"We just received word that the SN was broken into last night. Confidential files were reported missing only an hour ago but we have yet to be informed of the culprit responsible." The blond newswoman reported, eyes glimmering with joy at the fact she was the first to tell Silulion the big bombshell.
Her name was 'Stella Story' and I've seen her enough on TV to realise that she was bursting to say more. There was without a doubt a lot more that she could have. From the way her long finger with it's luminous pink claw tapped the table and how she couldn't sit still in her seat made it too obvious.
The SN was the house of government, a hexagonal shaped building at the far end of Silulion City. It contained everything- well everything worth containing that is. All our ancient scriptures are kept behind those walls, even the ones from other countries far away like Gentacoba. No films, novels, newspapers or even advertisements can be released without getting a stamp of approval from them. But why? Why do they care so much?
"Blake has been asking around about you, particularly interested in why you were gone for that week everyone's so hushed about," Juliet got through with a mouth full of popcorn. She had switched from the news to a movie on the tiny television supported by a table she made in woodwork. The teacher said that instead of putting it on display with the others she'd let Juliet keep it 'because it was so precious'.
Let's just say that it looked like a starved beaver had a little too much fun with it.
Our room was the exact same as any other, well, apart from that. Two single beds pressed up against the two opposite walls, two lockers and two wardrobes. Everything brown and blue.
Because that's obviously what us teenage girls wanted.
"Good for him," I muttered in reply, lying back on my bed with a heavy sigh.
"You really hate it here, don't you. Whatever you discovered out there must have been really good because that's all you think about. It's like everyday I find you staring blankly ahead, dreaming about another place...or person?" My blond friend stood up in full interrogator mode now.
I plastered a fake smile on my face, "Jules don't be ridiculous, you know I-"
"Who was he? You are well aware that any man that wasn't assigned to you out there is dangerous!"
It was hard to take her seriously with her curlers on and rainbow PJs. I kept my face as passive as possible but I wasn't yet sure if I wanted to hug or strangle her. What she's saying can't be true. What if we were actually lied to this entire time and X was right?
"You're doing it again! Don't you want to live the great Silulion dream with your kids and loving husband? You won't get that if you go running off out there!" Her anger was surprising me.
The hugging part was definitely forgotten at this point.
"What would you know?" I rose infuriated. "This may not be all that it seems...doesn't it feel so...sickening...so controlled?" I sat back down in defeat, the last part coming out as nothing more than a mere whisper.
She was right, I have changed.
WIND'S P.O.V
"He's just swooping in and taking all of my dealer's newly earned cash- my cash- and I think I've been patient enough."
"Be patient please! I'll get all your money back...I'll give you twice as much!" The pathetic woman wailed at my feet. Every bit of her leaking makeup that got on my expensive shoes just increased my disgust. She will regret the day her name was called out with mine.
I'll make sure of it.
"Yes sir, you have."
His formal behaviour brought me back to the time when I was a child. My father forced me to address him as sir. Instead of attending North or South school, I stayed at home. He hired all kinds of nannies and tutors but for some reason they never lasted more than a month or two. They would just disappear as if never belonging here in the first place.
I was twelve when I found out what was really happening.
Too young.
Way too young.
I turned my hands over searching for any signs of blood, making sure that my vivid flashback was just that- nothing more that an old memory. It then came to me, hitting like a painful slap to the face. My father was one intelligent sick bastard!
"I know what we'll do."
DARCY'S P.O.V
"Friends share secrets with one another! Friends talk about boys with one another! And last of all, friends share secrets with one another!"
I just rolled my eyes, not bothering with a response. How many times should you have to tell a person that it's private before they learn to back off?
"Darcy, okay I get it," She began cracking her knuckles; a habit for when she was trying to control herself from going into a major tantrum. I scrunched my nose up at the sound.
"You've always been an honest person- sure you're a sarcastic pain in the ass- but I trust you. You'll tell me eventually." I ignored the fact the last part sounded like a question and smiled back. Juliet was always a bit of a drama queen.
"Come on Jules, let's just go to sleep." My blond friend yawned in agreement.
In mid stretch, she said the one thing that could turn my blood cold.
"Oh yeah, I had the weirdest dream ever yesterday. It almost makes me too scared to close my eyes now. This guy wearing this really creepy-as-shit mask was in the room- standing right there, like literally right next to your bed."
"What did he do- what did he say?"
"You can't just assassinate the man!" My hands urged to grab his head and shake the living daylights out of him.
"Why? I'm sure he'll be honoured. It shows that we think he's important," X replied smoothly from his armchair in the corner.
"Sometimes I really do question your sanity, no scratch that- that's what I'm constantly doing!"
"Ugh, Darcy dear, some are born crazy, some achieve craziness and some have craziness thrust upon them," he groaned before gulping back more of his ancient scotch.
"No, it's greatness- greatness, you psycho!"
"That makes more sense."
"And what do you mean by that it will show that we- as in you and I- think he's important? I'm not going along with your evil self any longer," I was verging on hysterical at this point. This man has kept me down here for too long and I just can't take it!
"I'm evil? Me? It's the government that are the evil ones," his voice was very clipped, barely containing his irritation.
I lowered myself into the chair opposite, it's old parts moaned in protest causing a faint blush to rise to my cheeks. X cocked his head to the side, watching me with curiosity. The red glow from the fire made it possible for me to see him properly, not something I was able to do often. The white mask hid his facial features but just getting a look at his body was good enough for me. It was fit, capable of many things....like killing a guy. The thought made every muscle in my body to tighten with nerves and the hairs to rise up on my arms.
"If they're so evil, why would they come up with all these laws to protect us? Like to do not steal?" I demanded, staring challengingly into his black eyes.
"You'll learn soon enough, my love, how much they detest competition."
He ran his black gloved hand over his equally dark hair which was gelled to perfection. The damn narcissist. How long does he spend in front of the mirror doing that? Maybe that's how I'll escape; ruffle his hair so that while he's trying to desperately put it back to it's best- I run for my life.
Genius.
How does one respond to that?
"And now that you're done with your damsel in distress performance let's move back to more pressing matters. We are in this together if you like it or not. Even if it means dragging you out of that school by your hair, it will be you and me against the SN."
I presumed he'd come after me, I just didn't expect him to have as much determination.
Dear future self, you are completely screwed.
A/N
Thanks for reading!