AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Some didn’t go to a team and instead were directed to sit on the bench closest to the stage area, waiting. They didn’t sit close together, although some of them talked. I didn’t think they knew each other.
There were ten adults with Dr. Roberts making up his circle. They were all middle-aged and older.
They would have the person at the front of the line step forward, then they’d surround the person to talk to him or her privately. It took only a few minutes, but then they’d be directed either to join a team or to the bench in front, what I started to realize was a spare team.
A spare team.
I might get put on a spare team.
When Miss Winchester was called up, I stood alone, but I eased a few steps closer, trying to hear so I could go in more prepared.
Dr. Roberts stood beside her in the circle. “I believe I’ve told a few of you about Miss Kayli Winchester. She’s a very special recruit.”
“I’m not a recruit, yet,” she said. “I want answers. That’s all. No promises.” I could only see the back of her, but she stood tall, her hands clenched at her sides.
I almost envied her directness. Could I be so bold?
“We never hold anyone against their will,” Dr. Roberts said. He then turned toward the group, introducing Mrs. Rose and the others, although, by the end of the list of names, I lost track of most of them.
“And you’re a local, like me, aren’t you?” Mr. Duncan asked, standing with his hands tucked behind his back. “Born and raised in Charleston?”
“I’m sure that’s what my file says about me,” she said. She eyeballed one of the women. “I know you’ve read it.”
Mr. Duncan bowed his head and pressed his lips together. The middle-aged woman with fine wrinkles around her eyes looked her dead on. “I have,” she said. “You’re welcome to peruse mine if you’d like.”
Kayli’s head jerked back. “I...yes,” she said. “I’d like to read it.”
“I’ll bring it over sometime,” the woman said, a satisfied smile on her lips.
When no one said anything else, Kayli looked suspiciously around the group. “Well? Was that it?”
“Sure,” Dr. Roberts said. “Unless you had questions for us.”
“Tons,” she said. “But most importantly, I want to stay with my current group. I understand that’s possible.”
There was a pause as some of the members of the circle looked at each other. I had a feeling they knew each other very well, like my own team. They could understand what they were thinking without saying it.
My heart beat wildly. Kayli was like me. She wanted to stay with her group of guys. I glanced back at them as they watched on intently, except for the one that sat apart, who looked fierce now. I cringed and looked at my feet, suddenly worried for her. Did he not like her? Did he not want her to stay with them?
Would Kota look like that if he knew about the plan?
Dr. Roberts broke the long silence. “Sometimes it’s better to get to know other teams. You can learn more by simply getting to know...”
“No, thank you,” Kayli said quickly. She motioned back to her team. “I’ll ask other people, but if I’m free to get straight answers from my team now, they’ve got a lot of explaining to do.”
“As you wish,” Mr. Duncan said, looking at her steadily. “We hope you find what you’re looking for.”
Kayli turned, but as she left, Dr. Roberts followed her, leaning in to say something. I couldn’t help hearing as they passed right by me.
“I hope you’ll remember, nothing you see or hear while with us here should pass your lips once you leave. Not even to Blake Coaltar.”
“He can be trusted,” she said.
“That’s yet to be determined,” he said. “But I’m not asking for myself. I’m begging you, for the safety of these kids here. You cannot comprehend the potential for tragedy if the wrong people get wind of this.”
“Then maybe my team should explain it to me. From the outside, it looks like a cult that just happens to blend in with the rest of society, so no one notices.”
A cult? She thought the Academy was a cult?
I couldn’t hear anything else, but kept my eyes on them until I heard Mr. Duncan asking for the next person in line.
I turned toward the circle, to Mrs. Rose and then the others, waiting with their expectant eyes on me.
Dr. Roberts was still walking away with Kayli, leaving me to walk into the crowd of strangers.
NEW RECRUIT
I clasped my hands behind my back, the only way to hide their shaking, as I stood as tall as I could, keeping my spine straight. Even the kids waiting on the benches had quieted and it felt like everyone was watching me.
I entered the circle and waited, my eyes glancing from one face to the next but not meeting anyone’s gaze. I wanted to appear friendly, but I couldn’t push myself to look at them straight on. It was the best I could do while feeling so anxious.
Mrs. Rose started to move her hands, and that attracted my attention. “Would you like to tell us your name?” she signed.
“She’s asking...” Mr. Duncan began.
“Sang Sorenson,” I said quickly. I’d been practicing a lot more while we were sick and since we weren’t going to regular classes. Luke had helped a lot.
“Oh,” Mr. Duncan said. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you could read sign language.”
“An impressive skill to have,” someone else said, but I didn’t see who as he was behind me.
There was a murmur of agreement and a few nods around the circle.
Mrs. Rose continued, smiling brighter now. “And where are you from?” she signed.
Did they mean the street I lived on? “I was born in Illinois,” I said and then stopped. I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to say beyond that. Kayli’s demand to stay with her own team invaded my brain. Could I tell them I wanted the same? It didn’t seem like they would stop me if I tried.
However, I remembered Mr. Blackbourne’s words and how he had wanted me to be willing to participate. He said to save stating my desire to stay with my team for the end. I wished I’d talked to him last night or this morning for one more check-in to make sure it was the right thing to do.
Dr. Roberts returned to the group and said, “Miss Sorenson has a very impressive skill list in her file. She volunteered to be of assistance for the camp, even though it’s her first year. She’s already started since the team who invited her came early.”
Heat burned through my cheeks. Was I supposed to say something about this? I hadn’t realized there would be a file about me, but it did make sense if Kayli had one. I wondered what mine said. Who put it together?
“Interesting,” Mr. Duncan said, looking behind me toward Dr. Roberts and then focused his curious eyes on me. He shifted his tie as he spoke. “How were you able to help?”
My heart thundered in my ears. I couldn’t focus on their faces at all now. I opened my mouth to answer, but no sound came out at first. I swallowed.
What had I done? “I...helped make the map,” I said in a small voice. “And...” I couldn’t think of what else to say, what I’d done that they’d want to hear about. My brain froze and seized my tongue.
“Miss Sorenson,” Dr. Roberts said after a long moment.
I turned, looking at him for direction.
His smile lit up his clever eyes. “Show them where north is.”
