Shadows

14. Then why-

It seems that we all have remembered why we ended up here, and that's why we're gathered. Because we don't even really know what the why is - we dont know what really happned in there, no one knows what's going to happen. But no one brings it up, perhaps it's because of the fear that once we do, it would all seem so... real.

The only sound in the room was the gentle flow of the air conditioner, but even that seemed to leak tension into the room. The unsettling silence seems to swallow you into its depths. Still, no one brings the topic up, we all look at each other, expecting one another to bring the topic up, be the one to spoil all the fun and games.

"Gangs," Xander's voice penetrates the silence, deep and calm- soothing, even "our school was terrorized by gangs."

This seemed to alleviate the tension, Zeal nods, "yeah, we figured, but why."

"To get money, obviously." Ashton asserts.

"And they had to gas us to do that?" Harper counters.

"Maybe they were trying to find a victim for ransom." Tom cuts in. At that all our eyes trial to Xander. He's the son of Lukas Roosevelt, the owner of Roosevelt Industries.

The first time I really took interest in the company was when I heard about their center for robotics. Consequently, I ended up researching the whole company. And.. well, impressive would be an understatement.

It's an international company, operating in all sectors. It's an 'Everthing under one roof' kind of company, except they have a guargantian amout of roofs. Sharing an unbelievably huge slice of the market share, operating globally, they have outlets all over the world. It's no surprise that many breakthroughs in technology, medicine, military and customer products, and sceince in general, have been made there. They even own many natural resources- farms, aquafarms and diamond, metal, gold mines, to name just a few- they use for production. It's known that most of the population work there.

In short, the company has become so powerful that even the government fears a disagreement. They could easily relocate, rendering more than half the population population unemployed, effectively destroying the entire economy.

And the son of the owner- who is supposed to inherit all that wealth and power- is right there. Sitting among us. No guards, no weapons. It's almost too easy.

It seems that everyone realized this as their their expressions gradually shift to one of an awe-filled terror.

"Fair enough." Xander nods.

"But," my voice cuts the silence, "He's still here, safe and sound."

That fills the room with confusion.

"What-"

"Then Why-"

"How-"

"Maybe they didn't find him," Spencer argues, "I mean, the explosives where pretty damn loud, surely they must have been in a hurry when they were searching through piles and piles of passed out teenagers-" I notice others, including myself, involuntarily shiver at that, -"and Xander would have looked like the rest of us- I mean, he doesn't go around wearing a golden suit like you might expect," everyone looks at Xander, who frowns at that, Spencer finishes,"so they assumed they were in the wrong place and fled."

There are murmurs of agreement. But I wasn't done yet.

"That doesn't make sense," I point out, " they obviously would have recognized his face, if not, then they wouldn't waste their resources gassing a whole school and potentially getting caught if they're not even sure how he looks like, and I'm sure, with everyone out, that it was long before anyone noticed and decided to call the cops."

Everyone starts to agree, seeing the point. They're countenances twist into ones of confused-fear, as though the answer for their questions is a dream they're trying to remember. They can only catch vestiges of emotes- of fear, the dream itself, they can never quiet get a grasp on.

Xander looks like he's thinking about something, analyzing it in his head, his eyes momentarily lock with Lance's- who stares off into space, twisting the rings on his fingers- then linger back to me.

Although his expression is set, something twinkles in his eyes before quickly giving way to their icy, regressive counterpart. He looks away, at everyone else.

Spencer frowns at the floor in consideration. Scratching the back of his kitten's ear- that's sleeping on his lap.

The corners of Axel's mouth twitch, his eyes projecting two words:
smart girl.

*****

Oh, look, I don't know what to write.
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