Wacko Academy

by Faith Wilkins

  I went into the bathroom and took a look in the mirror. With heavy bags under my bloodshot eyes, chapped lips, and frizzy hair going in every direction, I looked simply horrible. First, I turned on the sink faucets and flung water in my face. Then I stretched and slapped my cheeks around a bit. I brushed and tied my hair back with a scrunchy as best as I could.

  After taking a long shower, I was feeling as refreshed as a girl being held against her will can feel. Walking out with a towel wrapped around me, I discovered that a pile of brand new clothes and underwear had been neatly placed on the bed. There was also a bag full of toiletries. I uncapped the toothpaste, took out my new toothbrush, and scrubbed my teeth until they hurt. Then I slowly got dressed. The weird part? Everything fit me perfectly. Talk about creepy.

  Once done with sprucing myself up, I searched the room for any way to escape. No such luck. I did find some books, though. That was something to keep me occupied at least. I picked a random one, took a seat on the plush carpet, and began reading.

  There was a soft knock on the door. Not even bothering to look up from the very interesting book, I told whoever it was to come in. The person quietly entered. Figuring that it was probably just Doreen, I still didn’t look up.

  My visitor cleared his throat. “Hello, Lily.”

  I jumped, sending the book flying out of my hands. A cold chill went down my spine and a rush of anger made my hands shake. The memory of last night, of being tricked and captured, all came flooding back. I kept my head down, picked up the book, and pretended to continue reading. Maybe if I just didn’t acknowledge him, he would march right back through that door and never come back.

  “Could you please look at me?” he begged.

  It became clear that he wasn’t going anywhere. Forced to address him, I told him to go away through very tightly clenched teeth. He still didn’t move.

  “Don’t be like that. Just let me explain.”

  Explain? He must be joking. No explaining was ever going to get me to forgive him, and he knew that. My head snapped up and I glowered at him like I’ve never glowered at anybody before. The anger that I felt toward him was so strong, I could hardly contain it. He must have realized this, because he was backing up, quickly.

  “Don’t you want to know what’s going on?” he asked, hands in the air like he was about to get arrested or something.

  I stood up and advanced toward him. “What I want to know is how I could have been so stupid to trust you. Part of me knew something was off about you from the minute I met you. The way you were looking at me. It was just weird. Why would a cute rich guy like you be interested in a girl like me? It made no sense.”

  Dustin stopped backing up and let his hands fall to his sides. “You have to understand, I wasn’t acting. You were all really my friends. You’re the only one I ever told about my mom. No one else.”

  I wasn’t buying it. Not anymore. “Save it for someone who cares, Dustin. Real friends don’t trick their friends and lie to them from the start. The only reason you approached me that day was because you had to. That whole ‘I’m having a bad day too’ stuff, that was just an act. You wanted me to feel bad and second-guess myself. Admit it.”

  Knowing that I was right, he didn’t answer.

  After a long, uncomfortable pause, he said, “All that doesn’t matter now. What matters is that you’re here now and we need to talk.”

  I didn’t really hear anything past “All that doesn’t matter.” It sure as heck did matter. The traitor had lured me away from everything that I ever cared about. My family. My friends. My life. All gone because of him, and my foolishness. There was no telling what these people wanted from me—and I was certain they had no intention of letting me go. So yes, it mattered a lot.

  Now, I’m the kind of person that doesn’t get into fights. “Goody Two-Shoes” is what my friends call me sometimes.

  However, at this moment, I was too furious to be my old self. Before he could finish talking, I pounced.

  We tumbled to the ground. He must have been taken by surprise, because I got one punch in before he started fighting back. Unfortunately, he was a lot stronger than I was and had me pinned in a matter of minutes. With a scream of rage, I kicked and squirmed. I even bit him. He flinched, but didn’t loosen his grip.

  “Get off of me!” I shrieked.

  “Not until you promise to listen. Look, I know you’re angry and I don’t blame you, but please. I need to explain.”

