Death In A Mile

Chapter 9: Recruitment

The atmosphere changed subliminally and it was indescribable. She wanted to go with, but only because she had nothing to lose. The bad part is, I wasn't going to stop her.

"So what now?" I anxiously asked.

"We recruit, find all the people possible to come and have them tag along, it'll be hard, but try not to get any snitches in the group." I liked being a leader and hated it when someone have me a command, but I can't say I disagree.

She looked at her bedroom door for a second and then bolted out. "Where are you going?" I asked.

"No time to waste," she responded, then spun around and within a matter of seconds she was out the door.

Part of me was tempted to look through her room, not in the creepy way but in a curious sense. I wanted to see if she had other information about the village but I figured I better get out so I don't lose my trust with her.

She was waiting with her arms crossed staring at the front door when I walked outside.

"I thought you were going to go recruit people," I said.

"I was, but I needed to give you a little trust test first, make sure you weren't going to be a problem. You passed Lloyd!" What a lucky relief.

She walked away as I thought in approval with my arm on my waist. I wondered who she was going to recruit, and I bet she had a lot of ideas, I however, had none. Mr. Wiu already knew I was leaving the village, but I couldn't ask him because he is a little old. Others were suspicious of me, but I knew would snitch. This project of ours has really opened me up as to how much I can't trust my fellow villagers.

Not knowing what to do and observing Madi literally knock on her friends doors irked me in a way. I had one real friend, and he needs to take care of his family. It is selfish to ask him to risk his life to something unknown, something insignifigant to him.

I felt bad that I wasn't doing anything, so I came up with an idea. I figured since Madi had a lot of friends, I could just ask them. Granted, at first they'd think I am crazy, and when they are kicking me out of their home they'd think I'm even crazier. I sighed, and went along with this gamble of a plan.

I tried to remember me as I observed Madi all of these years, who she talked to, sat with, and did things with. I couldn't pick out one friend because she had so many, so I couldn't determine a best. I stood here, still, as I scanned homes one by one. Friend's house, friend's house, friend's house, and friend's house. She had a lot of friends jeez, but with all of these options who could I pick?

Finally, I decided on one house to go to. I chose this one because it didn't belong to any of her snobby spoiled friends, but it wasn't too ratty either. I figured that we needed someone to relate to, while not striking too low or too high. I saw Madi with her all of the time, I think, and I figured it wouldn't be a bad option.

I walked up. When I arrived at her doorstep I knocked hesitantly. I wondered what her reaction would be and reckoned that it wouldn't be pleasant. My thoughts suceded as her mother opened the door.

"Hello there Lloyd, what are you doing here?" She asked nicely. Her daughter's name was Jessica.

"Uh I am looking for Jessica, is she around anywhere?" I said.

"Ooo you got a date with my lovely daughter?" I'm sure my faced turned red from embarrassment but I didn't bother to care, that's just such a mom thing to say.

Under the pressure I said, "Yes I do. Could you tell me where she is?" That's going to bite me in the rear later, my instinct wasn't happy.

"She is by the pond. Sometimes she likes to go out and read or draw."