The Thinning AU

10

I went through the day and yearned to go home. When the final bell finally rang, I practically sprinted out of the school. I had made arrangements with one of my tech friends during lunch to help me help Ellie. His name is Grian. He runs the tech club. He is a pubescent pale teenage boy with zits covering his face and big, bulky, bright pink braces. He has been reliable when I needed him. He used to let me and Ellie play games on the school's computers when we were young and we thought we were rebels for playing games. I talked to him at lunch and I asked him if he had access to the schools TV broadcasts. The teachers almost always leave news broadcasts on on little TVs in the back of the room. He told me he could get access after school and he could broadcast it the next day. I agreed to come do a voice recording after school of what I wanted to be broadcasted.

After school I went to the computer lab where the tech club usually is but he was the only one there. I didn't want to assume he was lonely so I figured that he either told them there was no meeting that day, or they had other things they had to do. He had a microphone and a camera set up. The only thing that was going to be shown was the letter and my voice recorded with a different voice dubbed over it so no one could tell it was me.

He told me to sit down and whatever I wanted to say, just say it into the microphone. So I very awkwardly, talked into the microphone as he watched me. At first I was really awkward and I was reading off of a note card I had written on, but eventually I got so into what I was saying I didn't even remember that Grian was in the same room as me.

About an hour and a half had passed of me making mistakes and being awkward and then getting better so I kind felt bad for Grian because he was the one who was going to have to edit the audio down. I figured he would be fine though because he loved doing that sort of thing. I left and he went straight to work on his laptop. Man, that guy loves his technology and computer work.

I went home but I started to feel a little scared. By the time the message was broadcasted tomorrow, I would only have 3 days left to get Ellie out of the thinning. What if the broadcast didn't work? What if it wasn't enough to convince them that Ellie was innocent? I decided not to think about that and I stead I thought about what I had said to Ellie just that morning. I had finally told her I loved her. Had she believed me? Or did she just think I meant it like when you say it to so done after a phone call. I couldn't make up my mind, I didn't know if I wanted her to think that way and we could stay friends, or if I wanted to know her genuine reaction to me actually loving her. I got home and went to bed after I did my homework. I had trouble sleeping because thoughts of Ellie ran through my head. This has happened before, but then it was thoughts of hope, now.... it was thoughts of worry. Worry for her safety, worry for her feelings, and worry that she will look at me differently.

************

Bip bip bip! I woke up and stretched. 3 more days, I thought. Last night I had finally washed my school uniform for the first time on about a week. I felt fresher and ready to go. I got in my bike and went to school, I was scared for the broadcast, but u was also excited at the same time.

I walked in and went to my locker. I had told Grian to text me before he started the broadcast. I heard my phone to ding! I got excited and immediately took it out of my pocket. I looked at my notifications, You have a message from Grian at 7:53 am. I looked at it,
(Side note: bolded is Grian, italics is Max)

Hey bro imma get 2 the broadcast, r u ready 4 it?

I laughed and imagined Grian actually ever saying 'bro' in real life.

K but gimme a countdown so I can prep myself
Lol, ok
Broadcast starting in
3...
2...
1...
HERE WE GO MAX!

He sent that final text and my heart dropped when I hears a boom and a click from the announcement speakers. Suddenly I heard the same message echoing down the hall... my message. He did a great job editing, he made my voice sound like one of those cool supervillains from a comic book. I also heard it in every classroom I walked by. All the kids in the looked up at the speakers or at the TVs in their classrooms to hear the message. Even the teachers did. All across the school all you could hear was:

*Deep almost robotic voice*

"Hello students, teachers, and other staff. I wish to inform you about a case concerning the most recent event of The Thinning. One of the students that goes by the name of Ellie Quincy has been wrongly put into the thinning. Here I will show a note that causes Ms. Quincy to be categorized into the group of people who get 'punished' during the thinning."

The picture of the first half of the note came onto all the TVs and the kids who were in the halls all swarmed around the TVs. I joined so I wouldn't cause suspicion towards myself.

"What you are seeing now is a letter that is sent to all parents of children who passed their test. This year however, there was an issue with population control so the options were to volunteer or the people who passed with e lowest scores would be taken away. Ellie Quincy was not told about this letter by her parents and instead they signed her up as a volunteer without her permission. *Changes to picture of note* They forged her signature and never told her. She assumed that she had not passed but this paper shows other wise. Now, I do not know if the principal knew about this but it must not be ignored! Ellie Quincy does not deserve this punishment for something that she could not have controlled. Ellie Quincy should be let free. Thank you for your time, and Mr. Sarden. I know you are listening right now, you know that she deserves to be let free."

There was a crackle on the speakers and the TVs all went black. Another voice came on the intercom, it was Mr. Sarden.

"So-sorry about that everyone. Please, go back to your normally scheduled days. Now!"

The speakers cut off again and all the kids instantly started to talk again. I could hear little murmers saying stuff like 'ooooh whoever that was, if they get caught their gonna be in trouuuuuble!' I thought about it and it got me nervous, what if someone did find out and told the principal!? I tried to remain calm and pretend to be shocked so I would look like every other kid there. I even walked over to a group and pretended to join their conversation. I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned around to see Mrs. Luna. Ohhhh no, I thought. She pointed her finger at me and pulled it in, gesturing me to follow her.

Okay, a huge thanks to TheHiddenSpirit for making the name of the geeky/techy guy in this chapter, Grian. She also did and absolutely amazing job and made the new cover for the book and I love it sooo much! Thank you so much and be sure to check out her page, she writes and posts a lot of funny, creative, amazing things on there! Again, thank you sosososooooo much for helping me out!