Culling

Part II • Chapter XX

I watched them in shock. What was the matter now?

After North and Silas had gotten out of the labyrinth, Ms Johnson had tracked us down before we had a chance to go anywhere and said that we all needed to wait in the President's conference room. So, here we were... Apparently other people knew more than we did. Like who had called this meeting, for example.

Owen stood up hastily and gave them a questioning look. He was just in the dark as the rest of us, but he was determined to find out. "Mr Gentreau?" He started to question my grandfather, when his voice trailed off and his face turned to stone. 

A half-second passed, and Mr Blackbourne entered the room behind them.

All of them? I found myself watching the scene in front of me in confusion. Why was everyone here?

"Why are you here?" Owen snapped at Mr Blackbourne, suddenly tense.

But Mr Blackbourne did nothing more than to give Owen an impassive glance before turning towards the door. "Pick your battles, you idiot, now is not the time."

The words had barely left his lips before the door slammed open once again. My eyes widened as a number of peacekeepers, armed and ready for a fight, lined into the room. They were followed by a fuming President Hendricks. 

President Hendricks' furious eyes sought out mine at once. "You stupid girl! Have you realized what you've done?" He scathingly shot in my direction the instant the door closed behind him.

At this entrance, and his harsh words, there was a flurry of activity around me. The boys, who had been reclining around peacefully only seconds before, suddenly stood in between me and the angry man. Highly alert, and wary.

I, on the other hand, had become extremely anxious at this sudden declaration. What had I done? Did I do something wrong? 

"Wha-" I started to ask. I wanted to know what I could have possibly done in order to cause this level of animosity, but Owen interrupted me.

"Don't say anything." Owen commanded me sharply, and I could feel that I had begun to shake in terror. 

Luke and Victor stepped backwards from their positions in front of me and surrounded me with their arms. They held me in between them as they attempted to comfort me. But I was too shocked and scared to pay much attention, or to take any relief in the gesture. What was wrong?

"President Hendricks, how dare you-" I heard my grandfather's deep voice come out in a snarl, he sounded livid.

But President Hendricks cut him off, "No, how dare you. All of you, including that girl! I have been extremely lenient throughout this entire ordeal. But enough is enough. I cannot allow this kind of public humiliation to go unpunished."

"What in the world are you rambling on about?" Uncle Lucas asked angrily. "Tell me, what humiliation have you suffered? We should be angry with you, not the other way around. I want to know what happened out there! I want to know why there were so many creatures set loose against Sang and Mr Griffin."

"You are being dramatic. That was a technical glitch, and only that. At any point those two could have surrendered. The fact that they continued to fight is on them. But that is neither here nor there." President Hendricks snapped out.

"Why don't I believe you?" Uncle Lucas shot back icily. "That incident is why we are here, correct?"

I heard President Hendricks inhale sharply. "I honestly don't care if you believe me or not. In case you have forgotten, I'm the one in charge here. Not you, and not Blackbourne. Me. The reason we are here is because I'm more concerned about the fact that she cheated, than I am about a simple computer malfunction."