The Coding Call

Chapter 10

   The next day rained terror upon the group. Andrew was awakened by the large meaty hands of a guard. He was told to get up, change into the same black outfit as yesterday, and head straight to the dining room. Without questioning his orders Andrew left the dorm, still tired from his slumber. He walked the halls and from time to time he would question his sense of direction. He wandered the halls until he saw the two familiar doors. He pushed the door open and saw the entire group standing in a large line as if they were in the army. Each of them stood stiff as Maxwell paced between them, observing. His head jerked toward's Andrew's body. 

  "It's about time you showed up." Maxwell said in a menacing tone. "Tell me, what is your name?" He asked. His breath smelt of fresh mint. His grey hair stretched over in a combed fashion. He seemed like a formal man. Maybe that's what makes him so scary Andrew wondered. 

  "I'm Andrew." Andrew replied to Maxwell. Maxwell stared dead into his eyes. "Well Andrew, you are late." Maxwell slowly sputtered. "Not a good start must I say. If you are late tomorrow or the next day and next day and so forth," Maxwell continued. He leaned near Andrew's ear. "I'll make sure to finish you." He finished. With that he motioned Andrew to the line. The horrified eyes of the group watched as Andrew's stiff carcass walked to the line. 

  "You may sit." Maxwell told the group. "Attendance is over." The group in sync hobbled over to the table, Andrew still shaking from the threat Maxwell gave him. This man is ruthless Andrew thought in his head. "You are probably wondering why you are here." Maxwell started. "I'm here to explain, as promised. You all play a very important role in my show." Maxwell continued. Andrew was curious to what he meant. "Just think of me as that overweight music teacher that made you stand ruthlessly in front of a stadium full of miserable parents watching their children preform a song. I am the teacher, you all are the students, society are the parents." A pang of confusion rang over the group. "Let's make a hell of a show for society!" Maxwell yelled. 

  "Where are our parents?" A dark skinned boy asked. Maxwell's eyes seemed to grow out of his sockets. His attention shifted over to the boy. "Do I fucking look like I know where your parents are?" Maxwell told the group. "I have no idea where they are, I don't have a need for them." Maxwell finished. The dark skinned boy shook his head with tears streaming down his head. Andrew didn't believe Maxwell. He knew he had his parents. No way that all of their parents had gone missing at the same time.

  Maxwell lifted his head and cleared his throat. "Coders. That is why you all are here. You all are brilliant coders." Maxwell stood up and leaned on the table with his hands. "I have been watching each and everyone of you individually. I know what you guys are good at." The group stared, nervous and confused. "Why do you need coders?" Chase asked. Maxwell looked over to Chase. "I assorted a plan, Chase. I worked on a plan to change the world. For the better. I am going to change the world with your help." Maxwell finished. "But there are better coders out in the world, why choose a group of teenagers who don't match the professionals?" Chase refuted. Maxwell lifted his finger, pointing it at Chase. "Normal adults aren't as obedient as a group of scared teenagers." He answered. Bullshit, any scared person follows any rules Andrew wondered. 

  Maxwell motioned the group to stand up. The group shuffled out of their chairs and stood to his order. "Follow me." Maxwell commanded. He pushed the two doors open and walked out, with two large guards following. After a long walk through more hallways and turns they reached a glass door. Maxwell swiped his finger on a panel near the door causing the door to open. The glass door slid. The group stepped in.

  Andrew gasped as he entered. "Oh my god." A blonde girl next to him muttered under her breath. The room was very large and leveled. Layers of steps filled the room leading to the front of the room. Almost like a stage. On each step sat several high powered computers Andrew had no knowledge of. This looks like freaking NASA mission control Andrew thought. Maxwell stopped and turned, facing the group. "Welcome to your new job." Maxwell said. "You all will be assigned to a computer. This is your permanent seat that I will not change. Here you will go through a series of training tasks. Then you will start your work." Maxwell informed the group. He then shifted over to the first computer. "Paul Noble, this is your seat." He then moved over to the next computer. "Allison Teary," he motioned. The blonde girl standing next to Andrew shuffled over to her spot and sat next to Paul. 

  Several minutes of calling random names to random spots Maxwell informed where Andrew would sit. He was placed next to Chase and the dark skinned boy who asked about his parents. His name was  Lawrence, Andrew learned. Maxwell finished the list and stood at the center of the auditorium. "How's it feel?" Maxwell yelled out. No one in the group answered. The silence infuriated Maxwell. "Tomorrow training starts. You will learn the basics of my mission and goal. You will soon become masters and change the world for the better, I promise. Don't be late" He finished. With that he left the auditorium, leaving the group to converse.

  "That man is nuts if he thinks I will work for him." A boy named Todd called out. "Agreed." Allison answered. Chase stood up and announced, "Guys! Shut the hell up! They could be listening" Chase yelled out. "I don't care, let that fool listen to my damn words!" Todd yelled out. Andrew stood up and faced the group. He was never a good public speaker or a social person. But he couldn't go without speaking his mind. "Maxwell has our parents." Andrew started. The groups arguing and folly stopped as their attention shifted over to Andrew. "We will follow through with what he wants, then we will focus on getting out of here with our parents." Andrew concluded. Todd stood up angrily. "I'M NOT FOLLOWING ORDERS FROM ANYONE HERE! I AM GOING TO TROT ON OUT OF HERE! ANYONE WHO WANTS TO FOLLOW CAN!" Todd yelled. He turned and left the auditorium to god knows where. Andrew sat back down hopelessly. "We aren't getting out of here, we are mice in a trap. We are outnumbered here." Andrew cried. "It's hopeless." He finished. With that the group left to their dorms. Not knowing their future and what it has in store for them.