984 (Complex Series, #2)

Chapter Thirty-Eight

I collapse on to the nearest chair. I lay my head in my hands, trying to keep the tears away.  I have entirely failed. 

Charlotte moves to sit next to me. She puts her hand on my arm, “It’s okay Piper. It doesn’t matter, remember? You’ll be gone by tonight.  Miranda and I believe you, and I’m pretty sure Marcus does to.  Besides, the only opinion that matters is your own.”

I lift my head out of my hands.  I sniff, “Thanks, Charlotte.”

            “No problem. Now, let’s get back to your room.”

I nod, and follow her out of the room. I keep my eyes down on the floor, watching only Charlotte’s feet in front of my own.

Charlotte’s feet stop. I glance up and wish I hadn’t.

Christopher stands directly in front of Charlotte, a smirk evident in his features. 

He shakes his head in sarcastic sympathy, “Piper, Piper, Piper…if only you had listened to me and simply answered my questions. But I must say, that was quite a story you told.  You must have an amazing imagination. It’s strange. You are either a really good actor, or you actually believe that story of yours.  If you do believe something like that, you probably belong with Jenna.”

He cackles and strides away. 

Charlotte begins walking again, but she whispers fiercely, “Oh, he’s lucky Miranda didn’t hear him. If Miranda overheard him talking about Jenna like that, she’d…she’d…I don’t know what she’d do but it wouldn’t be good.”

We walk the rest of the way in silence. Is that what all the other Councils think of me to? Do they think I belong with Jenna, someone who has been mentally unstable ever since being with the Ecru?

When we arrive at my room, Charlotte lets me inside, “I’m going to go grab us some Late Meal food.  I know it’s a little early, but I’m hungry. I’ll be right back.”

She slips out of the room. I glance at my Notice. It’s a little past the 5th hour in the afternoon.  Only seven hours, then I will be gone. Everything will be left behind.

I sit on my bed, leaning my back and head against the wall, waiting for Charlotte to return.

None of the Councils, besides Miranda and maybe Marcus, believed my story. Once I’m gone, that will be the only thing I leave behind.  I’ll be the crazy girl who claimed to know rebellious Officials and to have snuck into the boys’ Complex.  I’ll be the crazy girl who ruined her friends’, or Rebs’, reputations just to make her wild story a little more believable. I’ll be the crazy girl you would talk about with raised eyebrows and uncontrolled laughter.  I’ll be the crazy girl everyone will eventually forget.

I came to the Unknown to make a difference, and free people from the Head’s rule.  Now, I’m just someone people will laugh about.

I don’t think a single part of the rogue Officials’ plan worked out.

Josh and I were supposed to go to the Unknown, Josh never made it.

Brinn and Sienna were supposed to stay in the Complex, Sienna got taken away by Officials.

I was supposed to stay invisible until I found the rogue group in the Unknown, I almost immediately caught Miranda’s attention.

I was supposed to gain the people in the Unknown’s trust, the Council of the Unknown is most likely laughing about me right not.

The main goal of the plan was to unite the rogue people of the Unknown with the disloyal Officials. 

In retrospect, it sounds entirely irrational. How could I, a girl with a wild story, convince nearly everyone in the Unknown to believe my past?