Emerging Above the Silence

by James Sandepp

  Before I could say anything else, Claire lunged at Lara and kicked her knees from behind her and it was the perfect distraction for me as I said the word “push” furiously and loudly and Lara was immediately shoved to the back while Susie hit the ground and the gun went flying off onto the floor.

  Lara’s body flew into the air for about twenty meters, crashed into the back wall and her body slumped to the ground. She deserved it, I didn’t care for her anymore and this is what would happen to anyone else who came against me.

  I walked over to Lara’s body and had this unusual urge to use my voice again to hurt her for trying to threaten me and my friends, but Susie grabbed my hand and dragged me away.

  “Marinette, look at me,” Susie signed. “What are you doing?”

  I couldn’t face Susie right now and stared at the ground.

  Susie touched my face. “Marinette, this isn’t you. I know you are not the kind of person who hurts people. You must remember who you are. The ability to speak doesn’t change who you are. You are still the same friend from Thomson who means so much to me.”

  Susie then hugged me tightly and, as she did, I let go of all my built up rage for everything that had happened in the last couple of days. I started sobbing uncontrollably as she held me and I didn’t know what had happened to me because it was as if another me had emerged from the ashes of the building collapse back in Thomson.

  After I let her go, Claire came up to us and hugged me too and I felt so much warmth from the both of them. At that very moment I knew Claire was going to be someone I could trust.

  I shared with the both of them about my emotions being the trigger to the sound.

  “Wow,” Claire signed. “That is pretty cool.”

  “I hate my emotions,” I signed. “I felt so much anger and hatred earlier after what happened to Oliver, on the train back and now with Lara. I really couldn’t stop myself. I just wanted to destroy everyone. If you hadn’t been here …”

  “Listen to me,” Susie motioned. “Emotions are what make us whole.”

  I hadn’t expected it from her and thought she would try to convince me like Oliver had of the evil nature of emotions and how we should resist our need to be emotional.

  “I guess you didn’t expect me to say it, huh,” Susie smiled noticing my confused look.

  “I thought you might try to convince me of how emotions are dangerous since this is what I have been told,” I gestured.

  “Who told you such things?” Susie signed. “I think I can guess it was a guy, huh?”

  I smiled. “Oliver went on and on about it.”

  “Oh I see,” Susie signalled. “Yeah, I heard all this talk before, but I don’t believe it. If emotions were so bad why would we even have them to begin with. I seriously think emotions are what make us so human, so fragile and yet so alive and without them life would be boring and meaningless.”

  “But most people have been living fine without being too emotional,” I signed.

  “The problem is because we couldn’t speak our emotions were like an untapped well, but now when you are able to speak our emotions really come alive,” Susie gestured. “I think you know what I mean.”

  By now I had calmed down considerably and was grateful Susie and Claire had been here to stop me from going insane and doing something that I would have regretted forever. I couldn’t believe I had seriously thought of injuring Lara permanently.

  “Susie is right, Marinette,” Claire signed. “There were times I have been sad, but I always felt I was limited in expressing it. It was like there was something missing inside of me that didn’t allow me to be emotional.”

  Susie continued. “This is what society and humanity has been missing along with its voice.”

  “I don’t know if I can control myself,” I motioned. “Look what I did to Lara and what I could’ve done to her would've been much worse.”

  Lara was unconscious and I was glad she was still alive because I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I had killed her.

  “You can control it, Marinette,” Susie gestured. “There is a wonderful side to emotions too just like anything in life. Emotions allow us to love, make decisions, and empathise with others, which can help many people around us who are suffering silently in the dark.”

  “But you know ... ,” I started.

  Susie interrupted. “Words can be used for good or evil. It is always a choice and we have the freedom to choose right? Isn’t it the same for our emotions? Just because emotions can lead us down a dangerous road, it doesn’t mean we stop being emotional. I cannot imagine how it feels to be in your shoes right now, but I know you can control your emotions from ruling over you. And when you control your emotions yours words will follow and bring life and colour to those around you. People used to live like that when they were able to speak right? People with emotions didn’t end up destroying each other in those days.”

  Claire nodded.

  “Okay you both convinced me,” I smiled, but I wasn’t sure if I was trying to please them or just end the conversation.

  Either way both of them had given me some things to think about and I was really grateful for it.

  I hugged Susie and Claire again. “Thank you both for being here.”

  “We need to tie Lara up,” Susie took charge. “Someone will eventually find her, but for now I don’t want her giving us any more trouble.”

  “I cannot go with you,” Claire indicated.

  I looked confused. “Why not? It isn’t safe here especially now that Lara knows you betrayed her.”

