The Manipulation Room

Chapter 21 - They're Onto Us

Manipulation Room victim no. 32572
Name: Liesel Soran  
Age: 10 years old
Occupation: Student 
Family Member: 24-year-old sister, Alethia 
Description: Wrists sliced with a piece of broken glass, death caused by extreme blood loss. 

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I was waiting for a text from Ezra. Today was the day. We were going to interview a soldier; we were going to get more information. He sent me a message. I'm outside! U ready? I texted back, yep, I'm coming

I flung my bag over one shoulder and brushed my hair out of my face. It was blonde and thick and completely untameable so I tied it into a top-knot and fastened it onto my head with pins. "Where are you going?" Echo asked, as I passed the living room. "Out with Ezra. Don't make any jokes...I know you're going to." I mumbled. "Don't you wanna wear something nice then?" She sniggered, staring at my outfit.

I glanced down at my white turtleneck and black combat trousers and shrugged, "It's not a date."
"What are you going to do then? Fight crime? You look awful, Lyric. Go change." Echo pointed at my boots. "Are those mine?"
"Yes, and I'm not changing." I responded, beginning to walk off. "You want to impress him, don't you?" She yelled from the living room. "Not particularly!" I called back.

Mama caught me just as I had one hand on the doorknob. "Where are you going, darling?" She asked, eyeing my outfit and probably thinking the exact same thing as Echo. "Out. With Ezra." I replied. "Ezra? Liberty's son? Oh, that's wonderful! Do invite him round some time. And his mother too, of course." She beamed, brushing a strand of wispy blonde hair out of my face. I nodded slowly, "'Course."

Before I could be stopped again, I ran out of the house and straight into Ezra who was standing on the front step. He held my shoulders as I regained my balance and chuckled, "Hey! I was just gonna knock."
I laughed, "Thank God you didn't. I just got ambushed by my sister and my mum on my way out."
He laughed, following me down the steps and back onto the street. "You look great by the way." He smiled, glancing at my outfit before directing his glance back to me. I grinned, "Thanks." Inside, I was secretly ecstatic. One, he thinks I look great. Two, Echo had sworn that he wouldn't. This was a win-win situation, basically.

We neared closer to Shadowglass Square, which was the area where the Manipulation Room was. The field that people stood on, awaiting their fate, is known as 'Park D-74'. There are constantly soldiers patrolling the square, guns attached to their belts and dark blue uniforms. I followed Ezra around a corner and saw him point at a nearby soldier, who was stalking up and down a narrow path. "Him. Drax Fynn. Fairly new and yet to cause harm to any civilian. You ready?"

The guard was walking down the path, covered in light armour with a rifle hanging from his belt. His black hair was a mess under his blue cap, and he was whistling a low tune to himself. Needless to say, the guard was tired. He had probably worked all day. With riots happening almost daily, Thanatos would probably have his guards working a lot more regularly.

I clicked the record button on my phone and stuck it deep into my front pocket so that it would detect sound but wouldn't be seen. "Yup, I'm ready. But what are we going to do? Just go up to him?" I asked. Ezra ran his hand through his hair and bit his lip, "Uh...yeah. I guess so."
"And if he pulls his rifle out and shoots us both?"
"I guess there's only one way to find out." He shrugged. Before I could grab his arm and pull him back, he was off, walking towards the soldier with a confident demeanour.

"Hey, Drax Fynn...right?" Ezra asked, putting his hand out. I crept after him and waved cautiously at the soldier who seemed to be just as confused as I was. The guard glared at Ezra with large, angry eyes and his hand wavered to his rifle. Ezra put his hands up, "Woah, woah. We're not here to cause trouble. Just want a few answers, if that's okay?"
Fynn grunted and folded his arms, "What answers could you kids possibly want?"