The Great Awakening

Chapter 7

            The time was already 6:30am and the sun was rising. Jayden would be leaving for school and Melissa was already rushing home from her long night of frightening adventure. She was already running late, like she had been the day before and many days before that. She and Troy were riding in the backseat of the same vehicle. “Oh my god… I'm going to be late…”

            Troy nodded. “We’ll make it… Since I’m assuming Prime Minister Lee saw us, you will have to leave. She considers you a traitor now. Remember to pack whatever you need. Bring enough clothes for about a week.”

            She took a deep breath to calm her nerves. She couldn’t get much sleep on the ride back. Every time she did, she would have nightmares about the attempted rape and the cannibals. So she was already on edge and the stress of treason is pushing her off.

            The car stopped in front of Melissa’s house, and Melissa was about to step out to get Jayden, but Troy stopped her for a moment. “Here…” He held to her the gun. “Take it. You might need it…”

            It was evident that she knew Troy was expecting something. “Why?”

            He remained silent, beckoning her to take the gun.

            “Troy, what’s going on?”

            “Look, just take it just in case alright?” He asked impatiently. “You’re no longer safe here and you need a means to defend yourself.”

            She sighed and took the gun from his hands before reaching for the car handle. “I’ll be back,” she said to him with a smile and was about to open the door, but turned back to glance at him again, sweetly this time. “Thanks…”

            He smiled. “Don’t thank me yet. Go.”

            She nodded and slammed the car door shut behind her before running up to the house.

            The door to the house opened and upon walking inside, Jayden was perched on the couch shivering from nervousness. Across from him was a woman with blonde hair and a blue professional outfit, sipping tea from a cup. “Welcome home, Miss Aran…”

            Melissa jumped as she heard the woman speak. “Prime Minister Lee…” She tried to hide the fear in her voice. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

            “Oh… Id just thought I’d come by and have a simple chat with your son. Seeing how he is in fact the top score of the aptitude tests…” She set the tea down and stood up. “But, I'm sure you already know all about the test scores, don’t you Miss Aran?”

            Melissa had to refrain from gasping. “I don’t know what you’re talking about…”

            It’s fucking useless! She already knows! Why hide?

            “You know exactly what I’m talking about… And you know exactly what’s going to happen.” She looked at Melissa with coldness, enough to make her bones shiver. “Jayden will lead the expedition into Europa at 12pm sharp, and there is nothing you can do about it.”

            “To hell there isn’t-”

            Melissa was about to reach for the gun in her pocket, but she heard a metallic clicking noise next to her ear. It startled her, leaving her eyes wide open with fear.

            “I wouldn’t do it if I were you,” said the agent who was right beside her before taking the gun from her belt.

            “Thank you Ros,” the prime minister nodded to her guard. “Now Miss Aran… Since Jayden will be making the expedition, after what happens here this morning, you will be sentenced to a public execution on the grounds of treason.”