Conquer

Chapter 24:

Jed and I barely spoke as we followed Madame Lambert back to the eating area. I tried to keep myself from asking questions, saving them for the right time. But the questions followed through my mind like a river.

What happens now?

Where do we go?

What is the real world like?

We approached the eating area, not hesitating as we walked through the door.

When we entered, Max instantly greeted me with his eyes, standing at my entrance.

I smiled at him. Max seemed to know that something was wrong. And before I knew it, he pulled me into a hug. I hugged Max back, squeezing him and resting my chin on his shoulder.

I leaned to whisper in his ear, "We watched film from Survivial. Faye was there, and Will... Carol." I felt his body tense.

I pulled from him, sitting at a near by table. The trays of food seemed to be taken out of the room. Max sat to my right while Jed sat to my left. It was easy for me to tell that they both had hundreds of unanswered questions.

"Hey, écouter! Listen!" Madame Lambert shouted. We all turned our attention to her. No one seemed in the mood to hear her shouting.

"As a part of your recovery, the people of C.M.S.B. want to give you all Lock Ins. There is much terminology for you to learn as you can tell.

A Lock In is a computerized tablet. What we would like you to do is record yourselves. Like journals," she spoke loudly.

"We will be further studying your healing process, mentally. The tablets will lying on your beds. Dinner will be served at 6:30 P.M. tonight. After dinner there will be a gathering, in here, where all questions will be answered. It is currently 11:56 A.M. You're free to do what ever you'd like until dinner. Make sure to remain near by. Snacks will be served all day in this room."

After her statement, Madame Lambert left the room. No one said anything for quite some time. We all had the same lingering eagerness. We were still afraid, still wondering... still confused. None of the Conquerors seemed too quick to get up and move around. The atmosphere was completely silent.

Some Conquerors had jumped when I was the first to stand. I sighed. I knew it would be long before we were healed. But after a few moments, some of the other Conquerors had gotten up and moved around. Some left to get their Lock Ins and others went to explore.

Where are you Jordyn? Nathan asked suddenly, his words bursting through my thoughts like someone bursting through doors. Something seemed odd in his tone. Nathan seemed almost... afraid.

What do you mean? Why do you ask? I asked him eagerly.

Answer my question Jordyn! Where are you?! You can't leave Jordyn, we are so close!" Nathan shouted frantically. His shouting had been so intense in my mind that I fell to the floor, landing on one knee.

Max was instantly by my side. "Jordyn, are you okay?" I didn't reply, instead I looked up at Jed. Jed had been gripping his head as well, squeezing his eyes shut.

Nathan? What's going on? I asked. Minutes began passing as I waited for a response. But there wasn't one.

Nathan had gone silent. I felt as though he had vanished, like he was no longer in my mind. As if his mental presence had disappeared.

"Yes, I'm fine," I replied to Max. I slowly stood and rubbed my eyes. "I think I'm going to go check out the Lock Ins." I tried to look convincing, like nothing had happened.

"All right, I'll be here," Max replied with, rubbing my shoulder in assurance. I nodded at him and walked out of the eating area.

When I entered the girls room, I had seen some of the female Conquerors talking to a tablet. I began walking to the bed that I had slept in from the night before.

Lying on my pillow was a thin, rectangle shaped tablet. I picked it up, examining it carefully. It was small and was a bit bigger than my palm, length and width wise. To the side of the tablet was a silver button. I stared at the button as I put my back to the wall. I slid down the wall, sitting with my knees up.

I pressed the silver button carefully. Suddenly a screen had lit up. On the screen was one red icon button. It said, "Make a Lock In." I carefully pressed the Lock In button, my index finger pressing the cold screen.

Afterwards, the screen cut to myself. Seeing myself on the screen was as close to a reflection as a mirror. I stared at myself for a moment. My eye was colorless and pitiful. My features had grown thinner, tanner as well. I no longer looked like the Jordyn I was a few days ago.

I tried to ignore it, waiting for something to happen on the screen. I sat for a few moments. I was confused until I saw a red dot flashing in the corner of the screen.

It's recording.

I cleared my throat before speaking, not caring if anyone was listening.

"It's currently 12:05 P.M. I'm unaware of the date. Month as well.

These last few days, or week I might say, have been chaotic. I'm unsure of my feelings at this point. I'm confused and tired. I'm desperate for answers too. I have so many questions and no one seems to have the answers. Which gives me an all too familiar feeling. I don't know what to expect anymore. I think it's been a week or so since I had arrived in Survival; It feels like it has been years.

Jedediah seems to be in so much pain. I don't know what else to expect from him. Nothing is getting any better for him. For anyone in fact. But Jedediah has it the worst. His own sister murdered in front of his eyes.

But it's the same pain we share. Our pain is in on equal levels, it's our metal capacity that's different.

Maximus seems to be the strongest out of everyone. I have yet to figure out why. Maybe he's strong natured. Ever since I had gotten my memory back, I have had the urge to be by him the whole time. I don't know if he has the same feeling; he didn't get his memory back. But it's an odd feeling. It's also hard to ignore," I paused. I allowed several minutes to pass before I continued.

"There's not much more to say... I just hope to get out of this place. To forget it all. I'm exhausted and worn out... and I think I'm going to rest," was the last thing I said. I wasn't quite sure how to exit the video.

I looked around the girls around me; I had seen one of them press the silver button and put her Lock In in her pocket.

I pressed the button. On the screen, an icon popped up. It read, "Are you sure you would like to end your Lock In?" It had a "yes" and "no" below the question. I gentally pressed yes and watched the screen exit and turn black.

I let out a long sigh as I stood. I quietly lied into my bed, slipping my legs below the blue blanket. I placed my Lock In under my pillow before closing my eyes. I listened to sounds of words and muffled whispers around me.

Then I drifted into a much needed nap, allowing the sleep to wash over me.