Chapter Fifteen
“Ellie,” I said through a mouthful of the delicious chocolate pastry. “I need you to tell me everything you know about the Tascaque, and even more on what it means to be the Lucid.”
Ellie seemed reluctant at first, but, knowing that I had no one else to turn to, she started to explain. “The Tascaque is normally held two days after the fifth Anti is recognized, and that was yesterday. So the ceremony will most likely be held tomorrow.”
“Yeah, I heard the news report this morning,” I said a bit too soon. I realized that that was the wrong thing to say because I sounded like a know-it-all, and more importantly, I broke her radio in the first place.
But thankfully Ellie didn’t seem to mind. “Good, then you probably heard about the accompaniments?”
“Yeah, I did. What’s that about?”
“Well, they’re basically what they sound like; people who accompany the Anti’s during the Tascaque. Normally, they’re pretty knowledgeable about the ceremony, but otherwise, they’re just to give the Anti’s comfort.”
“Well, you’re pretty knowledgeable about the ceremony,” I suggested. “Can you be my accompaniment?”
Ellie gave me a guise of surprise and shook her head. “No, I can’t. I can’t be your accompaniment.”
I stared at her. “But why? I have no one else . . .”
“I just . . . can’t. I’m sorry, Darrel. I just can’t.” Ellie stood up and started walking away, leaving behind her half-eaten pastry.
I followed her, nodding gratefully to the baker as I left. Ellie was storming off in the direction of her house when I caught up to her, and I didn’t understand what about my proposition angered her. I tried to ask, but she just ignored me and continued walking.
The crowd that previously flooded the streets had long since receded, although there was still a good number of people that continued to gawk at the unusual mountain. I could overhear one woman state that “It was a work of the Lucid,” and that “He must be here in the city!”
Thankfully, they had no idea which Anti – or Lucid – had caused this, for there was no way of telling. I doubted that most of the city didn’t even know who would even be in the Tascaque the following day, for they had no television sets, only radios.
I silently thanked my subconscious for them only having the ability to know our names, not our appearances. But I knew that when the Tascaque would be held our names would probably be announced, and then they would know who did it. Who would be more fit than the mysterious kid named Darrel who had no specific origin to have created the mountain?
“Ellie, wait!” I shouted. Individuals stared at me as I tried to get the girl’s attention.
And then, at that very moment, the sound of a microphone being tapped rang throughout the streets. At first, I didn’t know why, but after scrutinizing my surroundings, I saw that the buildings that surrounded us were filled with outdoor speakers. A familiar voice projected through them, and I instantly knew who it was. That cheerful voice, filled with pep and maturity at the same time, told me that it belonged to the Empress.
“Efaque citizens!” she said a bit too close to whatever microphone she was using. “Wow, I haven’t used this thing for quite a while,” she told someone that was close to her. Her attention was then turned back to the announcement she had to make. “If you heard the news this morning,” her voice had an ounce of dread in it, “you must know that there will be a nullification ceremony held this afternoon. I would just like to clarify that it will be held at the main square for those of you who didn’t listen in this morning . . .” There was a couple moments of exasperated breathing. I swore I heard her whisper god dang at one point. “That is all.”
