I have to hide the chuckle that is building up inside. Such a contradiction in regards to how these people value life. People are killed in The Litarian Battles and it doesn’t faze them. They allow other atrocities to occur, such as Brink almost raping me in front of a room full of people. They permit the horrid treatment of the people in the Outer Limits by the Aedox. Yet someone of authority gets killed and now everyone needs to take notice. Leaders are replaceable, just like everyone else.
“The body of Avery Canton washed ashore this morning in the southern section of Tarsus.”
The image changes to show Avery lying face down in the sand, several bullet holes in his back. Frey grips my arm, almost cutting off the circulation. His eyes look to be on the verge of crying, but it’s not from sadness. Joy maybe? Relief? But why? Addie moves next to Frey and takes his arm to comfort him.
“It is still not clear who murdered Mr. Canton, but at this moment his wife Nan is a suspect. Her whereabouts are unknown at this time. The Aedox are scouting all sections of Tarsus looking for her. We will let you know when there are further developments.”
Matron Kaniz turns the monitors off and asks Frey to go to the Progression Room. I begin to follow him at his request, but Matron Kaniz stops me and orders me back to my seat. He kisses me and leaves. I take back my seat with Addie huddling next to me.
“That is the reason you’ve all been brought back early. Your bags are currently being searched by the Aedox. Each unit will be assigned two Aedox, with a six-hour rotation. This is for everyone’s safety. Tomorrow, Hammond will distribute a broadcast that’ll advise you of the new rules and procedures for The Litarian Battles. For now, everyone relax and try to get back to your normal routines. Dinner will be delivered momentarily.” Matron Kaniz exits, heading towards the Progression Room.
The monitors turn on to music videos and everyone goes about their business. Rem joins Addie and me. We sit in silence since we can’t really talk with all the noise and other conversations going around. Rem stands and signals for us to follow her into the training room. She opens the door and we slip in before anyone can notice. The lights turn on automatically and we each take a spot on the floor against one of the walls.
“What do you think?” Rem asks either of us.
“About what?” Addie responds. “It’s obvious that the Dracken are getting close to achieving their goal, so the Patrician are panicking.”
“I don’t think that’s it,” Rem says, folding her arms across her chest.
“It has to be!” Addie shouts. “What else could it be?”
“Does anyone know who the Patrician are?” I ask.
“Well, Leader Fallon obviously,” Addie comments with a snide tone.
“I mean besides her,” I add.
“What do you mean, Max? She’s the only one,” Rem says, looking confused by my remark.
I bit my tongue on saying anything further. Addie and Rem spend the next several minutes arguing. I know Addie is a member of the Dracken because of her tattoo, but where does Rem stand? Better yet, where do I. Do I even really care? None of this affects me since I don’t live in Tarsus, so why should I let it bother me? It does though, and I have a feeling my parents are involved with it somehow. I wish I could talk to them and find out what they were thinking making that deal with Brink. If it’s true. Leader Fallon said she didn’t kill them, so where did she put them, and is there some way I can get a message to them?
Rem and Addie are close to physically battling each other when we smell dinner. They decide to hold off their fight for another time. Frey isn’t with the crowd that has gathered by the bar. The meal tonight consists of roast beef thinly sliced, green beans, and mashed potatoes. I take a small helping since I’m really not that hungry and sit down on the couch that lines the far wall. Two Aedox are standing poised by the lift. Their weapons held firmly in their hands. Addie sits next to me, but Rem leaves to eat elsewhere.
I decide to go back for seconds, but Matron Kaniz stops me. She takes my plate, sets it down, and escorts me to the Progression Room. Frey is sitting on a stool in the corner being tended to by a nurse for an injury I can’t see. I’m directed to take a seat in the same chair I was forced into upon my arrival. My arms and legs are secured by straps along with a collar around my throat.
“What the hell is this?” I yell.
“Max, since you were with Frey, we need to scan your memory to see if you saw anything related to Avery’s death,” Matron Kaniz says as a doctor adheres electrodes to my forehead and temples.
I know they’re going to see Nan shoot Avery, so I try to think of a way to manipulate my memory. Replace the images with something else, but I can’t think fast enough. In a matter of moments, the incident is displayed on a monitor to my left. Frey watches as his father attacks me, pulls out a knife, and then Nan fires. Frey turns to me, shock on his face.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asks through tears. “You knew he was
