Intertwined

by Cooper Eaton

  “What!” “Oh no!” This can’t be right!” Voices sputtered around the table.

  “That’s right, tomorrow everything stops for you. You see, there really is no winner of this test, only losers.”

  My worst fears are confirmed! There really is no escape! This is all a hoax!

  Chancellor Neo jumped in, “Mr. Dark, I really don’t think you should be telling all of them what is going to happen. This wasn’t what was agreed upon.”

  “Why shouldn’t they know? It’s not like they’ll ever have the chance to tell anyone. They are merely pawns in the very dangerous game that we play.” He laughed with a sudden glee.

  Everyone sat in shock. No one could believe the words that were being spoken. We’d never walk, talk, or breathe again? How could this be!

  I’d know something like this might be the end result, but those around me looked as though breathing had become impossible.

  Mr. Dark continued. “You should know that your bodies will be used for the greater good. You will continue to serve the public long after you’ve gone. For that we are grateful.”

  I couldn’t believe it, we’ve sealed our fate! This so-called “test,” is our demise! Well, I’m not about to be used as a puppet in someone else’s game! I stood, my chair falling backwards, slamming onto the cold tile!

  All eyes turned towards me! “There’s no way any of this is possible! You’re lying!” I denied.

  “Oh, it’s extremely possible, why do you think your dearly beloved Miss Bell turned on you? I’m afraid that was us using her, as we’ll soon be using your body in a similar fashion. It took me a while to figure out how to manipulate you and then I realized the best way would be through the one you trusted the most. If only you’d listened to her. She tried to tell you, but you wouldn’t listen. It really is too bad. You had the opportunity with her, but now you’ll only be able to forever think about what might have been.”

  Is he serious? Is this really true? Was Jessica controlled into sedating me! Maybe I really have something to fight for then! I can see her again, I have to get out of here!

  And then I felt it. The power! My clenched fists suddenly burned! I looked down and to my surprise yellow was sparking from them! It’s happening again! I have control of the electricity! It’s time to get some revenge!

  I thrust my hands forward and yellow burst free! “Ssss!” The colors burst free at an insane speed headed directly for Mr. Dark, but suddenly they stopped! They weren’t moving! Oh crap! A few of the colored cords twitched slightly, but the rest remained unmoving!

  “Haha!” Mr. Dark laughed as everyone ran to a nearby wall unsure as to what was happening. I realized I’d made a grave mistake!

  His laugh wasn’t evil though, it was one of genuine amusement. “Ooooh, scary. I think I may have wet myself just thinking about that monstrous attack. Is that honestly the best you’ve got? Why don’t you try again?” He mocked me trying to control his laughter.

  I complied, but this time the yellow barely emerged from my hands before stopping midair.

  “Yellow, you use yellow. How pathetic is that, I thought you’d be stronger than a yellow.” He pointed a finger at me as he doubled over with laughter. “Hahaha!”

  “If you’re wondering why I was helping you, it’s quite simple.” He paused to check my reaction before walking toward me and lowering his voice. “I told you all of those things to see if you truly had the gift. It seems as though you do, even if it is one of the weakest I’ve ever seen. Now that I see you for what you truly are I realize all of my time on you was a waste. However, I’m still willing to let you help me. I could train you, and maybe with time, I could make you strong. I could give you more power than you ever thought possible. Even though you work with the weakest frequency, you would still be stronger than everyone around you.” He whispered his case into my ear as he got within inches. “I could teach you to control people like I did with Miss Bell. In fact, I have a plan for that. If it works, more people will be at your disposable than you ever thought possible.” he continued getting more and more excited as he mentioned his master plan.

  This guy is crazy. Why would I want to control others? Especially not the girl I might be in love with. Who did this guy think he was! People deserve to believe what they want and make things happen for themselves. Who was I or any other human to take that away from them!

  “You could be a ruler of men. No one would argue with you. Your parents, Rob and Jacklyn, would be so happy to see their son rise to such heights. You could show them how much smarter than them you are. You could help them escape the miserable lives they’ve given you.” He gradually moved back and increased in volume.

  As his volume rose, my inner voice rose to match it. How dare he insult my parents! How did he even know who they were? It was because of him my dad had to work himself to death to provide for his family! This man was the reason my mother couldn’t receive the medical treatment she so desperately needed! It was because of the lunatic standing before me that my entire life had been horrendous! My life should have never played out the way it had! This man is a monster, and I can’t allow him to infect anyone else! I felt a hot wave of anger crash over me!

  “So what do you think William? Do you want to join me and be more powerful than you ever thought possible, or do you want to live like your parents; the lowliest of the low?”

  That does it! “I’ll tell you what I think Mr. Dark! You can go to hell! How dare you insult the people who raised me, how dare you insult those who gave up everything for me, and how dare you use others for your personal gain!” I shouted directly into his face.

  He took a step back a look of confusion passing over his face! And then I burst! I let loose my fist and felt it connect solidly with his face! “Wack!” He flew backwards, skidding on the slick tile!

