Charlotte leads me down halls until I am completely lost. We are in an entirely new part of the Unknown that I have never been to. The mood of the halls is more serious, and faintly discouraged. I can’t help but wonder if it doesn’t have anything to do with the Examinations being held here.
Charlotte leads me into a small, cramped room. It’s only a few paces wide and is lined with slightly cushioned chairs. On the far end of the room, is another steel door.
Charlotte sits and motions for me to do the same. She explains, “This is where you will wait until the Council tells you they are ready. Don’t worry, Christopher is in a similar room, he won’t be in here.”
I sigh, “Good.”
Charlotte nods, looks at me, then looks quickly away, blinking away tears.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
Charlotte wipes away a tear, somewhat dramatically, “Well…” she leans in to whisper to my ear, “Miranda told me about…that you were…that you are leaving tonight with the rogue Officials…and…I don’t want, I know it’s extremely selfish but…I don’t want you to leave…I’ll miss you.” She cries out and claps her hands over her embarrassed face.
I put a comforting hand on her shoulder, “Charlotte, it’s okay. I’ll never forget you, I promise. If I didn't have to leave the Unknown, I wouldn't.”
Once I say it, I’m conscious of how true it actually is. If I wasn’t forced to go, I don’t think I would. I’ve come to enjoy the chaos of the Unknown. I desperately don’t want to leave Charlotte and Miranda behind, but I have to.
Charlotte sniffles, “I’m so terribly selfish, I know. I’ll miss you, Piper.”
“I’ll miss you too.”
The door on the other side opens. I see Marcus standing there, a slight smile on his face.
He motions to me, “Piper, we’re ready for you. Funny, I didn’t know you would get yourself into trouble this fast.”
I shrug and walk towards him, “Me neither.”
I wave good-bye to Charlotte and step through the doorway.
I glance around the room.
Most of it is taken up by a long, oval shaped table. The long sides of the table is wrapped with chairs, a Council seated on each one. Christopher sits at the far end. Marcus motions for me to take a seat at the other end. From my seat, Councils sit on my right and left side, and Christopher is straight across from me, facing towards me.
Marcus takes a seat. Every single chair is filled, except for one, which I assume must be Christopher’s. My eyes catch Miranda’s for a second, but she looks away.
Miranda begins, “The Examination of Piper, a Rivie, can now begin. Christopher, the defender, may now share his story.”
Christopher nods respectfully, full of reverence and politeness. He stands and pulls up a hologram on his Notice. He reads from it, “I, Christopher, have filed this Examination against Piper, a Rivie, on account that I believe that she is a spy from the Heads.”
A shudder runs through me. He’s accusing me of the worst thing he could. Martin, the Tech Council, knows that I have been messaging Officials. Whether he believes them to be loyal or disloyal, I don’t know.
Christopher continues, “The other day, I saw her sitting alone in the Eating Hall. I try to get to know Rivies, since I am a Council, and they are a potential Fields, and I always need more help. I sat down and try to initiate a simple conversation with her. Piper refused to answer any questions about the reason of how she got sent to the Unknown. I know, that for Rivies and non-Rivies alike, that topic can be an uncomfortable one.”
YOU ARE READING
984 (Complex Series, #2)
Science Fiction-second book in Complex series- Piper purposely gets herself sent to the Unknown in search for a rebel group. She knows what the Officials teach about the gruesome Unknown. Can she survive? How long can she keep her risky past a secret? (the love...
