Arlo's Birthday!

Part 26: Realization

Blyke sat on his stool, with his tray of food before him. He didn't trust the food, but he hadn't eaten for a week, and he was beginning to feel the effects of hunger. The food also looked more appetizing today, but maybe that was his mind messing with him. 

Claire sighed, and got another spoon. She tasted the food and shrugged.

Claire: I'm not dead! Blyke, I'm telling you, there is no poison in here! 

Blyke glared at her. Then he looked back at the food. The rice was glistening with moisture, the other foods looking more delicious then ever. If he wanted to ever get out, he had to survive first. Food... was a priority.  

Claire let out a sigh of relief as Blyke ate ravenously. She was getting scared he would die because of lack of food. She had to admit, she was getting to care for the boy too much. It was a feeling she had never felt before. 

Blyke had just finished eating, and he laid down his plate. Then he looked up at Claire again. 

Blyke: So... what are we doing today?

Claire: Just talk. I think I'm getting convinced that you're not crazy after all. But I'm wondering why Volcan brought you here. 

Blyke sighed. Then he looked around. 

Blyke: I just realized, are there cams or mics around here? 

Claire pointed to a corner on the ceiling. 

Claire: There's a camera, but I don't think there are any mics. Why?

Blyke: If I tell you everything... both our lives are probably in big danger. If she hears that you believe me, that's worse. 

Claire: I'll...

Claire decided it was worth it to hear his side of the story. Maybe if she had known why John said she betrayed him even though she didn't do such a thing, she would have been able to settle it better. 

Claire: I'll risk it. Tell me. I need to know some truths in the world, not just lies. 

Blyke let out a sigh, then nodded. 

I was with my friend, and we had discovered EMBER earlier. Volcan... she's EMBER. Her fire claws show exactly how she could have killed the high tiers. She also has those ability amplifiers she hand out...

Claire: Wait... ability amplifiers? What about ability dampeners? 

Blyke: Yes for the first one. No for the second one. 

Claire trembled. She had been the one that invented them. She had given them to Volcan because she had trusted her. But it turns out that Volcan was lying to her too. 

What's real and what's not?

Blyke sighed.

Blyke: I think I got the point across. It seems like you're convinced. But I'm not sure how we get out of here without dying. 

******************

Remi finally couldn't think of any more excuses. Something had to have happened to Blyke. She felt herself become angry at the fact that she let him go. She shouldn't have! 

She knew she was too weak to come at EMBER all by herself. She needed to bring someone stronger than her. Usually, she would have consulted Seraphina, but at the moment, that wasn't an option. That left two people. 

John. Or Arlo. 

She didn't want to choose either. John, would probably tell her to go away, and maybe kill her in the process. Arlo would be just as likely to kill her if she told him what she had done. But Arlo would be more likely to help. 

She stopped in front of Arlo's dorm. Remi held up her trembling hand and knocked once. The door immediately burst open, but not from Arlo.

Remi: John?

He stared down at her. He was just on his way to talk to Seraphina again. On other circumstances, he would have ignored Remi. But at the moment, he was feeling too nervous and relieved. 

John: Hi Remi.

Remi, taken aback at the sudden greeting, waved awkwardly at him. 

John: I know we're not on good terms and all, but can you please come with me?

Remi: Come where?

John: I'm... going to talk to Seraphina. Please be there for moral support. I promise I'll owe you one. 

Remi was just on the verge of declining, when she realized he said he would owe her one.

She really needed John's help. 

Remi: I will. I'll be hiding behind and giving you signs! 

John let out a breath of relief. He didn't care who it was - maybe not Zeke or some other people - but he needed some consoling. Even Arlo would have been fine. Their relationship had healed quite a bit, he now realized. They didn't snap at each other every second. Arlo was tolerating John, and John tolerated Arlo. 

Seraphina stood, mango boba in one hand, trying to calm down. If she ignored the fact that John had beat up the entire school and the fact that everything they talked about was a lie... they could go back. Those facts were so hard to ignore, especially the lying. But she wanted to help John more. 

She heard a little rustle behind her, and she was just about to turn to see what it was when she saw John walking toward her. 

Seraphina: John.

John let out a weak smile. 

John: Hi... long time no see Sera. 

Seraphina looked at John. She could definitely tell he was nervous.  Although this was a lot for her to take in too, at the moment, she could only see John. 

Seraphina smiled.

Sera: Hi John. I want to chat.