Seekers

Chapter 8

It had been four hours since the professor left. Kate had almost died of boredom. She walked around the classroom, looked out the single window, talked in hushed tones to the other hostages, and had even resorted to sleeping. Now she was pressed up against the door, listening for anything.

She struggle to make anything out, since mostly the guards only spooke in their native tongue. But she could hear rushed footsteps up and down the halls. Occasionally cel doors would open, and she would hear the prisoners inside protesting. What is going on? She thought.

She heard someone coming near the door, and bolted back to her seat. The door crashed open and the professor came in, looking angry and disheveled.

“We will resume,” was all he said. He pointed at Kate and told her to back to the room again, and she followed.

The professor shut the door behind them, but this time he didn’t tie her to the chair. Seeing Kate’s confused look, he waved his hand and said “There are guards all throughout the building. You would not make it three feet.

“Now,” he pulled over a stool, and set his notebook on his knee. “What do you know about the IDC?”

“It’s the International Destiny Correctors. They Seek out criminals, and future criminals and do them justice.”

“Justice,” the professor snickered. “Is that what you call it?”

“Yes,” Kate’s stare was defiant. “When people do bad things they get punished for it. Regardless of who they are.”

“You speak boldly about this, when in fact your own country is in ruins.”

“We are not in ruins. We’re a stronger country than you are.”

Professor Demir chuckled, as if he knew something she didn’t. “You think so, but actually your country will fall to the hands of my country. You have no idea what is upon you.”

“What do you mean?” Kate knitted her brows. “What are you talking about?”

“You do not know how we found you?”

“No . . . I don’t.”

The professor wrote something down, and muttered, “I guesss he was well worth his pay afterall.”

“What? Who? Who are you paying?”

Professoor Demir snapped to attention, surprised she heard him. “Nothing of your concern.”

“Tell me! I mean, I probably won’t make it oout of here anyway, so . . .”

“Please. I am no such weakling as you think me.”

Kate shrugged. It was worth a try. “Fine. I’m just a girl, but if you’re that scared of me, I must have more power than you do.”

The professor leveled a steely gaze on her. “I would be careful how you speak. I am the one who sees how you are treated.” He turned back to his notebook. “How many Seekers are in the world right now?”

“Working ones? I have no idea.”

The professor stared at her. “That is all I have for you for now.” He started to get up.

“Wait!” Kate said. “Why are we here? Surely you didn’t capture us just to talk to us?”

“No,” the professor shook his head. “You are a part of something much bigger than that.”

~*~

She was lead back out to her seat, then the professor chose a new hostage to question.

That wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be, she thought. At least they haven’t tortured us yet. She bit back a bitter laugh. Starvation definitely counted as torture. Speaking of which, when were they going to let them go back to their cells? They had been here almost seven hours already. Kate could see the sun started to go down.