“I’ll need the Progression Room in order to take a look at the device,” Cil says.
We go to the room, but Cil and I are the only ones permitted inside. Matron Kaniz needs to alert the Keepers as to what’s occurred and Frey will only cause problems. I take my seat on the chair while Cil gathers supplies from the cabinets.
“You’re not going to fix my wristband,” I say, sneering at her. “You’re with them. You want me to be on the Patrician side.”
“So what if I do? Did you not learn anything from the message?”
“Only that the Patrician are monsters who are happy to murder innocent people – even children – to stop only a few.”
“They did what they had to do to protect society, Max. We’re just trying to prevent a repeat of the past.”
“I should rat you out.”
Cil sits on the stool, slides over to me, and yanks my left arm towards her. “What good would that do you? You think you’re valuable to the Patrician? They’ll kill you before you completely turn on them. Leader Fallon will make sure of that.”
“I’m not afraid.”
She stops working and looks up at me. “This isn’t about fear, Max. This is about living. No one wants to die, but some deaths are necessary. Don’t make your death one of the necessary ones.” She focuses her attention back onto the wristband.
The tools she’s using are small and delicate. She manages to project the bracelet’s inventory onto the monitor behind her. She sweeps through several layers of data before finding the embedded program. It’s tied into the maps that Lok downloaded. Cil works for several minutes trying to sever the connection. She’s successful, but I also lose the maps, which upsets me.
“Next time, don’t let someone make modifications to your wristband without you knowing exactly what they’re loading onto it. Stay still for a few more minutes while I run a diagnostic on the data to make sure there isn’t anything else creeping around in there.”
Ten minutes pass before she lets me leave. Nothing else is located. Cil heads down the lift while I rejoin Frey in the common room. Breakfast was brought up while I was in the Progression Room, so I grab a plate of eggs, bacon, and fruit, then take a seat next to Frey. He hands me a water bottle just as the monitors flash an image of a green laurel with a silver infinity sign in the center followed by a high pitched siren. Hammond replaces the image just as the alarm stops. He looks to be almost giddy.
“Hello citizens of Tarsus,” Hammond begins, placing his hands behind his back.
I stop eating and hold my breath, waiting for the death of Head Master Edom to be announced, but I’m wrong.
“Leader Fallon has declared a state of emergency due to increasing threats from Dracken leaders. Aedox will now begin patrolling areas of Tarsus randomly and arrest anyone with a Dracken symbol. Thrace Tower has also been placed on temporary lockdown until Leader Fallon can ensure the safety of those inside.” The monitors go black as people begin to discuss in subdued voices what this could all mean.
“Do you think they’ll raid the building?” one girl asks.
“If they do, what’ll happen to those of us with the tattoo?” someone else responds, his voice cracking with nervousness.
Matron Kaniz enters the room and everyone falls silent. “I need everyone to remain calm,” she says, thrusting her hands outward. “The Keepers know full well about Leader Fallon’s plans and have taken every precaution to prevent anyone from entering Thrace Tower. The Litarian Battles is set to continue in two hours, beginning with Hammond’s announcement as to the format for the second round.” She leaves, but everyone is still on the verge of panicking.
I take my empty plate, place it on the counter, and go to the bedroom. I slide under new covers, pulling them over my head, and try to take a nap since I’m still very tired. I get very little sleep, especially with everyone talking loudly about Hammond’s broadcast. I could just loop out of the room, but now with additional security, perhaps I’m limited in where I can go. Addie calls from the doorway that it’s almost time. Frey and Rem are arguing when Addie and I enter the common room, but they stop upon seeing us. Frey takes my hand and guides me to the back couch while Rem moves towards the front. Addie sits next to us as Matron Kaniz steps forward and stands next to the monitor closest to the far wall.
“The Keepers want to keep The Litarian Battles moving, so those who will be moving to the second round will be removed immediately from the room and taken to the selection floor. There has been a slight change in how this is all going to go. There will be thirty-two participants in this round. I’ll show the names of those moving to the second round and Hammond will meet you all once you’re seated.”
Matron Kaniz touches the monitor, turning it on. The names and units of the players are listed in four columns. Eight players from each unit. I don’t have to look to know my name is up there. Addie screams when she sees her name. I guess she thought she was pointed high enough to make it all the way to the third round.
Four Aedox enter the room and Matron Kaniz motions us to join them. Frey squeezes my hand before letting me go. I take Addie’s arm, help her walk down the hallway and into the lift. Tears are streaming down her face as we descend. She’s the only one of the eight of us crying. She may talk a big game, but when it comes down to it, she’s as terrified as the rest of us. When we reach our floor, we bypass the carousel of clothes and go right for the chairs that’ll take us to the selection floor. Addie