  I quit struggling and glared at him. “Fine, but so far, listening to you has only caused me trouble.”

  He nodded, letting me go.

  I jumped up and turned my back on him, slowly walking over and taking a seat at the edge of my bed. The good-for-nothing liar sat down next to me.

  Running a hand through his hair, he said with a sigh, “Well, I guess I should start with telling you where we are. The truth is, I’m not exactly sure about that one myself. We’re somewhere in Pennsylvania. This much I know. I’ve never been to this particular branch before. All I know is, it’s close enough for me to still attend school—”

  “Whoa, hold up,” I interrupted. “You’re still going to school? Our school? Kindred Valley?”

  He nodded slowly. “A helicopter took me to my old house this morning. If both of us disappeared at the same time, people would get suspicious, don’t you think? But I’m transfering out, as of tomorrow. Anyway, may I go on?”

  I crossed my arms. “Please.”

  Dustin cleared his throat. “Well, umm…soon after my mother died, my dad quit his job. Refused to speak to anyone. Even me. But then, one day he came up with this big idea. He wouldn’t say what it was exactly. Just that it would change the world and make it a better place. He started calling in favors and that’s how this organization began. C.I.A.T., Children In Attentive Training. Schools and camps started to pop up all over the place, teaching kids within the age range of five to seventeen how to do everything, be everything. I had never seen anything like it.

  “Of course, I started attending one of his schools right away. And I did live in Florida. That much is true. And not to brag or anything, but now I can do anything. Pick locks, use various types of guns, drive a car, even construct one. You name it. However, there’s one thing that separates me from the rest of the students. Apparently I’m a smooth talker. I can make anyone do just about anything I want. So that’s why I’m what my dad calls the Recruiter. I persuade kids to leave their homes and come join us. Sometimes Dad gets a little impatient, though.”

  He paused, glancing at me. “Heard enough?”

  I shook my head. “Not in the least. Go on.”

  Dustin sighed, going on to tell me that I was his biggest challenge. The first girl his age that he ever had to recruit. He had been given orders to gain my trust and persuade me to come join him, like usual. If that didn’t work, he’d have had to force me. According to him, something changed. He wasn’t counting on liking me or making any friends. The time that he spent with me and the others had been the most fun he had since his mom died.

  “That’s why you have to believe me,” he continued. “I never wanted to trick you. I was just…doing my job. My dad’s tactics aren’t the greatest. Sometimes in order to pass their exams, the students have to do things that aren’t exactly legal.”

  Dustin looked away. “I was supposed to take you sooner, but I got stupid and took my time. Then, when he gave me that necklace, I knew what his intentions were. I got paranoid and tried to get you as far away as possible, but they found us. I’m so sorry, Lily, but whatever he has planned has to be something good. He said so himself.”

  This sounded more like a question than a conviction to me. He finished talking and looked at me suspiciously, wondering why I was being so quiet. My mind whirled with all he had just told me. All this information was a lot to process all at once. He still stared at me, expecting me to say something.

  “So you persuade people to come here, like, of their own free will? Does that
mean I can leave if you haven’t convinced me?”

  He looked at the floor. “Like I said, you’re…special.”

  “Then I guess we’re done talking.” I said, already turning away. “Can you leave?”

  He just looked at me for a minute, a little taken aback. “Yes, I can leave if you want me to. Is that all you have to say? Any questions or anything?”

  I just shook my head. He turned to leave.

  “And Dustin,” I called.

  He froze, looking back at me over his shoulder. “Yeah?”

  “Maybe you liked me a little back at home, but here we’re not friends. I don’t think we ever can be friends again. You only told me about your mom so that I’d feel sorry for you. It was all just one big game. I don’t care what your excuse is, this whole idea of your dad’s isn’t normal. And if you had any kind of brain, you would know that. Believe whatever you want to believe, but just to make things absolutely clear, stay away from me.”