  “You need someone to watch over Lara and keep her away from everything,” Claire highlighted. “I don’t think any of us want Lara back on her feet running around right?”

  “Won’t the Resistance come looking for her?” Susie motioned.

  “If only they knew where she is,” Claire smiled. “Lara didn’t tell anyone we were coming here. I think I can keep her here for a day or two. Is that enough time for you to do whatever you need to do?”

  I was worried for her, but knew it was the right thing to do. “I think so. Thank you so much, Claire.”

  Susie and I tied Lara up, dragged her to a hidden corner in the floor and we left the building leaving Claire to watch over Lara.

  THIRTY-SIX

  We sat in a nearby cafe, watched the elevated trains and cars whiz by us outside and this place was quite full of people and the robots who served them. I was amazed at how the robots didn’t crash into each other as they served multiple tables quickly. Susie had joined me in her new disguise as we didn’t know if the Resistance would also now be after her and it was better to be cautious.

  “I know what I said before in front of Lara, but without the evidence of Dr Liverfield’s plan to build an army we don’t have much,” Susie indicated.

  It was true the only document that could expose Dr Liverfield’s plans was gone, but it didn’t mean we had reached a dead-end and I wasn’t about to give up when we were so close to getting her.

  “Do you think Claire will be okay?” I signed.

  Claire was courageous to stay behind and watch over Lara, but I didn’t know if she could handle Lara once she woke up. I wished Claire had come with us, but I knew she made the right decision.

  “I see some of you in her you know,” Susie motioned.

  “Really?” I gestured in surprise.

  “She has the same desire to fight for the truth like you do,” Susie highlighted.

  I was taken by surprise of what Susie thought of me. Since when had I become like that? Had I become the poster girl to find the truth? I was always the person who was neutral to everything. Maybe it had been a slow change, but, whatever the reason, I knew Susie was probably right in her perception of me.

  “Claire will be okay,” Susie indicated.

  “I know what I need to do,” I signed.

  Susie looked at me in anticipation as if I was going to say something very profound, which was unusual for me because
people rarely looked to me for an answer. Instead, I was the one waiting for someone to follow behind, but I realized things were changing with my new abilities.

  I continued. “I have to find a way to make a speech to the people of Vinder and the surrounding towns.”

  Susie’s first response made me doubt myself initially. “Are you sure you can do that?”

  Susie must have realized her response had the wrong effect on me. “I didn’t mean it like you cannot do it.”

  I nodded. “I know. Making a speech is a risky and daring thing for me.”

  “I agree, but you must be ready for the fact that a speech can be long and it could be tiring for someone who is only just beginning to speak,” Susie signalled. “I just want you to be ready for it.”

  I smiled at Susie. “Thanks for being concerned about me, but I think I am ready for this.”

  “Then here’s my question, Marinette,” Susie motioned. “What would you say in the speech?”

  “I don’t know yet, but it would be a very short speech anyway,” I gestured. “One thing I realized staying at the Resistance was that I was a symbol of hope for these people. It was the one thing I agreed with Lara on. My speech needs to revolve around hope. And, as you said, since I am still learning to speak I need to keep it short.”

  “I can help you,” Susie signalled.

  “How? We don’t have any friends here in Vinder,” I highlighted. “We cannot trust anyone here. Everyone is after us. I doubt we can simply walk into the news media outlet and ask them to help us.”

  “When you were away in Thomson Lara took me around to meet different people here,” Susie indicated. “And it was only then that I understood the Resistance does have many supporters in many places here. These supporters are ordinary people doing normal jobs, but they don’t show their support openly to anyone. Most of these people are very willing to help the Resistance expose Dr Liverfield and her plans. We just need to find the right person.”

  I was happy I had left Susie behind. “Okay. Can you take me to one of these people who you think can help us?”

  It was two hours later when we stepped into a bookstore of all places, and it was unlike anything I had experienced before. The only two things that made this place resemble a bookstore was the sign outside and the shelves of books inside, but even the way these shelves were stacked was unexpected. There were layers and layers of shelves against each wall and even on the ceiling and I didn’t know how come the books never tumbled down upon us. You couldn’t really see the books on the shelves because of the way they were stacked so close to each other. Several robots were busy moving about the bookstore and, to be honest, I was wondering where the humans were or if there even were any around.

  “Take a look at this,” Susie waved to me as she went to a display in front of a wall and clicked a button.

  The shelves against the wall started sliding up one by one until one shelf emerged and descended to where Susie was, and as it descended I finally got a glimpse of the books. The bookshelf carrying those books actually came down from the wall to exactly where Susie was standing. It was an incredible sight.

