Next Generation

Chapter 8

I couldn't move.

Jean had come over to me, and started tugging at my arm. She snapped me out of my haze.

I wasn't the only one who was trapped in their own line of thought. Their own haze.

Jean had tears in her eyes. Someone that belonged to her past life had to also be here. I scanned the rest of the strivers, at least sixty percent of them had tears in their eyes or were just plain surprised at what the council had done to their loved ones.

Brainwashed them. Taken over them.

~~~

Over twelve guards were in the room, along with the thirty of us, and thirty or so of the "council" members.

"Make yourself comfortable." One of the men in a full black suit had told us. He gestured towards the seats in the back of the room.

The room was bigger than I thought it would be; almsot the size if a school gym.

The man in black continued to speak, but as soon as he opened up his mouth,  whatever he said went in through one ear and out through the other, because I focused all of my attention on Mac. He was talking to the lady beside him. I had no clue to who she was, but she definetly looked old enough to be married and have children. Maybe she belonged to Aimee.

I looked across the room, and found the tiny brunette whimpering in another strivers arms. I didnt know she talked to others, I thought. I refocused my attention on Mac, although this time he wasn't talking to his neighbours; he was scanning us. Looking for something, or someone. No, I pushed that thought to he back of mind, he was brainwashed and this isn't him. Until... his eyes landed on me. He was probably trying to figure put who I was.

Mac had that look in his eyes when he didn't get his math problems. Yet this time he was trying remeber a familiar face. He opened up his mouth and said something. As I was across he room, I obviously had no way of hearing this. *What?* I mouthed back. *Who are you?* I had got what he said he third time he mouthed it. I had no words, I knew he had it in him to fight against the brain wash, but I didn't know if this was supposed to happen. Was I supposed to tell him my name? Was it all planned?

I could feel tears beginning to overflow the brim of my eye. I couldnt take it anymore, I just wanted to go home. *Finni* I mouthed back. As surprisingly common as my name is these days, he got it immediately,  bht apparently he couldn't fit two and two together.

The meeting went on, and at two on the dot, we were ushered out of the room. I couldn't and wouldn't be able to get a word in with Mac. It would've been for no use anyways. He wouldn't get it.

As much as I fought to go back - physically that is - they wouldn't let us, because George and the rest of the boys were being ushered into that very same room, and I guessed new "council" members were waiting in there for them too.