them in the box when everyone is done." There is a slight pause in which the sound of clicking pens and the scratch of them on paper is all I hear. "Please place your papers in the box in an orderly manner." Orderly. There is nothing but order as they walk in a single file line and deposit they're papers. "Bailiff, please take her to the holding cell while the votes are being counted." Nate leads me to a door across from the podium. I plop down exhaustedly in a chair from my crying fit and rest my head against the wood of the chair. The wait dragged on and on as I assume the ballots were being counted multiple times. The suspense was killing me. Live or die. I played with that phrase in my head over and over again. I honestly didn't care either way, I just wished I could know. Nate came back and led me to the room full of eyes again.

"Celia Marks, the Council of Fate has decided unanimously that you are dangerous and must be put down," the man behind the podium says with a blank face. 'I'm not a dog!' I wanted to scream. But I couldn't even defend myself against the ones who took my voice. "Bailiff, take her back to the holding cell to await her execution."

Nate grabs my arm, gently for once, and leads me out of the room.