  “All I need to do is pick a shelf and the shelf comes to me with all of its books for me to browse,” Susie signed. “I can then press another button and the book will be sent to the robot counter at the front for me to collect on the way out. How amazing is that?”

  How I wished Oliver was here to see this marvelous bookstore because I knew he would be so beyond happy in this bookstore. Thomson’s bookstore was nothing compared to what I was witnessing in front of me. Thinking about him made me sad, then angry again because he may never be able to see what was right in front of me anymore. I tried not to think of Oliver’s situation, but instead focused on why I was here and what needed to be done.

  “Is the person we are looking for here?” I motioned glancing around. “I don’t see anyone.”

  The moment I said it an older man wearing a dark suit stepped out of one corner of the bookstore. “Hello. How may I help the both of you?”

  Susie turned to him. “I don’t know if you remember me from the other day. I came in here with Lara.”

  The man smiled. “Let me think. Ah yes I remember you and Lara from the other day. Susie was your name, am I correct? I nearly couldn’t recognize you with your new look.”

  Susie relaxed in her stance.

  He then glanced around most likely to check if we were alone with him in the bookstore. It was obvious he wasn’t comfortable with talking to us.

  “What brings you back to my store so soon?” the man signed looking suspiciously at me.

  “We need your help,” Susie gestured. “Is there someplace more private we can go to first?”

  “I am sorry, but who is your friend here?” the man signalled looking at me. “I don’t think I have been introduced to her yet.”

  “This is the silence breaker,” Susie introduced me although I felt uncomfortable with the title for the first time since this whole saga had begun.

  The second Susie mentioned me by the title the man put his hand in the air, glanced around the store nervously and then waved for us to follow him.

  The man walked to the back of the bookstore and then went around a corner as we followed him. Around the corner was a lift, and we all got in as he pressed the button for the fifth floor. I hadn’t expected this bookstore to have so many floors, but, then again, Vinder had its own standards of things.

  At the fifth floor we got out, followed the man down a short corridor and he opened the only door at the end of the corridor and we shuffled inside.

  We were inside a neatly kept apartment which looked like this man’s personal space and there didn’t appear to be anyone else here. This apartment was different from Dr Liverfield’s one in the sense it was simple with a sofa, a monitor on a table next to the kitchen and two doors leading I expected to rooms. There was no sign of the grandeur of Vinder inside these four walls.

  “Where is Lara?” the man signed after he shut the door.

  Susie glanced at me and I also didn’t know how to reply to him.

  “Please forgive my manners,” the man motioned. “My name is Jim Wells. You can just call me Jim.”

  I shook hands with Jim. “I am Marinette.”

  “It is a great pleasure and honor to meet you, Marinette. All of us who support the Resistance have heard of you,” Jim smiled. “But you shouldn’t have come here. It is very dangerous these days.”

  “Why?” Susie indicated. “What has happened?”

  Jim walked over to his monitor, turned it on and clicked on a file. “We received this news footage from the Magistrate in Thomson today morning. It was part of the Vinder breaking news cycle.”

  The Magistrate news person first showed an image of a collapsed building which I recognized immediately to be the one where Oliver and I had found Felix in and had later destroyed with Josh inside.

  Then what followed shocked me as the monitor displayed my horrible loner school photo again and the news person indicated that the teen murderer on the loose Marinette had died in the explosion during an intense shoot-out with the Magistrate security.

  THIRTY-SEVEN

  “You are supposed to be dead,” Jim gestured with a smile.

  The Magistrate had taken everything to the next level in their efforts to silence me and I clenched my fists slightly, but realizing I might be getting angry again controlled myself. The Magistrate and Council didn’t care about anyone and had even used Josh’s death to their own advantage to send me a clear message that they were still in control of everything.

  “This news was shown throughout Vinder and all the towns as well,” Jim indicated. “So, everyone would think you died in the building.”

  “Which would bring my story to an end,” I signed.

  “This is their way to make sure no one helps Marinette,” Susie signalled. “If we had approached anyone they wouldn’t believe us anymore because of the news. So, how come y
ou chose to believe us?”

  Jim grinned. “Once you have lived for as long as I have you get a sense for what is going on girls. I knew the news was a fake one the moment it came out, but there will be many who will believe it and be fooled.”

  “The Council wants people to give up on any possible hope they had in me,” I signed.

  “That is the intention my dear,” Jim motioned. “The rumours about your presence here in Vinder have increased in the last twenty-four hours and I think this is why the news footage was shown. For the Council to acknowledge your presence in this world means they have reached a point of desperation.”