The School For Gifted Kids

Chapter 13: Ben

I had just finished an entry when I heard soft footsteps close to the door. I immediately sat upright, expecting guards. Instead a small whispering voice came at the door.

"265799. 265799! 265799!"

265799. That's what Ms. Trump had called me!

"265799 here. But you can just call me Ben."

I scooted closer to the door. There were no windows on it either, so I couldn't see who was talking to me. But it sounded like a boy about nine or ten.

"Ben, I am going to get you out of here. But I need cooperation on your part."

"As long as Elle and Willa can come with me."

"I will try to formulate an escape plan for three."

"You mean you don't have one already?!"

"Shh, Ben! We must keep our voices down. Anastasia will hear us for sure! But yes, I don't have a plan yet. Surely you understand my situation though. I am but a pawn in Anastasia's game."

"On that topic, who are you?"

"You must remember me! I saw you when you were first in your capsules."

"Still drawing a blank."

"Nine year old kid? Crazy red hair? Accompanied by a girl my age and an quiet sister?"

"Oh yeah! You were with Ana. You guys are elements!"

"I know. From what she has told us, she has been a spy at your school for years."

"I didn't know that."

"But right now I need your help. Are there any windows or other doors in there?"

"No."

"Alright. Any large drains or vents?"

"No."

"Alright. Any cracks or holes in the wall?"

"No."

"Alright-"

"Yeah, obviously, this isn't working. So any other ideas?"

"Well, how big is your cell. Can you stand far enough away from the door to survive a giant heat explosion? Say, 100 ft?"

"Ooh! Let me see! I'll just walk all the way back into my vast cavern of a room! Wait- my room is a freaking meter squared!"

"Don't get saucy. I'll try to think of something else. If we are lucky, I'll see you again tomorrow."

"Wait-what's your name?"

"Arson."

"And you're fire element, right?"

"Yes."

"How fitting. Nickname or real name?"

"Nickname. "

"What's your real name?"

"You wouldn't believe me."

"Try me."

"Ignus."

He came back again, much sooner than expected. I had a question this time.

"Did you start the electrical fires on Ms. Trump's machine?"

"Of course. But don't call her that. It's Anastasia."

"Couldn't you just set one again tomorrow and send away the buyers?"

"She's already on to me. She talked to me after the session yesterday and threatened me."

"How?"

"She said that I would be stuck with you. She would put me in your cell, and if the experiment worked, I would go through it. If it didn't... i'll be with you."

"What do you mean 'with us'?"

"You know that if the experiment doesn't work, she isn't just going to let you go."

"You mean-"

" Bye-bye Ben."

"What is your relationship with Anastasia?"

"Adopted mother."

"What kind of mother keeps a kid in a cell for a year before adopting them?"

I pulled out his journal.

"You ask too many questions. I just came to tell you that I may have a way out. But I need your help."

"What kind of help are we talking 'bout? I'm not exactly ripped."

"I need you to throw up."

Arson explained his plan to me, and I wasn't exactly glad about it. But I could see how it could work. It was to take place when I heard the guards coming, in about five hours. I had already prepared my... "props"... Those took a lot of sticking my finger down my throat and retching. I was truthfully starting to feel sick. Elle had woken up once while I was throwing up, and I managed to convince her I was fine. Now she was sitting on the edge of her bed trying to avoid looking at the little brown puddles. We hadn't been fed once in the past two days and I was feeling it. I was feeling it baaad.

"Ben. Please, let me call the guards. They can help you."

"Stop! I. AM. FINE."

"Ben!"

"Quiet. You'll wake Willa."

"Isn't that what we want?!"

"Why? What's the point?"

"So you can tell her about the escape plan. I heard you and Arson talking."

"I was planning to tell you later."

"I was hoping you'd trust me enough to tell me immediately."

"And I was hoping you'd trust me enough to know that I would never leave you two behind."

"Maybe I don't trust you. Ever since I met you I knew it was too good to be true. You were the perfect guy. Sense of humor, good hair and those eyes..."

"Tell me about my eyes."

"Shut up. I'm saying that the good guy isn't always the best guy. It's like we're in a story, and you and Willa are the perfect couple. The new girl, the cute guy... They always leave characters like me out of the picture. The hopeless bystanders. The weird nerd. The creepy loner. That's me."

"You're not creepy."

"Shut up."

"Elle, can I just say-"

"Don't even try. I know what you're going to do. You're going to sweep me of my feet with a totally sweet and romantic monologue about how my hair flows like a river. I'm done with taking this crap. You are including me in your plans or I can call the guards right now."

"Fine."

Explaining my plan to Elle was easier than I thought it would be. She just sat there, and nodded her head. She even offered to help.

"I could be the worried friend." 

"Friend? Is that just a polite way to say we're breaking up?"

"We were never dating."