The Door

Chapter 6

Everett flinched, waking up from his light sleep. He looked around. A blindingly white room surrounded him. He stood up, knocking the chair down. It hit the ground and twanged in the room. His lungs worked on overload, as his heart felt like he just ran a marathon.

A door opened in the flush wall, and a man walked through. He wore a suit and tie. He smiled at Everett, but the smile did not reach his eyes. Everett stared at him, his breath moving even faster.

"Ah. Everett. I'm glad you're awake. Please have a seat," he said in a soothing voice, gesturing to the chair. Everett didn't move. The man nodded. "We've been watching you, you know. Someone doesn't just bring the next Leran into Pelac, and expect us to ignore them you know." He chuckled. "You did a very brave thing running in there after Kaden like you did,"

Everett's eyes widened as he remembered her.

"Where is she?" He said sternly.

"Don't worry. You will see her soon enough." He paused, sitting in a white chair on the other side of the table. "You have surly heard of TCOWA, am I correct?"

Everett gave a slight nod, and picked his chair up to sit down.

"They are, obviously quite a nucince to us, as you know, and-"

"Who's us?"

The man peered at Everett, lifting his eyebrows. He hesitated.

"The Bond of the Cosmos, if you will. You will understand us better over time, and realize that we are the good guys."

Everett drummed his fingers on the chair arm. "And why wouldn't I believe that?"

The man looked at him for a while, before giving a slight smile.

"I like you, Everett. We'll get along just fine." He paused, folding his hands on the table. "As you know, there is both good and evil. We are those who try to understand the distance. The moral compass of society, if you will." He looked at Everett. "We hear you're from Kamere. Is that so?"

Everett shifted in his seat. "I cannot choose where I was born. I'm still not sure what your views on my birthplace are. We are very...sheltered in Kamere."

"I figured." The man lowered his head, and then looked up. "We are offering you a proposition, Everett. One that will change your future, and the future of Vermillion all together."

Everett looked down, smiling. "What kind of proposition?"

The man smiled.

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"TCOWA is a group of ragtag kids, wanting to get attention." The man pointed to a map. "They have hit here, here, here, and here." He looked at Everett. "That school is fireproof on the outside... we've learned from... past experiences. The only way they would have info on the passcode for the back door, is if a kid on the inside told them. Your job is to get into TCOWA, and find out yourself. We cannot have traitors here in Pelac."

"That sounds a lot like Kamere would say."

The man sighed. "We need help, alright. The only person that can get in TCOWA, is a kid, got it?"

"So why chose me? A Kameren who could choose my city over yours any day?"

"We know your background well enough to know you're not going to Kamere again anytime soon." The man looked at Everett, and gave a small smile. "You've got guts, kid. No one would just run into a burning building to save someone they met a week ago."