  For a second, Dustin looked hurt, but then his face smoothed into a cold, expressionless mask. “I’m supposed to give you a tour tomorrow and show you the ropes, so that’s going to be kind of hard. I’m sorry that you feel that way, but if you don’t want to be friends, then fine. That’s just fine with me.” His voice was like ice. He turned to leave, slamming the door behind him.

  I threw the book at the door, wishing I could have hit his head with it. How dare he be angry with me just because I didn’t want to be friends with him anymore? Of course I didn’t. He had been lying to me the whole time about everything. He had been pretending to be my friend. With friendship comes trust, and I definitely did not trust him. It had all been part of his father’s plans for his demented “organization.” It sounded more like some kind of messed-up conspiracy to me. Although Dustin may not have wanted to admit it, he knew something wasn’t right. Whatever. His dad was a loon and so was he.

  Well, good riddance to the both of them! I had to find a way to get out of there.

  I ran to the door and tugged at the brass doorknob. Still locked. Then I dashed to the window. The invisible bars were still there. I had no idea how to get out, so I went back to the bed and put my head in my hands. I decided to wait and check out my surroundings when Dustin gave me the tour. Maybe I could pretend to give him another chance and play him like he played me. Then I decided against it. I’ve never been a very good liar and I really didn’t have the energy to try. I didn’t want anything to do with that traitor anyway.

  He made me feel like such an idiot. Of course I was kind of stupid for letting him get me kidnapped, but that’s beside the point. To make things worse, now that I thought about it, part of me wanted to believe him. He had seemed so sincere when he tried to explain. Maybe he really was just a confused boy who thought he was working for the greater good. Not to mention those eyes. Those beautiful eyes of his boring into mine, begging me to understand. The thing is, I had thought of him as a really good friend. Yes, I was angry with him. Yes, I had told him that we weren’t friends, but my brain was having a little trouble processing that along with all the other stuff swirling around in there.

  He’s not my friend. He’s not my friend, I told myself over and over again, lying down on my comfy canopy bed. There was nothing to do but wait. I hated waiting, but that was what I had to do.

  The Tour

  My “tour guide” arrived the next afternoon. He entered cautiously, as if afraid I would attack him again.

  “Don’t worry. I’m not going to jump you or anything,” I assured him, rolling my eyes and standing up.

  Dustin’s shoulders relaxed a bit, but not fully. I didn’t blame him.

  As he got closer, I noticed something. His left cheek looked a little bruised and there was an angry scarlet bite mark on his wrist.

  “Did I do that?” I asked quietly, already knowing the answer.

  He glanced down at where I was staring. He flashed me a sheepish grin. “Yeah.”

  I lowered my eyes, feeling ashamed. Just because I was mad at him didn’t mean I had to attack him like that. He had only wanted to talk to me and I’d jumped him before he got the chance.

  “I acted like a savage yesterday. Even if it is your fault that I’m here, I shouldn’t have attacked you. I’m really, really sorry.”

  “Don’t be,” he said, surprised that I was showing remorse for my actions. “I deserved it.”

  We stared at the floor, neither of us that sure what to say to each other. Everything had already been said the day before.

  Dustin coughed. “Umm, how about we start that tour?”

  Eager to leave the somewhat suffocating room, I agreed. We stepped out into what appeared to be a dorm hallway. Identical doors lined both walls. Golden plaques with names on them had been placed on each door. I turned to see if a golden plaque was on my door with my name on it. There it was. Knowing how rich his father was, you could bet it was real gold.

  I had always imagined seeing my name in shiny golden letters, but not like this. With the situation I was in, it didn’t impress me as much as it would have. It saddened me instead. That plaque on the door implied that I would be stuck there for a long time. If not forever. It was a symbol of my freedom being ripped away from me, perhaps never to return.

  Quickly I looked away and followed Dustin down the hall.

  “So, this is where the captured kids stay,” I commented.

  He stopped for a second. “Many of them are not here against their will, you know.”

  I scowled. “You mean like me.”

