F.A.T.E

we keep the secrets, you do the job

Emmy pushed the straps of her back pack further onto her shoulders and bit down hard in her lip. 

Now it was her turn. She had to use her 'perk' or 'special' to protect F.A.T.E from yet another torture session in gym class. In return, F.A.T.E would keep her secret. 

But what she couldn't do it? What if she couldn't protect F.A.T.E?

Emmy shook herself and knocked back the nervous thoughts. Fear was only an obstacle and she had climbed right over it several times.  Anyway, it was easy. All she had to do was put together a thunderstorm. No biggy.

"Weather-bird," she whispered to herself with a laugh, "Just be the weather-bird."

Emmy was known to be the 'weather bird' of the F.A.T.E organisation. Her 'perk' as they called it, was to control the weather. She'd grin and wave her hands about like a tiny conductor with the skies being her gigantic orchestra and raging storms would hurl themselves one by one at the tiny village of Cheddarville, followed by various gasps of shock and horror from the P.E team.

But it was all the most fun in the world for F.A.T.E, a small organisation that held all the secrets and identities of the 'perk holders,' the gifted. Emmy was on of very few people in the school that possessed a perk, a unknown gift that every F.A.T.E member had embedded inside them. Some could levitate, some could read minds. Others could control either fire, water, earth or air. And each and every one of those people were part of F.A.T.E which secretly rebelled against the cold-hearted teachers of the school, St Trinity's. 

Today, F.A.T.E were fighting back against Mr Parkinson for bullying Amanda, a fellow 'perk holder.'

"ALL STUDENTS MUST REPORT TO THE SCHOOL GATES!" came the growling, rasping voice of Mr Parkinson through the loud speaker in the girl's changing rooms, "EVEN YOU AMANDA HOGGS, IF YOU CAN EVEN MAKE IT THERE!"

A small, hurt, squeak came from the skinny Amanda, who quickly hid herself one of the few free cubicles so she couldn't be caught.

Emmy took a deep breath, calming her impatient nerves. 

She had to do this.

She would.

For Amanda.

F.A.T.E had revenge on those who truly deserved it. And would hold the secrets to great to keep inside.

Emmy became a member of F.A.T.E the day she'd inserted a slip of paper inside the red and white 'post box' that had been hammered onto the large oak tree outside the school building. It wasn't really a post box it was only disguised as one so that the teachers wouldn't get too suspicious and take the box down.

Emmy had walked right up to that box the day that her secret became to much to handle. It had been whirling around her mind in circles so fast that Emmy had ran right out of 2nd period in tears. 

Flaming hot, red in the face, Emmy had ripped out a slip of paper from her planner and scribbled her secret down, smiling as her words left her in seconds. 

Finally, it was out. She didn't have to worry about it anymore.

The very next day, the supposed post-box had been emptied. Emmy began to panic, coughing and spluttering her way through her classes until suddenly, a piece of yellowed paper had found its way onto her desk.

F.A.T.E had come as an awful shock at first to the quiet, reserved Emmy. She never liked being part of a group and always preferred to keep herself to herself and not be known to everyone.

But she'd do anything for that secret to be kept.

So, Emmy posted a response to the note that very day. 

The note had read:

---------

Welcome, Emmeline Gibbons to the F.A.T.E group. You have joined us by sharing your secret which we shall keep. But in return you must join us in rebelling against the school and sharing your 'perk' that you possess. If you wish to agree to our terms, write 'YES' on a piece of paper and post it in the box. If you do not agree, Emmeline I'm afraid your secret shall be told....

We are F.A.T.E. 

We keep the secrets, you do the job.

------

So, Emmy had to do the job. And she had been given yet another today.

"HOGGS! CAN YOU NOT EVEN FORCE OUT A TROT, FORM GOODNESS SAKE, GET OVER HERE! THE CROSS COUNTRY HASN'T EVEN STARTED YET!" 

Amanda found her knees shaking as she tried to carry her weight over to the gates to begin the dreaded cross country. She was so thin and almost skeleton- like as she suffered from a horrific eating disorder and she found it extremely difficult to run without panicking like mad. Mr Parkinson's teasing only mad it worse. Last night, she'd skipped her dinner due to extreme stress about P.E the next day.

"HOGGS! WE HAVE NO TIME FOR CRYING LIKE BABIES! LOOK EVEN DORIS IS RUNNING FASTER AND SHE WAS AT F------"

Mr Parkinson didn't dare finished that sentence as plump Doris had serious anger issues and detested people talking of how she'd been at 'Fat Camp.'

Amanda sniffed and choked down her tears. 

3 miles were yet to come. 3 whole miles.

"I'm gonna DIE!" Amanda screamed, "I gonna die!!!"

A panic over-whelmed Amanda and suddenly she felt herself collapse as the lengthily race began with the crack of Mr Parkinson's gun.  

Her vision faded, bushes and trees becoming mere scribbles and the grass beside her a plain grey  blur.

 The only thing she could hear beside the gushing sound in her ears was a crack of thunder, so nearby and so loud she shivered in fear. 

Then came a loud, proud cry of," MISSION COMPLETE!"

A twig cracked beside causing Amanda's stomach to flip round in circles.

"I-I-I'm s-s-sorry sir!" Amanda mumbled, her voice shaking with fear. 

"I'm not Sir," came the person's voice, "The race is over, Mr Parkinson is gone."

Amanda forced herself to her feet, her eyes widening when she saw the freckled face of Emmy. Her wild, fiery hair blowing in the wind.

"He had a terrible fall," Emmy cried, grinning, "I didn't know I was so ferocious. I'm afraid he won't be coming back anytime soon. I think I broke his leg."

Amanda smiled, her blue eyes filling with delight. "So the race is of?"

Emmy nodded. "And no one will bully you ever again."