Hide and Seek

Chapter 11 - Waiting

Two week have passed by. The last two conferences made sure we were collecting the records slowly and that we were ready for the long awaited event. I already finished my evaluations. Jax and the other batch leaders helped me with getting my evaluations early. That makes me a leader now, it's weird not going to classes or being under constant watch. I made sure to thank every single one of them for their help, I'm really grateful. I didn't need to play another game of hide and seek anymore and I'm content with it. I do feel uneasy, I have the option to leave anytime I want and do anything I want without harsh consequences, but I need to save everyone else. I would say it's quite relieving, everyone respects me, since I'm in supervision of certain duties I make sure to help the batches. If they make mistakes I don't send them to the judging room. Instead, I teach them properly and give them second chances. It's pretty similar to the style of other batch leaders.

I hope the elders haven't noticed but, there have been more outings from the other batch leaders. They've slowly sneaked over 800 people outside throughout the course of the two weeks successfully without any problems. Maybe it's because of the operation coming soon and they're trying to have less people here as possible to make things a bit easier, whatever the case it's good their volumes are high with a good success rate. I've been closely monitoring the building updates. It looks like there won't be anymore batches. I heard some of the older leader conferences, once everyone has died, they're going to end this cruel game and demolish the building. It seems like everything is falling into place. Since I've been in the office lately I'm involved with lots of documents, I found out that there's about 900 people in the building altogether.

We have an outing at least three times a day with 20 people or less, but the more we sneak out the better. Most of the batches know we wouldn't hurt them, so they trust us. When they leave, all of them would cry and give us their gratitude with hugs and tears. They were relieved, they were finally free and you can see it on their faces. I was excited every time we went outside. There weren't any lights outside as Jax said, but I got to smell the cool and fresh air, I got to see the illuminating moon and most of all, the dark blue sky. It was glorious. Like the cuffs restraining me from leaving were finally broken. I was so close to freedom, I just had some unfinished business before I could leave with Jax, and it was making sure these kids would leave before anything else. Their childhood, freedom and happiness were more important.

I got up from my bed and saw Jax sleeping beside me. I was slowly counting down the days until the operation, five more left... I got up from the bed and pulled out my record. Once I got my hands on my documents I couldn't stop reading it. Some of my questions were answered, but there were still so many puzzle pieces I couldn't place into the big picture. I still don't know who I really am. All I can really understand is that I came here when I was five, my parents died in a car crash when I was young and all their inheritance goes to me as long as I'm alive. I didn't have any close family so I think I got sent to an adoption center. After that the trail ends on how I got here. It's either I got kidnapped or one of the people at the adoption center sold me or had connections here. The document has basic information, but it doesn't give a clear timeline and story. I don't remember anything from those times and it frustrates me because I don't know who I am. I don't know my own story.

I even tried looking at the location of this building but it only shows coordinates. There's no clear address. I don't know what the building looks like, but I can't wait to finally leave. I placed my document back into the envelope and took Jax's. I haven't read his yet, I got permission from him to read it though. I took it out and started to read. His story isn't much different from mine. He lived in poverty and his parents gave him away for an education and better life... I don't think they would've expected him to end up here. He came when he was four... I placed his record back. I've read all of them, all the records I could get my hands on, I took my time and read every single one of them. Over the years the ages have gotten older. At least they weren't as young as I was... but it was still disgusting. How could someone be this cruel?

I heard the batch leader outside and opened the door. I smiled as I saw the batches. I nodded silently at the leader.

"Stay safe." I waved at the kids and they whispered to me.

"Bye Delilah!"

"We'll miss you!"

"Thank you for everything!" I waved at them with a smile.

"You're welcome! Goodbye!" They passed by and I closed the door.

Five more days, five more and everything will be over. But I have to be ready, anything can happen. I placed the envelopes back onto the desk, Jax gave me a hug.

"We're really close. This is finally going to end and we'll be happy." I hugged him, I finally had hope after all these years.