  He pretended not to hear. He looked thoughtful for a minute and continued to walk. “Some of their parents are almost as rich as Dad. They heard of Dad’s plan and wanted their kids to be a part of it. On the other hand, some of these kids came here from the streets. If they stay here, they get clothing, food, and shelter. All they have to do is work for him.”

  I was speechless. There really was nothing to say after that. What kind of parents would give up their kids like that? Did they even know what this so-called “plan” was?

  We entered the lobby. The receptionist was just so thrilled to see us, she nearly hopped right out of her chair in excitement. Not.

  “Whaddya want?” she asked, chewing her gum and reading a magazine. I swear, she was just like all the stereotypes.

  “I’m signing out one of the occupants,” Dustin said nonchalantly.

  She eyed me, sizing me up. I guessed she didn’t find anything particularly interesting about me, since her expression remained indifferent and bored. I stared right back at her—mostly because one of her fake eyelashes had begun to slide off. I wondered why she didn’t just use mascara. I had a strong urge to pull it off myself, but decided against it.

  Dustin finished signing me out and took my arm, gently pulling me along.

  I yanked my arm out of his grasp. “Just how long am I going to be an ‘occupant’ here?”

  He refused to meet my annoyed gaze. “I’m not exactly sure. Usually kids are let go when they turn eighteen. You might be a different story.”

  I folded my arms, glaring at him until he looked at me. “Oh, that’s right. I’m special. What exactly does that mean, anyway?”

  He shifted uncomfortably. “Like I said, you’re the first girl that I brought here. My father said that he has certain plans for you.”

  “I’ll bet you any amount of money that his plans have something to do with me becoming your girlfriend. Your partner in crime,” I said flatly.

  He looked away. “I dunno. Maybe.”

  Exasperated with him, I started trotting ahead of him, not caring if he followed me or not.

  “Lily, wait,” he called.

  There was no need to call me, because I had already stopped in my tracks. I stared at the scene before me with my mouth wide open. We were standing on a balcony facing a mega huge room. The walls seemed to be made of metal. I could see everything from where we stood.

  There was some kind of martial arts class going on in the so
uth side of the room. In the meantime, kids of all ages were climbing a tall rock wall located on the west side. However, it wasn’t a normal rock wall. Some of the rocks fell away once they had been touched. And was it me, or did the whole thing shake? This was definitely unlike any rock wall I had ever seen. A big obstacle course with hurdles, ladders, ropes, poles, and many other things had been set up in the middle of the room. Many of the boys did push-ups and sit-ups while the girls did rope climbing.

  “This is one of the training facilities. Some are more fun than others.”

  I swept my eyes over the room. “What about the other facilities?”

  “Come on and I’ll show you.” Dustin answered, leading me down the stairs and into the crowd.

  About a billion eyes locked on me as we passed by. I stared down at the hard floor, hurrying to catch up with him.

  “Cover your ears,” he warned as he opened a big door.

  Suspiciously I obeyed. We had stepped into a shooting range. There were rows and rows of slots to shoot in. Most of them were occupied.

  “So this is how you learned to use a gun,” I shouted over the noise.

  “Yeah, I started learning at about eight. Didn’t get the hang of it until a year later.”

  I shook my head in wonder.

  We entered yet another room. A gym. Treadmills lined the walls, a mini flat screen on each. A basketball game was in session, guys versus girls. Dustin cut in to shoot some hoops.

  I watched him laugh and goof off with the others. What really struck me was that they seemed happy. It was as if they were right where they wanted to be. I couldn’t understand why they didn’t stop and look around. They were being held prisoner. Sure, it was with their friends, and yeah, it was fun, but there was no escape. They couldn’t leave even if they wanted to. Had they given up hope? Did the thought ever cross their minds? Maybe, like Dustin, they had been brainwashed into thinking they were all a part of something bigger and greater than them. Didn’t anyone see that this was wrong?

  My supposed tour guide finally got out of the sweaty group and joined me, breathing hard.