Athena hadn't been to the group's new meeting place yet and the address Orion sent her - with a clear instruction not to bring Dyo - didn't make a lot of sense.
It made even less sense when Athena found herself outside a quaint looking cafe around the corner from Waterloo East station. Its name, The ABC, was written above the door in a fancy French script.
Why would the group be meeting somewhere so public?
In the time it had taken her to get here, the sun had dipped below the horizon. They were no longer in any doubt that the news blast was referring to Sephy. A number of articles had swiftly followed the headline, none of them remotely positive or neutral. While she debated whether she'd come to the right place, Athena sat on a bench and caught up on the feeds.
The Daily Politics: Disaffected NLUP student plants bomb at the headquarters for the Freedom Institute in New London. Sephy Taylor, a first year student at the New London University of Politics, was apprehended this afternoon attempting to plant a bomb that was rigged to blow during an important board meeting, killing all of the Institute's New London based board members.
The only bomb Sephy had was the video that would have blown the Freedom Institute's deception wide open, Athena thought bitterly.
The Voting View: Despite enrolling at NLUP earlier this year, Taylor has an extremely poor attendance record. "We are greatly saddened by the news that any of our students would attempt to harm another human being. Due to poor academic marks, Miss Taylor was already undergoing disciplinary action at the University, and was going to be leaving us shortly. In light of her recent behaviour, Miss Taylor has now been expelled with immediate effect."
The NLUP was abandoning Sephy to her fate. If missing lectures really was a case for disciplinary action, Dyo would have been kicked out long ago.
The Campaigner: Cassandra Flax, Taylor's roommate, at the time of the bomb plot, was unsurprised by her behaviour. "I've always known something wasn't right about her. They all says so. {Interestingly, the reported had chosen to omit the fact that the 'they' Cassy referred to were voices she 'heard in the walls'} She let [people] steal my food too."
The Pop Times: Taylor has a family history of public disorder. Her father, formerly a chairman for the Liberty Group, became infamous seven years ago following a naked protest in Trafalgar Square. As a result of public backlash, he became a recluse, dying only a year later.
Sephy had told Athena this story during a walk in the park: "Senior members of the LG bumped him off for speaking out against them. He only stripped off because partners at the firm told him it was an offence to protest in LG clothing, as it suggested that they 'endorsed his views'." Her voice echoed eerily in Athena's head.
The Daily Politics: Taylor is currently being held in Trafalgar Detention Centre, awaiting trial.
But it wasn't only the news feeds which were discussing Sephy; the public feeds were buzzing with speculation. None of it was positive.
PopGrlXO: Why are people so desperate to harm our peaceful society?
Vote4Life: I bet she was behind the other bombings in New London too.
Voting_Queen: Those poor people at the Freedom Institute! They work so hard for our best interests.
Yeah right, Athena thought. These pop voters had no idea what they were talking about.
The_World_is_Ours: The people who planted the bombs are terrorists.
ThroughTheGlass: They are attacking our freedom of speech and our right to control the world we live in.
Couldn't they see they were already being controlled? The Freedom Institute told them someone was trying to plant a bomb and their trust in the system was so absolute that they didn't need any proof.
NLBoy: We cannot let terrorism win!
Brown_Eyes25: These people are dangerous.
Vote4Life: They should lock her up and throw away the key as soon as they find out who else was working with her.
One of the interesting quirks of Athena's society was that punishments were rarely set in stone. Once a trial had been held to establish guilt or innocence, sanctions were often voted on. Straightforward cases had set punishments, which usually fit the crime and rarely consisted purely of incarceration, which was saved only for those deemed too dangerous to be out in public.
Shoplifters had to work for free in the establishments they stole from; anyone who broke the indoor smoking ban had to volunteer on lung cancer wards; cycling offences usually resulted in a temporary ban. However, the guilty party could always appeal their punishment and send it to a wider vote and were often successful at personalising their sanction once extenuating circumstances and unique factors were taken into account. You had to 'opt-in' for jury voting, which the masses tended only to do when a particularly interesting trial was being discussed on the feeds.
CityLiving: There should be a trial immediately!
Apollo9: Lock her up? Jail is too good for scum like her.
CeresLG: Why should we be paying for her food and board through our taxes for the rest of her life?
NewLondoner: Others might see it as an easy option.
Vote_Life: A serious message needs to be sent.
CityLiving: We need to teach them a lesson through a severe punishment; something that will ensure no one tries something like this ever again.
Afterworld: The death penalty should be brought back! #TerroristsMustDie
Camp101: Surely that's too extreme?
Yes! Yes that was definitely too extreme! Athena closed her eyes, unable to read any more. She counted slowly to ten. Curiosity tugged at the edges of her mind, encouraging her to read the rest. With a deep, shuddering sigh, she opened her eyes once more and was immediately assailed by more threats of violence.
XPopVoteLifex: Why? She would have killed hundreds of innocent workers at the Freedom Institute, given the chance. I agree #TerroristsMustDie
No she wouldn't! Athena thought, desperately wishing she could defend her friend. "I should never have left you," she whispered to the city streets.
"Sephy wanted you to get out, Athena. She wouldn't have sent that message otherwise." Orion was standing in front of her, his face sombre. "Come on, they sent me out to get you as it didn't look like you were going to be moving on your own any time soon."
"I thought I was in the wrong place."
"We're trying a new tactic. No more disused buildings. We're hiding in plain sight."
Orion led her through the door to the cafe as another blast filled the feeds.
Tea&cake: Someone needs to start a vote and campaign. We have to push this through. #TerroristsMustDie
New Local Vote: Citizens of New London propose a national vote on the reintroduction of the death penalty for charges of terrorism. Do you vote for, or against?
Against! Against! Athena voted furiously, her eyes wide in shock. How could this be happening? There hadn't even been a trial yet and the masses were already deciding how to punish her. The situation was spiralling out of control.
Gasps came from behind the counter as whoever was serving read the vote proposal too. Athena focused her eyes on the inside of the cafe for the first time, finding Orpheus and Ino's faces mirroring her own shock as they stood behind a countertop covered in cakes. They were wearing green aprons emblazoned with the ABC logo.
"Why is no one stopping to question whether she is innocent?" Ino wailed, still scanning the feeds.
MagicMayhem: Maybe there has been a mistake. Let's wait and see what the trial uncovers.
IT_Queen: So she was going for a relaxing stroll through the FI with a bomb, was she? #TerroristsMustDie
StarlitAphrodite: Some people are idiots. #TerroristsMustDie
FIcarus: Maybe the previous poster is one of her friends. Maybe they're in on the plot too. Someone track that feed name! We've got you now! #TerroristsMustDie
"Great. Now completely innocent people are being attacked too," Athena exclaimed. "Is there no end to this insanity? What are they going to do next?
Tea&cake: Camp rally outside the jail where she's being held. Muster at 7am sharp. Get everyone you know there. When the authorities see how strongly we feel about this, they'll have to carry out her death sentence straight away! #TerroristsMustDie
"Oh God!" Athena whispered, her feet frozen to the spot. "We have to help her."
{I'm sorry for the delay in updating! I'll try to post the last few chapters as quickly as possible. Please vote if you enjoyed this chapter and comment to let me know what you think might happen next...}