  He lay still for a moment, but only a moment. His head slowly raised, followed by the rest of his body! He stood slowly, never letting his eyes wander from me.

  This is bad; this is very bad! I tried to produce the yellow from my fingertips, but nothing would come! Nothing was happening! His fingers, however, were alive and ready to exact vengeance!

  Blackness swirled producing billowy clouds around his arms and then around his entire body! "How dare you! I've given you the opportunity of a lifetime, and this is how you respond! Well, you've made a grave mistake!" He raised his hands and blackness burst into beams that screamed forward and slammed into me with the force of a toppling building!

  I remember being dragged to some vehicle and being driven to a hospital. I don't remember staying there for long, but I was in and out of consciousness the whole way. I remember the doctor saying I'd had minor nerve damage and was very close to having a stroke, and then I lost consciousness again. I finally woke up to a dark room. This time I wasn't hooked up to tubes. I couldn't see much, so I decided to stand, however, that to was difficult.

  Standing felt like someone was stabbing needles into my mind! It hurts so bad!

  I couldn't move for a couple of minutes. Once I had regained by stability, I was able to raise my head and then my body and then take slow, cautious steps towards where I was assumed an exit was. As I got closer my eyes adjusted I realized that the wall didn't hold and exit, it held a cage door! Am I in prison?

  Someone had locked me up! What was going on? Why was I here? And then my memories came flying back!

  I remember Sebastian Neo having me arrested for hitting the head of ASTA but telling his guards to take me to the hospital first. At the hospital, the doctors had come to a very quick synopsis and had me taken away. From there I'd been driven to some building where I assumed I was now. I can’t believe I was arrested! I knew I shouldn’t have hit him, but I couldn’t stand to be near that insane man a moment longer.

  What have I done? Thanks to that incident, I’d probably never see my parents again. And if I didn’t spend most of my life behind bars, then I’d probably be just a lab r
at in one of Mr. Dark’s crazy tests.

  I heard rattling outside of my cell. A guard! “Hey, where am I?” I called out.

  “You're in the Capital Penitentiary.” He replied.

  “Why?”

  “I’m not allowed to talk to the prisoners. Here is your dinner. Lights out in 20 minutes." With that, he turned and left.

  I looked at the gruel in front of me, but couldn’t muster an appetite to eat it. I felt sick just thinking about what the future held.

  As promised the lights, in the cold, damp, cement encompassed room, flickered out in 20 minutes. I laid down in the pitch black hole and began tossing and turning. After half an hour or so I fell into a fitful sleep.

  My dreams were crazed. Everything seemed to blur together. And then, out of the craziness, my brain stopped, and everything became focused. I was back in the clearing where I'd been forced to answer the riddle before.

  I looked around for another small person for another riddle, but instead, I was greeted with the cold, dead stare of the beast from before! Oh no!

  The same beast that had been so close to eating me alive! Should I run? He looked back at me coolly. I was screaming on the inside, but tried not to show it! This is it; I'm going to die!

  His eyes were lifeless, but they weren't black like the rest of his body. Instead, they were a bright yellow.

  "William, it is nice to meet you finally." Came a voice from the beast, sharply contrasting its horrid features.

  "I have been waiting quite some time for this moment. I'm sure the little people have been telling you about what a terrible creature I am, and how I'm here to kill you, but that simply isn't true. I can see you're scared, don't be. I came to enlighten you before it's too late." The beast paused, waiting for me to catch up what he was saying. "We don't have much time. I'm here to teach you a few things. First of all, you should know that you are stronger and more powerful than you know. You may feel weak and useless now, but you have the ability to help change the world. You are your own destiny. All you have to do is believe. You've been told your whole life you're not good enough. You've been told that you aren't worth anything, but I am here to tell you that that isn't true. You may be thinking why am I taking advice from a demon in my dream, but I'm here to tell you to listen because I'm not just any monster, I'm your monster. I'm your good demon. The other part of me whispers to you every day that you aren't good enough, that you're not strong enough, and that you'll never amount to anything. But what he tells you are lies, none of those things are true. And although you don't often hear me, if you listen now you'll hear what you need to know. You see, I know things that you don't know. If you listen intently you will learn and grow, although if you chose to ignore my council, then you will become filled with-" The demon trailed off as his eyes began to change colors! They began to swirl this way and that as if something was trying to emerge from within it!

  "We don't have much time, my evil half within will soon burst forth! Listen to me now, if you retain anything from this conversation it should be this: listen to those around you. You are stronger when you unite with others. When you have the world at your back, you can accomplish anything. You'll become the chief ruler over your destiny. If you choose to ignore this however and forgo the help of others on this journey, you will become weak and powerless. You will be that of a wave driven by the surging winds that surround you. If ever you need to overcome obstacles look to those around you and your problems will become solutions. Follow my advice and the answer you so desperately seek will be made known to you."

