The Diversion Program

Chapter Five- The Lie

Once I woke up, Chad was already gone. With his bed not made and blanket unfolded. I turn over to look at the clock on the wall. Past ten thirty? Already? My hands flipped my blanket off myself and my feet landed softly on the carpet. The jacket I had on yesterday was laying on the ground. I wrapped myself in it and slid on some jeans hanging off the end of my bed. 

As I rushed out of the room, I heard faint talking. I followed the voices down the long hall after I closed my door to a bright blue room. My eyes squinted from the light colored walls. Everyone was sitting at the table with plates in front of them. Chad looked up at me then straight down, acting like he didn't see me. The man from earlier was not wearing his tan outfit, he was in black work pants and a red long sleeved shirt. So was his helpers.

"Oh there you are Christian." The man said, motioning with his hand towards the empty seat next to Chad. Once he talked, everyone turned towards me. Everyone was with their roommates. Taylor was next to David, Melissa was by herself, and I was with Chad on seperate sides of the table. 

"Finally we get our food." Taylor said, looking at the man. One of the men in the red shirts got up and went into a seperate smaller room connected to where we were sitting. 

"How was everyone's sleep?" The man asked, holding his hands together on the table.

"Great. Except David kept snoring." Taylor said, looking at David with an annoyed look. David blushed a redish color and looked down in embarrisment. 

"Well, I was alone so mine was good." Melissa said, playing with her fork on her plate. 

"Chad?" The man questioned, looking over at him. Everyone looked at him. I followed, turning my head to the right. He was staring at me with his eyes deeply. 

"Fine." He said, keeping his eyes on me for a second. I looked away kind of creeped out. The man's helper finally came out of the room with a platter with eggs on it. He set it on the table and people start reaching for it. The man grabbed last after everyone else. My mind drifted somewhere else. To my living room. With all my family there. A woman sat there smiling with a little girl who was only 2 years old, my little sister. A child about 7 years old was sitting on the opposite side of the table. "Christian, eat your food. It's gonna get cold." The kid shook his head side to side and smiled as a joke. The woman spoke again. "Fuzzy is gonna get you if you don't eat." The kid laughed loudly as the woman came around to tickle him. My mind came back to reality.

It was silent most of the time. Just the sound of chewing and sips of water filled the room. The man broke the silence. "Since I will be training you guys, I must tell you my name. It is Sebastian." David nodded while he bit off the egg on his fork. No one else said anything. It was kind of awkward. "After breakfast, you guys will get sent back home for a moment to get a few changes of clothes and things. Then we will train. A guard will come with you and make sure you return." 

"Yes!" Someone whispered. 

About ten minutes past, and everyone was finished. Sebastian got off his seat and stood above us all. "Go to your rooms once you are finished and we will pick you all up in a half hour." He turned and walked out of the room, leaving us alone. Chad got up quickly and walked down the hallway towards our room. He was acting so strange. 

I followed after him. Once we reached the room, he closed the door on my face. I stood there for a little bit in confusion. The rest of the people left the room towards their rooms, passing me. Probably staring at me too. My hand reached for the handle and I opened the door slowly. Chad was on his bed, facing the wall. I ignored him, continuing to walk around to my bed. I began to gather my socks and stuff that I had on me. Chad just sat there not moving. 

"Are you going to see your parents?" I asked, pausing what I was doing to look at him.

He shook his head, looking down.

"Grandparents?" I added, finishing what I was packing up. 

"I'm gonna go shower." He said without hesitating. Chad got up and walked fastly towards the door. "There's seriously no bathroom in here?" He mumbled, then walked out the door with a rude slam of the door. I look back over at his bed and I see something like paper. Being curious, I begin to walk over there. Once I reached the edge of the bed, I see a piece of paper with a pen. It had writing on it. I quickly look around to check around me then began to read it.

Colin,

This place is crazy. There's no phones so I couldn't get a hold of you. Seriously, I am so scared right now. He's here. What if he finds out? I bet he will. I just have to keep it cool. Like nothing happened. What if I go to jail? He's closer to me then the others. I am training with him. My parents wouldn't be proud of me dude. 

Then he signed it, Chad Miller. Who was he talking about? Me? What did I ever do to him to make him scared? Or what did he do to me? I guess I will find out. Just then, the door opened. I quickly drop the paper on the table where it was left. Chad stormed in.

"Where you going through my stuff?" He asked angrily. I shook my head side to side. His face looked so angered but also a bit of sorrow. I backed away and rushed back towards my bed as he went to his letter. Chad looked at me in disgust then back at his letter. I was actually scared of this kid. He looked like he could hurt me severly.

"Sebastian told me to tell you that were leaving soon." Chad said in a low tone, walking out the door again. 

"Okay." I began to say, then I realized he was gone. I got up to shut the door that he left open and I saw there was a paper in a plastic little pocket on the door. I slowly grab it and unfold it.

Dear contestants,

You will have to learn to survive. Through diseases, weather, and attacks. You will only have your fellow contestants. This is a secret. When we send you home, you must say you're going to someplace for your education. No one must know about this. You will train with your roommate. See you once you return. 

Sincerely, Sebastian.

No one can know? What if we die? Then what? I don't like this. At all. Not even Chad. He's not my type of person. While I thought, my eyes kept slowly shutting. I fought to keep them open. Last night I had those dreams of my mom again. So I never really slept. I kept tossing and turning. 

I stopped fighting them and they shut tight. My mind drifted into a deep sleep. Then, my mom was in my view. She was laying in the hospital bed. Father was right next to her. He seemed to be crying, laying his head on her bed. The nurse came next to him with her hand on his shoulder. "She's gone." I heard he whisper quietly. 

"No. No mom!" I walked around to her and started pushing her body. "No! No stop! Mom!" 

"Christian! Christian wake up!" I got confused. That didn't work in the situation. My body sat up and I opened my eyes. Chad was standing there, saying my name. "You were screaming. Time to leave." He headed towards the door as I jumped up off the floor following him, flipping the light switch as I head towards the door. Chad opened the door, revealing the same smell from breakfast from earlier. As Chad and I file out of our room, Sebastian passes. 

"You boys ready?" He said without turning back.

"Yeah, I think." I said, patting my pockets, feeling around.

 "You didn't forget anything." Chad sounded stern and angry.