Republic of Omisha

Chapter 26: Eliza

  She was stunned. Her heart pounding and hatred stirring.

When she looked at him all she could see was a man who killed another teen to death with his bare hands to survive. She doesn't want to lead, to be like him. She could never be like him. She is repulsed by the sight of him, by how cold and calculated he is. How could anyone be like that.

Why he was being so open with what was clearly classified information, she couldn't tell you. Especially with Eliza, of all people, it's arguable that she is the biggest troublemaker in the school.

After his explanation Eliza got out of his office as quickly and as casual as possible. She was saved in the middle of a failing excuse by the ring of his phone.

The medic had cleared Eliza to eat meals with the other students, but if her headaches started to return, she was to head straight back to the infirmary. She chose to talk to the headmaster instead of seeing her friends. Getting information was the top priority on her mind. Was that wrong? Even over her friends?

Now classes are about to start back up and Eliza has to start her online classes in her room in the med wing. She opens her laptop and begins class, but her mind is elsewhere, plotting.

The medic enters her room before lunch starts. He gives Eliza a liquid to drink. It is tasteless and blue. It aids in healing her concussion and it helps with pain to. He says that she should be fully healed by the next day. He also tells her that that is when her suspension will end too.

Eliza is overjoyed and she heads to lunch to see her friends.

She sits between Clay and Valerie like always. Valerie is perky and happy to hear that tomorrow Eliza will resume normal classes with her, but Clay seems quiet and composed. He has to force a smile when Eliza says something cheery.

Why was she being so happy? Her sense of peace and contentment scared her. She to ask Clay and Valerie to go somewhere private with her so she could tell them everything that she discovered, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. Every time she thought about the rebellion or about the evil behind the trials her thoughts grew hazy.

She could only come up with one explanation. The headmaster had the medic drug her.

Eliza decides to play along with nothing being "wrong" and she will wait until this wears off to talk to them. Once they're on board with her,- she hopes that they get on board with her- they'll reveal everything to the rest of the school the next day.

The drug has worn off by dinner. After they ate she leads Valerie, and Clay to the computer lab. She tells them everything. About the rebellion and how her Mother and sister were involved and everything that the headmaster told her.

They both look at Eliza in disbelieve. ELiza can't tell what they're thinking. It's eating at her brain. She loses her patience and barks, "please, just say something!"

"So we are the few chosen to survive?" Valerie asks. Tears form in her eyes.

Eliza nods.

"So what are you going to do?" Clay says in derogatory, like he's blaming her.

Eliza shakes her head at Clay. "What has been up with you lately?" She can see it in his eyes that her question stings and that he has no intention in answering. He clenches his lower jaw.

Eliza breaks eye contact. It takes her a minute to pull her thoughts back together. "Tomorrow I plan to reveal this information to the school."

"How?" Valerie asks. "Will you announce it over the speakers? We'd have to get you into the head office for that. Or will you alert the students by sending an alert electronically?"

Eliza ponders the question before answering. "I'll announce it. Everyone in the school has the right to know what going on. We'll have to be careful, though, after the word gets out. We don't know which teachers know or if they are in on it."

They made a plan before bed. Eliza is a bundle of nerves. So many things could go wrong.