  “But-” I began to question when suddenly he screamed out in agony. “Ahhh! It hurts! I can't hold him back any longer; you must go! Go before he takes over and ruins everything! Wake up William, wake up!" ¶As he screamed in agony his eyes changed from their bright yellow into a marble black. I stumbled backwards! I didn’t know how to get out of the dream world! What was I supposed to do?

  The beast rose to his full height and roared! "Hello, William how nice of you to visit. I like things easy, but this is almost overly so. Haha!” He cackled with a deep, booming voice.

  I slipped and fell backwards! “Smack!” My head connected with a rock and just like that my eyes fluttered open into the world of reality!

  I sat up sweating all over and screaming! “Ahhh!”

  I quickly cut myself short and sat still, slick in my terrified sweat. And then I heard a clinking coming down the corridor.

  It can't already be morning, can it? It doesn't feel like I've been asleep that long, but who can really tell? Within this jail light eludes me.

  I was prepared to make my way to the door to grab my food when suddenly it burst open! Standing there were several people with masks on!

  One of them hurriedly approached. “Hurry, move, we don’t have much time!”

  It became apparent that her gender was female as she pulled me to my feet.

  “What, who are you? What is happening?” I asked bewildered.

  “There isn’t time for questions. Follow us if you want to live!” She whispered fervently, pulling me after her, and back into the free world!

  Chapter 20: Who are You Guys

  The room was very secretive. It had no windows, instead, lots of monitors.

  Our trip hadn’t been long. It couldn’t have taken more than 8 minutes to reach the secret room by hoverer.

  The girl leading the group of people in masks hadn't talked to me. The entire team had moved very quickly and effectively. The prison had been a maze of hallways. However, the masked bandits seemed to know where they were going and we'd quickly found an exit. The exit led to an alleyway where we'd boarded a hoverer, I'd been blindfolded for 15 minutes, and when it'd been removed, I stood amongst a plethora of monitors and high-tech gadgets.

  Where am I? The circular shaped room buzzed with technology and people in a crazy blur! Everyone was swarming everywhere. People were constantly talking on their ear communicators. The room resembled that of a hive of busy worker bees.

  Their goal, although unknown to me, seemed to have something to do with monitoring something. As we approached, I could see that the transparency screens were showing footage from all around the capital and all around the testing castle! I can’t believe it, were they spying on us?¶Then I noticed the man. He slowly turned from his command position overlooking all of the workers and their monitors. It was him! It was the man from the simulations! It was the man who’d taken the black book from me! He’d been in my last sim!

  “Hello Mr. Rose, we’ve been expecting you.”

  He began making his way down to where we stood. “My name is Damian and this.” He said making a wide gesture with his hands, “ Is a small part of the rebellion.”

  I just stood there, unable to find words that might fit this situation. Sensing my uneasiness, Damian began to speak again, "Believe it or not, we stand up to the government. Those you see around you are those brave enough to fight against the oppressive government that now rules us. Those you see before you are the ones trying to make a better life for themselves and those they love. I have only one question: are you interested?"

  When I said nothing, he beckoned me forward and began to walk leading me past the many transparent screens and data processors. No one talked as we passed by. Instead, everyone stood at attention upon seeing Damian. Clearly, this was their commander and a respected one at that.

  Damian began talking over his shoulder. "This is the head of command. This is where the magic happens. We have been studying you and what you can do. We think we may be of assistance, but first, we need your help."

  “For what?” I finally found my voice.

  “I’m glad you asked. Please follow me, and I will explain to you what Mr. Dark is about to do to the human race.” He whispered darkly, turning and motioning for me to follow.

  We left the busy hive and entered a much smaller room through a set of old automatic curtains. Inside was the girl who’d saved me
from prison judging by her outfit, and a boy who looked oddly familiar. Is that…?

  “Josh, is that you?”

  How can it be?, I saw him die in our first sim, he should be in a coma like the other testers I found. The boy turned toward me and his face lit up. It was him!

  He walked to me and unexpectedly hugged me! "Hey, it's good to see you, William. How ya doin buddy?" He said letting me go with a giant smile.

  I found my very startled voice and began to try and piece together the shattered puzzle before me. “How is this possible, I saw you die. How are you here, and with a rebel group?” I stammered.

  “We don’t have much time, so I’ll give you a short synopsis.” ¶“Okay.”

  "Alright, here it goes. You see, I've always been a rebel. My position at ASTA was purely an assignment. My job was to try and warn a few testers about the truth, about what was happening and hopefully cause a mutiny. However, I was discovered quickly, and so I was forced to escape. I had to pretend to die so that I could get back to my body and escape with my life and consciousness still intact." ¶I was still in shock. “You knew all along?”

  “Of course I did, why do you think I told you it was all real before I died. I was trying not to waste everyone's time completely, and efforts spent getting me ready for that mission. Luckily you listened even if you didn't really understand me, and you're here today. You found out more that I'd ever hoped, it's great to have you here."

  “Where is here exactly?”

  “Damian will explain everything to you in a minute. But first I’d like you to meet Felicia, a new and upcoming member of our rebel force.” He said while pulling the girl, who’d lead the group responsible for saving me, over.